Wouldn’t you love to have a great show crate that will hold up under most conditions? When you order crates they’re often cheap and may only last you a show or two. Due to the extensiveness of the movement and exposure that crates have to endure during shipping and delivery, it is inevitable that they will suffer damage. But if you could extend the life of your crate in a simple and cost efficient way, wouldn’t you want to know how?

Here are some helpful hints that will help in this crate crisis:

• First, make your crates standout above the rest. Give them a coat of paint instead of bare wood. A coat of paint is a cheap and efficient way of making your crates waterproof and damage noticeable. Let’s face it, if the forklift driver can’t see a big 8 ft painted crate then I think it might be time for him to retire. I am sure that when the drage companies get enough complaints of damaged crates they will start to take notice. Painting the bottom foot of the crate a bright color would also help the forklift driver identify where his forks need to be.

• Adding silicone in the joints of the crate would help keep moisture from getting inside. Also, adding weather stripping around the door can have a similar effect. If you like the natural look, a good wood sealer would work as well. Doing this will allow you to store your crates outside and open up space indoors where it counts.

All of these supplies can be purchased at your local hardware store and require simple application that can be done in most warehouses or many outdoor locations. Don’t be afraid to put your ideas into action, this can save you a lot of money in the end. Please share with us any other ideas that you may have in increasing the life of a show crate. We will gladly post your ideas and a link to your company’s website on our website for the benefit of the tradeshow industry.