As suppliers of Portable Displays to numerous regular Plan Expo exhibitors, including:

Quinn
Kingspan
Henco Group
Contach Accessories
Easy Screed
Gerkros Heating Technology
Gypsum Industries
Bord Gais
Health and Safety Authority
Incontrol House Automation
Schneider Electric
Moy Isover
Newbridge Metal
Sustainable Energy Ireland

among others, we are in the perfect position to give you a preview of the upcoming Plan Expo ’08 event in the RDS. This show, taking place from the 4th to the 6th November, is in its 26th year, and is a perennially popular fixture in the construction industry’s calendar. This year it will feature the Irish Home Builders Association Business Seminar and the EcoBuild sub-show, focusing on sustainable energy.

The trend in Display Stands at Plan Expo has, for many years now, been towards stands with considerable height, and stands with attractive, robust aluminium elements. Longer extrusions can be used to to ensure that your display is seen above the masses of people and traditional displays, and custom finials can be used to make sure that your corporate colours or logo is clearly on display.

Another display element growing in popularity is plasma screens and moving or revolving elements which grab the eye. Using modular displays these items can easily be incorporated into even the smallest display, and the beauty is that these stands are fully modular and reconfigurable so if your next exhibtion space is larger, smaller or a different shape your stand can be adapted to suit. This display hardware is available to buy and hire so there is no need to sacrifice impact for budgetary reasons.

If you have any questions about exhibiting at Plan Expo ’08 don’t hesitate to contact us by phone or email.

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We have just launched two great new tools to take the pain out of choosing an exhibition stand design, whether you will be buying, renting or augmenting your existing equipment! With the new Nomadic Design Library and the new Nomadic Rental Library, both available online, clients can search by a variety of categories to focus their search and easily explore different options at the click of a button.

Search Filters include:
- Size: From 3m to 12m Plus
- Shape: Inline Stands, Island Stands, Peninsula Stands, as well as Counters, Kiosks and Others
- Minimum & Maximum Price
- Add-ons/Features Including: Height up to 4.87m., Backlighting, Lockable Conference, Storage or Meeting Area, Computer Workstation & Product Display

If you have any questions at all about using these facilities, don’t hestitate to contact us on 01 8712300 or info@appliedsigns.ie.

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Yet another ingenious new product in our range of premium quality, life-time guaranteed portable displays. The Soft Image Counter is highly portable, instant to set up and provides a sizeable counter top area with a high-impact fabric panel front. Like our other Stretch Fabric Pop Up Products, this stand has no magnets, so its ultra-lightweight, and the panel stays attached to the counter when its packed away, meaning it literally takes an instant to set up and take down. This stand is also digitally printed to photographic quality so there is no need to compromise quality when ordering an easy to use fabric print. The Soft Image Counter comes with a padded nylon carry bag and an internal shelf, and measures 102 cm tall, 106 wide and 39.5cm deep. This stand is available with our usual turnaround time of 5 working days, although we will always endeavour to meet shorter deadlines if at all possible.

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After seeing the recent post on Nomadic Display’s blog about a Belgian Company whose C34 Pop Up Display Stand was lost by their freight company on the morning of an important show, I was reminded of the huge value of the 24 Hour Customer Lifeline available to Nomadic Display’s customers.

This service is not simply a telephone answer line which will be answered any time of day or night – it actually allows customers to receive new or replacement products, repairs, graphics etc. anywhere around the world and without worrying about time differences. So if you have travelled to the US to take part in a large scale expo and half of your equipment goes astray, or an accident befalls your shiny new laminate panels as they are being unpacked, you can have your products replaced, repaired etc. in record time. This is possible due to the extent of Nomadic Display’s dealer network. Unlike display companies claiming worldwide coverage with a presence in 18 countries, Nomadic Display have authorised distributors in a staggering 30 countries, all with the in depth product knowledge and high production criterea to meet Nomadic Display’s standards.

This is yet another advantage that Nomadic Display have over other producers, and one that is unfortunately often over-looked. With international trade growing in importance each year, it is a service which will become increasingly important to customers and will continue to single out Nomadic Display as the premium provider of display and exhibition solutions.

Click here to read this client’s first-hand account of the 24 Hour Helpline in action…

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We have just returned from the colossal Euroshop exhibition in Dusseldorf’s Messe Venue. This event is so huge that it only comes round once every 3 years! Running since 1966, this is ostensibly the Global Retail Trade Fair – but it covers everything to do with selling, marketing and design, including shopfitting, signage & display systems, mannequins and models, innovative new products, interior design, printing and even giant food! There are over 1600 Exhibitors from 50 countries and 90000 visitors will pass through Euroshop’s 17 halls during its 5 day run.

We used our visit to check out the exhibition, display, signage and lighting exhibits, and to spend time at the Nomadic Display stand, which was really impressive. This 6 metre by 9 metre stand includes a range of modular portable display features including a flat pop up stand with a suspender system for display posters, a backlit counter and a fully functional bar area with overhanging canopy! We were particularly pleased to see magnetism of the stand in action, as we will soon be placing a similar stand in our showroom for permanent display.

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This is the time of year when colleges and universitites are holding open days for prospective students and exhibitions such as Fás Opportunities and Jobscene are being held. So, it is worth considering what exactly exhibitors should do to attract potential employees.

One thing to consider is the type of person they are trying to attract – in the case of colleges, universities, design & marketing companies and retail stores, the recruiters might want to project a modern image or to stand out from their fellow exhibitors with an eye-catching stand like a stretch fabric display. These stands have the added advantage of the individual panels being very economical to change, so a targeted approach to different events can be acheived at minimum cost.

Conversely, those recruiting for accounting and consulting companies might favour a traditional display such as a conventional pop up stand or pull up stand with a carefully designed graphic incorporating a sharp photographic image.

IT and technology companies would do well to look at Aluminium display stands which can incorporate flatscreens and computer elements so that they can showcase their strengths in a stand that looks cutting edge.

In all cases the general design principles listed here and here apply – for example, don’t be tempted to list too much information on the stand – leave this to brochures and printouts, or preferably engage the prospects in conversation so you can pass on this info face-to-face.

Colleges in particular will often turn to hiring display stands for 2 reasons. Firstly, colleges often have a once or twice yearly requirement for a vast amount of stands to form booths and display boards for college open days. It makes sense to hire hard panels for these occasions rather than shell out for purchasing these panels and then for storing them for the long periods they are not in use.

The second reason colleges might hire is that they have many different faculties and courses and so could avail of hired pop up stands with velcro-friendly panels – this means that graphics and posters can be changed as often as needed to accommodate the needs of various faculties. Of course this can also be achieved by purchasing a pop up stand with velcro panels.

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Pop up and Pull up stands are often confused by customers, and even by some vendors who have come to the display business late in the game. But they are really very different, with different strengths and uses, as I will explain in this installment of the Display Product Guide…

Pull Up Stands – aka Roller Banners, Roll Up Banners, Roll Up Signs, Banner Stands, Banner Signs, Penguin Stands, Banner Displays, Pull Up Signs, Pull Up Banners, Portable Banners.

Pull Up Stands/Banners are so called because, to assemble the stand, a printed panel on a roller is pulled up from the base and hooked to the tip of a telescopic bar, so that it forms a vertical banner effect, and is self supporting.

In pure layman’s terms, these are long thin displays, similar in shape and size to a strip of wallpaper and they function like an upside down roller blind, where the ‘blind’ is actually a digitally printed graphic panel.

These stands are usually in the region of 2 metres tall and 80cm to 1m wide. For this reason they are compact and versatile displays and are popular for uses as varied sales presentations, exhibitions and trade shows as well as in-store displays, and promotional displays in bars, shopping centres and hospitals.

Another major advantage of Pull Up or Roller Banner Stands is the portability they afford the user. For this reason it is important to choose a pull up banner which is as light as possible – they range in weight from around 4 kilos to 8 or 9 kilos in weight depending on the materials and components used. They travel in a bag with a shoulder strap, and unlike Pop Up Display stands, these stands can easily be transported by someone travelling on foot or on the bus!

Compared to Pop Up Display Stands, Pull Up Banners have the obvious advantage of being about 10-15% of the price of a 3m Pop Up Stand. However they are obviously much smaller and have less of a presence, which can pose a problem for those wishing to avail of their portability and low price, but needing a backdrop or wide effect from their display stand. There is an answer to this and it lies with clever graphic design – 2, 3 or more pull up stands can be designed in such a way that they form a continuous image when placed side by side. This way, the stands form an attractive display about 2.5 metres wide, and often they can be used separately as well, giving you the utmost return on investment from these clever little stands.

Another thing to bear in mind is that these stands can be purchased with 2 rollers in the base, meaning the same stand can be use to promote 2 different products, events, faculties etc. Also with all the different brands and types of stands on the market, it should be possible to replace the printed panels at a reasonable cost as many times as you like.

So, these stands will never provide the sheer presence of a Pop Up Display stand, and they can’t support plasma screens, or be joined together to create an impressive 6m backdrop display. However the portability, versatility and low cost of these stands means they are perennially popular with literally every kind of business. Bear in mind the following when purchasing a Pull Up Banner Display to ensure you get the best quality and value for money.

Things to look out for when buying a Pull Up Display stand:

**Check the hardware warranty that comes with the stand – there should be at least a year’s warranty

**Check that if the Pull Up Stand becomes damaged, it can a) be repaired, b) be repaired cheaply or for free, c) where do the repairs take place (effecting repair time and shipping costs), d) can small components, e.g. spring, top bar, be replaced easily

**Check what the panel is made of – laminated paper panels are notorious for curling at the edges and cracking. A vinyl panel is often more durable and attractive

**Check the weight of the stand – is it light enough for you to carry comfortably over your shoulder

**Look our for stands with a stable base, without fold out legs which may add weight and increase the stand’s footprint

**A stand with 2 rollers in the base may be a great investment buy IF the stand is of a high enough quality to bear repeated use through the years

**Check the price to have a new panel added or a second side added to the stand

**Look for a stand where the telescopic pole is connected by elastic to prevent losing a piece

**Check that accessories such as spotlights can be added and that they can be transported within the shoulder bag

** Ask to see the Pull Up Stand in the flesh and to practice putting up the stand before you buy so that you can compare quality – these stands are on the cheaper end of the display stand scale but very cheap stands without warranties are a false economy as they will not withstand repeated use

Important Terms relating to Pull Up Banner Stands:

Panel – The printed panel visible at the front of the stand when assembled

Print – see panels

Graphic – see panels

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I have been meaning for a long time now to get started on a comprehensive guide to display and signage products. There are a plethora of different terms used for various display stands, signs and materials, and if this causes problems for us working within the industry, I am sure it causes major confusion for customers who might understandably be unfamiliar with the jargon or technical terminology.

For example, ‘Pop Up Stands’ versus ‘Pull Up Stands’ – these terms are used interchangeably these days, but these are two distinct display stands types with significant differences. Today in part one of this series I will focus on Pop Up Display Stands…Part two will contrast these will Pull Up Banner Stands, so stay tuned…

Pop Up Stands – aka Pop Up (or PopUp) Display Stands, Pop Up Displays, Display Frames, Pop Up Frames, Backwall Displays, Spider Frames, Spider Displays, Graphic Backdrops, Pop Up Display Systems

Pop Up Stands are an older technology than Pull Up stands and Banner Stands – they were invented in 1975 by Nomadic Display and are still hugely popular for use as exhibition stands, conference backdrops and stage displays and for press and training events to name a few. They can be curved or flat and range in size from about 1.2m wide to 6m +, but the most common size would be in the region of 2.4m-3m wide and 2.4m tall. After all these years, these stands may seem conventional and, dare-I-say-it, boring! But they don’t have to be – they can be used to create interesting shapes, different height displays and used with plasma screens or funky endcaps, (click to see the ‘Esker’ Pop Up Stand on the top right) to update the basic stand. See also ‘stretch fabric panels’ below for a thoroughly ‘different’ look based on Pop Up Technology. These stands have a aluminium frame work which ‘pops up’ to form a lattice-like wall, to which magnetic bars are attached and in turn fabric or graphic panels or ‘strips’ stick to the magnetic bars to cover the stand with a seamless covering. Often these stands are used with a full graphic covering allowing for an impressive photographic image to be displayed. However fabric panels can also be used in two ways – firstly, carpet-like Velcro Friendly fabric panels (alone or in combination with graphic panels) are used by people who wish to change the images or info on display quite often, or on pop up stands which are rented and need to provide a generic background for different customers. Secondly ‘Stretch Fabric’ panels can be used to provide a funky modern look – Pop Up stands with stretch fabric are much lighter as there are no magnetic bars and are quicker to set up as the panels stay attached to the stand even when it is packed up.

Things to look out for when buying or hiring a Pop Up Display stand:

**Check that the stand has cross bars (x-shaped bars) as these add greatly to the stability of the stand

**Check that the magnetic struts are connected for ease of use

**Check that if the Pop Up Stand becomes damaged, it can a) be repaired, b) be repaired cheaply or for free, c) where do the repairs take place (this affects lead time and shipping costs), and d) can small components, e.g. wheels on case, be replaced easily

**Bear in mind that if a Pop Up Stand has integral magnets rather than bars the whole stand will need to be returned to the factory for repair if the magnets become damaged or worn

**Make sure that other pop up stands can be connected to this stand in the future – allowing larger stands in different shapes to be created and adding versatility and length to the life of the stand

**Make sure that accessories can be added to the stand e.g. lights, shelves, plasma screens, showcases, backlit panels – You may not need them now but in the years to come it might be very handy & cost effective to add a plasma screen etc.

**Check the case in which the stand comes – do you want to split the stand into 2 cases for ease of lifting etc. or do you want an all-in-one case which can turn into a counter – you should have a choice of casing options

**These stands are available with two-year warranties and lifetime ‘no-questions-asked’ warranties so it doesn’t make sense to buy one that is not guaranteed

**Ask to see the Pop Up Stand in the flesh and to practice putting up the stand before you buy so that you can compare quality

Important Terms relating to Pop Up Display Stands:

Struts – the magnetic bars attached vertically to the frame to hold panels up

Panels – the ‘wallpaper-like’ strips that you hang on the stand to form the covering

Graphic Wrap – see ‘panels’

Skins – see ‘panels’

Pod – case that becomes counter

Tension Fabric - Same as Stretch Fabric – lightweight stretchy material which is digitally printed and attached to the stand in various configurations to create a ‘patchwork’ or overall look. Attached with buttons instead of magnets

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I read today on the Nomadic Display blog (recommended reading for anyone even remotely related to the display industry) that Trade Shows and Exhibitions have been gaining in importance due to an increased need for face-to-face marketing. It seems, because business people are increasingly confined to their computer screens rather than in meetings and personal interactions as has been the norm in the past, the opportunity to meet prospects, suppliers and customers face-to-face in a Exhibition environment has become an even more valuable resource. The article also quotes some figures which indicate that Trade Show marketing has surpassed print marketing in terms of spending in the US.

Click here for links to Exhibitions Lists and Venue Lists in Ireland

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