Trade Show Displays, Booths, and Exhibits

Jumping on the Green Bandwagon

2009-07-07T13:16:00.000-07:00

Many companies are now jumping on the environmental bandwagon, especially at trade shows. There are several things you can do to make your marketing efforts more “green”, starting with your trade show display.

The trade show industry has always been known for being the second most wasteful industry, after construction, until now. Many trade show display manufacturers are now incorporating recycled materials into the booths. There are new green trade show displays on the market known as in-line displays. They come in 10x10, 10x20, 10x30, and 20x20 sizes and are made primarily of recycled materials. Everything from the aluminum frame to the fabric graphics are made from eco-friendly material.

If you are looking for something a little more compact, then maybe a banner stand or tabletop display is right for you. Eco Systems created a line of banner stands and pop up displays that are solely made of “green” materials.

Choosing an environmentally-friendly display system is definitely a step in the right direction if you are trying to convert to “green” exhibiting, but here is a list of a few other ideas that may not only help the environment, but will also show your customers how serious you are about helping the environment.

1. Have several trash bins at your booth; one for aluminum, one for bottles, and one for paper.

2. Carry less paper materials. Instead, send your customers to your web site for the info they want. Better yet, bring a laptop with Internet and show your customers everything they want to know on your web site.

3. Use giveaway items that are clearly eco-friendly, such as solar powered items.

The trade show industry has drastically turned around in the past 2-3 years. What once was one of the most wasteful industries, is now becoming known for its “green” efforts. Just by focusing on the right trade show display and the little ways you can show your customers you want to help the environment, will help make your company known for caring for the environment.

Successful Trade Show Displays on a Budget

2009-06-03T17:35:00.000-07:00

Are you on a tight budget, but would like to participate in trade shows? Before you consider cancelling, there are a number of trade show displays that are affordable and, if done effectively, will get you the business you want. Smaller display systems can be just as successful as the larger ones, as long as you are using the right tools. Here are a few tips to making a smaller trade show booth stand out just as much (if not more) than the larger booths.

Lighting
Lighting is the perfect addition to add that extra glow your trade show display needs. It is a great accessory to add to draw awareness to your display system. In fact, Exhibitor Magazine stated that lighting can increase the awareness of your trade show booth by 30 to 50 percent.

Simplicity is Key
I know it is very tempting to try to add as much to your exhibit as possible. You want to give your visitors as much information as possible on your products. However, adding more than 2 products to your booth will get you overlooked and will end up hurting your sales. One or two products are ideal for displaying on your exhibit. If you want to inform possible clients of any other products you carry, bring brochures that will give them this information, or hand out cards with your website address so that they can research these products on their own.

Give Your Visitors and Staff Space
If you are planning on adding counters or kiosks to your display booth, make sure that there will still be enough room for your staff and visitors to maneuver around your exhibit. If your booth seems too cozy, these potential customers will most likely move on to the next display that will give them the space they want.

Bold Colors
Use bright colors in your display that will get you noticed, instead of neutral colors. If neutral colors are used, your trade show display will end up blending in to the background.

It is possible to create a trade show exhibit that is just as eye-catching as the larger, more expensive exhibits. These tips should help you create a booth that is not only affordable, but also stunning.

Source: http://www.exhibitoronline.com/tips/tip-display.asp?counter=664

Trade Show Ideas That Will Keep You Visitors Happy

2009-05-13T06:19:00.000-07:00

We all want to stand out when participating in trade shows. That is what sells our products. Obviously, our goal should not be to look like every other competitors. No one is going to remember you or your company when there are 50 other booths that look exactly the same. Before participating in a convention, attend a few conventions on your own, keeping a couple questions in the back of your mind:

1.) What drew me to this display in the first place?
2.) Why do I want to purchase from this company instead of from the booth across the aisle?

These are things you need to keep in mind when preparing yourself, your staff, and your booth for your next event. One great way to eliminate the similarities between your display system and the competitor’s is by making a list. While still in the planning stages, make two columns: one column should list the things you would like to add to your trade show booth, while the other column should list the items you saw while attending other trade shows that caught your eye. Once these two lists have been made, begin crossing out the items that are similar on both lists. The goal of this exercise is to find out what ideas you have that are unique and different from your competitors and that will make you stand out. Those are the things you should be focused on.

Although your trade show display is a very important part of your booth, it is not the only piece that will attract people to your display system. Is the staff just standing around or are they engaging potential customers? Are you bringing potential customers in with giveaways, games and promotional material? Once you have them interested, that’s when you should approach them with your sales pitch.

With only three seconds to attract potential customers to your trade show exhibit, it is extremely important to have a display that will set you apart from the competition. However, as I have stated before, this is not the only reason people will stop at your booth. Making sure that you have appropriate promotional material lined up for your visitors, your staff is friendly and inviting, and that your booth is unique is sure to make the sale. If your display is unique and different from your competition, this will help you to stand out from your competition and get the ROI you want.

Are You Secretly Sending Business to Your Competitors?

2009-05-04T09:19:00.000-07:00

It is no secret that you need customers to have a successful business, but are you’re marketing efforts focusing on attracting the right customers? According to Laura Lake (About.com), businesses spend 80 percent of their marketing dollars going after new customers. This may seem like a good idea, but it is your repeat customers who spend 33 percent more than new customers. Another effective, low-cost marketing tool is through word-of mouth. It is the repeat customers who will refer 107 percent more than non-customers.

It may seem a lot easier than it really is to keep repeat customers. There are a number of reasons that customers will leave your business and go to your competition instead. Some of these reasons include:

Your prices are too high

With an unstable economy, businesses are going to spend more time researching several companies that will offer the same products at lower prices. They are definitely going to purchase from your competitors if they sell their products at lower prices.

They had complaints that had not been resolved

Nothing is more frustrating than having a problem with a product or service that no one seems to want to help you with. One way to gain your customer’s loyalty is by finding the most efficient way to solve any problems they may have. If you do not attempt to solve these issues, they will look to your competitors to solve the issues you were not willing to solve for them. In fact they may also feel as though you don’t care to help them with their complaints.

Trade Show Booths in this Slow Economy

2009-04-24T07:47:00.000-07:00

Trade Show Booths in this Slow Economy

Being in the middle of smaller private companies plans to get more customers we have the first hand reports of how our customers are doing and how they are doing it. It has been a great feeling for our team to receive emails, cards, candy and phone calls from our clients thanking us for the success they are seeing at their trade shows when the people around them are not.
What is this big dark secret that we have that makes a trade show display successful. Of course it is our knowledge base of product fit and overall trade show knowledge but all this is based on fundamentals of human nature and know what the propose of a trade show display is.

1. Keep your space open so they fill free to move about your space.
2. Use a clean simple look to your area so they can immediately who you are and what you do.
3. Have sharp display that is different and well cared for. This does represent your company and how you look to your customer. If your booth is plain and not well maintained how anyone can think your company is any different. It is a very important to look your best.
4. Have your sales staff dressed in new, sharp looking clothing. The boss at the show should wear a suit and represent a business man image.
5. The design of your graphics and all of your trade show booths is key to your success. Show people who you are, what you do and what makes you different or better.

What we do at Smash Hit Displays is blend all of these requirements for a successful show; our only concern is that you are successful at the trade show.

Getting Ahead of The Competition in a Recession

2009-02-25T13:56:00.000-08:00

Recession has become a word used in our everyday conversations. In fact, we have been completely consumed with the economy, in both our home and work life. People who have never felt a need to watch the news are now watching it regularly with more interest than ever. Although the economy is slow, it is not the time to cut marketing dollars. Here are some tips to get booming business in a not-so-booming economy.

1.) Rise Above Competitors

These strong businesses work hard to help their prospects and customers flourish during these tough financial times. Finding ways to help you customer base save money will help make your business much more successful.

2.) Protect Your Customer Base

Competitors will try to win over your current customers by promising to save them some money. Not only should you be trying to get new customers, you should also do what you can to keep your current customers. By helping these consumers solve their problems, they will become loyal to your company.

3.) “Survival of the Fittest”

In this current recession, there is no room for mistakes. It is crucial to read up on your industry, attending corporate training classes, and to touch up on basic sales seminars you have attended in the past.

4.) URGENT

Every aspect of your business should be treated as if there is a “sense of urgency.” Just because the economy is slow does not mean your business should run slower.

5.) Trade Shows

When times are tight, your advertising budget should not be cut. Trade shows are a great way to get your business and products noticed. It gives you a chance to meet and greet potential customers. Whether you have a 20 x 20 truss system display or a 6 foot table top pop up display, you will be glad you spent the money to promote your business.

Source: http://www.eyesonsales.com/archives/blog/5_tips_for_beating_your_competitors_in_this_recession

Secrets to Becoming a Trade Show Success

2009-02-17T08:12:00.000-08:00

Trade Shows are a great way to meet potential customers as well as business partners. Are you still on the fence as to whether or not exhibiting is worth the time and money? Statistics from Industry surveys show that 79 percent attend shows to help them make up their mind as to what they should purchase and 70 percent intend to purchase at least one product. No Matter how you look at it, these numbers imply that you would get sales from people who normally would not purchase from you. In order to influence these people to visit your trade show display, it is important to not only have a booth that sticks out, but to also have a warm, inviting environment that makes the attendees comfortable and willing to hear what you have to say. Here are some things to consider when preparing for your next show.

Graphics

With only 3 seconds to impress attendees who are just walking by, it is important to have simple, yet bold graphics for your trade show display. When driving down the freeway, are you going to pay attention to a billboard that has a simple design, with a few words, or are you going to pay attention to one that is very “busy” and has a lot of different pictures and wording? If there is too much going on, the attendees will get bored and venture to a display that has a very straightforward, simple message and graphics. Choosing effective colors are also important. Blues, whites, and greens are very professional-looking, yet can blend in too easily. Flashy colors such as reds, yellows, and oranges may grab their attention much easier, but be careful how you use them. These colors may be considered too strong to some attendees.

Lighting

If done correctly, lighting may be used to spotlight certain products you have on display. It is a great way to draw attention directly to the area you would like focused on.

Music

Trade Shows can be extremely nerve-racking for the attendees, especially with hundreds (maybe thousands) of people walking down the aisles in one building. Relaxing music may help calm their nerves (as well as your nerves). Consider using nature sounds or other gentle sounds to draw people into your booth.

Literature Racks

Let’s just say that everyone staffed at your booth were assisting potential leads. Having a literature rack available with brochures and other marketing materials will make it easier for all attendees to get information on your products without having to wait for you.

Booth Design

One of the biggest pet peaves I have when attending trade shows is exhibits that do not have enough room to accommodate a large amount of traffic. You may miss out on sales by not having an ample amount of space available to all of those interested attendees. Truss System Displays are known for having an innovative, dynamic design while still having a sufficient amount of room for those who may be interested in what you have to offer. If you are looking for a trade show display that is a little more low-key, the pop up trade show display may be just what you are looking for. With it’s “small-to-large” pop up frame, it takes a matter of minutes to set up, yet has an open design that will make it easier to maneuver through the booth.

With these tips, there is no way you will go wrong at your next trade, convention, meeting, etc.

Effective Ways to Increase Your ROI

2009-02-09T11:34:00.000-08:00

Trade show planning does not stop at the show itself. It takes months of preparations to be successful. Here are five effective tips to becoming a trade show success long after the show is over.

1.) Pre-show Marketing

Although hundreds, possibly thousands of people attend trade shows, letting the public, especially current customers, know where your booth will be located is a good idea. Send out direct mail pieces with promotions that are only for the show. An example of this would be a direct mail piece that was sent out by a cell phone company. They offered free activations (normally a $30 value) and phone rebates that would only be effective if they purchased the phone and service at the exhibit. They received a huge amount of new business from this promotion. With an economy that won’t be getting better any time soon, it is crucial to have coupons or some other form of discounts available to the attendees.

Another valuable pre-show marketing mailer that could be sent out would be to inform potential attendees of a drawing you will have at your booth. Whether it be for a briefcase, vacation, or a t-shirt, everyone loves to get free stuff. This may be reason enough to get them over to your booth.

2.) A Dazzling Trade Show Exhibit

Ah, yes. This is the most important tip of all. Obviously you can’t exhibit at a trade show without a trade show booth. With only a few seconds to gain the attention of your potential new client, it is important to have a display that will catch their attention. When it comes to graphics, less is more. Having a photo of your product with just a few words would be remembered more than having several photos with a paragraph of text. It needs to be something easy to see and read while walking by.

The display itself is equally as important as the graphics. One of the most popular displays is called the pop up display. Just as the name implies, the frame “pops up” into place. It is very easy to set up and take down. Having a display that is simple to setup yet has a unique design is key to gaining attention. The Alumilate Hybrid Display is one of the most innovative displays on the market. With the unique look of the frame and canopy, to the flawless, stretching fabric used to print your graphics on, you are sure to get positive feedback from attendees. This is also very lightweight, keeping the shipping costs at a minimum.

The Xpressions Fabric Tension Display is a three dimensional display that can be configured in several different ways. The graphics are also interchangeable, making a new display at each show. This is a great way to keep your display fresh and unique.

3.) Staff Training

Your booth staff can make or break your trade show success. Consider these two examples: Booth A is staffed by employees who spend more time eating, drinking, talking on their phone, and talking to each other than they do talking to potential leads. These staffers are also not knowledgeable of their products or company. However, the staff at Booth B are professionally dressed, end phone conversations when potential customers enter your booth, do not eat while in their booth, and are very passionate about the company they work for and the products they sell. Which booth are you most likely to visit?

4.) Charming Giveaways

As I said before, everyone likes to get something for nothing. Consider giving away items that can be used regularly, rather than something that is of no use. It is important to have the name of your company on these items in order to be remembered by these potential customers. If you are looking for something that is sure to get attention, consider a giveaway wheel. The attendees will spin the wheel and get the prize shown.

5.) Lead Follow-up

Although the show may be over, the marketing is far from complete. While at the show, get the contact info of those individuals who may be interested in the products/services you have to offer. After the show is over, make sure to follow up with these people. Don’t wait too long though; a week after the show would be a good time to start calling those people back.

Stop Making Excuses for not Wanting to Participate in Trade Shows

2008-12-29T13:10:00.001-08:00

“Trade shows are a waste of time and money because I don’t get any results.” I often hear this statement as being the reason companies decide not to take advantage of the exhibiting opportunity. However, there’s a common mistake made by those companies who have ever made that comment. Marketing your trade show booth does not end before or after the show. Those companies who are successful at conventions make sure to plan and follow-up with their leads. Researching the venue is crucial in order to find out what other vendors will be at the same show. By doing this research, you will also be able to find out what types of attendees will be there.
Set a specific goals, such as how many products you want to sell, how many leads you want to generate, etc. Once you have decided what you plan on getting out of the trade show, develop a realistic budget to help make these goals a reality. Printed marketing materials such as brochures are great because the attendees can take this information with them.
Once the trade show is over and done with, the marketing does not stop. To be remembered by your leads, not only should you have an excellent presentation at the show, you should also follow up with these leads. While at the show, get the contact information from your potential customers. Give them a call soon after the show is over with.
To make your trade show display a hit, give Smash Hit Displays a call. We have everything from banner stands to flooring to truss systems. Are you on a tight deadline? Let Smash Hit Displays design your graphics for you.

Getting Out of the Slump Known as Recession

2008-11-18T21:15:00.000-08:00

I am starting to see a bright light at the end of the recession tunnel. With gas prices starting to decrease, more money is available for Christmas shopping. There’s no better time to start promoting your business at trade shows. With Smash Hit Displays’ exhibits, you can have an extravagant booth without the extravagant cost.
Our pop-up exhibits come in a wide range of sizes, easy to set up, and are budget-friendly. It comes with fabric or graphic panels that quickly attach to the frame with the use of magnetic channel bars.
We also carry banner stands for those of you who would prefer a more low-key display. Whether you would like to use a single bannerstand or make a wall of banner stands, we have all of your supplies in one location. Let Smash Hit Displays help you become the star of the show!

Use those baby eyes

2008-11-03T11:34:00.000-08:00

Keeping your creativity fresh and contemporary is crucial to the survival of your trade show exhibit. Whether you are brand new to the exhibiting world or have been going to trade shows for years, you need to go to the show with an open mind in order to see what displays you feel have an intriguing design. Susan A. Friedman calls this technique “baby eyes.” If you have ever watched a baby you have noticed how fascinated they are with everything they come across that is new to them. When they view these objects, they have no preconceived notions and view them as they are, hence the name “baby eyes.”
Consider attending a trade show that is not related to your products or services. This way you will have no formed opinions and can examine the booths solely on the design, colors and signs used. For this reason, take the opportunity to bring someone from your company that has never been to an exhibit. He or she will have a higher chance of using their “baby eyes” to take notice of the flashy booths. Not only should you pay attention to what catches your eye, but take note of what displays make you angry or stressed.
If you would like to read more on this topic, go to: http://www.tsnn.com/newsletters/41207/art2.htm.
Smash Hit Displays has a knowledgeable, professional staff that knows exactly what it takes to make you stand out. We constantly monitor the competition to make sure we have the lowest prices and the latest designs in the market. If it is flashy you are looking for, consider checking out our newest product, the Alumalite. For one low price, you get the aluminum hardware, inkjet graphics, a trapeze canopy cover, and frosted plex a glass header and wings. LCD plasma monitors, 200 watt halogen lights and counters can also be added for that cutting edge look. If you don’t have time to design your graphics, let us do it for you. Consider Smash Hit Displays for all of your trade show needs!

Getting Rid of "Garbage Leads"

2008-09-26T07:27:00.000-07:00

Due to the abundance of people who will be visiting your trade show display, it isn’t always easy to determine which attendees are there because they are genuinely interested in your product. A great way to get contact information on people who you may not have a chance to talk to at the trade show is called the BCIFB method; otherwise known as the business-card-in-the-fish-bowl method. As the name states, you will need a fish bowl or some other devise to be used to hold tons of business cards from those individuals who visited your booth. The idea of this is to collect as much info on those who genuinely want to find out more about your product.
Of course, this method will not guarantee that everyone who put their contact info in the bowl is interested in your products. If this is a concern for you, instead of using business cards, you may want to have short forms for attendees to fill out that, not only will give their contact info, but will check a box on the form that says “Yes, I am interested.”
Richard Hendershot, author of the article Gathering Trade Show Leads, has several useful tips to getting prospective leads instead of “garbage leads.” To read more on these tips, go to http://www.tradeshow-display-experts.com/trade-show-leads.html.

Can Attracting Too Many People Be More Harmful than Helpful?

2008-08-26T14:02:00.001-07:00

There would be no point in exhibiting at trade shows if, while showing off your products and display, you drew every single attendee to your exhibit. Many of those attendees may just be responding to your larger-than-life, brightly colored display without having any intention of buying from you. In fact, you may end u p wasting so much time and energy talking to someone who doesn’t want your product and ignoring those who were interested in what you have to say. The best way to draw in your target market is through a custom-built display. Smash Hit Displays can create a custom display based solely on your specifications. We guarantee you will get the product you want by providing you with renderings of what the finished product will look like. We will make any changes necessary to make our client happy. If you would like to view some examples of custom displays, go to http://www.smashhitdisplays.com/displays/custom-displays/index.html.

Cover all the Senses to Create an Effective Exhibit

2008-08-19T07:20:00.000-07:00

With less than three seconds to grab the attention of the attendees, your marketing message must be conveyed as concisely as possible. Your trade show display should intrigue all the senses in order to be successful. Less is more when it comes to your graphics. According to the Trade Show Advisor, the words used should be to-the-point and minimal. Bold, colorful graphics must serve as the focal point of your exhibit, which will cover the sense of sight.
The odds of someone purchasing your product will significantly go up if they get a chance to touch the product and actually use it. The use of sound can be a great way to enhance your exhibit. Not only does this include music, but having a speaker or live presentation will promote your product and company in an effective way. Keep these ideas in mind as you begin to prepare for your next trade show or conference.

Cover all the Senses to Create an Effective Exhibit

2008-08-19T07:17:00.000-07:00

The Secret to Becoming an International Success

2008-08-12T08:13:00.000-07:00

Going to a different continent for a trade show can be a very exciting (and stressful) time. However, if you plan to do well at the exhibit, you must do some research on the cultural differences in the country you will be traveling to. It is crucial you plan what clothes you will be wearing in conjunction with their customs. For example, white clothes are worn at funerals in China. If you do not wear something that will be accepted, you may offend this society. If you offend them, you can kiss the chances of doing well at this show bye-bye.
The colors of your display are just as important as the colors of your clothes. Hire a designer who understands and is familiar with the colors, symbols, and designs that are accepted in the specific country you plan to visit.
Another tip for taking your trade show display international is to not underestimate the significance of your marketing message. According to Trade-Show-Advisor.com, it would be a good idea to find an expert translator who can help you translate your marketing message. Do not risk showing up at the exhibit without knowing if your translation is correct on the trade show booth.
The point I am trying to make very clear is the fact that you must do research on the country. Remember that you are representing your company, and if you offend the unique society you are visiting, your entire company may be looked down on.

The Pros of Using Fabric Tension Displays

2008-08-06T13:35:00.000-07:00

Fabric tension displays are rapidly becoming a favorite among exhibitors. Some of the many reasons are due to the lightweight, sturdy frame and the dramatic, bold graphics. The best part about the fabric used for the graphics is the fact that it is wrinkle-resistant and will stretch across the frame, giving your trade show display a clean, crisp look.
If you are looking for a booth that will blow your audience away without blowing your bank account away, consider the Entasi Fabric Tension Display. There are several frame shapes to choose from; including sloped, curved, or flat. Most of the Entasi displays come with standoff shelves, giving your exhibit that extra “oomph.”
If you are looking for something more low key, you have the option of getting a tabletop Entasi display as well.

How to Get the Most From Your Exhibiting Experience

2008-08-05T08:36:00.001-07:00

With a rocky economy, more and more people are trying to save money. Therefore, the number of exhibitors and attendees are at a record low. This being said, it is more important than ever to market your products and/or services before and after the actual trade show. Giveaways have a very high success rate, and if the prize is valuable enough, will give your customers and potential customers reason enough to visit your display at the exhibit. Consider using press releases, direct mail, or advertisements to notify the public of your location at the trade show, what times you will be available, the dates of the show, and what you plan to give away.
The marketing efforts don’t stop after the event, it is crucial to follow-up with those attendees you spoke to. One strategy that I have found very useful in my days as a salesperson are the use of Thank You cards. Send out these cards thanking the customers or potential customers for taking the time to visit your booth and speak to you at the trade show. I have witnessed a large number of people who purchased a product from specific sales associates because these individuals took the time to thank them. This little technique will do wonders for the amount of business you receive from the exhibit.

The New Display on the Block

2008-08-01T12:06:00.000-07:00

Are you having a difficult time deciding on a design for your trade show display that will “wow” your audience? Look no further than the innovative design of the Linear Hybrid display. These lightweight displays are painless to assemble and do not require you to take out a loan to cover the cost of shipping. In fact, Smash Hit Displays offers free ground shipping anywhere in the United States. This is one of the most cost-effective displays on the market. With the option of using a ten-foot or twenty-foot display, the graphics will come alive with the bold look of a center graphic and the use of wings on each side, emphasizing the visual. Included in the Linear trade show display packages are Lumina lights, cases, graphics, wings, a header, and a sturdy aluminum frame.

Custom Trade Show Displays

2008-07-30T10:18:00.000-07:00

Custom trade show displays may be costly, but will be well worth the money. The object of exhibiting at a trade show is to gain attention from attendees who you wouldn’t have met otherwise. Pop-up displays, panel systems, and truss systems are “safe”, reliable trade show displays that will be used by several businesses at the same trade show you are exhibiting at. Customizing your trade show booth will give you a unique look, setting you apart from the competition and making your company easier to remember. Smash Hit Displays will design your trade show booth based on your specifications. Let us take the stresses of designing your exhibit off of your shoulders.

Planning for Success

2008-07-29T08:42:00.001-07:00

Although it takes months of planning for three seconds of fame, trade shows are one of the best ways to get your product and name out there. Some components that must be considered when planning are size, graphics and staffing. With hundreds of designs to choose from, carefully decide what trade show booth will fulfill your needs (and space requirements). The truss system consists of a very well-built frame metal frame, shipping cases, and crisp graphics that are sure to win over your audience. Although it is a fairly large exhibit, no tools are required to assemble the frame. Pop up displays are also great to use if you need something that can quickly be set up, yet has an impressive look.
Graphics are probably the most important element of your trade show booth because this is what will gain the attention of the audience. The picture should be large and distinct, yet the text should be very limited.
The employees you choose to go to the trade show will be representing your company. How they dress, how warm and inviting they are, and how much energy they have are all characteristics they must possess.

Outdoor Banner Stands

2008-07-21T13:04:00.000-07:00

Outdoor Banner Stands are a great way to gain attention outside of the office or trade show. With a heavy duty base and high quality graphic material, this type of display can withstand even the worst weather conditions. If you are serious about outdoor advertising, consider the Spinnaker billboard. You also have the option of using both sides of the billboard for your presentation or advertising needs. If you are looking for something a little more low key, the Bowhead outdoor banner stand would be a perfect match. The unique characteristic of the Bowhead is the fact that the graphic will bleed through, allowing everyone to see it from both sides. They are perfect being positioned in front of your store. All outdoor banner stands come in a number of different sizes.

Preparing for Your First Trade Show

2008-05-28T10:40:00.001-07:00

If you are brand new to the trade show game, there is no such thing as too much preparation. Goals must be made, research must be done, and a trade show marketing plan must be set. Exhibiting at a show that is irrelevant to your products and company would be a waste of time and money. Research as many trade shows as possible in order to find the one that will be the most beneficial. One way to find the most appropriate trade shows is by talking to trade show organizers and asking questions that will help determine what types of companies and attendees will participate.
The exhibit must be designed around the marketing objectives, not the other way around. Once these goals are decided, your graphics and booth layout should clearly identify the message you are trying to communicate to the attendees. If you would like to read more tips on how to prepare for your first show, go to http://www.tradeshowmarketing.com/5-ways-a-business-can-prepare-for-its-first-trade-show.shtml.

What to Steer Clear of at Trade Shows

2008-05-22T08:27:00.000-07:00

When attending a trade show, what booth are you most likely to stop at: one that looks similar to all of the other booths or one that has a different look to it. It’s not only your booth that should have a unique look to it; you should also promote products that are unique and cutting edge. According to research done by Susan Friedmann, 76 percent of people attend trade shows in order to discover what’s new and exciting. Even if your product isn’t ready to be used by the public, using trade shows to promote it may make it more successful when it is ready to be used.
“Assume” is not a word that should be in your vocabulary; in fact, it is this word that may hurt you more than help you. When at a trade show, focus on the features of your products. Explain them as if you were explaining them to a 6-year-old. It is important to refrain from using words you would only know in your industry. If possible, innovate your current product(s). Even the slightest change will get your customers to buy your product, just so they can try out the new “ingredient”. If you would like more tips on how to succeed at trade shows, go to http://www.thetradeshowcoach.com/article69.html.

Trade Show Checklist

2008-05-20T06:56:00.000-07:00

Before attending a trade show, you should set goals on what you expect the outcome to be. According to Trade Show Advisor, some questions you may want to ask yourself would be as follows; “How many leads do I plan to get from exhibiting?” “How many current customers would I like to attend the trade show?” “Do I want media exposure?” These are all valid questions that may help you reach your objectives.
It is also important to determine who your target audience will be; this way, you will know how your marketing message should be conveyed. This should have already been determined because your trade show booth should have been designed around this target market.
Do your homework before even setting foot in a trade show. Ask the trade show committee for a list of who has attended in the past, find out what types of booths are used; ask about power sources and exhibitor fees. This will give you a better feel for the types of attendees that will be there and how your booth should be designed.
Let the professional staff of Smash Hit Displays design your next trade show booth. We have thousands of exhibits to choose from, including banner stands, pop ups, panel systems, Alumalites, and truss systems. Our graphic designers knows what it takes to get noticed. Whether you have your own graphics or need them designed by scratch, Smash Hit Displays can do it all. Remember Smash Hit Displays for all of your trade show needs.