Retractable banner exhibits are a very affordable way to create a full back wall graphics presentation that works equally as well on the trade show floor as the local chamber of commerce event; all at a fraction of the price of other trade show display options.  There are a few considerations you should keep in mind, however, when designing a retractable banner exhibit so as to maximize the functionality as cost effectiveness of your display.

Avoid designing a display for a single function!  Every display designed should be laid out such that it could be used at any type of event.  Either as a back drop when making company presentations, as a lobby marketing enhancement, a trade show exhibit, or an identity display at a public function.  While retractable banner stand displays are very affordable, during times of recession portable exhibit designs should stretch your marketing dollar to more places.  The goal, during a recession more so than normal time, is to get out and market your business more for less and retractable banners give your company a professional image at affordable prices.

Layout your graphics such that replacing only one of the banner stands allows for a new message.  In a typical three banner display exhibit, we like to have one banner for company identity, one banner for expanded corporate branding and the last banner with the specific product or service message.  More often than not the two branding banner stands act as book ends to the specific message, but in the case of a multi-division business each branding banner stand can be its’ own unique (but coordinated) layout.

Be careful when crossing the banner breaks.  The gap between banners will vary based on the type of banner stand, but you should always try to limit cross seam text or images so as to avoid the awkward visual presentation should environmental conditions prevent perfect alignment.  For example, many conference centers have low points in the floor to allow for flooring control should the fire sprinklers accidentally discharge.

Booths don’t sell, people do.  Put another way, people do business with people, not back wall displays.  Your graphics presentation should be immediately representative of who you are and what you do.  You should avoid using retractable banner exhibits to communicate long messages (there are a few exceptions) and instead keep your back wall display general.  One exception is when you are creating an information exhibit–say for a museum or a special event.  Retractable banners are a very affordable way to present event information in the middle of a lobby or registration area without requiring special rigging.

Lastly, your retractable banner stand should be kept simple.  Don’t try to get the extra brochure attachments, lights, shelf’s, etc.  Most retractable banner stands weight less than 15 lbs and this lighter weight display makes for easy and affordable transportation; adding extra attachments complicates matters and decreases the portability factor.  One exception, of course, is if the banner stand is going to be staying put for a while and you want to include collateral materials.

Ed Bejarana
Zenith Exhibits, Inc.

Zenith Exhibits is a full service, internet base trade show display solutions provider.  We specialize in lightweight, affordable trade show displays and internet marketing.  For more information about our products and services, please call (503) 709-1454 or eMail info@zenithexhibits.com.

Tradeshows are like door to door selling, only at a trade show it is the customer that walks from house to house.  Most people are automatically drawn to the big houses (exhibits) because of the extra lights and activities/amenities, but your smaller house can attract new prospects too.  You need only slow them down long enough for the prospect to find out what you do.

The trade show attendee has purchased a ticket to get into the exhibit hall: so they are already interested in the general theme of the event.  Home and Garden shows, computer fairs, business expos, and holiday showcases are just a few of the general audience type events taking place in every major city.  Attendance does not automatically qualify one as a prospect for your business, but the attendee has the expectation that they will explore the possibilities.  Your task, in the seven to twelve seconds it takes for the prospect to evaluate you and your exhibit, is to engage, enlighten or entertain.

Image driving down the street and seeing a sign outside a vacuume store that reads, “Henry the Magician Performs Magic, come on in!”  Would you stop?  More than likely not, but change the setting to the trade show floor and the answer changes to probably.  Entertaining the prospects gives you more time with the show attendee.

When enlightening your prospects, you are giving them knowledge that can be useful outside of the exhibit hall.  Some products are very difficult to understand, setting up a theater setting and giving 5 or 10 minute demos may be necessary for people to understand what you do.  The down fall of in booth presentations is the loss of information gathering.  Sometimes you need just a little bit of information about your client in order to advance the sale, but if you do all the talking you’ll never gain important information.

Engaging the prospect is the act of striking up a conversation.  Too often I see exhibitors use one liners to try and start a conversation, but truth is people don’t like slick sales pitches.  Script out your questions.  Meet with you team in advance of the show and make sure every one asks the same intro questions.  Create your questions to gather information, not just give out sales pitches.  Let me put this another way, you’ll get paid for the information you gather, not the information you give.

During recessioniary times, trade shows will be one of the most effective ways to build trust with you prospect.  Meeting you face-to-face will make the difference between you and your competitor, but only if your meeting is memorable.  So when Engaging, Entertaining or Enlightening the prospect, make sure you do so such that they don’t forget you the moment they leave your booth.

Ed Bejarana
Zenith Exhibits, Inc.

Zenith Exhibits is an internet based full service trade show display solutions provider.  Our mission is to provide first class service at internet prices.  For more information about our products and services, please call me at (503) 709-1454 or eMail me at ed@zenithexhibits.com.

Put yourself into the shoes of the trade show attendee.  When walking down an aisle lined with exhibitors, what has to take place before you’ll stop and talk with one of them?  If you do stop, what do you expect will happen?

Trade show attendees have proven interest by buying a ticket to enter the event.  While some may just be browsing, most attend trade shows to find new products and services.  Why?  Because consumers have options.  For any particular product or service, there may be half a dozen or more exhibitors at the event.  With competition comes great deals, and the American consumer loves a great deal.

Lets go back to our questions, why would you stop and talk with an exhibitor?  Did they tackle you in the aisle or did their exhibit immediately convey a message that peeked your interest?  If you sell a product that is self explanatory (door, windows, flooring, etc) then your exhibit need not convey info about your product.  If, however, your product or service is not obvious, then your exhibit must communicate who and what you are.

Drawing people into you booth first requires you to clearly communicate who you are and what you do in eight words or less.  A bowl of candy certainly helps but the deal closer is YOU, are you engaging the prospects walking by your booth with a compelling message?

Cheap one liners are horrible draws, “hey how are you?”  or “Want to save some money?” don’t engage your prospect.  A smile and an offer to help is a more effective intro.  “Hi, my name is Ed, can I help you find a service provider today?”  Have a copy of the show exhibitor list with you and point out the exhibitors who might help serve their needs.  The goal is to keep the prospect in front of your booth for a longer period of time and build a basis to start a relationship–this guy is offering to help me.

The offer of help will be seen by some as a ploy to capture attention.  Some may even ask you, “Is this just a ploy to get me to stop and talk to you?”  I always respond honestly, “Yes it is but my offer is sincer.  If you are looking for a specific service I can help guide you to the right exhibitor.”

Ed Bejarana
Zenith Exhibits, Inc.

Zenith Exhibits, Inc. is an internet based full service trade show display provider.  We help our customers build exhibits that meet budgets constraints and draw traffic.  For more information about how we can help you and your trade show or portable marketing program, please call us at (503) 709-1454.