Tips for Planning your Exhibition Space

Everybody wants to make their best impression when it comes to exhibition stands. You’re up against all kinds of big names at industry events and whether you stand out from the crowd or not, can simply come down to how well thought out your stand is. 

In this blog we will outline a few top tips to help you best plan and implement your exhibition stand.

Have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and who your audience is
Whether you are launching a new product, attempting to find new clients, trying to spread the word or sell, sell, sell. Having a clear idea of what you want to achieve at the exhibition and what your overall message is going to be will make all the difference. Conveying your company’s values clearly will put you in a much better position when it comes to sales or leads. If you know your target audience you can focus on a concept that will communicate the most effective message and attract the right kind of potentially lucrative prospects. Keep your goals and audience in mind throughout the process and not only will you end up with a great looking stand but one that does the talking. 
    
Make the most of the space you have
Before you start planning your exhibition read your exhibitor pack carefully, confirming dimensions and any features of your allocated space. Your design and build team should aim to utilise the space fully ensuring visitors flow through the stand without being restricted. Minimise physical obstructions at points of entry and position meeting areas towards the back.

Consider different materials and lighting
Lighting can make the biggest difference on a stand. It can set the mood, create atmosphere and show products off at their best. Don’t just make do with standard venue lighting, add extra lighting, you could even mix it up with colours. Experimenting with materials and textures like high gloss surfaces, wood, glass and metal effects can help attract visitors and to emphasise your image. A combination of lighting, materials and colour can help to create an ambience that will make you stand out from the competition.
  
The taller the better
As well as making the most of your floor space you should take advantage of the vertical space. Although some events will have limitations on the height of stands it is worth checking the rules for yours. Larger venues with high ceilings will allow suspended banners and high signage, which will maximise your stands visibility and attract people to your stand from far-flung corners of the exhibition hall. Note: There is normally an extra cost for rigging needed and you may need to do an additional risk assessment.

Graphic impact - short but sweet
Keep text short and sweet on your printed graphics. Long sentences won’t provide any impact and will mostly likely be left unread. Make the text memorable and stick to key statements. A catchy tagline is a great way to grab attention and it gives visitors something to remember you by after the event. Stick to nice, easy to read fonts and position your text in the top half of your exhibition panels so that visitors, staff or furniture on the stand do not block it.

A picture is worth a thousand words
This is probably the most important of all. Your stand graphics will make the biggest impact and if you get it right, strong imagery will say more about your business than any amount of text. When it comes to impressions, the bigger the better too, but make sure the images you use are high resolution. Pixelated images will have the opposite effect and impact the overall feel. You can commission lifestyle photography if your company is product based or use suitable stock imagery.


Although there is a lot to think about when planning a stand it doesn’t have to be complicated. Think through the process. Who are you aiming to attract, what you are trying to say and what you want your stand to convey. Use impactful imagery, snappy text and make the most of the space you have.

The New Fat team can help you through every stage of the planning, design and build of your professional exhibition.

If you would like help with your next industry event or marketing material then get in touch with The New Fat.

Why not read are our case study or check out our latest offer.

My Useful Guide: Professional Stationery

As simple as it is, business stationery is an effective marketing tool with great efficiency when implemented properly. 

Reinforcing branding and business mentality, the modest business card and letterhead has the potential to open doors.

The basic stationery essentials are covered by three main elements, the business card, the letterhead and the compliment slip. This stationery trio are a triple threat in your marketing arsenal. Providing an upfront view of your professionalism and defining a business ethos of quality and integrity.



Things to consider
Distributing smart business cards when networking, corresponding on letterheaded paper and adding notes to compliment slips all provide a lasting impression. Keep your stationery clean, concise and on brand. Stick to the important details; phone numbers, office, email and web addresses. Social media platforms and USPs could also prove valuable. Add your name and job title to your business card. Make sure your logo is in pride of place and that all components are consistent across all elements of stationery. 

Quality shouts professionalism
Choosing the right paper stock is crucial. Too thin and flimsy and your business potentially comes across as lacking in professionalism. A good paper stock for a business card would be a laminated 400gsm or 350gsm for a more natural stock. For a letterhead and compliment slip 115gsm. We love to be tactile, and being able to feel the quality of the stock will make all the difference and add that sense of confidence and credibility.

There is also the option to add effects such as coloured foils, embossing or die cuts to enhance your business cards - these come at a price but really stand out from the crowd. When it comes to a pile of business cards, eyes are attracted to the unusual, the bright, the bold…even the SHINEY! Just like magpies. Investing that little bit extra proves that you have confidence in the business and it might just give you the edge over the competition.

Your business stationery, especially your business card, is often the first insight into your brand a client will experience, so getting it right is important.

If you fancy a new set of business stationery update your business card, letterhead and compliment slip and make a lasting impression, please contact us for a quote. For inspiration visit our portfolio or read our latest case study on Chrysalis and their stationery rebrand.

My Useful Guide: Going Responsive

In the last couple of years smartphones and tablets have become more and more a part of everyday life.

With mobile devices now tipping the scale and coming out on top for internet users, how should you utilise this growing trend?

The answer, go responsive

The way in which people view online information has been changing quickly and your website needs to keep up. Loading a full website on a small phone screen is impractical and not very user friendly. 



Responsive websites however, adjust their layout to suit the dimensions of the screen. Re-flowing content into columns and even allowing non-vital content to be switched off. Not only that but they utilise the touch screen gestures such as swipe, pinch and tap.

Advantages of going responsive

These days it’s all about having a positive user experience. So many of us spend our lunch breaks, train and bus journeys, just about any free time we have on our smartphone scrolling through social media outlets, internet shopping or just browsing sites. The more user friendly, the more time we spend on the site and the more likely we are to revisit, make a purchase or enquire.

Consider that 15 seconds is all we have to capture somebodies interest online, it’s important to make sure that all the vital information is easy to find. You should treat your website like a shop window, grab the viewers attention by showing appropriate information and the best of what you have to offer. Unlike a normal website, responsive sites know how to handle content on mobile devices, ultimately improving your brand image and keeping surfers happy.

Something else to bear in mind is the power of social media. Over half of social media browsing happens on mobile devices. Links and shares direct people to your website via phones or tablets. Responsive is a must, if you are going to make the most of those potential leads.

Invest a bit of time and effort into SEO (search engine optimisation). Not only are responsive websites better for users but they are also preferred and recommended by Google for online rankings. Use key words and content rich text to help boost your position in the search results. Google loves responsive sites and rewards you for it. Previously a mobile friendly website would have been entirely separate to the main site, meaning the online rankings would be effected. Links are consolidated to just one site with the new style of responsive websites, boosting your position on the results page.

With internet shopping on the increase, growing numbers of on-the-go internet surfers and mobile phones overtaking desktops as the preferred choice of browsing - why pass up the opportunity of all that marketing and sales potential. Investing a bit of time and money into going responsive and improving user experience could significantly improve your online presence and client leads.

Alternatively have a look at some of the websites we have designed by clicking on the links below:

Plaster By Design
Apache Industrial Workwear
Sterling Safetywear
Med-Lab
Gatch

My Useful Guide: Understanding Large Format

When is comes to making a BIG impression large format graphics are a great way of drawing attention to your brand. Available in so many different guises, big really is beautiful!

Pop-ups, pull-ups, poster and signage, modular stands or bespoke exhibitions. What is the difference and what should you be considering when planning an exhibition?

Pull-ups
Not to be confused with pop-ups, pull-ups are affordable and portable banners, most commonly 800mm wide x 2000mm high in size. Often printed onto a vinyl like material. These are the perfect choice for exhibitions, trade shows and smaller events. 

Pop-ups
These are mid-sized portable display systems where graphic panels attach to a “pop up” frame. Often spanning 3 or more metres wide, these are ideal for creating a backdrop to your exhibition. Easy to set-up these come in a wheeled drum that converts easily into a freestanding counter. Pop-up stands are professional and great for bringing impact for a mid-size exhibition space.

Modular exhibition stands
Modular stands are made up of components that lock together creating a high impact stand but without the need of stand builders and power tools. This type of stand can be reconfigured to fit different exhibition spaces, giving you maximum flexibility. Graphic panels are attached with Velcro or magnets, tension fabric options are also available. Packing up is a two-man job and depending on the size of your configuration you can transport them in a car or small van.

Full custom stand build
Built to any specification or size, with unique design, technical elements such as audio and visual inputs, lighting and touch points, custom builds are by far the most professional looking and impressive type of stand available. Graphics will be made to measure and can be printed onto a range of materials such as, glass, fabric, Foamex, PVC and adhesive vinyl. A stand like this will require a professional stand builder to construct and dismantle. Standing out in a sea of stands within an exhibition is important. 

Creating a unique stand with eye-catching promotions, graphic elements and useful information can prove very worthwhile. Although expensive to install the results can prove to be incredibly beneficial. 

Why exhibit?
Exhibitions are a brilliant chance to showcase your business, your products, skills and services. Attended by people pursuing services within your industry, exhibitions and tradeshows are the perfect place to achieve face-to-face leads. Being able to demonstrate your products and services to a vast amount of people first hand has huge potential, allowing customers to involve themselves with your product, to see, hear and feel.

When it comes to preparing for an exhibition or tradeshow it is important to plan your stand with plenty of time. Read your exhibitor pack carefully early on, as it may include important deadlines especially for larger exhibits. Get a graphic designer/exhibition designer involved in the early stages and they will be able to help you with design and production of the stand.

Understand the size of your stand and the budget you have for the whole event. You don’t want to turn up with a couple of pull-up banners if you have the space for a high impact stand.

Have a clear idea of what you want to achieve at your tradeshow or exhibition:
• What message are you trying to get across about your company?
• Do you have a new product to launch?
• Who do you want to meet/attract to your stand?
• How are you going to capture and follow up those important leads?

Preparing for an exhibition doesn’t have to be complicated but it is important to think it through. With lots of experience in stand design and construction our professional team at The New Fat can help you through every stage of the planning and design of a professional exhibition. Have a look at our online portfolio or contact us for more information.

My Useful Guide: Understanding Imagery

It is said that a picture’s worth a thousand words and when it comes to imagery, quality is everything.

There are two main types of imagery used in design: vectors and Raster graphics. But what is the difference and how do you get the best out of your images?

Vector graphics

A vector graphic is made up of a series of paths, with points and curves. These paths make any shape, whether it’s a straight, hard-edged or curvy.

Vectors are made using design software such as Adobe Illustrator and are most commonly used for logos and illustrations. Vectors can be scaled up to any size with no loss of quality as the edges stay clean, smooth and most importantly, don’t pixelate. 

Raster graphics

Raster graphics, also known as bitmaps are images made out of a series of blocks called pixels. For example, images imported from your digital camera or photos found online will be raster graphics. The more pixels an image has the bigger the file size and the higher the quality. Popular file formats include Jpeg, GIF, Tiff and PNG.

Raster images can be scaled down in size with no adverse effects to the quality. The issue comes when scaling up. Enlarging a bitmap can cause the image to lose quality and become blocky and ‘pixelated’, making the image look blurry. Commonly referred to as a low resolution image.

Raster images provide a detail and depth of colour that can’t be achieved by vectors, which are generally made up of solid colours or gradients.

Your Logo

All logos should ideally be vector based as it can then be reduced to fit on a business card or enlarged for billboards and the logo will still be the same high quality. If however your logo is a jpeg, the quality will be heavily compromised when scaled above its original size.

In most cases a business will require both photography and vector graphics across their marketing material.

ACHIEVING HIGH QUALITY IMAGES

Stock versus personal photography – Which is best for your business?

Is it best to use stock imagery sites and download an image from an online catalogue? Or do you employ a professional photographer and build up your own in-house photo library?

Stock photography

Time is the biggest advantage as images are available to download immediately, all you need is to sign up and buy credits and you’re away. Not only is it quick it is relatively cheap and there is a huge variety of images from a vast number of contributors.

One factor to consider when using stock imagery is that the images can be downloaded by anyone, any number of times. Meaning there is a chance that your customers and clients could see the same image elsewhere. The images also come with licensing restrictions that could include usage limitations and caps to print runs. Always make sure you are clear on the terms and purchase an extended licence if required. Stock websites such as Istock, Getty and Shutterstock are a great starting point.

Professional photography

If you want creative control and characteristic images then a professional photographer is for you. This is a more expensive way of starting an image library but it is well worth it.

You may have an idea of content but a professional will know how to achieve the most impact and will be able to direct and suggest ideas you may not have thought of. Take advantage of a half or full day shoot and work on achieving a series of shots rather than just one.

Creating an image library this way adds to the feeling of professionalism and quality that businesses should wish to instil. Most importantly giving you the resources to create impactful and targeted marketing material, enhancing your brand identity.

Professional photographers are a great investment for product photography. Achieving clean detailed shots with correct colour representation should be paramount when promoting products. With the aid of studio lighting, light boxes and props, a professional will show your products at their best.

If lifestyle images are what you need then a photographer will have access to all the supporting people you may need. Models, make up artists and artistic directors, with the knowledge of locations and backdrops all to suit your brand style. As an alternative to sourcing a location, why not use your own premises and staff and add a personal feel.

Professional photography has the best of both worlds. You can achieve the high quality, bright, well-styled shot of a stock image with the creative control and personalised representation you need to maintain your brand. Stock imagery will always be somebody else’s interpretation of the idea and not a true representation of your business and ethos. Working with a photographer will keep your marketing material true to character, helping to create a connection with your clients.

If you are after inspiration please have a look at our portfolio. Alternatively, if you need advice planning a photo shoot, The New Fat can help pull together everything you need.