Making a stand

Smart Display will make its exhibition debut this season as the business moves in an exciting new direction.

We will present at the B2B Marketing Expo on 29-30 November, with a view to networking with both end-users directly, and brand agencies looking to add an exhibition stand design service into their stable.

The move comes as Smart Display celebrates eight successful years of business, and a period of rapid growth since the demise of Covid19 restrictions and a return to face-to-face trade exhibitions.

“Smart Display has seen a period of rapid growth over the past few years, thanks predominantly to repeat custom and word-of-mouth,” says managing director Chris Stewart. “Our work is very visual, so potential customers see what we can do at exhibitions, find out who we are and approach us directly. That type of organic growth has always worked well for our business model, but we have identified an opportunity to connect with a wider audience through agencies and marketeers looking to expand their services into trade exhibitions.

“We are the go-to name for exhibition stands across an extensive spectrum of sectors, so brand agencies looking to add that service into their stable would be potential partners for us.”

Having made a name for ourselves creating innovative stands across a whole host of sectors – including aerodynamics, transport, recycling, medical supplies, IT systems and interior design – Smart Display is only too aware that all eyes will be on our first ever stand design of our own. But the exact nature of the design is being kept underwraps until the big reveal at the London ExCel in November.

The move from service provider to client has been an insight into the customer journey for us, and we have followed the process from design brief to build as any customer would.

As our clients will know, the process of creating a stand begins with an initial briefing call, which takes into account the client’s design aspirations as well as their space, dimension and budget requirements. Stand options include one-off rentals, modular builds and full bespoke designs, and are tailored to the client’s exhibition schedule. This ensures cost-efficiency and brand continuity from one exhibition date to the next, with the sustainable option of re-using the stand elements time and time again.

A dedicated designer then produces a cutting-edge full render document, allowing the client to fully visualise and amend their stand until the final version is handed over to a dedicated project manager.

For Smart Display clients, the process doesn’t end there. The dedicated project manager will take care of every aspect of exhibiting, from liaising with the exhibition organiser and submitting all necessary documentation to arranging the rigging, electrics, transportation, build and break down of the stand. There is even the option to store and re-use the stand elements between events.

Our level of repeat custom – around 75 per cent of the Smart Display operation is made up of returning clients – and the company’s five-star rating on Google speaks for itself.

“We used Smart Display for our stand in Offshore Europe this year and they couldn’t have made our lives easier,” says Helen Dove, proposal & business support co-ordinator at Doris Group. “Collaboration on the stand design was great and they took care of coordination of all the extras; electrical, carpeting etc, while communicating at each point. The finished result was very professional and eyecatching, and I would thoroughly recommend them.”

“We were blown away by the service we received,” agrees Jessica Hargreaves, content manager at Swedencare. “We had a stand built by Smart Display for Crufts and we had great contact with different departments throughout, from idea conception right the way through to the stand being built on-site. We would thoroughly recommend and use again.”

We actively seeking to meet new customers at this season’s Expo, with a particular focus on brands that are breaking into exhibiting, those looking to upgrade from shell-scheme to space-only and brands who are established space-only exhibitors but looking for more creative input. There will also be special discounted rates and incentives available for agencies representing clients who require exhibition services.

“We are confident that the B2B Expo will be the right platform for us to network with new business,” says Chris Stewart. “We are looking forward to demonstrating what we can do with our first ever stand design of our own.”

Visitors to the B2B Marketing Expo can catch up with the Smart Display team on Stand B2B – K32.