A Guide to Exhibiting  How do I find out about suitable exhibitions?
What are the choices of exhibition stand space?
How do I decide what to put into that space?
Points to consider before purchasing a pop up stand with graphics
Designing graphics for pop up stands and banner stands
We are looking to build our own exhibition stand as every time the stand space is different
Custom built exhibition stands
More tips on exhibiting
Exhibitions offer a unique sales platform where you can actually meet potential clients face to face. Most of these visitors would have paid to attend so in effect they are actively in a buying mode. It's a well known fact that Exhibitions offer the greatest return on your marketing investment providing you follow some very basic rules. How do I find out about suitable exhibitions? There are thousands of exhibitions around the world every year covering everything from Antiques to Welding equipment. At Access Displays we have access to the complete list and can select by Country, date or Industry category. If you would like to find out more about exhibitions relevant to your industry then please contact us. How do I find out if our potential customers visit this show? Access Displays can do this research for you by speaking to the event organisers, previous exhibitors and by analysing audited attendance records. We can make sure that the visitors are relevant key decision makers within your industry. How can I inform existing and potential customers that we are exhibiting? One of the golden rules to successful exhibiting is to inform new and existing customers that you will be exhibiting. Access Displays can help you by formulating a comprehensive marketing and PR campaign. This will include publishing articles in relevant trade magazines as well as pre and post exhibition mailings, aimed at maximising visitor numbers. What are the choices of exhibition stand space? There are two basic choices. Space only and shell scheme. Space only Space only is cheaper but you will be responsible for supplying everything within that space from the carpet to the walls and lighting. Space only stands are generally taken by clients that are having a custom built exhibition stand. Space only stands can normally be built to a height of 4m before planning permission is required. 
Shell scheme A Shell scheme is where you are purchasing a standard exhibition package from the event organisers. They come complete with carpet, walls and ceiling, electrical socket, fluorescent lights and name board. Access Displays can help you with this choice along with selecting the best positions within the hall where you will find most exhibitor traffic. 
How do I decide what to put into that space? Shell scheme If you have chosen a shell scheme space you will already have a basic structure from which you can sell and promote your products or services. The standard height restriction of a shell scheme will be either 2.4m or 2.5m. The problem with a standard shell scheme is that you will look exactly the same as all the other shell scheme stands in the hall so we would probably suggest that you look at dressing the shell scheme so that you stand out from the crowd. Typical products used within a shells scheme are roller banners and pop up displays. Points to consider before purchasing a banner stand with graphic With so many different banner systems available it can be difficult to find out which one will suit your requirements so here are a few points to consider before your decide to purchase. Access Displays can talk to you in more detail about the available options. - How many times will you be using this banner system?
- Do you need a banner where you can easily change the graphic in the future?
- Will it fit beneath the shell scheme ceiling?
- You may find that some cheaper graphic printing processes produce a curved image so when several units are stood next to each other there is a large gap.
- Some cheaper graphic prints will fade in direct sunlight.
- Some banner stands are designed to lean backwards and others have large stabilising feet so they might not sit as close to a wall as you would like.
- How good is the rewind mechanism? Many cheap imports don't work after several days use.
   
Points to consider before purchasing a Pop up stand with graphics With over 80 different pop up systems on the market it can be difficult to choose the right one. All manufacturers or resellers will tell you that their product is the best so here are some points to consider before you purchase. - How long is the product warrantee?
- Will it fit within your shell scheme?
- Are all the graphic panels, including the end panels the same width? This is important as it will offer you greater flexibility. Some systems have narrow end panels and because of the printing and laminating process they are almost impossible to keep attached to the system as the want to spring straight.
- Always purchase a fully magnetic system. This means a system that has magnetic locking bars and magnetic graphic hangers. People forget to undo mechanical locking bars when they take the system down which inevitably means frame damage. Like wise avoid systems that use a hole or cut out to hang the graphics. These will easily damage with frequent use.
Access Displays can talk to you in more detail about the available options. 
Designing graphics for pop up stands and banners stands Remember you have about "six seconds" to attract potential visitors to your exhibition stand as they walk down the isles. Your graphics should be bright, clear and eye catching. Your graphics should say two things - "Who you are" and "What you do". Far too often it is impossible to see what an exhibitor actually sells, especially when it is service related. Use other marketing material such as datasheets, brochures and web sites to give additional information "after "you have made the initial introduction. Make sure you design your graphics so that images and text don't go over joins in the graphics. Think about how you can update a single panel in the future without going to the expense of producing all of the panels again when only piece of information has changed. Make sure that any important information such as your company name or logo is above head height so that is can still be seem when your exhibition stand is full of visitors. Access Displays have designed thousands of pop up and banner displays and are always happy to discuss your requirements in more detail. We are looking to build our own exhibition stand as every time the stand space is different. Many of Access Displays customers build their own small exhibition stands. We can offer three modular solutions that can be reconfigured to suite different stand spaces and layouts. Pop up exhibition stands These days, most pop up display stands can be joined together using what we call a ghost panel. This is where we use a graphic panel to join the systems together that allows for greater flexibility. We can join straight systems to curved system and build towers and incorporate LCD panels and computer screens. Panel and Pole Panel and pole systems offer the greatest flexibility as the panels come in various shapes and sizes. Using 16mm poles, the panels, just clip together to create the stand design you want in seconds. Once you get familiar with these systems you can have years of building flexible exhibition stands. The panels a normally covered in looped nylon which allows you to attach graphics using Velcro but may also come in heavier fabrics such as front runner or prelude and even laminate for that added look and quality feel. Using curved panels you can create inviting demonstration desks and work stations as shown in this example. Custom Modular    
Our custom modular system is constructed using an aluminium extrusion that allows you to insert your graphic panels directly into the frame. It will take longer to build than the other options but the finish is clean, seamless and modern. Once clients get confident with the system they often build bigger and better custom modular exhibition stands. Custom built exhibition stands For larger exhibition stand spaces the professional exhibitor will look at commissioning a custom built stand. This is where we can design and build pretty much anything you can imagine. From a Double Decker space ship - To a Pirate Galleon complete with rigging and cannons With all custom exhibition stands Access Displays offer a full project management service. This includes initial design service, form filling, stand build, hall and organiser liaison and all on site support. We can deign and produce all graphics and specify furniture and audio visual equipment. Access Displays have built custom exhibition stands for clients that supply products and services all over the world. We always commission a Custom stand but this year our budgets have been cut. At Access Displays we encourage all of our clients to continue to exhibit even if it's on a smaller scale. We are even able to offer a unique custom built hire service. From our vast range of prebuilt exhibition components we can design a unique exhibition stand and hire it at a fraction of the cost of purchase. If you want to know more about hire then please contact us. We hope you find the information in this guide to exhibitions useful but if you would like to discuss an exhibition project in more detail then please contact us.
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