February 13, 2019in Business advice 0 Likes

The graphic hare and the business turtle: a reverse fable of a winner deal.

We’ve all heard the story of the race between the turtle and the hare, where the turtle’s constancy defeats the hare’s speed. And it is usually true, except when it’s not. While it is obvious why exhibitors want to take booth graphic design in their own hands, we want you to consider the available options. Good trade show booth suppliers are in business to keep you in business. They help you be as fast as the hare without losing your business shell, nor the race to the trade show. Read about the main reasons to let an expert help with your booth graphics.

Impact

Graphic design effectiveness depends on the contextual application. This means creating a great brochure requires a different skill set than the one used in a trade show booth. The point here is you don’t have to be an exhibit expert, nor hire one, to get the maximum booth impact with your graphics. Good exhibit suppliers and manufacturers offer free services* that will help you achieve your goals at no extra cost, and will be as fast as you need them to be.

Proper visual branding

If you already have a brand manual, you know what a delicate task it is to create pieces that adhere to the manual’s guidelines adequately and coherently. Considering the scale factor of large format graphics, there’s a great risk that your usual graphic process doesn’t quite apply for the challenge of a trade show. Take advantage of professional services* and let them optimize your booth graphics to match the brand manual and maximize display impact. If you are still working on your brand manual, no need to panic. As long as you have a clear vision of what you want to communicate, a good graphic designer can help translate that into an attractive layout that will entice visitors to your booth.

High Definition Graphics

There’s a complex technical process involved in the printing of your graphics. Starting with the digital pre-processing, you need to ensure that colors are vibrant, that a proper resolution for the desired scale is used, and that sharpness is maintained. A good designer offers expertise to ease the process and keep costs low for your business. There are many details to consider, from proper black formulation to adequate gradations that don’t result in unsightly banding. It does pay to let an expert take proper care of these technicalities.

Lighting and accessories

The graphic printing process entails compensating for such external factors as illumination and positioning of accessories in your booth. Usually, even skilled graphic designers lack the experience to properly accomplish a 3D composition that accounts for shadows, obstacles, and variable lighting.

Standing out

Colors and sharpness, luminance, brightness, and composition are a heavyweight to balance with one hand. Graphic designers spend years learning how to combine colors and textures to achieve winning layouts. They can provide valuable input to allow your vision to communicate the message in a more clear and convincing image.

The secret to understanding the turtle’s story are the hidden costs: in the case of large-scale graphic design, learning by trial and error is an impossibly expensive process. And when you have an opportunity to let a graphic expert give you a free ride to your marketing goal, you should listen to the hare within you. Such a valuable service doesn’t have to cost you more.

*Exhibitdeal.com offers free graphic design as part of your deal. Contact our trade show experts about it. Conditions and limitations in our free graphic design services apply. Contact us at sales@exhibitdeal.com or call 866-577-DEAL right now!

January 30, 2019in Business advice 0 Likes

Why Trade Show Exhibiting Is Necessary, Despite Budget Limitations

We know it is hard for a new business to take a deep financial breath and plunge into the seemingly cold water of trade show exhibiting. Like all things business, face-to-face marketing returns are not obvious nor immediate but are worth the effort. We want to assure you that there are hidden treasures down there and that you’ll be able to catch your breath after the dive and be glad you took the risk.

To start with, there are conventions, events and trade shows for every budget. Tight budget or not, ask yourself this question: if you’re not making a resounding statement on the market about your business, and if you don’t want to announce your presence with a handshake, why are you in business?

The basics: choose wisely

So the question is not whether to attend but to strategically decide where and when to exhibit. Work with reachable goals that integrate coherently with your strategy. Your goals and achievements will expand as your business grows. You are in control, so you don’t have to worry. However, try to make a rational decision. Maybe you’re at once considering to boldly go where all the big brands go —to the more expensive trade shows—. Maybe you want to just show up at a local venue. The decision is not to be taken lightly, so use your demographics and market analyses to know precisely where and how can you maximize exhibit impact.

Diminishing costs over time

Getting your feet wet is the best way to feel the water, but once you’re knee-deep, you may as well swim. Once the decision is made to start exhibiting, and after you get all your trade show plans straightforwardly executed, you’ll never stop. Why? Leave aside that you’ll love it, that the returns are simply great, and that your impact will grow exponentially as you reach a larger audience in person. Doing trade shows repeatedly will have a great behind-the-scenes effect: after an initial investment in smart trade show displays, your costs don’t have to increase. Instead, as you gain experience, you’ll spend less time and less money on planning and execution. Also, with a better understanding of trade show exhibits, you’ll discover ways to cut corners and redirect resources to maximize returns.

Smart buying

Like most people, you’ve been to the ocean for fun. However, when you are going to explore a coral reef, or want to go scuba diving, you need a professional you can count on. There are risks on the high seas, and avoiding them is crucial for survival. The trade show waters are apparently calm, but you need a partner to navigate them, not only a vendor.

That’s why ExhibitDeal was created: to offer a wide selection of displays and help you buy smart. For us, smart buying means an experienced partner has selected the best quality for you at the best price. You can rely upon our offer to cut through the learning curve. Decide what your budget is, and we offer what’s best for you with that price tag. With us, no budget limit will keep you from creating a commanding presence in the trade show.

It is a simple process. You can act now!

Here at ExhibitDeal you’ll find a solution for any event you can think of. So, start with your planning, set your budget and define your goals. You know your business, so once you’ve chosen your path, you can count on us to take you there. Navigating our site should be a pleasant, no-hassle experience. You’ll find what you need. What are you waiting for?

September 16, 2016in Point of Purchase Displays 0 Likes

Exhibit Spotlight: Miso Pup Luxury Carriers

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Need a safe way to take what’s most precious with you? Today we put the spotlight on Miso Pup, puppy sized carriers. Miso Pup’s brand booth is a well executed use of classic, cost effective displays can help your products make a splash. We hope you’ll get some cool ideas here to use at your next event.

Who is Miso Pup?

miso-pup-logoMiso Pup positions themselves as the lifestyle brand for those who want the best, most luxurious transport comfort. Miso Pup was created from the true desire to provide PupSize® pet parents with thoughtfully designed products that allow them to “Take, Carry and Spoil” their little one. Miso Pup brand is based on an extraordinary passion and commitment to keep pups happy, healthy and by your side or in your lap.

Concept to Completion

With SuperZoo 2016 fast approaching, and Miso Pup’s new PupSize carrier line ready to debut, the ExhibitDEAL production team sprang into action to help Michelle meet her deadline.  The venue was Las Vegas’ famed Mandalay Bay Convention Center this past August 2-4th.

Let’s see how Michelle’s vision translated into art design, production and a successful exhibit presence.

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Table throw and TuboZip backwall art designed to fit the personality and target market of Miso Pup brand.

Debut at SuperZoo 2016

The Miso Pup booth, largely influenced by the vision of creator Michelle Lau, shows a clever design reminiscent of a brick and mortar boutique can do a great job of calling the right attention to your brand. Michelle’s product focused booth decided on the functional, classic backwall and table throw combo.

“I initially was looking for some sort of seating and display options. I knew I wanted a backdrop and wanted to create a look that would reflect Miso Pup.
When I decided to participate in our first trade show, SuperZoo, I searched high and low for a way to create an atmosphere that would stand out. I found Exhibitdeal on the internet.

Speaking with Exhibitdeal, we discussed the pros and cons of each product I was considering. With a fairly limited budget and their knowledge of the products, narrowing down my options was easy.”
Michelle Lau | Owner | Miso Pup

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This 10ft TuboZip Tension Fabric display acts as the booth backdrop, cleverly designed to simulate a locally owned storefront. This is a great way to reinforce the personality and setting associated with your brand.

“I wanted to create an inviting space within the 10 x 10 booth, but I needed a lightweight, portable and affordable solution. As a startup, and being by myself, I knew I needed something that I could carry, assemble and dismantle myself. I also wanted to create something that could easily be transported, if we decided to do other events out of state.
The Exhibitdeal team was so helpful. They sent me photos to give me an idea of booth space. I found a stock image online that would work and then mocked up some changes. The Exhibitdeal art department was great, they created the perfect image based on my drafts.
Michelle Lau | Owner | Miso Pup

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Continuing the “traditional storefront” theme, these two elegant white table covers present a stylized design reminiscent of an old fashioned hard wood table.

“The Miso Pup booth was a hit at the show. We received so many compliments on our booth and product line. The appearance of our booth really helped us solidify our placement in the pet industry, as a new and innovative game changer.
Honestly, the display was perfect. It came neatly packed in its own case (with wheels), which made it easy to get into the convention center. There are so many rules as to how, what and when you can set up. Wheeling in the backdrop and setting it up, by myself was truly effortless. I was so impressed and happy with the matching symbols on the frame, putting it together was a breeze.”

Michelle Lau | Owner | Miso Pup

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Michelle Lau with her merchandise displayed at SuperZoo 2016.

“Even though the display was a little more than I planned to spend, everyone was so friendly and helpful I knew I wanted to work with ExhibitDEAL.

They made everything super easy and the graphic art department created what I couldn’t myself. John and Gene were absolutely awesome. This was our first trade show and they made everything so easy.”

Michelle Lau  | Owner  | Miso Pup

Looking Ahead

Miso Pup’s booth graphics were designed to fit into a retail brand environment and not just focus on the pet industry. With this aforethought, Michelle plans to continue using her display and table throws at bigger retail industry trade shows to help her create awareness about her products.

The feedback from SuperZoo 2016 was so positive that Miso Pup has expressed interest in adding displays to grow their booth presence for the next show.

We hope you enjoyed this inside look at how we support emerging needs for the Miso Pup brand. From concept to order it has been a fulfilling collaboration we’re proud to be a part of.

The ExhibitDEAL team can be reached at Sales@Exhibitdeal.com or call 866-577-DEAL, we’d love to put our experience to work for you.

August 8, 2016in Trade Show Advice 0 Likes

How to Avoid These 10 Event Planning Mistakes

Today we take a look at some Trade Show Event Planning Mistakes as discussed over at the Tradeshow Guy Blog. These are good general tips for starting out that any new exhibitor should keep in mind. You’ll want to keep your booth setup quick and straight forward and pay attention to your placement. Since depending on your budget, you may not be able to overshadow your competitors with sheer display size and flashiness.

You’ll want to leverage any free or inexpensive marketing media you can, like social channels and pre-show email marketing. Always stay attentive to the goals of your brand and the trade show venue where you are presenting.  This article comes from Tradeshow Guy guest writer, Miriam Couturie. So let’s check them out!

Event planning is no easy task, but it’s a vital part of marketers’ jobs. Companies spend about 20 percent of their budgets on marketing for events. Plus, 67 percent of business-to-business marketers find marketing at events as one of the most effective ways to meet future clients and customers. This is your opportunity to shine as a brand at the exact moment customers are most open to new relationships and budget allocation for upcoming initiatives. Don’t let that opportunity slip away by making these easily avoidable mistakes.

Mistake #1 Being Invisible

Blending into the background is never a good idea. The whole point of attending events is to advertise, so standing out is a must. With so many others at your events, get creative to draw some attention to your booth. Don’t just show up with a white tent. Make sure to invest in one that has your logo. You can also consider adding giveaways or games to your booth to make it more interesting. Even a little music can go a long way. Finally, make sure to bring business cards so that it’s easy to swap contact information and follow through on next steps.

Mistake #2 Sending the Wrong People

Your staff represents you and your company so send team members who really know what they’re talking about, and that you would feel comfortable speaking to your best clients. If you send people who can’t speak to your brand or products, your company may appear incompetent and could hurt your image.

Mistake #3 Poor Location

It’s your job to select the perfect spot for your event. Locations depend on the nature of the gathering — you probably wouldn’t choose a small, quiet cafe for a big tech conference. The easiest way to avoid this? Aim for high-traffic areas. Put your booth near anything that could end up with a long line. You can feed off the success of free booze bars, or big swag giveaways, and infiltrate those lines to strike up conversations with everyone.

Mistake #4 Difficult Booth Setup

There’s nothing worse than having to rush through setting up a complicated booth. The simplest solution is to look into easy-up tents. Custom outdoor event tents, or even custom canopy tents for indoors, are a great answer. Not only will this take some stress out of the event, but you’ll have greater visibility with custom printed graphics.

Mistake #5 Ignoring Social Media

Social media has become vital: Eighty-four percent of event organizers promote their events on Facebook, and 61 percent use Twitter. Don’t think that because you’re attending in person, you can bypass social media. Instead, design a custom hashtag and encourage booth visitors to use it. Many events promote their own hashtags that can help advertise your tent and company. Posting photos of your booth/tent and posing for photos with other social media active attendees will give you a deeper reach into the community, so don’t be shy. Be the life of the party online and off.

Mistake #6 Underestimating Costs

Events are expensive, and not allowing wiggle room in your budget is a vital mistake. Maybe there’s an entry fee you didn’t know about, or one of your props breaks and needs replacing. Fact is, you can always have to expect the unexpected so be prepared to spend more than you planned. Plus, with event costs increasing by between 2.5 and 5 percent each year, this year’s booth will likely cost a little more than last year’s.

Mistake #7 Not Making Your Website Mobile-Friendly

Because 44 percent of attendees use their phones at events, it’s vital to have a mobile-friendly website. That means moving away from tiny font and photos, aiming for data that is visible, and clickable, on a Smartphone. Chances are that your booth visitors will be looking at your website to view your product line, but if your website is not mobile- friendly, you could end up losing out on sales. This is a risk, you do not want to take and must avoid at all cost.

Mistake #8 Leaving the Booth Unattended

You went through all the trouble of signing up, paying for, traveling to, setting up, and planning your day around manning the booth …. Why are you wandering around and abandoning your booth? What if you walked into Starbucks and no one was behind the counter? What if you went into Best Buy and there were no nerds in blue shirts around to help you find the giant TV you probably don’t need? Event booths are useless without you at the help.

Mistake #9 Paying Full Registration Price

Event registrations take up a big chunk of cash. But because nearly 65 percent of event planners believe early-bird discounts are a great way to promote events, by thinking ahead you can find discounted prices, leaving extra room in your budget for an outstanding booth.

Mistake #10 Forget to Follow-Through

Attending the event is only the beginning of a marketer’s work. After meeting potential customers or clients at an event, it is vital to gather their contact information. Business cards are ideal — hand out your own, too. Follow up within a week after the event, so you and your company are still fresh in their minds.
Conclusion

By avoiding these mistakes, your event is sure to go off without a hitch. Taking these steps can help you stand out in a large crowd of other businesses and attract more attention and new clients and customers. Avoiding these common mistakes can do wonders for your company.

You were already doing all these things, right? Of course you were!  Many of these general pitfalls can be difficult to avoid – choosing a location is first come first served and budget may be a limiting factor in many of these tips. At any rate, getting started early will help you be choosy as much as possible and hunt for the best DEALS.  It is more difficult to be creative and make a big splash when planning your next event, if you get started nice and early.

Have questions on what booth displays and accessories will give you the most benefit at your next show? We have created and even repaired thousands of trade show exhibits, give the ExhibitDEAL team a call to discuss some cost effective solutions that will help you to look fantastic on your exhibition day.

ExhibitDEAL can be reached at Sales@ExhibitDeal.com or call 866-577-DEAL, we’d love to put our experience to work for you.

July 15, 2016in Trade Show Advice 0 Likes

Tips for Improving Your Trade Show Meeting ROI

When attending a trade show, one of the most important goals of your exhibit booth team should be scheduling and meeting with companies you would like to work with. Your company is there first and foremost to represent your brand and create awareness about what you do, as well as your latest products.

The best ways to capitalize on all the effort of planning and attending a trade show for your company is to engage in pre-show marketing and outreach from your sales team to schedule valuable meetings with their accounts or leads.

This week we feature the insights of Anne Thornley-Brown at PlanYourMeetings.com who shares many valuable thoughts on how to prioritize and follow up on your meetings in order to properly benefit from the efforts leading up to them.
Check out these excellent tips to improving your after trade show return on investment. Let’s have a look!

Your meeting/conference is over. Attendees have returned to their homes and offices. What happens next will have a direct impact on how participants perceive the value of your event.

It’s important that they retain the valuable tips, information and strategies you offered. It’s even more important that they be able to apply what they learned.

Follow-up is one of the most important aspects of event design, but it’s also the most neglected areas of corporate event planning. Here are 11 steps you can take to achieve measurable ROI.
Before your meeting adjourns

Rule of three.Give participants time to identify three specific tips, insights or strategies they learned and pinpoint how they will use them when returning to work. It’s in the mail. Ask participants to write this information down, put it in an unsealed envelope and address it.

Do this after the last break. if you leave it until the end of your meeting, you’ll miss anyone who slipped out early.
Take note. Go through the envelopes and make note of participants’ comments. Use this information when communicating the event’s value the next year.

After your meeting

Go video.Consider posting clips with highlights from keynotes and breakout sessions on YouTube. In the real world. Include specific tips for applying the meeting content in the real world. Videos are underused but have a huge impact.

Be specific.A week after the meeting, send participants a summary of highlights from both general and breakout sessions. Be sure to include specific suggestions on how the tips, strategies and other content can be used on the job.

Seek feedback.Include the video clips and a survey, so participants can offer feedback about the meeting.
Again, be specific. Offer tangible giveaways to guarantee high participation.

You’ve got mail. Two to three weeks later, mail the envelopes with the follow-up plans to remind participants what they learned and how they planned to apply it.

Track success. Six weeks later, invite participants to share how they’re successfully applying what they learned and the benefits of using the strategies they learned. Share the stories. Publish the success stories in your company or association blog or magazine.

These simple steps will significantly boost the perceived value of your events, conferences and business meetings. And next year, you’ll be glad you have the information.

What do you think? Is planning for trade show meetings both before and afterwards as important as Anne Thornley-Brown affirms?

We love talking about the best exhibit booth designs and accessories that will help you network and generate leads better. From Tables that charge your visitor’s mobile devices to to iPad-ready presentation podiums that put lead tracking right at your fingertips, we have the options to empower your success.

ExhibitDEAL can be reached at Sales@ExhibitDeal.com or call 866-577-DEAL, we’d love to put our experience to work for you.

June 7, 2016in Trade Show Advice 0 Likes

10 Ideas for Off-Floor Marketing to Increase your Exhibit Effectiveness

Source: www.exhibitoronline.com

There is no shortage of knowledge, news and great ideas over at Exhibitor Online. We’ve searched through the latest and greatest in an effort to bring you some of the most interesting and radical trade show marketing techniques out there.

We absolutely love the bold, unconventional and even disturbing ways these brands have literally taken their creativity to the streets. From leveraging the nostalgia of popular culture, to outright alarming pseudo protests. These off-floor campaigns use their unorthodox methods to get heads turning and bring more attention to what their company is doing. So let’s check them out!

Ten examples of off-floor activations that increased exhibiting effectiveness. By Linda Armstrong.

Exhibiting companies have a tendency to trot out every bell and whistle imaginable and attempt to “out-clang” one another on the show floor to win attendee mindshare. However, far too often they overlook the opportunities outside their swath of booth space. After all, promotional potential abounds far beyond the confines of an exhibit.
By extending your efforts into the registration area, the transportation hubs leading to the venue, and even the streets of the host city, you have myriad new opportunities to grasp – allowing you to squeeze even more awareness, sales leads, and return on investment from your spend.

Granted, some shows forbid off-floor activations, and others roll them into paid sponsorships. You’ll need to check the show, venue, and perhaps even host-city regulations if you want to play by the rules. Nevertheless, it’s likely well worth your time to at least consider integrating an off-floor experience into your marketing mix.

Here, then, are several noteworthy examples that helped exhibiting companies increase awareness, distribute product samples, and even foster leads.

Totally Tanked
The sight of an M4 Sherman tank crushing a taxicab will stop just about anyone in their tracks, which is why Wargaming Group Ltd. set up just such a scene in front of the Los Angeles Convention Center during the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). To promote its World of Tanks online game, Wargaming positioned a real Sherman tank atop a bright-yellow Los Angeles cab, whose right side and roof had been crushed by the 30-ton vehicle. The M4 Sherman had actually “precrushed” the cab at a local junkyard in order to meet Los Angeles Fire Department safety codes. But once the cab was delivered to the convention center and the tank was driven atop it by the tank owner and a Wargaming employee, it remained parked – and guarded – in the same locale for the duration of the show. During show hours, staffers invited guests to pose for a photo, courtesy of Wargaming’s photographers. Staff then uploaded and sent the photos to participants to post on social media. Nearby banners directed attendees to the firm’s booth. While permission to host the event was purchased from show management for $50,000, Wargaming felt it was worth the cost. For in addition to generating a flurry of photos and social-media posts, it scored tens of thousands of social-media impressions. You might even say that they crushed it.

Friends With Benefits
Few TV sitcoms achieve more popularity than “Friends,” which aired for almost 10 years, received nominations for 62 Primetime Emmy Awards, and ranked No. 21 on TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Show of All Time. This unbelievable popularity is exactly why Bally Technologies Inc., a manufacturer of slot machines and electronic gaming systems, launched its “Friends”-themed progressive video slot machine. To generate attention for the product at the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas, then, Bally Technologies teamed up with exhibit house Derse Inc. to create a “Friends”-themed photo opportunity in the lobby of the Sands Expo, where G2E was held. The roughly 200-square-foot space, which was secured via sponsorship, recreated the lounge from the TV show’s Central Perk cafe. Here, a sofa, coffee table, and throw rug sat in front of a graphic backdrop featuring an image of the cafe’s interior and the Bally Technologies logo. Old analog TVs stacked eight high on both sides of the graphic panel harkened back to the early ’90s when the show first aired. Two actors portraying the roles of Phoebe and Chandler from the TV show staffed the exhibit (a $30,000 investment that covered the design, construction, materials, and installation). During show hours, a professional photographer was on hand to snap attendees’ photos as they posed on the set. Within 24 hours of being taken, the professional photos were posted at a website (ballytech.smugmug.com) for attendees to share. In addition, the set remained in place after the show closed each day, so attendees could snap a photo any time the venue was open. And by sharing the photos via social media and using the hashtag #BallyFriends, they were entered to win official “Friends” swag courtesy of Bally Technology.

Pets on Parade
IDEXX Laboratories Inc. developed a street-based promotion that was head and shoulders above all others. Going into the 2015 North American Veterinary Community Conference, IDEXX was launching a revolutionary kidney-function test for cats and dogs. Working with Chicago creative agency Live Marketing Inc., IDEXX had planned a high-visibility launch event on the show’s second day, and as such, it needed to draw hoards of attendees to the booth space for the new-product reveal. To do so, the team created a couldn’t-miss street team comprising four greeters in red, IDEXX-branded attire, and two stilt walkers, one wearing a Dalmatian costume, and the other dressed in a poodle suit. Starting the day before the show opened, the group roamed the public areas, restaurants, and hotels around the two Orlando, FL, convention centers where the show was being held. In addition to posing for pictures, the street team also handed out 5-by-7-inch invitations to the product reveal. All told, the stilt walkers, crowd gatherers, and their costumes cost roughly $20,000, but IDEXX felt the investment was well worth it. For while IDEXX hoped to lure 500 people to the booth, it actually attracted 1,000 people, thanks at least in part to its off-floor tactic.

Uber Occupation
At Comic-Con International: San Diego, the folks at USA Network (a media unit of NBCUniversal Inc.) didn’t just host a little street-based activation; they dominated the city’s Gaslamp Quarter with a couldn’t-miss transit stunt, courtesy of a partnership with Uber Technologies Inc. The 300-vehicle activation was an effort to promote the sci-fi TV series “Colony.” Set in the near future after the city of Los Angeles has been occupied by a suppressive force, the series centers on one family’s struggle to bring liberty back to the people. Throughout the show, the occupying power uses militant enforcers, aka Redhats, to maintain control. At Comic-Con, then, USA Network attempted to occupy San Diego by blanketing the Gaslamp Quarter near the convention center with fully costumed Redhats and “Colony” branded military vehicles and SUVs offering free Uber rides. To promote the stunt prior to the show, USA Network teased the event via Twitter, and Uber sent out an eblast to all San Diego riders. When the campaign went live, an in-app Uber message further promoted the activation to San Diego riders. Thus, between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. July 9 â?” 11, 2015, attendees and San Diego residents alike could access the Uber app and choose a “Colony”-branded, retrofitted SUV or Pinzgauer military vehicle. Inside, riders found a driver (who was hired by USA Network and trained by Uber) and an ambassador, both of which were dressed as Redhats. Throughout the ride, the pair expounded on the new series (set to debut in early 2016), and handed out postcards promoting the series and a star-studded “Colony” panel presentation at the show. Riders received their own logo-adorned red berets similar to those worn by the Redhats. In addition, USA Network branded pedicabs and bikes from ride-share program DecoBike San Diego with the series’ logo and distributed even more post-card wielding Redhats throughout the Gaslamp Quarter. All told, the activation received more than 10,000 ride requests and operated at approximately 90- to 100-percent capacity for the duration of the three-day event. Talk about a military takeover.

Fresh-Fruit Freebies
An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but it can also generate show-wide awareness. Or at least that’s what happened when Vita-Mix Corp. staged an apple-centric promotion at Ambiente, a consumer-goods trade show in Frankfurt, Germany. Going into the show, marketers wanted attendees to understand that Vita-Mix brand blending products can be used to make health-conscious soups, sorbets, raw-food dishes, and even full meals – thereby fostering a healthy lifestyle. To that end, the firm’s exhibit house, Derse Inc., crafted a stunning booth featuring literally hundreds of apples embedded into translucent Plexiglas walls. To relay this health-centric message and apple theme to even more of the show’s 144,000 attendees, marketers secured a show sponsorship that allowed them to set up two off-floor activations in main corridors leading from adjoining hotels to the convention center. Heading toward the main venue during show hours, attendees first stumbled upon a distribution station where staff continually made fresh smoothies and distributed them to passerby, many of whom were drawn to the display by the sound of the whirring blenders. Meanwhile, a second display further down the hallway more closely tied to the apple theme. Here, attendees discovered several large crates of apples and banner stands extolling the virtues of Vita-Mix blenders. A gloved staffer handed out apples, which featured the Vita-Mix logo and booth number in safe-to-eat printed text, and directed people to a healthy-blending demonstration in the exhibit. The two-pronged activation cost roughly $14,500, which is a pittance considering the apple tactic alone distributed approximately 2,500 apples each day of the show – generating show-wide awareness and helping Vita-Mix meet or exceed all of its booth-related objectives.

A Mock March
To promote its bed-bug elimination services at the International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show, Steritech positioned nine picketers outside the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center’s main entrance. Supposedly picketing on behalf of the millions of bed bugs killed by Steritech’s services, the sign-wielding actors handed out 4-by-6-inch fliers urging attendees to visit Steritech’s booth and “Speak out for your blood brothers!” The cheeky promotion was on the up and up, as organizers obtained a protest/picketing permit from the City of New York, making it legal to “march.” Costing an estimated $4,000, the promotion extended Steritech’s presence to thousands of attendees and drew many of them to the company’s 10-by-10-foot booth.

Van-tastic Idea
At the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society show in New Orleans, Iatric Systems Inc., a health-care information-technology firm, colored outside the lines with an activation that literally drove brand awareness. The firm was plagued by a relatively diminutive exhibit in the back of the hall, and a miniscule budget that allowed no room for official show sponsorships. Thus, Iatric marketers devised an activation whereby local businesses offered special discounts to HIMSS attendees wearing a colorful Iatric-branded wristband (aka a slap band). To generate interest and awareness for the brand and the “Get Slap Happy!” program, Iatric marketers rented a white panel van and plastered the sides with magnetic graphics featuring messages about the promotion, including Iatric’s logo, images of the bands, and a call to action to visit the booth to pick up a band. Iatric then hired a driver to maneuver the van around key routes near the convention center at prime times when people were coming and going from the venue. The driver even honked and waved to draw the attention of the 35,000 attendees that were milling about. In addition, Iatric parked the rented van outside of a key off-site hospitality event it hosted for C-level attendees. All told, Iatric paid $150 to rent the van and $100 for the magnetic signs. But the brand awareness generated by this simple moving billboard was priceless.

Devil Worship
When you’re launching a TV series based on the iconic horror film “The Omen,” a traditional marketing approach is about as bland as angel-food cake. Therefore, to introduce its upcoming “Damien” series (set to air in 2016) at Comic-Con International: San Diego, A&E Network staged a devilish activation that was a deliberate attempt to poke fun at the Christian protesters that have become near-permanent fixtures around the San Diego Convention Center. A&E sent a series of street teams into San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, where they appeared to join the nearby Christian proselytizers. However, upon closer inspection, team members wore black T-shirts with a red “666” on the front and the words “It’s All for You” on the back. Several members also held red and black picket signs featuring text such as “There is only #Damien,” “From Flame Damien Will Rise,” and “My Blood for Him.” Team members handed passersby pins featuring three sixes and pamphlets directing them to www.ItsAllforYou.com, a promotional microsite that warned “He is the only way to deal with the coming end.” Meanwhile, pamphlets proclaimed that “The end of days is near!” and cautioned onlookers against the coming “great atrocities all around.” Over the course of three days, the street teams handed out 15,000 pamphlets and 10,000 pins; plus, “Damien” netted 9,000 Twitter mentions and more than 30,000 Facebook engagements during that same time. What’s more, 25 news outlets, such as The New York Times, Wired, AdAge, The Hollywood Reporter, and others, featured news of the activity, resulting in 12.5 million unique impressions during the show. Now that’s a devilishly good idea.

Orange Swarm
For a little person in a giants’ world, it’s hard to get your voice heard. That’s why Jacobsen, a Textron Innovations Inc. company, devised its Orange Everywhere off-floor strategy for the Golf Industry Show in San Diego. While the company is among the top three U.S. providers of professional turf equipment, its name recognition pales in comparison to its two major competitors. Therefore, Jacobsen and its exhibit house, 3D Exhibits Inc., set out to develop show-wide brand awareness on the streets of San Diego instead of right next to major competitors. Prior to the show, Jacobsen purchased 2,000 corporate-orange, branded wristbands that it intended to hand out to attendees. The idea was to blanket the show in Jacobsen orange. To prompt people to wear the bands, Jacobsen would position roving ambassadors throughout the convention areas, where they’d distribute free “Orange Everywhere” T-shirts to anyone wearing the band. However, Jacobsen had to first get the bands in attendees’ hands. Held in the San Diego Gaslamp Quarter the night before the show opened, Jacobsen’s hospitality event served as a key distribution point. As attendees walked to the venue, they saw the orange Jacobsen logo projected onto the exterior of a major hotel and five orange Dodge Chargers parked in front of the building. Together with the logo, the cars, which were each emblazoned with Orange Everywhere logos on their doors and hoods, seemed to brand the whole district as Jacobsen territory. After attendees partied the night away and exited the club wearing their wristbands, pedicab bike operators sporting orange T-shirts offered them a free lift back to their hotels. Almost 1,000 people donned the bands before the show even opened, creating a show-wide curiosity factor. Finally, 20 brand ambassadors dressed in Jacobsen orange filled nearby environs during the show, and handed out branded orange T-shirts to those wearing a band. Jacobsen’s tactic also aided show-floor results, as the firm doubled the number of leads collected compared to the previous year.

Tea Mobile
October temperatures in Las Vegas can top out in the low 90s. And when you’re trekking from a hotel to the show venue, that’s warm enough to work up a thirst. So at the National Association of Convenience Stores Show, Red Diamond Inc., a provider of coffee and tea products, took advantage of that heat-induced thirst by setting up an off-floor oasis. After contacting the Las Vegas Monorail Co., the company rented a prime locale at the monorail stop adjacent to the convention center. Here, it stationed a service desk, graphics, and coolers filled with ice-cold Ready-to-Drink Tea pints. Starting before the show opened and extending after it closed each day, staff handed out samples and directed people to the Red Diamond booth. By bringing the tea to the people in their hour of thirst, Red Diamond touched more attendees than it would have otherwise. Plus, the company made a lasting impression by quenching attendees thirst exactly when they needed it most.

Pretty risque ideas right? It is clear to see that sometimes a great idea for generating a buzz is going to run the risk of putting off a few people. As the old saying in show business goes “there is no such thing as bad publicity.” While these campaigns are very brand specific, if you leverage their unique approach you can create awareness far beyond the trade show like you never thought possible.

Have questions on what booth displays and accessories will give you the most benefit at your next show? We have created and even repaired thousands of trade show exhibits, give the ExhibitDEAL team a call to discuss some cost effective solutions that will help you to look fantastic on your exhibition day.

ExhibitDEAL can be reached at Sales@ExhibitDeal.com or call 866-577-DEAL, we’d love to put our experience to work for you.

May 23, 2016in Display Education 0 Likes

Adapting Community Venues for Outdoor Events

Community spaces are often what makes a city memorable. They are designed to embody the spirit of the city in which they represent and offer an enjoyable place for locals and tourists to appreciate where they live and check out events that cater to the values of the city’s culture. So why not leverage these areas for business and in turn, helping finance and bring attention to available amenities of the city.

On that note, this week’s featured article by Harriet Edleson discusses how strategically minded cities are adapting their civic spaces to be more functional for industry events – and therefore able to profit the city as a conference venue.

When the Goldhirsh Foundation hosted a reception for its grant winners in October, it brought more than 200 guests to Performance Lawn at the 12-acre Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles.

Magenta furniture and round cocktail tables dotted the lawn, and as guests checked in they received wristbands and tickets for food trucks parked in the adjacent Olive Court. “They could have had the event anywhere,” says Lucas Rivera, director of Grand Park for the Los Angeles Music Center, which oversaw a recent $56 million renovation of the park. “They chose our space because of its location with a beautiful view of iconic City Hall.”

Like other outdoor civic venues, Grand Park’s location—with its backdrop—helps it attract events. To compete with the private sector for event business, though, a view alone isn’t enough. That’s why newly renovated and planned outdoor civic venues across the country are incorporating event-friendly amenities such as the latest audiovisual technology, catering prep space, and safety and security features, as well as focusing on basics such as a smooth layout and attractive landscaping.

The setting at Dilworth Park in Philadelphia was upgraded with a $55 million renovation in September 2014. The space was designed with public and private gatherings in mind and holds 4,000 people for festival-style events. Located next to Philadelphia City Hall, the park incorporates new lighting, audiovisual projection, a sound system, and a fountain that can be programmed. Other features include security cameras, pedestrian lighting, and free Wi-Fi throughout the park.

“The goal was to transform it into a beautiful space,” says Sarah Anello, venue sales specialist for Center City District/Central Philadelphia Development Corporation. “It was multilevel before and difficult to navigate.” Now, there are permanent granite benches and colorful metal furniture in yellow, blue, pink, and green. Trees and buildings provide adequate shade. “It’s clean, well-maintained, and safe.”

Location will make Washington’s planned 11th Street Bridge Park—projected to open in the summer of 2018—distinctive. “It’s the only space in Washington, D.C., where you can have an event over the river,” says Scott Kratz, director of the 11th Street Bridge Park, a project of Building Bridges Across the River at TheArc.

The elevated park is being developed on top of the pylons of the old bridge, which was removed and replaced with three new bridges. A design competition for the new park drew 81 submissions, and officials chose the landscape architecture firm of OMA and Olin Design. The park will contain a performance space, an environmental education center, and an interactive play space, as well a offer kayaking in the Anacostia River, and urban agriculture, Kratz says.

The long, narrow three-acre park will be 1,100 feet long and 160 feet wide, the equivalent of three football fields. Kratz says the center of the park will have a large open space suitable for tenting. Guests will have views of the U.S. Capitol, the Washington Monument, National Park, planes taking off and landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport, and the famous fireworks on the Fourth of July. “We want to make sure this is a real icon for the nation’s capital,” Kratz says.

Guests at the San Diego Library’s Qualcomm Dome Terrace can gaze out at San Diego Bay and the mountains from the 900-square-foot space that fits neatly under the distinctive 140-foot diameter steel dome, the library’s signature feature.

“In addition to the spectacular view, it’s such a unique space being right under the dome,” says Marion Moss Hubbard, senior public information officer for the San Diego Library, which opened the new building in September 2013. Located on the library’s ninth floor, the terrace holds 129 people for events and has behind-the-scenes amenities such as a prep kitchen accessible by elevator. “It’s a controllable area,” good for mixing and mingling, Hubbard says. “It’s easy to keep the group all together.”

Have questions on what booth displays and accessories will give you the most benefit at your next show? We have created and even repaired thousands of trade show exhibits, give the ExhibitDEAL team a call to discuss some cost effective solutions that will help you to look fantastic on your exhibition day.

ExhibitDEAL can be reached at Sales@ExhibitDeal.com or call 866-577-DEAL, we’d love to put our experience to work for you.

April 15, 2016in Exhibit Deal News 0 Likes

ExhibitDEAL Showroom Grand Opening Event

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We want to extend a big thank you from all of us at ExhibitDEAL to everyone who attended our Grand Opening event. We hope all of you who could make it to the unveiling of our new showroom enjoyed yourselves. Hopefully it was an energetic and enlightening experience full of meeting new people. Attendees were able to network with other business owners, learn trade show success tips from industry veteran Rick Goldman and experience our production process first hand like never before.

And what trade show event is complete without take home swag? In addition to exquisite food and drink, visitors were offered an always useful handbag and carved wooden puzzle to master.

Did you sign up for the raffle to win a FREE 10ft display? We ended the night’s festivities by unveiling the winner of the grand prize, Juan Ceballos from Icon Network! Juan will have his choice of our most popular tension fabric display systems: the 10ft TuboZip or Tenso pop-up backwall valued at $1000!

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Maria Daza announces Juan Ceballos as the free 10ft display prize winner

Our clients often ask our sales team about the printers and techniques we use to achieve such high resolution reproductions of their art on a large scale. Without our production process we’ve perfected over more than a decade, there could be no ExhibitDEAL. It is no wonder why we are so passionate about what we do. From our traditional 1200 DPI authentic Hewlett Packard inkjet printers, two new fabric transfer printers or our in-house product testing and assembly, every step of the process is designed to give you the best looking and highest quality product possible.

One of the most eye-catching attractions we had running during the event was our wide format dye-sublimation heat press. We very much enjoyed sharing the science and finesse required to transfer art from the printed paper to our high quality washable fabric.

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Maria Daza shows off our dual dye-sublimation transfer printers that allow us to keep up with the high volume of fabric projects

Our two new transfer printers and their heat press used to finish the paper prints onto fabric have become the crown jewel of our in-house production. Producing all manner of fabric trade show displays big and small now accounts for the majority of our customer orders. Since opening our fabric display department, our production team has tripled in size and we are showing no signs of slowing down!

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Andres Leyva and Devon Start teach customers about the dye-sub heat press technique where keeping tension is crucial

Pushing the envelope to achieve the latest printing techniques and product designs is very important to our mission. Our new facility houses one of the only heat press fabric transfer machines of this size in all of Southwest Florida.  Investing in a dye-sublimation heat press that can accommodate prints more than 104″ wide encourages our client’s imagination to run wild with custom booth layouts like never before.

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Devon Start tells how printed art is heated till it becomes a gas and sublimates onto fabric where it dries again

The sublimated end result appears before your eyes as muted, pale colored prints roll through the felt drum barrel at 400° and appear out the other side as fully dried, now vibrantly colored finished prints. Our production team is always excited by the response shown toward seeing the process in live action.

The showroom opening really shined as an informal opportunity for our customers, both newcomer and veteran to get hands-on with our trade show displays and accessory options. The entire ExhibitDEAL sales team engaged in answering questions with personalized tours of our facility. The new showroom offers diverse examples of classic 10ft and 20ft popup photomural and fabric backwalls as well as more custom solutions like an L-curve corner wall, Silicone Edge Graphic (SEG) Lightbox or even a Star-shape 3-sided freestanding island booth for a 20 x 20 space.

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Juan Santos discusses the pros and cons of two display models

An experienced trade show exhibitor knows that getting noticed by attendees or not makes all the difference. A successful conference is about being able to show you generated a stack of qualified contacts, versus just another marketing expenditure so your team can say “yeah, we were there.” When your company is represented in their booth on exhibition day, they need unique tools that help them not only stand out, but be remembered.

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Andres Leyva points out the newly launched Boomerang SOLO Glow Counter, a backlit accessory for when getting more expressive matters

For many exhibitors, an all purpose banner wall or curved pop-up is a good fit that represents your brand professionally across a variety of industry conferences. But when the budget and setting allow for something a little more creative, our gallery includes many brilliant choices to help you turn eye contact into a firm handshake. We know that the more your brand gets noticed and remembered, the more likely they are to reach out to you to do business after the show.

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John Cornell, Director of Sales at ExhibitDEAL shows the advantages of popular retractable banner stands
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John Cornell shows off the removable, reusable graphic adhesive, PhotoTex

Having an eye-catching, professional display with a good message is only half the battle however. Ultimately it is up to your booth staff to capitalize on the attention you get from that cool setup. Unless you have been to a few trade shows, many people find themselves floundering to introduce themselves without much of a game plan. So to help give everyone some clever tips to help them exhibit like a pro, we brought in someone who knows a thing or two.

Once everyone had a chance to eat, drink and get to know each other we gathered around to learn trade show strategy from one of the best.  Rick Goldman, owner of Ad Excellence and experienced industry expert was the guest speaker who shared his insights that have made his advertising agency a success for over 20 years.

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Rick Goldman, keynote speaker at the ExhibitDEAL showroom opening

During his presentation, Goldman notably pointed out how to capture your attendee’s attention while generating a bit of jealousy in your competitors. Other booths at the show will see how many people are carrying your brand collateral and gifts versus another. This creates an idea in your competitor’s mind that these booth visitors have already been “claimed” or sold by your brand and there is no point in them spending time to get their attention.

Another comment we often hear is that it is difficult to get noticed. There are so many types of displays in varying sizes. It is easy to be overshadowed by the company next to you, especially if it is a large enterprise level brand with a huge budget for marketing. For the “mom and pop” shop and other small businesses it is easy to feel lost in the crowd. As Goldman discusses, finding opportunities to make your marketing clever and unique are crucial to having a successful trade show presence.

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Rick Goldman discusses his tips for trade show success with guests

When visitors at the event were asked what their biggest trade show challenges are they often said “timeline!” Managing the timeline up until the show can be very hectic. Making sure brand materials are ordered, flights are booked and lodging arrangements are all made can be overwhelming. From the agency side, a customer often comes with a concept and art far too close to their exhibition date. This makes every step in the preparation chain more rushed, even forcing a representative to pick up their display on their way to a trade show.

Being noticed at an event, however is not worth much if your booth team is not skilled in sales and networking techniques so they may capitalize on your investment. Being personable and looking for the right opportunities to connect with a trade show attendee so they remember your brand can make all the difference. Make sure they leave with a positive and memorable impression of your brand. When possible, the ever popular trade show giveaway item or “swag” can be that extra reminder you need when months down the line that visitor has a need and is more likely to think of your company to fulfill that need.

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Rick Goldman speaks about how following up with contacts in an informed and timely manner is crucial after trade shows

We hope you enjoyed this inside look at our full service exhibit production and our showroom assortment of fantastic finished display styles. It was a rare occasion to be able to welcome so many guests to learn about a process we are so passionate about. If you missed the event, check out more images of the fun and we hope to see you next time!

A special thank you to all our sponsors and vendors that helped make the night such a success. We couldn’t have done it without local musicians, Night Court and delicious hors d’euvres by Chef Fab Culinary. Complimentary vodka tasting kept the cheer going, courtesy of Lucky Player.

Have questions about how to get started with planning your next trade show event? Backwall displays, accessories, custom projects and branded giveaway items – whatever your needs ExhibitDEAL has you covered for all your promotional needs. Get in touch with our exhibit experts at Sales@exhibitdeal.com or 866-577-DEAL.

May 29, 2015in Trade Show Advice 0 Likes

Trade Show Spring Cleaning for Exhibitors

Those who have researched and purchased trade show displays know that making your brand look its best and present professionally can be a lofty investment. For most this is an understandable “cost of doing business” and is allocated naturally into a company’s marketing budget. What isn’t as easy to overlook is unfortunate mishaps where your exhibit is damaged due to impatience, negligence or simply not being maintained well over the years. We recommend checking out the great tips for Maintaining Your Trade Show Display to Protect Your Investment so your exhibit stands the test of time.

On that note, this week’s featured article by Marlys Arnold discusses many crucial tips for both exhibit maintenance and other considerations you may want to update between convention events.

As the weather warms and flowers begin to bloom, there’s often an urge to do spring cleaning around the house: garage, closets, front yard, you name it.

But what about your exhibit marketing program … have you thought about giving it a thorough spring cleaning as well?

You may still be in the middle of show season, but as things begin to wind down for the summer months (for many exhibitors, anyway), examine the following aspects of your exhibit display and determine:

  • What elements need to be cleaned, fixed or even replaced?
  • Is it time to add new graphic elements or lighting to refresh the look?
  • Are there scratches and dings that need a touch-up?
  • Could the colors or finishes be brought more up to date?
  • How could you rearrange or repurpose the elements you already have? (Known in the fashion world as “shopping your closet.”)

But it’s not just the display that you should be considering during your spring cleaning activities. Also consider the following aspects of your exhibit strategy:

  • Review your list of shows where you exhibit and determine which ones should continue to make the cut vs. which ones could be scaled back or skipped altogether.
  • Evaluate which promotional tools should remain in your toolbox. Assume nothing! What worked in the past doesn’t necessarily still work now.
  • Investigate what new technology is available (there are no shortage of options) and which ones make sense for your exhibit program.
  • Scale back the items you take to hand out at shows – giveaways, collateral materials, etc.
  • Spruce up your follow-up strategy.

By spending some time to refresh and renew, you can make a tired old exhibit look new again.

Have questions on what areas of your trade show booth you should concentrate on updating? We have created and repaired thousands of trade show exhibits, give the ExhibitDEAL team a call to discuss some cost effective solutions that will help you to look fantastic on your exhibition day.

ExhibitDEAL can be reached at Sales@ExhibitDeal.com or call 866-577-DEAL, we’d love to put our experience to work for you.

April 24, 2015in Banner Stands 0 Likes

Exhibit Spotlight: Worldwide Adventures

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This issue of Exhibit Spotlight focuses on the team at Worldwide Adventures where we provide a ‘one-stop shop’ service to fulfill whatever they need.

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Joe Barrio, the owner of Worldwide Adventures has been hunting for 38 years across South Africa, Alaska, and North America. He has fished the Hawaiian Islands, Mexico and Africa as well, bringing his clients to places recommended to have plentiful game, unsurpassed fishing and big game hunting with the most comfortable accommodations to make your worldwide adventure become a reality.

It all starts with a dream – 9 years ago Joe Barrio was working as a swimming pool contractor in Arizona. During the recent economic downturn he decided to step back and take a hunting trip to Africa. Forever changed by the beauty, he began pursuing ways to facilitate guided tours to exotic global locations and began crafting a business model. Realizing there was enough shared interest in exotic big game hunting, he began lining up contracts for safari tours to Africa and hasn’t looked back since.

Whether this is your first safari, 10th safari, or you’re a novice, Joe will prepare you for your world wide adventure!

 

The Mission
When Joe Barrio began looking for avenues to better promote his worldwide safari tours, he wasn’t sure where to begin or display styles he is looking for – he came with a vision.

Worldwide Adventures had limited time to complete their project, but did not yet have a clear idea on what style trade show display they wanted to promote their company, or what they could get with their small business budget.

Joe began researching on the computer and making calls to exhibit retailers, searching for a team that could fulfill his brand’s needs. Joe and John Cornell, Director of Sales at ExhibitDEAL began discussing options to find the “best bang for his buck”. After in-depth discussion, Cornell was able to narrow down recommendations to popular retractable banner stands, table throws, and backdrop HD safari images.

“John Cornell was so easy to work with, the graphics were spot on! His team was able to see my vision and run with it. Everything just fell into place and all came out great. I had called on Thursday, and by Saturday I had my project in hand. The team really pulled through on our tight timeline.

We are always in search of new opportunities and more leads; more qualified people to purchase hunting tours from us. It’s a challenge, you need the right ‘pond’ and right date and venue. You want the right show, you want the right space at the show and there’s a learning curve to it.

Since putting my new exhibit materials to work my lead stream has increased probably 150% overnight. I looked like I had spent a lot but it wasn’t. It completely changed things for me!”
– Joe Barrio | Owner, Worldwide Adventures

Worldwide Adventures booth

Proven Results
The end result Joe was able to achieve was a surprisingly attractive 20ft booth space that utilizes popular traditional convention displays such as banner stands, table throws and wall graphics along with his own unique safari keepsakes. Authentic zebra fur floor “carpets” and eye-catching totems made from legitimately attained elephant tusks welcome visitors into the booth space. The booth elements come together elegantly, a simple but creative pairing that is hard to overlook.

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“Since working with ExhibitDEAL we’ve gotten a lot more attention. Sure you could hang a sheet backdrop with a chair and try to qualify leads, but you’re just not going to look the part.

When you’re selling high end adventure packages but your company branding looks thrown together, that’s what people see; its the impression people get of you. It is important to look the part of what you’re selling or your clients have trouble taking you seriously.”
– Joe Barrio | Owner, Worldwide Adventures

Despite working within a limited budget, Joe’s booth was crafted to highlight the company’s value proposition: taking you on the safari adventure of your life! This focus on generating awareness relies on showing other clients in places they would normally never visit, doing things they normally never could.

The booth came together wonderfully, creating a balanced rustic appeal that puts outdoor enthusiasts right at home. The layout is a great example of achieving a lot with creative use of what you have available and making those assets go to work for you.

“Thanks to John’s input we were able to win best booth of the year at the 2015 Sacramento National Sportman’s Expo, he’s a really good guy.”
– Joe Barrio | Owner, Worldwide Adventures

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“When we found out about the award I was blown out of my socks, I had no idea! I was completely shocked and it was great. It was nice to be acknowledged for my work. You guys saw my vision and what I wanted to do. It’s easy to have a vision but to make it come to life is a whole different ballgame.”
Joe Barrio | Owner, Worldwide Adventures

We were naturally thrilled to hear that Joe had won the “Best Booth of ISE 2015 Sacramento” award. Achievements like these embody the success we want all our clients to reach. Your brand + ExhibitDEAL consultation = a promotional booth that is truly your own.

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“Working with ExhibitDEAL was off the shelf, A+ it was great. I’ve recommended others already!”
Joe Barrio | Owner, Worldwide Adventures

Do you have an upcoming event? ExhibitDEAL offers full service production, including free consultation and 2 hours of complimentary graphic design to get your booth presence started off right. Give us a call at 866-577-DEAL or Email today. Our team of exhibit experts are on hand to answer any questions you have and guide you to the best DEAL.

February 13, 2015in Digital Displays 0 Likes

Tips for Choosing the Best Digital Event Displays

February is “Technology Month” here at ExhibitDEAL and we wanted to share an excellent breakdown of different digital display styles. Head over to our Tech Displays catalog to check out what’s on sale this month!

This week’s featured article by Alex Ross lends insight to the many, many different displays that utilize today’s latest technology. Read more…

The best events are ones whose exciting environment make a lasting impression on attendees. Increasingly, event coordinators are using digital displays as strategic focal points to craft engaging events. . Whether for a trade show, an individual event booth, or an exhibit, going digital boosts the energy at your event and can transform your event from average to awesome.

It isn’t easy to have a smooth event display setup experience though. After being involved in events at various scales, I’ve identified key areas for event coordinators to focus their efforts on.

To make it easier, we created a breakdown of the types of event displays available, when to use them, the software available for running content, and guidance on coordinating logistics come showtime. I included a bonus Pro Tips section at the end with 3 key areas to pay attention to as you create your event display plan.

  1. Types of Digital Event Displays
    1. TVs, Projectors, Jumbotrons, Tablets, Kiosks
    2. TV Stands and Mounting
    3. Indoor v.s. Outdoor Event Displays
  2. Event Display Content & Design
  3. Other Hardware
    1. Media Players
    2. Internet – Ethernet, WiFi, 3G/4G hotspots
  4. Event Display Logistics – where to find help?
  5. Pro Tips

 

1. Types of Digital Displays for Events

Let’s run through the types of event displays, their cost, and ways to set them up.

TVs
TVs range from 24” to 80” and are well-suited as event displays for booths or exhibits. Many events also put screens on stands in key locations around their event floor. You can arrange multiple screens into a single cohesive display wall for big impact in a focal point of your event space. 4k screens are becoming more affordable and are a great way to grab attention as well, although it can be difficult to find engaging content compatible with 4k displays. While a single screen is easy to work with, large quantities of TVs (>5) can quickly become expensive and difficult to transport and store.

Projectors
With projectors, you can create extremely large event displays viewable by thousands of attendees at once. These are best used when you have a large surface (10ft x 6ft or larger) to project upon. If your event will be in a brightly lit area, you’ll need to purchase a high brightness projector for your content to be visible. If you’re placing a projector in a dark area, you can purchase a standard model. Projectors are logistically easier than any of the other display options because they’re light and portable.

Jumbotrons
Jumbotrons require professional event technician setup and are one of the priciest options for event displays. They’re meant for outdoor venues and have a huge impact.

Tablets
Tablets offer a personal, touch-based experience for attendees. You can use them as miniature kiosks at your booth or at key locations throughout your event to gather or convey information. Keep in mind that unlike the other event display options, tablets can only be used by a single person at a time and may form bottlenecks around busy areas of your event. They also offer the lowest ratio between potential viewers and cost because of their small form-factor.

Kiosks
Kiosks can be display-only or touch-screen. Logistically, kiosks are more difficult and expensive to ship than TVs or projectors. It takes at least two people and a dolly to move a single kiosk, and you’ll need freight elevator access to your event in order to move up and down floors. A 42–55”, standing display kiosk will cost around $2,500. Most kiosks come with Windows-based software you can use to load images and video in a loop onto. If you want touch-screen software, it will be much more expensive and you’ll need to employ a kiosk manufacturer or software developer.

Event Displays – TV Stands & Mounting

TVs are a popular choice for event displays and to draw attention to your booth at a trade show. If you’re going to use TVs, you’ll need to know how you’ll set up your screens. You have several options:

Stands
Stands are a versatile option for setting up your TVs. While cheap stands on wheels will cost around $150, if aesthetics matter, you’ll typically spend between $350 and $600 for a good TV stand which can hold a 42–60” display. Stands can be placed anywhere in your booth or event space, but you should typically place them near power and/or internet outlets so that you don’t need to run wire too far

Mounting
You can mount your TVs on a permanent or facade wall. If you take this route, make sure to hire a professional technician with the correct certifications and with adequate insurance in the event the TV falls off and injures somebody. You can use services likeFieldNation, OnForce, WorkMarket, or HomeAdvisor to source professionals.

Transportation
If you’ll be transporting your screens yourself, consider using monitor cases.

Indoor v.s. Outdoor Event Displays

Jumbotrons are the only typical outdoor display listed above. All of the others (projectors, TVs, tablets) are meant for indoor use. If you plan to use them as outdoor event displays, here are a few considerations:

Brightness
If your event will be in the daylight, your screens won’t be visible unless you purchase special high-lumen displays meant for outdoor use. These typically cost $1,000+ more than their standard TV equivalents. If your event will be at nighttime and won’t be too brightly lit, a standard brightness display may suffice.

Weatherproofing
Electronics are extremely vulnerable to the elements. Make sure your displays will be kept dry. Weatherproofing a display costs several hundred dollars and involves placing your television in a special case. You should make sure you purchase a case with dimensions suited for your television. Installation is generally easy, but you may need to familiarize yourself with the case specifications if you plan to use it in conjunction with any stand or mounting hardware. The easiest option is to purchase out-of-the-box weatherproof displays from a manufacturers like SkyVue. Note that such displays will command a price premium over typical LCD televisions.

2. Event Display Content & Design

A display is only as engaging as the content running on it. It’s easy to waste the work you put into setting up your event displays by skimping on the design or strategy of your content. Well-designed content leaves a lasting “Wow!” factor with your attendees, and sets the tone for your event’s atmosphere.

The content you choose impacts how many displays you’ll need, the type of software you’ll need, the computing hardware you’ll need (media player), and whether you’ll require internet connection.

Static Images
If you’re only using your screens to display static images, you might want to consider printing banners instead. Logistically much easier, more reliable. You can have it printed and ready to go weeks in advance of your event, and it won’t be a concern on game day. Remember to budget for a graphic designer to design your images if you don’t have one on-staff.

Images and Video
If you want to show a loop of images and video, you need a simple event display content management system (CMS). You’ll also need to design the images and video, or hire a graphic designer to do so. Custom video is much more expensive to create and will require a more powerful computer to display, so think carefully about whether it’s necessary for the effect you want to achieve.

Most digital signage software vendors offer software capable of running images and video, so pick the one that you enjoy using the most. Enplug offers a simple, easy-to-use interface for uploading and scheduling digital assets via our Graphics app.

Social Media Walls
It has become increasingly popular to use event displays as social media walls, streaming the conversation taking place at the event on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc. We’ve written about the benefits of using a social media at events and how to incorporate it into your sponsorship strategy.

If you want to integrate live social media with your display, you’ll need to choose a software that supports this, and you’ll need an internet connection to your display. We discuss internet connections below. Finding a software that supports both social media, images, and video is difficult. Often-times, instant social media is also extremely pricey. Enplug supports all three and offers instant social media posts through our Twitter wall,Instagram Wall, and other social apps.

Touch-screen
If you want interactive touch-screen way-finding kiosks, you’ll need a custom solution. You can create an app for tablets (iOS or Android), or create custom software for a touch-screen kiosk. In most cases, tablets are the most cost-effective way to create a touch-screen experience for your attendees. You’ll need to employ a mobile app development company to create a custom app, which can become expensive quickly. In most cases, I think the extra money you spend on this custom experience is not worth the added value to your attendees, and you should use an out-of-the-box non-touch solution instead.

3. Other Event Hardware to Consider

Depending on the content you choose to run on your event displays, you may need more than just a TV, power cable, and stand/mount.

Media Players

If you choose a software that doesn’t come with your display, you’ll need a media player (computer) to run the software. Below are your options:

Laptop
You can connect any laptop to a display via a shared input/output between your laptop and the display: HDMI, VGA, DVI, or Display Port. This works for quick-and-dirty event display setups, and may be enough if you’re using a display at your booth. Before doing this, make sure to turn off notifications on your laptop and turn off all applications except your display CMS, so that attendees don’t see embarrassing personal messages.

Dedicated PC
Similar to your laptop, if you have a spare desktop computer laying around you can connect it to your event display. The upside to this compared to your laptop is that you can still use your laptop during the event.

Media Player
Media players are small form-factor computers built specifically for running content on digital screens. Because they’re smaller they’re often more convenient than a full desktop computer, or your own laptop. Most media players use a common operating system like Windows or Android, and you can use any event display CMS compatible with that operating system. If your software needs to connect to the internet, make sure you choose a media player which supports the internet connection you’ll have available – either WiFi or ethernet.

Media players will run from $50 for a simple USB stick to plug into your TV, to $500 for high-end digital signage computers.

At Enplug, we offer a Plug & Play media player for $200 which can be connected to WiFi or ethernet and is managed entirely from web or mobile.

Matrix
If your event is being held at an event center, chances are high that there is already a network of screens powered by a single computer. I mention this because if your event is taking place in one of these locations, you’ll need to work with your location host to make sure your content and event display CMS will work with their matrix software and/or hardware.

Internet Connection

If your content requires an internet connection (such as a social media wall), you’ll need to plan out how you’ll get internet to your displays. You have several options with different pros and cons:

Ethernet Connection
The most stable option is to run an ethernet cable directly from the nearest internet router to your displays. The downside to this is that it’s a labor-intensive setup and cleanup exercise, and depending on the positioning of your displays it may be impossible to hide the ethernet cables, resulting in a less aesthetically-pleasing end result.

WiFi
If your event space has a WiFi connection, you can connect your event displays to this network. Make sure to test the strength of the WiFi connection at each of your display locations. The upside to this approach is you won’t need to deal with any messy wires. The downside is WiFi can be weak in certain locations of a building, and WiFi is less stable than ethernet.

3G/4G Hotspot
Companies like Verizon and AT&T offer a variety of hardware for creating internet hotspots from their 3G/4G networks. You can treat this hotspot as an internet router, and either plug it into your media player via ethernet or create a WiFi network to connect to.

The benefit of this approach is that it’s often the most convenient and flexible. Your hotspot can be located directly behind your screen/projector. If you have a wide area to cover, you may want to consider purchasing multiple hotspots.

The biggest problem with hotspots is that you’ll need to verify that your event space will have a strong 3G/4G connection. Oftentimes, convention centers fall outside of core coverage spots. If your event is indoors, the cellular connection may be weakened. Furthermore, if there are tens of thousands of attendees at your events the nearest cell towers may be overwhelmed by the digital traffic, paralyzing your displays.

Another downside to this approach is that it’s often the most expensive. Hotspots charge according to the data you use and typically come with annual contracts. Check out FreedomPop for easy hotspots, although their coverage is not as wide as Verizon’s or AT&T’s.

4. Event display logistics – where to find help?

Setting up event displays can be a real distraction from getting your event off the ground, and sometimes you’ll want to hire help. Who should you hire and what can you rely on them for?

Contractors
You can use marketplaces like FieldNation to find individual contractors who have experience transporting, mounting, and troubleshooting event displays. Post your job online with your budget, and let vetted contractors reply to your posting and bid on the opportunity. An individual contractor will require you to provide clear instructions, and is unlikely to provide additional expertise on choosing screens or software. If you have a large number of event displays to set up, you’ll also likely need more man-power. You should be able to hire a single contractor for around $300 for a simple setup and teardown event.

AV Companies / Systems Integrators
If you have a complicated network of screens to set up (more than 10 event displays with internet requirements), you may want to consider hiring a professional company that manages complex installations. The right company should be able to advise you on the software and screens you should choose, if you don’t have them already. They should also be able to troubleshoot common software and internet issues, and will have more man-power available to help with setting up your displays. This approach will be much more expensive than a single contractor.

Systems Contractor News (SCN) publishes an annual list of the top 50 AV companies/systems integrators.

Event coordinator
If you need assistance not only with setting up screens and software, but also with designing your overall digital event marketing strategy, you should consider hiring an event coordinator. You can hire a project-based individual, or an entire event coordinator company. This will be the priciest option as this individual will likely need to sub-contract an AV company or contractor to help with the screen setup.

Pro Tips

1. Test your TVs, computers, display software & content management software (CMS), and internet connection thoroughly and well in advance (1 week) of the event. If one of these components fails on the day-of, you won’t have much flexibility available to solve the problem on a moment’s notice. Make sure to test the internet connection at each of the locations of your displays if you’ll be dependent on a strong connection.

2. Leave as much time as possible for setting up your displays. This is the most difficult part. Once they’re up and running, you’ll usually be in the clear.

3. Make sure you have one person responsible for keeping an eye on your displays. If something goes wrong with the TV, software, or internet connection, your team will need to respond quickly to avoid affecting the event attendee experience.

 

Have questions on Tech Displays are the best match for your tradeshow booth? We specialize in creating custom screen, tablet device, and charging station inclusive displays that will wow your event participants and overshadow the competition.

The ExhibitDEAL team can be reached at Sales@ExhibitDeal.com or call 866-577-DEAL, we’d love to put our experience to work for you.

December 5, 2014in Trade Show Advice 0 Likes

5 Tips for Effective Emotional Branding

The importance of ’emotional branding’ cannot be understated. While it may seem like a newer trend, the psychological foundation has been taught and practiced for decades.

Ask yourself who you would rather buy from – a friend or a random stranger? Right there you have experienced an emotional connection that adds gravity to a claim about a product. In the same way, the basis of a good emotional branding is about helping your audience visualize the importance and ways that a product influences their lives and relationships. Whether or not this is an actual property of that product is less important than the experiences and warm, fuzzy perception that product brings to mind in the consumer.

This week we feature an article by Jeannette de Beauvoir on 5 tips for effective emotional branding. Read more below..

In case you’re inclined to sneer at the self-help philosophy, consider that this stuff works. And sells. How to Win Friends and Influence People has sold over 30 million copies since its first printing in 1936.

What we’re now calling emotional branding isn’t new. Dale Carnegie developed famous courses in self-improvement, salesmanship, corporate training, public speaking, and interpersonal skills.

And what is it that worked so well? Carnegie advised businesspeople to appeal to their customers’ emotions.

Yet, even with the explosion of inbound marketing, the typical salesperson is still armed with facts and figures and stock responses to questions and objections. Salespeople are generally well prepared to sell a product or service. But the truth is, products and services aren’t what you’re selling anymore. You’re selling a way to improve people’s lives; and to do that effectively you have to make them feel—not just think—that you’re the right answer to their problem.

Feeling is what emotional branding is about. And the feeling doesn’t even need to be directly connected to the brand. In this Coca-Cola commercial and this longer, even more heart-touching mobile telephone commercial, you see the product only at the very end of the video. The marketing makes a connection that isn’t actually there, with the hope that the emotional connection stays in the audience’s collective mind.

Manipulative? Sure it is. It’s also brilliant. Because it works.

So what do you need to do to launch an emotional branding campaign for your company or product? Here are five tips to get you started.

Tip No. 1: Shift your focus

Think about people, rather than consumers. Think about experience, rather than products. Think about dialogue, rather than information delivery.

Emotional branding works best when you’re approaching your audience as individual people who live and work and think and dream—and when you engage them with all of that in mind.

If you really know your customers, then this is easy. Studying who they are and what they want will help you with your emotional branding.

Tip No. 2: Create material so emotionally compelling that it’s eminently shareable

Sharing is the best advertising out there, because it’s both heartfelt and free. You couldn’t pay for the kind of sharing that happens when a video or meme goes viral. So examine what is working in the media you select—videos, ads, even memes—and tailor your message to that tone and approach.

Tip No. 3: Learn about the emotional hot buttons that get people to purchase

Veteran marketer Barry Feig has carved out 16 hot buttons in Hot Button Marketing: Push the Emotional Buttons That Get People to Buy: desire for control, I’m better than you, excitement of discovery, revaluing, family values, desire to belong, fun is its own reward, poverty of time, desire to get the best, self-achievement, sex/love/romance, nurturing response, reinventing oneself, make me smarter, power/dominance/influence, and wish fulfillment.

It’s a great list. But not everything on it will work for you. Think about your ideal customers (remember, we’re talking people here, not products), pick out three or four of those hot buttons that will appeal to those people, and focus your branding efforts around them.

Tip No. 4: Tell a story

It really is all about the story. Storytelling is how we have for centuries—even millennia—made emotional connections. Who didn’t cry at Bambi? Stories aren’t about facts. Everyone knows that the best stories are the ones that stay with us long after the book is closed or we’ve left the theater. The same goes for business storytelling: You want your customer to keep thinking of you, so make sure you use your story to make them feel what you want them to feel.

Tip No. 5: Leave them with a strong feeling, happy or sad

It’s not about what information about your brand you want to leave your audience with. It’s what feeling you want to leave them with.

As William McEwen in the Gallup Management Journal notes, “Emotional connections are not merely warm and fuzzy, nor are they simply interesting to contemplate and debate. They have powerful financial consequences, ranging from share-of-wallet to frequency and amount of repeat business. ‘Fully engaged’ retail customers spend more and return more frequently than those who are disengaged.”

You don’t have to make a direct link between your product and the feeling you want associated with it. You only have to link them in your prospects’ and customers’ minds. This is the best way for you to stand out from your competition: by going in a completely different direction, seizing a new demographic, and making people smile or cry.

It doesn’t really even matter which.

Do you have an upcoming event? ExhibitDEAL offers full service production, including free consultation and 2 hours of complimentary graphic design to get your booth presence started off right. Give us a call at 866-577-DEAL or Email today. Our team of exhibit experts are on hand to answer any questions you have and guide you to the best DEAL.

October 14, 2014in Press Releases 0 Likes

Exhibit Spotlight: Blue Jay Consulting

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This issue of Exhibit Spotlight focuses on the team at Blue Jay Consulting where we provide a ‘one-stop shop’ service to fulfill whatever they need.

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Blue Jay Consulting seeks to help make an emergency department the best it can be. Sometimes this is a relatively straightforward task; other times facing a complex array of problems that require a multi-tiered, long-term set of solutions.

Blue Jay’s goal is to optimize the performance of every organization with which they work. Their team figures out how to maximize the capability of systems and personnel alike. Their techniques are proven, their consultants are respected and their clients benefit from quantifiable results.

 

 

The Mission
Blue Jay faced the challenge of creating a diverse array of marketing collateral for an upcoming award ceremony in a timely manner. They required freestanding portable banners that welcome guests into the event and communicate physicians being honored, as well as 20 foot backwalls that illustrate what the company does. In addition to marketing signage, the Blue Jay team needed custom engraved awards to dedicate to award winners.

Blue Jay chooses ExhibitDEAL for their event promotion needs because of our ability to meet strict deadlines without sacrificing quality. If something is ever damaged in transit or the finished product is not up to expectations, we order replacements before the ceremony. This track record for quality and expertise has earned ExhibitDEAL a reputation as a dependable go-to team for tradeshow displays, banners, branded giveaway items, and ceremony awards.

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Proven Results
“ExhibitDEAL acts as our trusted consultants. John Cornell’s recommendations have helped us improve visibility in the market and grow the ACEP awards ceremony each year. Their quality production, recommendations and ability to meet deadlines is invaluable to our marketing.” – Misty Butcher | Blue Jay Consulting

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There are so many styles and sizes of exhibit displays, it can be daunting to know which styles and sizes fit different needs. The Blue Jay team had a vision of the caliber of exhibition they needed to achieve. Always welcoming a challenge, we began to strategize and agreed that popular, easy to assemble Pop Up Displays will best provide the presence they require.

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After the graphic designers approve the finished design, the production department begins outputting the graphic panels from our High Definition 1200 DPI printer that utilizes official H.P. inks to ensure vibrant colors that match up to the Pantone color spec.

 

BlueJay-banner-cut2BlueJay-banner-cut
In addition to banners and popup displays, ExhibitDEAL helped produce engraved awards for the American College of Emergency Physicians winners; award pictured here on backwall graphics. Graphics are cut by our professional production team and inspected for quality to ensure no ripples or tears were created during the printing process.

 

The finished graphics are assembled onto the display just as it would be during exhibition to ensure that all graphic panels have been cut to perfectly align with one another for seamless branding.
BlueJay-Backwall
Accompanying accessory hard case to counter kit with custom printed full wrap graphics to extend the Blue Jay branding for presentation needs.		BlueJay-solo-counter

 

BlueJay-Backwall2BlueJay-Backwall3
ExhibitDEAL has had the pleasure of working with Misty Butcher of Blue Jay since 2011 to regularly refresh their high definition graphics branding. Whether an event required backwall displays for marketing, branded counters for presentations and demos, branded promotion giveaway items, or even custom engraved awards ExhibitDEAL was there to provide top quality production at the best deal.

 

 

Do you have an upcoming event? ExhibitDEAL offers full service production, including free consultation and 2 hours of complimentary graphic design to get your booth presence started off right. Give us a call at 866-577-DEAL or Email today. Our team of exhibit experts are on hand to answer any questions you have and guide you to the best DEAL.

March 15, 2013in Trade Show Advice 0 Likes

Products You Need for Your Trade Show Event

Here is a teaser from our latest article from our Trade Advice section on ExhibitDeal.com.

Are you exhibiting at an upcoming trade show? If so, then you need to an eye-catching booth to attract the attention of potential customers. In fact, a well-designed booth can increase your performance dramatically. Therefore, consider including these 7 products at your trade show booth.

Custom Displays

Custom Displays First, a good booth looks unique and different from the rest of the exhibitors. To differentiate yourself, try using a custom display. This display can be personalized to your company with specific colors, images, and logos. Even better, you can work with a design team to determine the correct layout and backdrop for your area. This way, the display best fits the space you have at the venue. For example, if you are in the center, an island display may be preferred. However, if you are in between other booths, you will probably need an inline display.

Banner Stands

Once you have designed your display, you can consider investing in additional visual enhancements. Banner stands are a great option to create appeal and interest in your booth. They are also very cost effective. Many companies actually use these stands to highlight promotions or new products.

Read the rest of the article.

February 20, 2013in Hybrid Displays 0 Likes

How To Protect Your Displays During Shipping

After spending countless hours designing the perfect marketing strategy for your trade show booth—not to mention countless dollars on custom signage with compelling graphics—you will definitely want to do everything you can to protect your exhibit products when they are being shipped to each expo. Here are a few tips to help you do just that.

1. Select the right shipping containers.

The biggest mistake that companies make when it comes to shipping exhibit materials for a tradeshow booth is to ship them in containers that are the wrong size. There are a variety of products on the market that are designed specifically for tradeshow products. For instance, our half-hard case built to perfectly fit 6 foot and 8 foot tabletop pop up displays and ready pop fabric displays. You won’t have to worry about the popping mechanism getting damage during transit, bouncing around in the back of a truck or as it is thrown into the cargo area of a plane. Similarly, digital displays will require special protections such as monitor cases and the like.

2. Choose durable materials.

Obviously, you aren’t going to ship your tradeshow displays in a cardboard box; plastic tends to be the material of choice. Shipping containers that are rotational molded, however, tend to be stronger than those that are injection molded. The rotational molding process also allows the containers to be designed with a more customized fit for the product and manufactured using the optimal thickness to protect the product. In other words: the shipping containers will fit your display materials like a glove!

3. Look for features that make it more convenient to transport.

Your exhibit displays will be less likely to get damaged if you also look for features that make it easier to move from one location to the next—from the truck to the dock, from the dock to the expo floor, etc. Such features include:

  • Wheels
  • Handles
  • Locks

You may think of locks as a security feature rather than a transportation feature, but locks also protect the case from accidentally being popped open in the event that the container is dropped during the loading and unloading process.

4. Hire a reliable shipping company.

Most likely, the products you will be shipping are heavy and oddly shaped, making it more cost efficient to select the services of a specialized shipping company rather than a general parcel service. Often, the venue will offer a list of preferred providers that they recommend you use. Don’t hire a company without first checking a few references to determine their reliability. Nothing will make your company look more unprofessional than being forced to use displays that are damaged or broken or, worse yet, haven’t arrived on time. You will also want to inquire about other services the vendors may or may not offer such as:

  • Less than truckload service
  • Inside pick-up and delivery
  • Flexible scheduling
  • On-site assistance
  • Unpacking and debris removal

If you follow this advice to pack and protect your tradeshow displays, you can be sure that your investment will arrive in tact, attract potential customers and pay off at many tradeshows to come.

January 23, 2013in Trade Show Advice 0 Likes

Materials To Customize Your Tradeshow Booth

Tradeshows can be an excellent way to drum up business for your company, no matter what industry you are in. A good showing at an annual tradeshow can increase your company’s income and get your name recognized by a larger customer base. What’s more, a great tradeshow display can mean the difference between getting the recognition you deserve and getting unfairly passed by. Here are some of our great options to help you customize a tradeshow booth on any kind of budget.

Tradeshow flooring options

If you are planning on having a large booth that your visitors can walk through, then one of our special flooring options is a good way to set yourself apart from the crowd. Our custom floorings come in laminate, hardwood, vinyl, and carpet options, and are available in a variety of colors and styles to fit any needs. If you own a home furnishings company, for example, our Rollable Flex-Floor in natural wood or natural stone styles can give your portable showroom a homey touch. If you want a more durable look, then try our Flexible Designer Vinyl Flooring, perfect for auto and machine tradeshows, or for anyone who is worried about wear and tear. For a softer, welcoming look, we have a number of Tradeshow Carpet options available in a selection of tasteful colors.

Tradeshow panel display options

Panel displays are portable walls that can be used to fence in your tradeshow booth and give visitors the impression that they are stepping off the main floor into a store or showroom. This can give your booth a professional touch, and serve to make it look more legitimate in comparison to freestanding tables that surround it. Our panel displays come in ten foot and twenty foot sizes, and we offer a number of different options to help you customize your display space to fit your needs. Choose shelves, sidebars, or plain panel walls. All of our panel displays are made from high quality vinyl, making them a breeze to clean and easy to hang posters and other displays on. Finally, we offer high quality custom designs printed on your panels. Choose colors, or have your company logo printed directly on your display.

Tradeshow furniture options

Deciding what furniture is essential to your booth can be one of the hardest parts of setting up for a tradeshow. If you have too little then you won’t have enough room to work, and if you have too much then your booth becomes crowded and unwelcoming. Fortunately, we offer a wide variety of shelving and furniture options so you can customize your booth to perfectly suit your needs. Our SOLO Demo Stations provide counter space for demonstrations, conducting transactions, or holding literature on your products and services. They come with several different options for shelf space and signage, but all are compact, portable, and professional looking. For an extra charge, our graphics artists can print your company’s logo or any other custom design right on the demo station.

Attracting positive attention for your product or service is what tradeshows are all about, and we offer the tools you need to do just that. Our products will give you a high quality look and a professional edge that can make you the talk of the tradeshow and the selling season that follows.