Many suppliers provide very little information about the product and the materials used in the manufacture and consequently it is all too easy for a customer to purchase a product which could suffer some of the problems shown below.

Problem 1 – Leaning Banner Stands

Leaning in a roller banner is caused by one of two things but both issues are related to the thickness of the aluminum used in the mechanism being insufficient in order to support the print. In the example below, we see a banner stand which is used in a department store. The banner is leaning forwards at quite a severe angle. We can see that the pole is bending rather like a banana because the metal is too thin. A similar problem can exist whereby the base casing of the stand can also flex, once again because the metal is too thin.

Problem 2 – Curling Edges

Sometimes, suppliers will print graphics onto materials that are not ideally suited for use on a roller banner. When these materials are subjected to variations in temperature, the material will curl which looks unsightly. In this example, the banner looks to have been printed onto a polypropylene material of some description. You can see the edges of the stand are curling backwards so it has a negative effect on the look of the artwork. You can also see that the support pole is bending over because the thin metal cannot support the downward force of the spring in the base, combined with the weight of the material itself.

Problem 3 – Cheap material = Prints that tear

In this shot you can see that the print has started to tear in the top left hand corner of the graphic. It makes the display look tatty when viewed in the flesh more so than it looks in this picture.

The stand uses a toprail whereby the print is wrapped around a loop and the loop has caused the material to tear under stress. If a stronger material was used then the tear would not have formed. Our stands are printed onto tear resistant material and use a top rail that clamps the material rather than wrapping it around a rod which can eventually cause the material to tear.

This tear will get bigger until the print eventually becomes detached from the top rail entirely then the stand will be useless.

Choosing your roller banner supplier carefully will ensure that the product you buy will provide reliable use and best value for money and can avoid problems like the above.

Look how much this banner stand is leaning over. It's because the pole and base are made from thin metal that is flexing

Wrong materials = curling banner stand

cheap material and bad stand design causes tearing on print

I found that Displays Galore is working from the same address as Abex Display who were traditionally a supplier of un-printed exhibition display hardware including pop up stands, roller banners and banner stands to the trade.

There is no doubt that times have been tough for some suppliers over the last few years but still, I found it surprising that a business who traditionally offered products to the ‘trade’ would so obviously go after end-user business and risk alienating customers.

The advertised price of only £349 for a 3×3 pop up stand looked too good to be true…. so I looked more closely at the offer.

The stand takes up to 10 days to deliver and this makes me suspect that the printing is not being produced in the UK. I noticed that the graphic panels were UV printed and so I doubt the quality of the printing would be up to the same quality as an aqueous digital print.

The icing on the cake….. The case wrap panel will cost you another £50 as will the lights if you want those too.

Suddenly the £349 stand is £449. That combined with the long lead time, ambiguity about the quality of the printing and actually there are suppliers in the UK who will offer the product for a similar cost in half time time!

Along with the discounts on office space, enhanced capital allowances and access to superfast broadband, any organization planning on using the zones as a base would be well advised to invest money saved on leasing and start up costs in marketing equipment such as affordable pop up stands, suggests exhibition experts, Printdesigns.

Mark Thompson from Printdesigns said, “Conferences, exhibitions and seminars are a fantastic way for startups to connect with their target market and make an instant impression. Whereas other channels such as telesales, mail drops or internet marketing can take a period of weeks or months to kick in, an exhibition is a chance to meet pre-qualified visitors face to face and instantly start to build a rapport and network of contacts.

“Of course, competition at an event is always going to be fierce with a number of other businesses in the same room all pitching for the same budget but, you can up your chances of success by investing in an eye-catching exhibition stand, preparing clear, succinct marketing material and ensuring staff members are professional, polite and know the product or service inside and out.”

A stand such as the express pop up stand from Printdesigns ticks both the budget and practicality boxes.  A quick and easy way to achieve a professional exhibition presence,

the express stand can be constructed in just a few minutes with no specialist training required. Available in a choice of three, four, five and six panel designs, magnetic fixings are used to attach the graphic panels to the frame, rather than a traditional hook and node system.

For a complete exhibition solution ideal for new businesses, the 3×3 cross braced complete pop up stand kit features a self locking frame which forms a rigid wall structure, magnetic graphic panels, a full set of bespoke graphics, transit case and counter. Ready to use out of the box, it can be used and reused giving great value for money.

We are now subscribed to Digg, Facebook and Twitter where you can keep up to date with what’s going-on at Printdesigns. We also have a Facebook Group ‘Printdesigns’ and a Twitter account http://www.printdesigns.com/twitter

Why not add us to keep informed of new products and developments here at Printdesigns Limited. Likewise we are always interested to hear what our friends and customers are doing so if you have some news that you would like to share, please send us a message!

The last few Months have been very busy here and we have all been working hard to ensure that orders for portable exhibition pop up stands have been despatched as promised and on time for delivery to our customers for use at important exhibitions and events.

November looks like it will be a very busy Month too with several large orders underway….

We have some exciting projects coming up in the next couple of weeks including producing the point of sale material for the BBC’s Children In Need campaign 2010! We have already produced over 400 large format prints and banners to promote the event and we are currently working on a series of standup cut-outs of Pudsey which will be going on display at Television Centre next week.

Thanks for reading.

Printdesigns Team

Sure there are differences between the materials supplier use to print pop up displays which can make the difference between a good pop up stand and a bad pop up stand but ultimately most suppliers print their graphics in a similar way and even source their hardware (the frames) from the same source.

I am continually amazed by the enormous price differential between identical products from different suppliers and I wonder how the expensive suppliers can charge more?

One technique I have seen used many times is for the expensive supplier to brand the pop up stand with an alternative name so it sounds like something different from one of the other cheaper pop up display stand suppliers on the web!

Today, I noticed that Marler Haley offer a stand called a veloce portable banner display or veloce pop up display stand. When I looked at the detail pictures of the frame I noticed the stand is in fact manufactured by Ultima Displays, one of our own suppliers.

From the pictures on the Marler Hayley website, we can see that the Velcoce pop up stand is the same as our quick fix pop up display which is available on our website for a lower price.

If you are thinking about purchasing a Veloce pop up display why not consider one of our express stands instead. A higher specification framework with fully magnetic fixings and less money too!

For information on our range of pop up stands and pop up displays why not call and speak to one of our team on 01785 224055

The acrylic or PVC poster and cardholders come in a variety of shapes depending on their function, if your poster is accompanying a roller banner stand, a wall mounted or hanging poster holder can complement the graphic design with either a matching image or offer up an alternative image for your business. Both ranges of poster holders can be ordered in sizes A1 to A8, so whether you’re exhibiting in a huge space or corner of the local town hall, Print Designs have the solution for you.

Many exhibitors offer out pamphlets and information leaflets during conventions; a smart and tidy way to show table visitors what you have to offer is by using one of Print Designs acrylic or PVC cardholders. Available in menu format so potential clients can see every page clearly, if you’re feeling experimental there is also the ‘toblerone’ shaped cardholder which displays three sided leaflets clearly and safely.

It is important when exhibiting your services and business that your potential clients know who you are; you’re exhibition stand clearly states who you are as a company, however when having a one to one meeting with, a more personal touch is needed. Visitors can identify you easily with the horizontal name card holders available from Print Design, the name cards are equally essential when more than one representative is at the exhibition. Not only will clients identify you but will be able to distinguish the roles in which you play within the business. The cardholders come in packs of 10 and are made from a tough clear acrylic.

To view the entire exhibition essentials range, or to establish which display stand suits your exhibition needs the most; visit www.printdesigns.com where the online catalogue is available to view. Alternatively you can call the team on 01785 224055 to speak to an advisor.

About Print Designs: Print Designs Limited was established in 1999 as a specialist company dealing in wide format digital printing and portable presentation solutions. Over the course of the last ten years, they have grown to become one of the leading companies concerning exhibition stands and bespoke printing services within the UK.

It has been said that the best publicity is free, and though Print Designs can’t offer free advertising, the range of budget-friendly pop-up displays and banner stands prove worth their spend year after year through various exhibitions. “By choosing simple yet effective graphics to accompany a low-priced pop-up display will not only help budget but show visitors that your business is straight to the point and won’t compromise during tougher times” explains managing director Mark Thompson.

Pop-up displays are also the most versatile and easy to transport exhibitions stands, allowing for endless re-use at a great price. “Depending on the size of your pop-up stand, it is also advisable to place your display in a more high traffic area, near refreshments or even near the entrance to the exhibition hall; so even if you’re display isn’t the biggest, it will be the most viewed”.

Pop-up displays come in a range of sizes depending on budget and requirements, users can opt for an L-shaped pop-up display, or a curved pop-up display with a magnetic locking system to hold the stand firmly in place. Print Designs also offer free advice along with a CAD service to help you choose the right exhibition stand.

To view the range or to make an enquiry please visit www.printdesigns.com; or alternatively call the team on 01785 224055 to speak to an advisor.

The classic roller banner stand has been modified to suit the outdoor world with Print Designs outdoor banner stands; the weatherproof, extra durable display stands can withstand UV damage and, in preparation for a traditional British summer, water damage. For simple transportation from fete to fete, the outdoor pop-up-display is a lightweight alternative to carrying various amounts of poles, clips and weights around. Available in all shapes and sizes, the pop-up-stands can be purchased in bulk to create a big impact on any outdoor exhibition.

If your display will be taken to one of this summer upcoming festivals, the new display tunnel exhibition stand is an uncommon and extremely effective advertising method. The spring construction ensures quick and easy erection, with a simple fold mechanism for demounting. “The display tunnel is also an ideal solution for family based exhibition events, the shape teamed with a vibrant design will be sure to catch everyone’s eye” says Mark Jackson, director at Print Designs.

Exhibition accessories can cut into a budget, and Print Designs offer a simple, effective advertising method for those businesses on a smaller budget in the shape of the classic A-Board. Used in advertising for hundreds of years, “it will guarantee your product or service is spotted without resorting to circus acts or TV advertising”. The A-Board display stand’s shape and size also allows for ease of transportation.

To create the perfect outdoor display this summer visit; www.printdesigns.com

About Print Designs: Print Designs Limited was established in 1999 as a specialist company dealing in wide format digital printing and portable presentation solutions. Over the course of the last ten years, they have grown to become one of the leading companies concerning exhibition stands and bespoke printing services within the UK.

The roller banner stands from Printdesigns are one of the most popular banner stands available on today’s market. They are simple to use and can advertise business both efficiently and cheaply; they work by winding the printed panel into a base which contains a spring-tensioned roller mechanism.

The roller banner stand comes complete with display pole and storage casing. When the time comes for displaying the banner stand; simply attach the graphic to the pole supplied and the display is complete. The roller banner stands are a great solution for both budget exhibitions and exhibitions that attract a high volume of traffic.

The material for the roller banner stands are printed in high definition six hundred gsm blackout material and is class one fire rated; which makes the stands suitable for use in all shopping centres and exhibition halls around the UK. Printdesigns products are printed using environmentally- friendly UV print process, leaving no nasty odours or harmful VOC’s.

In addition to the incredible offer from Printdesigns, the company stock a wide range of other banner stands at outstanding prices. Each banner stand model comes with a twelve month warranty. Every product sold by Printdesigns also comes with their price guarantee; if customers can find a better price for the same quality products, Printdesigns will happily beat it!

For more information or to browse the catalogue; visit the website on www.printdesigns.com

About Print Designs: Print Designs Limited was established in 1999 as a specialist company dealing in wide format digital printing and portable presentation solutions. Over the course of the last ten years, they have grown to become one of the leading companies concerning exhibition stands and bespoke printing services within the UK.