Archive for November, 2010

Plastic Display Cases: Improve Your Trade Show Experience

Posted by on Friday, 5 November, 2010

Having the most amazing display is vital when at a trade show. People must become captivated by the products available. Having the right plastic display cases will attract more professionals and customers.

The best display case will depend upon individual needs. Knowing the positive features of the products is the key. With a stunning display, people will be interested in the items.

There are many factors to consider when purchasing clear plastic display cases. Functionality, style, and cost must be thought about. Which attribute is most important will be based on the specific nature of each product.
The function of the case is to draw people to the product being displayed. These cases can be very simple, or they can be quite ornate. Specific cases, such as plastic model display cases or plastic doll display cases are available. These cases will be sized correctly for the products in mind. This is very important when it comes to how the product will appear. Having a case that is too small or large will have a negative impact on the overall appearance of the stand. This is especially true with products that are of a unique shape. For example, a plastic football display case’s shape is dictated by the oblong shape of the ball.

Be careful not to invest in a case that will ultimately draw attention to itself rather than the product. Cases that are brightly colored can distract people from the items. If using a case that is lighted, make sure the lights are not too bright, as this can wash out the coloring of the items on display.
Another function of the display case is to protect the items. This will prevent people from accidentally damaging them. It will also protect against theft. Cases with locks and latches are available for further precaution. If an item is very delicate or fragile, foam padding or fabric can be added to the bottom.
In terms of style, a display case can be constructed out of clear plastic, or it can have some complex features. There are cases with lighting allowing products to be illuminated. Rotating shelves are also available, enabling people to view items at different angles. Simpler additions such as wood or colored accents can also add to a display. Size is another option. Small plastic display cases can showcase individual products. Larger cases will hold many items together.

It can be helpful to observe other displays with similar products. Note the drawbacks and benefits of the different arrangements with the cases. Also be aware of what draws the most attention.

Cost must be considered when selecting a display case. Investing a great amount of money in the display can yield great results, but it can also eat into the profits. Cost will be determined by the size and features of a case. Small and simply designed cases can be found for less than ten dollars. On the other end of the spectrum, large cases with additional features can cost thousands.

Cheap plastic display cases can be found used. For people just starting out, this can be a great option. Cases that are used can be found online. Retail stores that have recently gone out of business will sometimes sell their fixtures. This can be a great opportunity to find a higher quality case at a lower price
When buying a display case, be certain to inspect it thoroughly. Examine the surface for any scratches or imperfections. If there are any wood or colored accents, check them for chips or cracks. Avoid cases that have been glued back together. If the case has a lock, test it by locking and unlocking it. It should be easy to use. Any other fasteners should work smoothly. Give the case a slight shake. Any loose parts or wobbling can be a sign of weakness. People will most likely knock into a large case, so it must be strong enough to take the damage without harming the products inside.

If purchasing online, it is not possible to thoroughly inspect plastic display cases. Therefore, it is necessary to read the return policy carefully. If there is any dissatisfaction with the case, returning it for an exchange or refund should not be difficult.

Once the cases have been purchased, take time to set up the display. Experiment with different arrangements. Having a friend or associate give feedback can be helpful. It can also be a benefit to change the display from show to show. This will keep the set up fresh and new.

Plastic display cases can greatly improve the experience one has at a trade show. By creating a visually interesting and sophisticated display, people will be moved to inspect and inquire about the products. With so many styles, designs, and features available, finding the right one should not be difficult. Invite success by using the best display case.


Using a Cork Bulletin Board in Your Trade Show Display

Posted by on Thursday, 4 November, 2010

For many businesses, attending trade shows is an important part of their marketing strategy. There are many reasons to attend these shows, such as being able to interact with customers, promote products, make connections, and keep up to date with your industry and your competition. With so many businesses at a single show, however, in order to attract those interested in your products it is vital to stand out from the crowd. To do this, your display must be both unique and practical. In many cases a cork bulletin board can function well as part of a trade show display. The benefits of these boards include being lightweight and inexpensive as well as customizable. Although they are easy to buy, they can also be made on your own.

Tabletop displays are where cork bulletin boards can be especially useful. If the show you are attending has a space restriction, or your business is small and cannot afford one of the huge, showy displays, a tabletop display may be the only choice you have to impress potential customers. You can purchase many different types of bulletin cork boards that will work in this situation. Many of the boards are covered with fabric, allowing them to compliment any sort of company logo or booth set up. There are folding display boards that come in a wide variety of colors and with anywhere from three to five or more panels. Because of the fabric that covers them you can attach things to the boards with either pushpins or with Velcro, making them highly convenient. They can be set up on a table as needed, and folded for ease of transport and storage when no longer in use.

Another option, if you have more space or a larger budget, is a large cork bulletin board. It is possible for this to be one single, continuous board, but that will make it difficult to transport to trade shows. Instead you can purchase a display wall, that when set up will provide a large space where you can show off your business and products. These walls can be custom-made as large as needed, but can often be folded up and carried in a case for easy transportation. As with the tabletop displays, the display walls are often covered in fabric and so can be bought in nearly any color. These walls are impressive, and can make a significant difference in the amount of people who visit your booth. If your budget and booth space allow for a display wall, investing in one may be a wise decision. However, with so much space you must be careful to arrange things on it in a manner that is informative and not confusing.

An enclosed cork bulletin board can be useful for displays as well. Since they are covered, you can use them to show off important documents or fragile items that you do not want the public to have direct access to. Enclosed cork bulletin boards sometimes have locks on them, to provide extra security for your displayed items. A framed cork bulletin board will give an extra amount of style and class to your display, and the frame can be chosen to coordinate with the rest of the booth. If you are looking for just a plain cork board bulletin board for your trade show booth, a Quartet cork bulletin board is a good choice.

If you have a severely constricted budget, or none of the commercially available options appeal to you, there is always the choice of building your own cork bulletin board for your trade show display. Online you can find many plans for how to make a cork bulletin board. These plans are available for many different types of boards, so the key is to know what you are looking for. You should take some time to think about exactly what you need for your display. Making a few sketches can be helpful during this process. Once you are sure of what you need, keep searching until you find the right plan. Keep in mind that it is easy to cover your board in fabric, so you can make it blend in with or stand out against the other elements in your display. Another thing that is important to be sure of is that your finished display board will be easy to transport.

When searching for the perfect cork bulletin board, your business’s specific needs as well as your budget will determine the things you should look for. It is easy to get excited about your display and end up choosing one that is far more elaborate and expensive than you require. To prevent this, keep a list of everything you need for your display nearby while you are searching and refer to it often. It is also helpful to remember that in the end, the information on your display, and the knowledge and helpfulness of the people running the booth are far more important than the actual display itself. You want your cork bulletin board to let your business be in the spotlight.


Acrylic Display Cases are Versatile, Affordable Alternatives to Glass

Posted by on Wednesday, 3 November, 2010

Many retail stores are buying acrylic display cases instead of glass because they are less expensive, lighter and more shatter resistant, although they do scratch easier than glass. They are easy to process making them a popular choice for custom display cases. They come in a variety of shapes such as dormer, square, rectangle, hexagon and octagon as well as picture frame style for things such as collectible jerseys.

There are clear acrylic display cases or they can have a frame made of metal, such as gold or brass. The back wall can be mirrored or made of cork, glass or wood and it can have a base made of other material, so you can match other cases or shelves in your store. The shelves can be flat or angled and many are adjustable for height.

Acrylic countertop display cases, as well as floor and wall models can be lighted by fluorescent or LED lights to highlight your products. This works especially well for jewelry, china and crystal to bring out the color of the gems and the glow of crystal, diamonds, silver and gold. Anything you want to draw attention to can be put in a case with lights.

They are available with rotating shelves inside the case, or the whole case can sit on a lazy Susan that turns it, allowing the customer to view all the merchandise without walking around it. This lets you use the saved space for more displays or shelves. Some of these come with switches to turn the lights as well as the revolving motor off when it is not in use.

Doors on acrylic jewelry display cases are often only at the back of the unit, although they also come with front doors and doors in both the front and back. You also have a choice of sliding or hinged doors with locks for both of them. Jewelry is most often put in revolving acrylic countertop display cases and usually has both lights and locks. They have handles to hang earring cards, necklaces and bracelets from or shelves for jewelry in boxes.

Acrylic football display cases come in various shapes, depending on whether you are displaying special jerseys in acrylic wall display cases, or shelves full of helmets in a floor case. The elbow pads, socks, cleats, gloves, mouth guards, chinstraps, tights or socks, etc. would fit better in a square floor model with flat shelves. Collectable football cards should be in a lockable display case on the counter.

Acrylic model display cases take up little room when they are revolving, allowing the customer to view all the models available. A display of those models can also be a wall mounted one, showing each car you have the kit for. Look in the sports department of acrylic display cases for all types of cases suitable for these.

Acrylic bakery display cases can be either countertop or floor models and may have flat or angled shelves, depending on the baked goods on display. They often have both a front and back door, so you can load them from the back, pushing the older baked goods to the front. Some baked goods require special needs like dry or cool storage, so read carefully to make sure you are getting the right one.

The size of acrylic doll display cases will depend on the size of dolls as well as how many you have to display. The case with adjustable shelves would be best to accommodate various sized dolls. Do not forget to include the stand for the doll when you measure it for height.

There are various companies on the internet that advertise they do custom acrylic display cases. Any time you are dealing with things such as dolls, which can have a big difference in sizes, you may want to consider having one custom made. You can also get one custom made if the readymade ones are not large enough for your needs or you want it with specific decorative touches.

The acrylic cases are lighter weight and easier to move around than glass, plus they do not break as easily. This makes them more versatile for your store, as you can rearrange your displays to suit the seasonal products you want out or to display new items that come in. They are less expensive, so you can get more of the options you want such as lights and revolving stands.

The importance of having your products out where they can be seen is one not to take lightly. You can lose sales if customers do not see what they are looking for, so a good display case will pay for itself. Measure your area to put it in and then measure the items you want to put in it before ordering. Make sure you have ample room for the items without looking cluttered.


How to Print Your Own Stickers with Sticker Paper

Posted by on Monday, 1 November, 2010

Stickers can be a ton of fun no matter what age you are. Whether you are looking for a fun project to do with the kids or you have some business promotions in mind, you can actually make stickers on your own to use for any occasion. All it takes is a printer, some sticker paper, and a creative mind to get started. Here is a quick guide to help you make the most out of your sticker project.

Step 1 – Get the Paper

The first part in your sticker adventure involves getting the actual printer sticker paper. This will allow you to insert paper in your own printer at home or in the office and print off whatever it is you are trying to create.

There are a few different kinds to choose from, depending on what you want to do. If you want to create bumper stickers, vinyl sticker paper will be the way to go. If you would rather make something to add to a scrapbook, you may want clear sticker paper so you do not have any white edges. There is also label paper out there, which is pre-formatted to be a certain size. You will not have to do any cutting if you choose this kind of paper because there will already be rectangles cut out for you to peel off. Figure out what you want to make and then get a pack of printable sticker paper to accommodate your ideas.

Step 2 – Make the Design

Once you have your sticker printing paper ready, you can start designing ht actual stickers you are going to print out. This will be entirely up to you, but there are some common designs you might take on. If you want to make a bumper sticker or label, there are templates online that will work with your favorite photo editor or writing software to give you the perfect shape to follow. Then all you have to do is fill it in with your thoughts, photos, etc.

For pictures, you can obviously use actual photos, but clipart is the ideal solution for a sticker. There is a ton of free clipart on the internet, and you may even be able to make your own with some simple photo editing programs. Those can also be found for free online. If you do a search engine search for whatever you want to use with the word “clipart” or “free clipart” after it, you should be able to find something that works for you.
There are also editing programs online that will allow you to crop photos, move pictures, add text, and do anything you may want to do with your sticker before you print. Put your creative hat on and start designing, and you should have a great looking set of stickers in no time.

Step 3 – Print the Stickers

After the design is in place, all you have to do is print it off on sticker paper. Be sure to load the inkjet sticker paper in the right way so the ink shows up on the side opposite the adhesive. Otherwise, you will waste time printing on the disposable back of the pack. Check your ink so you have enough for the printing, and then hit print as you would for any other document. If you designed the stickers online, you may have to download them to your computer and then print them off that way, depending on how the program works.

Step 4 – Cut the Stickers

When the paper stickers have come out of the printer, all you really have left to do is cut them. You can do this with standard scissors, or you could get a little creative. There are fun scrapbooking scissors on the market that will allow you to make wavy edges or whatever you want around the stickers you are cutting, and you can buy them in variety packs to give you options. These are not ideal for transparent sticker paper, purely because it will be hard to see the fancy edges when they are clear.

If you are looking for something less playful, a paper cutter will slice perfectly straight lines in flat or glossy sticker paper. All you have to do is put a sheet in there, make sure it is straight, and then push the blade arm down. Do not use a paper cutter around children because they can get hurt. If you do allow them to use this, always be around to supervise.

Step 5 – Stick!

The only thing left to do is stick your newly made stickers where you want them. As crazy as it may seem, making your own stickers really is that simple. It is all a matter of having the right sticker paper and ideas to create something you will love. Anyone can do it.