Archive for March, 2011
Wednesday, March 30th, 2011
If you haven’t had the joy of taking an art class before, do yourself a favor and sign up for one as soon as possible. Even if you haven’t the first ounce of artistic ability that thrill of creating something from nothing is so rewarding you’ll want to begin to cover your home with one painting after another. All art classes pretty much start out with the same questions to be answered on the empty canvas:
*What’s your concept?
*What colors would you like to use?
*How large of a canvas do you need?
*What type of style will you be painting in?
By now you are probably wondering what art class has to do with trade show design and the answer is simple in that the questions are essentially the same. When you first contact The Godfrey Group and are connected to a personal project manager, one of the first things you will be asked is what your needs are and what do you see as the ultimate goal of the display? After batting around a few ideas with one of our designers, the details will start filling themselves in. What colors will give you the best look, what logo should be featured on the exhibit, how large and complex should the display be, are you looking for something quick and easy to setup like a popup display or a display that is environmentally friendly?
Like that first day in art class, creating a custom designed trade show exhibit from Godfrey is a step by step process that with the help of a personal project manager and our expert design team will ultimately produce a unique design that is sure to reap plenty of rewards for your business.
Tags: booths, Custom displays, Custom graphics, customer service, Display Booths, Eco-friendly displays, fabric structures, marketing tips, portable trade show display, Trade Show Booths, unique trade show display
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Friday, March 25th, 2011
This past Sunday March 20th was special for many reasons (my son’s 5th birthday) but among those certainly one of the most important was the official beginning of spring 2011. Winter 2010 was one of the worst since such things were tracked and you can almost feel the entire country breathe out a sigh of relief and take in the smell of nature coming alive once again. For trade show vendors who spend their weeks bouncing from one outdoor festival to another, some of the most anticipate months of the year are now here. Before hitting the road though, it might be a good idea to set that tent up now otherwise you may be in for some unwelcome and costly surprises if you wait till the day of the event.
Tips for cleaning and storing outdoor tents
*Before taking that outdoor tent out for the first trip of the season, go ahead and set it up back at the store. Not only will this allow you to see if there’s been any damage since you last used it, but it will also give the tent a chance to air out. In fact airing it out may not be a bad idea after every trip.
*Beware of using any types of detergents or cleaners to remove spots on the tent. First try a sponge and some warm water. If that doesn’t do the trick go to the camping section of your nearest retail store and ask if they have any type of cleaner that won’t damage the material or ruin the design.
*Once the tent has been cleaned, don’t be so quick to put it in storage. Anytime the tent gets wet, it’s best to make sure it is completely dry before folding up in order to avoid problems with mildew and rusting on the poles.
*Store the tent out of the sunlight. Nothing will hurt a tent like constant exposure to the elements and this includes that sun that is beating down on it all day. When looking for a place to store the tent until it’s needed look for a dry place out of direct sunlight which doesn’t see much in terms of drastic changes in temperature.
Unfortunately constant exposure to the elements will eventually take its toll on any type of outdoor display no matter how well taken care of. When that time comes and you find yourself in need of a quality outdoor event tent or outdoor kiosk, Godfrey is here and willing to help.
Tags: Custom graphics, marketing tips, outdoor displays, outdoor tents, portable trade show display, tent care, tent cleaning tips, tent storage
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Thursday, March 24th, 2011
For small business owners it seems that the challenges in this current economy never cease to end. The cost of health insurance, employees asking for more money, inventory expenses going through the roof, consumers becoming even more frugal than ever before….the hits never end and the pressure isf ever increasing. Now comes word from one real estate consulting firm that in less than five years rental expenses will see a significant upswing and might climb as high as 35%.
According to Lesley Deutch of John Burns Real-estate Consulting the average renter is about to see a major change in how much they pay every month. With expectations anywhere from a 25%-31% increase by 2015, we will all be forced to find even more room in our already overcrowded budgets. For retailers this means that unless they find a way to increase sales, some very hard choices will also be in their near future. One of the best ways to increase sales is to stay fresh on the mind of the consumer by presenting them with something the likes of which they have never seen before. Something like one of the many showroom and retail environments from the experts at Godfrey.
Whether custom designed to meet your individual specifications or chosen from our extensive gallery of designs, Godfrey offers retailers a wide variety of options including: both hard and soft surfaces, light box fixtures, audio and video components, and even the ability to literally shift the design to create new looks within minutes.
As a small business owner you understand that there is no limit when it comes to what problems may happen next. Unless you have a steady cash flow budgeting can be a nightmare. Thankfully Godfrey is here to help with our line of amazing looking showroom interiors that are sure to help keep the customers flowing through the door.
Tags: budgeting tips, Custom displays, Custom graphics, increase sales, marketing tips, potential customers, rent expenses, showroom design, showroom interiors, small business concerns, small business tips
Posted in marketing tips, Promotional Ideas | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011
In a post we recently brought you concerning the rising cost of gas and how it is sure to effect how much you are going to be able to get out of that travel budget during the coming year, we mentioned that one great way to save on travel expenses was to choose a type of trade show display such as a table top or tension wall that is made of ultra-lightweight materials and consequently less expensive to transport from one location to the next. If you think about it though that when it comes down to it while using a lighter display is definitely one sure way to save cash, it’s certainly not the only way. One might also consider the use of an information display as a way to limit the number of people that you have working the show.
Certainly there’s no substituting what two people can accomplish at a trade show, however in drastic times drastic measure become necessary. Consider what it costs to send one employee to an event: there’s the cost of an extra bed or room, salary and wages, and of course that one thing that literally eats up the entire budget i.e. food and snacks. Again it helps to have an extra employee to simply ensure that there is always somebody at the booth, but what if you could find a way to cut back on costs by only sending one person without sacrificing too much in the way of customer coverage. An information display featuring optional audio/video mounts can be so effective it’s like having that extra employee working the booth at a fraction of the cost.
Regardless of whether you prefer an info kiosk, a star rotator info board, a portable workstation, or unique Post-n-Panel; each offers the ability to allow for a wide variety of brochures and information packets to be passed out to all those that would like to know more about what you have to offer. Plus imagine how much money can be saved by sending an information display that doesn’t require food and lodging like a real person!
If you are feeling the pinch of the latest economic downturn and are looking for a way to save some cash, information booths from Godfrey are the key to some major savings.
Tags: booths, budgeting, Custom displays, Custom graphics, Display Booths, expenses, information displays, marketing tips, portable trade show display, potential customers, Trade Show Booths, trade show design, trade show support, travel expenses
Posted in marketing tips, Trade Show Displays | No Comments »
Monday, March 21st, 2011
From minivan moms to multi-billion dollar companies everyone is feeling the pinch at the gas pump. As the cost of everything continues to go through the roof, for those that can afford to make it to trade shows in hopes of collecting new business any profit is almost ate up entirely by the cost of travel back and forth. While the average price per gallon of gas is a stunning $3.53 in the U.S. when compared to how much the rest of the world pays it appears things definitely aren’t as bad as they could be.
In a recent report from CNN on the high cost of fuel all over the world, it was found that the U.S. could have it a lot worse when talking transportation costs.
Average February Gas Prices Per Gallon
* Norway $9.28
*Italy $7.77
*Japan $6.30
*Canada $4.49
*Greece $8.45
With a decline in transportation costs not showing any signs of slacking off any time soon, we all need to find more creative ways to getting ourselves and our materials from point A to point B. For small business owners who regularly attend trade shows, this means looking for displays that are made of lighter weight materials and are cheaper to transport.
Tension Fabric Walls- If you think saving money means cutting back on the scale of the display, then think again. Tension Fabric Walls feature the same amazing custom graphics that so many have come to expect from Godfrey, without sacrificing scale. Made from ultra-lightweight materials and easily broken down in a matter of seconds, this display proves that saving money doesn’t mean accepting an inferior design.
Table Top Displays- Wouldn’t it be nice if you could find a way to give a professional presentation and once it’s all over with, just fold the entire display up as if it were that laptop you depend so much on? Well that is exactly what a table top display does! Available in a wide variety of designs with plenty of custom features to choose from, a table top display will literally make those travel costs associated with larger display vanish.
With transportation costs skyrocketing all around the globe, in order to maintain a profit the trade show vendor needs to find a way to put out a quality display that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to get from place to place. Thankfully Godfrey has a wide variety of display that are easy on the eyes and light on the budget!
Tags: popup displays, table top diplays, tension wall displays, trade show costs, Trade Show Displays, travel expenses
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Wednesday, March 16th, 2011
This Thursday is that special day of the year where the rivers turn green, everyone suddenly remembers their Irish heritage, and we all wear the same color to work. St. Patrick’s Day is upon us once again and that means everyone will go green for at least one day. While in this case going green takes on a whole new meaning more closely associated with leprechauns and four leaf clovers, why not take advantage of the day by showing those around you how much you care about the environment at the same time? For business owners who regularly attend trade shows across the U.S. and the rest of the world, why not celebrate this St. Patrick’s Day by turning your trade show display into an all green event.
Environmentally Friendly Trade Show Display
Always on the cutting edge of trade show exhibit design, Godfrey has taken that idea of what a standard trade show display should be and completely turned it into an environmentally friendly work of art. In the past trade show displays have been bulky, hard to transport, unimaginative at times, and anything but good for the planet; those days are over thanks our environmentally friendly trade show displays that feature such earthy friendly options such as:
*minimal construction
*recycled aluminum tubing
*earth friendly fabric graphics
*ultra-light materials
Plus those traditional techniques that so many trade show displays are known for are still there only now they are done in a way as to help the environment. This means that those same amazing designs and custom graphics that you have come to expect from Godfrey can still be had. This St. Patrick’s Day show your love for green not by chugging back a pint, but by saving the planet!
Tags: Custom displays, Custom graphics, Display Booths, environmentally friendly trade show display, going green, green trade show display, marketing tips, planet friendly, potential customers, St. Patricks day, unique trade show display
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Monday, March 14th, 2011
It’s no secret that among those getting hit hard by this tough economy the small business owner is taking a beating like no other. When asked, most will tell you that staying afloat is becoming increasingly difficult with few being able to take home a pay check once employees, utilities, inventory, and rent is paid. For those that can afford to make it to the occasional trade show success is a must and can only be claimed if a solid dose of new contacts are collected. In order to collect all those potential customers, you’ve got to get them to notice you among the hundreds of other vendors and that means you need an exhibit that is sure to make you stand out.
The problem is that when thinking new designs the first thought that certainly pops into everyone’s mind is “If I can barely afford to be at the trade show, how am I going to afford a new display?” While this is definitely a challenging problem to have, Godfrey has a couple ways to make those worries go away.
Trade Show Rental Program
With prices that can run as much as 65% less, rental displays are an excellent way of injecting some fresh blood into your current setup and come up with a wide variety of options including:
- A standard portable display with graphics creating a custom look.
- A combination of our systems configured for a custom look.
- A customized TechForm or Truss beam.
- A complete custom PodForum.
Free Trade Show Display Design
Once upon a time the word free meant just that, without expense. These days it seems that nothing is free and always has some hidden cost that is sure to come bite you in the long run. This is simply not the case with Godfrey’s free trade show design. All it takes is a phone call or email and within minutes you will be connected with a personal project manager that will lead you through the design process and give you options like you’ve knew were possible!
Tags: booths, Custom displays, Display Booths, marketing tips, portable trade show display, potential customers, Trade Show Booths
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Friday, March 11th, 2011
After months of negotiating it was announced late this afternoon that NFL labor talks had broken down and a lockout was imminent. With the owners claiming they want to come to terms and the players stating that such issues as an 18 game season and better retirement benefits are just not something they are going to concede on, it looks as if the work stoppage may last all summer long. For fans this means that once the NFL draft scheduled for April 28-30 has passed, NFL will be a No Fun League until both sides agree to meet in the middle somewhere.
Now you may be asking yourself why you are reading about this on a website clearly devoted to trade show display design where we regularly preach about the limitless possibilities of a custom designed trade show exhibit from The Godfrey Group. The answer to this question is simple; people want to have a good time. After the day is over, the tie has been yanked off from around their necks, and the boss has left the building people simply want to kick back with their favorite sport. No sport is bigger in this country than pro football and with the coming season looking like a pipe dream, they are going to be looking for ways to enjoy the game however possible. This is where you step in with the help of one of our football toss trade show games!!
Guaranteed to not only be a crowd pleaser, but to also help all those desperate football fans get their minds off how much they miss the pros, each display will come featuring your company name and logo so by the time they have worn their arm out they will be sure to remember who was responsible for supplying all that fun!
Tags: custom trade show design, NFL games, NFL labor dispute, NFL lockout, Trade Show Displays, trade show games
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Wednesday, March 9th, 2011
The next time you find yourself at a trade show event do yourself a favor and step back. After all the merchandise is placed just like you like it and the crowd starts making their way through the conference center, step back for a moment and look at the overall presentation you have laid out. As you scan over the display ask yourself these questions:
Is the setup exactly what you had in mind for the event?
Is there enough space for people to look around and see all that you are offering?
Does it encourage conversation?
How does it compare to the other displays at the trade show?
Does it look the same?
Does it stand out?
Too many times we get in our minds what a trade show display should look like and more often than not that image is based on what we have seen others do or what is considered to be the current norm. A fear of looking like everyone else is a problem all companies must deal with. While it’s extremely important to present the consumer something they are familiar with, there’s a very real danger of becoming so much like your competition that any differences that could help you stand out become background noise.
So the real question is how do you stand out from the rest of the pack while at the same time keeping that connection with your target market? The answer is by being rebellious without going to extremes simply for the sake of looking different. Think about your current display again and ask yourself what would make a customer choose your booth over all the other vendors in attendance. Don’t be afraid to take chances and mix things up a bit. Focus in on those things that make you different and bring them to the forefront. Give your target market something to get excited about, something that will create a buzz among the crowd.
If you are tired of your trade show display looking like everyone else’s and are ready to stretch the boundaries of what is considered the norm, then maybe it’s time you spoke with one of our personal project managers. Experts in trade show design, we believe that no idea is too wild and no suggestion is too small. Dare to be a rebel!
Tags: custom designs, Custom displays, marketing advice, trade show advice, trade show design, trade show experts
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Monday, March 7th, 2011
That cold snap that came through the last couple of nights really did a number on your pipes. You got up to take a shower this morning an you immediately noticed the change in water pressure. As that sick feeling began to take over, you slowly made the march towards the basement already aware of what you would find waiting for you at the bottom of those dark stairs….moments later phone in hand you do what must be done and that’s call a plumber for help with the 5 inches of water that is quickly rising.
All that running a around trying to get the plumbing fixed left you exposed to the elements which in turn made you a prime target for the flu. Within days you’re running a fever of a 105, can’t hold anything down, and can’t afford to use any more sick days. As much as you hate it, the only choice is to call the family doctor and get back on the path to good health.
Meanwhile the water that was filling the basement went from 5 inches to 10 by the time the plumber finally made it. The result left a crack in your foundation which won’t easily be fixed. A call to your home insurance agent gets a time setup to meet and a promise that it’s not as bad as you think. As he hangs up the phone the agent promises you that things will be back to normal in no time and the claim should go smoothly.
Just like in the scenarios above, at some point a problem gets so out of hand that we all must seek help from the professionals. For small business owners trying desperately to see the light at the end of that long economic tunnel, The Godfrey Group is here to help when you need us the most. From our expert design team who go out to their way to ensure your satisfaction to our display rental program which makes it easier than ever to try new ideas to our extensive library of designs with tons of concepts to choose from, we understand how tough the market is these days and we’re here to help. Whether it be an outdoor tent covered in your own personal logo, an information display with tons of room for pamphlets and brochures, or an easy to transport simple to install popup display; regardless of what your needs are if you are having trouble creating sales than it’s time to call the professionals and let Godfrey save the day!
Tags: Custom displays, Custom graphics, Display Booths, Event Planners, expert advice, fabric structures, inflatables, information display, kiosk, kiosk displays, kiosks, marketing tips, outdoor displays, popup displays, portable trade show display, potential customer, potential customers, Trade Show, Trade Show Booths, trade shows, unique trade show display
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