Tag Archives: trade show displays

  • Revitalize Your Business: 7 Window Decal Ideas for a Powerful Boost

    Are you considering sprucing up your business with window decals? They’re like marketing magic. Get the most bang for your buck by being creative and strategic. Check out these window decal business ideas to give your campaign an instant boost without losing sight of the goal. Let’s make those windows work for you!

     

    1. Grab Attention With Eye-Catching Graphics

    Your first move is to stand out when considering window marketing, and nothing does it better than window graphics that scream, “Look at me!” Picture this: vibrant, contrasting colors, clever images that defy the norm, and a sprinkle of humor. These are the secret ingredients to make your window decal design unmissable for your customers.

     

    2. Put Your Best in the Spotlight

    Is your coffee the best in town, or do you sell toys that turn heads? Let everyone know! Whether it’s silhouette graphics or a burst of colors, showcase your top products on your window decal.

     

    3. Let Your Logo Shine

    Your logo deserves the spotlight. Stick it on your windows, along with other eye-catching graphics. It’s not just decoration; it’s a marketing tool that says, “This is who we are!” Use our design tool, upload your logo, customize it to your heart’s content, and hit order.

     

    4. Brand Name and Slogan

    Sometimes, a logo isn’t enough to tell your story. If you want to boost your brand recognition further, add your brand name and slogan. Slap it on your windows so that everyone knows what you’re about.

     

    5. Think Outside the Box

    Get creative with the placement of your decals. For example, you could use restroom mirrors covered as another place to show off your brand. A toothbrush brand could show a woman cringing at her partner’s dragon breath alongside a pitch for their products. Be clever, be relevant, and grab your customers’ attention.

     

    6. Stick to Marketing Basics

    Beyond the initial wow factor, stick to marketing 101. Strong headlines, showcasing benefits, and a compelling call to action are essentials you should include. Even with limited space on your window, throw in a limited-time discount or a coupon code to track your success.

     

    7. Print Like a Pro

    Lastly, print your window decals or window signs on top-notch materials with strong adhesion and fade-resistant inks. High-quality materials ensure they last season after season. Luckily, printing companies like Power Graphics offer premium quality at prices that won’t break the bank. We provide unbeatable pricing, top-notch giclee fine art printing, and large format digital imaging tailored for indoor and outdoor applications. Additionally, we offer display solutions, including banner stands, trade show displays, and outdoor sign hardware.

  • 2024 Vision: Top 7 Perks of Banner Advertising for Your Business

    Have you ever heard the phrase, “A picture says a thousand words?” In the fast-paced world of marketing, it rings true. Businesses chasing success amid ever-shifting trends need solid strategies. That’s where smart banner placement steps in, playing a pivotal role in steering the journey to success. Banners are oldies but goodies in advertising and form a quick and impactful connection with viewers. They can leave a lasting impression on potential customers.

    Join us in this blog as we dive into the top 7 perks of using banners for your business.

    1. Captivating

    The key to drawing in new customers is engagement without the pressure to purchase. Outdoor banner stands subtly excel, allowing businesses to promote themselves without overwhelming customers. By simply catching the customer’s eye, banners effectively highlight the company’s name or logo, creating brand awareness effortlessly.

    2. Budget-Friendly

    All it takes is an image and a few words to attract people to your business. Banners are easily produced and adaptable to size requirements and locations, making them a cost-effective advertising solution. They offer flexibility in updating and changing, with various banner types to choose from, such as the more economical vinyl banners. Advertising costs vary based on location and banner type.

    3. Sustainable

    Banners can be reused in different locations and provide general information like brand names and product details. If the content is not time-sensitive, retractable banner stands can be easily repurposed, making them a sustainable and cost-efficient choice for advertising.

    4. Impactful

    Banners effectively capture customer attention, ensuring visibility and recall. Their limited content is easy to absorb, making them an efficient means of conveying information about the company and its products. A well-designed banner attracts new customers and contributes to customer retention.

    5. Trustworthy

    High-quality banners convey professionalism and credibility, instilling trust in potential customers. Businesses that invest time and resources in creating effective advertisements through banners build a strong connection with customers, enhancing credibility and brand perception.

    6. Targetable

    Whether you display your banner at a sponsored event or outside your business premises, the likelihood of attracting potential customers increases. Your company’s trade show displays or banners often become the first association when individuals need your products and services. With consistent and repeated messaging, the power of localization becomes a crucial element, embedding the brand in the minds of consumers.

    7. Perfect for Showcasing Special Offers and Upcoming Sales

    What could be a more effective way to promote your business than with a striking banner? You can change them with upcoming sales and advertise special offers to entice potential customers to enter your store.

    Get Your Business Banners Today!

    Even in this digital age, traditional methods like banners are still effective. Especially for small businesses, banners pack a punch in value and efficiency. At Power Graphics, we’ve got top-notch printing and a wide range of banner stand materials to tailor-make banners for any need. Choose from our various reinforced vinyl banners with different weights and finishes, including ones you can print on both sides.

  • Banner Bonanza: 5 Common Types of Banners and Their Uses

    Even in the age of LEDs and digital marvels, banners still know how to steal the show! Their cost-effective charm and low-maintenance appeal make them a match made in heaven for startups and small businesses. But the world of banners has various choices that might leave first-time buyers scratching their heads. We have a curated list of the most popular banner types below.

    1. Fabric Banners

    Fabric banners are made of polyester and offer spectacular full-color images that will fascinate and impress. These banners are ideal for any business that wants a high-quality display with little to no setup time because they are machine washable and crease-resistant (unlike vinyl banners).

    2. Retractable Banners

    Retractable banners are a fantastic option if you require banners for signage inside your booth at trade shows. They come in a variety of widths and are typically six to eight feet tall. Retractable banner stands are standard at tradeshows because they are inexpensive, portable, and quick to set up.

    3. Step and Repeat Banners

    Are you interested in custom branding? Invest in these banners. They allow you to sell your brand while hiding bland backgrounds and unpleasant wallpaper. It enables your logo to blend into the background while promoting your brand!

    4. Vinyl Banners

    Vinyl banners are one of the oldest kinds of banners and are still in demand since they look beautiful at indoor and outdoor events. They can survive many years because they are made of strong, tear-resistant materials. Vinyl weighs a lot more than other banner materials, so only use them if you can lift and move heavy objects.

    5. Mesh Banners

    Mesh banners are the best option if you want your advertising to survive strong winds and other bad weather. The polyester that they are typically printed on allows air to pass through. The intertwined fibers have a printable surface and are mainly transparent. Mesh banners can be utilized indoors, even though they are frequently employed at sporting events and other outdoor gatherings.

    Banners for Your Business Success

    The wonderful five banner types can take your campaign to new heights. It’s up to you to select the ideal banner for your company’s needs out of the several types because each has distinct uses and qualities. At Power Graphics, there is a banner ideal for your needs, whether you’re looking for any trade show graphics, sprucing up your storefront, or promoting a neighborhood event. We are your ideal partner for achieving your vision with our dedication to excellent quality, careful attention to detail, and selection of different styles of banners. Prepare to make a bold statement and leave a lasting impression.

  • The Art of Captivation: Decoding the Psychology Behind Effective Advertising Displays

    Do you know the oldest written commercial discovered dates back about 5,000 years? Currently, the average consumer is exposed to 5,000 advertisements daily. Advertisers have known for a long time that they can use psychology to determine what captures people’s attention, makes impressions, persuades them to act, and prompts them to make a purchase.

    If you want to discover how to make your advertisements convince customers to buy your goods, keep reading.

    Adding Humor

    Our brain releases endorphins when we laugh, which makes us feel good. To capitalize on this effect, comedic phrases or funny pictures are frequently used in trade show displays and other advertisements. We’re more likely to recall a hilarious commercial and the company or item it promoted.

    The Influence of Color

    Our emotions and actions are significantly influenced by color. Strategic use of color in advertising, like outdoor signs, elicits the desired emotional response from the target audience. The audience’s emotional responses to various colors can impact how they perceive the advertised good or service.

    Exploiting Fear

    Fear may be tricky to utilize in advertising and can backfire if done inappropriately, but it can be compelling when used well. This strategy uses fear as a means of persuasion by leveraging your product to address a concern or alter behavior. It can show people pain points, proposing your good or service as a solution.

    Effects of Context

    An advertisement’s effectiveness can be significantly impacted by the environment in which it is displayed. Depending on the surroundings and psychology of the audience, the same advertisement may have different results in various situations. Effective advertising adapts the message and tone to fit the context in which it will be seen.

    Cuteness Sells

    Your commercial can be memorable and motivating by evoking the warmth and joy that cute animals bring. Advertisers know how much most of us love animals and how seeing them in advertisements may make us feel good. These creatures capture our attention and leave enduring impressions, whether it be through touching tales or funny images. So why not add a furry companion to your next campaign?

    Scarcity

    Scarcity is a powerful tool in advertising because it fosters a sense of urgency and motivates consumers to act. If people think a product or service is only available while supplies last, they are more inclined to take action.

    It’s Time to Act

    Although you may not be an expert in psychology, you are likely aware of the basics. Don’t forget to employ advertising psychology as an ally to help you better engage your target audience.

    With our enormous collection of printed materials, displays like outdoor banner stands, grab the attention of onlookers and persuade them to visit your store.

  • Why Trade Show Displays are Important

    A trade show is a great platform to showcase your business and meet prospective clients. But engaging thousands of fickle visitors with short attention spans is not an easy job. You need an eye-catching display to attract people to your booth. Of all elements related to an exhibition, trade show displays are probably the most important one of all. Here’s why we think you should pay proper attention to banner stands, backlit displays, and other trade show displays:

    They Help You Build Your Brand

    Trade show displays help to create a positive impression. It defines who you are, what you do, and how well you do it. Businesses that spend time and effort to stand out at trade shows buy the best fixtures and trade show materials. Put yourself in the shoes of an average visitor. Wouldn’t you prefer to visit a booth that’s well-designed and visually appealing? If you want your business to be taken seriously and prove yourself as reliable, do not skimp on quality displays.

    They Enhance Visibility

    The right trade show displays can help highlight the best features of your products or services. For instance, tabletop displays can be used to mention key features, while iPad displays can be used to demonstrate how a product is used. You also use video displays to show how your company is different from your competitors. Hanging displays ensure that your booth is visible from any location within the trade show hall, which can be particularly important at large events.

    They Create a Lasting Impression

    With the right color scheme and a well-designed booth, you can draw visitors to your booth. And with quality trade show displays, you can keep them there for a longer time. Customized displays and catchy display messages help to engage visitors and leave a positive impression even after they leave. Specially designed furniture and good lighting can also make your booth more inviting, giving your staff more time to engage with customers.

    Are you looking for quality trade show displays suited for your business’s needs? Call us! Our customer service team is ready to help!

  • All You Wanted to Know About Banner Stands

    Banner stands provide great opportunities for businesses looking to promote their brand and highlight their products and/or services. Banner stands are commonly used at trade shows to deliver impactful visual messages and reach potential clients. You could even display a banner stand in a public place to spread the word about your business.

    But unfortunately buying a banner stand is not always easy. There are different types of banner stands, each designed to fit specific requirements. Do you need a stand for indoor use? Are you considering purchasing an outdoor stand? What if you need a banner for a small countertop? For answers to these questions, read through the following sections and learn why banner stands are sought after today!

    Different Types of Banner Stands

    Banner stands are available in a wide range of display styles, from retractable stands to roll-up and pull up varieties—make sure you pick a product that matches your requirements.

    Retractable banner stands are easy to set up and take down. Some models have a fixed height while others are adjustable depending on the pole that comes with the product. These stands are best for indoor events.

    X Banner Stands can be set up by attaching the banner to its support arms using grommets. It’s important to know these stands are lightweight, so they aren't suitable for areas where they are likely to be exposed to breeze through a door. Like retractable banners, these are great for indoor use.

    Tabletop banner stands are designed specifically to be used on tables, so they're ideal at trade shows when you’re trying to display information in a small space. They’re also used to showcase menus, explain product features, or display contact information.

    Outdoor banner stands are, as their name suggests, ideal for outdoor use. They’re flexible and capable of withstanding the elements.

    What Should You Consider When Buying a Banner

    When buying banner stands, first consider the amount of space needed for the display as well as the area where you intend to set the display up. For example, if the exhibition space is small, consider pop-up display stands—these serve as great backdrop coverage and setting them up is easy. If you need a large backdrop, a banner wall works best.

    If time is important and you have to set up your booth immediately, go for banner stands that can be put together easily and with little help from others. Some products need extra attention, and these are not ideal for long-term use. Then there are the products that are designed to withstand the elements. Make sure you know which banner stand is best for your situation. You could start by researching some products on the internet, but with the countless options available, it’s easy to get confused. Speak to our customer service staff if you need help selecting a display that fits your requirements.

    Source:

    https://signs123.com/2017/12/06/difference-types-banner-stands/

    https://baltimorepostexaminer.com/5-important-considerations-when-buying-trade-show-banner-stands/2019/05/25

  • Here’s What You Ought to Know Before Buying Wall Murals and Decals

    If you could make one small change to your décor, what would it be? We suggest adding a printed wall mural—they bring life to a dull wall and are more affordable than hiring a mural painter.

    You could get family photographs, famous artworks, freehand designs, and even your logo and brand name printed on a wall mural, or you could use one of the images offered by our gallery. Basically, you can digitally reproduce any image for use as a wall mural.

    Want to know more about these fantastic products? Read on!

    Where to Use Wall Murals

    As it was said earlier, wall murals are eye-catching and convenient options for decorating a room. For example, you could add some color to your kid’s room or the baby’s nursery with fun wall decals and murals.

    Large wall murals are mainly used to fill blank wall space. Want to impress potential clients? Add a wall mural to your office’s waiting area. How about covering an entire passage wall at a trade show or conference with your company’s information? These murals can be used to make a space more vibrant, and they’re also great for showing first-time visitors what a company’s culture is all about. If your office has an open floor plan, a wall mural can be used to divide space.

    Choosing the Right Sizes and Materials

    At Power Graphics, we offer plenty of sizes and material options for our customers. Some of our customers prefer standard wallpaper whereas others prefer vinyl wall murals. And if you’re shopping for an item you can use temporarily, our removable self-adhesive wall murals are ideal for you.

    When choosing a material type, consider the surface of the wall you intend to use, the purpose of the wall mural (temporary or permanent), and the place where you will be installing the mural. Vinyl, for example, works well on textured surfaces like concrete and brick. But if you need something for temporary use, this wall decal is the perfect choice: both placing and removing the decal is easy, it can be reused when handled properly, and it will leave no marks on the wall.

    Are you looking for custom wall murals and wall decals online? Visit our website now!

     

    Source: https://www.coastalcreative.com/resource-guides/buyers-guide-to-custom-wall-murals-decals/

  • Expolinc Pop Up’s ease of setup, wide array of options results in an incomparable trade show display

    by Bryan Kilpatrick

    Traditional pop-up trade show displays are a great way to showcase your brand and implement a professional look to your booth. With a seamless graphic attached to lightweight and easily set-up hardware that forms a tidy backdrop or eye-catching wall, it’s easy to see why these types of displays have been popular for years.

    But some of the drawbacks—panels that are hard to align, auxiliary parts that are difficult to attach—have been known to steer customers away from these displays and, at times, toward one-piece fabric pop-ups that often don’t possess the same image quality. Expolinc’s pop-up trade show displays are the exception; the hardware is top quality and easy to set up with attention to detail that sets it apart from the other pop-up displays on the market. Features such as the locking mechanism on the frame show the quality that makes these displays stand out. When it comes to set up, the differences are even more obvious because the graphics basically align on their own, and anyone who has set up a standard pop-up display will immediately appreciate the difference.

    Expolinc Magnetic Pop Up Frame connector

    The magnetic channel bars included with the Expolinc Pop Up bring forth a host of benefits. Like most displays, the bars are collapsible, making for easy storage as well as low-effort attachment. Affixing the bars is aided by top and bottom clips that are easily guided into channels that are evenly positioned on the frame. From there, the outward-facing portion of those clips on each end of the magnetic channel bars are used when attaching the graphic panels, which are equipped with hangers on each top corner. The way those parts are engineered to work with one another results in easy, nearly effortless alignment of the panels, ensuring a seamless look.

    Expolinc Magnetic Pop Up 10' Curve

    Most pop-up trade show displays have rounded end caps that integrate with the panels on the front of the frame, and the Expolinc Pop Up is no exception. But Expolinc has gone a step further by offering the option for flat end caps, which provide a unique look and a sleek finish thanks to metal profile bars that cover the unfinished corners. The profile kit also comes into play when connecting multiple frames together, which is a possibility thanks to the way the hardware is engineered. A typical pop-up display wall can easily be made into any desired length or even be turned into its own room, essentially, by joining frames together either in-line or at right angles.

    Expolinc Magnetic Pop Up Corner Configuration

    The options certainly don’t stop there. While the displays come standard in the typical height of 87.5", they can be ordered in taller configurations that are approximately 8' and 10' tall for a really dramatic presentation. Each display comes in four different packages, from the basic frame and its essential attachments (magnetic bars, graphic panels, hangers, etc.) all the way to the inclusion of a travel case that converts into a podium, wraps or tubes for graphic protection, LED flood lights, and more. Additionally, the frame can be enhanced by attaching rear graphic panels, shelving, light-up show cases, curtain rods, and monitor mounts. The end result is a pop-up trade show display unlike any other the industry has to offer.

    Expolinc Magnetic Pop Up Heights

    Contact a Power Graphics customer service representative today for more information on the versatile, flexible, and overall outstanding Expolinc Pop Up trade show display.

  • Catching Up On What's New From The Past Year

    In the past year, there were lots of changes occurring in the industry and many new products were introduced, and we did a terrible job of keeping our customers up-to-date on all of it, so this blog is an attempt to get caught up.

    The Latest Equipment

    As always, we continued to update our printing and finishing equipment to stay on the cutting edge of the industry and to be able to provide the best quality, timeliness and value to our customers. In the past year we added new printing equipment for fine art printing to make sure we're always offering the best quality and longevity, as well as expanding our fabric printing and finishing capabilities to meet the demands of that market. We are now able to laser cut our fabric prints so the edges are sealed and won't fray while being trimmed quickly and accurately. We also added an additional fabric printer to increase the amount of printing we can complete each day, as well as new high end sewing equipment that makes it easier for us to achieve the quality we demand in less time. All of this helps speed up the printing and finishing processes so we can continue to improve the turnaround time on these displays without sacrificing quality. Everyone wants great quality, and we want to be able to offer that to as many customers as possible, even those with a tight deadline.

    Display Trends

    There was a noticeable movement on the part of some of the larger display manufacturers to make their products cheaper. Knowing what kind of markup these companies take on their products, there is definitely room for them to reduce their prices, but instead they are cutting costs by cutting corners to make the products themselves lower quality. We've always believed that there should be products at all quality levels on the market so customers can choose the products that fit their needs and budget. However, what's been happening in many cases is that the quality of existing products has been sacrificed in order to make the cost lower, and that seems like a huge mistake. I think we've all experienced this type of quality erosion, whether it's a consumer product, a restaurant or even a candy bar, where over time the quality declines, the portions get smaller for the same price, or some other change happens to take a product we liked and make it worse. Usually this is being done to squeeze out more profits for the company or to offset a potential cost increase to the end user. For whatever reason, it seems a mistake but we can only control the quality and pricing of our own products, and not those of the other manufacturers we sell. The best we can do it keep our customers up date on the changes so they can make informed decisions when they choose a product.

    With our own products, if we think we need a lower priced option to offer our customers, we'll introduce a new lower priced product instead of trashing a better product to make it cheap. That's the reason we originally introduced our Budget Roll Up banner stands many years ago, so we'd have a less expensive product for customers who needed that. We didn't make our better stand lower quality to compete with cheaper stands on price, and we didn't try pass off cheap stands as something better. It's sad to see some of the products that have been on the market for years decline in quality to save a few dollars when there are already plenty of lower priced products to fill that need. You can be sure our display products, like the QuickSilver and Expo Pro won't suffer the same fate and if anything we are always working to improve their quality, not reduce it.

    Another unfortunate trend has been for some of these same companies to eliminate some of their best products from the market. We've seen sizes and models of stands and displays discontinued and we're told it's because they don't sell as well as the cheap products. This has always seemed like a ridiculous argument to make, since cheaper products are always going to outsell expensive products. Hyundai sells almost twice as many cars in the US as Mercedes Benz, yet both companies are very successful. We think there is a need for high quality products on the market, and for sizes other than the ones that sell in the greatest quantities so we'll continue to fight that type of thinking and offer the best selection of sizes and prices we can.

    One notable exception to these trends has been Expolinc. Their excellent Roll Up Classic and Roll Up Professional banner stands are still going strong and they've made no attempt to reduce the high quality construction of these professional level products, or to eliminate any of the range of sizes they offer. While we haven't had them available on our website before, they also make what is considered to be the highest quality pop up display that is the easiest to set up, but we're in the process of correcting that so these displays can be purchased on our website. Their Fabric System display is also one of the easiest to set up and they are about to introduce a new SEG fabric display that, you guessed it, will be the easiest one to set up on the market. We love their constant innovation, attention to detail and how they keep the end user in mind when they create these products, so we're excited to continue to be a partner and to offer their products.

    New Printing Materials

    We probably removed more printing materials than we added over the past year. There were a lot of products that were discontinued by their manufacturers that caused us to scramble, because for some reason none of these companies give any kind of advanced notice when they do this. In most cases we were able to find replacement products, but that's not always the case so we've had to remove some of them from our site when we couldn't find a suitable alternative.

    For fine art printing we added a new metallic canvas. Metallic prints offer a unique look that seems especially well suited to black and white images, but also adds a different dimension to color images. This is mostly used for photography, but could add a different element to fine art prints as well.

    Many of the new materials we added were fabrics. It seems most of the movement in the fabric market is to cheaper and cheaper materials, which is no surprise since that's what happens in every segment. There is so much fabric printing being done in China at a ridiculously low cost that it's making people scramble to match those prices by lowering the quality of both the printing and the materials. In a lot of cases the Chinese have opened warehouses in the US to store the displays and when they get an order it's printed in China and shipped overnight to the US, so it looks like it's produced here. We've never tried to compete with Chinese printing on price and continue to use quality fabrics and strive for the very best quality possible while offering them at a fair price. It's hard to explain to customers who are price shopping why some of our prints are more expensive than what would appear to be the same thing from a different company, because until you can see them together whatever we say just sounds like a sales pitch. But, we've had some of these prints from other companies, and it's what we used to offer before we did the printing ourselves, and it's what caused us to bring dye sub fabric printing in-house in the first place. The constantly falling quality and inconsistent color is not what we wanted to offer our customers, so now we do almost everything in-house. The extra equipment we've added, that was discussed above, was so we could try to speed up our production time and to keep from falling behind or missing deadlines if a printer went down, and to be able to handle large or rush orders without causing delays for other customers.

    So while we've resisted the efforts to get us to switch to cheaper fabrics, we constantly evaluate new options, because if something less expensive does come along that's just as good, we'll always take advantage of the opportunity to offer lower prices to our customers. It's not surprising that cheaper options are rarely as good or better, but it does happen so we keep looking and testing just in case.

    Some of that testing caused to find a new black backed fabric that's completely opaque for situations where that's important. We also use it as a reflector on the back side of backlit displays so it keeps the front of the display lit without light escaping the back. It's not required, but it makes our backlit displays a little bit better, and that's the kind of thing we're always looking to do.

    New Displays

    As always, we introduced many new display products over the past year. We added a 72" wide QuickSilver Pro retractable banner stand to the already wide range of sizes we offer for that model. There were very options at that size and customers were requesting more options, so we felt it was worth having the QuickSilver made in that size to fill a potential need.

    Fabric displays continue to grow in popularity and we introduced new options in almost every category. With the popular fabric pop up display, we now have two lines available to give our customers a choice of quality, the original Hopup display and the new Premium Fabric Popup line. We added more sizes to our tube frame fabric displays, so we now have a 6' straight wall since that was a size that many of our customers were requesting. We started producing the hardware for the Tube Frame Banner Stands ourselves so we could have better control over the sizes and quality, and in doing so, we added a new 31" model since that's a popular size for retractable banner stands as well. Soon we'll be adding an economy version of the Tube Frame Banner Stand displays for people who need a less expensive version for large volume purchases or have tight budget restrictions.

    Earlier in the year we introduced our Emporium fabric displays. These displays combine a fabric graphic with display elements such as shelves, hanging bars and iPad holders to allow customers who need to showcase various merchandise a compact, affordable and attractive display option. We also introduced the Simplicity fabric display. Like the name suggests, this is a simple fabric backdrop that's inexpensive and easy to set up. Another new, simple display is the Table Perch. It's an aluminum frame that attaches to a 6' or 8' table and is covered with a fabric pillowcase. It can be configured as just a header so the space under it is open for a person to stand behind the table without being blocked, or as a solid backdrop for situations where no one will be standing behind the table.

    We also added the Great Wall fabric displays. These are unique in that the aluminum frame that makes up this display is 20" deep for a very substantial appearance and excellent stability. The deep frame also allows for the addition of internal lighting to turn the Great Wall into a backlit display, which is one of the most popular options for displays today. In fact, we added quite a few backlit display options last year because of this. The smallest option is the Illuminator Backlit Banner Display, which holds a 29.4" x 76.75" fabric graphic, so it's basically a backlit banner stand. It's inexpensive, easy to set up and can fit into small spaces so it's great for a wide range of uses where the extra attention-getting power of a backlit display is needed.

    The Lumos and Backlit Embrace displays are illuminated SEG pop up display hybrids that are very similar, but with enough differences that we decided to offer both. The Lumos is less expensive and used primarily as a single sided display, where the Embrace is a more premium product that is designed to be either single or double sided. They are both easy to set up and come in a range of shapes and size. The Lumos has curtain lights that face forward to directly light the graphic, but it relies on light reflected from the front to light up the back. This works, but the graphic on the back side isn't lit with the same amount of light, where the Embrace is edge lit so the light is consistent on both the front and back.

    The WaveLight line of displays are some of our favorites. The main displays in this line up are illuminated tube frame displays. They use an extra thick tubing to make up the frame that allows enough space for curtain lights that make these displays the easiest backlit displays to set up, and also the brightest. They're only for single sided use, though, so for a double sided backlit display you'd have to look at one of our other option. In addition to the backlit tube frame walls, there are also backlit inflatable counters. These are very unique products that have an inner inflatable core that provides the structure to the podium and allows it to collapse to small, lightweight size that's easy to transport. Once inflated, a stretch fabric graphic that attaches to the top and bottom of the counter makes up the exterior surface of the counter and perimeter LED lights at the bottom provide the illumination. There's even an option to add USB charging ports in the counter top to give a place to power a table presentation, or to give your customers a place to recharge their phones while you have an opportunity to tell them about your products or services. All lightweight portable counters have some amount of wobble to them, compared with larger, heavier counters, and that's always been the trade off with these kinds of displays. In that regard, the inflatable WaveLight counters are the most stable we've seen when they're properly inflated. In the near future we'll have more inflatable products from the same manufacturer including towers, walls and a unique inflatable bench to provide a compact seating option with a stretch fabric surface that gives you an additional place for branding.

    We also added some Trade Show Kits that combine several elements such as a back wall, case and counter, or banner stands with a table cover and a table top display. We'll be adding more because customers seem to like them, both because they offer some additional discounts and because they provide some ideas on how to combine different products to make up a booth space.

    There's a new outdoor aluminum tube a-frame display that we added as an alternative to the our popular pop-up a-frame banners. The pop-ups are made in China and are one of the few things we don't do in house, so we wanted to offer a US made option. These displays also offer the benefit of being able to replace the graphics instead of having to purchase a new display when the graphic wears out or needs to be changed. This makes them less expensive in the long run, and more durable, but they don't have the advantage of collapsing if someone falls on them like the pop up style that uses fiberglass poles to hold the shape, so those are still better around sports fields where players could run into them.

    On The Horizon

    There are lots of exciting new things we're going to be offering this year, and we're committed to doing a better job of announcing when they become available. A few were mentioned above, including a new SEG display from Expolinc that's easier to set up than anything else on the market, new inflatable towers, bench and walls, and new counters and towers made from aluminum tubing with pillowcase fabric covering as well as new hanging fabric display options. There are also magnetic displays and lots of other things we're evaluating, so stay tuned for what's new.

  • Fabric Display Graphics - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

    Over the past several years, the display graphics industry has fallen in love with fabric. When you consider the qualities of fabric display graphics, it's easy to see why they would be popular for a wide range of applications. Dye sublimated graphics generally offer vibrant color that becomes part of the fabric itself, making them very durable and beautiful. Dye sublimation inks are available for printing on many different types of fabrics, but for the display industry, inks that print on polyester are the standard, which makes sense because of the incredible range of weights, weaves, textures and finishes that polyester offers. If you've shopped for a trade show display in past 2-3 years, you've almost certainly looked at fabric displays as every manufacturer has been pushing them, and new models and styles are constantly being released. If you listened to the industry, you would be under the impression that fabric graphics are the best option for virtually any display, and that a fabric display is the best choice for every need. Unfortunately, like most industries, what sales people want you to believe and what's actually true are not often the same thing. The best example of this is how dye sublimated fabric graphics are often referred to as wrinkle proof. Certainly, dye sub graphics are more wrinkle resistant than any other type of graphic, but it's funny to watch a salesman demonstrate how wrinkle proof a fabric is by wadding it up and then showing the resulting wrinkled graphic like a magician that has just pulled a rabbit out of his hat. The look on their face is a little perplexed when the wrinkles in the fabric are pointed out, as if no one had noticed before that the emperor had no clothes. The fact that fabric wrinkles shouldn't be a surprise to anyone, nor should it prevent anyone from purchasing a fabric graphic, since unlike other materials, the wrinkles can be steamed or ironed out, but it's important to know that in advance in order to be prepared for that step when setting up a display.

    The reason fabric displays are being pushed to consumers is that dye sublimated graphics are seen as a premium priced graphic option, with much larger profit margins than standard graphics. Because of this, display manufacturers have decided to get into the printing business by offering overpriced fabric graphics, and they push fabric displays so they can sell the pricey graphics to go with them. Because printing and finishing fabric graphics is more involved and requires special equipment, usually the expensive kind, there are fewer companies producing fabric graphics in-house, and therefore less competition to drive down prices. This doesn't make fabric graphics bad, but it can make them wildly overpriced, so it's important to know when they make sense, and when a different option is the better choice.

    Fusion Fabric Graphic Display
    Where fabric graphics really shine are when stretch fabric graphics are used, usually with zippers in a pillowcase style. Displays that are designed for these kinds of stretch fabric graphics are typically made of aluminum tube frames that are lightweight and easy to assemble. The frames can have interesting shapes and when the stretch fabric graphics are pulled over the frame, the resulting display is eye catching and beautiful, and could only be created using this type of technology. A good example of this type of display is the Formulate Vertical Curve Wall. This display has a curved shape that would be possible with other technologies, but it wouldn't be easy and it wouldn't be seamless, so that's why dye sublimated stretch fabric is used. More elaborate displays, like the Formulate Fusion 20' Island trade show display could only be created with stretch fabric graphics.

    cobra-36-rls

    Even some simple displays like the Cobra Tension Fabric Banner Stands could only be made with stretch fabric, and because the unique shape is something unusual, it's very eye catching. That's where fabric display graphics are best, because getting the attention of potential customers is what a trade show is all about. And, because pillowcase graphics stretch tightly over a frame, any wrinkles in the fabric are usually pulled smooth so steaming may not be necessary.

    In some other cases, there is some advantage to fabric graphics, but these are not displays that couldn't be made with traditional graphics. Customers like the HopUp Tension Fabric Displays because they are extremely easy to set up. In this case, the stretch fabric attaches to the frame with velcro, and the pop up style frame folds down with the fabric still attached. To set up the Hopup, you simply expand the frame with the graphic attached and you're done. In this case, the stretch fabric doesn't typically pull tight enough to remove all the wrinkles in the fabric, so for the best look, some steaming is probably going to be necessary. Traditional pop up displays only take about 10 minutes to set up, but there are several steps to go through, the graphics can be damaged if they aren't handled properly, and it takes some adjustment to get the panels aligned properly. For some customers, dealing with a few wrinkles is a fair trade off for the extra work involved with a traditional pop up, but there are definite advantages to the traditional style display as well so it's really a matter of personal preference in this case.

    formulate-essentials-10-horizontal

    Similarly, the Formulate Horizontal Curve or Formulate Straight Wall offer shapes that are available in pop up displays, but with small differences like rounded corners that could only be done with fabric. The light weight, seamless look and lower cost are the typical reasons for choosing this style of display over a pop up, rather than because the shape of the display couldn't be created otherwise.

    Some of the newer displays are rectangular aluminum frames that have a channel where fabric graphics with a silicone edging sewn into the perimeter are inserted. The silicon edge graphics, or push fit graphics, as they are sometimes called, have very little advantage over traditional graphics in terms of how they look once installed, but they do have the light weight, durable nature that dye sublimated graphics are famous for. It's also possible to make a 10' display with a single graphics without seams, which can't be done with a pop up display. When these rectangular frame sections are combined together to form larger displays with right angles, they can be very interesting and attractive. We'll be adding some of this style to our site very soon because there are good reasons to use such a display. This style of display can also be backlit with LED edge lighting, which is a great idea for both trade show displays and retail displays, because illuminated graphics are always effective at drawing attention, and this would be difficult to do any other way. However, there are quite a few displays available that are simply a single, rectangular frame with feet that allow it to stand up, and we see no point to these displays at all. The same look could be achieved with a banner stand that would cost less money, take less time to set up and take down, and be more stable. Other than some backlit configurations, we have no plans to offer this kind of display, even though they can be seen everywhere at the moment.

    Similarly, we have no plans to offer dye sublimated prints for retractable banner stands. We think they're a terrible idea in general and cannot understand why other companies even offer them. None of the benefits of dye sublimated graphics are an advantage in a roll up banner stand. Dye sub fabric graphics must be hemmed to prevent fraying, or have the cut edge melted with a hot knife. The melted edge is not particularly attractive, and isn't 100% reliable in preventing fraying, and the hemmed edges look bad and can cause wrinkles when the banner is retracted. Hems can even prevent the display from rolling up properly, so they are a terrible idea. Dye sub fabrics are not typically opaque, which is a important, although not critical, so that light from behind doesn't cast visible shadows on the front of the banner. Direct printed fabrics tend to be stiffer and don't drape nicely like dye sublimated fabrics, but in a banner stand, they are ideal since the stiffness keeps them flatter and the drape-ability of the fabric isn't important. They also tend to be less expensive, which is why we offer an opaque, direct printed fabric option with most of our banner stands.

    The bottom line is that fabric display graphics can be an excellent option, but like any graphic, they should only be used when they are the best choice for a particular need. Choosing a fabric display because it's the latest style, or because it's being pushed by a manufacturer or salesman who is more concerned about how much they are profiting on the sale and less about what's best for your needs, is never a good idea.

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