Graphics are the most important part of any trade show display. Well designed graphics that accurately convey your company’s marketing message can elevate attendees’ perception of your brand, but even the best graphics will lose visual appeal when they are not properly maintained. Dirty, chipped, smudged, scratched, or otherwise damaged graphics reflect poorly on their owners even if the design and marketing message is impeccable.

No matter what type of graphics you purchase for your trade show exhibit, they will be susceptible to damage. Typically your trade show graphics (and your booth hardware as well) will suffer the most damage during dismantling. The goal of dismantling your trade show booth should be to pack it away neatly so it will be ready for your next event, but the combination of exhausted booth staff and the thought that “the next event is a long time from now” usually results in a hasty and careless process. Taking care of your trade show display as you dismantle it can make a big difference when you arrive at your next event.

To clean dirty or smudged inkjet graphics, MODdisplays recommends using a mild cleaner (like Windex) in highly diluted form. Keep moisture away from the edges of the graphics to ensure that it does not seep between the layers of laminate and come in contact with the sensitive photographic paper that is encapsulated inside. Chips or scratches can be repaired with a colored marker that matches the surrounding graphic area in many cases, but large chips and scratches should warrant purchasing new graphics.

Barack Obama was sworn in yesterday as the 44th President of the United States, and his economic stimulus plan is structured to give green initiatives a major boost. In an effort to create jobs and clean up the environment, Obama will route a large portion of his proposed $800 billion stimulus plan toward green energy initiatives. Whether you agree or disagree with President Obama’s strategies, there is no doubt that green initiatives will get a boost thanks to his economic stimulus package.

Environmentally friendly trade show exhibits have become increasingly popular with exhibitors over the past five years, and industry experts predict that green trade show displays are here to stay. Under the Obama administration, companies that use environmentally responsible practices may receive tax breaks that will allow them to further reduce the retail price of their products. This trend could drop the price of eco-friendly booths drastically, which would allow retailers to sell these systems at prices that were once impossible.

The Business of Green Media Conference, which takes place on January 22, 2009 at Cal Poly State University, will highlight eco-friendly practices in the printing industry. Through the use of sustainable, recyclable materials, printers and graphic houses have pioneered green displays, and we at MODdisplays are proud to share their innovations with our clients.

At MODdisplays, we boast the fastest turnaround times in the portable trade show display industry. Even if you need a trade show display for your event that takes place tomorrow, chances are good that we can accommodate your needs. It is not uncommon for MODdisplays to pick up the slack when other companies have failed to produce or ship a trade show booth on time. We understand that trade shows are time sensitive events with a lot of money on the line, and we strive to get the job done even in high-pressure situations.

Although we recommend planning your trade show display months in advance, we understand that it is often necessary to ship trade show booths at the last minute. When you absolutely must have your exhibit for a show that takes place tomorrow, there is still plenty of time to get your project finished. MODdisplays regularly ships trade show booths directly to conferences or hotels for our clients to pick up at the last second before the show begins.

Every trade show display we sell can be assembled completely within an hour, which means that even if you receive your booth on the same day the show begins, you won’t lose precious time trying to set up a complicated exhibit with poor directions. If another exhibit company fails to meet your deadline, give MODdisplays a chance and I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

In light of the current economic crisis, companies are using cost-saving trade show marketing strategies to reduce their expenses. When marketing departments have less money to work with, creativity soars. Exhibitors are constantly looking for new and exciting ways to make the most of their shrinking budgets, which has led to a number of innovative marketing trends.

Social media marketing for trade shows has skyrocketed in 2008, and the future looks more promising than the past. Websites like Facebook and Twitter allow exhibitors to quickly and easily communicate with thousands of attendees in a matter of seconds, which means the flow of information at conferences is faster now than ever before. Social media will continue to flourish in the trade show landscape in 2009. Learning to use these valuable tools can drastically improve the return on your investment at your next event.

The sale of modular exhibits is on the rise. Companies are finding that they can save a lot of money by purchasing a single trade show booth that can work in a 10′ x 10′, 10′ x 20′, and 20′ x 20′ space. Although these exhibits limit your company’s ability to exhibit at multiple shows on the same day, it drastically reduces cost for exhibitors who register for fewer than 10 shows per year. Small businesses love modular display systems, because with these systems they have the flexibility to add components to their display system as needed.

Multimedia exhibiting is becoming increasingly popular at trade shows. A trade show booth without a monitor or some audio-visual components is an anomoly in today’s trade show climate. Even in 10′ x 10′ spaces, exhibitors are looking to support large monitors on the back wall of their trade show display booths. Supporting large monitors requires a durable, well-engineered structure. There are many display systems that meet this criteria, but not many can be shipped in a single shipping case that can be transported by UPS or FedEx.

Stay on top of current trade show marketing trends by reading our trade show blog daily. We regularly update our content, so stop by often.

Exhibitors and attendees both noticed that CES had a much smaller and more relaxed feeling this year compared to 2008, but many show-stopping products were unveiled this year. According to Engadget’s CES Article, Palm stole the show, but HDTV-related gadgets were also a big draw at CES 2009.

One of the most interesting products I saw was the 50-inch multitouch TV from Samsung. Although I couldn’t think of any practical uses for this device, it was definitely a lot of fun watching people play with images and use the built in chalkboard. Like almost every product at the Consumer Electronics Show, the TV was outlandish and impractical, but isn’t that what defines CES after all?

Although CES was smaller than usual this year, it wasn’t near as small or under-attended as many experts predicted. The trade show industry still appears to be going strong despite the downturn in the American economy. With the prospect of Apple exhibiting at CES in 2010, the biggest of all trade shows should get even bigger next year.

MODdisplays uses advanced project management systems to ensure that your trade show display arrives on time and looks exactly as you expected. By repeating the same procedures for every exhibit we produce, we minimize mistakes. Our returning clients are confident in our system because they know exactly what to expect. Trade shows are stressful enough without any contribution from MODdisplays, so we keep our clients informed and in updated about the status of their trade show booth.

Uploading your graphic files is only one aspect of our overall project management system, but despite its simple appearance, our graphics uploader is very advanced when compared with that of other trade show companies. When you upload your graphics to our website, you must include your company’s name, your email address, and your phone number. As soon as your file is processed by our uploader, emails are dispatched to the graphic designer who has been assigned to your project, and your information is dropped directly into our project management system for easy access.

Your graphic files are usually reviewed by one of our graphic designers within an hour, and you’ll receive a customize e-proof to approve that will show you the layout of your graphics and highlight any areas that may cause problems when your exhibit is printed. We never print files until your company has approved our e-proofs, which ensures that no mistakes are made in the printing process. Many of our competitors will print files as they are received, but at MODdisplays our graphic design services are completely free, so we will offer your company design support in any way you need it.

If you have any questions about uploading your graphics or graphic guidelines, please email graphics@moddisplays.com or call 877.MOD.EXPO.

The largest consumer technology trade show in the world kicks off tomorrow in Las Vegas. The Consumer Electronics Association is a massive organization that spends nearly all of its energy planning and preparing for the Consumer Electronics Show, which is widely recognized as the most prominent trade show in the world. With big name exhibitors like Sony, Samsung, Motorola, and many more, CES has drawn massive crowds to Las Vegas year after year for almost four decades.

Each year, many new products and technological innovations are unveiled at CES. With over 2,700 exhibitors planning to show their stuff this year alone, it could take you weeks just to visit every trade show booth spanning across three of Las Vegas’ largest convention centers (including the monstrous Las Vegas Convention Center). There are always a few diamonds in the rough each year (startup companies with brilliant products or technological innovations), and there will be a massive media presence in attendance hoping to be first to spot the next great opportunity.

Lumina trade show lights are durable, affordable display lights that have dominated the exhibiting landscape for years. MODdisplays offers the best prices in the trade show industry on Lumina lights, and we’ve just reduced our prices by 20%. All of our trade show lights ship on the same day you place your order, and we guarantee prompt and accurate delivery.