General

A Guide to Choosing the Right Exhibition Merchandise

There are many different giveaway items available for exhibitions and trade shows. The array of merchandise on offer is used to encourage those potential clients to remember you and your company name further down the line. It’s a never ending plight and there are a number of different goods on offers which are inventive, as well as those which the traditional promotional giveaway. The possibilities really are endless.

Take, for example, the firm expo favourite and probably the first thing people think of when ‘Promotional Merchandise’ is mentioned: pens.

Here are some questions to pose yourself if you were thinking to purchase a bundle for your stall:

Who is merchandise for?

Does it reflect the ethics and values of your business?

Does it have a large enough print area to print a logo and a message?

The idea is not simply to give them a pen with your name on and rely on fate; it’s to give them a small gift that they find useful and attractive, so that the name on the pen becomes associated with quality and will, hopefully, be remembered when they or a colleague requires a service you can provide.

Pens are a massive player on the promotional items market, but don’t assume they are the be all and end all. A pen is simply not just a pen; there are a wide range of different types of pens on the market ranging from executive pens to frosted pens as well as plastic and metal pens. Remember the quality of your pen says a lot about your company.

You’re going to see a LOT of items you’d maybe never thought of or considered and, if you choose carefully and imaginatively, you’ll be able to take advantage of the incredible options promotional merchandise can provide.

Think about the message you want to convey; not just the design and making it look pretty.

Remember the promotional merchandise needs to be small enough to be given to a passing potential’s hand. So other items which work well are stress balls, branded mints and keyrings, all items which can have a logo as well as a promotional message printed on them.

As we’re all aware the competition is getting tougher and smarter; image is becoming ever more important as time goes on. The key is and always was to make yourself unique and recognisable, and there is merchandise that can help your business remain in people’s heads long after you’ve packed up the stall. Browse the marketplace as there is something there to suit each company.…

How To Make An Impact With A Vinyl Banner

A banner is a powerful tool for any advertising opportunity. They are cheap, flexible, easy to put up and take down, easy to store, re-usable and easy to clean. With a range of banners in your repertoire you will be best placed to set up an advert pretty much anywhere it is safe to do so. Let’s look at the different types of banners and where you can use them.

Banner Stand

The best kind of banner stand is the one you don’t notice. A banner stand is a bit like an easel for painting but a whole lot more sophisticated. With a banner stand you can set up any banner in any location with a flat surface, just perfect for exhibition displays. You might be taking part in a series of trade shows with a range of different locations where you have to set up. This could mean some days you have a wall and some days you don’t. With a banner stand you eliminate the worry and you can make an impact with a bold image on a PVC banner or alike right at the front of your display. Banner stands come in really big sizes too for use for example, outside a shop or garage or in a shopping centre, where space is limited.

Mesh Banner

A mesh banner should have a perfectly measured image and slogan on it for use in bold advertising positions. Think billboard style. The smart thing about mesh banners is that their material is full of minute holes so it doesn’t catch in the wind, making it perfect for outdoors in the open and on the side of buildings. To make a real impact with a mesh banner, assuming your image and message is top notch; you need to get it in a great spot. If you can having it at the side of a busy road can work, as long as it’s not too distracting. Try driving around and looking for good spaces where people can safely view your banner, but don’t bother putting a phone number on it or any info they need to write down. Instead try using ‘Search for ‘your product’ on Google’ or find us in the Yellow pages or something which will help them find it easily.

Pull Up Banners

These sneaky devils are great for guerrilla marketing as they can be set up elsewhere and put up in seconds. Don’t leave home on a high street flyer adventure without one. Experiment with messages that will get people to stop and ask a question.…

How to Maximize Your ROI Through Exhibiting

The value of face to face selling at exhibitions is well documented, so in these testing times, where we all have fewer customers with less money to spend, it is imperative that we plan ahead and train our stand personnel to work harder and smarter than our competitors. The following tips might make the difference and help you realise the true potential of exhibiting.

Think about why you are exhibiting. Is it to sell more products, improve brand awareness, meet existing customers, collect leads for future appointments, find distributors or something else?

What are your objectives for the show?

Think about how you are going to measure success or ROI?

Are you judging success by the number of leads, sales, visitors, conversions, or the amount of brochures you give out?

Set daily targets for each person manning the stand and measure their performance.

Communicate your objectives to the team and most importantly, measure.

Give staff incentives to encourage activity and accuracy.

Do your research about the show

Can the organiser back the visitor numbers up?

Is the exhibition ABC audited?

Is the audience made up of your typical customer?

Speak to other exhibitors before you book.

Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS)

Keep your exhibition stand graphics simple. “Who you are” and “what you do” is often missed!

Make your space work for you with plenty of room to meet clients, discuss projects or demonstrate products.

Speak to expert Exhibition contractors. If you are looking for a reliable exhibition contractor who may already be building at your show then make sure you use an ESSA member –

Pre-exhibition planning

Once you have agreed your objectives make sure you explain them to the people that are manning the exhibition stand and make sure that everybody knows who is responsible for what!

Invite your customers and prospects before the show using social media, your web site and direct mail.

Tell them something “interesting” and give them a reason or incentive for visiting.

Remember, most visitors have gone to a great deal of expense and trouble to attend.

Data capture

Whether you use bar code readers or a simple pad and pen, make notes on what your customers were interested in so that you can send them the correct information or speak to them in more detail after the show.

“There is nothing worse for a customer, who has spent half an hour on the stand explaining his requirement, than receiving a telephone call a week later asking him what he was interested in.”

Training

Before the show discuss what questions your customers are likely to ask and make sure you have the answers or know where to get them.

Train your staff on products, availability, distributors, prices, trade discounts, delivery costs, production times, service agreements, returns policy and don’t forget it your customers might want to “know who else has bought your product or service”.…

The Hire of Exhibition Stands is Common For Major Exhibitions

An important exhibition is looming on the horizon and your company is planning on participating in the exhibition. As buying a bespoke stand is out of the question you have been given the task of looking at the hire of exhibition stands. At first you may feel overwhelmed as the choices which are confronting you seem to be endless. Add to this fact the need to find a reputed company which can provide you with the stand which fulfills the requirements your company has set and will allow you to hire this stand for a given period of time. Before you start panicking you might want to start with looking through the internet.

Here you will find not only numerous companies which can provide you with a good choice of stands that can be hired, but you will also have the chance of browse around and compare the services you will get when you are looking at the hire of exhibition stands. These services that you will find from a number of these companies are the setting up of the stand before you make a final decision about ordering one stand choice. You may find it possible to order accessories which can turn your stand area into an inviting place that lures all who pass by.

Another item you will be able to look at when you look at stand rental is the different materials which these stands are made from. For instance you will find there are some companies which use wood as the outer surface shell while the inner part of the exhibition stand will be made from another material. There will be other stand companies which use aluminum as the frame for their stands. These aluminum frames will be hardy, yet easy to assemble and dismantle. While you are looking at the materials which will make these stands an asset to your company you can also see the different sized stands.

This aspect to hiring an exhibition stand is vital as you will need plenty of room to accommodate your potential customers, staff, and products to be displayed as well as display units in the stand area. Based on these points the hire of your exhibition stands will help you to narrow down the overwhelming choices in front of you. Once you have looked at these items the next step you will need to approach is looking at the length of time you will be able to hire one of these stands.

The length of time you can get in the hire of exhibition stands will vary from stand rental company to company. Therefore you should see this item well in advance of noting the name of the stand renting company. As you see while hiring an exhibition stand which fits your company’s requirements may seem daunting at first, when you take the requirement points one at a time you will soon find not only a company which can supply you with the right type of exhibition stand but one which can be adapted to any type of setting you will be facing in the exhibition. In short you will find that hiring an exhibition stand is more convenient than buying a custom designed stand.…

The Correct Exhibition Stand to Increase Sales

Creating the best exhibition stand design, having it built, and then using it as your vehicle to win new customers is one of the most tried and trusted ways of promoting new business sales. It gives you the opportunity of attracting potential customers into your environment, an environment that you have had built especially for the occasion. Once you have their attention it’s then up to you, and your exhibition to peek their interest, and try to make that all important sale.

Most markets are highly competitive, and an exhibition means that you will be invariably sharing the hall with your competitors. Good custom built exhibition booths are therefore essential in order to woo the client traffic onto your stand rather than allowing it to be tempted onto one of the competing stands.

So many companies allow themselves to become too complacent when it comes to the quality of their exhibition stands. Once they’ve bought a stand from the exhibition contractors of their choice, they tend to stick with it, even if it isn’t performing as well as it should. But that is false economy. Okay they might save money by not having a different company of exhibition stand builders assemble a new stand for them. But just think of all of the lost sales they will miss out on. Now that’s a heavy opportunity cost.

So maybe it’s time to grab the bull by the horns and commission a new exhibition stand design. If it is to be successful in its purpose, here are a few points you need to consider.

It has to grab the attention of the passing punter, from as far away as possible.

It needs to look aesthetically pleasing, but it must also look professional.

It must be capable of conveying what it is you are offering, and what your company stands for.

It must be unique, and it must promote your corporate brand.

Corporate branding is really important. It is something that enables people to easily recognize your company and your products, and that helps them to associate with your brand’s integrity. The exhibition contractors you work with should understand these aims and must be fully capable of providing you with a stand that delivers on all counts.

Exhibition stand design stands are the way to go. Even if you know little or nothing about how to actually build a stand yourself, you probably know the theme and brand that you want to promote. This is where your choice of exhibition stand contractors becomes key. The right contractor will be able to take your concept and turn it into a winning reality. They will work hand in glove with you to provide you with a finished product that will out attract any of your competitors’ stands.

Don’t forget that securing space at any exhibition is a costly affair, so you need to ensure that you get the best return you can from your investment. Remember that it’s not just the exhibition design that is crucial, it’s also essential to find the very exhibition stand builders in order to fulfill and exceed your expectations.

New custom built exhibition stands can have a huge impact on your future sales performance. Ensure that you maximize your potential by choosing the very best exhibition stand contractors.…

Participation in Trade Shows and Trade Show Stands – 102

Participation in Trade Shows is no-brainer. There are some basic guidelines to follow, and you will do just fine. Putting on a positive attitude, a smiling face is one of these. An inquiring and open mind for suggestions and improvement is another. However, to really shine in the expo is a little more tricky. Below are some more advanced tips for getting the expected gains out of the whole trade show experience.

The stand… oh the stand

The most obvious and visible sign of your presence in the expo is your exhibition booth, or as some call, trade show stand. Asked what a trade show stand is, one can shortly summarize it as your office in the expo. In that stand or booth you will promote your company, tell about your products to potential clients, explain the services you provide, have a cup of relaxing coffee while negotiating a profitable deal with the visitors of your stand.

That is why the exhibition booth you have at the expo should be worthy of the image and prestige of your firm. The visitors at the trade show will carve the first impression concerning your firm by looking at the stand you have. Therefore, it is not optional to have the best stand you can afford. Don’t forget the central role it will play in promoting and representing your firm in the expo. A less desirable booth is bound to effect negatively the number of contacts you will make in the next few days.

And also don’t forget that we are talking about extremely time-constrained events. Given the limited time frame of only a few days a year, the sooner you attract the attention of your potential clients, the better. And you certainly will attract attention quicker with a nice looking and outstanding exhibition booth, than a dull and boring one.

Perfectionism revisited

Yet there is no single, universal definition of ideal trade show stand. The needs and conditions of every firm, expo, and industry are unique and distinct. For instance, the primary purpose of participation in trade shows in a specific line of business may be to increase and preserve the prestige of the firm. In another line of business, the primary objective would be to get a good old short term sales spree. What is more, the scale and market position differences among firms would also be a variable in determining their expectations. Hence, there is no single perfect exhibition booth. But that is not to say that you can not have a perfect stand. With due diligence to details and, one can not emphasize this enough, a strong understanding of your firm’s needs, you can have the perfect one for your firm.

To summarize, one can say that the stand you have should reflect the objectives of your firm, and project the image you choose for it. For these events comprise only a few days out of a long year, you will have to live with the consequences of the choices you made concerning the stand, at least till the next trade show. An unsuitable exhibition booth will certainly limit the returns you will get from from the investment you made in the whole trade show experience.

Long story short

In a nutshell, getting an exhibition booth designed specifically for you is a must. Getting a standard, run-of-the-mill booth provided by the organizing firm is a big no-no. In order to maximize the efficiency in expo participation, it is crucial to make use of the services provided by an experienced trade show services and stand design firm, one with which you can establish a positive and constructive dialog.…

Brilliant Tips If You’ve Been Asked to Be Interviewed For a Conference Video Or Video Podcast

Event organizers are now beginning to realise the importance of having a conference video or video podcast as part of their marketing strategy. It’s a great way for extra traffic to be driven to their sites. As a delegate or an expert you could find yourself being asked to take part in short interviews but how can you ensure you come across well.

Follow these tips for being in a conference video interview or video podcast and you’ll be on your way to coming across in the way you advice is also great for those being asked to be filmed in other interview situations say for television or radio.

OK, first things first. You’re knowledgeable, passionate and articulate about the subject that’s why they want to film you for the conference video or video podcast, so relax!

Make sure your mobile phones are switched off. Even if they’re on silent, they can interfere with the recording equipment.

If you have had prior knowledge of the interview beforehand wear comfortable clothes. If you never wear a tie at work and then you put one on for an interview it can make you uncomfortable. If you wear a tie at work, wear a tie for your interview. Solid colours are best. Strong stripes can cause problems.

Shirts or jackets are usually better than jumpers or t-shirts. This is in case the film crew use clip-on microphones. These microphones are easier to attach to a shirt or jacket than a jumper or t-shirt.

Little time to put points across

It’s surprising how little time you have to get your points across in a video podcast or conference video! Think about the key point you want to get across. If there are two of you, you will probably only have time for two or three points each. You may also be surprised by how little of the interview gets used in the end. Don’t, however, do too much preparation as that sounds really false. On the whole interviewers will be on your side. Don’t use notes hand as you will instinctively look to them for help and we want you to focus on what’s in your head, not what’s on the paper. Also void a hard sell.

Follow this advice and enjoy the experience of your interview for a conference video or video podcast. Remember that they want to interview you because you have the knowledge. Good luck!…

An Exhibition Stand Rental Might Help You Dominate the Next Trade Show

Let’s take a look at how an exhibition stand rental might help you dominate the next trade show. As the representative of a rising company, you truly understand that any trade show offers the opportunity to obtain a strategic advantage over your competition that cannot be ignored. Remember that exposure at a trade even translated directly into brand exposure, and that is something that cannot always be bought for money.

The only issue anyone could have with a trade show, the only negative point that could possibly arise – is that the competition is invited!! Now this is a crucial point, because it generally means that they will be doing their very best to steal your thunder, to obscure your efforts and to ensure that it is they, not you, who are noticed by customers, and who ultimately reap the benefits of the even in increased sales.

So how does an exhibition stand rental help you?

Now of course on the main pieces of equipment you will need to put on a good showing at an event of this sort is an exhibition stand – and here is where the first problem could arise. You will find when you start searching for that perfect stand for your company, that there is such a variety available that you do not even know where to start looking, or what to look for. There are stands in all sizes and designs – not to mention different qualities and configurations so that you hardly know which one would be best for your company.

Well, just use your company’s specific requirements – not just for one trade event, but for all the events of the financial year – as a basis, and then select the stand that most fits those requirements. But don’t buy it right away, use an exhibition stand rental instead, because choosing the perfect stand for your company is more a process of trial and error. After all, you and your team may decide that a stand fits you company perfectly – and then you may realise that your customers do not agree. After all, in such a case your customers’ opinions are crucial, and whatever you choose has to ‘click’ with them.

So test out your choice. Rent, do not buy. And then if you find that the stand you have selected isn’t working out, you lose little. Simply go out and rent another one of a different configuration and design for the next event, and if that doesn’t work, change your choice to yet another exhibition stand rental until you finally find something that does work. And when you do find that you have something that customers are responding to in droves – that’s when you actually have to buy, and not a moment before.

There are other scenarios where renting a stand could help you – for example if your company happened to lose money in the fiscal quarter and you would like to curtail expenses temporarily while still not foregoing your visibility at trade events. In such an eventuality, hiring a stand becomes a cost effective option. Then there is the question of storage space – perhaps you have no desire to store something as bulky as an exhibition stand and prefer an exhibition stand rental for each separate trade show. You might choose to have a few easily store-able graphics panels made to give these rented stands a uniform look.…

Trade Show Tactics For A Compelling Exhibition Stand

Draw Those Customers In Like Bees To Honey! Trade Show Tactics For Compelling Display

Participating in a trade show isn’t just about marking your place in the industry or interacting with other companies and professionals in the field. While these aims certainly count, the true purpose of setting up exhibition stands should be to attract a large crowd and turn them into tangible sales and long-term customers.

If participating in an exhibition doesn’t result in direct sales and profits, what’s the point of all the effort and time and money you spent in putting your exhibition booth together?

What we’ve got for you here is an exciting list of techniques and tricks used by industry old hands for converting mildly interested crowds into buyers, clients and solid testimonials. The secret is in using your exhibition stand to your advantage and making the most of the opportunities available.

While hiring an exhibition stand design company you must make sure you work with someone who shares your vision and can give shape to your ideas. You don’t want to spend good money on run-of-the-mill displays and stands that you could’ve purchased just about anywhere. The same way your business has a unique identity of its own every representation of it should be equally compelling and distinctive.

If you take away just one tip from this entire article, it should be this: hire reputable exhibition stand designers to build a unique and attractive display for your booth. Nothing screams “unprofessional!” quite like having a display booth that looks like all the others! It’s lazy, it’s amateurish and it sends out a really negative message about your company!

Now, if you’ve hired the right exhibition stand company, your booth will look good, but here’re some more things you can do to make it really popular.

To begin with, you should optimise your fabulous display by using the space around it to your advantage. When you have a striking exhibition booth, half the battle’s already won, but don’t stop just there: decorate the space around the booth too! Using banners high above the booth and on the booth’s “walls” or edges can really help make it pop! Colourful banners bearing your company’s name, crucial details and interesting, fun messages will draw people from all ends of the exhibition pavilion. They ensure more visibility and greater exposure, which is all you really want at a trade show!

Never underestimate the power of freebies at a trade show. To maximise the crowd’s attention, arrange a table or a small stand at the head of your display booth and keep a large, clear bowl filled with goodies on it. Add a banner or a poster to your booth announcing free gifts for passers-by. People are easily drawn to give-aways and you can make these even more appealing by using the same colour scheme and design theme as the rest of your booth. Make sure you add your company’s name and logo clearly to these gifts: it’ll etch your brand in the customer’s mind long after they leave the exhibition.

Remember, at an industry event a lot of your competitors will also be present. You don’t want to get ignored for, or worse still, confused with, one of your rivals. Hire an exhibition stand builder who not only excels at unique designing but can also guarantee a sophisticated end product. A truly effective way to make an impression is to balance creativity with class, and only an established exhibition designer will know how to do so!…

Portable Exhibition Stands Come in All Shapes and Sizes

Exhibitions are one of the best places for you to see the different types of exhibition stands that people and companies use to display their products. Of these numerous stands you will see portable exhibition stands which are ideal for the times when you will be participating in a number of different exhibitions all within a close period of time. As these types of stands can be fixed and disassembled quickly and easily they are a good choice if you know that you will be in this type of situation. In order to find these portable stands you may want to look through the internet to see the different version of this type of exhibition stand.

The various online pages that you can look through will provide you with a wide range of choices about portable exhibition stands that you can look at. As you look at these stands you will be able to see various details and information about these stands which can help make choosing one easier than you may have imagined. However before you go any further you might want to take a few moments to jot down some key buying or hiring points which can narrow the search parameters down significantly.

While you might feel as if you were allowing yourself a limited number of choices, when you look through the online pages you will begin to understand why having these points listed can make your life easier. You will find there are companies which have the ability of creating elegant portable exhibition stands that can be adjusted to the needs of the exhibition moment. This form of exhibition stand is considered to be a modular stand. You will also find there are companies which can create functional stands which are seen in a shell form. Another type of stand that you might want to look into is that of a permanent display stand.

Once you have looked at the different forms of exhibition stands that can be bought or hired the next item to look at is the size of the stand. This size comparison should include the measurements for the inside and outside of the stand. The inside stand measurements are to a degree more important then the outer shell. This is because this is the area where your staff, visitors to the stand area, products to be displayed and sold will be placed. In addition to these people and goods you will also need to remember the furniture which will need to be used to show off the products you are displaying and perhaps selling.

Another item you might want to look at while you are considering the best possible choice of portable exhibition stands is that of the different materials and ways which can be employed to enhance the look of the stand so that it has the ability of luring potential customers to your stand. In this regard you will find some of the online companies will provide this service along with the numerous choices available for these exhibition stands.

As you see choosing these types of exhibition stands is not a difficult task once you have a good idea of what you are looking for. The numerous companies that you will find on the internet can help with selecting these stands a more enjoyable task.…