Scan Display has recently made a number of appointments at its Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town offices.

In the Durban office:

• Kylie van Staden has been appointed KZN branch manager
  
• Averil Sander has been appointed production manager
  
• Jarryd Nel has been appointed exhibition architect
  

In the Cape Town office:

• Amy Brown  been appointed relationship manager
  

In the Johannesburg office:

• Pippa Walker has been appointed marketing manager
  
• Thuli Sotomela has been appointed warehouse manager
  
• Pumza Sebenzi has been appointed logistics manager
  
• Martina Ledwaba and Trish Browne have been appointed account executives
  

Scan Display is a specialist provider of exhibition, event and display products and services.

Have you given much thought to the lessons you learnt from the 2010 FIFA World Cup As the MD of exhibition, events and display company Scan Display, I have tried to understand how people in this industry behaved during the world cup, and why they behaved in this way.

Click here to see a collection of insights I gauged from what I saw, and perhaps some lessons that can be taken away from them. In this way, we can be prepared for next time – the Olympics, maybe?

Soweto Sewing Company benefits from exhibition industry generosity

The Soweto Sewing Company has recently benefited from the generosity of the South African exhibition industry. Three exhibition organisers have given the Soweto Sewing Company free exhibition space, and Scan Display has provided them with a branded pop-up stand and counter.

The three organisers who sponsored the Soweto Sewing Company are: Specialised Exhibitions for Markex Jhb (in August); Wholesale & Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&T Seta) for the Soweto Festival Expo (in September); and  Baba Indaba for their upcoming show in Sandton (in October).

The Soweto Sewing Company attracted the support largely because their story is so inspiring. The group began in 2008, in Braamfischerville on the outskirts of Soweto. The five founding members could not find employment, and so, using initiative in the face of adversity, they decided to create work for themselves in order to support their families.

A few of the women had sewing skills, which they shared with their colleagues and, working from home, they started to craft bags from beautiful African print fabrics. This entrepreneurial spirit has had the beneficial spin-offs of helping to uplift the community and providing positive role models.

A donation of two sewing machines, an over-locker, as well as a space to work in 2009, enabled the group to improve their production base and reach a wider market. They have now expanded their product range and at Markex showcased not only bags but clothing and accessories suitable for corporate gifts. At Soweto Festival Expo they featured household items such as tablecloths, placemats and coasters. New products, including baby bags and blankets, will be launched at the upcoming Baba Indaba.

Judith Thobakgale, who manages the Soweto Sewing Company, is delighted by the marketing opportunities the exhibitions have created for the enterprise. “We are very excited to have these opportunities to showcase our products and meet new clients. Our aim is to grow the Soweto Sewing Company into a self-reliant and profitable company, and these exhibitions are the stepping stones to help us achieve this dream,” says Judith.

Judith adds: “We would like to thank our sponsors whole-heartedly, and will strive to impress them with what we can do.”

W&R Seta’s sponsorship package, which they offered to 200 SMME’s including the Soweto Sewing Company, includes two compulsory workshops in business management. Judith has already attended these and hopefully this strategy will equip the group with the necessary skills to manifest long term benefits from the shows.

You can visit the Soweto Sewing Company stand at Baba Indaba, which runs from the 22 to 24 October 2010 at the Sandton Convention Centre.

The future of exhibitions: fabric graphics and green power

At the recent Markex Jhb exhibition, Scan Display implemented new technology in the form of fabric graphics (called tension fabric systems) and green power. Both of these have positive applications within the exhibition industry, and are expected to become increasingly popular choices for exhibitors.

Fabric systems

Earlier this year Scan introduced tension fabric system options, which quickly gained appeal with the South African market. The fabric systems involve printing graphics directly onto fabric, which is then stretched across frames to create a smooth wall that can be back- or front-lit, giving the image a warm look-and-feel. Fabric can be used for large surface areas: at Markex Jhb, Scan used it to create a 5 by 6 metre life-sized backdrop of a Spanish street scene on its stand.

Aside from the aesthetic benefits, tension fabric systems are very versatile and can be used in many different spaces. For example, they can be mounted onto existing walls, or stand freely on frames, and can form straight or curved walls.

Justin Hawes, MD of Scan Display, adds: “Tension fabric is more compact when packed away, and far lighter than traditional wood and plastic wall panels. This allows for reduced storage and transport costs. The fabric is also extremely durable, and can be re-used – which is another cost incentive. Advances in technology are very exciting for us, as we are constantly finding ways to offer our clients even better products.”

Green power

Another feature of Scan’s Markex stand which attracted positive feedback was the use of green power. Greening is close to Justin’s heart, and led to his involvement in the formation of the Event Greening Forum last year. The Forum’s primary objective is to promote green principles and practices in the South African events industry.

Justin says; “Going green is a process. You have to start with small changes, and gradually green all elements of your business and day-to -day living. The use of green power at events is one step in the right direction.”

Scan purchased the green power from GreenX Energy in the form of a Renewable Energy Certificate (REC). One REC is equivalent to one MWh (or 1000kWh) of power, which was sufficient to run Scan’s stand and three of their clients’ stands for the duration of the show. At the time, one REC cost only R210 ex VAT, which Justin asserts is a nominal cost and a convenient alternative to planting trees in order to reduce your carbon footprint.

The green power is generated from multiple Solar Home Systems (solar photovoltaic panels) owned and operated by the Nuon RAPS utility, and fed directly into the homes of indigent consumers in Northern KZN. Therefore the certificate is notional; while Scan’s stand used Eskom’s power, it purchased an equivalent amount of green power which was used by consumers in KZN.

Marisa Naude, the Marketing and Administration Manager of GreenX Energy, says: “Based on more than eight years of experience in the South African voluntary REC market, we are seeing a steady increase in interest in using RECs for Certified Green Power. Scan Display can be proud of showing leadership in this growing market by using RECs on its stands and encouraging other exhibitors and event organisers to follow suit.”