Inside the Trade Show Industry

Trade show set up videos

2010-08-16T10:18:00.000-07:00

Northwest Creative Imaging just launched the first round of trade show display set up videos to help our customers in finding the perfect display. Most customers are concerned about how easy a display is to assemble before they buy it, and our comprehensive set up videos are very helpful in determining set up times. We host all of our videos on YouTube so they can be accessed everywhere including at the trade show. OneFabric displays are one of our most popular products and the set up video shows how easy they are to assemble. We also just introduced the Waveline display which is a little more difficult to assemble but still very easy. We will continue to keep adding to the site and eventually have set up videos for all of our products. Stay tuned to our site for all the most current trade show products. Truss displays will be available shortly with great pricing and a large selection!

Why do companies fail?

2010-08-05T21:05:00.000-07:00

Every year, especially in the last couple of years, thousands of established companies either liquidate or file bankruptcy. It is remarkable that so many established businesses that were once successful, simply become irrelevant and loose everything. There can be many causes, but one fatal business management error that has been amplified by this economic crisis is inefficient labor and underpaid talent. There are many companies that manage their employees pay based on what is "fair" or "equal" as opposed to merit or value. In many companies there is a lot of waste in overpaid lower level employees and underpaid upper lever employees that actually bring in money. When times were good it was very easy to keep employees around because they had been with the company for a long time or were close to retirement, even if they did not produce value for the company. Now that revenue's are down, bloated payrolls are feeling the pressure from tight budgets and deficits. This has also caused a lot of employers to underpay or restrict pay from higher level employees that actually have the talent to get them through this tough economic climate. This has cause a surge of new companies being formed and employees changing companies.

Why do companies fail? One key reason is wasteful payroll management. Paying too much for non-producers and not enough for talent is a determining factor in the health of any company. The math simply doesn't work out. If one employee is pulling the weight of 5 non-producers, then eventually the one producer will leave or stop producing, creating a payroll of 6 employees and no revenue. Once that management style is implemented it is just a matter of time before a snowball effect occurs and the entire company crumbles. This is usually caused by poor upper management and uniformed decision makers.

What can you do? If your company is experiencing these same problems then stand up to management and show them the path of the company. If they are unresponsive it would be wise to find a new place to work before you are forced out of your job. Usually companies that mismanage employee payroll have many other issues that will also lead to failure.

What does this have to do with trade show displays? Not much, but its very important business advice in a tough economy!

Trade Show Displays

2010-07-30T07:13:00.000-07:00

Trade show displays in general are portable graphic, fabric, or laminate systems that are ideal for events such as trade shows. They are also used for almost any event that requires a portable product such as marketing and networking events. In the past 10 years trade show displays have expanded into many other styles and shapes. Pop up displays used to be the most popular choice because they are highly portable and fairly inexpensive. Now there are many other options including Hop Up displays and Waveline displays that are even more affordable and portable. This has also helped the online trade show industry take off. Most brick and mortar trade show display retailers are having to find new ways of expanding market share because, for the most part, showrooms are becoming irrelevant and too costly for most companies. Price point is so key in the industry that most customers will work with a company with a low price instead of a company with a higher price and a showroom. This change in the last 10 years has made most companies with showrooms move towards the higher end, custom displays market while most internet based companies provide the low cost items. As the industry matures and new, innovative ideas are created, most custom displays will be purchased online as well.

Coyote Pop Up Displays

2010-07-07T19:40:00.000-07:00

The Coyote pop up displays section is finally underway on the Northwest Creative Imaging web site. We have put together a pop up display package that combines the best frame in the industry with the best graphics in the industry. Basically, if you are looking for the best in quality and clarity, the Coyote pop up display from Northwest Creative Imaging is the way to go. Usually a product of this quality will cost you much more than a standard system, but our system is priced around the same as most standard pop up systems with lower quality frames and graphics. The Coyote frame has been around since 2001 and has become one of the most popular pop up display frames because of its very simple and basic design that works very well and is extremely durable. The frame has a lifetime warranty, while maintaining a very low defect rate. The graphics that are included with all of our Coyote kits are high definition Lambda graphics which are the highest resolution trade show graphics available. These graphics usually cost quite a bit extra because of the quality and durability, but Northwest Creative Imaging is offering this entire kit at the same price as most premium display packages. We will be expanding this line continuously so stay tuned to our site for more updates!

Premium banner stands on sale!

2010-06-19T07:55:00.000-07:00

The current economic climate has caused many companies to cut costs. In the trade show industry this usually means purchasing economy products instead of premium products. Northwest Creative Imaging has recognized this and put our premium banner stands on sale. During June all premium quality banner stands will be 5% off to help customers with the cost of trade show exhibiting. We have many different options available including adjustable banner stands, retractable banner stands, and banner stands with interchangeable cartridges. Many people are staying away from the premium quality products because of their high price point, but Northwest Creative Imaging offers these products and very low prices making them more affordable to the average exhibitor. We also have a full selection of economy banners that are very affordable and available in large quantities. Please stay tuned to our sales on trade show displays page for all the current sales and new products in the trade show industry!

OneFabric Displays on Sale!

2010-06-16T21:11:00.000-07:00

Northwest Creative Imaging has just introduced a new summer sale for OneFabric displays! Currently the 8 foot curved model only includes free LED lighting with the purchase of a frame and graphic package. It is currently posted on our sales on trade show displays page.

The OneFabric display is a quality product manufactured by Brandstand America. The graphic is printed in China for maximum cost savings without sacrificing quality. The frame comes with a limited lifetime warranty and is designed to last for many uses. There are many sizes and shapes available to fit any booth space. The compact design of the display system is ideal for traveling and dramatically reduces shipping costs. Assembly is very easy because the fabric graphic stays attached to the frame at all times so the entire display can be set up in minutes.

Stay tuned to Northwest Creative Imaging for more great deals on trade show displays!

Great Values from Northwest Creative Imaging

2010-06-15T20:06:00.000-07:00

Northwest Creative Imaging has been expanding so drastically that many products with amazing value can be easily overlooked. Although NWCI offers every product at a great price, there are some products that are incredible values. The product that fits this description the best is the Hop Up display. This display system is one of the most popular, durable, and effective displays available. Northwest Creative Imaging offers this products for over $300 less than our closest competitor. Another great product is Waveline display. Overall this is one of best value in the trade show industry. The full proof frame design and printed graphic are offered at incredible prices and there is even a good warranty to back it up.

Banner stands are still a very popular option and Northwest Creative Imaging carries hundreds of different models and sizes. They are available in economy, basic and premium lines to make it easier for customers to find banners in their price range. We also offer a large selection of retractable banner stands and outdoor banner stands. The best value in the entire line up is the Orient banner stand. This banner is reasonably priced and includes very good hardware and a high quality graphic.

Effective outdoor marketing options

2010-06-14T09:04:00.000-07:00

Outdoor marketing requires a slightly different train of thought in comparison to traditional indoor marketing events. There are many different products that can be used to accomplish effective outdoor marketing including event tents, outdoor banner stands, outdoor flags, and portable billboards. If these products are used effectively they can contribute to a very successful event.

The key to developing a success outdoor marketing campaign is understanding your competitors and customers. Outdoor events require a very unique booth set up that will draw in customers. This can be done with graphic design work or strategic product placement. If all your competitors are using tents then in might be effective to get a sail sign banner with graphics. Its also important to make sure your tent is unique so its easy for customers to recognize and remember you. Our outdoor canopies are available in multiple colors or print options. The design of your tent is a very important part of the marketing strategy. The most effective option would be to use a full dye sub print that is capable of hitting multiple colors. This will allow your designer to make the tent very unique to your company.

Remembering these simple steps will aid in developing at effective outdoor marketing campaign.

Hop Up Displays

2010-06-09T22:27:00.001-07:00

Northwest Creative Imaging has just launched a new product line referred to as Hop Up Displays, but are different from the tradition trade show booth. The display uses an Orbus Hop Up display frame and a customer printed graphic from a custom print shop. This allows NWCI to offer the Hop Up display at much lower prices than our competitors. We also offer all the hop ups in complete kits that include lights, a shipping case and case to counter conversion kit. This product is very durable and designed for a lifetime of use. The frame has a lifetime warranty to back up the product quality. We also carry OneFabric displays that are slightly more affordable, but are printed in China. The Hop Up display is printed in the US and the frame is completely engineered and warrantied in the United States!

Cutting Costs without Sacrificing Service

2010-06-07T21:13:00.000-07:00

In many industries it is very typical to have low cost providers that have a lower level of customer service while the high cost providers have higher costs. Northwest Creative Imaging believes that every customer should be entitled to great customer service while still paying the lowest price. We offer great service by having complete information on the web site which reduces overall calls. This helps us to use fewer sales people thus lowering costs and offering more one on one service. The owner of NWCI actually takes most sales calls to insure continued quality service. Trade show booths are a very important part of any trade show and Northwest Creative Imaging takes this very seriously to insure every customer project gets completed on time and on budget. Our new Hop Up display is designed to offer a great value to our customers while maintaining extremely high quality standards.

Trade Show Tips

2010-05-04T11:18:00.000-07:00

Northwest Creative Imaging is very adamant about our customers being successful at every event they attend. We have an entire section on our site dedicated to trade show tips that will help any exhibitor be more successful at trade shows and other marketing events. Below are a couple highlights from this section of our web site.

Effective graphic design is the most important aspect of any market event. It is critical to analyze your target market and cater to their trends and needs. If this is done correctly it will dramatically increase your success. In many cases a simple and clean design will work very effective. Most buyers go through trade shows very quickly and do not pay close attention to small details. They are specifically looking for products or services their company needs. That is why a clean and simple design works for many industries. There are also industries that buyers walk through shows very slowly and pay close attention to the specific information on your display. If you study your target market it should be clear which design will work the best.

When designing a trade show booth a very important consideration is the type of show you will be attending. If you are a medical billing company and you are attending a show that has nothing but medical billing companies than it would be a bad idea to design your display with "medical billing" as the main headline because most buyers will assume you offer that service. It would be much more effective to make the main focus of your display something unique to your company that your customer desires. This can be something like "Family owned and operated since 1970" or "Easy to use and affordable". This will help set you apart from your competition and make your company more appealing to potential customers.

Taking a look from the customers perspective

2010-05-03T13:21:00.000-07:00

It can be difficult at times to see different situations and scenarios from another persons perspective. This is a skill that should be mastered by an business professional that deals with clients or works in marketing. When developing a trade show booth it is incredibly important to design the booth space and the graphic in a manner that will appeal to your clients. In most cases making the booth simple and clean will appeal to most clients because it makes everything easy to understand and interpret. It is critical for first time exhibitors to make their booth space clean and professional. The main reason for this is because no one will know you at the show if its your first time. A clean and simple design will make it easy for new clients to know what you do and be drawn to your booth.

The most common error in designing a trade show display is trying to put too much information on the display. About 9/10 times this type of design will be ineffective because it makes everything too busy. Most professional buyers need to see exactly what you do within 3 seconds or they will pass by your booth. There are many trade show graphic design examples on our website that have worked effectively for clients in the past.

NWCI Premium Hop Up Display on the Market!

2010-05-02T22:37:00.000-07:00

Northwest Creative Imaging has just launched our new line of NWCI Premium Hop Up Displays that are an exclusive to NWCIdisplays. The display system uses an Orbus Hop Up display frame and a custom printed dye sublimation graphic from a local printer. By using the high quality Orbus Hop Up frame with a lifetime warranty, and a low cost, high quality graphic print, NWCI has packaged the Premium Hop Up Display as one of the best values available in the trade show industry. It is superior in quality to the OneFabric display, but is only slightly more money. We offer a faster standard turnaround at 4 business days, as opposed to the standard 5 day turnaround for the Orbus Hop Up. The main product line has just been launched and will soon includes custom size Hop Up displays and fully custom Coyote pop up displays. Stay tuned for the Ultra Premium Coyote pop up display with Lambda graphics and revamped large format printing section!

New Waveline Displays!

2010-04-30T05:55:00.000-07:00

Northwest Creative Imaging has just introduced Waveline displays to our line up. They are highly portable display systems that very affordable and surprisingly high quality. The frame work is made from tubular aluminum that has a lifetime warranty. The graphic print comes from China and is very colorful and finished very well. This display system is available in many different sizes to accommodate nearly any booth size. The fabric print pulls over the aluminum frame for a pillow case like assembly. There is an industrial strength zipper that secured the print onto the frame and gives the fabric a nice stretch. Any wrinkles that may be in the fabric quickly go away once the display is fully assemble. The fabric is wrinkle resistant so wrinkles are usually not an issue, but a portable steam clean con be used for stubborn wrinkles. There are also many accessories available for the Waveline display including LED lights, fabric tension counters, and dye sub table throws.

Effective Outdoor Displays

2010-04-28T09:27:00.000-07:00

Outdoor displays can be a great way to market outside your storefront or at outdoor events. Outdoor banner stands are the most portable outdoor graphic displays because they are light weight and they break down quickly and easily. Event tents are great solutions for portable canopies at outdoor events. They pop up quickly and easily and are made of high quality, durable materials. When choosing an outdoor display it is critical to examine the outdoor elements that the display will be exposed to. There are many outdoor displays that are designed to withstand extremely high winds, while other should only be exposed to light winds. The Spinnaker outdoor banner stand is a great example of a large graphic display that is designed to withstand even the most extreme conditions. The graphic has C-cuts in it to help withstand winds and there are two large bases that can be filled with water to help with stability. You can view our entire outdoor displays section to find the perfect outdoor marketing product for your company.

Gaining attention with minimal costs

2010-04-21T14:24:00.000-07:00

The most important part of any trade show is to gain the attention of every potential customer. Even if they are not a potential customer they could know someone who is, that is why effective designs are the key to a successful show. There is one product out now which utilizes a full graphic print from China which is surprisingly high quality and very affordable. The product is called the OneFabric display produced by Brandstand. It is ideal for exhibitors who have a very tight budget, but are still looking to make an impact. The great thing about the OneFabric is all the accessories are just as affordable as the display! You can get a set of 2 LED lights for $105 while most manufacturers charge close to $200 for one! The shipping case and option counters are also great values.

This product was brought on by NWCI because of the great quality and great price point. This gives exhibitors more options that every when going to a trade show. The low cost of replacement graphics give the customer the flexibility of changing designs and messages for different shows. With the OneFabric pop up display it is now possible to get much higher ROI on each show. There are also many banner stands and trade show accessories that can be added to make your booth space unique and exciting. We also offer all the traditional pop up displays if you are looking for a product that has more options or shelving.

Northwest Creative Imaging Takes a Stand Against the Overpriced Trade Show Industry

2010-03-19T19:17:00.000-07:00

The trade show industry has always been a very profitable industry for convention centers, display retailers, and the exhibitors who attend the shows. Trade shows are a very cost effective way to make contact with a wide variety of clients and potential leads. Over the years these shows have proven time and time again to offer a good return on your investment.

In the past 10 years prices have been climbing very steadily in the trade show industry making it much more expensive to exhibit, effectively decreasing return on investment. One of the biggest factors contributing to climbing trade show costs is the displays that are being sold on the internet and at brick and mortar stores. Starting in about 2001 a surge of online trade show retailers hit the market offering very good prices in comparison to traditional trade show display retailers. Unfortunately this also caused many problems due to the fact that online companies do not have show rooms and clients cannot see the product before they buy it. These situations breed a large number of online retailers that retailed products of very low quality at premium prices. Needless to say many of the companies trying to find good deals were consistently getting burned on their purchases resulting in spending more money to buy a higher quality product from a local distributor.

In 2009 only a handful of companies like this are still around, many online retailers have begun to sell higher quality products, but they are still selling at a premium in comparison to their quality. This is a very tough problem for online shoppers because there are very few websites that actually disclose exactly where the product is from, who makes it, and the true durability of the product. Many online retailers still do not look at or test their products to insure there are selling quality products to their customers.

Another factor coming into the trade show printing industry is overseas printing from China. The prints are extremely low cost and reasonable quality. This is creating a problem for local printers who are selling to online retailers and are overcharging for US prints. This causes more people to go toward China printers which are still not as high quality as US print shops causing frustration to the end user. Many companies do not even disclose if the prints come from China!

Companies are having a problem finding displays today because of the ambiguity of online shopping and the high cost of buying from a brick and mortar store. This has led a lot of companies to limit their number of trade shows because they cannot afford to market different divisions of their company. This is very sad because the display should be the lowest cost item of the entire show.

Northwest Creative Imaging partnered with Smash Hit Displays is taking a stand against the ambiguity and high cost trade show retailing market. Both sites have recently been completely rebuilt with an extremely user friendly structure. They disclose nearly every detail of the product relevant to the end user including the products manufacturer, origin, turnaround time, warranty, specs, and templates. “Our vision is to educate each customer through our web site so that every customer is just as informed as we are on every product”, says NWCI owner Matt Nixon. “An informed customer is a happy customer; if they know exactly what they are getting then everyone is happy! We also test every product we carry vigorously so we know exactly how to describe it on our site.”

Northwest Creative Imaging sells their trade show and print products at a fraction of the cost of most online dealers. “We feel that every company should be able to exhibit at a reasonable cost, there are sites that charge over $600 for a basic banner stand which is price gouging in my opinion. We don’t mind working a little harder for our money in order to give our customers a lower price. With our low cost and high quality prints our customers can try different designs at different shows to maximize ROI. This is the key to long term business success for us and our customers. We don’t offer a lowest price guarantee because we have the lowest price, period. We don’t play negation games; we just charge the lowest price we can. We don’t mark up our products just to mark them down. We feel our customers will appreciate this because they can order everything online knowing they are getting the lowest price already, most business people do not want to waste time negotiating for the lowest price.”

Northwest Creative Imaging specializes in trade show booths, store fixtures, large format printing, and banner stands. They only sell the most portable display options to maintain a user friendly site and fast and easy shopping. Their partner company, Smash Hit Displays, specializes in custom displays, truss displays, trade show flooring, and hybrid modular display systems.

NWCI Customer Wins Best Booth Award

2010-03-04T05:12:00.000-08:00

This past weekend a customer of Northwest Creative Imaging won best booth award and a local trade show. The award was given because the professional and effective booth set up. Once again this is a great example of how a low cost trade show display can still work as effectively as most of the higher priced substitutes. The entire selection of products on NWCI are very affordable, but still meets NWCI quality standards for durability and craftsmanship.

The best options are the One Fabric pop up display and the Arise pop up display. The One Fabric is one of the most affordable graphic backdrop displays available while the Arise is still highly affordable and has a heavy duty frame that can support shelf's, back lit headers, and Lambda graphics. Both displays are very easy to set up and use full color graphic printing!

Making a statement without breaking the bank

2010-02-27T07:15:00.000-08:00

Whenever compiling an advertising campaign, the projected return on investment is the most critical number to analyze. If your ROI is not sufficient then the campaign will be dismissed by management. This happens very often in the trade show industry because costs across the board are very high and can price many companies out of trade show exhibiting. It is very unfortunate because trade shows are one of the most effective ways to make your company known in the market place.

Northwest Creative Imaging understands this dilemma for many companies and has an answer for portable trade show exhibiting. The One Fabric display is a fairly new addition to the trade show industry and is quickly becoming a favorite due to its incredibly low price point and surprisingly high quality graphic prints. This product is made and printed in China, but is quality controlled by US and European companies to insure quality. This product with NWCI pricing is making professional exhibiting extremely affordable for many companies who normally could not exhibit. We multiple shapes and sizes so you will be sure to find a One Fabric pop up display that will work perfect for your convention!

Trade show event tents and outdoor canopies

2010-01-31T11:10:00.000-08:00

Outdoor canopies and event tents are great outdoor marketing solutions that can help promote your brand and products. Northwest Creative Imaging offers portable outdoor displays solutions for exhibitors looking for stunning outdoor display options. These tents can collapse and expand quickly and easily making outdoor set up effortless. These work great for all types of farmer's markets, wine tasting events, and fairs. You can get your event in a variety of colors or you can have a full dye sub custom printed tents with your logo and company colors.

Northwest Creative Imaging also supports all of our customers with a variety of articles and small business tips to inform our customers of industry related information. A recent article on avoiding misleading advertising is very helpful for anyone who is shopping online. We also post on multiple blogs and other networking sites to keep our customers up to date company related news.

Incorporating projector screens into your display

2010-01-19T17:53:00.000-08:00

Using a projector screen at a trade show can be a very effective way to capture attention of attendees while making your company look very professional. Most exhibitors don't realize that a projector screen can be used on almost any display, including banner stands! All you need for a projector screen is a blank white space and you can do that on almost any trade show display. Pop up displays are the most commonly used trade show booth because they are affordable and easy to assemble. If you would like to incorporate a projector screen into the display all that needs to be done is to design a white space that is proportional to your projector screen ratio. If you currently have a fabric pop up display you can simply get white Velcro graphic that will attach directly to the display. This can even be done in banner stands and other trade show stands to create a very effective display without having to purchased a fulling customized unit.

Designing a Cost Effective Display

2010-01-07T20:18:00.000-08:00

Designing a cost effective trade show display is not only possible but can be very effective. There are many graphic options including banner stands and back wall displays that can effectively display your message without breaking your budget. The most important factor in an effective display is the design of the graphic backdrop. There are many simple and easy ways to create a very effective backdrop and Northwest Creative Imaging specializing is creating effective trade show graphics at a fraction of the cost of most design companies.

We strongly believe that a great trade show design require simple elements that will stand out to you prospective clients. Our experience and understanding of marketing and business assists us in create extremely effective designs without spending your entire budget. You can always call Northwest Creative Imaging for a quote on graphic design for any trade show project!

Small Business and the current economic condition

2009-12-27T07:40:00.000-08:00

Are you a small business owner? If so you have felt the economic slump directly and if you company structure is an LLC or a sole proprietorship then you have felt it directly in your wallet. Unfortunately the current politicians and government officials in office are completely out of touch with the small business owner and everyday working Americans. I am referring to both political parties as they are both passing legislation that is hurting the average American.

No matter which political ideology you support, the fact is more government control hurts the small business owner. The entire purpose of the government is to aid the people in areas that an individual can not help themselves. This includes military, schools, roads, and regulations to avoid monopolistic companies. The governments purpose in no way is to control a persons retirement or run our health care system. This creates an overwhelming amount of government control that hinders business development and entrepreneurship by raising taxes and redistributing wealth. Anyone who has run a company or studied business knows that micromanaging and completly controlling the way a company functions is the quickest way to destroy a company. The same things applies to the government.

Why I am addressing this topic? Because small business owners need to take a stand against where our government is going. If you don't care about politics now is the time to start. The road we have been going down for the past 20 years or so is very scary and has already begun to take a huge toll on small business. All of the current legislation that is being passed will hurt the small business owner despite what the government claims will happen with the deficit. Do your research and start voting out most the current politicians that are currently serving and are in no way standing up for our best interest!

Getting to know your market

2009-11-30T20:22:00.000-08:00

One of the most important factors in successful trade show exhibiting and small business management is recognizing your competitors strengths and weaknesses. This will give you a huge advantage when preparing a marketing strategy for trade shows and other marketing efforts. If your competitor is using banner stands for their main trade show display then it might be a good idea to upgrade to a pop up display in order to stand out. This will give you a huge advantage at trade show and other marketing events.

Understanding your competitors weaknesses is also a great way to find market share that others may be missing. This can include anything from lack of online presence or lack of direct marketing. Analyzing your competitors closely will provide you with the best marketing plan possible for any business!

Spending more during a recession = spending less in the long run

2009-11-17T17:33:00.000-08:00

The recession has been causing many businesses to change their strategies which includes downsizing and cutting costs. Cost cutting is a great way to increase gross margin and maintain profit in the short term and works for many companies, but what's hard to grasp in a time like this is that spending more in certain areas of your business will actually save you more money. This is a constant rule that applies in almost any industry and should be taken very seriously when going through cost cutting procedures. Cutting costs without carefully examining the long term effects could cause a lot of harm to your companies long term profitability.

This is very true in the trade show and marketing industry. Many marketing efforts take time and effective research to work to their full potential and give a return on your initial investment. In the trade show display industry there many different display options ranging in price points and quality. Cutting costs in your trade show marketing budget can save a lot of money in the short term, but it is important to examine why certain products have a lower cost. In almost every situation a lower cost product will last for a shorter period of time than more costly product. When budgeting for long term marketing plans it is critical to examine how many uses each display will have to determine if a higher cost display should be purchased up front. This is a critical consideration because if it will last for more uses, it will result in a MUCH lower cost per use.

If most of your marketing displays and banner stands are only used a few times, then low cost options could be a very good way to save cash in your current fiscal year.

I offer both options for all the products I sell on my site. I offer very low cost products for temporary solutions as well as high quality options that will hold up year after year. Carefully planning your marketing plan and teaming with a good supplier that can work with you on every project will help to maximize your ROI on every marketing campaign.

-Matt
NWCI

Pop Up Displays Section Launched

2009-11-09T19:33:00.000-08:00

NWCI's pop up displays section is nearly completed and ready for the market place. We offer two types of pop up displays: economy and premium. We have decided to offer these models so we can accommodate exhibitors looking for low cost displays as well as high quality displays. We carry an economy line that is focused on exhibitors who do very few shows or exhibitors who need a temporary display solution. The economy line is a very low cost option and exhibitors who are looking for display that will last are encouraged to look at the Arise Premium line. The Arise pop up display is a very durable display that is made in the USA. It has a lifetime warranty and will last show after show.

Although the Arise display is very durable and high quality, NWCI internet pricing makes this display much more affordable than comparable models. We chose to offer this specific model because of the value it brings to our customers. We offer a lambda print upgrade making it possible to get one of the highest quality frames and the highest quality graphics for a very reasonable price.

-Matt
NWCI

Manufacturers Cutting Costs

2009-10-07T19:57:00.000-07:00

The trade show industry recently got a wake up call with the economic down turn. Many US manufacturers have recently been cutting their prices to stimulate sales in the industry. This has led to a drop in retail prices and making trade show displays more affordable. NWCI has taken complete advantage of these lower prices and passed them straight along to our customers. We shop for the best value so every customer can be sure the are getting the most for their money. We also offer design services with all of our graphic displays so you can get everything done in one stop.

Outdoor banner stands page now live

2009-09-17T20:27:00.000-07:00

One of my main focuses with Northwest Creative Imaging is to provide a wide range of outdoor banner stands. There are few online site that offer a wide range of outdoor products at reasonable prices. My selection of banner stands includes popular flag banners and unique outdoor rotating banners. There will also be a section of event tents that will are available in multiple colors or with full color printing. My goal is to have a one stop online shopping solution for outdoor products.

Large format printing from NWCI

2009-09-02T20:54:00.000-07:00

One area we are focusing on is quality large format printing for trade shows and other marketing events. We offer many different printing sub straights so that we can create a graphic that will work in any situation. We can also reprint graphics for almost any display on the market because we have access to the large print shop in the country that have all the specs for every make and model of display. Large format printing requires a special skill in both design and printing of graphics. It is very important to use high quality printers that are set up for large format graphics and will print consistently. We outsource all of our printer to some of the largest printers in the US to insure quality and access to quarter million dollar printers. Our low margins and quick turnaround makes us very competitive with local print shops.

Economy Pop Up Displays from NWCI

2009-08-24T20:55:00.000-07:00

I have picked up a new vendor for my economy line of pop up displays that directly imports displays from China and offers very good pricing. These displays are a great option for companies looking for low cost display options. They work great as temporary displays or for companies who only attend a few shows a year. Every kit comes with a field repair kit for any issues that may come up at the show. We cut out the middle man to get great pricing on these displays and pass it along to our customers. We have the lowest pricing on the internet and the largest selection so you can choose between low cost and high quality. We also offer design services for very low costs so you can can get an entire display package for a very reasonable price.

-Matt
Northwest Creative Imaging

Outdoor banner stands are becoming more popular

2009-08-23T20:17:00.001-07:00

Outdoor banner stands have recently become increasingly popular among companies that are looking to grab the attention of more customers on the streets. These banner stands are a great marketing tool for making your name know in a local area and can be used outside the convention center to remind exhibitors that you are at the show. We offer a full line of portable outdoor banner stands for many different uses. We offer the unique tear drop shaped banner stand that is very effective in grabbing attention of customers driving in front of your store. We also have standard outdoor banner stands that look like a typical banner stand but are designed for outdoor use. There are also outdoor billboard banners that are very large and will be sure to grab any persons attention.

Flooring manufacturers cutting costs

2009-08-22T19:14:00.000-07:00

Trade show flooring has always been a good alternative to renting trade show flooring or using the convention provided floor. Due to economic conditions many companies are cutting their flooring budgets to cut costs at trade shows. This has led raw material suppliers, manufactures, and retailers to cut costs to bring the industry back to life. Look for our new trade show flooring section on our web site which will have interlocking trade show carpet and flooring, interlocking plastic tiles, and rollable carpeting.

-Matt
Northwest Creative Imaging

How to reduce overall costs at your next show

2009-08-20T19:47:00.000-07:00

Trade shows can be very expensive for exhibitors that are new to conventions and do not know the ins and outs of the industry. Trade show displays are a great place to cut costs but it must be done wisely. The best way to reduce overall costs of shows is to buy a display that will hold up over time, and design graphics that will be universal between shows. Banner stands are a great solution to low cost exhibiting. Purchasing a quality banner stand will give you years of exhibiting at minimal costs.

Pop up displays are another good solution to reduce costs and make an impact. When design graphics you should create a universal graphic that will be effective and eye catching. Trade show displays and graphics are meant to grab attention but not to inform. It is critical to make designs very simple and eye catching so you will maximize the number of potential leads.

-Matt
Northwest Creative Imaging

New Trend with Pop Up Displays

2009-08-19T20:07:00.001-07:00

Recently many online web sites have emerged that are selling low quality import pop up displays that claim a lifetime warrantee on the frame. This is deceiving at best and fraudulent at worst. Many sites that continue to advertise these low quality products as good values are hurting the trade show industry and lowering confidence in online retailing. We constantly get reports of customers who have purchased products online and have felt cheated by false advertising and mislabeled products. Pop up displays are a very popular option for exhibitors looking for a display that will make an impact with a low cost. This causes many exhibitors to find the lowest price pop up display and go with it.

There are many key features to look for in a quality pop up that will determine if it is a display that will last you for many years. Pop up displays should have a warrantee certificate that states who honors the warrantee and under what situations the warrantee will not be honored. You should also attain close up pictures of the frame structure. You should look for connection points that are solid and do not contain easy to break parts. Trade show stands are a great marketing tool and can be used to generate large returns on your invest, but purchasing cheap, throw away products can significantly raise your year to year costs and make your shows very costly. When shopping for pop up displays you should take time to research the company who is selling the product and the manufacturer who makes it.

-Matt
Northwest Creative Imaging

Marketing Strategies for your Next Show

2009-08-16T08:05:00.000-07:00

There are many important factors to consider when developing your marketing strategy for a trade show. You need to consider costs for pre-show marketing, show costs, and post show follow up. Focusing heavily on pre-show costs will give you a competitive advantage at the show because attendees will be more likely to recognize your name and your brand when you are at the show. This may even result in attendees targeting your booth because they saw a pre-show promotion. Trade show booths are a very important factor in a successful show. You need to anticipate what your competition will be using and how you can stand out at that show. There are many different booths to choose from and it’s important to get a display that will hold up against your competition and make you slightly unique among other exhibitors.

Your post show follow up will consist of cold calling clients you talked to at the show. When you are at the show it is a great idea to make notes on each potential lead. Try to find something unique about each individual and use that to break the ice when cold calling. This will give you a competitive advantage over other exhibitors because your clients will remember your unique conversion and will be more likely to become a client. Never underestimate the power of a greeting card or thank you note to attendees who visited your booth. Courtesy and sincerity can go very far in the sales world.

-Matt
Northwest Creative Imaging

What to look for when shopping for trade show displays

2009-08-13T20:54:00.000-07:00

Now more than ever people are shopping for every item they buy to insure they are getting the best value. This is a very good practice during this time because many companies are having sales and products and are willing to negotiate because of the economic times. When looking for a trade show display there are many things that should be taken into consideration when finding a good product. You should always check for quality versus economy in picking your display.

When looking for a quality display you should look for displays that are quality controlled in the USA to insure you have a solid American manufacturer backing up the product. An economy display will always be inferior to a quality American product but work great in situations when you only need a display for a few uses. You should research a wide variety of products to make sure you are getting the best booth for the money. You also want a retailer that will back up the products you purchase and give you the support you need at your show. Look for a company that goes the extra mile to make sure you are successful at your show and that you know exactly how your product works before you get to the show.

-Matt
Northwest Creative Imaging

First Product Page Posted

2009-08-11T20:35:00.000-07:00

I just posted my first product page on my web site. It is aimed at being very user friendly and easy to navigate. We incorporated flash into the page to maximize the number of photos on each page. Here is a link to the page: http://www.nwcidisplays.com/displays/banner-stands/retractor-2.html.

This is my effort to bring back transparency to the trade show retailing industry. Many web sites lack critical information on their sites about the product. Most trade show products are at least $100 and can range up to $5000+ so having important information on product pages is critical to the customer. Trade show stands are a very popular online items and great product pages should be a requirement of any online retailing site.

-Matt
Northwest Creative Imaging, LLC

What exhibitors should beware of during the busy season

2009-08-10T20:13:00.000-07:00

The busy season for the trade show industry is fast approaching. September and October are historically the busiest months of the year because of the amount of shows in the USA. It is very important for exhibitors to be aware of the pitfalls during this busy time of year. During September and October lead times can be pushed out in part due to the overwhelming amount of orders and the large number of rush jobs that are being pushed through for customers who waited until the last minute. Plan ahead and do not let your display purchase become the least important objective of your trade show planning.

Waiting until the last minute can result in rush charges and possible missed show dates. Arriving at a convention without a display is the worst possible situation that could happen. You have thousands invested into pre-show marketing, a booth space, travel expenses, but you have nothing to display to attendees. Working in the industry I can tell you that I have seen this happen and I try to warn exhibitors all the time of delaying orders. Expediting packages through UPS or FED EX can be a great solution to get your display to you in time, but shipping companies can also be delayed or loose packages.

Just remember to plan for every part of your show. All it takes is one oversight and the entire show can be ruined. Planning for your display is one of the most important steps in prepping for your show because it is the focal point of the entire convention. There is a wide variety of trade show stands on the market today and I highly encourage you to shop around and the display that will work best for you. If you plan ahead and partner with a good display distributor, you will have more time to focus on other aspects of your show.

-Matt
Northwest Creative Imaging

Effective Design Techniques Proven from Customers

2009-08-09T12:08:00.000-07:00

It is very important to have a great design at your trade show in order to bring in the maximum number of leads. If you don't have a great design then the entire show could be a lost cause. Working within the trade show industry, I know exactly which designs have worked for exhibitors and which ones have failed. The statement I hear over and over is that a simple design works the best. It follows the same psychology as a billboard in that you only have a few seconds to get someones attention at a trade show. I am telling you from experience with exhibitors that a booth design that is extremely busy and over-complicated will result in a low number of qualified leads.

The one thought that can never be forgotten is that there is an exception for every rule. I have seen a few designs that, in my opinion, were too busy but ended up working well for the client. There is still speculation that a more simplistic design would have resulted in better results, but no one will ever know.

The most important concept in a design is to speak to your client base and make sure your design will grab their attention. Trade show graphics are the best solution to make your show a success, but a poor design could give you less than satisfactory results. Every customer of NWCI receives free graphic advice with every order and we also offer design services if you are not sure about how to effectively design your graphics.

-Matt
Northwest Creative Imaging

Marketing Strategies Related to the Trade Show Industry

2009-08-07T22:08:00.000-07:00

Typical marketing campaigns and trade show marketing can require completely different styles of marketing techniques. Standard marketing strategies can consist of brand recognition, target market research, and demographic studies. With a trade show campaign the time and money should be spent in different places to insure you generate the highest number of qualified leads at your next show. It is very important to research the shows you want to attend to makes sure your company fits with the attendees of the show. This can be accomplished by speaking with previous exhibitors, online research, and study of the attendee list.

Next it is important to simplify your company message and mission. At a trade show, attendees are flying through the show trying to cover as many booths as possible in a short amount of time. A complicated and busy booth can distract from your message and divert potential leads from your booth. You also need to research trade show booths to see what size your company will need and the display that will be required to fill the booth. When looking for a trade show display it is very important to take into consideration what your competitors will be displaying in order to spend the proper amount on a display. If your competitors are using banner stands then a fully customized display will not be cost effective.

The most important aspect of the entire trade show is an effective graphic design for your booth backdrop. It is very important to take into consideration that attendees will have 1-2 seconds to view your booth when they are sprinting down the isle. A trade show design needs to be simple, eye catching, and professional. On my facebook page I have many examples of design I have done that have worked very well for my clients.

Keeping good notes and following up after the show is the last step to completing your trade show marketing campaign.

-Matt
Northwest Creative Imaging

Trade Show Flooring Industry Hurting

2009-08-06T20:46:00.000-07:00

The trade show industry, as a whole, has held up better than most industry's in the recession, but the flooring division of the trade show industry has taken a beating. Most companies are cutting flooring before any other trade show expense. This has led the flooring industry to cut costs to draw in more business. If your company has an interest in trade show flooring then right now is the time to buy. Retailers, suppliers, distributors, and manufactures are cutting their costs in order to bring the retail price down for the end consumer. Trade show displays are still a great marketing tool and right now is a great time to take advantage of low pricing. My web site is focused on providing low cost items that are still quality products. I focus on only the most portable trade show displays in order to lower overhead and bring lower prices to the end user. Check out my sales and promotions section of my site for great deals that I am offering during my site rebuild.

-Matt
Northwest Creative Imaging

Why use pull up banners for marketing?

2009-08-05T20:56:00.000-07:00

I just launched the index page to my pull up banners and banners stands page. These are a great option for people on the go. All banner stands set up very quickly and easily making them a great option for career fairs, county fairs, retail stores, sporting events, and trade shows. It is important to pick a banner that will work for your company because there are thousands of options on the internet. If you only need the banner for one use then it would be smart decision to purchase a low cost economy model that is built for limited use. If your company is planning on using the banner for multiple shows a year then a premium banner stand would be the best choice. Keep in mind that no matter what the cost of the banner is, it is very important to design effective graphics that will work for your companies marketing strategy.

-Matt
Northwest Creative Imaging

Pages Launched on Site - Sales on Trade Show Displays

2009-08-04T21:29:00.000-07:00

I have just added some pages to my new site. One is an about us page that describes our company and another is a sales pages on trade show stands. This is a little peek into the great pricing I will be offering on the site. I am currently working on many sections of the site and will have full sections built out shortly. I will also start a facebook page on the design portion of my company as well as a twitter account on marketing and advertising. Keep posted for updates on sales and new pages.

-Matt
Northwest Creative Imaging

Online Marketing

2009-08-02T21:33:00.000-07:00

Trade show retailing is very difficult to accomplish online. It requires well built web pages that are informative and interactive. Many current trade show display retailers are failing miserably at offering support and online information to customers. This makes it very difficult for the legitimate retailers that have well built sites and detailed information to gain the trust of online shoppers.

It is my vision for my company to offer complete trade show display retailing to customers who are looking for moderate to high quality products at true internet prices. I will be offering the most portable trade show stands that are currently the most popular on the market. My goal is to focus on one specific part of the market and be the absolute best in my niche. I want every one of my customers to be happy with their purchase and promote the online trade show industry.

The main concept of online marketing is to create trust in you clients by hosting a well built and easy to navigate site. Once you gain a potential clients trust, your web site needs to keep their interest by providing relevant and important information on all your products and services. If this macro level concept is followed when developing an online web site then online web marketing will be effective and create value for yourself and your clients.

-Matt
Northwest Creative Imaging

New Home Page Launched

2009-08-01T05:27:00.000-07:00

I just posted the home page for my trade show displays web site. I am currently working out some bugs and changing the design slightly, but its the basic format I will be using. If you have any questions regarding the site or the product please email me feedback and questions.

I will follow up with a blog today about building effective web sites for trade show retailing and online marketing in general.

-Matt
Northwest Creative Imaging

Using a projector screen on a standard trade show display

2009-07-30T19:27:00.000-07:00

Incorporating a projector screen into a trade show display can be a great way to add some movement to your booth for a small investment. Northwest Creating Imaging offers a full line of displays that can incorporate a projector screen into the display. This is done by creating a white space on the graphic that will match your projector ratio of either 4:3 or 16:9.

Any standard pop up display or banner stand with an opaque graphic can accommodate a projector screen. This can give your company a very professional look for a very small price. Pop up displays are one of the most popular trade show stands in the industry because of the affordable price point and large mural graphics.

If you have any questions on incorporating projector screens into your display system please email info@nwcidisplays.com with any questions.

-Matt
Northwest Creative Imaging

Green Displays are the new trend

2009-07-29T19:56:00.000-07:00

A growing concern around the world and especially in the trade show industry has been the preservation of our environment. The trade show industry is very wasteful mostly because of the "throw away" quality products being sold in the industry. There are many pop up displays and banner stands that are so cheap they won't even break down after you set them up. This results in wasted products and more garbage in landfills. If your company wants to start exhibiting in a responsible manner there are a few considerations to make before you next trade show. A quality display is the first step to being a green exhibitor. I say this because having a display that lasts for 10 years will result in less waste because you are not purchasing and throwing away new products every year. Even if the product is not made with environmentally friendly materials it is still a better option than using a cheap display. The second option is to purchase a display that is high quality and made from recycled and/or renewable materials.

I will have a full section of green trade show displays on my new website, nwcidisplays.com. I will offer a full line a quality trade show stands as well as green displays. By selling quality products and green displays I plan on helping the trade show industry to reduce waste and create value for every exhibitor.

-Matt
Northwest Creative Imaging, LLC

Catalog in the works...

2009-07-28T11:52:00.000-07:00

I am currently designing the catalog for my Affordable and Portable Displays division of Northwest Creative Imaging. It is going to be focused on providing relevant information for customers that are interested in trade show displays. My focus is to disclose all relevant information related to every product. Working in the industry, it is very apparent that exhibitors are moving away from purchasing trade show products online because of the overwhelming amount of poorly managed sites with overpriced products.

The site that I will be launching in the next few months is completely focused on the customer. It will provide every detail needed to make and informed decision quickly and easily. I will offer an online shopping cart system for quick check out, but I will also offer a more detailed order form for customers who are looking to make a personalized purchase. I am also going to have a 24/7 help line for customers who have questions or need assistance at shows. For anyone who is currently struggling with finding trade show products online please contact me through this blog, or contact my partner company Smash Hit Displays.

-Matt
Northwest Creative Imaging, LLC

Overall searches for online trade show products down

2009-07-14T19:48:00.000-07:00

Recent online ranking reports show an overall decreases in total overall searches for key words relating to trade show display products. The trend has been declining since 2004 where it was at its peak. This could be due in part to the overall slowing of the economy, but my research has lead me to think that it has more to do with the overall quality of online trade show display websites. There are many sites out there that are extremely hard to navigate, have little information, and are overpriced. If searchers are finding this true then word of mouth would drive an overall decline on the number of overall searches on the web.

I have been working in the trade show industry for close to 5 years now and I am launching a new web site that is going to change the face of online display shopping. I have recently formed Northwest Creative Imaging, LLC which is a partner company of Smash Hit Displays. My mission is to provide an online trade show resource for ordering portable products at very affordable prices, the way a true online retail store should operate. I want to focus on bringing the transparency back to the trade show industry by disclosing manufacturer information and provide online resources for every single aspect of the display.

The site is set to launch around mid August and I will constantly be posting to this blog to give people incites to the company's formation and news on the current state of the industry. Keep posted to this blog for updates on my site and all the current trends and insider information on the trade show industry.

-Matt
Northwest Creative Imaging, LLC

Display Systems and the Economy

2009-02-13T18:49:00.000-08:00

Display Systems are a great way to break your company out of this economic slump. We recommend to our customers who are struggling right now to take advantage of this economy to capture more market share. If you increase your market share sales should stay even or increase. Trade show displays are a great tool to make your company know at any convention. Creating a great trade show booth will encourage new buyers to talk to you and potentially buy from you. I highly recommend in this economic state to be proactive and grab as much of the market share as possible.

Matt

Opening Blog to introduce the trade show industry

2008-12-15T08:25:00.000-08:00

This is my first posting of this blog and the message I wanted to deliver in my postings are the facts and operations of the trade show industry. I want to help first time exhibitors by giving them an inside scoop on how the industry works and what things to look out for when exhibiting. I will also post general business tips and strategies not only for trade shows, but for business operations in general.

The trade show industry, in general, is a network of conventions throughout the world that are themed and designed to bring buyers and sellers together in order to promote trade. These shows can be a great stepping stone for start up businesses and established business to grab large accounts and increase market share in a specific industry. The problem with trade shows is that they can be very expensive, and if you are not informed of how to exhibit then the show can generate a huge loss. This blog as well as the company I work for are dedicated to stopping this common occurrence.

I will highlight the main aspects of trade show exhibiting to be aware of in this blog, and will follow with many helpful tips to get you through the start up point of your business.

Pick the right show – Picking the correct show for your company is crucial is getting business from the show you attend. This may seem like a no-brainer but it is often easy to attend a show that does not fit your industry.

Get a display that fits your company and your industry – This is a huge mistake that many first time exhibitors make when attending shows. Depending the industry and show you are at, it is important to get a display that is cost effective, but will also represent your company correctly.

Talk to a professional in the trade show industry – There are many companies that can help with educating you on developing a great booth and business plan for the show. The company I work for, www.smashhitdisplays.com, is very helpful to first time exhibitors and will help anyone out at no charge.

Develop a business plan for the show – Never forget to create a business plan for your entire team that you will follow at the show. This includes how to approach and talk to customers, trade show follow up, and budgeting for the show.

These simple steps, as well as many others to follow, will help you maximize your ROI and give you a jump start to having successful show and increasing your customer base for years to come.

Thank You

Matt
Smash Hit Displays, LLC