Custom Rental Exhibits

Trade show displays consist of custom exhibits, rental exhibits, pop up exhibits and custom rental exhibits. Custom rental exhibits, as its name implies, is a combination of custom and existing rental components.

The 20' in-line custom rental exhibit above uses custom built components such as the reception counter ,overhead panel with lighting and graphics. The existing rental parts include furniture and wall - side panels. Custom rental exhibits gives your exhibit an unique look without the commitment or expense of a custom exhibit. Custom rental exhibits are a great solution if you only plan to exhibit once or twice a year or if your budget does not allow for a fully customized exhibit.  

For more information about custom rental trade show exhibits, contact Dimension Craft Inc or call 773-925-6500. Dimension Craft Inc. is a designer and builder trade show exhibits.

Are you an Old School Trade Show Marketer?

Do you have a exhibit sign that reads "Exhibitor permission required to take photographs & video."? 

Trade shows are going through a marketing rebirth thanks to social media marketing, web 2.0 techniques, tablet computers and smart phones. In the past a trade show manager's work was completed once the show opened. Some trade show marketers even left the show once it started. Thanks to these new marketing techniques, a trade show manager's work is just beginning. During the show, they can now post videos on YouTube, blog, Tweet and post show updates on FaceBook. Trade show managers can further market their exhibit & products using these techniques with the help their show attendees.

A smart trade show manager will use these new marketing techniques and encourage attendees to take exhibit photos & videos in their exhibit and share them over the Internet. I know some companies want to control their marketing message but with today's web2.0 marketing tools and smart phones, the horse has already left the barn.  Why not embrace the idea of others helping you market your products and services. Consider putting up a sign in your exhibits that reads "No permission required to take photos and videos. We even encourage you to share them on your social networks."

Worried about attendees posting bad quality photos & videos of your product? Most poor quality photos and videos on the Internet are are result of bad lighting. If your exhibit is properly lit, it will vastly improve the quality of the photos and videos taken in your exhibit. You can reward attendees who share your products or services on their social networks by offering a drink, or a trade show hand-out. If an attendee has very large social media following or high Klout score, be sure to give them the red carpet treatment, since they have a large digital footprint and can further spread your marketing message. Also post QR tags in your booth to make easier for attendees to share their findings with fellow co-workers. 


With today's social media sharing, you no longer have to rely only on yourself or on trade publications to write about your product or service.


P.J. Naughton
Dimension Craft Inc.
"Designers & Builders of Quality Exhibits"
info@dimensioncraftinc.com
773-925-6500

How to use QR tags at your next Trade Show

 QR Tags & Trade Shows

Smart phones like the Apple iPhone & Android are changing the way attendees collect information at trade shows. Smart exhibitors will realize this and adjust their trade show marketing strategy. If you really want to engage and market your product beyond the halls of the show, add a QR tag to your exhibit's pop up banner stand, product or product ID stand.

QR Tags: How they Work

A QR (quick response) is a two dimensional matrix that when scanned with a smart phone will automatically  hyperlink your web browser to a pre-selected landing page. 

What is needed?

First of all you'll need a smart phone iPhone or Android. If using an iPhone you need to down the QR app. Using the iPhone as example you need to download the free QR app from the iTunes store. Click here to do so. Once the app is done downloading, open the app, zoom in on the above QR tag. Once in focus, click on the iPhones camera icon located on the bottom of your screen, then click the Use button in the lower right corner. Your web browser will then automatically hyperlink you to the Dimension Craft web page. 

How do I get a QR tag?

QR tags are free and there are many free sites available  to get a tag. I like to use the QRCode site since it gives me the option to create QR tags for web pages, text & phone numbers. To get your QR tag click here, add your URL landing page and click generate. When the QR tag appears, place your mouse over the image, right click with your mouse and save your QR tag to your computer.

What can I do with a QR tag?

QR tags can be added to your trade show graphics, pop up banners, product ID stands, business cards, literature, pre-show mailings and even shirts worn at trade shows. The QR landing pages can be hyperlinked but not limited to a web page that further explains an exhibited product, a YouTube video, or an e-commerce page. 

Sharing the information

Once the exhibitor has the QR tag on his/her phone, they can easily and quickly share it with their fellow decision makers as well as their social network. In a way they are now marketing your product for you. Imagine if an attendee sends out the following Tweet. "Check out this awesome product demo QR-hyperlink at the #CompanyName booth-number #TradeShow Name." The Tweet will show up in the Twitter stream for anyone searching the name of the show. When I attend a show, I open up my iPhone Twitter app an type in the name of the show into the Twitter search box. From here, I can view what attendees & exhibitors are talking about. 

Summary

In summary, QR tags can make your potential customers become your best marketers.

Dimension Craft Inc.

phone: 773-925-6500

info@dimensioncraftinc.com

www.dimensioncraftinc.com 

ABC Kids Expo Exhibits

The 2011 ABC Kids Expo has moved its location to Louisville, KY.  Louisville offers a lot  small town charm but not much when it comes to trade  show exhibit companies.

Dimension Craft Inc. is a Chicago based full service trade show exhibit company and only a five hour drive from Louisville. If you are exhibiting at the ABC Kids Expo, Dimension Craft can provide you with the following exhibit needs:

• custom trade show exhibits
• rental exhibits
• pop up banners, pop up displays
• exhibit installation and dismantling
• exhibit storage

Contact us at 773-925-6500 or info@dimensioncraftinc.com and let us quote your ABC Kids Expo needs.

LightFair International - Trade Show Exhibits

Need your trade show exhibit to stand out at the LightFair International Show? 

Then contact Dimension Craft Inc for a free quote on your LightFair exhibit needs. We are a full service design and builder of trade show exhibits. In addition to custom trade show exhibits, we also provide pop up displays, inline exhibits, island exhibits and installation and dismantling services. Click here to view a gallery our trade show exhibits.

DimensionCraft Inc.
call toll free at 800-923-0345
info@dimensioncraftinc.com

5 Trade Show Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these mistakes when exhibiting at your next trade show

1. Bringing Dwight to the Show: Dwight is that annoying character that appears in the TV show "The Office". The problem with bringing a Dwight character to the show is no one likes him and your fellow employees will start to focus the negative energy that Dwight brings rather than the positive energy needed for the show. The ideal trade show employee is liked by their co-workers, articulate, well groomed, enjoys people, upbeat, willing to take out the garbage and has great product knowledge.

2. Over used slogans/phrases: I often snicker when I see these slogans/phrases used at trade shows.  These slogans are over-used, hokey and really don't say much so try to avoid them. Yes, I've been guilty of the this over-used slogan crime. Avoid these over-used phrases.

Global Leader - World Leader - Cutting Edge Technology - Dedicated Staff - We are Committed

3. Poor Lighting: A well lit exhibit will make your products stand out. Next time you're in a department store notice the lighting that is used to make the product look better. Most convention centers provide standard ceiling lighting which may not be enough to properly light up your exhibit. Additional Leko hall lighting can be used to better illuminate your exhibit.

4. A messy booth: Empty coffee cups, water bottles, and full garbage cans waiting to be empty gives a bad first impression of your exhibit. Keep the booth clean at all times because you don't know what people are thinking.

5. Using pop up graphics as a back wall: We've all seen this, Those 10'x10' or 10'x20' inline exhibits where exhibitors place roll up or retractable banner stands in front of the show curtain. A better idea  is to purchase a pop up display

Marketing during a Trade Show - Web Marketing 2.0

Think all your marketing is done once the show begins? Think again, its just getting started. With today's 2.0 marketing tools and the growing popularity of smart phones, you can now also market your products or services during the show. I'm not talking about handing out trade show bags or expensive on-site advertising but rather these inexpensive 2.0 ideas you can do yourself.

1. Twitter: Tweeting is good way to reach trade show attendees who are not your Twitter followers. Send out Tweet updates during the show. Be sure to add #showname in your Tweets so they are found in the Twitter real time search stream. Tweet about your new products, demonstrations, contest or raffles.

2. Facebook: Facebook updates can be used like Twitter but your post reside on your FB wall. Posting Facebook info to your wall is a good way to engage with your Fans who may or not be at the show. Your FB post will show up on your followers (Fans) wall post. This why it's important to build your FaceBook following. With Google Real Time Search your FaceBook  updates will appear to people who are not part of your network which further enhances your digital footprint.

3. QR Tags: If you really want to engage with a show attendee, add a QR tag to a pop up banner or product ID stand. When a QR tag is scanned by the attendees smart phone, you can link them to a website which could further explain your exhibited product or bring them to a RFQ page. The attendee can then share the link with fellow co-workers or their social network. (If you know of any customers with a large social network or blog following, ask them if they would mind posting some kind words about your product.)

4. Blogs: Blog posting about your show or event can be done before, during and after the show. Your post can include new product announcements, or your take on the show. Be sure to add/tag the name of the show in your post. Since blog post are indexed within hours (unlike web pages which can take up to 12 days), many of your blog post can appear in a search engines while the show is still going on.

5. Adwords: Google Trends show that searches for trade show names ramp up before and during the event and drops off a cliff when the event is over. Consider running a Google Adwords campaign before and during the show. Most trade shows names have little adword competition making the keyword affordable. Your advertisement can announce new products, specials, raffles, contest,  and your booth number.

PJ Naughton

Dimension Craft Inc. is a full service trade show exhibit company specializing in custom built trade show exhibits and displays. We can be contacted at 773-925-6500 or e-mail info@dimensioncraftinc.com

Getting Noticed and Making your Trade Show Exhibit Comfortable

Exhibiting at a trade show is a two way street. You have a limited time to market your product but don't forget about the needs of the show attendee. Use the following ideas to further engage with attendees and help get your exhibit noticed at your next show.

1. Drinks & Rest Area: Offering drink and a seat to a tired thirsty attendee is great way to further engage with them. I've found that asking an attendee what would you like to drink and then drifting over to a bar stool to rest works better than asking if they like to something to drink or would you like to sit down.

2. Carpet Padding: There's no better way to make your exhibit comfortable to show attendees than having cushy carpet padding. At most shows the aisles are carpeted but not padded so an attendees will notice the difference. Most shows will include a carpet padding option along with thicker padding upgrades.

3. Add glitter to your carpet: Adding glitter to your carpet will make it sparkle from the reflection of the exhibition hall lights.  Its suddle enough to make your exhibit stand out from a sea of competition screaming for attention.

4. Music: Add some music to your exhibit. Background music can add a sense of excitement or relaxation to your exhibit. You can use a iPod (Nano or Shuffle) or a laptop computer to hold the music.  If using a laptop and your convention hall has Internet service,  you can also use Pandora to play your music. Create an iTunes playlist on your device to organize and select the music. If using an exhibitor appointed contractor to set up your booth, have them provide the right size speakers and mount them in the best location in the booth.

5. iPad Raffle.  Raffling off an iPad is sure to way to draw attention at your next trade show. Place the iPad at your exhibit's reception counter, swipe the attendees card and place the printed copy in a fish bowl. (If its OK with the attendee, ask them if you can add them to you e-newsletter.)

PJ Naughton

 

Dimension Craft Inc. is a full service trade show exhibit company located in Chicago. We can be reached at 773-925-6500, info@dimensioncraftinc.com.

Rental Trade Show Exhibits vs Custom Trade Show Exhibits

custom exhibits will make you stand out from the crowd

Rental vs Custom Exhibits

You are a busy marketing manager with a trade show coming up. You have reserved a booth space, but that is all you have done for the show. You have no exhibit, no clear budget and absolutely no TIME to waste. But you need to make some intelligent decisions because that is who you are and how you do things. It is also how you avoid trouble, so let me give you a head start.

Just about every trade show is managed by a company that will offer you some simple exhibit solutions to rent from. Most often, these are adequate at best, when it comes to displaying your product, but not very sophisticated.

They will typically be created from an aluminum extrusion system which looks just like the one used for the publication bins and registration booths at the front of the hall. As a marketing person with a fair degree of taste, you are not impressed with anything you see. However, in your rushed situation, you should know that they are a safe choice for the following reasons:

• They are cheaper than anything you can rent from independent sources

• Your rental will most likely include drayage

• Your rental may even include installation and dismantle costs

• The amount of phone calls and preparation time on your part will be minimized.

Some good arguments to go ahead with this direction! So why call a more a custom company like Dimension Craft? Answer: If you have put your time, creativity and reputation towards developing a marketing plan for your company that has reaped a growing market share and name recognition, it means you will want to put that same face on your company at your trade shows, as well. In fact, not to do this could mean embarrassment and failure at an event which is where you meet your public and buyers face to face, in the flesh.

While you may have a hard time convincing your management to spend any more money on a booth than they have to, you cannot deny that your products and services are worth highlighting in the very best way possible. A company like Dimension Craft will put together a rental solution that is very specific to your needs, unlike the show rental which is intended to be very generic. We will:

• Customize your exhibit to highlight your product

• Dovetail with your corporate look and colors

• Provide specialized structures that fit with your needs specifically

• Help you keep consistent from show to show, even as you grow

A company like Dimension Craft can also do what I mentioned in the first bullet points: we can become your partner in trade show marketing such that you need only make a couple of phone calls to your account executive and the rest will be taken care of. Therein lies the huge benefit of the custom-rental approach to trade show marketing. Perhaps a bit more work up front to establish this relationship, but highly beneficial in the not-so-long run!

Alex Gordon

Sales Executive

Dimension Craft Inc.

National Hardware Show - Exhibit Marketing Tips

Make your National Hardware Show Exhibit Stand Out with these 5 Great Marketing Tips

1. Blog About It - Blog about what you'll be exhibiting at the Hardware show , and about special deals or contests that you'll be running at the show. This will create pre-show hype and your blog may even get indexed in a Hardware Show related search.

2.Create a Google Adwords Account -Google Adwords are the paid advertisements that appear on the top and right hand side of a Google search result. Currently there are 5,500 monthly searches made in the U.S. for the phrase "Hardware Show" with only 1 paid advertisement. This number will only increase as the show date grows closer. Since there is little adword competition, you can advertise your Hardware Exhibit in Google Adwords for a small price.

3. YouTube It: Shoot video of your Hardware Show exhibit and product demonstrations and interview customers that are excited about your product/service. Tell the YouTube world why your products/services are the best and post the videos to YouTube.

4. Tweet About It: Tweeting is the best way to reach trade show attendees. Send out Tweet updates during the show. Be sure to add #HardwareShow in your Tweets so they are found in the Twitter Hardware Show search.

5. iPad Raffle - Raffling off an iPad at the show is sure way to draw attention to your exhibit. You can announce your iPad contest on Twitter which will draw more exhibitors to your exhibit.

Since Dimension Craft Inc. is a full service trade show exhibit company, we can assist you with your trade show marketing efforts in addition to building and renting an exhibit for your next trade show. For more information, please contact us at 773-925-6500 or info@dimensioncraftinc.com

Exhibit Tips when Working with Chicago's Trade Show Unions

When exhibiting at a Chicagoland trade show venue such as McCormick Place, Navy Pier or the Donald Stephens Convention Center, you are required to use union labor or your own company personnel to set up your exhibit. Below are a list of some services you may need to use and a brief description of the services they provide. For more detailed information, please refer to your trade show exhibitor manual.

Electricians will install and dismantle anything electrical. Be sure to provide an electrical layout plan when submitting your electrical request. This will speed up the electrical set up process and save you money. If  exhibiting machinery for shows like IMTS, it's a good idea to leave the machine locks in your booth (oppose to storage) so you can lock up your equipment immediately after the show ends. Pre-wiring your equipment and providing quick disconnects can also save on your electrical cost. Electrical outlets can be ordered to your booth and as an exhibitor you are now allowed to plug in standard equipment and lighting. Machinery with larger power requirements must be left to the show electricians to install.

Plumbers will provide the installation and dismantling of water, air, gas lines to your equipment. If your exhibit requires plumbing, be sure to provide a location layout, and valve fitting sizes when submitting your plan. If you bring in your own fluids (such as oils or cutting solvents), its a good idea to keep a pump /containers nearby or use the show's easy access storage. This way solvents/dielectric fluids can get pumped out as soon as the show ends. Many shows provide gasses, eliminating the need for you to purchase them ahead of time.

Riggers will uncrate/unskid, crate/skid and position your machinery. You can save on rigging cost by uncrating your equipment before the show. If exhibiting machinery, it's a good idea to mark the location of your equipment on the visqueen carpet covering before the move in. This will help the riggers spot your equipment. Having a company representative in your booth (with your truck driver's cell number) during will  help streamline the move in process and avoid re-spotting fees.

Material Handlers will bring the trade show exhibit materials (except machinery) in/out of the convention center. The charge is normally based on $/100 lb. carton weight. This amount will vary depending on the show. Exhibitors can bring in computers small crates or boxes as long as it can be carried in without a forklift. This is referred to as "material handling". Make an effort to bring in most if not all of your exhibited material during your targeted move-in date, otherwise additional charges will occur for bringing materials before or after this date.

Carpenters will install and dismantle anything related to your exhibit excluding items related to electrical and plumbing. Make sure your exhibit is properly crated in order to prevent shipping damage. You can use your own exhibit company to provide the I/D of your exhibit. In order to do this you will need to fill out an EAC form provided by the show management.With the new labor rules, as an exhibitor, you can set-up your own exhibit with your company employees.

Decorators will assemble and install (non-electrical, non-structural) overhead signs. Exhibitors can now hang their own signs. Be sure to bring in some Velcro when packing for a show if you plan on doing it yourself.

For some, filling out the required show forms can be a daunting and overwhelming task. Since Dimension Craft Inc. is a full service trade show exhibit company based in Chicago, we can assist this ordering process for you in addition to building and renting an exhibit for your next trade show. For more information, please contact us at 773-925-6500 or info@dimensioncraftinc.com

Trade Show Displays & Color

When designing your next trade show exhibit, consider a color scheme.
Colors can convey emotions from show attendees. For example, blue has a calming effect, yellow is a real attention grabber, red is loud and emotionally charged and white shows honesty and is cleanliness.

When selecting trade show carpet, remember light shades can make a booth look bigger while darker shades can hide dirt and stains. If you are exhibiting larger products like machinery, select a carpet color that will contrast your product so it stands out.

Check out our gallery of exhibits that used different color schemes.

If you are color blind or just not color coordinated, seek advice from an expert or give Dimension Craft Inc., a call 847-532-0812 or info@dimensioncraftinc.com and we'll be happy to give you expert free advice regarding your trade show color coordination.

Trade Show Banners & Displays with QR Tags

Consider using pop up banners and a pop up display at your next show or event. Both items are affordable and are easy to set up and store. Graphics can changed out when needed.

Banner stands come in single sided and double sided formats. They can also be used to explain a or illustrate a product you are exhibiting. If you really want to engage an exhibitor, add a QR tag to the pop up banner. When a QR tag is scanned by a smart phone, it will link you to a website which could further explain the product you are exhibiting.

Pop up displays can stand alone or on a table top. If you need help in selecting graphics for your display, our designers are there to assist you. Both items are great solutions for smaller shows and events.