Exhibitions displays are a great opportunity for you to get your name out there and create enough exposure for your business so that you have customers coming to all the time. Not only do you give them the chance to come back, but you might even be lucky enough to make a sale right there on the spot. Either way, you are generating business and marketing your company in plain sight.

Showcase Displays Can be Used for Various Things

On a personal level, they are often used to highlight one’s own personal achievements or that of a family member. Trophies, ribbons, certificates and medals can all be put up on display in there and with great lighting you can really show them off in style. You might even want to put your priceless china collection up for everyone to look at or perhaps your daughter prefers to keep all her old teddies in there for memorabilia.

When it comes to the commercial applications though, things get taken to a whole new level. The lighting effects are modified to create an appealing look and feel to the product on display. Jewellery can be displayed underneath lights that make the jewels sparkle for the people looking at them. You can even add mini motion graphic displays into the cases so that it gives your viewer information while they are looking at your product.

Adventure products can have climbers high up on the side of a mountain and precision products can be demonstrated in their practical environment when you are unable to do it in the current display area. If you were at an auto exhibition and you needed to display the performance of shock absorbers, you would have to provide people with video footage so they can see how it all works.

Ideally, you want to be able to give them a physical demonstration so that people can see it working in action, but that won’t always be possible in an 8 by 12 stall that still needs people and furniture in it.

Allow People to Interact with Your Exhibition Displays

Displays should be more interactive if you want them to be interesting. That means you have to grab someone’s attention long enough to keep it and you have to do it quickly. People walking around an exhibition will probably spend no more than 10 to 15 seconds in front of your stall and if they don’t see anything they like, they will move right along to the next one.

If you can find display screens that are touch activated you can allow your visitors to run programs that display your products and allow them to interact with it in a virtual environment. They can change the colours of the item or add additional features to it if it is possible on that particular product. You might have video clips of how the product is used and show them the various applications.

When you have casings, they also offer the additional feature of security. If you need to keep valuable items on display and you can’t keep a constant eye on it, then at least you’ll feel more comfortable about it knowing that it’s neatly locked away where everybody can still see it.

So choose your showcase displays carefully and put some thought into what is going in there and how you want to display it in the best possible way.

From small print ads that get put on the back of bathroom doors, right through to fully interactive touch screens that create a completely different user experience when used to its full potential. All you need to do is work out what your budget is for the campaign and where you most likely find the people that would be buying your product.

Once you know where the advert is going, you can work on figuring out how to use the space you have provided to its full potential. If you are using print, then you need to ask how much time your reader will have to look at the page and decide what information you can include on there to make it enough without flooding the entire page.

Retails Displays and Pull up Banners Work Just as Well

When it comes to the indoors, you usually have enclosed spaces to work with and people are often forced to look at your pull up banners and retails displays as they are walking past your shop for example. Malls have walkways where people need to get past one another and it often happens that you find yourself hiding behind one of those banners as you wait for a group of people to pass.

A pull up banner basically works by printing a large graphic display on a canvas like material that is sturdy and durable. The one end of the canvas is rolled up at the bottom of the display and then sign is then pulled up and attached to a pole at the top so the entire surface of the canvas can be viewed clearly.

Retails displays can be both static and moving, and both can catch your viewer’s attention if they are used correctly. Larger displays catch the eye very easily where as motion graphics attract the eye from the movement it makes. If you can create clever displays that have memorable messages and enough information for the reader, you would have done your job well as a marketer.

Indoor Branding at its Best

Effective display solutions are able to get the message across to the people viewing it and if you are going to do that properly, you will need some understanding of marketing and advertising principles. Good copywriting and graphic design skills are also a must because you need to be able to make the words jump out at people and make them understand what they are looking at without too much difficulty.

All of these skill combined are tough to acquire on your own but it is possible with some hands on learning and attention to detail. If not, then you can hire indoor branding specialists to come in and help you get the job done right.

Of course you want the best exposure possible but your budget might not allow you to get the job done effectively. If that happens, you need to find ways to scale down your communication, while still being able to create the impact necessary to make people remember who you are. If you can’t afford to create a big sign that is posted on a highway billboard, you will need to opt for smaller more repetitive measures.

Promotional Flags and Banners are Ideal

The cost of using promotional flags and banners is usually quite cost effective and you can create as many of them as you want, or at least as many as your budget will allow. They are both light and mobile so you don’t have to get stuck with a single location and if you really want to get in to places with lots of traffic, you can target busy roadsides or set up a stand somewhere inside a shopping mall on a busy Saturday.

With the affordability of the flags, you can create a whole lot more of them than you would with any other form of advertising. You can then use them on a number of different street corners or perhaps along the drop-off zone where kids go to school. It would need to be a relevant location of course so it’s important to pick your spots well.

If you are offering a multivitamin for kids then the mall and outside the school would be ideal but it won’t be such a good idea to place it at a gaming conference.

Outdoor Branding is the Way to Get Out There

It’s important to get as much exposure as you possibly can and by placing an advert for your business on a big outdoor sign is a good way to do it. If you can’t afford to rent the advertising space of a big billboard, try to consider alternative options. You can find something that is cost effective and simple without losing the required effect.

All it takes is a little creative thinking and a clever application of the cheaper mediums available and you can turn your outdoor branding campaign into a successful one no matter what your budget is.

What Are Marketing Counters?

Think of big trade shows like Mining Indaba, Electra Mining, and Markex. Usually it takes place in a massive hall or conference centre where each exhibitor is allocated a marketing area. Usually it’s a sort of cubicle or sectioned off squared for them to set up shopping kiosks and other retail displays.

The idea is to attract potential customers and showcase what you have to offer in the form of a product or service. At the forefront will be marketing counters – a podium styled desk which will display your brand and product. It also serves as a desk to display pamphlets and business card and an area for anyone to write notes or communication details. Basically marketing counters take a practical device and turn it into one of the retail displays.

Marketing counters are smaller than shopping kiosks, but still display your brand identity. They can come in various sizes and shapes to suit your needs. Some of the basic used in retail displays include:

• Flexi Counter – this is an above waist high counter that has a graphic display at the front – this is ideal to display your brand and/or product. It has optional door and shelving in the back to keep marketing materials and samples of your product.

• Promoter Counter – the promoter counter is light weight and very easy to assemble. It has a branding area at the front as well as signage raised up on two poles at the top. This is ideal for branding and communication contact detail like email and website address.

• RT Case Counter – The RT case is ideal for those that promote product often and need versatile and mobile marketing counters. It doubles as a transport device to keep all your products then converts into a waist high marketing counter – all you need to do is apply the wrap around branding.

The Advantages of Attending Exhibitions

Exhibitions are a great place to advertise your brand. Using marketing counters, shopping kiosks and retail displays you can establish a growing brand or reinforce an established one. Considering attending a trade show or exhibition can unlock some of the following advantages:

• Meet contacts and establish relationships with customers and other people in the field. It’s also an opportunity to meet up with other retailers and maintain relationships.

• Collect data and do market research. You’ll have a multitude of customers walking past your shopping kiosks and retail displays. Use the opportunity to collect data, do surveys and find out ways to improve your product. You can therefore do comparisons and make adjustments.

• Collect contact details to further market with. Exhibitions are a good way to collect names, numbers and email addresses. By doing email and SMS campaign you might attract customers through a different medium and keep existing customers abreast of new products or specials.

Having a stand at an exhibition is a great way to increase your business potential. You’ll have thousands of potential customers walking past your stand. Having an attractive stand to showcase your product goes a long way and using tools like marketing counters, shopping kiosks and retail displays makes it easy and convenient. In a sea of marketing competitors you want to stand out and with the right tools you’ll ensure success.

The Investing in African Mining Indaba is a yearly exhibition and conference focusing on mining development and capitalisation in Africa. With an 18 year history the Investing in Mining Indaba is the premier event for investing in African mining.

The world’s most influential investors and stakeholders attend this event at the Convention Centre in Cape Town. There are over six thousand five hundred representatives hosting stands with exhibition banner displays, forums and speaker sessions.

Events at the Mining Indaba

The annual Mining Indaba is a key forum for mining analysts, investment specialists, fund managers and governments to get together and make decisions pertaining to African mines. By sharing ideas and opinions, attendees can get the latest developments from leading experts. There are exhibition banner displays and many other interesting sessions to provide insight and information:

1. Keynote Speakers – some of the leading authorities share their insight on the state of African mining. Amongst the more notable keynote speakers in recent years are Tom Butler, Dr. Barry Eichegreen and Dr. David Evans.
2. Feature Speakers – along with the keynote speakers some feature speakers are invited to give their analysis and expert opinions on mining. Some feature speakers who have graced the Mining Indaba include Ibukun Adebayo (London Stock Exchange), Ben Aryee (CEO Ghana Mineral Commission), Mamdou Barry (World Bank) and Ian Benning (CEO ZYL Limited).
3. Exhibition Banner Displays – There are many representatives from various companies and organisations with stands. Professionals are geared to provide information and share ideas on the latest trends and display their products and services. By showcasing exhibition banner displays they can illustrate the latest technologies and information pertaining to the mining industry.
4. Securities Exchange Sessions – These are sessions designed specifically to assist delegates and sponsors with education in areas of mining. These areas include natural resources, capital markets, liquidity and diverse investment opportunities. Financial and legal experts take the floor and share information. The session ends with a Q & A and social networking.
5. Discussion on Sustainable Development – Member companies discuss the challenges of sustainability with regard to their core business practices. Areas of discussion include climate change and sustainability issues that Africa will face in the next 20 years. Business strategies are analysed and questions are asked on how it can be aligned to contribute to growth and development, while minimising the environmental impacts that are negative. Conservation and mining are also addressed and the biggest constraints are looked at and discussed.
6. Gala Dinner – There is an annual Gala dinner which is highly anticipated. This limited attendance event is a way for delegates and attendees to mix in an informal environment. It is hosted each year at the lush and breath taking gardens of the Vergelegen Estate.

The Investing in African Mining Indaba is an event that is at the forefront of African mining. With the thousands of representatives and attendees, it is the pace to be if your business has any dealings with mining and investment in mining.

Exhibitors have the opportunity to man a stand and market their brand making use of the latest marketing material, like banners, podiums and stands. With the thousands that attend every year, it is a great way to grow your brand recognition, and get valuable product and competitor information.

What Is Markex?

For 26 years Markex has been a premier exhibition event in South Africa. Located at the Sandton Convention Centre, it specialises in sellers (as well as buyers) of corporate clothing, conference and exhibition venues and solutions, promotional gifts, design and décor as well as event planners and management.

2011 saw over 10,000 visitors attend the event. This is the ideal playground for business owners and entrepreneurs to take advantage of a captive audience. Exhibitions have a strong influence on buying decisions and result in many successful business deals and transactions.

Some of the main attractions of the exhibition include: The annual Road show of the Loerie Awards; USB Speakers Pavilion presenting top business speakers; Pendoring Awards promoting the best in Afrikaans advertising; and the Trade Section where wholesalers and resellers get a personalised setting to conduct business.

Get the Most Out Of Your Marketing

When at a trade show of exhibition you’ll be exposed to a lot of traffic. It’s key to attract them and convert that traffic into sales. Here are some pointers:

• Have Giveaways – Nothing pulls in a crowd like free stuff. Have giveaways or samples of your product. Once you attract the crowd, get them interested and make the sale. Be prepared to handle volume and don’t let any big fish get away.
• Competitions – Having a competition or lucky draw is always a good incentive for people to be interested in your booth. With every purchase give them an entry to a big draw prize. It keeps people interested and incentivises sales.
• Stand Out – Make sure your booth stands out from the rest. Have eye-catching banners and backdrops to attract the consumer. A well situated podium will let them know you’re available to answer questions.

When attending a trade exhibition like Markex, do the research and put in the effort to maximise your returns. It’s a golden opportunity to get your brand or product out there.

Nothing brings people together like a good sports event. As a business owner you could do great marketing with PVC banners for outdoor sports events.

South Africa has many mass participation sports events that draw in crowds totalling in the tens of thousands. If you have a brand (particularly associated with sports) using PVC banners for outdoor sports events is a great way to establish your brand.

Why PVC?

You might ask why PVC banners for outdoor sports events? When it comes to outdoor banners the most commonly used material is heavy weight vinyl which is technically known as PVC. PVC stands for polyvinyl chloride and is a plastic which is the third most widely produced in the world. It’s a very popular material since it is cost effective, durable and easy to work with.

PVC banners for outdoor sports events are especially eye catching and used to advertise a product or simply as brand building, emblazoned with a company or product logo. There are several types of PVC banners which make use of separate design techniques in their production:

• Digitally Printed Banners – The design on a digitally printed banner is applied with a water based ink. They contain durable pigments and materials making them UV and fade resistant when used outdoors. This is the most popular choice for PVC banners for outdoor sports events.

• Banner With Vinyl Letters – This design technique makes use of individual vinyl elements cut out by a vinyl cutter (which is computer operated). It’s then applied with an adhesive to the banner to form the design.

• Screen Printed Banners – This makes use of screen printing to put the design on the banner. Screens making up a stencil are used to lay down multiple colours. High performance presses can print large volumes in an hour and makes it a suitable choice for large volume PVC banners for outdoor sports events.

PVC Banners for Outdoor Sports Events: Where to Use Them

South Africa is a country that loves its sports, not only to watch, but to participate in. If your brand is sports related it’s a no brainer that it should make a presence and capitalise on the frenzy. If you’re looking for events with massive crowds to expose your brand to there are a few that are a must:

• The Comrades Marathon – This 90 kilometre road race is an annual event that takes place from Durban to Pietermaritzburg. It is the world’s oldest (started in 1921) and largest ultra marathon race with participation exceeding 23,000.
• Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Race – Know as ‘The Argus’, this cycle race is 109 kilometres long and is an annual competition taking place in Cape Town. As many as 31,000 cyclists take part as it stretches from Cape Town, down the Cape Peninsula and then back. One of the highlights is the climb up Chapman’s Peak.
• Dusi Canoe Marathon – The Dusi is known as the world’s most prestigious canoe/kayak race. It’s run along the Msunduzi River between Durban and Pietermaritzburg and draws in a crowd of spectators and paddlers totalling up to 5000. It’s held over three days and competitors have to complete 125 kilometres.
• Midmar Mile – The Midmar Mile is an annual swimming race held at the Midmar Dam near Pietermaritzburg. The distance is roughly a mile and is competed by amateur swimmers of all ages and professional swimmers. It attracts over 13,000 competitors and is the world’s largest open water swimming event (as per the Guinness Book of World Records).
• Super Rugby – This is the largest professional rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere. It started in 1996 and is a competition between domestic teams from South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. The teams compete for a silver trophy and the competition consisted of 91 games in the 2011 competition.  It is followed annually by millions of viewers globally and attendance fills the local stadiums in South Africa, including Newlands, Loftus Versfeld, Coca Cola Park and Kings Park.

Brand exposure with PVC banners for outdoor sports events is a fundamental element to good marketing. Get your brand out there and reap the results.

viagra

Branding is essential in today’s business world and marketing materials like promotional flags (used mostly in outdoor advertising) are the signifiers. It tells the customer where the product is and instructs them where to go. The flag is a common thing and most don’t even give a thought to its origins. With time it has evolved and has adapted to a staple in outdoor advertising.

History of the Flag

Walk down any business district and you will notice a flurry of outdoor advertising. Banners, signs and promotional flags all vying for your attention, peddling their wares and attracting the attention of would-be consumers. The promotion flag is a commercial evolution from the traditional flag used by countries or the military.

The flag started out as a simple piece of fabric with and identifying symbol or colours on it. Most commonly it is rectangular, but there have been variations in shape and size to differentiate it from others. The flag is adorned with a specific graphic design which is a unique identifier to the source who displays it.

The first uses of the flag in military strategy and were a way for armies to coordinate their military strategies on the battlefield. It evolved into a way of identification and became a strong patriotic symbol for tribes and countries. The most common association with flags is with national identity. Each country has a flag with a unique design that is adopted as a national symbol. Some of the most recognisable flags are the Union Jack (Great Britain), the Star Spangled Banner (United States of America) and the tricolour (France).

Counties often have two versions of their flag. The civil version is the one used most commonly and identified with that country. You’ll see it used at state functions and sporting events. The war flag is, as the name states, a call to arms and used by the armed forces in times of conflict. The various national regiments like the navy, air force or army can all have separate flags.

Promotional Flags: Staple of Outdoor Advertising

As marketing and advertising grew promotional flags were adapted and become branding symbols. Outdoor events were the perfect venue for this new style of outdoor advertising and branded flags flew proudly, adverting a product or brand name. Sporting events have become a common place for promotional flags. Think of a Formula One race and the amount of Ferrari, McLaren or Renault flags being waved proudly around the track. Or at a football match where there is a clash or colours and symbols when one team face another on the field.

A key area that promotional flags are used as outdoor advertising is at mass participation sporting events. In South Africa big events like the Comrades Marathon, Argus Cycle Race or Midmar Mile all get big exposure. Sponsors and sports products have a big presence and set up massive promotional stalls. The best way to identify yourself and stand out amongst the melee is with a branded flag. They fly high as a beacon to create brand awareness and separate them from their competitors.

Promotional flags have become very important in branding, especially when it comes to outdoor advertising.  As an identifier it has become a powerful marketing tool and become indispensible to companies, brand and organisations who want to fly their colours proudly.

Advertising is an integral part to marketing and the visual plays a vital role. To draw a crowd and make then notice you, you need to have something eye catching. Indoor and outdoor banners fit the bill.

Why Choose Indoor and Outdoor Banners?

You have a business and the opportunity to showcase it at an event. Why make use of indoor and outdoor banners? There are more benefits that you would have thought. Here are the advantages:

• Simple to make – Most indoor and outdoor banners are made of vinyl and they are quick to order and easy to make. If you need a banner in a short period of time, this is an option that won’t let you down. Even if your product has changed or upgraded, it’s easy to produce more banners and get them quickly.

• Durable – Since most marketing banners are made out of vinyl they are tough and long lasting. If you attend many exhibitions it’s convenient to be able to use the same marketing materials over again. When marketing outside you need it to be resistance of the elements and won’t fade or tear. Strong sturdy banners will last you and save on costs of having to produce new ones.

• Easy to install – Indoor and outdoor banners are easy to set up. It’s essentially the vinyl and a basic aluminium frame. They are lightweight and east to transport. Once unpacked it is set up in a few minutes and once done it collapses in quicker time. When time is of the essence, you don’t want to waste time on setup.

• Cost effective – Making use of marking banners is surprisingly cost effective. Because they are easy and quick to manufacture, they are very affordable. Their cost makes is possible for businesses of any size to use banner marketing – from large corporations to self owned businesses.

• Versatile – Marketing banners are very versatile. They come in various sizes and shapes and can be customized to suit your needs. With all the products out there, you want to stand out from the crowd. If everyone marketed with the same banner size and style it would be very ineffective. Banner versatility allows different brands to make their mark individually.

Indoor and outdoor banners are a pivotal marketing tool especially when you are promoting at an outdoor event. Brand awareness is essential and you want your brand to be the first thing people think of when considering a product in your industry. The more they see your brand the more it subliminally sinks in and becomes the first thing they think of. Get noticed and put your name out there for everyone to see.

Banners with Stands: Types to Choose From

The choice to make use of banners with stands is easy, but it will require a little more thought to which kind you need. There are several types of banners and you need to identify the one that will best suit your specific requirements. The most popular ones are:

• Retractable Banners Stands – This type of banner stand is best for when time is of the essence and set up time needs to be super quick. The banners are rolled up inside the base and is pulled out and attached to a pole. It’s light, quick and easy to transport.

• Non-retractable Banners – This style of banner requires a bit more set up but adds more stability to your stand. It can either be supported by carbon fibre rod attached to a metal foot or a carbon fibre X, which spreads out to the corners and gives the banner tension and support.

• Sail Banners – These are banners that offer a bit of movement and can be used outside as flag advertising. The advertising area is mounted to a sturdy pole and can move in the air or a light breeze. There are several shapes and sizes to choose from including teardrop banners, wing banners, mini-flag banners, kite banners or larger advertising flags.

• Telescopic Banner – This style is also known as a feather banner and is quite effective if used in a cluster. The banner is mounted on a pole that has a rotating mechanism. This allows it to move in the wind and can be effective and eye catching, especially if it’s up to 4 meters long.

• Banner wall – The banner wall is mounted on a large aluminium frame/stand. This is perfect for creating a large graphic backdrop. It does require some assembly, but erects in minutes and is easily transportable. With regard to banners with stands this is the big daddy and makes the biggest impact.

Make use of banners with stands to single yourself out from the crowd. With the various options available you will definitely find something to suit your needs. It is a striking and cost effective way of marketing your product or service.