In the current economic climate, it’s more important than ever for brands big and small to get their names out there and meet more potential customers.
While there are many ways to do this, events, exhibitions and trade shows remain one of the best opportunities for businesses to connect with their target audiences.
The delegates at these events are more likely to already be interested in the subject matter or theme, especially if the event is industry-specific. They’re going to know who the big players are in their sector and expect them to be present. They’re also going to want to be communicated with in a memorable, engaging and impactful way.
So, if they aren’t already, events should be a big part of your brand’s marketing strategy.
However, there’s an elephant in the room – and it’s covered in pound signs.
There’s no getting away from the fact that exhibiting at events costs money. Gone are the days when you could rock up to a shell scheme space with a couple of roll-up banners and a handful of corporate brochures and expect to make an impact.
Making a splash, with an exhibition presence that reflects your brand and business in the right way, can be an expensive endeavour.
In the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, with inflation spiralling, interest rates on the rise and energy costs hitting record highs, many businesses are tightening their purse strings and don’t have the cash to splurge on expensive, custom-built exhibition stands.
But there is a solution. You can achieve the look and feel of a high-end bespoke stand with an affordable price tag. It’s often more sustainable, too. That’s where system stands come into their own.
The benefits of affordable system stands
System stands provide a cost-effective, hassle-free solution to the age-old problem of making a memorable impact at events and exhibitions where budgets are tight.
They can be created at a fraction of the cost of a custom-built stand but can still include many of the creative and interactive features that make bespoke stands look so special.
So, while system stands offer more affordable options for brands on a budget, they are also easier to install, dismantle, transport and store, which helps keep costs down further.
And because they are built using modular components, they can be reconfigured to suit a variety of spaces and sizes, meaning you can reuse them again and again.
The graphics, printed on lightweight tensioned fabric, are easy to recycle and replace, giving your stand a new lease of life every time you change your message, branding or offer.
And once the basic structure of your stand is built, you can add in a host of custom elements, from bespoke furniture and lighting to LED screens and other interactive tech, to bring your brand to life and deliver your content in an engaging and inspiring way.
More and more brands are turning to affordable system stands for events because they cost less and are much more flexible and sustainable than custom-builds.
There will always be a place for bespoke exhibition stands. As we’ve said before, bespoke vs modular is not an either/or choice.
However, if you’re looking to make an impact on a limited budget, then system stands are the way to go.
How to bring your system stand to life
One of the best things about affordable system stands is that they can be designed to look like bespoke exhibition stands, but because they’re built using modular components, they can be created at a fraction of the price.
This means you can create a ‘blank canvas’ with your stand’s main structure, then get creative with the elements you incorporate to enhance the visitor experience.
For example, LED walls playing custom brand content can really lift the overall look and feel of a system stand and add a sense of depth and movement to draw the visitors in.
If your stand space allows, you can open your stand up on two or three sides to give you plenty of wall space to display your content and branding while offering more floor space to make the stand feel less cramped.
And once you know what floor space you’ve got to work with, you can really go to town on bringing it to life.
Bespoke counters serve two purposes. They provide a focal point for your team to network and have conversations with visitors, and you can also use them to store marketing materials or personal belongings where space is tight.
Free-standing shelves or display stands can help you showcase your products or equipment without taking up any additional wall space.
Interactive touchscreen displays can also add interest to your stand and draw people in.
You can completely transform the stand’s look, feel and general ‘vibe’ with bespoke furniture and flooring. And when it comes to standing out in a packed exhibition hall and attracting visitors to your stand, lightboxes can help you illuminate your logo or brand message, while rigged overhead banners can increase your stand’s – and your brand’s – visibility around the room.
Save time and money with Exhibit Interactive
There’s no escaping the fact that affordable system stands are so easy to use compared with other stand types. They’re quick and straightforward to install and disassemble, and store when not in use.
At a recent event for one of our valued clients, it took our two-person installation team just five hours to install their stand from scratch – elsewhere in the room, it took bigger teams a whole day to install some of the other stands.
This can help reduce stress and hassle on build day, but also means you don’t need to pay the higher costs of more people, taking more time, to build your stand.
So, if you’re looking to make a splash at your next event and want to minimise your costs while maximising your return on investment, an affordable system stand might be a perfect choice.
Exhibit Interactive can create a system stand to help you showcase your brand and business in the best light.
We can design and build your stand quickly, with minimal lead time, so you can leave committing to exhibit at an event until just before the deadline. We can also incorporate cutting-edge interactive and digital technologies to allow you to deliver an immersive experience to your visitors.
Get in touch today to find out how we can help you make a memorable impact at your next run of events with a system stand solution.
