5 Ways in Which Exhibitions Can Help Your Brand

In a world where technology and data have made almost all business processes electronic, there is an undeniable distance created between manufacturers/ marketeers and their customers. Marketing teams often manage operations without leaving their desks. Exhibitions help to bridge this gap.

Trade shows and exhibitions serve as a platform for companies, consumers, professionals and industry experts to come together, share information, network and build business relationships. Across the world, exhibitions are an essential part of product marketing and brand building. In emerging markets like India, they serve as influential catalysts for industrial and commercial growth.

So how can exhibitions help your brand? Let’s discuss some of the ways exhibitions can benefit your brand.

Showcase your brand

Exhibitions offer businesses a platform to create a lasting impression and engage customers in a way that is more impactful and memorable than most other marketing media. Companies can showcase their brand, promote their brand values and strengths with creative exhibition booth design. With eye-catching product displays, immersive virtual reality experiences, unique giveaways and other promotional ideas, customers can better experience your brand.

Face-to-face interaction

Research, marketing, advertising, taking orders, deliveries, answering queries – almost everything today can be done digitally. However, customers still want ‘real’ interaction with the brands they are buying. They want to meet real people and build real relationships. Exhibitions offer this opportunity to introduce yourself and your company, personally present your product or service, listen to customer opinion and build ‘real’ customer relations.

Learning

Exhibitions offer a great learning experience. You can interact with customers and encourage feedback which will help you gain insights to improve your product or service. You also get a chance to study the competition, update knowledge, listen to industry experts at seminars that are organised at the trade show, and generally get the pulse of the market or industry.

Targeted marketing

Generally, exhibitions are organised for a specific industry, so exhibitors can participate in the ones most relevant to them and their offering. Here, brands can showcase their products and technologies to a niche audience. Unlike advertising, where money is spent on a more blurred and mass audience, trade shows are more specific and relevant. Visitors are people who are interested in your industry and specifically looking for the products on display.

Product launch

Exhibitions can be used as soft launch pads for new innovations and product upgrades. Feasibility can be put to the test. If the new product does not appeal to the niche audience at the trade show, it will most probably not work in the market. Also, such launches can help garner invaluable feedback so companies can modify and tailor their innovations before the hard launch.

No wonder that many companies now consider business exhibitions and trade fairs a vital element of their marketing strategy. Point to remember is that participation is not a guarantee for big sales, but it will definitely contribute to brand building. Overall, considering the many advantages and benefits to be gained, exhibitions deliver good return on investment.

8 Tips for a Successful Exhibition in India

Exhibitions and expos are growing in popularity as more and more businesses experience the advantages of participation. An exhibition is an ideal platform to promote products and services. It gives manufacturers/suppliers an opportunity to engage with clients and prospects face-to-face. It’s an arena to build brand and develop customer base. It works as a test market for new innovations, and as a forum for networking and studying the market.

Exhibitions and trade shows is a fast-growing industry worldwide, with Germany leading with two-thirds of the global market share. In India, there are over 700 major trade shows being organised every year, generating business of Rs.65,000 Cr.

Through the year, in cities and towns across the country, there are trade shows and industry expos being held. However, participation in a trade show can be expensive. So if you want results, and good return on investment from your exhibition in India, we have some tips to help you pave the way to success.

Tip 1: Select the relevant trade show

There are different trade shows for different industries. Pick the appropriate one for your business. Research the show, check how reputed it is, which companies participated and how many visitors attended in the previous year, analyse whether your TG will be attracted or not, etc. This background study will help you decide if a particular exhibition is right for your company.

Tip 2: Appoint a creative exhibition stand designer

The look and design of your stall is critical to attract eyeballs and footfalls. Your competitors will be at the show too, so your exhibition stall design should stand out in the crowd. Plan the layout in a way that facilitates circulation of booth traffic; ensure the trade fair booth design represents your brand appropriately; use creative gimmicks, interesting colours, materials and lighting to attract attention. Hire an experienced expo stand design agency that will create and execute a bespoke exhibition stand that enhances brand value and draws more visitors – in the city or cities required.

Tip 3: Keep collateral ready and handy

Plan all the marketing collateral you need for the show. Business cards, brochures, promotional leaflets, branded giveaways, etc. should all be designed and printed in sufficient quantity for the show. If your product and trade show TG warrant vernacular communication, have your leaflets translated and printed in the relevant language to improve reach.

Tip 4: Make bookings in time

Whether it is registration and stall booking or travel plans to the city of the trade show, it makes sense to do it early. The best spots, the closest hotels, air or train tickets – all such bookings should be made in advance for best results and maximum savings.

Tip 5: Appoint & train staff

A trade show is the most interactive marketing tool. It’s a platform to meet and communicate with potential and existing customers face to face. So naturally, your stall staff should be the best. Cordial and hospitable, knowledgeable and convincing – your staff should be well trained for the trade show. They must be fully aware of the company’s exhibition strategy, the products on display. Train them in advance; practice typical questions and answers with them. Explain dos and don’ts. They should be able to obtain information that facilitates lead generation and follow-up.

 Tip 6: Gather & annotate leads

Gathering leads is one of the main objectives of a trade show booth, so make sure you gather as many as you can. When interacting or handing out leaflets or gifts, get the visitor’s business card. Based on your reading of the visitor, make notes on the card or a separate diary, about special points you may have discussed, any follow-up plan you may think of, additional information promised, etc. This will come in handy after the trade show as reference for communication.

Tip 7: Create pre-event buzz

Trade shows are a big investment. It pays to create a buzz around your participation to draw the right people to your trade show stall. Think digital. Send emailers and messages to existing clients inviting them to the upcoming exhibition. Create ads or banners on your website and social media sites. Set up meetings with attendees at your booth, days prior to the show. Pre-event marketing can help ensure a great turnout for your exhibition stand!

Tip 8: Start early

Planning and preparation is imperative for a successful exhibition stall. Whether working with an agency to design a custom-built exhibition stand, printing marketing collateral, executing the pre-event marketing plan, preparing for the particular location – the earlier you start, the better the outcome. Even finding out more about the location of the trade show, facilities available in the area, timelines and deadlines, distances, cultural aspects, etc. – can help you be better organized so you minimize problems and errors at the show.

Whether you are using the show to unveil a new product, simply draw attention to your brand and business, or you are trying to network for business partners, vendors and new customers, keep these tips in mind, and you’re sure to achieve your goals and have a successful trade show.

How to Choose an Exhibition Stall Designer for Your Next International Event

Planning to participate in an international exhibition stall designer? Targeting the top 10 trade shows in Europe? It would be ideal if you could appoint a stall design partner in the city/country you’re exhibiting in. However, finding, assessing and negotiating with a local exhibition stand design company is not exactly a cakewalk. Language can be a problem, rates may be too high.

It would be so much easier with an expo stand builder who can provide service in the country of the trade show. There are many international exhibition partners but selecting the right one is crucial. Here are some simple tips to evaluate the exhibition stand design & build company before entrusting it with your next international trade show stall.

Global service

It is absolutely crucial that your international stall designer has global reach. International shipping is difficult and expensive especially since exhibition materials can be really heavy. Find out if they have connections in the country where you plan to exhibit. If they have stall construction facilities there, great! But if not, they should at least have reliable local partners who have the facilities and experience to deliver your stall in a timely and professional way. Ask for details about these foreign vendors or partners and check their track record for quality and design.

Proven portfolio

Take the time to go through the agency’s portfolio and see how many international exhibition stall designer they have handled. Ask for references and take feedback from their clients. This will give you an idea of their capabilities and quality of service.

Check out their designs. Remember, you’re spending a lot of money and time on this international exhibition, so you want a booth design that helps you stand out. You need an agency that can deliver creative exhibition stand designs that will make an impact on the international stage, so the agency should have world-class design skills and be abreast with latest global trends in exhibition design and construction.

Printing service

You will need to carry flyers, business cards, brochures and pamphlets for the exhibition, and ideally, if you’re participating in a country where English is not the common language, your material should be translated and printed in the local language as well. This helps you connect better with the exhibition visitors and lets them know that your brand is professional and keen to do business. If the same agency can provide this related service, you benefit from single-point convenience.

Every exhibition is a platform for your brand and your marketing. In foreign countries, the stakes are much higher. You are not only competing on a global stage, you’re investing a huge amount of money, time and manpower costs. Partner with the right stall design partner to ensure your brand benefits, and you get timely, hassle-free service, and the biggest bang for your bucks.

CHECKLIST FOR EFFECTIVE EXHIBITION STAND DESIGN

For players in the B2B segment, exhibitions offer a unique platform to present their brand and showcase their strengths and offerings. Trade shows are generally targeted at an industry and people involved or interested in that industry. So participating in a trade show can be a great way to reach a target market and create brand awareness – that too, face-to-face. Here, product and market testing can be carried out to gain industry or general opinion about your offering – even as you find out what your competition and other industry players are doing.

Award Winning Exhibition Stand Design

Exhibitions also attract a large and sometimes diverse range of audiences (usually the general public). This provides you with a platform to promote your product or service to a broader group that may have little or no knowledge of your products and services.

However, trade shows can be costly. Besides stall charges, there is the cost of travel, display and product literature. They can also be hectic and stressful, with so many big and little things to take care of. So it makes sense to be fully prepared and follow some basic thumb rules to make the most of the opportunity and optimize ROI.

BEFORE THE SHOW

1. –          Appoint a professional design agency
2. –          Develop a creative stand with a strong key message
3. –          Ensure proper presentation of your brand
4. –          Train staff to man the stall
5. –          Inform customers & prospects about your participation

DURING THE SHOW

1. –          Ensure your staff is greeting visitors warmly and providing required information
2. –          Offer refreshments and/or giveaways to attract visitors
3. –          Distribute relevant sales collaterals
4. –           Scan attendees’ badges or collect business cards to create a record of people you meet

AFTER THE SHOW

1. –          Follow-up with leads captured during the trade show
2. –          Help your prospects move to the next level
3. –          Review and analyze ‘lessons learned’
4. –          If using a modular display system, dismantle and store components safely until the next show

For creative exhibition stall design from concept-to-commissioning, contact SEED. SEED (Strategic Exhibition & Environment Display) can assist with complete Exhibition Design Solutions from concept to commissioning. SEED is a leading Exhibition Stand Design company with over 25 years of real-world experience in creative exhibition stall design for hundreds of companies – big and small, local and MNC, B2B and B2C.

Our team of professional designers & architects study your company, understand your brand and branding objectives, and then create custom booth designs that enhance and promote your brand with relevant engagement and compelling impact. As a proven pan-India and globally operating expo booth designer, SEED has a world-wide network of production vendors, stall builders & contractors to ensure your booth design is installed with quality, economy and hassle-free efficiency.

Contact www. smartexhibitiondesign.com

CHECKLIST FOR EFFECTIVE EXHIBITION STALLS

Most businesses in the corporate world know, and acknowledge, the value of trade shows. What’s more, the value doesn’t just hold good for the ‘big guns’. Even small businesses and startups can benefit from this platform.

Trade shows offer an opportunity for real-time interaction; for face-to-face communication with prospects and customers. It’s a platform to build brand and launch new products and services while staying abreast of what’s happening in your industry.

Exhibition Stall Design & Build

There are some things to consider and inputs to incorporate – before, during and after the show – if you want your trade show booth to deliver effective return on investment. Here’s a smart checklist.

BEFORE THE SHOW

– Appoint a professional design agency

– Develop a creative stand with a strong key message

– Ensure proper presentation of your brand

– Train staff to man the stall

– Inform customers & prospects about your participation

DURING THE SHOW

– Ensure your staff is greeting visitors warmly and providing required information

– Offer refreshments and/or giveaways to attract visitors

– Distribute relevant sales collaterals

– Scan attendees’ badges or collect business cards to create a record of people you meet

AFTER THE SHOW

– Follow-up with leads captured during the trade show

– Help your prospects move to the next level

– Review and analyze ‘lessons learned’

– If using a modular display system, dismantle and store components safely until the next show

SEED (Strategic Exhibition & Environment Display) can partner with you for complete Exhibition Design solutions from concept to commissioning. SEED is an Exhibition Design company with over 25 years of real-world experience in creative exhibition stall design for hundreds of companies – big and small, local and MNC, B2B and B2C. Thoughtful strategy aligns with well-crafted designs to achieve the specific goals set out by every client for each exhibition.

Creative Exhibition Stall Design

Whatever your industry; no matter where the exhibition, SEED has the expertise and network to ensure creative and timely trade show booth build that optimizes impact and ROI.

http://www.smartexhibitiondesign.com

Enhance the effectiveness of your Trade Show Stand with the ‘personal’ touch

Trade shows remain one of the most popular and effective marketing tools available to B2B enterprises.  In fact, research has shown that B2B exhibitions account for more than 40% of all B2B budgets.

Eye-catching trade show booth displays

According to a report by The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) ‘Changing Environment of Exhibitions’, the exhibition channel continues to prove it is an important channel for driving business. It claims that a staggering 99% of marketers believe that trade shows offer unique value, which cannot be achieved through other mediums.

So what makes trade show marketing so valuable? Why do B2B industries favour exhibitions for marketing?

The major advantage is the opportunity to meet new prospects up-close-and-personal. Trade shows offer a unique platform for relevant lead generation by casting a wider net and delivering in-person contact. Businesses get to meet prospects face-to-face and to personally demonstrate and communicate the company’s offerings. Exhibitions allow companies to engage in meaningful two-way dialogue, where both the prospect and the company can exchange contact information, discuss requirements, and compare solutions – one-on-one. Businesses can also properly gauge the value of the leads, and by qualifying strong leads, shorten the sales cycle.

There is something intensely trust building in shaking someone’s hand and looking them in the eye. Knowing that there are actual humans behind all the technology & stats is innately reassuring. This type of connection cannot be recreated digitally, or with even the most compelling advertising. Because of the personal nature of face-to-face interaction at expo booths, connections established here often yield fruitful results.

There are some tips to enhance the ‘personal’ touch at your exhibition stall. While creating abespoke exhibition stand design goes a long way, the ‘human interaction’ can be augmented by:

1. Sending out personalized invites on social media or by email.
2. Appointing well-trained staff to interact with visitors – people who are pleasant mannered, cordial and informative, able to engage with prospects with sound knowledge of your products and brand.
3. SWAG or giveaways that are attractive and of value to visitors.
4. Informal lounge areas where prospects can sit and chat in comfort. A cup of coffee with the discussion would certainly help – considering how large most trade shows are; visitors are usually tired and thirsty!.
5. Posting a thank you note to visitors – telling them how much you enjoyed meeting them, and inviting them to your office or offering the next Call-To-Action for taking the lead forward.

SEED (Strategic Exhibition & Environment Display) is a leading exhibition design company that offers creative, timely and hassle-free Exhibition Design solutions – from concept to commissioning. SEED provides a complete exhibition design solution with bespoke display design to attract attention and enhance brand value. SEED can also suggest promotional items or eye-catching installations or interactive engagements which can get the message across better while adding value to the experience. SEED can also help with communication before and after the event.

As a proven pan-India and globally operating Exhibition Stand Design Company in India with over 25 years of real-world experience in creative exhibition stall design, you can trust SEED for all your expo booth design, environment design, brand activation and event design & planning needs.

www. smartexhibitiondesign.com

5 Tips On Building A Successful Trade Stall

5 Tips On Building A Successful Trade Stall

Exhibition Design: Building Bridges across Streams

Exhibition Design: Building Bridges across Streams

Exhibition design is a continuously evolving field, “drawing on innovative, creative, and practical solutions to the challenge of developing communicative environments that ‘tell a story’ in a three-dimensional space”.

Wikipedia describes Exhibit Design as a collaborative process, integrating the disciplines of architecture, landscape architecture, graphic design, audiovisual engineering, digital media, lighting, interior design, and content development to develop an audience experience that interprets information, involves and engages a user and influences their understanding of a subject.

Whether it is a trade show stand or retail space, corporate museum orbrand experience centre, all types of exhibits aim to communicate with their audiences in an engaging and meaningful way. Creative exhibition designcommunicates information, objects and ideas across a range of three-dimensional environments.

Communication, design and fabrication are the 3 pillars of exhibition design. At SEED (Strategic Exhibition & Environment Display), multi-disciplinary professionals work closely together throughout the planning and design process which mirrors an architectural schedule. Moving from conceptual plan, through schematic design, design development, contract document, fabrication, and installation – SEED delivers creative exhibition stall design from concept-to-commissioning, for clients across the B2B and B2C spectrum.

SEED is a proven pan-India and globally operating exhibition design companywith over 25 years of real-world experience in custom booth designs. Using a broad spectrum of design, management, and technical capabilities, SEED delivers distinctive 3D stall design, brand activation ideas & execution –in one package, less than one roof. SEED’s world-wide network of production vendors, stall builders & contractors to ensure your booth design is installed with quality, economy and hassle-free efficiency.

For a trade show stall that exceeds your exhibition goals, call SEED, the one-stop-shop exhibition stand design company in india.

Contact www. smartexhibitiondesign.com

Exhibitions Reach the Right People at the Right Time

Whether your business is B2B or B2C, a trade fair or exhibition can be an effective way of reaching the right people at the right time. Whether you want to attract potential customers, build brand image, or simply generate sales, expos are a wonderful platform to achieve your marketing goals. In fact, for many companies, trade shows are the main focus of their annual marketing activity.

At a busy exhibition, your business will be competing with hundreds of others for a slice of the captive audience. A well-planned and executed trade show stall is essential to fully benefit from event participation and obtain optimal ROI for the thousands you have spent to exhibit.

Executing an exhibition stall that grabs eyeballs and attracts footfalls is not child’s play. It calls for a blend of creative and technical skills, led by strategic design thinking and branding. Moreover, it calls for expertise and control beyond boundaries as exhibitions and trade shows, more often than not, will be held far from your home ground.

It pays to partner with an exhibition design company that provides a complete solution from creative exhibition stall design to execution. It needs a company that understands integrated branding and will take the time and trouble to understand your brand and objectives before designing the exhibition stand and messaging.

SEED (Strategic Exhibition & Environment Display) fits the bill. SEED offers complete Exhibition Design solutions from concept to commissioning. SEED is a leading Exhibition Design company with over 25 years of real-world experience in creative exhibition stall design for hundreds of companies – big and small, local and MNC, B2B and B2C.

SEED provides a complete exhibition design solution with bespoke display design to attract attention. SEED can also suggest promotional items or eye-catching installations or interactive engagements which can get the message across better while adding value to the experience.

Another advantage of partnering with SEED is the company’s widespread network of production vendors, stall builders & contractors. This ensures your booth design is executed with quality, economy and hassle-free efficiency – anywhere in India and even abroad.

As a proven pan-India and globally operating Exhibition Stand Design Company in India, SEED is a competent one-stop-shop solution for all your expo booth design, environment design, brand activation and event design & planning needs. Contact www. smartexhibitiondesign.com