Sweet Deals on ShowStyle Pro32 Self-Packing Tabletop Display

ShowStyle Pro32 by Prezenta is a self-packing portable tabletop display that transforms into a display board approx. 64″w x 32″h. Ideal for for use at trade shows or individual meetings by sales reps, recruiters, teachers, trainers, and managers. Price includes blank arch-shaped header which packs handily into the back.

ShowStyle Pro32 Features:
•    Velcro-ready fabric display surface available in 6 colors
•    A blank arched header to display your logo graphic or tagline
•    Self-packing/compact convenience
•    Lightweight at just 20 lbs. with 14 sq. ft. of graphic area

Free Ground Shipping!
ShowStyle Pro32 sets up in mere seconds – just unfold, slip the header into its slots and your tabletop display is ready for show. Graphics can remain attached for packing and storage.

Turnaround Time:  Usually ships in 24 hours.

The self-packing case measures approx. 18″ x 32″ x 4″d and features an exclusive hideaway handle grip that pushes down to show and up to go – and disappears when the display is in use.

VIDEO CONFERENCING from ESP Exhibits

Introducing VIDEO SHOW

Now available for immediate installation at your next event. Don’t wait until AFTER the show to close a deal. Do it on the spot!

• Single or Multi-Point-to-point video conferencing
• Crystal clear audio and video

We offer technical support and deploy only state-of-the-art equipment. Customer satisfaction guaranteed.

Flex pricing to meet any budget: Economy, Economy Plus and Pro.

Call ESP today to learn more about video conferencing. Don’t let that deal vanish into thin air!

(619) 222-8813

HOLIDAY GIFT

Get your STARBUCKS CARD eGift when you order a TABLE COVER during December. To redeem, contact ESP Exhibits at (619) 222-8813.

Right directions for Exhibit Marketing

For all your exhibition services.

Trade Show 101 – Just Getting Started?

Trade shows are an important part of marketing your company, and the contacts and impression you make at a trade show can be critical to your success. There are some basic steps to consider for making the most of your trade show experience. Click the link below to learn more.

How to Plan for a Tradeshow: Trade Show Basics by ESP

http://www.espexhibits.com

Trade show basics by ESP helps you with all the steps to plan a successful tradeshow exhibit with tips on exhibit.

Timeline

Begin with creating a timeline that will help you avoid last-minute rush charges and lost opportunities. There are a number of software packages available specifically for project management. Or, you can just use a simple spreadsheet or word processing program. Use this Trade Show Preparation Timeline  as a guideline in developing a schedule tailored to your trade show participation.

For organizational purposes, it is nice to create a notebook divided into sections, including budget, shipping information, trade show services, graphics, promotions, travel logistics, and miscellaneous information.

Strategy

Research the trade show. Review who will be attending as well as the trade show’s history. Many trade shows begin their space reservations before the previous show closes. Visit the show’s website. The majority of trade shows are available for exhibit booth space signup through the Internet.

Sign up as soon as you make the decision to participate – this could prevent late signup costs. Most trade show organizers will ask for an initial deposit to confirm your booth space and then provide you with the due dates for additional payments.

Determine who will be part of your exhibit team which may be both internal and external personnel.  Setup a meeting with your team and determine their assignments and deadlines.

A handy method for keeping track of each task is to jot down on your calendar each task per specific date and follow-up when you turn to that date.   You also should determine exhibit design, promotions, lead handling processes, staffing and logistics.

Exhibit Design

It is important to have an idea what you would like for your exhibit design, meet with other members of your marketing/sales department and determine what your message should be for this trade show. If you will be building or renting an exhibit, planning should begin at least three months in advance. If you are going to be using structure already available and making minor or no modifications to existing booth graphics, this can be done in about a month.

Promotion

Trade show organizers will allow you to rent prior years’ attendee lists as well as the current year’s pre-registered attendees. With these lists, you will be able to send notices of your trade show participation as well as the exhibit booth number. Additional promotional strategies also are provided by show organizers and should be included in your exhibitor-services manual.

This also is a good time to determine what promotional giveaways and literature to handout during the show. Add this to your time schedule.

Lead Handling and Collateral

Work with your marketing/sales team to determine what information you will want to obtain from attendees. Decide whether you will use an electronic or manual system for retrieving leads during the trade show. You should also determine what your post-show lead fulfillment plan would be. This should be done about three months prior to the show.

Staffing

Decide who will be attending the trade show and staffing your booth as soon as possible in order to communicate any show particulars and share your show strategy. You will need these names to order exhibitor badges as well as providing the staff information on show dates, location, conference registration, hotel accommodations, and air and ground travel arrangements.

Installation and Dismantling (I&D)

Determine who will be installing and dismantling your booth well in advance of the trade show. Estimate how many hours it takes and the dates you will be setting up and tearing down your booth. Provide this to the show organizers by completing the paperwork located in the exhibitor-services manual. This should be done about 30-45 days prior to setup.

Shipping

Determine what you will be shipping to show i.e. structure, equipment, display hardware, giveaways, literature, and supplies. This will help you decide what type of carrier you should use – van line or air freight. Provide the pertinent trade show information to your carrier and they will determine when your shipment should be ready for transport. Make your return shipping plans with your carrier at the same time.

The return shipment date can be determined by referring to the trade show teardown date and scheduling the pickup for the day after show closing.  This should be done at least two months prior to the show.

On-site Services

When you receive your exhibitor-services manual, all of the on-site services deadlines will be identified such as: material handling, carpet rental, furnishings, floral arrangements, cleaning, electrical needs, and computer equipment rental. Order online or complete the paperwork for each service you will be using. Normally, there is a discount for providing this information early.

At the Show

Prior to the trade show, make a list of details to be completed at the show including: picking up badges, confirming you have received all items ordered, ensuring your shipment has arrived, supervision of exhibit installation, pick up lead retrieval systems and blank bills of lading.

Show Close

Dismantling usually begins as soon as the show closes although not in all cases. This information can be found in your exhibitor-services manual. It is usually the time you return your lead retrieval system as well as audio visual and computer equipment. Normally, the floral will be yours to keep; however, plants ordered are typically on a rental basis and will be picked up by the floral company. The furnishings also will be picked up soon after show closing.

Exhibit dismantling sometimes can be started immediately upon show closing although some trade show organizers may wait until the next day. The repackaging of your exhibit is done after dismantle and, at that time, the completed bill of lading should be turned into the exhibitor services center. If you do not submit your bill of lading, your shipment will not be released to your designated carrier but rather it will be sent via the shipper of choice of the trade show contractor company.

Post Show

The trade show is over and it has been a success! Now is the time to turn leads over to the appropriate sales people; submit a personal expense report; work with the exhibit house to inventory the exhibit and determine necessary repairs; review final show invoices and finalize show budgets.   ESP can help you with any of the above details. We are ready to help you with our range of products, advice and experience for successful trade show participation.

 

Your First Trade Show

Advice for your First Trade Show Display

If this is your first time at a trade show, you are possibly a little bit nervous about how the event will unfold and if you’ve forgotten anything in organizing your display.

This is one of the advantages of dealing with ESP – a company that can help you every step of the way. We’ve seen all kinds of trade shows and displays and there is little for which we can’t provide either some advice or a definitive answer.

But let’s go back to the beginning for a moment and speak to those who are just beginning to think about their first display.

What are the criteria for your first trade show display?

Price

Either you’ve put together a budget yourself, or you’ve been given one by your company. In any case, the total cost of your trade show display is a determining factor in what you should be looking at.

1. If your budget is under $5000.00, you should consider portable tabletop displays, freestanding popup displays such as SALESMATE presentation displays, XpressionsSNAP 3D popup displays, VBURST! stretch fabric popup displays, classic popup displays with Velcro-friendly fabric panels or mural graphic panels, folding panel display packages, or banner stands.
2. More elaborate portable displays and simple modular display systems or possibly a combination of these display types usually fall within the budget range of $5,000.00 to $10,000.00.
3. If you have more to play with, say between $10,000.00 and $30,000.00, you should be looking at simple to slightly customized modular display systems and full custom displays depending on the size of your display booth and the image you want to portray.
4. And if price is no object, then you should consider custom modular display systems and full custom exhibits. Note that custom exhibits can be modular to a degree although they usually don’t have the same flexibility as modular display systems and are often heavier and bulkier resulting in higher shipping and show site drayage costs.

Combining display types is an option to help you meet budget objectives. For example, you can combine a tabletop display or a freestanding portable popup display with a banner stand.  Or you can use three banner stands to create a 10’w display backwall in your exhibit booth space.

Also, popup displays can be combined with modular display systems to help meet budget restrictions.  The possibilities are virtually unlimited.

Space

1. If your trade show booth space is linear (in a line with several other exhibit booths), your display is usually restricted to a height of 8′. While any display type can be used in a linear space, the most common are freestanding popup displays such as classic pop ups, XpressionsSNAP 3D popup displays, VBURST! stretch fabric popup displays, folding panel display systems and tabletop displays. Multiple banner stands are also frequently used to create a linear booth space backwall.
2. For island and peninsula (also known as end cap) exhibit booth spaces, the typical display is either a modular panel system or a custom exhibit. Although less common, portable popup displays are also used in island and peninsula spaces.

Multiple story displays are almost always custom exhibits or a combination of custom and modular display systems.

Portability

If you’re looking for the best in portability and convenience; if your ideal trade show display is something you can transport and set up yourself or ship inexpensively, you should be looking at portable tabletop displays, freestanding popup displays, and banner stands. 

 

These portable displays are lightweight and usually can be transported by car, plane, or via express shippers.

If you want an idea of how the preparation for a trade show should look, take the time to read our Trade Show 101 section.

And don’t forget, if you’re confused at all or feel overwhelmed while planning your first trade show display, please feel free to call 619-222-8813 or contact us anytime for advice.

http://www.espexhibits.com/trade-show-planning.php

A Trade Show Exhibit for any budget

Whatever your budget dictates, ESP has a solution to meet your exhibiting needs. From table throws and banner stands to popup booths and from custom portable to custom modular, we’ve got it covered with no rush fees – EVER.

Shop online at your convenience http://ow.ly/jNoEb, browse our Virtual Showroom http://ow.ly/jNpd2, or call us for a consultation and custom quote 619.222.8813.

How to be a Trade Show Tightwad

With tight budgets in an uncertain economy, exhibit managers must find ways to minimize costs. Below are a few tips drawn from an article published in 2003 that still apply.

1. Negotiate Booth Space Discounts

Bypass the salesperson and call the show manager directly. Show management would rather make less money on an occupied booth space than no money on an empty booth space.

2. Trade Your Stuff

Is your product or service something that show management or exhibitors can use during the show? Can your CEO give a speech? Trade for free booth space.

3. Partner-Up

Get a partner to pay for the booth space in exchange for doing all the show preparation.

4. Staff Your Booth with Local Drama Students

Students can quickly learn enough about the product to pull attendees into your both and turn them over to an experienced sales person. This saves employee travel expenses or the cost of high-priced actors.

5. Record all Vendor Mistakes

Don’t request a fix, negotiate a discount instead.

6. Never use the Official Show Freight Carrier

At the very least, get quotes and compare to other carriers. If your booth can be shipped FedEx or UPS, do it. And send it to your hotel rather than to show site. Wheeling your display into the show hall yourself will save drayage charges.

7. Hurry Up and Wait Until the Last Minute

For shows you know you want to attend, start negotiating early for discounts on booth space to give show management time to consider your offer. Follow-up periodically. As the show gets closer, show management will be more interested in filling empty booth spaces (see no. 1).

By Sandy Flom/CEO, Extraordinary Show Productions Ltd. (ESP)

Find more trade show tips at http://www.espexhibits.com

Source: Secrets of a Trade Show Tightwad by Whitney Archibald, Exhibitor Magazine, September 2003

Trade Show Tactics for Portable and Small Displays

Small But Mighty!

Small does not mean insignificant. You can make a lasting impression with a display of any size. Be sure that impression is a positive one.
Consider these tactics for exhibiting at a trade show with a small display:

1. Make the company name and/or name of a recognized product highly visible. It should be as large as possible, as high as possible, and always consistent in its use. Make it memorable so it will be recognized again and again.
2. Use large colorful graphics for maximum visual impact. Photographs of people using your product attract the most attention. Keep text to a minimum and of easily readable size – details belong in brochures. People will not stand and read graphics and they can’t take them with them. The graphics will get them into your exhibit booth space, the brochures will give them the details.
3. Light products and graphics to significantly increase awareness. Along with your company identification, these are the most important aspects of your exhibit – make them stand out with front or back lighting.
4. Invest in a display system that gives you a professional look. Curtain backwalls and draped tables can look cheap and make you look less than serious. A manufactured display shows permanency and is more likely to capture attention.
5. Theme your display based on the venue or time of year – a beach theme in San Diego, a fall colors theme in New England. Themes always grab attention and usually make people smile.
6. Don’t clutter or create barriers to your display with too much product, literature, or too many giveaways. Don’t put a table at the front of the booth space and stand behind it – it’s a barrier that says “don’t come in”. Make your display area open and inviting.
7. Make eye contact, smile, stand, and look like you’re interested in and proud of your company and products. Don’t sit and read a book or sit with crossed arms and watch people walk by. These actions send the message that you aren’t interested and they aren’t welcome in your booth space.
8. Save money and add value to your brochures, giveaways, and samples by saving them for those genuinely interested in your product or service. Everybody loves free stuff but if you lay it out for them to simply grab and walk away – they won’t remember you or your company. And it could easily end up in the trash before they leave the exhibit hall. It was free, so who cares?!

Color is Primary in Trade Show Booth Design

The importance of color in the design of a trade show booth and its graphics cannot be over-emphasized. Color appeals to emotion, creates feelings, and causes humans to react in certain ways – whether obviously or subliminally.

Here are some basic colors and how they affect us – and thus how they affect trade show attendees when they view your trade show booth and its design:

Red – an emotionally charged color that encourages fantasy; women are drawn to blue-based red while men prefer yellow-based red

Yellow – the number-one attention grabber that if over-used can cause viewer crankiness

Green – makes people comfortable in unfamiliar surroundings and is associated with nature and money

Blue – provides a calming effect and encourages fantasy; not good for a high-powered campaign that needs to generate energy

Black – represents power

White – portrays purity and honesty

Grey – encourages creativity but can be perceived as dirty

Brown – construed as informal

Silver and Gold – indicate top-of-the-line products

Capturing the Right Trade Show Visitor

Stop Spending Time with Every Trade Show Visitor!

Some exhibitors have a hard time understanding that every trade show visitor is not a good lead. There are three types of prospects and treating each one correctly can save you and them time.

1. Customer A. Ready-to-buy or order now.
   This is why you are exhibiting at the show, spend quality time with them.
    
2. Customer B. Have an interest, but need more information.
   You want to convert these people to Type A. Try to discover who they are. You will be able to do more with them than just giving them a product brochure that they won’t read later.
    
3. Customer C. Do not have an interest.
   They either do not want or need your product, or at least think they don’t. Don’t spend time with them – try to avoid them. An exception is if your booth is overstaffed and people need to look busy. If that’s the case – send someone home!

Start by attracting the right prospects into your booth.

1. Display good signs and/or graphics.
   Get their attention by providing clear descriptions of who will benefit and why. This gets people to ask themselves, “Is that me? Maybe I should talk to someone.”Avoid standing in the aisle dragging people into your booth – it rarely results in more sales.
    
2. Effective Presentations
   Good presentations in your booth will draw crowds. By sprinkling trivia about the industry or your product category within your presentation, your audience will come away feeling they’ve learned something in addition to your product details and benefits.Provide two important options at the end of the presentation, such as where they should go next: the order desk or to a company representative for more in-depth discussions.Customer C prospects viewing your presentation can usually determine what they may need from you. If they learn something during the presentation, it will leave them with a good feeling about your products and your company. Maybe offer them a small giveaway or company brochure. Avoid the urge to go after them. If they are going to become customers, you’ll get them later.

Get more trade show tips at www.espexhibits.com.