Pre-Exhibition Marketing Methods to Ensure More Footfalls at Your Stall

Participating in a trade show is a serious business. For companies, it’s a platform to promote their brand and expertise, and usually involves a hefty investment. Rent for the exhibition booth space, the cost of creative exhibition stand design and installation, travel and accommodation expenses incurred by company staff attending the trade show, free give-aways and other expenses – they all add up to a fairly large number. So naturally, you have to get good return on investment.

Pre-Exhibition Marketing Methods to Ensure More Footfalls at Your Stall

Whether you are looking for sales leads or to create a buzz for your brand, whether yours is a custom built exhibition stand or a modular design, success depends on getting the right people and the right volume to your booth.

Plan ahead

Research has shown that about 70% of attendees usually make a list of the stands they plan to visit long before they enter the exhibition hall or convention centre. Most individuals visit trade shows with the intent of finding products, services, and solutions so they have a predefined plan for the stalls they will visit during the event. Hence, it is necessary to ensure that visiting your exhibition stall becomes a part of your target audience’s agenda. To do that, they must be notified about your participation in an event in advance so that they are persuaded to visit your stall.

Here are 4 marketing methods to increase the footfall at your exhibition stall and maximize the return on your investment.

1. Harness the reach of social media

Social media is a great way to notify your target group that you are participating in a specific trade show. Create posts for your business page on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram and promote your exhibit. You can highlight features of your stall, introduce special offers, share videos of your product and invite visitors to come see/try the product up close.

2. Design a catchy email campaign

When it comes to email, there are two groups to target. Firstly your inhouse database of regular customers, local contacts and solid prospects. Secondly, the registered attendees of the trade show. Organisers will usually give you access to this list, so you can shortlist possible prospects and reach out to them.

Though the most ideal strategy would be to send personalised mails or invites, it may not be practical. In any case, email marketing is a really effective and inexpensive way of informing visitors and attracting leads. Here, rather than generic invitations, try highlighting a fresh offer or product feature that works as a hook to rouse curiosity and build interest in your product or company. 

3. Invest in digital marketing

While promoting your event on social media is free, it can be helpful to leverage paid ads and posts to ensure the right people see your communication through targeting. You could also build an interactive microsite with simple questions, drop-down lists etc. encouraging visitors to set an appointment for meeting at your stand. It’s a great way to ensure potential visitors visit your exhibition booth.

4. Go offline too

In addition to online channels, don’t forget to use every offline opportunity as well. You could publish advertisements in industry magazines to promote your exhibit and make a case for prospects to visit your trade show booth.

There are many companies who prefer to use snail mail too, sending creative invitations and direct mailers. In our increasingly digital world, holding attractive communication in your hand has its own appeal.

Conclusion

When planning your pre-exhibition marketing strategy, it’s worth remembering that even a creative exhibition stand design can draw crowds. But high footfall doesn’t always translate into success. A well-planned and efficiently-executed pre-exhibition marketing strategy can ensure that a high percentage of visitors are from your target demographic so you generate more relevant leads.

Benefits of Custom Exhibition Stand Design over Modular Designs

Best Custom Exhibition Stand Design In India?

Custom Exhibition Stand Design

Broadly speaking, there are two types of exhibition stands: custom and modular. Each has its pros and cons. Modular display stands are built from individual modular parts and usually consist of metal frames, connectors and the business’ chosen graphics. The stands are available in a range of standardized styles, and sizes, and they are simple to put together and take apart. The primary advantage of modular stands over custom exhibition stand design is the fact that they are more cost-effective, and have been designed for mobility and multiple usage.

On the other hand, custom exhibition stands are tailored to specific requirements. They offer scope to be creative with design and display ideas, and to make a statement that is exclusively and distinctively, YOU.

In this article, we take a more in-depth look at the plus points of custom exhibition stand design.

Get noticed

One hardly needs reminding that it’s a highly competitive world out there so you really need to stand out and get noticed. Your trade fair booth design needs to grab attention and attract footfall. With custom exhibition stand design, you get a chance to create something unique and innovative that stands a better chance of getting noticed. With a custom structure, bespoke graphics, strong branding and endless possibilities of videos, animations, virtual environments and interactive games – your custom stand is certain to make your stand memorable.

Build brand

Bespoke exhibition stands are designed with your brand at the heart. Style, graphics, colours, messaging – they can all be used to make your stand distinctive and memorable. A made-to-measure stand is an opportunity to present your corporate identity and brand values the way you want, with powerful messaging to reiterate and enhance your brand positioning. Custom exhibition stall design with creative flair and integrated branding approach will help you stand out on the crowded trade show floor.

Have flexibility

Custom stands can be designed to make optimal use of space. Depending on the stand you have booked, its dimensions, layout, open sides, etc., you can design structures and displays according to your exhibition objectives. You have the flexibility to use the space, map the visitor’s journey and plan displays for better ergonomics and visibility. You can also include features that can be modified and adapted for future shows, so your bespoke exhibition stand is a smart investment for your business.

Conclusion

Whilst a standardised, modular exhibition stand might be more affordable, and you can design panels as creatively as you like, it doesn’t offer the exciting possibilities of a bespoke stand. If you want to create a real buzz; if you want to make your business more eye-catching and memorable; custom exhibition stand design is the only way to go. A custom stand will exploit the benefits of extreme flexibility of design to create a structure that makes best use of given space, attracts the right visitors, achieves your exhibition goals, and builds your brand in the most impactful manner.

How Office Space Design Can Impact Corporate Culture and Brand Image

It is now universally acknowledged that our physical surroundings play a profound role on our mental state. So obviously, office space design can influence our productivity and corporate culture. From interior design to furniture to space branding, every aspect of your office design can affect your company and your team.

An enterprise that takes pride in its workplace and its workers will invest time, money and effort to create an office that motivates its people and engages its visitors while simultaneously building brand image.

Office space design is more than some partitions & wall finishes, some strategically placed art works & sofas or company logos plastered liberally throughout the office.

Some basic aspects that make a difference include:

Layout design

The first step is understanding who you’re designing for. Who are your workers and how do they work? How do they interact with each other? What are your corporate values and how can they reflect in office branding design? When staff, clients or visitors visit your office, they need to feel your culture, engage with your brand, and leave with your brand etched in their mind.

Most offices today follow an open plan, as a layout that promotes team spirit, nurtures creativity and provides flexibility. It’s important to design the office space thoughtfully, facilitating the flow of energy and creativity. It’s also essential to provide for storage, private workspaces, washrooms, canteen and other practical needs. Good knowledge of space utilization and space management is required.

Comfort

We spend the better part of life at work; more than 40 hours per week in office. So naturally, feeling comfortable is essential for overall wellbeing and productivity. Office designers need to build in elements that build a sense of comfort – such as ergonomic furniture, sit-stand desks, flexible work spaces, lounging or breakout areas, writable surfaces, safety systems, appropriate lighting, cooling, etc.

Lighting

Lighting is a vital element of office design. Poor lighting adversely affects wellness and productivity while fluorescent lighting can increase stress levels and cause headaches. Research shows that working in artificial lighting makes people drowsy and exposure to natural light makes them feel alert. So ideally, natural light should be incorporated as much as possible.

Modern office automation helps control lighting in offices. Whether your lighting system includes incandescent, fluorescent, or LED lamps and luminaires, modern controls allow you to enhance comfort, ensure the safe navigation of spaces, and save energy.

Accoustics

Brainstorming is the buzzword today, so facilitating this activity is an important aspect when defining your office space. But when people come together to share ideas, it can get really noisy – especially in an open plan office which is the popular choice these days! Therefore it’s advisable to create areas where teams can huddle without disturbing the other teams who need a quiet workplace. Booths, movable partitions, high-back chairs can help keep the noise down.

Off-work zones

Every worker needs short breaks from the office routine. No one wants to be glued to their desk from the time they arrive to the time they punch out. Today, with greater proportion of younger people in the workforce and with the emphasis on creativity and innovation, people need a zone to ‘break away’ from work. Providing a private space for quiet contemplation and separate breakout area with comfortable seating for discussions, pool table, chess board or even a small gym will help refresh spirits, uplift mood, maintain wellbeing and make employees feel valued.

These are some of the elements involved in creative office space design. It’s a challenging field calling for multi-disciplinary skills such as architecture, interior design, graphic art, construction, and many more. An experienced agency such as Interics Designs can help.

For office interiors, our team of Architects, Interior Designers and Space Designers develop office spaces that connect the users with the brand. Our fully integrated Interior Design Services provide end-to-end Workplace Solutions in terms of Layout Feasibility, Material Specifications, Furniture Selection, etc.

We specialize in designing exclusive spaces for a variety of peer group requirements such as break-out areas, telephone booths, linear or specialized workstations, conference rooms, huddle spaces, etc.

Interics also handles Workplace Technology with skill. Contemporary spaces require high-efficiency services paired with optimal ergonomics. Human-centric Lighting, HVAC, Fire and Safety, Access Control and Surveillance, Automation Solutions, etc. play an important role in workplace welfare, ensuring high efficacy throughout the employment lifecycle. Our comprehensive vendor management guarantees high-quality service implementation; while everyday processes like Lighting/HVAC, etc. can be streamlined with Automation Solutions. Energy Consumption Reports can also be generated that enable the user to conserve energy based on reported usage.

As a strategic brand consultancy, Interics Designs has the experience to design and execute spatial branding as well. With a mix of strategic thinking, meticulous planning and creative designing, taking into consideration every aspect that can create ambience, uplift mood and influence productivity, Interics delivers effective workplace branding.

For office design that can transform your office, contact Interics Designs today.

7 Ways to Attract & Engage Visitors at Your Exhibition Stand

7 Ways to Attract & Engage Visitors at Your Exhibition Stand

You’re participating in a trade show. You’re competitors are probably going to be there as well. Yet you look forward to a steady stream of visitors throughout the day. However, attracting footfall and engaging visitors for more than a fleeting moment call for some planning and bespoke exhibition stand design.

No matter what type of business you are in, no matter whether this is your first show or the nth one for you, here are some tried-and-tested methods of attracting and engaging visitors.

1. Pre-show promotion: Marketing your presence can impact the number of visitors you receive. Send emailers to existing and potential customers; update social feeds, advertise on relevant websites and magazines. Do it all before the show, so attendees can plan their day in advance and look for your exhibition stand when they arrive at the trade show.

2. Be visible: Bold colours, innovative lighting, eye-catching installations – do what it takes to design a spectacular stall. Conveying information is vital but attracting attention is just as important. Start planning months in advance and work with a creative exhibition stand design company for bespoke exhibition stand design & build – to ensure your stand is visible down the aisle and is striking and enticing enough to capture people’s attention.

3. Train staff: Booth staff plays a crucial role at trade shows. They need to convey the right image, be professional yet friendly. It is not enough to ensure that your workforce is knowledgeable about your product or service. They need to be able to engage people in friendly conversation, without coming across as being too pushy or sales-oriented.

4. Provide space for discussions: The crowds, noise and bustle of exhibitions can be overwhelming. If you provide comfortable seating in a quiet, relaxing lounge or enclosure, visitors are more likely to stay for a conversation. In any case, visitors will be tired from walking around the sprawling exhibition grounds, so they’re sure to welcome taking the load off their feet. And yes, a free cup of hot coffee or cool drink served during discussions would tempt them to sit longer!

5. Give freebies: Free gifts or merchandise is an effective trick to pull visitors to your stall. It could be something creative (but make sure it complements your brand image) or a simple branded pen, keychain or coffee mug. The takeaway could be something more professional like a white paper, ebook or subscription to a paid service. Remember, everyone loves a free gift, so visitors will throng your stand if you have something nice to give out.

6. Provide refreshment: Exhibitions can be exhausting and usually, refreshments sold at exhibitions are expensive or far away. Free coffee, ice cream, popcorn or even bottled water can draw visitors to your stall, and incentivize them to stay a while. That’s your opportunity to engage them in conversation!

7. Entertain: You could play an eye-catching, informative video or host a game; use virtual reality to create a life experience or hire a juggler. Entertainment will help you draw visitors and hold their interest.

Conclusion

It’s tough competing at trade shows. Remember that exhibition success depends on careful planning, creative design and innovative thinking. You could definitely do with some professional assistance.

Talk to SEED (Smart Exhibition & Environment Display). Based in Pune, India, SEED has the team, skills and experience to understand your brief and brand, work closely with your marketing team and develop your exhibition stall design with compelling creativity and proven capability. Anywhere in the world.

SEED has over 2 decades of experience in expo stand design & build across India and even abroad. SEED has served hundreds of clients in both B2B and B2C sectors, delivering award-winning exhibition stall design with hassle-free, quality construction.

SEED can even help promote your stall with a smart digital marketing strategy; ideate and execute innovative freebies; make interesting videos & presentations, etc. to enrich your exhibition booth design and ensure exhibition success. Contact SEED today for a free consult and quote.

5 Reasons to Hire a Good Exhibition Stall Design Agency

Good Exhibition Stall Design

Exhibition Stall Design

Whether you are a seasoned exhibitor or a first-time exhibitor, the importance of a good exhibition stand cannot be over emphasized. Your trade show booth presents your brand at the show. It is a powerful marketing platform, and a golden opportunity to attract potential customers for a face-to-face interaction.

Indeed, there are many reasons why hiring a good exhibition stand design & build company makes sound business sense. Let's discuss 5 of these reasons.

1. Protect your investment

Trade shows are expensive. Right from the rent for the stall space to the cost of the exhibition stand design & fabrication; cost of marketing collateral, giveaways, etc.; travel expenses for the team; and other allied expenses - an exhibition stand is a big investment. A skilled exhibition stall designer will ensure creative exhibition design services and timely execution so your stall works to achieve your exhibition goals.

2. Build your brand

A capable exhibition stall designer also understands branding and brand building. A skilled exhibition stall design company will take the time to find out your exhibition goals, understand your brand and values, and design a stall that is not merely eye-catching but is also a canvas for your brand image. Bespoke stall design, creative panels and trendy elements may be used but the corporate identity, brand story and tone of voice will be carefully incorporated to enhance brand image.

3. Deliver turnkey service

There's a lot involved in making a successful exhibition stall. An experienced, reputed exhibition stand design company will cover every aspect end-to-end. From 3D design and fabrication to transportation, stall assembly and finally, dismantling, an established exhibition stand design company will handle it all with its in-house team or network of designers, transporters, contractors, etc. Such a turnkey, all-inclusive package will take the weight off your shoulders and leave you free for other tasks.

4. Ensure timely installation

A reputed exhibition stall design agency will understand the crucial importance of quality finish and timely installation. Timely, efficient service will ensure there is no hastily done sub-quality work or unfinished work that could cause accidents or damage your brand image. A good exhibition stand design company will also be on call, readily available to provide prompt assistance whenever required. 

5. Exclusive design ideas

Trade shows and expos are getting bigger and bigger. The number of participating exhibitors keeps growing. Nowadays, space is often demarcated into pavilions or zones for specific industries, which only means you're surrounded by more competition.

In such a scenario, you need a stall that can stand out, draw attention and attract footfalls.

A creative exhibition booth design company will come up with original designs and exclusive ideas to promote your stand. With creative use of materials, lighting, messaging, graphic design and effective branding, your booth will have compelling impact.

Conclusion

All these reason should lead you to SEED for your next exhibition stall design. SEED (Smart Exhibition & Environment Display) has the team, skills and experience to understand your brief and brand work closely with your marketing team and develop your exhibition stall design with compelling creativity and proven capability. SEED can even help promote your stall with a smart digital marketing strategy.

SEED has over 2 decades of experience in expo stand design & build across India and even abroad. SEED has served hundreds of clients in both B2B and B2C sectors, delivering award-winning exhibition stall design with hassle-free, quality construction.

Contact SEED today for a free consult and quote. 

What's trending in Exhibition Stand Design?

What's trending in Exhibition Stand Design?

In exhibition stand design, while so much changes, there is much that remains the same. As the business world gets more competitive, as more players invest in trade show booths as an effective marketing tool, the challenge is to design and build an exhibition stand that makes the right impact.

Here are some trends you can use to ensure your expo stand is more than just a simple showcase.

Experiential Marketing

It’s getting really easy to set up VR gear so we’re going to see more and more companies engaging in experiential marketing. Gamification and other engagement solutions are being adopted. Engage a creative exhibition design company to find an experiential marketing opportunity that will attract and engage your audience and create differentiation.

Customisation

Brand awareness and consistency remains crucial in trade show booth design. A bespoke exhibition stand with customised literature and branding throughout the stand is an effective way of communicating your brand and its values, building brand image and achieving brand recall. Customised stand design, graphics and displays — maybe even a themed stand — can help you stand out and draw footfalls.

Technology

The technology space is in a state of constant innovation. Today there are a number of ‘inventions’ you can use to your benefit. Digital graphics are a big draw so you can use display screens to show your logo, corporate films or product videos.

You could also offer inexpensive conveniences such as free WiFi or a charging booth for the visitors’ smartphones. This will offer a seamless way to initiate conversations with visitors, and you can chat about your products while they charge their device. Placing a QR code close to the charging station can encourage visitors to link to your website, YouTube video, etc.

Lighting

Lighting continues to be a focus as it not only makes the booth more welcoming, it helps to draw attention to unique graphics, important messaging or exclusive parts of the stand. The advancements in lighting technology mean that there are many lighting options to create ambiance on an exhibition stand. Designers will focus on lighting fixtures and LED light walls that complement the branding and stand graphics in the stall.

Limited information

Designers have realised that although a stand offers limited space and you want the biggest bang for your buck, cramming it is counter-productive. The trend is to respect empty space and not clutter the booth with too much information.

In design too, less is more. Too many static images are to be avoided, as is using too many different fonts and colours. The focus should be to get the message across in the quickest time — a ‘busy’ booth could confuse the main communication.

Booth staff

Professional booth staff is essential. After all, trade shows are a platform for live, face-to-face interaction with customers, so booth staffers will have a major impact on how well you perform. The trend is to select a team well in advance and train them so that they draw in leads and engage visitors effectively. Even a poorly designed booth can be uplifted by a well-trained, highly motivated booth staff.

Conclusion

Exhibiting at an expo or trade fair can be a rewarding experience for your business, but efforts and investments have to be made to reap the best ROI.

Following the trends amplified in this article will certainly go a long way in creating a truly successful exhibition stand design, conveying the most positive impression of your people and business.

Joining hands with an experienced and creative exhibition stand design & build company will ensure results. SEED (Smart Exhibition & Environment Display), a leading Exhibition Stand Design company with over 25 years of real-world experience, can assist with complete Exhibition Design solutionsfrom concept to commissioning. SEED is a one-stop-shop for the complete gamut of exhibition design services — and has both the artistic skills and fabrication knowhow to deliver effective and impactful designs that optimize usage of space, enhance corporate branding and maximize return on investment.

Contact www. smartexhibitiondesign.com

How to prepare for an international exhibition

With growing globalisation, participating in international trade shows is a great way to showcase your products/services and increase your brand's awareness. It is also a good way to network and learn what is going on in the industry. International exhibitions are useful to develop an export market, gain access to both partners and potential customers.

International Exhibition Stall Designs

There are many points to consider and remember. We have tried to put down the most important ones under 6 different headings.

Know the expo

• Do thorough research before you choose the expo that's right for your company and business objectives?
• Every trade show has its own rules & regulations. Do a detailed study of the organiser's manual; make note of all deadlines and dos & don’ts
• Book early for early bird savings and to get the space & location of your choice
• If a trade association is organising a group stand at the show, you may consider participating as a group member. It will add to your credibility and be cheaper than having your own stand.

International Stall Design

Know the country

• Find out the customs and local rules so you avoid embarrassing situations
• Study cultural and political differences: is it ok to use first names, should one offer a business card the moment you meet, what phrases to use, should you be dressed in casuals or a business suit, etc.
• Get an idea of prices and rates in the foreign country. It's going to be expensive for sure, so be prepared, make arrangements for finance and keep enough cash in pocket.

Think local

• Language is usually a problem especially in European and far eastern countries. It often makes sense to hire local people as interpreters or as stand staff so they can interact effectively with visitors and communicate more efficiently.
• It’s useful to have your sales material and display panels professional translated into the local language for better results.

Marketing matters

• Contact the show organisers for listing in their brochure.
• If budgets permit, place an advertisement in the show's brochure.
• Send emailers to existing & potential clients informing them of your participation.
• Promote your participation on your website & social media closer to the time.
• If you’re planning to hand out samples or branded freebies, order them well in advance so you avoid last minute stress.

Personal preparation, in advance

• Make your travel & hotel bookings early so you get the best fares & tariff. Nearer to the exhibition dates, local hotels get full and flights get really expensive.
• Once your participation in the international trade show is confirmed, apply for your passport & visa.
• Plan and organize your clothing. If you need to wear suits, get yours dry cleaned and ready. If it’s scheduled in winter and you need warm clothes, get them organized.
• Organise finance: currency, prepaid credit cards, etc. Find out if the country has restrictions on the amount of cash you can carry in, and plan accordingly.
• Pack enough business cards: you don’t want to run out of them when meeting prospective customers. Also, be sure to print your country’s name in the address so visitors know and remember where you’re from.
• Ensure your mobile will work overseas so you're always accessible.

Conclusion

Last but not least, you need to sign on an exhibition design agency with the experience and expertise to design creative, customized exhibition stands, and the capability for flawless, timely execution in the country of your expo.

Stall Design International 

SEED - Smart Exhibition & Environment Display is a user experience design concept by Interics Designs Pvt. Ltd. offering complete Exhibition build & design, Environment Design solutions and Event Design & planning - from concept to commissioning. With a strategic approach to every brief, intelligent creative and proven expertise in production & stall construction, SEED ensures satisfaction and success for every assignment.

As a globally operating exhibition and environment design agency with over 25 years of experience, SEED has a team of professional designers, stall builders & contractors specializing in distinctive 3D stall design, eye-catching graphics and flawless execution.

For a stylish, innovative and world-class trade show stall that does your company proud, contact www. smartexhibitiondesign.com