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Posts Tagged ‘custom display’

Lets Get Creative

Sunday, June 20th, 2010

When you’ve got a trade show coming up, it’s pretty hard to differentiate yourself from the competition. Trade shows have hundreds of business all vying for the attention of those walking through them. We’ve talked about how to grab attention with colors or unique fonts. We’ve even talked about the different kinds of wall hangings, ceiling displays, table displays that you can have. But up until now most of those suggestions have been in 2D displays with something like posters and hangings. What about 3D displays?

There are hundreds of different types of 3D displays that you can use at a Trade Show, and that’s half the fun. You don’t want just some boring table with information right? You want something like this cool graphic board that advertises not only outwards, but has the ability to have things placed on it’s 3 different flat levels. Or you want something like these movie cases that are in the shape of characters that people know and love.

There are no limitations when it comes to the size, shape, color, and structure of your POP display. In fact, the more creative the better more often than not. The trick is to be relevant. Know your audience, and your space requirements as well. You don’t ever want to walk into a place with a huge cardboard cutout and have no where to put it!

Try and see a space before you have to actually go in and set up to know what you’re working with. If there aren’t any huge limitations, let your creativity fly!

What’s Your Content Doing?

Monday, May 31st, 2010

You’ve got a huge trade show coming up. You’ve got all your materials ready to go. You’ve got great display cases in a variety of shapes, sizes colors, heights, widths and are generally prepared for whatever this trade show might throw at you whether you’ve got a large or small booth or don’t even know what you’re walking into until you get there. You are pumped!

But people aren’t coming to your table.

They aren’t altogether that interested in what you’ve got.

They look quizzically at your product and walk away.

What could you possibly have done wrong?

Well, odds are it was your content. If you are selling a product, you want to entice and engage people to come to you and ask questions. It is up to you to get them to ask more about you and your business.

First – lets look at your graphics. Can they be seen from a distance? Are they using complementary colors to make the words pop? Are the fonts appropriate for your business AND easy enough to read?

Next – lets look at your sign placement. Are you standing in front of it so people can’t see? Is it low in front of your table where people walking won’t see it in their line of vision? Is it small and on the side of your table/booth? Maybe you’ve placed it too high up and no one sees it? The art of Feng Shui is not lost here – know where to place things for optimal vision.

Lastly – lets look at the wording of your signs. Questions are a great way to get people interested in what you’re selling because they want the answers. They want to know how you can help change their lives. Your customers have to sift through so much material at a trade show (and elsewhere) that if they can read through your signs and get the general idea, then why would they bother stopping? Do not place too many words at the same time you shouldn’t place too few words. It is very much a balancing act. Offering free items and letting them know about this kind of giveaway is also a way to draw in people. Contests are a great idea too. One of the best things you can have is some kind of spinning prize wheel that allows your customer to engage and have fun.

So while having the greatest materials may be a giant step in the right direction, you want to make sure your content on signs and displays makes you and your product go the extra mile. Know how to interest people, draw them in, and make them interested. Good Luck!

What Catches Your Eye?

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

When you have a display – it can be any size, shape, color, height, or width and it can be a tall standing board, or hang from the ceiling or over a wall at a trade show. The possibilities are endless.

But what do you put on the specific display? *That* is the most important thing. The words, the colors, the sizes, the fonts – they all matter. There’s a lot of psychology that even goes into it. Recently, the re-branding of certain companies has seen many logos go from capital letters to lowercase letters. Why? For example, AT&T. A few years ago they consumed Cingular – which was a very popular cell phone company amongst young adults. It was all orange, and had a fun logo that was a paint splat that looked like a person. When AT&T merged, they assumed the orange and mixed it in with their blue, and lower cased the letters at&t. Lower casing has helped them to stay “fresh” because that’s what the younger generation likes. It seems relaxed, fun, and not overly controlled. Hard to believe all of that comes from just a different font, right?

This website came out yesterday – that is a really fun and interactive ebook on fonts from A-Z. Take a look and see what you could throw onto a display to make it “POP” more than it already does.

Just this week, Google even opened up 18 fonts that can be used on line. If you have any digital displays you can now incorporate these fonts into things that people are already accustomed to.

Typography is important be it on line, in paperwork, and displays. Catch someone’s eye. Be creative. Use fun fonts!

Which Display is Right?

Saturday, May 1st, 2010

There are a number of ways to advertise your product and all avenues must be considered. When you first sit down to think about your marketing, you have to think about online interests, store marketing, press releases, social media, contests, commercials, and so many more options.

When you get around to thinking of your displays, which kind of display is perfect for you? Which style is going to set your brand a part from everyone else? What’s the difference?

Pop Up Trade Show Displays
Large scale posters and stalls that help attract your customers’ eye as they walk around a Trade Show. These will help frame your booth and arrange your area in such a way that will draw positive attention to your product.

Hanging Displays
These can be used in a few ways – they can just be large posters you place on a wall permanently, or they can be things you use for trade shows, or moving sales shows. A Hanging Display is also a case that will hang over a wall or a Pop Up Display.

Hanging Exhibits
This type of display is easily transportable, and can be hung over a cubicle wall, can be framed, or it can actually be hung from high above from the ceiling. Ideally is is a rather large sign that hosts company name and information drawing attention to where you are located on the floor.

Counter Top Displays
These are exactly what you would expect. They are generally eye level and are visible in the general area of a person. Generally these are best used in retail stores and are perfect Point of Purchase (POP) for that last minute impulse buy. The average customer will always peruse them while they are waiting in line for the cashier.

Digital Menu Board Displays
These are relatively new, and would be found most in places like a restaurant, but they are meant to increase sales and visibility. Menus are the perfect item for this kind of display and they can be easily changed whenever they need to be.

Whether you are a retailer, a trade show traveler, or work for restaurants – you must always consider your key audience and location. The type of display you need will follow suit once you sit down to think about it.

What’s Your Market Research?

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

Creating a great custom POP display takes a little bit of research in your niche and consumer base. What’s your market research? Success and building blocks are based upon this preliminary and essential step. Understand consumer trends within your market. What makes consumers want to, well, consume? There are loads of research on consumer spending, trends, and why we buy what we do. Learning the overall big picture about branding and marketing, and then honing in on your specific niche market will help your POP display sales and business.

Your customer base is not all you should be concerned about. Market research on your competition will also help when strategizing for custom POP displays. Who is your competition and what are they selling? How are they doing it?

Case Studies
Doing a case study of your competitors as well as your customer base is a great strategy for market research. How you research affects how your sales, and custom POP display sells. Case studies can be done by focusing on a particular product, brand or competitor and their specific branding, advertising, campaign or sales technique to better understand the implication of the campaign and their strengths and weaknesses. What worked and didn’t work?

Focus Groups
Focus groups work well for new products before they go out to the market. This researching technique is done by asking a group of people on their feedback, thoughts and perceptions on a product, service, packaging, advertising, or even a custom POP display.

Questionnaires
Questionnaires or surveys are a great chance to find out what customers think about a product or service. It can be conducted through a company website, direct mail, telephone, or other forms of marketing and is fairly easy for a customer to do. The less time-consuming an activity is, the more likely you will get feedback, especially if you tie in cash incentives for the questionnaire or by adding in a sweepstakes contest and offering prizes.

These are three ways in which to do market research to help with your custom POP displays. Research as well as interactivity with the customer through surveys and focus groups are a great start. Keep your eyes out for trade organizations and publications in your field.

What’s Your Brand?

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

When customers walk into a store, they are immediately bombarded by brands. Various products of all shapes and sizes greet them and scream “pick me, pick me!”; each vying for their attention. Even just looking at a brand increases purchasing probability by 30-120%. Up to half and two thirds of purchasing decisions are made at the point of purchase. When brands compete for your attention on the aisles, point of purchase displays elevate a brand by increasing its consideration to consumers, thereby impacting your purchasing decision.

What’s Your Brand?
Establishing a good brand identity and displaying your brand in point of purchase displays adds to the customer appeal. Your brand identity should be easily recognizable to the public and have good brand awareness for working the point of purchase display’s selling point. Brand identity is a good tool to selling your product, and with point of purchase displays, bringing your brand up to the forefront of purchasing decisions gives upper hand advantage. Make sure customers know your brand identity. Communicate your identity through packaging and point of purchase display materials. In a saturated market, lots of products exist to compete for attention. Your brand identity has to stand out and stay on top. Brand positioning in consumer’s minds should put your product above others. Designing the right package and look to fit your brand’s message and coordinating point of purchase display materials will give your product visual appeal that customer’s will take notice.

Custom Displays
Dolin Display offers custom POP displays that help your brand get noticed. End of the aisle displays, in particular, can really attract the attention of customers and Dolin Display can help customize your custom POP display for any location. Whether you’d like to dazzle people with your product at the end of the aisle, at the cash register, or as an island, Dolin Display would like to help with your custom POP displays.

Increase Sales with POP Displays

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

Point of purchase displays, in essence, glorifies your product, making it stand out from the rest of the consumer options by keeping it separate. Shopping is overwhelming enough with all of the choices out there, why not set your product from the rest by having a point of purchase display?

Since point of purchase displays show a product in a nice fashion, POP displays have huge purchasing power. Customers are willing to pay what they see and value as a better product.

The Impulse Buy
The impulse buy most commonly happens at the counter during check out. You may feel compelled to buy something you didn’t think you wanted or even need, such as chocolate, lip balm or a magazine.

Counter POP displays are limited to smaller merchandise but can add up for extra sales. Many people buy as impulse shoppers and displaying your product where it is convenient will give your sales the extra advantage.

Floor stand POP displays are meant to be displayed independently and on the floor. You can choose metal materials, polymer, etc. Choose between a rotating or non-rotating display with a three-dimensional quality of all four sides. This can be placed anywhere in the vicinity of a shopping area and can act like an island of merchandise.

The power of point of purchase displays adds to your overall marketing strategy by appealing to impulse shoppers and thus increasing sales. Choosing the ideal display is up to you and your brand, your product and where you feel your product would strategically shine.

An Eye for Type

Friday, January 1st, 2010

In my previous post, I write about the functionality of color theory on your custom POP display. Now, it’s time to move on to the subject of typography. Typography is another important design tool that will make or break the message of your custom POP display. What font, or type, you choose says as much about your overall message as the color schemes of your piece, but first, some typography basics.

Sans-Serif vs. Serif fonts

Serif fonts, like Times New Roman or Georgia have “ornaments” at the end of each letter to help legibility. Because of this, serif fonts have been the standard newspaper typography choice for many decades. Sans-serif fonts, on the other hand, are the opposite. Fonts like Arial, Helvetica and Verdana are all examples of san serif fonts with sharp, crisp edges.

So, what does this have to do with custom POP displays?

Choosing the look and feel for your POP display, products and overall branding is important and conveying the right font type is paramount to grabbing your audience’s attention. Not only does color have to pop, but so does your type. Having an eye for type means you need to be able to translate having an eye for what the customer wants to see. Brainstorm which typography best fits the brand or product and narrow it down to serif or sans-serif, or possibly a combination of both. Make your custom POP display stand out by using a distinct typography style that is sure to be unique.

Color to Make Your Custom POP Display POP!

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

Color theory is one of the fundamentals of design that any good designer should know and apply to packaging and custom POP displays. Color conveys meaning and is an integral part of your message. For example, brown and earth tones can signify an eco-friendly design or custom POP display while something bold like red can signify something hip or modern.

What does color say about your custom POP display? Is color part of your branding? For McDonalds, the popular red and yellow was marketed so that customers would feel a sense of excitement and urgency (of red), happiness and peace (of yellow) that stimulated both hunger and the desire to leave quickly. Keep in mind that color can mean different things to different cultures and appeal to different age groups. Consider your target audience. Who are you selling to? What age group do you want your custom POP display to appeal to? These are all important questions that can help you determine what colors to use for your custom POP display.

A simple way to make sure your colors pop out is by using basic color theory. Complimentary colors—colors which are opposite from each other on the color wheel—ensure that your colors stick out and go well together. A monochromatic scheme takes one color and varies the shade from dark to light. This scheme is effective if you would like to stick with one color to drive a message. Whether you know it or not, color theory is an essential part of the design process and a basic building block for your custom POP display success.

Don’t bore us

Saturday, October 24th, 2009

Shopping is boring. There’s too much to look at. Or you’ve seen everything. Shopping is frustrating. It takes too long to find what you want or compromise is required to get close to what you need. Shopping takes time. No one has enough time.  It’s one of the reasons that brand marketing programs are so successful. Recognition makes shoppers feel like they are in the right place. Familiarity puts them at ease. When they are comfortable, they spend money.

So what happens when you mix it up? What happens if your point-of-purchase display forces customers out of their old familiar comfort zone? Point-of-purchase displays are a prime opportunity to punch up a marketing campaign and snag lagging attention. It’s more than a box to hold a display at eye-level. It should engage the senses, invite a shopper to step out and experience the product. Even Costco, while minimal at best, does not accept a plain, solid color cardboard in its store displays.

An experienced P.O.P designer can help you create displays that balance the old familiar with the new and emerging. Look for innovation and interactivity to be the cornerstone of brand marketing programs in the coming years. Along with the design, color and user-experience, a good P.O.P. designer will incorporate other important design considerations such as shipping, set up and client usability.

Step out of your own comfort zone. Consumers are changing every day. Are you keeping up?