GET READY FOR THE EXCITING LAUNCH OF
THE MILWAUKEE SHOW
THE MILWAUKEE MINERAL, FOSSIL, GEM & JEWELRY SHOW
AUGUST 13-17, 2025
MILWAUKEE, WI
VENDOR INFO
Our $220,000 ad campaign will first entice vendors at the Denver and Tucson shows to join the Milwaukee Show. Then, starting four weeks before the event our billboards will cover the Madison, Milwaukee and Chicago metro areas and will be seen 36 million times. If you are curious about where we are spending all that money, here is the Billboard Map (best viewed on a computer; you won't see much on your phone) showing the location, cost, and weekly views of our ad campaign . This is the most heavily advertised gem show in the Western Hemisphere, and exceeds all other US gems shows combined. Every penny of your booth fee goes towards advertising, while the ticket sales pay for the venue rental and associated costs.
PLEASE NOTE: Vendors are also required to stay at one of our four hotels (see the HOTELS tab) where we’ve negotiated low show rates. We receive no commission on your stay. Rather, our contract with the city-owned Baird Center requires us to prove that we attracted 850 hotel room-nights to the area in 2025. Our compliance with this requirement allows us to offer such low booth fees. (They’d be higher otherwise) But we must provide the hotel “Pick Up Reports” after the show which is proof of our performance.
$100 LOCKS IN YOUR BOOTH
Single 10' x 10' Booth = $1,000
Double 10' x 20' Booth = $1,500
​
Quad 20' x 20' Booth in Million Dollar Row = $4,600 with Octanorm hard walls
(This row is for sellers of gems, fine jewelry, and high-end fossils)​
Custom Booth in the Mineral Showcase = price varies, with Octanorm hard walls
(This prestigious area is for high-end mineral sellers)​ ​
Your remaining 50% deposit is due February 15, 2025 and the balance is due May 15, 2025.
GET YOUR BOOTH NOW
The red button above takes you to our interactive floorplan so that you can see in real-time which booths are available and reserve immediately for $100.
Green = available
Yellow = reservation processing
Red = reserved
We provide the generic floor plan here so that you can get an overview of the booth set-up for 2025. But to see up-to-the-second availability, click the red RESERVE YOUR BOOTH button above.
​
The floor plan has 526 booths; mostly configured as doubles and "quads". In 2026 we will be 57% bigger and have just over 800 booths.
The booth fee includes: elegant pipe and drape on one, two or three sides (depending on location), 2 chairs, a booth ID sign and one electricity drop. (Bring your extension cord!) Tables are not included. However, you are encouraged to bring your own tables, buy them from Lowes or Home Depot, or rent them on-site for $45 -$60 each. Show cases ($400), additional power drops, and lighting packages are also available for rent.
UPS IS OUR PREFERRED SHIPPER
Ship your pallets with UPS Freight and they’ll have them waiting for you at your booth on set-up day before you arrive. Avoid the Do-It-Yourself hassle of having to jostle for an entry point to unload, find a pallet jack, dodge other vendors blocking aisles and the rest of the usual ordeal.
​​
UPS Freight rates to the show:
​
$300 / pallet if you ship from these states:
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NV, NM, OH, OK, OR, TN, TX, UT, WA, WV, WI
​
$400 / pallet if you ship from these states:
CT, DE, FL, GA, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, NC, PA, RI, SC, VA
​
- Do not exceed 1,000 pounds
- Do not exceed a 6-foot height
​
Higher custom rates from these states: AK, HI, ID, MT, ND, SD, VT, WY
​
Regardless of the number of pallets that you ship, there is an additional $85 Trade Show Fee for the entire shipment.
Optional Services
​
$85 = add this Residential Service Fee to the shipment if shipping from a home
​
$85 = add this $85 Lift-gate Service fee to the shipment if the shipping origin lacks a loading dock
Optional Supplies
$45 = Shrink Wrap Roll
$25 = Pallet
$125 = Pallet Container
​
After the show, UPS can ship your remaining pallets to Denver, store them, and then have them at your Denver booth on set-up day for $300 / pallet + one $85 Trade Show Fee for the entire shipment.​
​
To arrange your shipment, email UPS at least THREE WEEKS before you need to ship. Reach them at TradeShow@UPS.com Be specific with your request as they do 100+ trade shows a year.​​
UNLOADING & SETUP
If you wish to use your own vehicle or trailer to bring your merchandise, rental carts will be provided free of charge by signing in and leaving your drivers license and credit card with the show decorator. Carts are available for half-hour time slots only. Or bring your own "wheels".
​
VENDOR MOVE-IN & SETUP
Mon, Aug 11 Noon – 9 pm (only those with 10 booths or more)
Tue, Aug 12 8 am – 11 pm
Wed, Aug 13 8 am – Noon (you must be cleaned-up by Noon opening time)
​
SHOW DATES & TIMES
Wed, Aug 13 Noon – 7 pm
Thur, Aug 14 10 am – 7 pm
Fri, Aug 15 10 am – 7 pm
Sat, Aug 16 10 am – 7 pm
Sun, Aug 17 11 am – 6 pm
VENDOR MOVE-OUT
Sunday, August 17 6 pm – Midnight
Monday, August 18 8 am – 5 pm
OVERNIGHT LOCK-UP
A gigantic 8’ wide x 8’ tall x 8’ long vault will be on-site during the event. Space inside will be available for rent from a single satchel to full cart loads. Reserve your vault space when you choose your booth.
We will also have a Security Room built on the sales floor for those with lower security requirements. While lacking a roof it will be staffed during off-hours by an armed guard and you need to just wheel your cart into the room. This option costs less than the vault and must be ordered when you choose your booth.
​
SECURITY GUARDS
We will have uniformed, unarmed guards 24 hours a day beginning with move-in. An armed guard will be stationed overnight in the Security Room. Our professional security guards are from Arizona Preventive Crime Unit which has provided security services to our shows since 2010.
SHOW CASE RENTALS
Full vision, Half vision and Quarter vision cases are $400 + tax. It is the same price for 4-foot, 5-foot or 6-foot lengths.
Wall cases and Towers are $450 + tax.
​
But you must order before July 30, 2025 else the quoted prices increase by $100.
​
Order direct from VU Case Rentals using this Order Form
​
​
​
​
BUY PROFESSIONAL LIGHTING
We receive NO COMMISSION on these lights and highly recommend them. They are by Show Off Lighting which is synonymous with heavy duty, professional grade LED light poles. They pay for themselves after 4-6 shows by not having to rent lesser grade lighting as well as increased sales from a more attractive booth. These units collapse into little more than 2 feet long and completely wake up your booth. One double light will illuminate two 8-foot tables. There are lots of options to consider, so we'll send you to Show Off Lighting's website for their MILWAUKEE specials. You must reserve in advance! Take me to Show Off Lighting's website.
FUTURE SHOW DATES AND HALL SIZE
These are our contracted dates and halls with the Baird Center. We have until 2028 to become America’s single largest mineral, fossil, gem & jewelry show under one roof. It’s a commitment that includes a $1 million advertising investment. Will you join us and be part of the excitement?
