Sterling effort

Two of Smart Display’s recent stand builds have been awarded a silver accolade for sustainability. The stand builds – which were both installed at the London ExCel this year – scooped the award as part of the Better Stands Programme, which aims to move the industry away from single-use disposable stands.

Exhibiting at Safety & Health and Firex respectively, Vatix and Vox Ignis were recognised for their commitment to re-using as many elements of their stands as possible.

“It’s a trifecta of benefits; cost-efficiency, reduced design effort and environmental responsibility,” says Thanh Hoang, B2B marketing manager at workplace safety product specialist Vatix. “This approach has saved us money and it aligns well with our core values. Sustainability is non-negotiable for us; it’s a corporate responsibility that we should all embrace.”

For Thanh, winning the award has confirmed that investing into a re-usable bespoke stand has been the right decision for his business.

“A bespoke stand is a game-changer,” he says. “It elevates your brand presence, and captures attention in a sea of generic shell schemes. We first got in touch with Smart Display because we were captivated by a neighbouring stand at our first trade show – we found out who designed the stand and immediately reached out.”

For Vox Ignis meanwhile, the appeal of a re-usable stand was to create an element of brand consistency from one show to the next. The manufacturer of audio products for the fire and disability industries had two exhibitions in two consecutive months last year, and trusted Smart Display to replicate its original stand at the NEC for its subsequent show at the London ExCel.

“Re-using the stand has saved us money, and we are amazed that we have won an award as part of the process,” says Anthony Smith, managing director at Vox Ignis. “Smart Display has installed three stands for us now and we have had a good experience of re-using the modules. We are actually increasing our space to 42 sq m for the next event, but we will have the flexibility with Smart Display to create a new bigger stand that suits our needs.”

The Better Stands Programme is organised by international events group Informa. The programme enforced new construction guidelines at IFSEC, Firex, Facilities Show and the Safety & Health Expo with the incentive of awarding exhibitors who demonstrated a commitment to sustainability through their stand build. Both Vatix and Vox Ignis were commended for their commitment to re-using their stand structure and walls, platform, furniture, lighting, fascias, signage, rigged structure, ceiling and display facilities.

“The re-usable aspect of our stand build is one of our unique selling points along with great design,” says Chris Stewart, managing director at Smart Display. “Each stand to us is a bespoke project, created in conjunction with the client, and designed to be re-used for cost-efficiency, brand consistency and sustainability. We are delighted that two of our stands have achieved this accolade, and hope that it encourages more exhibitors across the sectors to consider the advantages of a bespoke stand design.”

Smart Display is now looking to achieve gold with its subsequent stand designs, and has the support of its brand partners going forward into 2024.

“We are honoured to have received this award for sustainability, which encourages us to continue setting an example in the industry,” says Thanh. “Smart Display have made our experience hassle-free, and their focus on sustainability matches ours. Our silver award confirms that and, if any other exhibitors want a smooth process and a stand that gets noticed, they’re a solid choice.”

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