Posts Tagged ‘kiosk displays’

How To Politely Present Your Product To Customers

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

Today I want to wrap up our series all about how smaller displays don’t always mean you have to settle for smaller profits. Up to this point we’ve discussed the easy to transform and take with you podium shipping case, took a look at what a simple stand alone portable workstation with monitor mount can do for you, and today we are going in a slightly different direction with some thoughts about how the smallest of gestures can make a huge impact. Nobody likes a pushy salesman. You could have the greatest product in the world guaranteed to revolutionize all of civilization and if you come across as too pushy, unsympathetic, and rude you’re not going to have the same results as the other guy who is out there being as polite and helpful as he possibly can. It doesn’t matter you’re standing in front of one of the most state-of-the-art exhibits ever to be showcased at a trade show or simply sweating it out under a single kiosk tent at some country fair, for a majority of consumers how a product is presented is just as important as what is being presented.

3 Key Tips To Politely Present Your Product To Customers

1. Look Them In The Eye And Show Them You Care About What They Think. Notice this doesn’t say, “act like you care what they think.” People can spot when somebody is being fake and pretending to show interest in them just to get into their wallets. When meeting somebody for the first time, learn their name as well as some information about them such as where they are from or what they do for a living. Let them know who you are and how you think that what you are selling could do wonders for them. Try to maintain eye contact as much as possible so they know they have your full attention.

2. Be Graceful and Don’t Come Off As Greedy. It’s no secret to anyone attending that the reason you are standing in front of the custom designed fabric wall is because your job is to sell, sell, sell so don’t knock them over the head with it. Delivering your message without appearing that you are begging for a sale can easily be done. Remember to use the information you have gathered from the the customer up to that point to show them how your product could best suit their needs. Understandably things get hectic at times, but it could be something as simple as a handshake or friendly smile that gets the customers attention and leads them to finding out more about you.

3. Close With Class. Regardless of whether or not a sale is made, there comes a time when you’ve done all you could do and it either had the desired effect or you failed to hit your mark. If it’s the later don’t throw your hands in the air and send the customer on their way with little more than a wave goodbye. Some people will never jump into buying a product immediately no matter how good a deal it appears they are getting. They need time to kick things over in their heads, check with their spouse, or research what you are offering online. Before they leave though make sure to have them write down their name and contact info so you can follow up at a later time. This will give them the freedom to make their selves feel comfortable about what you showed them so that when you do call they are more inclined to commit.

What this whole discussion about whether bigger is better or less is more all boils down to is delivery. The most environmentally friendly display on the market won’t get you anywhere if you are rude and appear to be greedy. Likewise something as simple as one sales rep giving a presentation behind a podium or in front of a literature display will remain just that i.e. alone if he/she does not come across as genuine and compassionate.

A Recipe For Trade Show Success!!!

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

If you’re a foodie like me (not to mention a huge pop culture fan) than you are no doubt following along with two of the best cooking shows to hit the airwaves in decades. I’m talking about The Next Food Network Star and Top Chef both taking place on separate networks each and every week. Each show features a group of chefs competing in a variety of cooking contests designed to weed out the best and send home the rest. If you look beyond the competition and focus on the basics of the cooking though, you may be surprised to find lessons that relate directly to trade show success. Below is a recipe for a successful trade show and it starts with knowing what you want your end result to be. Like cooking you need to have a loose idea as to what you are making. What do you want your display to accomplish? Do you have a specific design in mind?

1 Dose of Preparation- What type of display works best for your product? Would a literature display be best or do your needs point more towards a computer kiosk? Indoor or outdoor? Pop up or environmentally friendly? What design best matches the types of events you attend? Who are you marketing to and what gets their attention the most?

1 Dash of Creativity- The use of color is a great way to get a persons attention. Try to be unique while at the same time don’t be too extreme as to alienate yourself from other vendors.

1 lb of Follow Through- Make sure you keep up the relationships you make while at an event. The moment you return from a trade show, shoot out an email or call your new contact just to thank them for taking the time to speak to you.

1 Ounce of Prevention- Know what it is about your product that discourages people and come to an event prepared to offer solutions to their concerns. If a customer is concerned about the cost tell them you understand, that others you spoken to have also felt the same way, and that you were able to help them through the use of a payment plan.

Mix With Special Ingredient- Every great chef knows that to truly be successful you must take the ordinary and turn it into the extraordinary. A kiosk is not a kiosk when it features a custom logo along with your companies name emblazoned in the center. By taking the idea of a trade show display and molding it to fit your idea of what the customer is looking for, you are essentially giving them something they are familiar with yet have never seen before.

Like the perfect recipe, the key to a successful trade show exhibit is repetition. Don’t be afraid to try new things and make changes until you achieve a display that fits your needs and creates buzz amongst customers.

When It Comes To Trade Shows Is Being Different Always Bad?

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

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In the course of writing this blog I’ve mentioned more than once that one key to being successful is to make sure the theme of the trade show is a good fit for your product. While I still believe this, a recent article in of all places Entertainment Weekly has me changing my tune at least slightly. The article is all about this year’s Comic Con show in San Diego July 22-25. Any pop culture fanatic will tell you that Comic Con isn’t your average comic-book convention, it’s the most anticipated event of the entire year. With over 125,000 people showing up for the three day event, this year’s organizers have put together a list of exhibits that goes beyond the realm of comic-books. In fact this year’s show will feature over 40 booths that are not to tied to comics at all such as televisions shows like Glee, Castle, and Hawaii-Five-O.

With all of these seemingly unrelated vendors showing up, I have to ask “When registering for a spot at a trade show, is being different always bad?” If you ask me the answer isn’t a clear yes or no, but like most things somewhere in the middle. If you are in the business of selling wrenches then a rug show is not the place to popup a tent for the weekend. However if it’s a car show where mechanics and automobile lovers alike will be visiting in hordes, then chances are you might do well. In other words there’s nothing wrong with being different as long as there’s a common thread to connect you with the other vendors attending the show. An island exhibit featuring a new high-tech wrench at a car show works because car lovers love to work on their cars, but the same display has no place at a rug show because the demographic is different. Likewise Comic Con is all about the most talked about television shows, movies, books, as well as comics so regardless if the vendor features a new cop show, sitcom, or drama the buzz is what connects them.

Being different is a classic double edge sword. Standing out can be a good thing if what you are offering has a base connection to the overall theme of the trade show. By the same token though being too different will only leave you high and dry as those attending the event keep their focus on what attracted them to the show to start with.

The Hands Off Approach To Trade Show Events

Sunday, June 27th, 2010

Literature displays, portable kiosks, and table wraps are great tools to have with you when showing off your ideas and products to the public, but all three pose the same problem for those that sell items that are considered hands-off……they give the customer too much room to touch, feel, and possibly damage the item being displayed. I once knew a guy that worked for a publishing house. One of their bestsellers was a book that described and priced rare coins.  As part of the promotion for the book, my friend would visit several trade shows and use a couple of rare coins he had purchased over the years to show people how easy it was to use the book. He kept running into the problem of people wanting to touch the coin that he had paid so much for. Since the money added value to the books he was trying to sell, he had to find a way to display the items without making them so easily accessible.

The body’s natural oils have always been known to breakdown and cause damage to antiques or rare items whether it be books, metals, or fabrics; that’s why it’s important to limit contact with these types of things. Plus anything of value can easily be stolen hence vendors who sell these types of items need some security to avoid loose hands taking something that can’t be replaced. Thankfully for those that prefer their exhibit items to been seen and not touched, there are Merchandise displays available. Similar to what you would see in a jewelry or retail store, merchandise displays feature a clear see through case with a sliding door in the back and optional shelf perfect for rare coins, jewelry, artifacts, or anything else that you want to show off the public. Each display comes with a base available in a wide variety of colors and even the option of a door in order to give you some secure storage space underneath. Portable, lightweight, and easy to break down, like all things offered from Godfrey each display can be customized to feature your company logo.

If you have been searching for a better way to show off your products or simply want some extra security, than look no further! Easy to transport and featuring multiple designs to choose from, these Merchandise displays are just what you have been waiting for. Call us today at 800-789-9394!

The Survey Says! What Customers Can Tell You About Your Exhibit

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

Getting ready for a trade show involves a lot of guess work. How many people will be attending? Will they be in the mood to spend or will you just get a bunch of window shoppers? Is going big the right direction or would something more personal have a more profound impact? Like I said guess work. All the prep in the world will only get you so far and the fact is that once it’s all said and done, how effective you were all boils down to how well you were able to influence the customer. Something as simple as the temperature of the building, the layout of the event, or the condition of the facilities could make or break your whole trip. Maybe instead of guessing what your customers want, you should be asking them straight out.

Feedback straight from the customer is one of the best ways to judge how effective your displays are. All the custom graphics, overhead banners, video stations in the world mean nothing if instead of attracting the customer they distract them or worse send them running in the other direction. Feedback is easy to get cause all you gotta do is ask. Forget surveys or questionnaires, just strike up a conversation with those that visit your booth and ask them what they think. Like they taught us in school it’s about the What, When, Why, and How of it all. “What do you think of our presentation?” “How do you think we could be more effective?” “Why would somebody not want to know more about what we are offering?” “When do you think you might want to talk more about our product?” Try to be as casual as possible so as not to give people the feeling of being interrogated, but at the same time don’t be afraid to ask people for ways you could have done a better job at getting your message across.

After all the glitz and glamour of the trade show is over with, what matters the most is how effective you were in getting your message across to the customer. By talking to visitors throughout the day and getting their opinions on your presentation not only are you creating a relationship with that person, but you also gain some insight how you can be better prepared for your next event.

Lessons Learned From The 2010 Electronics Entertainment Expo

Monday, June 21st, 2010

You may remember last week at this time we were all taking about the kick off of the E3 Expo in Los Angeles, Ca. and the rumors that were swirling around concerning the latest in high tech games that would be announced. As it turns out Project Natal (now called Kinect) and the Nintendo 3DS both premiered to huge crowds and immediately were proclaimed crowd favorites. Though I wasn’t able to attend the trade show, I did catch the majority of the coverage which was carried live on the G4 network and I gotta say impressed is simply not a good enough description of how I felt after catching a glimpse of all the amazing booths. From a full sized wrestling ring featuring characters in the video game Lucha Libre AAA Heroes of the Ring to literally hundreds of hands on demos of some of the most talked about games in years, if the folks behind E3 did anything right it was knowing what video game fans wanted to see and making sure those vendors were there.

As a vendor your priorities are different from those that are responsible for the scheduling and promotion of an event, but the lessons learned from E3 still apply:

  • Customers want to be catered to. Long gone are the days when a company can just put a product on the market, come up with a general slogan, and hope to attract attention. Today’s consumers want to feel like you are talking directly to them. They want custom graphics, hands on demonstrations, sneak peeks or spoilers for upcoming products, and over the top demos. At the same time people want to know they are getting a certain amount of quality with their purchase as well as the thrill of being the first in their group of friends to own such an amazing item.
  • In order to be successful you must go where the people are. The E3 Expo is a classic example of how birds of a feather flock together. If you’re a company that understands the value of attending trade shows and other events in order to showcase your products to the public, than you want to make sure you are setting your kiosks up where the people actually are. If you make kitchen appliances there’s no need to setup at a video game convention. If you paint portraits for a living, a car show isn’t the place to show off your skills. Before you hit the road make sure you’re not going to be the odd duck at the event and that there are similar products being demonstrated.

While events like the E3 Expo are amazing to witness and generate tons of support for all those involved, beyond the glitz and glamour lie some very important lessons that all vendors need to take notice of. By creating custom demonstrations geared towards making consumers feel unique and catered to, companies are finding better ways to create buzz and generate sales. Also in order to get the most of a trade show you want to make sure your product stands out from the crowd while at the same time is connected to the other vendors around you.

A Tip Guaranteed To Quench Your Thurst For Attention

Friday, June 18th, 2010

Are you tired of struggling to get every one’s attention trade show after trade show? Do you spend more of your time staring at your shoes than into the faces of eager customers? Well maybe Godfrey can help by shedding some light on the situation. See we understand that in today’s cut throat market in order to stand out from the crowd you’ve got to not only make your product relevant, you’ve got to establish yourself as the life preserver consumers have been desperately waiting for. You do this by making yourself necessary. How do you make yourself a must visit booth at a trade show? Simple! You give the public what they have to have….food and drink.

You see everyone has at least three things in common: 1)They need to eat 2)They need to drink 3)They need to rest (sleep). Trade shows  take up a ton of space and are often held in the largest possible locations. Because of all the walking that is required, at some point all those visitors need a place to stop and refill their batteries. That’s where you come in with the help of our Soda Can Station. Designed to resemble an aluminum cola can, this is one display that is sure to attract attention like an oasis in the middle of a long hot desert. Like everything else from Godfrey, our Soda Can Station is made of top of the line materials and can easily be customized with your name, logo, and color scheme emblazoned on all sides. Featuring an umbrella top and a wrap around counter, trade show visitors will be thanking you for helping them recharge their batteries while they take in the days events.

Imagine a convention center full of potential customers carrying  bottles of water and telling others where they got them from. If you are looking for a smart, creative trade show booth with mass appeal and built in word of mouth, than the Soda Can Station is the answer to your prayers. Great for outdoor events and easily customized, this is one display that is sure to soak up the sales. Order today!!!

Are You Ready For E3?

Monday, June 14th, 2010

If you’re a fan of video games or simply electronics in general, than you are no doubt already aware of the E3 Expo that kicks into full gear this week in Los Angeles from the 15-17th. With over 40,000 visitors and booths representing 98% of U.S game manufactures, it’s no wonder fans are proclaiming the circus is coming to town. E3 for short, the Electronics Entertainment Expo proclaims itself to be the premier electronics even of the year and is only available to those professionals directly employed by the interactive entertainment industry. Exhibitors aside, this however is not what makes this trade show so special; it’s the dozens of exclusive fist time look products that will be unveiled to world for the first time. The top two of these rumored to be the new Microsoft Xbox Natal controller and the Nintendo 3DS.

The new Natal is literally being previewed with the help of the world famous troop Cirque Du Soleil. Forget all those thoughts of what a videogame controller is, was, or should be; the Natal is the controller that puts the contoller in your hands by doing just that…making your hand the controller.  Straight from Microsoft, Natal is “a revolutionary new way to play: no controller required.  See a ball? Kick it, hit it, trap it or catch it.  If you know how to move your hands, shake your hips or speak you and your friends can jump into the fun — the only experience needed is life experience.” Talk about custom graphics!! How much more custom can a trade show exhibit be?

Not to be out done, Nintendo is planning to demonstrate it’s latest world changing technology with the premier of the 3DS. The successor to the DSi XL, this new addition to the hand held game arena takes the worlds recent addiction to all things 3D to new heights by giving the public it’s first 3D gaming system that takes the tradition glasses and throws them out the window. That’s right, no glasses required!!

With demonstrations, exhibits, displays, and kiosks from everyone who is anyone in the electronic gaming industry, this year’s E3 Expo promises to be a dream come true not only for gaming fans but for those that love checking out the latest in trade show marketing tools. From floor to ceiling and wall to wall, you can guarantee that E3 will only provide those in attendance with the best in custom graphics, hands on work stations, and theme displays. Who knows maybe we’ll see you there!!

It’s Time To Get Motivated!!

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010

We’ve all heard the sayings ”The pain you feel today will be the strength you feel tomorrow”, “The beauty of flying like an eagle is the ability to soar without looking back.”, or my personal favorite featuring the cutest of kittens dangling from a tree “Hang in there!” These days it seems that everyone is trying to motivate you to do something. Just one look at the world’s most popular media site Facebook and you’ll quickly learn that people all over are using these types of motivational phrases to not only boost their own moods, but to also give others a bit of inspiration in hopes of making it through a tough time in their lives. Nowhere are these words of wisdom more needed then in the work place where just like the economy, hopes of a better future are at an all time low.

The question is though, do motivational posters placed around the office work? Well according to Ken Brown a professor at the University of Iowa they do. “If they’re part of a broader campaign, with clearly outlined goals and a commitment from management, they may have some impact ” says Brown. Brown then goes on to say, “It’s hard to alter peoples’ behavior, so getting workers to increase their value to a company is not easy. If the change effort is part of a multipronged strategy with committed management working to create change, and they create a sense of urgency that change is needed and clearly explain the reasons, then posters and coffee mugs can be a small part of it.” The Godfrey Group understands this idea and that’s why all of our products are geared toward helping you spark a sense of desire  in the hearts and mind of your target market.

Whether you are in fact looking for poster frames perfect for those motivational phrases to hang around the office or you need an eye-catching display practically guaranteed to draw people to you, Godfrey has just what you need to get the job done. If you get down to it from our Pop-up displays to our Portable Kiosks, to our Computer Stations; everything Godfrey does is essentially created to motivate. If you are looking to inspire your customers or improve the attitude of your own employees, contact Godfrey today and get on the path to a brighter tomorrow.

The Art Of Knowing What You Want And How To Get It

Monday, June 7th, 2010

Last week in a post titled “The Right Person For The Job” I talked about how something as tantalizing as Fillet Mignon would appear to be plain trash if it were to be served to you on a garbage can lid. Now in that post I was using this example as way to make sure you are employing people who have a certain degree of charm and personality, but the same can be said about how you choose to show off your product as well. You could essentially have one of those products that becomes synonymous with a entire line of products from any number of manufacturers (Coke, TiVo, and Matchbox Cars are examples of this), but because you did not choose the best way to promote your idea nobody ever takes notice. It’s those early decisions about how you will choose to bring your product to the consumer that make all the difference in the world.

Understandably this isn’t an easy process and not something to jump into. You want to start with a very broad idea of what you want and then begin to eliminate choices. Is your event outside? Do you need something like a large tent or would a smaller Mushroom style kiosk do the trick? Are you looking for something that can easily be packed up and taken to the next location or does portability not matter? Maybe you are just looking to spice up your office front. Will there be some type of attendant with a desk stationed there? Is privacy going to be a concern? How about signage? Were you thinking about something that may possibly hang from the ceiling or maybe you’d rather just have a stand that would allow people to pick up literature as they pass by?

All of these questions and we haven’t even considered graphics yet. Are you looking for something with bright colors or is something more professional what you had in mind? Do you have a specific logo that needs to be included or are you looking to come up with a new theme unlike anything you have done before? Are considering renting a booth to start out or are you ready to fully customize a display of your own?

Finding what is right for you and your products can be time consuming process, but one that is fulfilling and often very profitable. Knowing what works best for you and what you want makes all the difference in the world. The Godfrey Group understands this and that’s why we’ve created a Design Library that lets you start narrowing your ideas down and even save them so that you can come back later after you’ve researched what you want a little further. Don’t hesitate. Login in today!!