Archive for the ‘marketing tips’ Category

Keeping It Clean Goes A Long Way When Talking Trade Shows

Wednesday, September 8th, 2010

We all know that trade show vendors will go to extraordinary lengths to attract attention to their booths. Far beyond custom displays and game props many vendors feel that the best way to attract attention is by putting a pretty face in front of their booths.  While an attractive person will definitely get you attention, it may not be the kind you want. In fact scantily clad models bring about three very distinct problems that are hard to get around if you are vendor looking to utilize this type of marketing:

•1.       They draw the wrong crowd. The main problem with using a model as the main way to sell your product is that it gets everyone’s attention. Every company has a target market in mind for their product. A segment of the population that they feel is the perfect fit for their product. By placing a model in front of your display, instead of zeroing in on that target market you may find yourself wasting huge amounts of time on people who are just there to see a pretty face and don’t have any interest in what you have to offer.

•2.       They ruin your clean image. First impressions mean everything and they are often virtually impossible to reverse because you almost never get a second shot at talking to the customer. If a visitor walks by your booth and sees a model that could be considered inappropriately dressed, that customer could immediately classify you as a company that is less than family friendly. When designing a display for a trade show you want to be as professional as possible at all times. You want custom fabrics, clean lines, and quality video presentations. By putting a less than wholesome face in front of the exhibit you are alienating a large portion of the population.

•3.       They distort your message. Once you consider all of the expenses that are involved in getting to, setting up, and promoting yourself at a trade show, the last thing you can afford to do is have people walk away from your booth not knowing what you are all about.  Again using a model may get bring the crowd your way, but moments later if asked visitors to your booth might be able to remember what the model looked like, but not what she was there to sell. Models get in the way of what you are there to do and that is burn your company’s name in the minds of hundreds of consumers.

Instead of using a model to promote a product, the best move is to invest in a custom built multicolored trade show display that only Godfrey can provide. With a wide variety of kiosks, hanging headers, and pop-up displays to choose from;  Godfrey is the answer to all your trade show woes.

Trade Show Displays Come To Life With Godfrey’s Virtual Tour

Friday, September 3rd, 2010

For weeks and months we’ve been telling you about all the great things Godfrey can do to increase your trade show sales. Through pictures and words, testimonials and statistics, we’ve shown you just what a custom designed trade show exhibit can look like when all you have is an idea and a little help from one of Godfrey’s specially trained project managers. Well what if I told you that there is now a way to take all those designs we’ve been bragging about and see them in action? All of this and more can be seen simply by taking the Godfrey Virtual Tour!

With the click of a link you are literally dropped off in front of the Godfrey Building where from there you will get access to the entire Godfrey Showroom. Look a little closer and you’ll get a chance to see of few of our dedicated employees in action, plus even receive a quick glance into some of the processes that bring our amazing exhibits to life. More importantly though you will see just how much our displays will help separate you from your competitors. From custom fabric structures, to video displays, to the awesome Truss System; the virtual tour can do what words can’t and that’s show you what our designs look like in a real showroom.

Information displays, pop-up tents, and a plethora of portable kiosks can all be found as part of the virtual tour all echoing the same thing….Godfrey is your one stop shop for the very best in custom trade show exhibits and signs. Once you have taken the tour, the next step is to check out our design gallery where you can begin the process of picking out a display of your very own. All is left to from there is getting connected with your personal project manager and your on your way to trade show success! The Godfrey Virtual Tour now!

Is Your Trade Show Exhibit Missing The Minor Details?

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

When someone leaves your exhibit they may not be able to quote what was shared with them word for word or tell recite the names of the people they met, but for the most part people do pay attention to the details. Ask any recent visitor to your booth and more than likely you’d receive info on what promotions were being offered, how polite the staff was, and what their thoughts on the layout of the exhibit were.  Sure they may miss some of the larger things that were being promoted, but sometimes it’s the little touches that tell people whether or not they would be happy doing business with a vendor.  Van Halen lead singer David Lee Roth once gave a classic example of how not paying attention to detail can lead to larger issues.  The discussion revolved around a liner in the bands contract that specifically called for a bowl of M&M’s free of any brown colored chocolates, “So, when I would walk backstage, if I saw a brown M&M in that bowl . . . well, line-check the entire production. Guaranteed you’re going to arrive at a technical error. They didn’t read the contract. Guaranteed you’d run into a problem. Sometimes it would threaten to just destroy the whole show. Something like, literally, life-threatening.”

Godfrey practically specializes in minor details that are sure to make a big impact on trade show sales and among the best are a couple of items that are guaranteed to light a fire under any customer:

It may not seem like much at first, but an Earth Frame is the perfect addition to any trade show exhibit. There’s just something about the shape of our planet that when used as a logo or prop gives a company a sense of trust and wisdom. When they see a Earth Frame encircled by the shape of the continents the consumer gets an idea that the company they are looking at is a global presences and cares about the world it operates in.

Fire is something else that evokes a specific emotion in all of us. A flame represents hope, a new life, a victory, and a new idea. Nestled atop a fabric column, a fire bowl can often appear so real that many would swear they felt the heat coming off of itand  if the vendor isn’t careful that heat might just be enough to set the entire display on fire.  As an added bonus the fabric column easily converts to a product pedestal and even supports a conference tabletop.

Trade shows are often far too hectic to allow vendors to do more than make a quick first impression. By designing an exhibit full of small details that tell the customer they are meeting a vendor that truly cares about them, a company has the power to take that first impression and turn it into a lasting relationship. For more information on how to make that perfect first impression, contact Godfrey today and get on the path to higher trade show sales!!

Electronic Messaging Signs

Friday, August 27th, 2010

Earlier in the week we brought you a post all about information displays and how they have the ability to transform into any number of displays depending on what a company needs most. Today’s discussion is going to get back to the idea of information displays being suited for many tasks, but specifically we want to discuss the value of an electronic message system. In today’s world information is key to being successful no matter what business you are in. As individuals we want the latest and greatest news and product info in our hands the moment it happens. It’s as if the time spent having to look for something is time wasted that could be used somewhere else. What an electronic message sign does is it gives people all that they need to know the moment they walk into a building or enter an event. These types of information displays can be used effectively to keep people safe, direct them to where they need to go, or to alert them to an emergency that that requires their immediate attention.

Electronic message displays are programmed by a hand held IR pad or computer, have the ability to store 160 characters per page with  90  pages available, and each page can contain as many as  8 lines consisting of 1.2” characters. Measuring at 26.75” wide, 73” hi, 4.5” deep, using only 90 watts of power, and  featuring letters available in red, yellow, or green; this type of information display can be used at many locations including:

  • The Bank or other public places to provide the hours of operation, notify visitors of weekly specials or rates, or announce new locations
  • Hotels to provide vacancy info, special events that are taking place, or rules and regulations
  • Trade shows to point visitors to certain areas of the event or by vendors as a way to give directions to their specific demonstration
  • Government offices or on freeway overhangs to provide info on Amber Alerts, impending bad weather conditions, or construction zones up ahead

If information is king than the ability to dispense that information in hopes of saving people time, keeping them safe, and helping to make their lives easier is certainly something that should be looked upon favorably. By adding a company’s custom logo and name to the top of the message they are essentially telling the reader that they care about them and there is something they must know. This concern is then translated into sales when the consumer begins to feel that a relationship exists between them and the company and a bond of trust is created. An electronic messaging display may sound simple, but the information it can provide is priceless when it is used to make a connection with a potential customer.

Moveable Displays Sure To Transform Your Next Trade Show

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

Back in the 80’s a little square by the name of Rubik’s cube took over the country like a wildfire. What was initially created to help architecture students learn something about how structures can flow and move within an area, has since sold millions to date and even has it’s own National Championship competition each year. This idea that you can take something that looks whole such as a Rubik’s Cube with each side containing all the same colors and turn it into something new is a concept that allows for many different designs to be made from the same materials. When discussing trade show displays a couple of variations of this idea can been seen with the Post-n-Panel system and the Brightwall Modular System.

The Post-N-Panel System  is a series of panels that can be molded into any number of shapes thanks to a series of interlocking clips. Whether it be a straight wall design, a triangular shape that you have in mind, or a cubicle style structure; with this type of display a vendor can literally mold the exhibit to fit any space. The Post-N-Panel system can also be utilized to create a conference room that can be taken down or reassembled in a moments notice. Panels variations include clear or smoke and have the option to include a velcro attachment that will allow that panels to be covered with custom graphics and logos. If a vendor tends to see the same people several times a year, the panels or the shape can be changed around to appear as an entirely diffent display.

The Brightwall Modular System takes the idea of panels that can be transformed to fit any type of shape or size and literally breaks it down into tiny pieces. The Brightwall system is a series of 2′x2′ squares that are easily attached to one another and in terms of designs is only limited by the imagination of the vendor. Each front facing panel can combine to feature one large image or can each contain their own independent image giving the entire structure a montage effect. With options that include back lighting to add depth or even a 3-D effect that has the ability to make it appear as though the image is changing depending on where the eye is, the Brightwall system is just about as customized as they come.

Trade show vendors and visitors are alike in that at some point they all want to see something new and exciting. A vendor that travels to a different show every month will get just as discouraged by a display they have built three dozen times before as the consumer will of seeing the same exhibit over and over again. With the Post-N-Panel and Brightwall Modular systems, the very same idea behind Rubik’s cube is utilized to create a display that it limitless when it comes to what can be created.

Design Your Own Information Display

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

Literature or information displays are a pretty common topic on this blog simply because they are the perfect addition to any type of trade show exhibit. One thing vendors may not realize though is that while the basic structure may not change much, these types of modular displays have the ability to be customized into hundreds of different variations. In fact the only thing stopping an information display from meeting all a vendors needs their own idea as to what they really want. Information displays have the flexibility to be used for point of sale purposes, as retail or lobby fixtures, or as a way of collecting contacts and leads. Information displays are more than just stands used  to hold brochures and other pieces of literature, they have the ability to be easily be transformed int0 workstations for vendors that desire visitors to enter information into a PC such as applications or contact forms.

Sandwiched between two custom designed fabric banners; a standard information display has several options such as:

  • *A canopy and light system that puts a spotlight on the items being showcased
  • *Video monitor capabilities
  • *Lightbox options
  • *Various shelving and peg board options
  • *Attachable literature clips and pockets
  • *Various face designs such as wood grain, metallic, velcro fabric, or any number of laminate colors
  • *The ability to swivel

Information displays also come is several shapes including the standard dual sided module, a six sided pivoting kiosk, and a simple yet classic sign post stand. Any trade show vendor will tell you that it’s often the smallest touches that have the most impact. Information displays have the ability to take several small ideas and combine them into one amazing display perfect to fit all your trade show needs. Made up of light weight materials and easy to install if a company is looking for a point of sale terminal to go into their  showroom or has a need for a portable literature stand with video capabilities, an information display is sure to increase sales and brand awareness for all that take advantage of it’s flexibility.

How About A Tradeshow Tailgate Party?

Monday, August 16th, 2010

The first official day of college football is less than a month away and where I’m from that means tailgate season is upon us. In the south college football doesn’t just last 5-6 months of the year, in Alabama it’s a 365 day discussion that never stops. On any given Saturday from September through the first of January malls are deserted, parks are left abandoned and empty, and the only people on the streets are those trying desperately to get home in time to catch the second half. If you’re a retailer or any type of event planner than the only way you can guarantee that people will show is the promise that they won’t have to miss the big game. I’ve been to both weddings and funerals where somewhere tucked in the corner of a room you could find a dozen men and women alike applauding a completed touchdown pass.

If you’re a trade show vendor and you know that your target market is full of die-hard football fanatics, then one sure fire way to get them to show up in droves is to contact them in advance and promise them a tailgate party with all the fix’ins. In order to throw a successful tailgate party the most important thing you need to focus on is atmosphere. With a few clicks of a button you can be on your way to creating a Grand Fabric structure that resembles a football stadium with your company’s logo emblazoned all around. The next thing you need is food. Think hot-wings, burgers, hot-dogs, and tons of potato chips complete with enough soda to drown an elephant. For special VIP customers throw a juicy steak on your portable grill and serve it all under the appropriately named Mushroom Kiosk that will give you plenty of counter space.

Now all you got to do give the people what they came to see and that’s the game itself. The Truss Me system with its monitor mount option and a dependable WiFi connection will give you the ability to blast the game all across the conference room floor. Throw a literature stand in the mix so everyone has a chance to learn about who sponsored the awesome party, a pedestal for all to leave their contact info, and what you have is tailgate party that gets the people out of their recliners and into your custom built trade show exhibit!!

Riding The Wave To Increased Profits

Thursday, August 12th, 2010
It’s the perfect day. The sun is out and a cool breeze blows in your face as you jump on up on your board ready to charge the next available wave. The sounds of Jimmy Buffet and Jack Johnson can be heard just off in the distance. You see your chance. That perfect wave just begging to be tamed. You jump up, get in your stance, and a quick click-flash-print from a nearby camera records the triumphant moment. You’ve got a memory to last a lifetime and if you wish you don’t even have to tell anyone that you never actually went to the beach this year. In fact you were at trade show somewhere in the middle of the country and the entire surfing experience took place as part of your company’s brand new trade show exhibit.
 
While there is a lot to be said about getting your point across, burning the name of your company into someone’s brain will take you a long way. Everyone needs to let loose from time to time and have some fun. Why not be the company at the otherwise boring trade show that brings the party to the people? There’s nothing that people like better than laughing it up with their friends and family just as there are some games that never get old. Imagine a line of people all waiting to take a turn on your Putt-Putt Golf course or a chance to win a few freebies by stepping up to the football toss. Why not turn the entire trade show into your own personal event? With the help of a few well placed posters, a overhead banner, and a couple flag stands each featuring your company’s name and logo all pointing in your direction, you can easily create a buzz through the crowd that will send them flocking to see what all the fuss is about. While they’re in line surround them with a literature display featuring everything they need to know about who you are and before they can play ask visitors to fill out a contact sheet located on a pedestal at the starting point of the game.
 
Regardless of who you are or what your product is, by connecting your company’s name and image to a prop or game you are creating a memory in a person’s mind all based around the fun they had at your booth. By making a point to get their contact info before they step up to the plate you are generating tons of leads sure to last you for months and years to come.

The Trade Show Packet: An Idea That Just Might Change The Way You Do Business

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

With the state of the market these days if you are company that makes their living off of the leads gathered from trade shows, then you need to be sure that you treat each event as a learning experience. Regardless of whether or not you’ve been to only a couple of shows or two hundred, everyone has something to learn and every vendor has something to teach. To this end today we are going to discuss the importance of a trade show packet and some of the things you can do at your next event that might help you down the road.

Simply put a trade show packet is a series of observations that require you to pay attention to not only how you did, but how other vendors faired. Before you can get started though make sure that you’ve got away to keep the notes so that you can review them from time to time; the last thing you want is to be stuck jotting a bunch of random thoughts down on a bunch of scrap paper.

What worked for you?  To say that a trade show can be hectic at times is definitely an understatement. We all know what it’s like when you are slammed and how things can turn around at the drop of a hat. Once you have a moment to catch your breath though, look around your booth and see what all the fuss was about. Did you sell out of anything? Was there a specific style you ran out of first or that people were asking about? Was your display set up to handle traffic accordingly or could you have setup a different way. Did you get any compliments on your exhibit?

What didn’t work for you? Every presentation has its flaws. Even the most customized of displays can miss if the way you present it is wrong. Delivery is just as important as any popup display, portable signage, or custom logo you surround yourself with. If you come across as rude, arrogant, or uncaring all that attention that your exhibit brought will quickly go the other way. In the same respect if you’re not clear and to the point as to what it is you are offering, those that visit your booth may not stick around to find out. A custom display will bring the crowd to you, but it’s your job to keep them there.

What did other vendors do? You shouldn’t have to look too far to see what other vendors at the show are doing. Take a walk and make a few mental notes as to what others are doing. Is anyone using games such as a money booth, Frisbee toss, or Plinko that are attracting a lot of attention? Maybe someone is getting a good response from a photo prop. Whatever the other guys are doing compare that to your own display and see who you think comes out on top. Maybe there are things that other vendors did well that may fit in nicely with your style or maybe you will see some things you are doing also which could be turning customers away.

A trade show packet is kind of like an exit interview you conduct with yourself. Take some time to really think about what happened during your trip, what your impressions were of the event as a whole, and what you might do differently your next time out.

Table Topper Trade Show Stopper

Monday, August 9th, 2010

We talk a lot here about grand exhibits, large fabric walls, and eco-friendly displays, but not all trade show displays are what they seem. In fact you might be surprised at what can be accomplished with the use of a simple folding table. Whether you bring your own or rely on the event organizer to provide one, a folding table combined with a few simple touches from Godfrey might just be the thing you’ve been looking for to turn you next show into something special.

The first thing you need to do is answer the question, when is a folding table not a folding table? Have you seen one these tables after they’ve been shipped, stored, and slid all over the place? They are dirty. They quickly start to show every dent, ding, and scuff. Soon they become so unappealing that you just can’t be expected to give a worthwhile presentation. Not to mention they limit your display space and feature nothing in the realm of customized graphics. So when is a folding table not a folding table? When it’s covered up by a brightly colored table throw. Covering all sides of the table and featuring a customized logo made to your specifications, a wrinkle-resistant table throw covers all those unpleasant looking blemishes and gives your table a professional appearance.

As great as a table throw can be though, it’s basically just the foundation for what could be an even greater sales experience. What you need next is a structure that easily folds out, provides tons of shelf space, and literally takes that Plain Jane table to the next level. One great thing about table top displays are that there are a ton of different styles to choose from. From the simple fold out variety, to the Space Station Popup, to the Roll N’ Go, to the Brief Case style; table top displays are portable, light weight, fully customizable, and are sure to give you a show room quality display perfect for large events or one-on-one customer meetings.

The next time you are looking for a quick and easy display that is full of options and can be customized to feature your company logo, remember that simple folding table and just what can be accomplished with a bit of creativity.