Shell Scheme Stall and Octanorm Stall – How They Compare with Custom Stalls
- Free for exhibitors
- No obligation
- Up to 5 quotes
If you have booked a shell scheme stall, the organiser hands you a ready booth: walls, a name board, carpet and a few lights. It is quick and affordable, but it looks the same as the stalls on either side. Many exhibitors then ask whether to upgrade it, move to an Octanorm-style modular stall, or book raw space and have a custom stall built.
This guide explains the three options side by side, when each one makes sense, and how to make a shell scheme look like your own. When you are ready, send one brief and Stand Supplier will pass it to up to 5 stall builders who can quote for graphics, upgrades, modular or custom stalls. The quotes are free and there is no obligation. We connect you with builders; we don't build stalls ourselves.
What a shell scheme stall is
A shell scheme is the basic stall that many organisers provide with a space booking. The walls, the board above the front with your company name, the floor covering and the electrics are put up by the organiser's own contractor before the show opens, so you only arrive with your products and staff.
What is included varies from show to show and is listed in the exhibitor manual. A typical package looks like this:
- wall panels on the closed sides, usually white;
- a fascia board above the open side with your company name and stall number;
- carpet or another floor covering;
- a few spotlights and a power socket;
- basic furniture, often a table, two or three chairs and a waste bin.
What people mean by an "Octanorm stall"
Octanorm is the name of a German company that makes aluminium frame systems for exhibitions. Over the years, "Octanorm stall" has become everyday trade-show language in India for any stall built from an aluminium frame with infill panels, whichever manufacturer made the parts. Most shell schemes are built from this kind of system, and so are many modular stalls that exhibitors order for themselves.
The appeal of a modular system is that the same frames and panels can be put together in different shapes, taken apart after the show and reused. That keeps the cost and the build time down compared with a stall made from scratch.
Shell scheme, modular or custom: the differences
| Shell scheme | Modular (Octanorm-style) | Custom stall | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who provides it | The organiser, with the space | A stall builder you choose | A stall builder you choose |
| Relative cost | Lowest | Medium | Highest |
| Look | Same as the neighbouring stalls | Neat and branded, frame visible | Fully your own design |
| Changes possible | Few: graphics, lights, furniture | Layout, panels, graphics, storage | Almost anything the rules allow |
| Reuse at other shows | No | Often, with the same builder | Sometimes, if designed for it |
| Space you book | Shell scheme space | Usually raw space | Raw space |
Which one to choose
- Shell scheme: a first show, a tight budget or a short lead time. With good graphics it can look smart.
- Modular stall: you exhibit several times a year and want a consistent, branded look without paying for a new build every time.
- Custom stall: a launch, a large space or a show where you need to stand out from competitors, with time for design and organiser approval.
How to make a shell scheme stall look like your own
Cover the walls with graphics
Printed graphics that fill each wall panel change the stall more than anything else. Ask the organiser for the exact panel sizes and the visible area, and have the artwork made to fit, with your logo and one short message high up where it can be seen over visitors' heads.
Add light where it matters
The standard spotlights only light the stall in general. Extra spots on products and graphics, or a lit counter, make it look finished and draw the eye from the aisle. Extra lights may need a higher power connection, which is ordered from the organiser.
Replace or upgrade the furniture
A branded counter at the front, a display unit for products and a brochure stand do more for visitors than the basic table and chairs. Keep the front of the stall open so people can step in.
Think about the floor
A different carpet colour or a printed floor graphic, where allowed, makes the space feel like yours and marks where your stall begins.
Ordering a modular stall
If you book raw space, a builder can put up a modular stall in the shape you need: a full-width back wall for branding, a lockable store with a door, a header with your logo, shelving and a counter. Ask the builder which parts are standard and which are made for you, and whether the same set can be stored and rebuilt for your next show.
What to check before you order anything
- How graphics may be fixed. Most organisers do not allow drilling, nailing, painting or gluing on shell scheme panels; check which methods the manual allows.
- Whether panels can be removed or the fascia left out, and who must be asked.
- Power. Extra lights and screens may need a bigger connection, booked in advance.
- Heights and deadlines for anything standing above the shell scheme walls, and the date by which upgrades must be ordered.
What decides the cost
For a shell scheme, the extra cost depends on the size and number of graphics, the lighting and furniture you add, and any power upgrade. For a modular or custom stall, it depends on the size of the space, the materials, built-in storage, lighting, screens and whether the stall will be reused. Giving every builder the same brief is the easiest way to compare.
Stall builders in your city
If your show is in one of the cities we cover, see the local page for venues and nearby builders:
How it works
Three steps from brief to the right stand builder.
Tell us about your stand
Share the event, city, stand size and budget in one short form. Send your requirement.
We find up to 5 stand builders
Our team selects builders suited to your event and city, and passes them your brief.
Compare and choose
Compare designs and prices, and choose the one that fits. It is free, with no obligation.
Why use Stand Supplier
We connect you with builders. We never build stalls ourselves.
Save time
One short form instead of calling builders one by one.
Compare prices
Compare designs and prices from several builders side by side.
Free, no obligation
You never pay us, and you don't have to accept any quote.
Deal directly
The contract is between you and the builder you choose.
Get up to 5 free quotes for your stall
Tell us about your stand once. We pass your brief to up to 5 stand builders, free and with no obligation.
- You send one brief with your show, stand and contact details.
- We pass it to up to 5 stand builders suited to your event and city.
- You compare their proposals and choose the one that fits, or none.
- Free for exhibitors
- You deal directly with the builder
Frequently asked questions
More stall layout guides
Exhibition Stall Design
Design ideas by goal and size, 2D and 3D designs explained, the design process and how to brief a designer.
Learn more
2 Side Open Stall Design
Corner stalls are seen from two aisles. Layout ideas by size, the rules to check, and free quotes from builders.
Learn more
3 Side Open Stall Design
Peninsula stalls are open on three sides. How to use the single back wall, layouts by size, and free quotes.
Learn more
Exhibition Stall on Rent
What a rented stall includes, when renting beats building, what you can customise and what to ask before you book.
Learn moreAre you an exhibition stand builder?
Register your company to receive stand requests from exhibitors in the countries you serve. Your account is activated by our team, then requests start coming in.