The Various Retail Display Options

In the highly competitive retail environment companies that launch new products or services or want to retain their market share when other competing products are introduced to the market usually increase their marketing activity. One of the most effective ways of ensuring market share is by allowing customers to interact with products in a meaningful way. Many companies make use of retail display stands or point of sale displays in order to attract the attention of potential new customers and encourage customer loyalty amongst their existing customer base.

These companies can today choose from an enormous variety of different point of sale units. Moreover, the many retail display products that are available from exhibition and show stand manufacturers has ensured that there is a display solution which is suitable for any company, no matter how specialised their needs.

New manufacturing and design methods have also led to a decrease in the cost of custom designed retail display units and many companies are ordering display units that have been specifically designed to differentiate their products or services from the competition.

The many options that are available today range from smaller units, that are easily portable and can be both set up and manned by a single employee, to larger and more elaborate display units which have a variety of different features built into the unit.

Many of these more complex retail display units are designed to offer security features that allow for the safe storage of demonstration materials or stock. These units can also include equipment for the preparation of hot food or beverages. Some also have built in refrigeration units that allow the staff manning the unit to supply chilled samples of beverages and other foodstuffs that might require refrigeration prior to preparation.

The display units used in shopping centres are extremely popular due to the fact that they not only increase the exposure of products and services but also offer companies additional revenue opportunities. This can be especially important when shelf space in retail stores is at a premium.

The Advantages of a Shopping Kiosk

A shopping kiosk can be the perfect retail solution for the small business. There are many different variants available in South Africa and many of these offer excellent return on investment for the small businessperson.

By making use of a shopping kiosk the retailer does not have to enter into protracted negotiations with large retail stores in order to obtain shelf space. In many instances this shelf space is taken up by products supplied by large manufacturers or importers and obtaining the space to go head to head with these producers can be problematic.

Another advantage of the shopping kiosk is that it is easily moved from place to place within the shopping centre environment. This means that the owner of the kiosk can cope with changes in foot traffic patterns that can vary during the course of the business day.

A shopping kiosk is also both easy and cost-effective to brand and accessories such as shelving and other display options can be purchased either with the original unit or when required, such as during seasonal variations in purchasing behaviour.

High Impact Low Cost Signage

There are a variety of different signage options available to those companies who want to take advantage of the latest developments in printing technology and the new materials that are available. Some of the most popular types, including banners and flags, are used to bolster the attractiveness of retail display units or are used by companies during exhibitions and trade shows. These types of signage have been available to the exhibitor or retailer for many years, but new developments have made then both more attractive and better value for money than ever before.

Signages, such as pull up banners, are now available in a variety of different shapes and sizes that are very different from the traditional banners. Tear drop banners, Sharkfin banners and flag banners are only three types of banners that can be used both indoors and outdoors.

Versatile Showcases for Retail and Trade Shows

There are a variety of different showcases that are available for use in retail displays as well as at trade shows and exhibitions. The customer can choose to have it designed to suit their individual needs or choose from a variety of standard showcases. These showcases can be manufactured from glass or from acrylic material that is resistant to the wear and tear that is common when these display units are used at trade shows or exhibitions.

The Services of Custom-designed Stands Designers

Many companies choose to attend trade shows and exhibitions and these opportunities to showcase products and services are regular events in major cities across South Africa. The sheer number of show stands at these events means that a company must take advantage of the services of professional designers to ensure that the custom-designed stands that they have on display will entice possible buyers to spend some of their limited time reviewing the products and services on display.

New technology, new materials and new computer assisted design software have made it possible to manufacture custom-designed stands that are capable of fulfilling the requirements of the designers and the companies that have retained their services.

These show stands range from the simple fabric system stands which although representing extremely good value for money also take advantage of the latest printing techniques which make it possible to display photographic quality prints of products or backdrops which accentuate the properties of the product or the corporate identity of the company offering the products and services.

The new printing technology provides designers with an opportunity to provide companies with custom-designed fabric systems that are suitable for use in a variety of different venues and events.

Designers of custom-designed stands that are used at exhibitions have also taken advantage of new materials in order to ensure that many of the stands that are today available are extremely easy to transport from venue to venue. The lightweight modular systems which make extensive use of aluminium frames to support either fabric or laminate panels are designed to ensure that erecting the stands is extremely simple. Many variants of these types of stands, such as the Metrolite system available from Scan Display, fold up for transport in a carry bag that will easily fit into the boot of an average sized car.

Designers have ensured that many of the custom-designed stands can have additional units attached to them. This provides the customer with an almost endless variety of different configurations. The ability to add to the stands as and when required also makes investment in this type of stand extremely good value for money. These types of stands have been designed to be enhanced through the addition of other display equipment such as extra lighting, brochure stands, display cases and an assortment of banners, such as the ever popular pull up banner.

Custom-designed stands which have been configured by an expert designer to form the foundation of a modular system also represent an excellent investment due to the fact that in the unlikely event of damage to the tough graphic panels these can be easily replaced without the added expense of replacing the entire unit. The design of modular systems also allows the various components of the professionally designed stands to be used for a variety of different purposes in a variety of different settings, such as awards ceremonies or even sporting events. This further enhances the functionality of these display systems.

Larger custom-designed stands are also extremely popular and the designers of these stands have ensured that they are both extremely eye catching and provide the staff manning these stands with sufficient room to demonstrate products and interact with potential customers in comfort. The framework of these stands can be designed to conform to the corporate identity of the company that will be making use of the stand. Curved surfaces and a variety of shapes are today possible and the services of an expert stand manufacturer and designer will ensure that the stand is an accurate reflection of the quality of the merchandise being promoted. Additional services such as the leasing of chairs, portable flooring and other value added services will ensure that the company purchasing a custom-designed stand will enjoy pride of place amongst exhibitors at both exhibitions and trade shows.

High Impact Fabric System Branding

Many exhibitors at trade shows and exhibitions in South Africa are today choosing to make use of fabric systems for their show stands and display purposes. One of the reasons that these display units have become so popular is the fact that the branding options make use of the latest printing technology which allows for vibrant, high definition photography and product branding on the fabric.

Many companies are today choosing to make use of a fabric system for their display needs because these systems are both lightweight and easy to transport. They are also extremely easy to set up and take down. Many of the smaller types of display units can be transported in a handy carry bag which is supplied by the manufacturer.

The fabric used in the display system is extremely durable and branding of this material is both quick and cost-effective. Many companies make the decision to use corporate and brand logos for branding, however, the close weave of the fabric also allows for much more detailed graphics to be displayed. Photographic quality graphics can be depicted on the fabric and this allows almost any image to be printed onto it.

The manufacturer will usually be able to supply a wide variety of different graphics for use with the fabric display system. The company can also ask for assistance from their advertising or marketing agency to source appropriate graphics from any one of the many graphic libraries that are today available either through the use of the Internet or from specialist image banks. There is usually a cost involved in using these images and the marketing agency will be able to inform the company of this cost and the conditions attached to the use of the image.

Specialised modern printing equipment and technology can today be used to transfer almost any size of image onto a fabric display unit. This image can be used on a single panel or broken up into parts in order to maximise the size of the image which can be printed over several panels.

Fabric system branding can also be used to provide printing on both sides of a fabric panel. This double sided printing is extremely effective in the trade show and exhibition environment, especially where the show stand is situated in the centre of the exhibition space. The use of double sided printing on display units maximises the impact of the available printing area.

Attention Grabbing Printing for Show Stands

In the trade show and exhibition environment the visitor is usually overwhelmed by the sheer number of different companies that are vying for his or her attention. One of the most cost effective ways that exhibitors can make sure that the passing foot traffic notices their stand and takes the time to interact with the show stand personnel is to make sure that the fabric printing that they are using in the branding of their display system is highly visible and of the highest quality.

One of the ways to ensure that the printing on the fabric is effective is to make full use of the cutting edge technology that is today used to print images and branding on display units. Any company that restricts itself to a simple logo or product payoff line is not making full use of the possibilities of today’s fabric printing technology.

Fabric system branding can now take advantage of s full palette of colours and high resolution photo realistic printing to ensure that the potential customer is attracted to the show stand. New generation printers are today able to print extremely large images using inks that are weather resistant and will continue to be vibrant even after repeated appearances at a variety of different trade shows and exhibitions.

Today, professional exhibition and event infrastructure providers are affording many companies in South Africa with their expertise and products which are then used at trade shows, exhibitions and other similar events. This gives advertisers ample opportunities to both showcase their products and position their company through the highly visible marketing apparel conveying their corporate identity.

There are a variety of different types of exhibition and event infrastructure components available today, from the simple fabric backdrop to custom designed and manufactured show stands. To ensure that the products being showcased stand out from the crowd, state of the art technology such as laser lighting is used to in order to ensure exceptional quality. The only limiting factors to how complex this infrastructure can be is the imagination and the budget of the company that requires the show stand.

Many of the larger exhibition and event stands consist of infrastructure that is modular in nature. In effect, this means that each individual component of the stand can be used in conjunction with the other pieces or separately, as the occasion and space restrictions dictate. The components of the exhibition and event infrastructure are usually a combination of a variety of different units that are arranged around a central shell scheme.

These components range from display cabinets and other units, to lighting and the ever popular banners and flags. Each of these components is available from a professional supplier of exhibition services and marketing material. Many of these specialists are also able to lease various components that may be required in order to ensure that the show stand is both functional and effective. The hiring of components such as chairs and tables is common practice and ensures that the company exhibiting does not over spend on items that may only be used only for a specific trade show or exhibition.

New printing and manufacturing technology has provided companies on the lookout for effective and eye catching exhibition and event infrastructure with a variety of different cost effective infrastructure solutions and options. Even companies that rarely take part in trade shows and exhibitions can now enjoy a professional looking show stand that is both easy to erect and highly visible.

Smaller portable show stands are now available that are easy to erect and make extensive use of pull up and pop up technology. This technology provides a high quality visual solution to a cost effective trade show or exhibition presence that can be erected by even the most inexperienced of staff members.

These types of stands are becoming enormously popular due to the fact that they are both easy to transport and can be designed with unique prints that are both vibrant and effective at driving home key messages about the product or service being marketed at the show.

Another extremely cost effective, lightweight and easy to erect stand option is the fabric exhibition stand. This type of exhibition and event infrastructure features extremely durable fabric that is brightly coloured and can be printed with a variety of logo’s and designs. Fabric stands are available in a number of different designs, including fully walled units and backdrop type stands. The versatility of fabric also means that it can be used to wrap various types of supporting structures in a variety of different shapes and forms.

For those companies that are looking for exhibition and event infrastructure that is both attention grabbing and easy to erect, there are variants which feature built in LED lights. These lights are built into the frame of the show stand and therefore require no electrical skills to set up. The addition of LED lights at the top of the show stand structure makes the stand extremely visible and attracts foot traffic to the stand.

A Versatile Mobile Kiosk

The introduction of new products into the South African marketplace can be full of challenges. This market is highly competitive and many products fail to gain widespread acceptance due to inadequate marketing efforts by the parent company. One of the most cost-effective ways of ensuring that the public is exposed to the product in a professional manner is through experiential marketing where the public is invited to experience the benefits of the product in store. This type of marketing makes extensive use of the new generation of mobile kiosks.

A mobile kiosk today is a far cry from the simplicity of the point of sale installations that can still be found in retail outlets throughout South Africa. These point of sale units are today primarily used for the introduction of product line extensions where the main product line is already present in the marketplace or to promote special offers.

The advanced mobile kiosk brings a full sensory experience to the public and enriches the consumer’s experience of the product, as well as promoting the corporate identity of the company promoting the product in a highly visible and professional way.

There are a variety of different types of mobile kiosks available today. Each of these units is free standing and many will have features such as display cases and unique designs, tailored to the individual needs of the company and the product being promoted.

Today’s mobile kiosk provides revenue enhancing opportunities to the company either promoting or engaged in selling a product. Besides providing an additional point of sale, the kiosk can be moved from venue to venue with very little effort or expense.

There are varieties of portable kiosks available today which takes advantage of new developments in construction material and manufacturing processes, allowing them to be used both in- and outdoors. The new Modulbox concept is one of the most exciting developments in mobile kiosk design. This innovative solution folds out from a box-like structure to provide a fully integrated ultra modern kiosk with excellent branding opportunities. The Modulbox units are also easily portable, making them an immensely attractive advertising solution for the company that wants to take advantage of cutting edge kiosk design.

Enhancing a Mobile Exhibition Stand

In order to get the most from their point of sale mobile exhibition stand or kiosk, many companies choose to supplement the appearance of these units through the strategic placement of other marketing material such as banners and flags. This material is usually also available from the supplier companies providing your kiosks.

By ordering these supplementary materials the company will not only enhance the visibility of the kiosk or exhibition stand, but can also benefit from the savings that can be realised when purchasing multiple units from the same supplier. These marketing materials often come with their own carry bags, making them easy to store in the modern, secure and lockable portable stand.

From a marketing perspective, the mobile kiosk is an effective and affordable marketing tool to get people familiar with your brand and logo. Something you may want to keep in mind next time you are planning to advertise at a special event or exhibition.