Exhibition design for SailPoint

21 Jun Exhibition design for SailPoint

Exhibitions are a fantastic way to make face to face contact with clients and potential new customers. You get to show the people side of your business. It’s a chance to impress visitors and boost your company awareness. But how do you ensure you stand out from the hundreds of other stands? Fees to have space at the event can be expensive, so how can you maximise this investment? This is what we were challenged to help a client with this month.

The Brief

Our client contacted us during the week preceding Easter to discuss their ‘space only’ stand at Infosecurity Europe 2016. The expo was held at Olympia in London, 7 – 9 June.

What is a space-only stand?

The definition of a space-only stand, although self-explanatory, is that you pay for a space on the floor but there is no floor covering, walls, ceiling or physical structure. All of this needs to be designed and built.

Meeting regulations

At this stage, our client had received a very cost effective proposal from a stand builder based in Israel, where they are based. However there was a concern over this company’s ability to meet the objectives of the stand and also to comply with the strict CDM (Construction Design and Management) regulations. All exhibition stands are required to adhere to these in the UK since 2015.

Our team are specialists in this field, and all our exhibition stands will conform to CDM regulations.

Stand features

The client’s requirements for their 6.5m x 4m stand included:

• 3 x demo pods to include a Mac Mini, a keyboard and mouse and a 24” monitor
• Reception desk without bar stools that can serve drinks
• Large screen demo / presentation area
• A storage area for bags, literature and merchandise etc.
• Sufficient options for branding
• Tall so it can be viewed from a distance (not exceeding the 4m exhibiter limit)
• Open on 1 side
• A design with impact
• All stand power, distribution and management
• WiFi and hard wired internet connection
• Uniforms for the client’s team

Timeline

The team had from the start of April until the start of June to design and produce the client’s stand. It was a tight turn-around time but we met the deadline and the finished product looked amazing.

It’s possible to complete the process in less time but it would lead to some late nights!

Project outline

Within eight weeks we had the following activities to complete:

• Create several designs (with 3D mock ups) and revisions before sign off
• Submit stand plans and technical drawings to the exhibition organisers
• Complete a build plan, CDM plan and health and safety documentation
• Create the branding artwork for the stand and gain sign off
• Manufacture the physical stand

Phase 1: the design

We offered the client three designs to choose from. In the end they chose a blue and orange themed stand. The colours are striking to catch the attention of exhibition visitors, as well as complimenting their branding.

Option one. A blue and white colour scheme with two laptops for product demonstrations.

Option two. A grey, blue and orange themed stand featuring a main TV monitor at the front.

Option three. The final chosen design. White, blue and orange colours with three product demonstration areas.

Phase 2: the build

The stand was pre-fabricated in our workshop before being delivered to Olympia to be constructed.

Our team started the build on Sunday morning, two days before the event. The floor was put down first which was raised to accommodate the power distribution.

In the original design the client had opted for a blue carpet. One week before the exhibition show, we advised the carpet should be swapped for white vinly flooring. This was to make it easy to clean since the client had decided to serve beer from the stand at the event.

After the flooring, the wall and ceiling panels were installed. The branded wall coverings were a combination of pantone-matched paint and printed vinyl.

The exhibition stand was completed by Monday lunchtime. By this time, our client’s arrived from Israel and America to oversee the final set up of the audio visual equipment. They were also able to ensure that the presentation content was running as required.

Phase 3: attracting delegates

Two weeks before the exhibition start date, our client contacted us regarding ways to attract more visitors to their stand. We proposed and discussed some ideas including:

• Clowns, costumes, caricaturists
• Freebies and giveaways
• Professional exhibition staff
• The competition incentive
• Food and drink
• Social media engagement

Ultimately the client decided to explore the food and drink option. They chose to have draught beer on the stand. This was served in branded pint glasses that we sourced from a supplier.

For tempting snacks, we recommended a generous number of boxes of world famous Ben’s Cookies.

Both proved a huge hit, enticing visitors to spent time on the stand discussing our client’s products and services.

Client Feedback

We’re pleased to report that our client was delighted our work!

The professional exhibition stand, excellent lead generation and converted sales contributed to a fantastic presence at the event.

Plans have already been made for next year to take on a larger space at Infosecurity Europe. They are so impressed with the quality and design of the stand, that they have decided to reuse elements for 2017.

Need help with your exhibition stand?

Contact us about how we can create you a bespoke exhibition stand made to fit your company requirements.