Well-seasoned
Brands across the full spectrum of industries are turning their attention to trade exhibitions and exhibition stand design as the quieter summer months draw to a close. With each respective industry hosting its own series of key events, brands are looking to get the autumn season off to a strong start with a focus on networking, engaging and sharing ideas with like-minded industry professionals.
“We have one more exhibition still to go in 2025 – the NEPIC Meet The Members Conference – and then our biggest event will be ChemUK in May of next year,” says Bilal Shah, marketing coordinator for engineering business Projex Solutions. “This is the UK’s largest annual trade show dedicated to the chemical industries supply chain and is without a doubt our biggest event on the calendar, which is why we spend time and effort working with Smart Display to design and build our stand.
“With the help of Smart Display we make changes to our main stand design for ChemUK every year; It’s important for us to keep the stand looking fresh, engaging, and different from previous events. By adapting the design, we ensure that it continues to stand out from the crowd and capture the attention of visitors on the exhibition floor.”
For companies such as Projex Solutions, getting its exhibition stand design just right is integral to setting the tone for the rest of the business year.“One of our favourite features from our last stand design at ChemUK was the illuminated light-box positioned at the top of the stand,” says Bilal. “It could be seen clearly from across the exhibition hall and really helped us to stand out from other exhibitors. It created a strong and immediate visual impact and felt that it drew visitors to our stand.
“As an engineering business operating across highly regulated industries, Projex Solutions is focused on maximising the return on investment from attending all trade shows and exhibitions. The primary goal is to generate new leads, while also using the opportunity to showcase the company’s expertise to a wider audience. Attendance helps strengthen brand recognition and expand valuable partnerships, while also enabling the team to stay ahead of industry trends. In addition, it provides a platform to engage with existing clients and reinforce relationships, all while positioning the business for continued growth opportunities.
“We value the quality of Smart Display’s design, build and installation services.”
Fellow exhibitor Trime UK is also turning its attention to its industry key event – the Executive Hire Show at the Coventry Building Society Arena in February. For the Trime team – whose core ethos features strong elements of sustainability – working with the same stand designer aligns its exhibition stand design with its values of re-using and recycling.
“We are strongly committed to sustainability,” says Trime UK’s marketing manager Emma Cohen. “Re-using parts of the stand helps us to reduce our carbon footprint. Any ‘older’ elements meanwhile are recycled for use at our head office inside our showroom, which means less items are going to landfill. For us, trade shows help us to build upon existing relationships and create new ones, and it is always good to catch up with the industry professionals and bring the Trime team together.”
It’s a recurrent theme across the sectors, with many brands citing more advantages than just sustainability when it comes to re-using elements.
“Where possible, we look to reuse elements of the stand for both environmental and cost reasons,” explains Michael Craddock, marketing manager for lift specialist Shorts Industries. “With a three-year cycle between exhibitions, it is not always practical to reuse everything. The industry is constantly evolving, and our branding and messaging must keep pace with it. Reusing components is valuable, but flexibility in the design is equally important.
“Between Liftex 2022 and 2025, our approach was one of evolution rather than complete change. The stand was well received previously, so we built on that success instead of starting from scratch. Our focus was on creating a space that felt welcoming and open, while making it easy for visitors to understand how we can support them. That balance between hospitality and clarity is something we will continue to refine, with an eye on 2028.”
If you are turning your attention to your trade exhibition presence for 2025 / 2026, talk to us. Our directional in-house design and sustainable approach to exhibiting can work hand-in-hand with your company’s own ethos to elevate your exhibition presence above and beyond the competition for this season and beyond #wemakeevents
