Cold Storage and Boneyard
Cold storage — also called the boneyard — is where your empty crates, cases, and packaging materials are stored during the show. This page explains how cold storage works and what you need to do to use it.
What Is Cold Storage?
Once your booth is set up and your product is on display, the empty crates and packaging used to ship your materials need to go somewhere. ST Productions picks up these empties and stores them off-floor in the boneyard until the show ends. At move-out, your empties are returned to your booth so you can repack your shipment.
How to Get Your Empties to Cold Storage
For ST Productions to pick up your empties, they must be:
- Clearly labeled with an "EMPTY" sticker — these are provided at the Exhibitor Services Desk
- Wrapped or sealed — loose lids, straps, or padding must be secured to the crate or case
- Staged at the aisle once your setup is complete
Unlabeled or unwrapped empties will not be picked up and may be removed by the venue as trash.
Cold Storage Is Not Accessible During the Show
Once your empties are in the boneyard, you cannot retrieve them until move-out. Cold storage is located off-site or in restricted areas of the venue, and retrieval during show hours is not possible. Make sure you have everything you need for the show on the floor before releasing your empties.
Hot Storage (Accessible Storage)
If you need access to your inventory during the show — for restocking product, swapping displays, or pulling backup materials — you can purchase hot storage. Hot storage is located on-site and accessible during show hours, typically with a same-day or next-morning retrieval window.
Hot storage is billed separately from drayage and cold storage. Contact us to order hot storage in advance of your show.
Summary
- Cold storage / boneyard: free with drayage, not accessible during the show, empties returned at move-out
- Hot storage: paid service, accessible during show hours, for product you need to access
- Both require proper labeling and wrapping