Did you know that GraphiColor was one of Southeast Michigan's first large format digital printers? Even though we are experts in producing beautiful digital prints of any size, one challenge faced when producing large format graphics is managing the color.
Here are some tips to help us provide you with the most accurate output on your large format jobs for trade show display graphics or corporate signage.
1) Please inform us of any critical match colors we'll be printing. This is especially important if they're embedded in a pdf where we can't get to them!
2) If color match is critical, please provide us with an editable or layered file. Any critical color matching/proofing we may do may add another day or two to the turnaround time.
3) Please supply a Pantone® number or swatch, or give us previously printed materials or items of reference prior to proofing/printing.
Using these tips and keeping us informed are good ways to help us do great work for you!
You can upload any print-ready artwork files directly to GraphiColor's server by visiting our File Upload Page. Bookmark it today!
GraphiColor Exhibits was recently certified as a Women's Business Enterprise. Read below for the full press release.
Livonia, MI, February 16, 201
2 – GraphiColor Exhibits, a full-service trade show display design company, today announced that it has received the national certification from The Woman's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE).
The WBENC certification for women-owned business is the most recognizable and sought after certification of its kind. WBENC's national standard of certification consists of a meticulous process including an in-depth review of the business, application process, detailed notarized affidavit, a site visit and final determination by the Certification Committee. The certification process is designed to confirm the business is at least 51-percent owned, operated and controlled by a woman or women.
“The certification puts GraphiColor Exhibits in an outstanding position to enhance our potential and grow the business,” Anita Mitzel, President of GraphiColor stated. “We are both honored and pleased to say we have been certified.”
About WBENC: WBENC is a resource for the more than 700 US companies and government agencies that rely on WBENC’s certification as an integral part of their supplier diversity programs. For more information on WBENC, please visit www.wbenc.org.
About GraphiColor Exhibits: Anita Mitzel is the president and owner of GraphiColor Exhibits, located in Livonia Michigan. GraphiColor Exhibits offers a turnkey solution for companies exhibiting at trade shows, conferences and corporate events. Providing everything from the design and production of an attention-getting display booth to arranging for labor, shipping and other show services, GraphiColor's knowledge and experience in the industry helps them provide expert advice and top notch service. In addition to their trade show exhibiting services, GraphiColor has been providing custom lobby displays, event signage and large format printing since 1984.
Before founding GraphiColor Systems with her partner Don, Anita worked at trade shows across the country as a narrator, booth staffer and supervisor for many years and is an expert on effective trade show exhibiting. She helps her clients cover all the bases in preparing for and being successful with their trade shows and events. Anita has shared her advice and tips with both large and small companies as well as Chambers of Commerce, industry associations and other business groups. Please visit www.graphicolor.com for additional information.
When determining how to ship your trade show display or signage to an event for the best price, there are a few things to keep in mind. Here are some tips from our wonderful production team you may find helpful:
1) When sending multiple pieces to a trade show (boxes, display cases, show literature, etc.), and have plenty of time before your event, shipping freight is most likely your best option. Display cases in particular, can be heavy and costly to send individually using a standard parcel service. Multiple packages can travel safely together as one when shipped on a pallet, and help to reduce show handling charges.
2) Parcel shipments are great when you have small quantities and packages that require overnight or two day service.
3) When you have no time restrictions, shipping ground is always your least expensive method. Be aware that overnight charges are normally expensive so double check your package contents and try to give yourself plenty of time for your trade show display components to reach their destination.
GraphiColor Exhibits is the Metro Detroit's leading Trade Show Services Management vendor. For assistance in coordinating any aspect of your upcoming trade show, please contact us!
Have you noticed these funny looking “bar code” cubes popping up just about everywhere recently? We certainly have – and although most common in printed advertisements, QR codes (or Quick Response Codes) are now making their way onto trade show display graphics as well.
These two-dimensional barcodes are being embraced smart phone users across the globe. After downloading a QR Reader App, you use your smart phone to scan the code and obtain the information the code has been embedded with – a website address, photos, product information or videos are common. You can see how this would be a useful way to capture information of your booth visitors on the show floor.
Many of our clients are inquiring about QR Codes and how to integrate them into their trade show display graphics. As a Detroit area trade show technology leader, we offer the following advice:
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Consider Your Audience. Make sure your target audience and booth visitors are familiar with this new technology. If they aren’t likely to identify the QR code, you may want to hold off on incorporating this technology into your trade show display graphics, for now.
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Know Your Show. Be certain that there is cell phone and wireless service available at the trade show where you are exhibiting. Bad service or no service at all will prevent the show attendees from being able to scan the code. Not sure if you will have internet at your trade show? GraphiColor's Trade Show Services Management may be right for you. Read more here.
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Use the Technology to your Advantage. Incorporating a QR code can be a huge success if you take the time to plan out exactly where the code will send those who scan it. Build the code so you can capture information of the visitors, or use it as a lead retrieval method. Give yourself the opportunity to have a second interaction with anyone who scans your QR Code – use it as an invitation to a special post-show reception your company will be hosting, or invite them to connect with you on various social media sites.
If you decide QR codes are right for you, GraphiColor Exhibits is the leading Michigan trade show display design company that can help you integrate this new technology into your trade show display graphics.
GraphiColor Exhibits is proud to announce our participation in and sponsorship of IMPACT 2012, the annual Automation Alley trade show and conference event taking place on Tuesday, February 7. The event will feature breakout sessions and panel discussions in sales, marketing, finance, human resources, and the public sector to forecast national and local trends that will impact businesses in 2012.
This marks the second consecutive year for the trade show and conference event, and gives participants a great opportunity to engage with other industry leaders from Southeast Michigan.
Breakout session topics include: (Agenda provided by Automation Alley)
• Helping Find the "and" in Your Brand, Jamie Michelson, President, SMZ Advertising
• Ideas to Help Grow Your Small Business in the Cloud, Gary Montgomery, Chief Sales Officer, Trillium Teamologies, Inc. (TTI)
• Crucial Conversations for Conflict Resolution, Douglas L. Finton, Managing Director, Vital Skills International LLC
• LinkedIn for Business, Brenda Meller, Director of Marketing, Walsh College
• Introduction to the Pure Michigan State Trade Export Promotion (STEP) Program, Jeanne D. Broad, International Trade Development Manager, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
• Tapping Into the Talent Pipeline, Jennifer Bowden, Director of Career Services, Davenport University
• Transforming Ideas into a Winning Product, moderated by Rich Dusek, Engineering Branch Manager, Segula Technologies
• A Day in the Clouds: Is your Future Cloudy? moderated by Peter R. Marsack, Vice President, Vision Computer Solutions
The trade show and conference will end with a networking session from 3:00-5:00 PM. For individual registration, visit www.automationalley.com/IMPACT2012.
In a world driven by technology, we hear often about the importance of having an updated website in order to effectively communicate your brand and your message. Your website changes and evolves to remain competitive and relevant – and so should your trade show display! Much like your website, your trade show display booth is like your company’s resume – and first impressions definitely matter from the show floor.
As a web developer advises website changes, here at GraphiColor Exhibits, we will advise clients on when it’s time for a graphics refresh, or a complete display overhaul. We review the content of your message, condition of the trade show display booth and how you want your display to function when considering if it’s time to revamp or replace your entire display or simply the graphics.
For example, has the content of your message on your trade show display booth kept up with the pace of your business and the needs of your customers? From the corporate logo and tagline, to the color scheme, your trade show display booth graphics are the first thing that will create a lasting first impression about your business to attendees on the show floor. If your graphics include outdated marketing messages or focus on a product or service that is no longer the centerpiece of your offerings – you are not going to get any relevant leads or visitors with this information. The most up-to-date information about your company MUST be prominently featured.
Additionally important is how you are integrating new technologies into your trade show display booth space. Consider implementing the following into your display:
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Flat screen monitors
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Touch screen displays
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Digital kiosks
Adding any of these options, along with a myriad of other interactive elements into your display is becoming standard practice – especially for larger booth spaces. If you are considering a new display, an interactive element is a must. If this is new to you, no worries – GraphiColor Exhibits knows how to effectively integrate the latest technologies into your trade show display booth space.
For every event that your trade show display booth graphics and technologies remain outdated, you are giving your competitors an advantage. It’s the same advantage those competitors would receive if your website was providing outdated information, or (gasp!) completely down. You may lose credibility with customers and send prospects on a hunt throughout the show for more relevant information and products. You’ve already committed a great deal of time and budget to secure your booth space, so make certain you will “Get Noticed” at your show with an updated, eye-catching, attention-grabbing display.
GraphiColor Exhibits has been chosen to present the latest installment of Automation Alley’s lunch ‘n’ learn series. Anita Mitzel, President of GraphiColor Exhibits, will present “Working the Trade Show Effectively: Training your Staff for Success” on Wednesday, January 18. The event will take place at Automation Alley Headquarters – 2675 Bellingham Drive, Troy – from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
In this session we will discuss the following in regards to your trade show strategy:
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Planning and goal setting
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Effective communication tactics on the show floor
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Best practices for qualifying and gathering leads
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Staff behavior, habits and grooming
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Successful post-show follow up
Registration for this event is open now! Click here to register, or for additional information. We hope to see you there.
I was at a large trade show in Chicago a few years ago looking for a supplier for a specific type of software for my business. Having not found a good solution to my challenges, I was getting ready to catch a cab for the airport. However, I had only one aisle left to go down, so I thought, why not?
Not really expecting to find the solution here either, I made my way down the row of ten foot booths until I came across a booth that made me pause. On the front of the display wall was a huge image of a freckle-faced kid with a goofy grin who had racing goggles on, and smudges on his face. I don't even remember what the message said. I was momentarily captivated by this picture and as I STOPPED IN THE AISLE, one of the booth staffers approached me, and I bet you can guess the rest. Here was the one company that could provide the perfect solution I was looking for and I'm convinced that I would have walked right by them had they not used a compelling graphic. By the way, we DID become their customer!
My point: Graphics can make all the difference in the impact you make on the trade show floor!
Having your company’s strengths displayed visually is a great way to showcase your products and services. But in the trade show environment, the difference between attracting new business and having it go to the competition can be as simple as well-designed graphics.
Simply put, your company needs to stand out at a trade show. You only have seconds to impress attendees as they cruise the show floor, so don't let your graphics fall flat! With a well thought-out display and effective graphic design, attendees are more likely to be drawn into your booth space. By employing a meaningful design, you can also help to establish your company’s brand and increase the possibility for long-term customer retention. Something as important, yet simple, as trade show graphics should definitely not be overlooked.
When prices at the pump are on the rise, you may also see an increase to the costs associated with transportation of your trade show display.
Unfortunately, there's not a lot that can be done to lower these costs, but we do offer the following suggestions that may assist in saving money on related trade show shipping costs.
Ship Early, Avoid Last Minute Shipments
Plan your shipment schedule far in advance, so you can use the least expensive mode of transportation available. Ground shipping will generally give you the lowest rates. Give your display producer enough time so that ground transportation can be arranged with no worries about a time crunch.
There's no doubt that you may have some product or materials that will need to get to the show that were not ready in time to go on the truck with your display. If at all possible, try to avoid sending separate shipments to the show venue in order to avoid hidden costs like "small package handling" fees that are often outlined in your show regulations. These small fees and additional freight charges can really add up!
Leave Literature Behind
Is the extra weight and shipment of thousands of pieces of literature worth its cost and effort? Studies show that over 80% of literature handed out at trade shows never makes it back to the potential client's office. Consider using a USB drive branded with your logo as a giveaway, pre-loaded with your company brochures, or incorporate an interactive element, such as a digital document station within your booth to allow visitors to email the documents that most interest them directly from the show floor to their inbox back at the office.