Measuring the Non-Monetary Value of Your Exhibition Program

Looking at the return on your exhibit investment often has to do with monetary gains. But what if you are among the many exhibitors whose objective has nothing to do with sales?

Are these exhibitors doomed to a life of never knowing whether their exhibit program is yielding value? The answer is “no”. Corporate and not-for-profit exhibitors can enjoy a non-monetary value of their exhibition program if they know where to look.

The 2009 Center for Exhibition Industry Research study called “The Cost Effectiveness of Exhibition Participation reported that over two thirds of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed with the following three statements:

• Exhibitions increase corporate and/or brand recognition,

• Exhibitions assist in gaining/retaining market share,

• Fewer sales calls are needed with an exhibition lead because the decision maker was able to meet with staff at the exhibition.

The conclusion was that there is additional value to a show beyond the ability to generate leads. Exhibitors who focus on lead generation alone look for a return on investment (ROI). Exhibitors who focus on non-monetary objectives look for a return on objectives (ROO)

Calculating ROO is a matter of taking the following steps.

1. Articulate your objective

Non-monetary objectives include such things as your ability to reinforce relationships with existing customers, introduce a brand message or create awareness. The trick is to think carefully about what is the primary focus of your exhibit.

2. Identify who the message is for

Except in the case of a highly focused show, rarely will one message be of interest to all the attendees at a show. It is important to create a profile of the person who will most likely respond positively to your messages.

3. Quantify

Putting a number to the objective is simplified once you have completed the first two steps. Your quantified objective now reads, “I want to introduce three key messages to fifteen senior buyers of large chain store.

See how clear it can become?

4. Determine your performance indicators

You now need to ask the question “How will you measure the results?” The answer to this question is in your performance indicators which are the tools you will use for measurement. Performance indicators can include such things as surveys, post-show web-traffic, or appointment with qualified buyers. Choose the performance indicator that makes most sense for measuring the specific objective. When you change your objective you may also need to consider changing the performance indicator.

5. Establish your benchmarks

Benchmarks are an important consideration with non-monetary objectives. Benchmarks provide you with an objective method of measuring improvement. Let’s say that your non-monetary objective is to reinforce brand awareness and you choose to measure it with a survey of booth visitors. Before visitors leave you should ask them a few pointed questions which will reveal their perception of your brand before they entered the booth and the change in their perception after the visit.

Let’s say that at a show you found an increase of 20% in visitor’s awareness of your brand message. The next time you go to this show you now have a benchmark which you can use when making changes to your display and your booth personnel’s approach. You might target to increase the percentage or leave the percentage the same but at a lower cost.

You may always have thought that there was real value in your exhibit program. Now you have a way to prove it.…

Trade Show and Exhibition Stands

Trade Shows, Expos and Conferences require careful planning. However what is often forgotten until days to spare, is what you are taking and how to present it. Try to order your portable signs with a few weeks to spare at the very least. This gives the supplier time to get stock in and you to make changes to any artwork and ensure you are happy with the finished results.

So often it’s a rushed process and it gives you no time if things go wrong. Disappointing portable signs or the wrong choice means your company will not be represented in the best possible way. So next time you after a Banner stand, Display Board, Exhibition Stands or Pop Up Displays then plan ahead with time to spare.

Once you know what portable signs you are taking then plan your display booth, you know the size and shape of the booth so you need to maximize this to your advantage. Put the larger items at the rear such as a Pop Up Display and the shorter items such as brochure displays or promotional tables at the front.

Most Trade shows will last only a few days, some of the bigger ones a week, but as its usually expensive to exhibit, you want to make sure you make the right impression. You need to capture the customers attention quickly and research has indicated you might be lucky to get only 3 seconds.

As your business is competing against many other booths you need to ensure you create a simple booth that conveys your message. Don’t overpower potential customers with flashy booths that distract and confuse. Simply ensure your visitor receives the information they need, to make a decision favorable to your company.

Many businesses find that trade shows can be one of their best sources of new business, as well as a good way to attract media attention, so make sure you plan your booth very carefully and give yourself time. If you budget is limited look for quality portable signs, not the cheapest. Its true some people might not notice poor quality signs but many will. Some Banner stands I have seen are of such poor quality, that everyone will notice them, the graphics looks cheap and the media used will curl and is see through. Why bother going through the expense of exhibiting at a Trade Show and then use poor quality portable signs? Its better to go for less and better quality than more and cheap. After all, your aim is to display your company professionally.

All companies have a budget. There are many costs involved in exhibiting, just ensure your budget allows your booth to look professional and not cheap. Also remember if you are looking for your portable signs to be going from Trade Show to another Trade show then there is even more reason to purchase quality over price. Of course like most things you can get things a bit cheaper for the same portable signs but if it’s a lot cheaper you will need to know your research. There is usually a very good reason why products are much cheaper an most of the time it has to do with quality.…

Bespoke Exhibition Stands Are Customized to Your Needs

So you are probably wondering just what bespoke exhibition stands are – well, to put it simply, a bespoke stand is just a stand that has been customised to suit the specific needs and requirements of your company. Now you’re probably wondering just how necessary this is – after all, there really are so many stands available, of every size and shape and colour – is it really necessary to customise one? Perhaps it would be best to just choose a suitable stand from ‘out of the crowd’?

Remember, if you are considering the added investment represented by a customised stand, that it is crucial for a company to stand out from the competition at any trade fair or exhibition, and if bespoke exhibition stands could do this for you, you should consider them. If you spend a little more to accomplish this, it is certainly balanced out by the greater returns your company will experience in terms of increased visibility, a larger customer base, and ultimately, increased sales. And you should also remember that if you try to save too much on your investment at the next trade fair, you might find that your losses in customers and sales far outweigh your savings.

Remember, a trade fair is an immense opportunity that you can use to your advantage. You can enhance your brand image among customers, you can demonstrate your superiority over your competition – always a plus with customers, and you can demonstrate just what a dynamic company you represent. Innovation – innovation and originality – as represented by bespoke exhibition stands, will lead to success at any such exhibition.

This is why a trade fair represents an opportunity that must be seized, and doing so requires that you allocate sufficient funds in your budget to this. Remember, your investment will be returned as brand imaging and sales – and that these returns stretch into the long term.

Now we all know that a customised stand is hardly the only way to harness this opportunity. There are other effective methods, and there is no reason you should not use these in tandem with your custom stand. If you have spent more on your bespoke exhibition stands, make sure people see them by having your employees wander through the grounds of the exhibition, handing out promotional material and directing people towards your exhibition. These staff can also hand out promotional gifts and items – perhaps a customer who does not even visit your stand will take one of these home and give you a call later. And of course you should never neglect to put up a large banner above your stand, that will beckon people from across the fair grounds.

But remember that these are all things that your competition can do too. That is why the bespoke exhibition stands are really the core of your strategic marketing. With their extremely original and eye-catching design, and its custom graphics panels, this stand will hold the attention of your customers and will draw potential customers into seriously considering your company.

Study different companies, review their past work, and choose one to build your stand whose past work you like best – the ‘style’ of this company will naturally suit your inclinations and needs and the work they do for you is far more likely to satisfy you. Then go ahead, and enjoy the benefits of a custom exhibition stand.…

Bespoke Exhibition Stands Can Come in Many Forms Such As Modular Or Pop-Up Stands

For many people exhibitions are one of the best ways they can see products they want close at hand and ask any questions they might have. At the various exhibitions that you might have attended in your life you will see many different types of exhibition stands being used. Of these you may have the chance of looking at a bespoke exhibition stand. These stands are unlike many of the ones that you will usually see at various exhibitions in that they have designed specifically for a client’s needs and requirements. One of the best places for you to look for these types of exhibition stalls will be on the internet.

Here you will be able to look at the numerous online suppliers of stands and booths for exhibition, who will provide you with sample designs which should help you with choosing a design and style for your exhibition stand. As you look at the different types of exhibition booths and stands that you can order you will see how each bespoke exhibition stand makes the products being displayed or sold stand out better in order to catch the eye of potential customers. It is with this idea in mind that designers of these exhibition stalls will talk with their clients to see what requirements need to be fulfilled in order that one of these customised stands will fulfill the task it was designed for.

Among the various types of stands you can find being used in exhibitions you will see ones which are modular in looks, there are pop up displays which can be used to great effect as well. However when you look at each of these exhibition stands you will need to imagine how a bespoke exhibition stand will attract potential customers amidst the numerous other exhibition display stands you may see in one location. To help you choose the best type of stand and online company you may first want to look at the site of the exhibition.

Here you will see what sort of lighting is available in the hall. How large a space you will have available to showcase your products from the other stands which may be seen. You should also make sure that you know where the entrance and exits are to ensure that you plan on choosing an exhibition stand which can be easily seen and recognised even from those areas. Once you have looked over these details the next items that you should investigate are that of the products you wish to have in the exhibition.

While at first you may not see how these product choices can affect the bespoke exhibition stand you wish to buy, close examination will provide you with an idea of the size the exhibition stand needs to be in order to display the products clearly and prominently as well as allow ample space for potential customers to walk in and around the product displays as well as allowing staff to interact with the customers efficiently. Examining the products will also help you to see what materials and colours need to be used in an alluring display in order to catch the eyes of everyone who passes by. Considering these points will help you when you are looking on the internet for a supplier who can provide you with these unique looking exhibition stands.…

How Custom Exhibition Stands Can Help You Achieve Your Aims

Knowing that a company’s survival can depend on its ability to dominate trade shows and other similar events, the intelligent business leader considered strategies that can enable his company to do exactly that. What sort of strategies, you ask? Well, one of these strategies is custom exhibition stands, and how they can help you achieve your aims is the subject of this article.

First of all, let’s think about exactly what holds a customers attention as he or she strolls past your exhibit. Is it your salesmen and women, highly trained staff no doubt. Well, they help, but they alone cannot quite achieve the effect you need.

Is it the promotional material that your people are handing out – the usual brochures and pamphlets and branded goods? That helps too, but remember, all your competitors will be handing out the same thing, and that unless your prospective customer manages to go through all the brochures he is unlikely to absorb the gist of what you have to say about your company from the brochures alone. And we know just how unlikely a customer is to do this.

Of course promotional items might remind him about the company, and they are a good idea, but unlikely to work on their own, again.

So what you need to capture and hold a customer’s interest are custom exhibition stands – because to hold that interest you need something truly original, something that your customer will look twice at. The standard booth or stall with the company name and logo in a banner across the front of it is just not sufficient to catch and hold a customers interest. He or she needs to see something completely out of the ordinary, something truly and completely original.

So how do you create a stand that is this original? And the answer is, you do not. Because you do not have to. Puzzled? All I mean is that there are a number of really innovative companies out there geared to create custom exhibition stands for you that will stand for and symbolise your company in the highest possible sense. The creative teams of such a company will hold consultations with you to get your thoughts on the subject, and then they will create two or three brilliantly original sketches. All you have to do is choose the one that you like, and their construction teams will go to work to bring it to life.

These people will focus on everything from the design, colours and layout of the graphics panels and on board art, to the architecture, construction, on-board technology and actual setup of the custom exhibition stands.

All you have to do is make sure that you choose the right company, and the best way to do that is to examine some of their past work. Every company has an on-line portfolio, so take a look at a few, and remember – the more you like a company’s past work, the more chances there are that you’ll like what they do for you too. Go by the track record, it is far more reliable than relying or claims and references.

Follow this simple advice, choose a design company that suits you, and they will create the kind of custom exhibition stands that will rivet your customers’ attention and help convince them to transfer their business to you.…

Bahrain International Garden Show

Held at the huge Bahrain International Exhibition and Conference Centre, the Bahrain International garden show is a well established and extravagant affair which regularly attracts around 22 thousand people from around the world.

The Bahrain International Garden Show is the opportunity for companies from Bahrain and around the world to showcase an assortment of products related to gardening. The marketing department of the show make an effort to visit similar shows from around the world and invite the best exhibitors to attend this event. The wife of the King of Bahrain is heavily involved in the organisation of the show, an indication of the high esteem in which it is held.

During the show, the exhibition centre will be transformed into a colourful and vibrant super garden with thousands of different products and plants on display. Just walking around the event makes the trip worthwhile, so when you add in the constructive benefit of the show you can see why it is so popular. Not only is the show the perfect opportunity to learn about all of the recent developments and innovations in the gardening industry, it is also a great way to network with key players in the industry.

One of the best features of the Bahrain International Garden Show is the chance to talk to industry leaders from around the world. There will be the opportunity to acquire tips and advice from experts on how to improve your services and products as well as how to maximise the potential of each garden. To add to this, there are a number of conferences which take place throughout the show which address the current issues in the gardening industry. This will include the issue of eco friendly gardening techniques, something which will continue to be a major issue for years to come meaning that it will affect all involved with the industry.

On top of the various conferences, there will also be a number of workshops for the visitor to take advantage of. During these workshops the various exhibitors will be demonstrating their products and working with guests to explain how they can be of benefit to them.

At the show the visitor will be able to view all of the latest in seeds, garden technology, accessories and designs. This means that you will be able to experience everything from mini tractors and lawn mowers to soil softeners and clippers. When you add the outdoor living and home section of the show it is clear that this really is the ultimate gardening experience.…

The Best Way To Shop For Exhibition Display Products

There are so many things to look for when it comes to shopping for exhibition display systems. The pricing has to be right, it has to be sturdy, the size has to be perfect, it needs to be flexible and mobile and on top of that, you need the display to be lightweight too. Looking at the number of things we should look out for when shopping for these stuff, it is no wonder that some people get swayed by simply one thing – the price.

Price isn’t everything. Many people have yet to beat our instinct to go for what is the cheapest. Cheap isn’t everything. The industry is a volatile and competitive one with many cheap products being produced, manufactured and sold by many Asian countries but how do find the balance between price and quality? Reference, intensive research and reliability of the company. There are many other things to look at but these are three of the most important things to take into consideration when shopping for exhibition display systems.

Lightweight and mobile. Attending an exhibition means that you will most probably be carting a lot of things around. Your products, marketing material, shelves, people….therefore, looking at the sheer number of things you need to mobilize, the exhibition unit needs to be extremely lightweight so that you do not need to hire movers to get the stuff around. Hiring movers can be expensive, mind you.

The reputation of the company. Suffice to say, the longer the company’s been around, the better. If they can last for a decade, they have to be good at what they do and is efficient in sourcing for the best products and materials. It also tells you that they have a long list of satisfied clients and customers. That is not to say that a new or relatively new company is not reliable, they are. But there are the end of the day, are you willing to take the risk of purchasing an exhibition display system.

Sales people who can help you decide. A trained professional is in the best position to give you credible advice about the size and functionality of the exhibition display unit that you have your eyes set on. Is it the right size? Is there something more befitting? How long is the life expectancy of the shelves? Where was it manufactured? All this are pertinent information that will help you make the most prudent information while shopping.

Take your time and don’t let price be your only motivator.…

A Heritage Chicken Breed – The Sussex!

The sussex chicken has its original in the United Kingdom. It was developed as a dual purpose breed, both for meat and for the production of eggs. Many of us will remember our grandmothers having a few sussex in a pen in the backyard, usually light sussex which have white bodies with a bit of black around the neck, in the wings and in the tail. They have a reputation for the being the typical heritage chicken.

Some Important features of the breed

As a breeder of sussex we need to know a little more about what we want in a good one. When looking at examples of sussex chickens, one should firstly look at the ‘type’ or the shape of the fowl. It should be wide or broad it should be deep and long with a flat back. They should look longer than they look deep. Sometimes in the standard fowls they can get a bit shorter in the back and we should keep looking for that lovely long back and select those birds for breeding.

As sussex were a meat bird, size is also important. As long as the bird is balanced and proportional there is no upper limit for size. Basically, the bigger the better.

The breast is meant to be broad and square, and carried well to the front with a long, straight and breast bone.

The tail should be of medium size and be carried at about an angle of 45 degrees. It should rise from the very flat back.

Shanks should be set wide apart and be stocky and strong

The thighs should be short & stout.

The legs have close fitting scale and should be healthy and straight

Each foot has four toes that are straight and well-spread.

The neck on a sussex should be gracefully curved with a fairly full hackle.

The head is medium sized with a smooth face that is not excessively feathered.

The beak is short and curved and should be white or horn in color.

The sussex eyes are prominent, full and bright. The color should be orange in the Light and red in the Speckled.

The sussex comb is single and of medium size. The serrations are even, erect and fitting close to the head. There is a tendency for the front of the comb to fold in some birds and this should be avoided if possible.

The earlobes and wattles are of medium size and have a fine texture.

The sussex wings should be carried close and straight alongside of the body. A nicely tucked up wing doesn’t show black.

Sussex skin is white, and of medium texture. This is related to its history as a meat bird.

The sussex in all of its colours is a beautiful bird to keep and relatively easy to keep when compared to some other breeds of chickens. There are very good examples of Australian sussex available for those that live here.…

New Horizons in Exquisite Advertising

Change is inevitable. Change is associated with our life style, attire, knowledge level and products we use. Market trends also change over time. Competition is getting tough day by day. Advertising world faces new challenges every day. Customers continue to buy products from those sellers or competitors who continuously and elegantly present their product or services and the effectiveness of presentation is the key that lasts longer in customers mind. Out of these customers some may turn out to be immediate buyers while some are potential buyers who keep the product and services of your company in their wish list to be fulfilled later when certain conditions permit.

Companies always strive to find new and inventive ways to reach out to their target audience. During the competition, many new trends of advertising are emerging.

Banner stands and their various forms are now talk of the time. X-banner stands, L-banner stands are being used by business houses and many firms in their outlets, offices and promotional events. Also a store or mall that witness inflow of thousands of customers daily, can very well make use of these banner stands for effective messaging and product advertising. Banner stands are made up of light weight material like Aluminium with a structural strength. They come in a wide variety of size, material and weight. Print material can be vinyl, fabric or film. As companies are going green, use of eco-friendly bamboo is getting popularity. With its natural beauty, classic looks and long lasting nature, bamboo is gaining lot of popularity. Small table top banners are also available to be put at an elevated space or small area. Lighting can also be provided to illuminate poster or graphics.

Advertisers are today becoming customer centric. Apart from increasing the number of their customers they also want to retain their existing clients. They are interested in quality, not in quantity business because they know a customer would return back only when he/she is satisfied with the product. Moreover, they will also do the word-of-mouth promotion for the company. Resorting to impressive and effective advertising means is the key to success of their business. Effective display of products by means of banner display stands, bamboo stands let the customers remember message and brand for a longer duration which is helpful when customer is going to decide on the purchase. Banner stands are easy to be carried out to the place of promotion or exhibition. They include their own swanky carrying case where all the components of banner, stand and halogen light easily accommodate. They put your product or message ahead of others in visual appeal in small scale or big scale exhibitions.…

Exhibition Banner Stand – An Inevitable Part of a Good Advertising Strategy

Having an exhibition banner stand is an inevitable part of a good advertising strategy, especially if a business owner represents its company at different events like trade shows, seasonal fairs, presentations, exhibitions, sales and training courses. It is extremely important to create a nice first impression, and every little detail plays a crucial role in a composite image of your company.

There are no back-ups: either you get noticed, remembered and therefore recognised, or you are completely lost in the crowd of your competitors. A proper exhibition stand, carefully designed and manufactured, will add an original touch to your presentation.

Nowadays you can afford being original thanks to the wide range of exhibition products available on the market. You can choose an exhibition banner stand which would be perfectly suitable to your business with all its peculiarities and different factors. You can go for retractable models, or perhaps you prefer modular stands, or it will be easier to grab the attention of potential clients with the help of custom build exhibition banners, or portable stands, or double side displays… Numerous manufacturers, contractors and suppliers will make it possible to get exactly what you want for a reasonable price, without exhausting your funds.

Of course, lots of factors should be taken into consideration in order to get a banner which would meet all the requirements of your business. When buying an exhibition banner stand, think about its storage, transporting, installation and disassembling. Would you prefer to do everything yourself? With the help of your employees or with a brigade of professionals? Would you prefer something compact and easy to use or monumental and sophisticated?

Of course it is better to opt for a lightweight banner which is easy to use: it will provide mobility and flexibility, which are so important in the course of trade show activities. Of course, light weight does not mean less quality: nowadays it is possible to get reliable and durable stands made of plastic, aluminium, fibreglass, pressed wooden particles, vinyl and so on.

Make sure your exhibition banner stand is flexible enough: sometimes you have to fit your presentation into a smaller space than anticipated. In this case to use a bulky stand would be a problem: not only it is difficult to rearrange a clumsy structure, but sometimes it makes it difficult for the customers to approach your place, and this is something absolutely unacceptable.

That is why it is the best option to choose a compact and flexible banner, but at the same time effective and eye catching. It should be easily and quickly installed and disassembled, by you or by hired labourer – does not matter. What really matters is time, and a successful businessman always knows the value of it.

Do not forget about nice conditions of storing for your exhibition banner stand. Of course, nobody wants to occupy too much space which would be unusable in the time periods between the trade shows. And the perspective to rent a place specially for storing bulky pieces of your exhibition stands looks even less attractive. Make sure the material and graphics of your banner will not get damaged by moisture, dust or sunlight. It would be most unpleasant to discover this just before an important event.

Here we just pointed out some general aspects of choosing and purchasing an exhibition stand, but of course an individual approach works best.…