Storage Containers: Create Completely Unique Event Spaces

Written by Susan Nalevac | June 13, 2022

The use of shipping containers is trending upward for more than just shipping and storage. One way that companies utilize containers is by turning them into booths and event spaces for conventions!

In our guide, we’ll examine why businesses are using storage containers to create completely unique event spaces and answer some frequently asked questions regarding containers. Keep reading to learn more!

Why Containers Are Ideal for Event Spaces

If you’ve been to any trade show or industry event with booths and demonstrations over the past decade, you’ve almost certainly noticed companies using storage containers for their event spaces.

In fact, they’ve become so popular that they’re nearly the standard booth structure for significant events. So what makes them ideal event spaces?

• Catch the Eye
• Consistent Quality
• Limitless Creation
• Easy Setup & Teardown
• Mobile
• Sturdy and Secure
• Affordable

Catch the Eye

The primary goal of event space is to catch the eye of visitors and guests and draw them inside. Unlike a tent or other temporary structure, a container does that, as it’s a sturdy steel structure that stands apart from the rest.

Even before a company customizes and makes their container event space their own, guests notice it over the typical, routine event spaces. It’s eye-catching, and in an event space where every booth is vying for the attention of passing visitors, that quality is crucial.

Consistent Quality

It can be tricky to find a high-quality temporary structure when deciding on an event space. Companies can opt for a large tent, but that requires research to ensure the tent is high-quality and looks right.

The same goes for any alternative temporary structure like one made with trusses. However, with a storage container, the quality is consistent across the industry. Almost all containers are made in the same country, using the same materials and adhering to the same production process.

The consistency of quality means buyers won’t need to be concerned about purchasing a cheap or sub-par unit.

Limitless Creation

Perhaps the most significant benefit of using a container as an event space is the seemingly endless customization options! Since storage containers are so structurally sound, durable, and simple, companies can transform them into completely unique event spaces for retail, tech, automotive, food and beverage, or anything else!

Companies can customize containers by adding windows, doors, awnings, bars, retractable roofs, etc. Businesses can even stack containers for a multilevel event space. Good luck making a two-story event space with a tent!

Easy Setup & Teardown

Conventions and industry events typically go on for days, which means that booths have to be set up every morning and torn down every night. Containers make this process easier and simpler because they’re already sturdy storage containers!

With a container, setup and cleanup are as simple as putting everything inside and locking up! You have to take a tent down every night, then shuttle everything inside away to a secure location and bring it back for setup the following day. That’s hours of labor cut down from the schedule over a week, saving businesses time and money.

Manufacturers design and build containers to protect valuable goods safely and securely, so companies can rest assured their valuable items in booths aren’t going anywhere!

Mobile

Conventions and industry booths happen all over the country, sometimes in days or weeks. Companies have to be mobile with their stalls, and having an event space that they can transport quickly and efficiently is an absolute must.

Obviously, a shipping container is already mobilized! Manufacturers design containers to move freely and efficiently all over the world via ship or truck, or even railway. Plus, instead of finding a transportation structure to move the event space, the event space itself is a mobile structure.

Sturdy & Secure

Many industry events occur outside since there are so many booths to fit in one spot. Naturally, the weather isn’t always cooperative, and event booths are sometimes required to withstand rainy or windy conditions.

In a tent or flimsy temporary structure, this can lead to serious problems and headaches for the booth organizer. With a storage container space, it’s no problem! Storage containers are built to withstand high winds, torrential rain, and much more, so they won’t blink at a bit of drizzle and wind!

Affordable

All of the benefits of storage containers sound nice, but it must mean they’re much more expensive, right? When compared to the cost of a high-quality tent or other temporary structure, a shipping container is cost-effective and practical for many businesses.

Containers are simple and easy to transport, reducing the costs of transporting and building the structure. Businesses can also opt for used containers at an even lower price with minimal reduction in quality.

Frequently Asked Questions About Storage Containers and Event Spaces

Although shipping containers become more prevalent as event spaces every year, there are still many misconceptions and questions people have about them. We’ve compiled some of the most common questions for the record.

What Sizes Are Available for Shipping Containers?

Typically, shipping containers come in 20-foot and 40-foot sizes. Those numbers correspond to the length of the containers, while their width (8 feet) and height (8 feet, 6 inches) are consistent across all lengths.

So whether you have a 20-foot used or a 40-foot new shipping container, they will be the same height and width. These universal dimensions make stacking and combining containers straightforward and effortless.

Is it Better to Buy New or Used?

When purchasing a shipping container for your event, you can choose a new or used container. New containers are also sometimes referred to as “one-trip” containers, as they only transport goods once before being decommissioned.

A new container will have less wear and tear, but the difference between a new and a used one can be negligible. Storage containers are built to last well beyond 25 years—for as many as 50 years or more!

Do I need a Permit for a Container Event Space?

In most cases, yes you need a permit to have a shipping container at your event space location. Every event has its regulations and zoning codes, but most classify a storage container as a temporary structure requiring specific permits and documentation.

If using a container as an event space, make sure to go over the local zoning laws and regulations. That will help you ensure that there’s no confusion over its legality when it arrives at the event.

Conclusion