How To Enhance Customer Conversions With Cable Displays

Cable displays are a popular method of displaying posters, leaflets and products in shop windows. Most people will have seen these wire window displays in the high street, such as in estate agents or opticians windows. They offer a contemporary display solution to any commercial business and are available in formats that are ideal for window displays for shops, offices, banks, restaurants and exhibitions.

Suspended cable displays are a versatile system for shop window displays. They are simple; consisting of a wire cable usually 1.5mm or 3mm thick and end fittings that include a simple cable tensioning system. Even though the cable is extremely thin, it is still multi platted so is immensely strong; when correctly fixed, it has been tested to hold up to 140kg, far more than you'll need!

The popularity of cable shop displays at the point of sale is due to their affordability, versatility and ease of use. When choosing a cable display system the first decision is how you are going to fit it. The cables are universal but the end fittings vary. They can be floor to ceiling , floor to wall or wall to wall depending on where you are using them and what structure you can fit to. Once you have decided on the cable system you need all you have to do is decide what to display.

Some companies make this easy by offering ready made cable display kits but for more bespoke shop display solutions you can choose from  cable display shelves, cable display lighting, cable display cubes for showing off products, brochure holders and shelves.

So next time you're looking for inspiration have a look in shop windows to see what the big names on the high street are doing and what window display would work for your business.

Add A Touch of Class with Gold Crowd Control System

In certain environments, the need for a high quality crowd control system is often vital for the efficient flow of customers, not to mention conforming to health and safety regulations!

A lot of the rope and post systems on the market are chrome, which look great in a lot of situations, but sometimes the need for a classier look arises, either to match in with the current fixings and fittings or to show customers that a certain area is important.
A prime example of this is the VIP section of a nightclub where customers pay extra for the enjoyment of a privileged service, and this is where a gold rope and post system would look ideal.

Discount Displays sell a high quality Gold Rope and Post Stanchion Set, which is in stock for next day delivery, as well as a wide range of crowd control products.

Great Source of Sale Posters Ideal for Shop Fittings

The Summer Sales are nearly upon us and for retailers that means competing with every other window display on the high street with big sale promotion invites in the form of posters, banners and displays.

As every business will know promotional graphics are an invaluable part of the shop fittings arsenal but sometimes it can be hard to find the inspiration for a design that will catch the eye of a passing customer, or you have an idea in mind but not the technical ability to bring your vision to fruition. This is where Discount Displays Express comes in.

This UK based company has just launched a huge range of pre-designed shop posters, saving you the time and money in doing it yourself. This is one of the biggest collections of sale posters on the market and covers all bases from season specific designs to holidays and business type.
An added bonus is that some of the designs can be customised with a selection of background colours and percentage off ranges, making it quick and easy to find the perfect poster for your shop window.

There are also services to upload your own artwork or use the in-house service to design a poster for you. This means you can take an existing design on the website, and for a little extra modify it to suit your own needs.
There are also a great range of banners, promotional graphics as well as POS equipment.

New Digital Display Printing Blog

I have just found a useful blog to do with large format printing. There is some great information about using large format printing for exhibition and trade show graphics. Hints and tips on how to design a banner as well as quite a bit of interesting stuff to do with eco friendly display printing. HP have introduced a latex printer and it seems the only by product is water!
Check it out: http://www.digital-display-printing.co.uk/blog/

Seven Tips for Greener Exhibiting

Here are our top seven tips to lessen the impact your exhibiting and promotional printing has on the environment.

1. Plan Your Exhibit - You will be surprised at how much material, wastage, and most importantly money you can save but planning in advance how much of everything you will need to successfully exhibit. Make a note of all factors such as time, order of setting up your booth, how much promotional material to use, even the most efficient route to get to the venue!

2. Use a Company that Practices Green Printing - as the eco-friendly mindset permeates through the market more and more companies are offering their services for green products. Sometimes they are a bit more expensive, but is worthwhile as it presents your brand as a socially conscious business.

3. Give Customers Incentives Not To Use Materials - a prime example is that of bags, maybe give a customer a discount or access to exclusive content if they choose not to use a bag. An incentive for not using the material is preferable to a punishment for using it, such as a charge for bags as this can leave the customer with a negative experience with your company. Directing customers to a web site instead of giving them a catalogue is another way to decrease the usage of raw materials.

4. Recycled Materials - banners, booths, bags, plastics; just a small selection of products that are now available made from recycled materials. Again this does a positive thing for your brand image.

5. Rent Instead of Buying - there are many companies that offer full trade show booth rentals, which can be used several times. Obviously this limits how much customisation and flexibility you can have on your exhibit, but if you are an infrequent exhibitor this might be the option to go for.

6. Energy Efficient Lighting - lighting can play a big part in your exhibit, but nowadays many energy efficient light bulbs are just as effective as 'normal' ones.  This is one of those small changes that multiplied by the annual exhibitors in the country can make a big difference.

7. Green Giveaways - prizes to win green products, sample of green materials or a prize for a customer reducing their impact on the environment. Build up customer loyalty and improve your company's image.

For more information on green printing techniques and policies visit this link for an example of recyclable banner printing.

Chicago Streets Ahead with Lamppost Banner Auctions

Came across a novel idea regarding PVC advertising banner "recycling" where some lateral thinking has resulted in the city of Chicago auctioning street and lamppost banners to the public. The annual “Sharing It” banner auction, which benefits the needy, has seen banners from public events been sold to raise money for charities within the city.
One highlight was the sale of a Chicago White Sox 2005 World Series Championship street banner, which was sold for $515. This was from their world series run and was signed by pitcher Mark Buehrle aka 'Mr. Perfect'.
The live auction sells street pole banners produced by the city and other organizations that promote events, festivals, exhibitions & special occasions and theatre.
Other highlights from this year’s auction are Blackhawks playoff banners signed by Hall of Famers Stan Mikita and Denis Savard, Jersey Boys and Dirty Dancing banners courtesy of Broadway in Chicago and from the Museum of Science & Industry, banners highlighting the Harry Potter exhibit.

I'm not sure if anyone would start something like that here in the UK but until they do another option of course is to opt for an eco-friendly PVC free recyclable banners and reduce the harm banner printing has on the environment.

A Guide To Choosing The Perfect Roller Banner

When choosing a banner stand system you will see many different options, including roller banner stands, and your first question will probably be "What exactly is a roller banner stand?". Simply put it is a system for displaying and transporting graphic banners for displays and promotions in retail outlets, trade shows and at events. The principle is very similar to a roller blind, with the roller banner being inside a protective case that also acts as a base so the unit can be free standing. Unlike a blind however, the roller banner is pulled up rather than down so it needs a pole to hold it up.

The main benefits of roller banners over other banner stand types are:
- They are easy to transport
- The graphics are protected
- Banners are free standing
- No tools are required

As with banner stand having different options, there are also different types of roller banners. As far as functionality is concerned there are two main differences, with two options for each feature choice.
The first option is the type of base used on the stand. You have options for stands with fold out feet or ones with a larger footprint that dont require feet. The fold out feet type of roller banner tend to be cheaper and a little less stable, but smaller for easy transportation.
Roller banner stands can also be divided into changeable graphics and fixed graphics systems. Fixed graphics again are cheaper and normally just have the graphics stuck to the roller unit, replaceable graphic systems have either a slide in graphic or a changeable casette. Changable casette systems are the most expensive but by far the easiest to use if your marketing message needs to change alot.

What issues should you look for when buying a roller banner stand?
Obviously roller banners have moving parts so you need to be careful you don't get to a show and find it is broken. Problems I have seen in the past include:
 - The top bar coming off and the banner rolls up inside
the cassette
- The springs inside break and the system loses tension
- The spring units locks and the banner won't come out
- The spring does not have enough tension to hold the banner taught
- The pole at the back holding the banner up breaks

It's tricky when choosing a roller banner stand as many of these units look very similar online and it's only when you compare them side by side you can see where the money has been saved. My advice; spend a little more and make sure you get a reliable roller banner.

Just a quick note on graphics, it won't surprise you to learn that not all graphics are the same either. Two things to consider are the print quality and the materials used.
In regards to print quality this varies hugely depending on the equipment used; large format printng machines range in price from a few thousand up to well over a million. Printers also set up and run their machines at different speeds. My advice is to choose a reputable company with experience who have thier own printing workshop in-house rather than one that's subs it out.
There will be more about large formt print on the blog in future.

If you've gone through this article to find out more about roller banner stands and decided they don't fit your requirements you have many other options available. The most obvious solution is if there is a wall or side of a shell scheme system then your graphics can be attached to them without the need for any type of banner stand.
If thats not possible and you need some sort of stand the alternative to a roller banners is some sort of tensioned pole stand, in which case the banner and banner stand would be seperate. You put up the stand then attach your banner. Once they are up they look very similar to roller banners.
The advantages of a pole banner stand is that there are no moving bits to go wrong and on the whole they are cheaper than roller units. Its also easier to change the graphics without having to go to the expense of having a replacable cassette roller banner.

I hope this guide has helped clear a few things up about both roller banners and the options you have available  to display your graphics.

Making Light Work With Handtrucks

There's nothing worse than when you get to a trade show with a boot full of gear and you have to park miles from the exhibition hall.

It's at times like this you wish you invested in a folding hand truck or for bulkier items a folding platform trolley. Both are lightweight and have the benefit of fitting in the boot of your car.

The other day at a show I saw a nifty idea of a combined hand trolley and step ladder. The fold out platform will take up to 90kg, so it's ideal for all those heavy boxes of literature or brochures.

Where it really scored over the traditional hand trucks was the step ladder. There are 101 things you need to reach on an exhibition stand and sods law there wont be a step ladder in sight.

The combined steps and trolley would be ideal on any exhibition stand whether it's for hanging graphics on your pop up stand or attaching spot lights to a shell scheme. After a bit of searching I found the product at www.discounthandtrucks.com.

They have two step and three step versions but for most exhibition application I can think of two steps would be fine.

Successful Open Day for Case Management Jobs

Our friends at Discount Displays recently helped launch a new recruitment business involved in the growing case management market. 
Case Management Jobs is the brainchild of Peter Morgan of Morgansearch, a veteran of the health market recruitment business in the UK. 

Morgan explained “The concept of case management originated in the USA and it is now widely used in many countries including Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand and we think it is set to grow in the UK.
Case management is the process of planning, implementing, coordinating, monitoring and evaluating the health and social care needs of individuals, often those who have a serious, complex or long-term injury or illness.
Peter wanted to do a little more than send out email shots or flyers so decided to hold a golf day for existing and prospective customers involved in case management recruitment throughout the UK .

Morgan had already had positive feedback from the case management society UK and felt an event would give him an informal day to launch his new concept and get feedback from potential companies looking to recruit case managers.
Having used discountdisplays in the past to produce exhibition stands peter gave them a brief for the golf day. The focus needed to be on case manager recruitment in the health care market. Banner stands, feather flags and golf tee signs were used to promote the event. Morgan said everyone had a great day and it gave us a chance to get feedback on our case management jobs web site which was very encouraging, I think we are on to a winner.

Exhibition Equipment Trade Supplier Review

Came across a new trade exhibition stand and display stand supplier Expolite. They seem to have a few products that are different from the regular exhibiton and display stand suppliers in the UK.

I particularly I liked the range of retractable barriers and crowd control rope and stanchions. Great value for money for the quality you are getting. They wouldn't say where they were imported from but the quality of the retractable barriers was far greater than the usual products on the market from China.

The retractable belt barriers have stainless steel posts and bases with a very smooth belt barrier. I would say the quality was equal to that of a Tensator but without the price tag.

The other product they are know for is the y-band outdoor banner stand which you may have seen at outdoor events. Made it clear that for the banner stand to work the way it has been designed it's important to fill the base with water.

I sent them an email about their trade only policy and was assured that they only deal through approved UK dealers and wont sell direct to the end user.

Smaller than the big boys but still worth a vist for the quality of display stands and the value for money.

PVC advertising banners - Hints and tips PART 1

Summer is well and truly upon us and fetes, sports events and garden shows need to capitalise on the weather and attract customers to their events. One of the most popular and cost effective ways is to use printed PVC banners. Despite new material on the marketplace by far the most popular are PVC banners. PVC banner material also know as vinyl is strong, cheap and totally weather proof.
If you type PVC banners UK or vinyl banners UK into google you will see a huge range of companies offering pvc banner printing.

For example:

BANNERS FOR ALL - Banners, Vinyl Banners, PVC Banners, Sign Banner ...We produce quality printed PVC and Textile Banners,Feather Flags and Sail Banners. Sail banners - Digital Vinyl PVC Banners - Vinyl PVC Banners. www.bannersforall.co.uk/ - Cached - Similar

Online Design Tools For Personalized Banners, Best Poster Design ... - Our PVC banners are also popular as sports event banners, ... Whatever you requirements or specifications,
www.quickstepdesign.com/ - Cached - Similar

advertising banner - printed pvc advertising banners vinyl - advertising banner - pre printed in stock Sale banners from discount displays. PVC vinyl advertising banner.

Confusing isn't it? So how do you choose? Most people think a banner is a banner is a banner, but since yours is going to be an advert for your company or event you want it to look good and last the course.

As with most things cheapest may not be the best. When you look at material the questions to ask when your looking for a banner printer are:

Is the material reinforced?
What weight is it?
How are the edges finished?
Does it allow any show-through?
Is it Fire retardant?
What are the eyelets made of?

Reinforced material is essential unless you just want a very short term small indoor banner. The PVC banner material has a nylon weave fused into it which prevents it tearing. The heavier the banner the material the stronger it is, the typical weight for an outdoor banner ranges from 300gsm to 500gsm.

Finally how is the material finished? For short term banners people cut corners by having their banner "straight cut" with either plastic or metal eyelets. This is OK if the banner is small, say 6' x 2' or perhaps up against a wall but eventually the eyelets will tear out.

As soon as one eyelet goes the whole banner can look messy and a crucial bit of information such as a telephone number or date may be hidden. The alternative is to spend a little more and go for a banner with turned edges. This is where the outer couple of inches of the banner are turned over giving a double thickness hem. This strengthens the weakest vunerable part of the banner and gives a much better anchor point for the eyelets.

I'll discuss alternate banner materials and printing techniques in my next article.

Top Ten Classic Movie Posters

Although cinema and technology has moved on, one thing that has remained constant is the use of movie posters in promoting films. Over the years there have been many posters that stand out and captured the imagination, from cult classics that still make an impact to recent releases that have become iconic instantly. Below is our list of top ten movie posters, leave a comment if you think we've missed any out!

This iconic movie poster was very raunchy 

for the 50's and instantly unforgettable.

       A simple yet powerful poster that conjures up images of the 

       famous dream sequence with Mena Suvari in a bed of rose petals.

A classic film and a simple image that speaks of the bond 

between Elliott and the waddling, glowing-hearted alien.

This Tarantino classic throws back to an earlier decade 

and is finished off with nice touches such as the 10 cent price.

A striking image that brings back memories of childhood tales 

such as little red riding hood, but with a sinister twist.

If you've seen this amazing film, then this poster will take you 

back to the protagonist's escape, a beautifully rendered picture.

A weird insect/bug for a mouth - nice.

We couldn't compile a top ten movie poster list without mentioning 

Saul Bass, the genius behind Anatomy of a Murder, Psycho, The Shining and many more.

A personal favourite an a stunning image that ties 

in nicely with the films most famous moment.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water...

A Sign of Things to Come: Ten Funny & Weird Signs

Time for some light hearted relief with a rundown of ten signs to make you chuckle.

         

         

                                          

Advantages of Exhibition Stand Hire

There are several advantages that exhibition stand hire  provides to both first-time trade fair exhibitors and larger companies who are seeking to downsize their trade fair investments while still maintaining a good presence at industry exhibitions.

The first advantage is convenience - Exhibition stand hire can provide you with a large impact without having to invest large sums of money. This is especially useful if you are attending a trade fair for the first time and are not sure of the ROI it will provide you.

The second advantage is flexibility - Exhibition stand hire allows you to customise your exhibit for each trade fair you attend. You can also experiment with size and configuration to see what works best for your schedule of exhibitions.

The third advantage is cost effectiveness -  If you do not attend many trade fairs or have added one or two new ones to your schedule, hiring an exhibition stand can be a cost effective way to make a good impact without spending a lot of money. Exhibition stand hiring is also cost effective for shows that are overseas, saving you substantial amounts on freight charges.

The fourth advantage is extra options - By hiring an exhibition stand, you can probably stretch your trade fair budget to include new options that you might not have otherwise been able to afford.  Dramatic lighting, extra large format graphics, brochure racks and furniture are hire options that can add impact to your trade fair presence.

By working with an experienced exhibition stand vendor like Discount Displays, you can give yourself many more options for hiring a standout exhibition stand.  Discount Displays have a 20,000 sq. foot showroom that features over 90 percent of the exhibition stand products they offer on their website, allowing you to see and compare options that would work best for your trade fairs or exhibitions.

New retail news blog

Discountdisplay-express.co.uk has just launched a new news service focused on news from round the world focuse on point of sale retail displays and merchandising. Recent topics have included  "Selfridges named best department store in the world", "World Cup to transform shop displays across the UK" "Topshop launches digital display units to promote new collection" You can find the blog here

World Cup to transform shop displays across the UK

Retailers in the UK are gearing up to capitalize on the visual merchandising opportunities bought about by the start of the 2010 World Cup this month. The Daily Mail has reported that high street stores estimate a increase in revenue of around £2 billion if England make it to the final in South Africa.

Supermarkets and high street stores across their country are transforming their shop displays as football fever grips the nation. Many big brands, such as Mars, have already launched limited edition England products to tie in with these displays. According to price comparison site Kelkoo, retailers from the big four – Tesco, Sainsbury, Morrisons and Asda – to electrical chains and even home supply stores hope to see a boost in their sales.

The grocery sector will likely see the biggest seasonal change in its retail display strategies. Food and drink is the largest single area of expenditure that will benefit from the World Cup, according to Kelkoo’s survey. Sainsbury’s predicts that pint glass and pizza sales will increase by 500%, whilst Tesco has recently produced a pizza bearing the St George’s flag, to make the most of the patriotism sweeping the nation.

Retailers of electrical products will also take advantage though, as sales of high definition or 3D television sets are expected to soar as the tournament continues. One unexpected area of interest is the home supply store; The Mail reports that B&Q owners Kingfisher is to launch a range of products based upon the visual merchandising of the England football strip, from garden gnomes to wheelbarrows and gazebos.

According to Kelkoo, England’s participation in the quarter finals would bump up sales by an additional £332 million even if the team does not reach the final, which would account for a predicted £692 million in sales. Altogether if England won the World Cup, Kelkoo predicts that there would be an overall £2m boost in incremental spend. Good luck to Wayne and the boys! 

“Shop displays of beef flout EU regs” warns producers

The National Beef Association has announced that many of the supermarkets in the UK are ignoring EU retail display regulations.

A report in Farming UK quotes the Association as being ‘astonished’ at the widespread disregard of rules on shop displays for beef in the stores of large retailers. They say that many supermarkets are ‘determined’ to carry on displaying beef from different countries in the same retail shelving section.
“Some of the most obvious of the illegal displays are in England,” says NBA chief executive Robert Forster, “where shelf edge promotion loudly proclaims that only British beef is on offer [but] closer investigation reveals that small pockets of beef from the Republic of Ireland, Brazil or Argentina are covered by the same promotion material.”

Forster has stated that this poor visual merchandising “works against the English farmer and the English processor” because retailers mix cheaper imported beef with more expensive domestic products, making the imported beef look more appealing. The NBA says that it also undermines the ability to judge how much consumers are willing to pay for English beef, which often has higher environmental and quality credentials than beef from overseas.

This type of display goes against the advice of the Local Authority Co-Ordination Office on Regulatory Services (LACORS) says Forster. Last year LACORS warned retailers that meat from different countries of origin had to be physically separated within retail shop fittings, and that shop displays which suggested all goods were from a single country of origin must adhere to that standard rigidly.

Strong Exhibition Registration Already Reported for EuroShop 2011

Europe’s largest retail trade fair is already reporting strong exhibitor registration for EuroShop 2011, which will be held 26 Feb. – 2 March, 2011 at the fairgrounds in Dusseldorf, Germany.

According to an Exhibitor Magazine report:

“The current level of exhibitor registrations is almost equal to the registration status of EuroShop 2008 at the same point in time. This is all the more positive since the situation in global retail is rather tense at the moment. Our talks with exhibitors and retail experts show that the position of EuroShop as a leading international trade fair for all investment needs in retail remains strong. Many exhibitors deliberately schedule their product innovations and portfolios according to the EuroShop dates,” stated Wilhelm Niedergöker, Managing Director of Messe Düsseldorf.

The huge retail trade fair has four distinct exhibition segments:

EuroConcept – which includes shopfitting, store design, lighting, energy-saving refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, the EuroShop Designer Village and the EuroShop Retail Design Conference;

EuroSales – featuring visual merchandising, sales promotion and POS marketing;

EuroCIS – including information and security technology; and

EuroExpo – exhibition stand construction, design and special events.

If your organization is planning to exhibit at EuroShop 2011, it’s not too early to begin organising your exhibition stand design for this industry-leading trade fair.  Pre-planning ensures that you will save both time and money, while providing you with the proper impact you need to stand out at EuroShop 2011.

For more information on innovative exhibition stand design, visit our website or call us on 0844 800 1020.

Why Should You Use PVC 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 to use PVC banners 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.

A Powerful Marketing Campaign That Will Boost Your Sales 30%

It can quickly become a large expense trying to drive targeted customers to your store. You’ll uncover that many advertising methods often lead to spending more money then you make back. Generally the first thoughts are to get on the radio, newspapers and sending postcards. While these are all effective marketing efforts there’s actually an easier method that is very effective and affordable.

Sidewalk signs are affordable and effective. Research proves that sidewalk signs have increased sales up to 30% for businesses everywhere. That’s an amazing and very effective campaign wouldn’t you say?

You can spend thousands of dollars on radio advertisements, close to a thousand on postcard advertising and only spend a couple hundred for a sidewalk sign and it will do a better job.

Now it’s important that you understand this doesn’t meant that you should use this method of advertising as your only means of promotion. As a business owner who wants his or her business to grow you’ll need to take advantage of various marketing methods to reach a larger audience. But why spend thousands when there are no guarantees. Start with something that is more affordable, uncover the best promotion and then expand on it.

Sidewalk signs are extremely effective for high traffic areas such as shopping centers and high streets. One of the major benefits to this type of advertising is that you can run various specials on the sign and determine which one performs the best without breaking the bank. You’ve seen them before outside of the doors of stores advertising various sales, specific items and restaurants often advertise their menus or daily specials.

Learn more about creating an effective sidewalk sign and begin implementing it into your business to increase sales up to 30%.