Free Foyer Furniture from ALIA?

ALIA has a bit of a problem.
The very helpful event furniture provider for the Entech Show want to hire us a couple of two-seater couches, a coffee table and a small counter unit for just $1K for three days use on the ALIA stand. While we’re not against the free-enterprise system, we think that this may be a slightly frivolous use of the Association’s money, so we have been trying to come up with a better idea.

We think that if we buy the furniture new and throw it in the dumpster at the end of the show it will still cost us about $1k. However if we buy the furniture then lend it to an ALIA member business to use in their foyer until the next trade show, it will still cost $1k for this show but nothing for the next one. The deal would be that the member company would have to pick up and deliver the furniture to future trade shows, but otherwise have the free, careful use of the furniture for about 360 days a year.

If you have any comments or suggestions about this idea, or would be interested in participating in such a hare-brained scheme, please pop over to the ALIA Forums and have your say.