Trade show tips & exhibiting resources for promoting your business successfully
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Retail Displays Will Increase Your Sales Dramatically If Done Correctly
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Managing Colour in Large Format Printing
In working with a qualified large format printing company like Discount Displays, there are some things you can do to ensure you get the colour quality you desire:
Colour images must be saved as CMYK, not
Send a colour proof along with any colour matches you require or request proofs: we can provide you with a machine proof for a small additional fee. It is not always possible to match pantone colours using CMYK printers. Our printers and media are carefully calibrated but if no colour proof is supplied or machine proof is requested we can only print what is supplied on disk.
If you use Pantone colours in a CMYK job our equipment will automatically convert the colour at the printer, and the result is generally good. Most of these CMYK conversions are very similar, but some, notably very bright colours like lime greens, bright oranges or reds, are less so. If you have access to a Pantone Process Colour book, check these shades first to see if you'll be happy with the result. Other Pantone colours such as fluorescents or metallics can't be reproduced at all. This is true of any CMYK output, either digital or conventional 4 colour printing.
Some customers provide us with images that have been downloaded from the Internet, which are generally low resolution images intended for screen viewing, not printing. These will always print out poorly, so avoid using them if at all possible.
For more tips on artwork preparation and what you can do to make sure your large format printing project is done to your exact specification, visit our website or call on 0844 800 1020.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Print Durability in Large Format Printing
For example, Discount Displays is a leading large format printer that has invested heavily in the latest printing technology from industry leader HP. According to HP:
Indoor – commercial in-window display: Often HP prints are displayed in a window receiving partial or direct sunlight likely to increase the degree and rate of image fading. HP Image Permanence Lab testing accounts for this difference from home and office conditions with methodologies designed specifically for in-window display conditions.
Outdoor display: Signs, banners, billboards, and other outdoor applications are often subjected to harsher environmental factors than typical indoor and in-window display prints. The HP Image Permanence Lab tests according to industry-leading standards, and exposes print samples in real-life conditions at multiple test sites to account for a range of environmental conditions including temperature, humidity, light and dark, and spray.
Water resistance: Prints can be damaged when exposed to water or by handling when wet. However, many Original HP ink and media combinations produce high-quality, water-resistant prints. HP tests water resistance performance characteristics most important to customers, using ISO and internally developed tests, and considers prints which pass the following tests to be water resistant: ISO Standing Water, Water Spray, Water Drip, and Wet Smudge.
Qualified lamination solutions: While specific HP ink and media combinations are designed to provide good overall durability and scratch resistance, many customers apply laminates to further protect the surface of valuable prints. HP has developed excellent partnerships and qualification programs for film as well as liquid laminates to ensure that the final, finished print meets the demands of the customer.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Improving Your Company Image
There are a variety of methods that you can use to begin branding your company and getting a good image in the eyes of your customers. Trade shows are among the most popular methods. When you participate in trade show events you are promoting your products and business. Often the results are immediate and can be very large depending on the number of people that attend the trade show. Making sales is not the only purpose for having a booth in a trade show. It’s also to get your business name out there and attract new customers.
It’s important that you create a good display that makes it easy for people to see your products. You’ll uncover that it’s equally as important to use signs to help attract the people passing by your display booth. The goal here is going to be to attract their attention to your booth through design and presentation. Keep in mind that there are going to many companies with booths, and there is a good chance that someone is offering the same products or services that you are. This requires a well-planned idea. You’ll need to come up with something that will spark their interest and stand out over the other businesses.
An effective marketing campaign uses two main things – the key features of the products, and the benefits of the product. Benefits always sell better than the features. Learn more about the power of trade show displays and uncover the amazing products on the market today that will help you to design a powerful booth display.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Reasons to Invest in a New Trade Fair Exhibition Stand
Your current exhibition stand is showing its age. If your exhibition stand is being held together with patches of duct tape, clearly shows areas that have been painted over to hide scratches and has more than its fair share of dents, it is time to invest in a new one.
Your messaging has changed. If your exhibition stand is out of step with your other marketing messaging, then it is time to invest in a new one. Or at the very least, to update your graphics.
You need more flexibility. Does your exhibition stand fit one size only? Perhaps it started out big but the economy has shrunk your space so you need a smaller display. Or perhaps you started out small but the company has gotten bigger, and you need a larger presence at your trade fairs.
You need portability. If your exhibition stand was designed for shipment to your trade fair sites but now your sales team needs to exhibit at smaller shows, then you may want to consider investing in portable exhibition stands.
You need more than one. If there are too many demands being placed on your current exhibition stand, you may want to invest in another one or consider exhibition stand rental.
Your shipping costs are too high. If your exhibition stand weighs too much and the shipping costs are eating a larger portion of your budget, you may want to get a new exhibition stand made of lightweight materials.
Whatever the reason for considering a new exhibition stand, Discount Displays can help you find the right trade fair solution for your company. Our showroom has both standard and customized products on display and our exhibition stand experts are available to help you design and execute a new exhibition stand solution that will fit your needs today.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Discover The Power With Pavement Signs
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Celebrating a Classic: The Pop-Up Exhibition Stand
Fabric pop-up stands are ideal for use as a conference display system. Featuring loop nylon fabric, fabric pop-ups let you customize for each conference or trade fair through the application of Velcro-backed graphics. Available in five different fabric colours, fabric pop-up stands from Discount Displays are available in five different sizes. Each is easily transportable via the Ellipse Wheeled Transport Drum, which houses the entire pop-up stand, including graphics and lights.
Discount Displays also offers a fully magnetic fabric pop-up stand with shelf for conducting presentations or displaying merchandise.
Graphic pop-up stands feature full colour, scratch-resistant exhibition graphics printed and laminated in-house by Discount Displays’ large format printing operation. Graphics can be displayed on both sides, and there are five different sizes from which to choose.
A hybrid choice – meaning it can be configured with either fabric or graphic panels – is the portable pop-up with illuminated ends. Designed to grab attention, these illuminated pop-ups feature the same lightweight aluminum frames and ease of assembly as the standard fabric and graphic pop-ups.
Discount Displays has been providing pop-up exhibition stands for many of the
Monday, May 17, 2010
Advertising Is Important For Any Business
Friday, May 14, 2010
Making Your Retail Displays Sell
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Learn How To Correctly Use PVC Banners To Increase Business Dramatically
Monday, May 10, 2010
Improving The Success of Your Trade Show
Friday, April 23, 2010
Using Social Media for Trade Fair Promotion
Pre-show promotion
According to comScore’s World Metrix audience measurement service, the most popular social media sites in the UK (May 2009) are Facebook and Bebo, with Twitter and MySpace not far behind.
If you already have a robust social media program, then pre-trade fair promotion will be a relatively easy task for you. Simply provide the details about where your followers can find your trade fair exhibition stand during an upcoming show, and feed them information about any special product introductions or other promotions you’ll be doing during the exhibition.
If you do not current have an ongoing social media program, don’t worry – it’s easy to join the group! On Facebook you can create a Fan Page for your business and post photos of your exhibition stand and your products. Many trade fairs have their own pages on Facebook that you can add your comments to as well to encourage visitors to come see you. You can also use Facebook’s low-cost advertising option, search for groups using your industry keywords and promote directly to those users.
Promoting during the show
Since most attendees will have their smartphones with them on the show floor, you can promote your presence during the show through Facebook, Bebo and Twitter. Create messages that provide a powerful incentive for them to visit your exhibition stand – like an important new product introduction, speaker or celebrity appearance, or contest – and you can drive traffic every day of the exhibition.
Another way to increase trade show traffic is by having an exhibition stand that delivers an engaging marketing message – something you can obtain easily by contacting Discount Displays on 0844 800 1020 or by visiting our website.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Exhibiting & Retail Supplier Gets a Facelift
Monday, April 12, 2010
Big Ideas for Small Spaces
Build Up, Not Out – if your space is small, go tall. Tall structures within your space will make your booth appear – and feel – larger.
A Good Reflection – an old interior design trick, incorporating mirrors into your exhibition stand design is a sure way to create the illusion of space without actually having it.
Less is More – having an uncluttered exhibition stand design makes your smaller space appear larger. Keeping your trade fair booth space relatively empty will make it feel much more open and spacious than if you clutter it with product displays.
Add Overhead – things will be looking up for your smaller booth if you hang graphics from the ceiling above it, allowing you to claim all the space your exhibition stand needs to shine.
Lighten Up – using lighter colours in your exhibition stand design will open your space up. Research shows that light colours reflect light back to the eye, which your brain then interprets as a larger space.
The new Discount Displays Express site focuses on retail, exhibiting and trade shows, helping organizations make a big impression no matter what size of exhibition stand they require. Our staff designers love a challenge – so if you have one, bring it to us.
Explore all the possibilities by visiting Discount Displays Express.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
How to Choose a Reliable Exhibition Stand and Graphics Supplier
How to Choose a Reliable Exhibition
Stand and Graphics Supplier
We know that many marketing managers
and retailers want and need a reliable, economical source for obtaining exhibition equipment such as banner stand displays, retail displays, outdoor event gear and large format printing.
Too often, cheap prices mean no service. So how can you confidently
select a supplier who will stand up to your expectations for quality,
price and service? Here are some questions to ask vendors:
How do you arrive at your pricing?
Believe it or not, we have been told in the past that we’re too cheap!
Clients can't believe that the quality is as good as our competitors
who may charge three times as much for exactly the same equipment. There's
no magic involved in Discount Displays’ pricing. We keep tight control
of our costs, buy in bulk and have a small sales force. The result?
You get a fast reliable service offering quality products (our frames
are backed by a 6 year guarantee) at rock bottom prices. If you
see cheaper prices ask why. How are the graphics printed? What inks
are used? Where is the stand made? Will the graphics have a good fit?
Is the printing in house?
Do you offer a lowest price guarantee?
We keep a close eye on the competition and make a simple promise: If
you find the same product elsewhere for less, prove it and we will beat
it.
Who are your current clients?
Look for a supplier that has consistently been chosen by brands
that demand quality. We have continually been chosen against stiff
competition by the most demanding of clients including many well-known
high street names for major nationwide contracts. (Marks and Spencer,
Thomas Cook, De beers, etc.) as well as local government, Schools and
Charities in the UK and overseas. You can view our full product range
at our Showroom in Croydon.
What warranty do you offer?
You want a supplier that stands behind the product they sell.
Our business has been built over the last 17 years on repeat work so
our stands have to be totally reliable and trouble-free. Our display
equipment is carefully sourced to offer the very best value for money
and durability. Our stand warranty covers manufacturing defects rather
than operator damage.
Do you offer discounts for quantity?
The answer here should be yes. We're unbeatable on large quantities.
A couple of recent projects have included a nationwide delivery of 350
Roll-Up displays for Marks and Spencer and 450 Eco Rollas for Thomas
Cook.
What are your delivery times?
Look for a vendor who has the capability and desire to meet your deadlines.
Unlike many of our competitors, we hold stock so many standard products
are available off the shelf. Customised take a little longer -- about
7 days – but can be provided sooner in some instances.
What quality are your graphics?
You want to be sure your graphics are printed using high quality digital
ink jet technology and the very best branded inks and media (HP and
3M). We print images on 600-micron polyester with a scratch resistant
durable matt laminate seal for a hardwearing finish.
Monday, March 22, 2010
window graphics
Our Viewpoint on Window Graphics
Window graphics are a high impact,
low cost way to catch the attention of potential customers and bring
them in your door. Discount Displays has been producing impactful window graphics for almost two decades, and have a wide range
of window graphic applications that suit every need, including:
One-Way Vision -- One-way
contra vision is a perforated
film designed for retail window displays. Mounted onto the outside of
the window, it allows people to see out but prevents them from looking
in. These are ideal for bus shelters, phone boxes, POP, retail and commercial
signage, convention centres, corporate identity and a wide variety of
other applications. Different film types are also available for smaller
images and vehicle branding such as the backs of buses and trucks.
Etched Glass Effect -- Reverse cut etched effect self adhesive
retail window displays look just like expensive sandblasted etched glass, lending a touch of class to your window signage.
Company logos can be scanned and cut, and all window graphics are provided
ready to fit with simple, detailed fitting instructions.
Self-Adhesive Vinyl – Digital printed self-adhesive vinyl stickers adhere to the outside of the window and are
available in single or multiple colours in hundreds of type styles.
No fading or peeling, either.
Self-Cling Window Stickers
– Digitally printed self-cling film is easy to fit and remove.
These static
cling window stickers adhere
to the inside of your window are an economical solution for retailers
who want to change their window graphics on a regular basis.
Snap-Shut Poster Rails
– Easily suspended from a shop ceiling, these snap-shut poster rails hold posters up to 500 microns thick, and
are a simple, effective way to hang promotional posters.
Window Magnetic Poster Holders
– Mounts to the inside of a window and takes size A2 posters.
Durable and easy to clean, these magnetic
poster holders can be printed
with graphics at the top.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Outdoor Marketing equipment
What’s the Big Idea?
Digitally printed vinyl banners . Custom printed vinyl advertising banners are a cheap highly effective and versatile method of outdoor marketing. Reinforced PVC material is comonly used although there are now "green" recyclable alternatives. Banners can be hung using nill cost space and give a big impact.
Chalk Up New Customers
On a smaller scale Chalk Board pavement signs are ideal for attracting people for pubs, restaurants, cafes or any shops. The graphic board is made from high pressure laminate and has a resin based superior writing surface for traditional chalk or liquid chalk pens. Discount Displays offer the widest range of pavement signs in the UKof all sizes and price points for every retail requirement
Show stopping feather flags
Feather flags are real showstoppers, and are ideal for many outdoor advertising. Unlike traditional flags, feather flags don't require wind to get your message across. Feather flags are idea for product launches and trade shows, car forecourts or to draw attention to your outdoor event. Feather flags can be free standing with a weighted base or, or stuck in the ground with a steel spike.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Choosing an Exhibition Display Graphics Supplier
Choosing an exhibition display graphics supplier can be an intimidating proposition, especially if you don’t have a lot of trade fair exhibition design experience. Here are some tips on choosing the right exhibition graphics vendor for your next trade show:
Quality – choosing a graphics supplier with in-house large format printing capabilities ensures that your exhibition stand graphics will be top quality, since the vendor will have total control over the printing process. Ask to see samples of the same size graphics you will be featuring in your trade fair exhibition stand; better yet, ask if they have a showroom so you can see the level of quality that will go into making your entire display an impactful statement of your branding strategy.
Experience – there is no substitute for experience, so choosing a vendor with many years of lLarge format printing experience – especially if you don’t have much yourself – can help you save time and money. Most experienced large format printing suppliers also offer their customers in-house design services, and post easy-to-understand instructions for formatting and uploading artwork via the Internet on their website.
Delivery – outstanding graphics suppliers pride themselves on delivering their products on time, every time and understand that missing a deadline is simply not an option. Reputable vendors will offer delivery of your exhibition stand displays and graphics directly to your trade fair site and will assist you with set-up and teardown. Going with a “one-stop shop” like Discount Displays virtually ensures you will have an on-time, trouble-free experience.
Price – exhibition graphics suppliers who serve a large volume of customers are generally able to provide better pricing since they purchase materials in bulk. Look for vendors who have already invested in the latest technology large format printing and production processes, which save both time and money and allow them to offer more competitive pricing to their clients.
For more insight into choosing the right exhibition display graphics supplier, contact the experts at Discount Displays on 0844 800 1020 or visit our website. Operating from a 7,000 sq. ft. factory in Croydon on the outskirts of London, Discount Displays has been in business for over 17 years and are specialists in large format printing, with a large in-house production facility and a 2,000 sq. ft. showroom that displays our comprehensive product line.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Why use PVC advertising banners
PVC banners have the ability to attract the attention of the many people occupying the streets and roads near or around your store. Just think about how many people are on the road in your area 7 days a week. And consider the power that a full color, large banner hung high for them to see will have on your business.
There are a number of places that you could put it – bridges, store fronts, railings, fences, or on the side of a building. These are only a few common places that you’ve probably seen PVC banners already. There are plenty of great advertising spots that you can take advantage of. Just be sure that you are considering the spot carefully to ensure it gets the most exposure.
You may have thought about using this type of signage for your business at one time or another for certain promotions. It’s actually simple to order your special promotions PVC banner online. This economical method of advertising allows you to save money while increasing your profits dramatically. Don’t let the affordable pricing fool you.
Here are a few ideas that you’ll want advertising banner printers for your business.
Christmas time is one of the biggest times of the year for shopping. Promote the store savings, product or service promotions or any other type of benefit that the customer will receive by shopping at your store.
You can have a number of banners designed and placed around your local and surround areas. This is going to be extremely beneficial.
Shopping online will help you to find the most competitive pricing. Just be sure that you check out the company before you purchase anything. This is easy to uncover and can potentially save you a good amount of frustration and money in the long run.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Environmentally Friendly Banner Printing
After a number of years development the problem has now been solved with the introduction of latex ink printers. HP have pioneered the use of Latex water base inks. The latex inks are pigmented, waterbased inks that produce vivid colours that are outdoor durable and oudourless. One early adapted of this eco friendly method of large format printing is the UK's leading display provider. Discountdisplays . Discountdisplays use the printer to print ofto a wide variety of materials including, self adhesive vinyl, mesh banner, biodegradable banner, textile banners, tyvek, flag metrial, and many types of paper including blue backed poster billboard paper.