6 Things To Consider When Shopping For A Portable Display Solution
When shopping for anything these days, we are overwhelmed with information and options. It can be so difficult to know what solution is really best for your company. Here is a list of 6 criteria to help you shop for the right portable display and find the right solution for you.
1. How Portable is Portable?
If you’re exhibiting internationally, the weight and dimensions of the overall packaged display is of high importance because of the cost of transporting your display. Remember that shipping within just your country can also be expensive so make sure you know how “portable” your portable display will be. If you have a rough idea of what you are looking for regarding weight and case size and how this fits into your overall criteria, this will help narrow down which options are best for you.
2. How Easy is the System for Your Staff to Set-Up?
How easy a system is to set-up will depend on who in your organization is doing the work. Set-up time can be particularly important if you are going to trade shows or events with short windows of time for set-up and dismantle of your custom trade show booth. Always ask your supplier or vendor the average time needed for set-up and tear down of your display. Then, ask the question again outlining and emphasizing the profile of your booth staff performing the work to ensure the solution is the right one for your organization and your team.
3. Ability to Easily Replace and Update Your Imagery and Messaging?
In my experience, this criteria is important to 98% of all display users. The ease of replacing and updating display graphics needs to be taken into consideration, as it something that you will inevitably need to do. Always ask how easy and cost-effective it is to update your trade show display graphics and content. If it is something that you will be doing more frequently, let the display provider know and look for options they recommend to maximize your flexibility and minimize your budgets. Quality of the graphics is extremely important. You won’t want them fading after continuous use and transport, so make sure you ask about the printing and care of the images.
4. Established Supplier?
You can buy so many things online from China at a great price. This is fantastic if your number one and only criteria is price. If you’re looking for a portable display solution that will last, consider whether purchasing online is the best move. Actually, check out this tip on our blog about buying displays online. Buying online reduces the likelihood of receiving ongoing support from the supplier for services like spare parts and replacement graphics when you want to re-brand or refresh your messaging. If something goes wrong, for example the quality or colors of your graphics, how easy and cost-effective will it be for you to fix the problem? When shopping online or anywhere else, look for companies that provide photographic examples of displays and projects they have completed; don’t accept just drawings. Lastly, look for suppliers who provide customer feedback and testimonials about their service and products. These can point you in the direction of the right supplier that offers the level of service you are looking for and your trade show display deserves.
5. When Options and Accessories are Good and Bad?
There are many portable display solutions that offer varied accessory options all integrated into the display solution. This is great, right? Keep in mind that the more you add to a portable display the heavier it becomes and the longer it takes for your team to assemble and tear down. If you need all of those accessories and options and you can justify the extra weight and time, this could work for you. But, if you don’t need all of those things, look for portable display solutions where you can add the accessories you need and take them away when you don’t. Look for display suppliers that want to tailor a solution to meet your needs and requirements rather than just sell you stuff.
6. Will the Solution Suit My Needs Now and in the Future?
Any display solution provider who takes the time to discover what you are doing now and what you plan for in the future will want to tailor a solution to meet your unique needs and requirements. If they don’t ask, provide them with this information and ask them to recommend a solution that meets all of your needs, currently and in the future. Assess the recommendations for the best fit to help you source the solution that will be a great investment to help you stand out in the crowd at your next event and well into the future. Your trade show booth is your “Head Office” to the attendees visiting at events, so make sure your chosen display solution represents your organization in the way you want to be perceived by your target audience.
By: Samantha Heyden –
