Latest Entries...

Unlike many other display stand companies out there, all Exantia banner stands, pop up stands and even accessories such as literature racks come with their own padded carry case as standard. This is because we know that although carefully packing your equipment away may not seem like an important priority in the scheme of things, the implications of failing to transport stands safely and securely can be much further-reaching than may be immediately apparent.

Of course, the primary concern with an exposed or improperly packaged stand is that it can get damaged en route. Broken or missing components can mean that it is no longer possible to set up your stand correctly, which will then necessitate the purchase of replacement parts – an added cost which your budget doesn’t need. Graphics and banners that should last years can also get marked or damaged, and will certainly end up looking tired more quickly, again necessitating premature replacement and additional expenditure.

In a wider sense, damaged, incomplete or worn out stands will result in your graphics looking far from their best at your tradeshows and exhibitions – or may mean that you have no graphics at all – which of course can have a hugely detrimental knock-on effect for your brand, image and reputation, both from your customers’ and potential customers’ viewpoints, and from that of your competitors.

As well as padded carry cases, we offer a wheeled flight case option for many of our stands, which give your equipment further protection and can make for easier transportation. For more information on our cases and for tips on keeping your stands looking their best, email one of the Exantia team on info@exantia.co.uk, or call us on 020 8507 1612.

Banner stands are incredibly easy to set up – you can literally get one out of the bag and ready to go in under a minute. So that got us thinking about what else can be done in such a miniscule amount of time.

In actual fact, this blog post began as 10 Things you can do Faster than Build a Banner Stand… but we were struggling to think of all ten without straying into the realms of the absurd!

What we did come up with was:
1. Boil a kettle (though you probably wouldn’t have time to make a round of coffee for your team)
2. Make a paper aeroplane out of a discarded memo
3. Sign a colleague’s leaving card
4. Delete a spam email
5. Get out of the office during a fire drill…

Things like ‘build a Lego house’ and ‘rewind a video’ didn’t seem quite so relevant – but you see our point!
And now, here are five things you can build faster with a banner display on your exhibition stand:

1. Relationships with clients – customers will spot your stand from a distance and know that you are at the show before they’ve even come over to say hello – and when they do, they’ll be all ready to speak to you about your business’s latest developments

2. Brand image – banner stands help to get your logo and brand values out there for all to see

3. Client base – new customers will be attracted to your stand

4. Reputation – banners give your business a professional edge that helps to put you ahead of the competition

5. The value of the exhibition – the four points above mean that the show will have been made more worthwhile, just by having a banner display on your stand!

Banner stands can be branded with your graphics and message, and all of our banner stands are supplied with a padded carrying case to make them as easy to transport as they are to set up!

“A” Boards are a fantastic, cost-effective way to promote your business: they’re high-impact, portable and couldn’t be easier to set up – plus, their contents can be changed as often as required, so they’re ideal for displaying information that needs to be updated on a regular basis.
And if you’re not quite sure where an A Board would fit into your business, here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Gain passing trade: Because A Boards take up relatively little space, and can be moved around easily, placing them on the pavement outside your premises can be a great way to attract passing customers – hence why they are so popular with businesses such as shops and restaurants.

2. Enhance your stand at trade shows: A Boards can complement banner and pop up stands very effectively; for instance, they can help to drive your message or brand home, or can be used to outline the benefits of your business in bite-sized chunks – for example, as an easy-to-read, bulleted list.

3. Advertise special offers: Posters can be loaded or unloaded from A Boards in a matter of seconds, so things like limited promotions or special offers can be advertised with impact, without making it necessary for you to commit to a long-term display.

4. Display messages to customers: In addition to advertising promotions, A Boards are a quick and easy way to communicate with your customers, saving them the hassle of having to search for key information. For instance, you could use an A Board to direct customers to your car park, or to let them know your opening times. You could also use an A Board to display daily schedules, rotas or instructions to your staff.

5. Use your positive press: You want to make sure that you make the most of any kind of positive press coverage about your business, and displaying reviews or news snippets using an A Board makes for a brilliant way to let your customers know just how great you are!

For more information on A Boards, contact a member of the Exantia team on info@exantia.co.uk, or 020 8507 1612.

Earls Court, London, 4th-7th February and NEC, Birmingham, 5th-7th March

Presented by The Times newspaper, Destinations proudly proclaims itself ‘the essential event for travel inspiration’. Now in its 16th year, there are few events on the show circuit that can be said to have such a wide-reaching appeal as this one: quite simply, Destinations attracts anyone with a passion for travel, and will offer ideas, tips and expert advice to suit every taste and budget.

The show is split into world areas for easy navigation, with a special area dedicated specifically to adventure travel, and hundreds of companies will be exhibiting at both the London and Birmingham legs of the event, which makes it a great alternative to travel agencies or the internet for getting travel tips. Many of the companies in attendance will offer exclusive show discounts and special packages, so it’s also the perfect place to book your next trip – be it vacation or voyage.

To keep things lively, the World Entertainment Stage is set to include showcases of Brazilian Capoeria, Colombian and classical Indian dance, whilst in the Meet the Expert Theatres high-profile explorers, adventurers, travel writers and photographers will take the floor to regale visitors with tales of their own adventures and expeditions. Topping the bill in London will be the likes of Countryfile presenter Julia Bradbury, whilst speakers in Birmingham will include Mark Carwardine and Simon Reeve, as well as self-proclaimed ‘gastronaut’ Stefan Gates.

Advance tickets are £8 for Birmingham or £10 for London (plus booking fee), but there is also a ‘Late Night’ option available for London, which allows you to access the show on Thursday 4th February after 5pm for just £5. Kids under 12 can attend either show free. To book your place, visit www.destinationsshow.com

This week, Exantia is launching a new blog series which will provide hints, tips and advice to help you to ensure that your marketing budget is well spent, and that the conferences and tradeshows that you exhibit at deliver the anticipated results.

Before you confirm your attendance at any event, ensure it supports your marketing objectives. Consider the reasons why your company wants to attend – are they consistent with your overall marketing strategy and objectives, and is the event the most appropriate and cost-effective channel to meet those objectives?

Here are 7 reasons why companies typically attend a conference or exhibition, and ways in which you can ensure these objectives are met. It is of course possible for one event to fulfil all of these objectives:

1. Thought leadership: Can you get one of your management team on the conference programme? Conference organisers are always looking for good speakers. There may also be opportunities to run a workshop the day before or after the event, or even during the event itself.

2. Increase your profile: What are the sponsorship options? There will be a huge number of opportunities to get your brand in front of exhibition visitors – this is only limited by your budget.

3. Attract new customers: What is the exhibition visitor profile in terms of job title, industry, geography and purchasing responsibility? Ensure it matches your target customer.

4. Meet existing customers: Do your existing customers plan to attend, and can you get them complimentary exhibition passes? If you have an international customer base, an event can present the perfect opportunity to organise additional meetings, whilst your team and customers are in the same city.

5. Launch a new product: Will your product launch get the attention it deserves? Remember, the largest players in your industry will almost definitely be launching new products, which may dominate press attention. If you are a launching a niche product, what can you do to stand out from the crowd and get the attention you deserve?

6. Keep up with competitors: Will they be attending this year? Don’t assume that because they were there last year, they will be again. If this is your only reason for attending, you should question your decision.

7. Meet the press: Which journalists are going? Can you get the press list in advance and arrange meetings? It’s the perfect opportunity to build personal relationships with industry journalists and to secure coverage in the months after the event has finished.

Once you have decided that the event is the right one for you, the next step is to book your exhibition space. In next month’s blog, we’ll provide you with a checklist to help you choose the best exhibition space for your company.

28th February – 4th March 2010, ExCel, London

2010’s Hotelympia will be launching on Sunday 28th February, and will run until Thursday 4th March. Taking place at ExCel London, the event aims to bring together a huge range of key players from the hospitality industry, and will act as host to suppliers from areas ranging from food and drink to interiors, tableware and technology.

Exhibitors are set to include an enormously diverse variety of companies, such as Catering Equipment Ltd, Glen Dimplex Professional Appliances, Heinz Foodservices – and even Purbeck Ice Cream – though with almost 1,000 exhibitors taking up stands, there is bound to be something for everyone, no matter which area of the catering and hospitality industry they are involved in.

A large portion of the event this year will focus on sustainability: as well as hosting sustainability seminars on the Main Stage, there will be an entire area of the exhibition solely dedicated to offering sustainability solutions, ideas and tips. This area aims to provide visitors with a chance to learn ways in which to make their business greener, in particular by improving their operation in areas such as waste management and recycling, and water conservation, recovery and management. There will also be an ‘Innovation Pod’, which will offer additional inspiration regarding eco-friendly furniture and energy-efficient products. Professional speakers will be on hand to further expound on the topic, and exhibitors with a particularly environmentally friendly bent will be demonstrating their products and serving up their knowledge within the seminar section of the sustainability area.

Over 40,000 people are expected to attend Hotelympia over the five-day period, and tickets can be obtained free of charge when registered for in advance (otherwise there is a £30 entrance fee, payable on the door). Visit www.hotelympia.com to register for your ticket.

Having already looked at Foamex and Correx (see 5th December and December 11th December blog posts respectively), it’s now time to move on to the hardier, more long-term-solution member of the direct to board family – namely, aluminium composite board.

Aluminium composite board is also known as Dibond, Dilite, Dibond Digital, Raybond and Raynobond, and consists of an aluminium faced board with a polyethylene core. Despite the fact that it is very rigid and robust, it is extremely lightweight and has a flat surface and consistent thickness.

As with Foamex and Correx , we use 8 colour UV inks on our aluminium composite board displays, which ensures that the graphics and logos printed on the surface of the board look striking and clear, whilst also being durable, fade resistant and waterproof.

Because the aluminium composite board itself is weather resistant and won’t rust or crack, it is ideal for creating long-term – even permanent – outdoor signage. It comes in thicknesses of 2, 3 or 4mm, and can be easily drilled or riveted, and fixed to posts or walls. In addition, aluminium composite board can be printed on one or both sides, so it is ideal for uses such as traffic signs, corporate signage, construction hoardings, real estate signage and other long-term displays.

Of course, aluminium composite board can also be used for indoor displays – though alternatives such as Foamex or Correx may be more economical for this, depending on your individual needs.

If you would like further guidance on any of our direct to board materials with respect to your specific requirements, please feel free to get in touch with us by dropping an email to info@exantia.co.uk, or by calling us on 020 8507 1612.

19th-21st February, ExCel, London; 21st-23rd May, NEC, Birmingham; 22nd-24th October, Earl’s Court, London

Boasting ‘unbeatable shopping, expert advice and great entertainment’, The Baby Show has gone from strength to strength since its launch in 2002, with visitor numbers topping out at over 76,000 last year.

The first Baby Show will be held at London’s ExCel arena, and will run from the 19th-21st February, with subsequent events held at the Birmingham NEC from 21st-23rd May, and London’s Earl’s Court on 22nd-24th October. With big names such as Pampers, Tommee Tippee, Maclaren and Fisher Price prominent among the more than 600 companies that take part in the event, product launches and demonstrations are a focal point. But the event is also a great forum for smaller baby-related start-ups, with plenty of floor space given to new companies and ‘mumpreneurs’.

For the baby who has everything, the Boutique Baby area, which will be incorporated into the ExCel and Earl’s Court shows, is a must-visit part of the event. Housing niche products and high-end accessories, it is ideal for the particularly discerning baby and the mum with money.

Celebrities and big-name baby industry experts will also be in abundance at the events: ExCel will see Dr Miriam Stoppard imparting valuable advice on such topics as bedtime routines and peaceful nights, and Tess Daly will be stopping by on 19th February. Annabel Karmel will also be in attendance at the ExCel event on all three days, and will be speaking about nutrition during pregnancy, as well as dispelling some of the myths surrounding feeding of babies and toddlers.

The specifics of the NEC and Earls Court events have yet to be announced, so you may want to visit www.thebabyshow.co.uk closer to these shows for further information.

Here is a sneak peak at just some of the UK events that 2010 will have to offer…
Getting the year off to a flying start is the rather testosterone-laden PistonHeads (www.pistonheadsshow.com), which will feature performance cars from Alphas to Vipers, as well as plenty of other attractions including a dedicated Stuff Zone, showcasing gadgets, gizmos and gear by the gallon.
Veering off in a completely different direction, the first leg of The Baby Show (www.thebabyshow.co.uk) will begin in February at ExCel London, with subsequent events at Birmingham NEC in May and Earl’s Court, London, in October.

March will be a busy month on the events circuit, with such UK staples as Foodex (www.foodex.co.uk – previously known as ‘Foodex Meatex’), the Hotel and Catering Show (www.hotel-expo.co.uk) and The Ideal Home Show (www.idealhomeshow.co.uk) – not to mention the infamous CRUFTS (www.crufts.org.uk) dog show – to name but a few.

The April slot of the 2010 events calendar will contain some shows of a more serious bent, including the Counter Terror Expo 2010 (www.counterterrorexpo.com) and Defence IT (www.shephard.co.uk/events/48/defence-it-2010), whilst the London International Wine Fair (www.londonwinefair.com) in May and the International Fine Art Fair (www.olympiaartsinternational.com) in June will see out the Spring in style.

Maintaining the air of sophistication, the Harrogate Home and Gift Show (www.homeandgift.co.uk) runs during July, and is a favourite summer event (particularly since it comes complete with Pimm’s tent!). Harrogate will also play host to August’s Lingerie and Swimwear Exhibition (www.lingerie-show.com), as well as the Great Northern Quilt and Needlecraft Show (www.grosvenorexhibitions.co.uk), which is due to take place in September.

The Restaurant Show 2010 (www.therestaurantshow2010.co.uk), to be held at Earl’s Court, London, in October, will be a big one for the UK’s restaurateurs, whilst Cake International (www.ichf.co.uk) and Toy Collectors Fair (www.bpfairs.com/fairs.php?fair=25) will brighten up Birmingham’s NEC in November and December.

8th-17th January 2010, ExCel, London

Now in its 56th year, the Tullett Prebon London International Boat Show is rapidly reaching veteran status in the show world, and in fact is currently one of the top five consumer events in the UK. Kicking off with a preview day on the 8th January, the event will run for ten days, and is set to be packed bow to stern with events, exhibitors, experts and enthusiasts.

Of course, boats of all proportions will be on display at the show (with a dedicated area, outside in the marina, exhibiting those vessels too large to fit through the doors), as will accessories, clothing and equipment. The show will also host a photographic exhibition showcasing work by renowned sailing photographer Robert Wilson, and in addition there will be opportunities to speak to multitudes of professionals about all things boat.

For the kids, there will be a Design a Sail competition; plus, the Try a Dive tank allows youngsters to sample diving in a safe and instructive environment (whilst the of-age crowd sample a Guinness or two at the Black and White Bar!).

The North Hall’s Show Stage promises ‘non-stop entertainment’, with expert speakers, safety presentations and a unique preview of the 2012 Olympic sailing venues. And if you feel the need to take a short respite from boats and sailing advice, the Show Stage will also feature a high energy ‘dance explosion’ (called Rock the Boat, so presumably boating remains a prominent theme), which will take place three times each day.

Advance tickets for the London International Boat Show start from £13 (with two day tickets for just £21), and kids can get in free with a paying adult. Visit www.londonboatshow.com for more information.