Our Visit to Euroshop '08

We have just returned from the colossal Euroshop exhibition in Dusseldorf's Messe Venue. This event is so huge that it only comes round once every 3 years! Running since 1966, this is ostensibly the Global Retail Trade Fair - but it covers everything to do with selling, marketing and design, including shopfitting, signage & display systems, mannequins and models, innovative new products, interior design, printing and even giant food! There are over 1600 Exhibitors from 50 countries and 90000 visitors will pass through Euroshop's 17 halls during its 5 day run.

We used our visit to check out the exhibition, display, signage and lighting exhibits, and to spend time at the Nomadic Display stand, which was really impressive. This 6 metre by 9 metre stand includes a range of modular portable display features including a flat pop up stand with a suspender system for display posters, a backlit counter and a fully functional bar area with overhanging canopy! We were particularly pleased to see magnetism of the stand in action, as we will soon be placing a similar stand in our showroom for permanent display.

Our Cut Letters used in IFTAs Stage Backdrop

Last evening's IFTA awards in the Gaiety Theatre saw lettering produced by us incorporated into the stage backdrop set up for the production. We provided individual foamex letters of differing sizes which were then used to great effect by the production designers in a gold-coloured display wall directly behind the stage podium.

This is not a new thing for us. We regularly have our work shown on both the large and small screens, for two main reasons: firstly, our stands are often used as backdrops or branding displays for press calls and political events which are featured on news and current affairs programmes. Secondly, we have been producing custom signs, window graphics, vehicle signage and props for TV and film productions since the late 80s. Our work has been used in various TV ads including Dairygold, Meteor, Utterly Butterly, Ballygowan, Aer Lingus, Carlsberg, National Lottery, Hellmans and on TV shows such as Planet Rock Profiles, Fair City , Bachelor's Walk and Where in the World (back in the day!). We have also produced backdrops for GAA and Munster Rugby press conferences and signage for the Setanta Sports set and for the Films Bloody Sunday, An Everlasting Piece and The Treaty. This work is some of the most fun and creative work we do and we absolutely love it! Nice to have a chance to produce something unique and of course, its a joy to spot our work on screen...

New & Exclusive Product - D3 Light Panel Displays

Just a quick note to keep you updated with our latest addition to our product range, available exclusively in Ireland through Applied Signs & Display...

We are thrilled to announce that we are now exclusive Irish distributors for the D3 range of portable Lightbox Displays. These attractive displays feature panels just 6mm thick which are illuminated by unobtrusive, low-comsumption LED lights - the effect is very 'wow' and akin to that of an ultra thin plasma or flatscreen TV. These displays are as versatile as they are eyecatching, with the option to include brochure holders, slat signage, product display shelves and poster display components on all models. Header boards or sign panels in lightweight aluminium can be incorporated and can be shaped to order if you require circular graphics for example.

And D3 Displays do all this with the minimum fixtures and fittings to ensure quick and easy set up and a clean, polished look.

Portability is another feature of these stands which travel in nylon carry bags.

Perfect for exhibitions, product launches and conference venues, as well as as a static display in retail
environments, banks, bars and restaurants and reception areas. Change the posters and prints as often as you like to make the most of this 'focal point' display. Click here for images.

Exhibiting at Recruitment Fairs

This is the time of year when colleges and universitites are holding open days for prospective students and exhibitions such as Fás Opportunities and Jobscene are being held. So, it is worth considering what exactly exhibitors should do to attract potential employees.

One thing to consider is the type of person they are trying to attract - in the case of colleges, universities, design & marketing companies and retail stores, the recruiters might want to project a modern image or to stand out from their fellow exhibitors with an eye-catching stand like a stretch fabric display. These stands have the added advantage of the individual panels being very economical to change, so a targeted approach to different events can be acheived at minimum cost.



Conversely, those recruiting for accounting and consulting companies might favour a traditional display such as a conventional pop up stand or pull up stand with a carefully designed graphic incorporating a sharp photographic image.



IT and technology companies would do well to look at Aluminium display stands which can incorporate flatscreens and computer elements so that they can showcase their strengths in a stand that looks cutting edge.


In all cases the general design principles listed here and here apply - for example, don't be tempted to list too much information on the stand - leave this to brochures and printouts, or preferably engage the prospects in conversation so you can pass on this info face-to-face.

Colleges in particular will often turn to hiring display stands for 2 reasons. Firstly, colleges often have a once or twice yearly requirement for a vast amount of stands to form booths and display boards for college open days. It makes sense to hire hard panels for these occasions rather than shell out for purchasing these panels and then for storing them for the long periods they are not in use.


The second reason colleges might hire is that they have many different faculties and courses and so could avail of hired pop up stands with velcro-friendly panels - this means that graphics and posters can be changed as often as needed to accommodate the needs of various faculties. Of course this can also be achieved by purchasing a pop up stand with velcro panels.

Part Two of Display Product Guide – Pull Up Stands…not to be confused with Pop Up Stands!

Pop up and Pull up stands are often confused by customers, and even by some vendors who have come to the display business late in the game. But they are really very different, with different strengths and uses, as I will explain in this installment of the Display Product Guide…

Pull Up Stands – aka Roller Banners, Roll Up Banners, Roll Up Signs, Banner Stands, Banner Signs, Penguin Stands, Banner Displays, Pull Up Signs, Pull Up Banners, Portable Banners.

Pull Up Stands/Banners are so called because, to assemble the stand, a printed panel on a roller is pulled up from the base and hooked to the tip of a telescopic bar, so that it forms a vertical banner effect, and is self supporting.

In pure layman’s terms, these are long thin displays, similar in shape and size to a strip of wallpaper and they function like an upside down roller blind, where the ‘blind’ is actually a digitally printed graphic panel.

These stands are usually in the region of 2 metres tall and 80cm to 1m wide. For this reason they are compact and versatile displays and are popular for uses as varied sales presentations, exhibitions and trade shows as well as in-store displays, and promotional displays in bars, shopping centres and hospitals.

Another major advantage of Pull Up or Roller Banner Stands is the portability they afford the user. For this reason it is important to choose a pull up banner which is as light as possible – they range in weight from around 4 kilos to 8 or 9 kilos in weight depending on the materials and components used. They travel in a bag with a shoulder strap, and unlike Pop Up Display stands, these stands can easily be transported by someone travelling on foot or on the bus!

Compared to Pop Up Display Stands, Pull Up Banners have the obvious advantage of being about 10-15% of the price of a 3m Pop Up Stand. However they are obviously much smaller and have less of a presence, which can pose a problem for those wishing to avail of their portability and low price, but needing a backdrop or wide effect from their display stand. There is an answer to this and it lies with clever graphic design – 2, 3 or more pull up stands can be designed in such a way that they form a continuous image when placed side by side. This way, the stands form an attractive display about 2.5 metres wide, and often they can be used separately as well, giving you the utmost return on investment from these clever little stands.

Another thing to bear in mind is that these stands can be purchased with 2 rollers in the base, meaning the same stand can be use to promote 2 different products, events, faculties etc. Also with all the different brands and types of stands on the market, it should be possible to replace the printed panels at a reasonable cost as many times as you like.

So, these stands will never provide the sheer presence of a Pop Up Display stand, and they can’t support plasma screens, or be joined together to create an impressive 6m backdrop display. However the portability, versatility and low cost of these stands means they are perennially popular with literally every kind of business. Bear in mind the following when purchasing a Pull Up Banner Display to ensure you get the best quality and value for money.

Things to look out for when buying a Pull Up Display stand:

**Check the hardware warranty that comes with the stand – there should be at least a year’s warranty

**Check that if the Pull Up Stand becomes damaged, it can a) be repaired, b) be repaired cheaply or for free, c) where do the repairs take place (effecting repair time and shipping costs), d) can small components, e.g. spring, top bar, be replaced easily

**Check what the panel is made of – laminated paper panels are notorious for curling at the edges and cracking. A vinyl panel is often more durable and attractive

**Check the weight of the stand – is it light enough for you to carry comfortably over your shoulder

**Look our for stands with a stable base, without fold out legs which may add weight and increase the stand’s footprint

**A stand with 2 rollers in the base may be a great investment buy IF the stand is of a high enough quality to bear repeated use through the years

**Check the price to have a new panel added or a second side added to the stand

**Look for a stand where the telescopic pole is connected by elastic to prevent losing a piece

**Check that accessories such as spotlights can be added and that they can be transported within the shoulder bag

** Ask to see the Pull Up Stand in the flesh and to practice putting up the stand before you buy so that you can compare quality – these stands are on the cheaper end of the display stand scale but very cheap stands without warranties are a false economy as they will not withstand repeated use

Important Terms relating to Pull Up Banner Stands:

Panel – The printed panel visible at the front of the stand when assembled

Print – see panels

Graphic – see panels

Update on Our Move

Well, we are well and truly moved in now and impressed by the newness and size of the new place. However we have had continuous problems with our broadband lines. Each time one problems is solved, a new one crops up it seems. So please if you are having any difficulty sending emails to us or receiving mails from us please pick up the phone and let us now. Our new phone number is 01 8712300.

We Have Moved - At Last!

Applied Signs & Display have finally relocated to a new purpose-built premises in Clonshaugh’s Whilsborough Business Centre. The move to the 8000 square foot property will allow us to streamline printing and finishing processes and to increase production levels as well as diversifying our product and service range. A third of the building has been dedicated as show room space, where a 30 square metre reusable Custom Built exhibition stand will be on permanent display. The new property also boasts a state-of-the-art design studio and a multimedia training area, so these are aspects of the business that we will be looking to ramp up in the coming year. This move coincides with the 20^th anniversary year of the establishment of Applied Signs & Display, which was set up in Dublin in 1988. Click here for a map to our new premises.