Mar 28, 2023 | Events and Shows to Attend, Outdoor Events
There is still time to book outdoor marketing events for spring and summer 2023! The hard part is done, you have found Creative Imaging Displays to help supply you with all your outdoor event products and design services! Now comes the difficult task of determining which events are worth the investment. Trade shows and events take up a lot of time and resources, so it’s essential to plan accordingly to maximize your return on investment. Often overlooked, it’s also important to find events that are fun and exciting. These events are great team building opportunities and often a fun break to the everyday grind. Let’s talk about outdoor events to attend in 2023 and determine the best solutions for your company!
Major Outdoor Events across the USA in 2023
Sporting Events
Masters Golf Tournament – Augusta, Georgia
April 3-9 2023
Are you connected to the golf and or sports industry? A major event like the Masters Golf Tournament is a great place to make new connections! Vendor spaces are available to sell directly or via networking. The Masters might be out of budget or space is unavailable. Don’t worry, there are plenty of local sporting events throughout the spring and summer. The US Open takes place Aug. 28 – Sept. 10, 2023. This is a major US sporting event that may still be available for marketing opportunities! Look into local minor league teams, major league teams, camps, parades, and festivals. There is no lack of sporting events, and if your company sells to any sector of the sports industry make sure to find the best local events and start exhibiting!
Music and Art Festivals
Coachella – Indio, California – Burning Man Festival – Black Rock Desert, Nevada
April 14-23 2023 – Aug. 24 – Sept. 4, 2023
Music festivals are in full swing and will continue into fall. Coachella is one the largest, and well known music and arts festivals in the country! The event is fast approaching so exhibiting space may be non-existent. That’s ok, look into booking for next year to get ahead of the game, and look forward to other more accessible music and art festivals this year! Lollapalooza takes place August 3-6 in Chicago. If you are looking to get involved in a major music festival try to book right away, there may still be space available! Another great solution is signing up with local concert venues. Most venues will rent space for every event so there are many opportunities for festival marketing at smaller events.
Burning Man Festival is a counterculture event that is a unique art festival. It takes place from August 24 – September 4, 2023. There is a gifting culture at this event which is a great opportunity to hand out unique gifts that can also market your product. This festival started in 1986 with only 20 people, it’s now one of the most well known art festivals in the country!
Local Outdoor Marketing Events to Attend in 2023
It is possible that huge, national outdoor events are out of budget, or just the wrong fit for your organization. However local marketing events make up the majority of exhibiting opportunities for 2023. Farmers markets continue to offer some of the lowest cost networking and sales opportunities. Originally farmers markets were just that, a market for local farmers to sell fresh produce. As the economy has changed and there are fewer local farmers, these events now act as a “community market” where members of the community can showcase a product or service they offer. These events are great for making connections in your community. Maybe you will make zero sales at the market, but you may meet someone local that is a large buyer for your product or service. Local events may offer less attendees, but any connections made are usually solid and long term.
Additionally, search your local event calendar for any local events that offer booth space. Find the best shows that match your company’s product or service to the attendee profile. Make sure to search for the following events:
- Music Festivals
- Concert Venues
- Sporting Events – Golf, Tennis, Racing
- State Fairs
- Car Shows and Hobby Events
- Food, Wine, and Beer Festivals
Face to face marketing in sunny outdoor weather is one the most effective, and fun ways to market a product or service. Sign up for many of these events and keep good records of lead generation as well as sales. At the end of the year analyze these events and determine the best exhibiting locations for the following year!
Products to use at Outdoor Events in 2023
After reviewing all the great events for this spring and summer, it’s important to get your exhibiting products as well as branding in order! The base to any good outdoor marketing set up is a branded Outdoor Event Tent. We highly recommend the Zoom Event tent, offered in 10×10 and 10×20 sizes with optional side walls. A new product we are excited about is the Zoom Flex Outdoor Billboard event display. It uses fiberglass poles and a mesh graphic that stands up to 14 mph winds!
Make sure to get your hands on at least one A-frame board. A-frames are great to guide attendees to your space. Put one at the entrance to the event and at major intersections to remind attendees of your presence. The Ace 2 Outdoor Sign is a great solution due to the low price point and whiteboard feature! On this a-frame you can write directly on the sign with dry erase to easily customize messaging for the day!
At Creative Imaging Displays we know the outdoor industry and also the best products available. We know which outdoor events to attend in 2023! Additionally our team of sales staff and designers are here to offer a full service experience when shopping for outdoor event products in 2023! Stay tuned for for more great tips on outdoor event exhibiting and also new products for 2023!
Mar 23, 2023 | Outdoor Events
When the summer heat strikes, but an outdoor event is in the cards, you’ll want to make sure you’re covered, literally. Outdoor business events pose unique challenges that test even the most experienced event and show planning professionals. A variety of circumstances can alter an outdoor planned business event. From inclement weather to catering snafus, outdoor events seem more accident-prone. Among the areas to be covered below are tips on location, weather, proper tent selection, setup, adaptability and overall display. In this article “Tent usage for outdoor business events” we’ll take a look at each of these elements and how they interact to provide you with the perfect business event setup.
Key Differences in Indoor and Outdoor Event Tent Usage
If you’ve attended, or had a table at any indoor business events, then I’m sure you’re able to discern the main difference between indoor and outdoor events. Weather is probably the most-discussed variable. Your day can begin with perfect weather for the event, but by the start time, can turn into something far nastier. It’s important to have the right tent display for business events.
Because of this, outdoor events take a more significant amount of planning than indoor counterparts. The biggest difference comes down to tent usage and setup. It helps to get your mindset ready for the challenges you may encounter along the way.
Unpredictable Weather
All the best planning and preparation of an event by show organizers can be disrupted by poor weather. But rarely are events cancelled even during rough weather days or nights. So to ensure showing your tent display to its best effect even during poor weather, here are a few tips to consider:
– Bring heavy rocks, weights or clamps to hold items down in case of high winds. You can secure your brochures and other printed materials in place. Clamp down the table coverings, and even use weighted materials to steady a tent in the wind.
– If rain is in the forecast, but the event is still happening, then come prepared with extra plastic drop sheets to have to use over your display items.
Unstable Environment
It’s possible that your tent display might be set up near the show DJ tent. You might be having to “Get Lucky” or “Happy” all day long. Of course, this is a tough environment to make new customers, so work with the show organizer to see if your tent can be moved elsewhere. If not, just try to make the best of it. Who knows, the music may draw more people to your display than anticipated, and you may have the DJ to thank. Just remember to provide an outstanding experience to the event goers, to ensure that your company or organization will stay remembered.
– Use the outdoor elements to win over prospects. Perhaps a wind pinwheel might provide the right touch for someone to walk into your tent booth display. Sometimes just business cards don’t work.
– Offer an hourly event at your display, either a drawing for swag or a contest to win some new customer attention.
The Proper Tent
Choose the right size of tent for your business needs. Large tent displays work better in large event spaces. Small tents would look awkward in a large space, so make sure to achieve the right fit for the tent display.
Will you be in colder temperature? Or harsh sunlight? Some large tent displays come with sides that can be taken down to protect from bright sun or wind. When the weather is calm, you can pull the sides up.
Setup Time
Some tent displays are easy to set up. Others take several persons to achieve it. Make sure you know what you’re getting into with setup time when selecting the right tent.
If your tent takes too long to set up, then you may have to rush with the rest of your trade show display, which will detract from the overall power. On the other hand, if you have a lot of employees on deck, then a larger tent has the potential to be set up very quickly with the added manpower.
Branded Design
Will you have branded graphics on your tent display? If so, you’ll need to leave extra time before the event to get that process finalized. But the extra time will be worth it. Branding your tent allows you to send a stronger message to your potential customers. It also helps you stand out from the flood of white or unbranded tents that are more common at outdoor business events.
For a personalized review of your outdoor tent display needs, contact Creative Imaging Displays to discuss your needs. We can help you pinpoint the best tent display, and other areas like flooring, lighting, technology and graphics options to help you meet your branding, visitor-attraction and budget needs. Do you like our article on Tent Usage for Outdoor business events? Check out all of our articles for more great event info!
Mar 21, 2023 | Outdoor Events, Product Reviews
Outdoor events in 2023 are fast approaching so make sure to prepare your outdoor booth equipment! Creative Imaging Displays is actively expanding our offerings of quality outdoor event and marketing displays so you have access to the latest industry trending products. We are offering new outdoor products for 2023 that include outdoor billboards, pop up bars, A frame signs, and event flags. Our selection is currently expanding and will continue through the summer so keep checking back for updates on new products! But for now we can discuss all details and features of the new products we just added to our site for simple and informative online ordering!
New Additions to our Outdoor Product Line for 2023
We just expanded our product line to include all sizes and options for the entire Wind Dancer product line. The Wind Dancer is a well known outdoor flag system that includes a fillable base and full color graphic! Additionally we expanded our A frame line up to include the Ace 2 which features a unique dry erase screen so you can write directly on the sign! Many outdoor billboards have come and gone over the years, but now there is a great solution! The Zoom FLEX outdoor billboard uses fiberglass poles and a mesh graphic to create an outdoor banner wall that works great outdoors! Finally our catalog now includes the Outdoor Portable Popup Bar which is a perfect addition to any indoor or outdoor event!
Zoom FLEX Outdoor Billboard
Large outdoor billboards for marketing events have been a challenge to produce. Anything that is a larger size tends to get damaged in the wind or during assembly. We have offered a variety of billboards in the past, but they tend to get discontinued due to poor sales and high warranty claims. Orbus developed a great design with their Zoom FLEX Outdoor Billboard that utilizes framing from the popular and durable Zoom FLEX flags with a mesh fabric graphic. Using weights and a sturdy base, this system will hold up to 14mph winds!
The mesh graphics absorb wind and the poles flex adding to the overall stability. Built from fiberglass poles, the frame is lightweight and durable. We offer single and double sided graphic printing for maximum branding opportunities! Make sure to check out the set up video to see exactly how this billboard assembles. To complete the package, carrying bags and a hard shipping case are included at no extra cost! This product is perfect for outdoor events, churches, schools, colleges, sporting events, and farmers markets!
Ace 2 Outdoor Sign
The Ace 2 Outdoor Sign is a modern refresh of a classic design. This A frame board uses aluminum and plastic to create a lightweight and durable frame. Utilizing a snap frame, graphics are quick and easy to swap! Each frame kit includes white boards and dry erase lenses making this display a portable outdoor whiteboard! Additionally its great because you can write directly on top of the graphic without damaging it! Graphics are sized at 24″ x 36″ so it fits any standard poster size graphic. Use this A frame board in front of your store front or restaurant and customize the theme everyday! If planning to use the whiteboard feature, make sure to incorporate blank area in the design for custom messaging. The low price point, versatility, and ease of use make the Ace 2 a perfect A frame solution!
Outdoor Portable Popup Bar
A great solution to any outdoor event is the Outdoor Portable Popup Bar! This Popup Bar works in a variety of environments including indoor and outdoor events. Its great as a product display, info center, or presentation center! Graphics are included in each kit to easily customize and brand this bar for your company. Use the internal storage for additional products, literature, or personal belongings. Lightweight and sturdy aluminum makes the frame easy to move and transport. Locking casters also add to the flexibility of this product. Choose between two sizes to suit your event needs. Additionally we include a carrying bag to make storage and transportation fast and simple!
New Outdoor Wind Dancer Products for 2023
Last but not least, we expanded our offering of the Wind Dancer product line to include the full height version! The full height Wind Dancer reaches 17’3″ with a massive graphic. The base on this model is larger than the LT and Mini versions for increased stability. This flag system is ideal for windy conditions. Fill the base with sand or water to secure the stand and make it stable. Choose between single or double sided graphics depending on the event. Use the Wind Dancer for large events with huge crowds of people to get event goers to notice your product or brand!
We will continue to add new outdoor products for 2023 throughout the spring and summer. Additionally we offer a huge variety of the most popular outdoor marketing displays at great prices, with fast turnaround. Often overlooked, many outdoor displays are perfect for indoor use! Use any of the above products at your next trade show, or even your retail store front! Get a jump on your competitors this season by getting your entire outdoor booth designed, branded, and also produced before the competition! Usually in May and June there is a run on outdoor products so stock my run low, or run out. Make sure you are ready and get your outdoor displays now! Creative Imaging Displays is here to help with logistics, questions, and design services to make the process simple and straight forward! Stay tuned for updates on more new outdoor event products for 2023!
Mar 20, 2023 | Outdoor Events
An outdoor trade show can present challenges to your trade show display that indoor venues do not. However just like any trade show venue, the key to success is using the environment to your advantage when considering your trade show booth. Along with the challenges of outdoor exhibits, there are several opportunities to make an outdoor trade show a success for your company or product. As a key supplier in the industry, we have seen it all. Below are some tips for outdoor exhibits that will help you with all outdoor exhibiting!
Use Your Surroundings
The first step in creating a graphic display that works at an outdoor show is to know where the location is. You should familiarize yourself with the general climate of an outdoor trade show’s location, such as the weather during the week leading up to the event. A drastic change in weather could affect the design or other logistics of your outdoor marketing products. Advanced warning is the most important tool you’ll have when adjusting to possible changing conditions. The general rule to an outdoor show is to always use the venue’s and environment’s conditions to your advantage. Several outdoor trade shows are held in wide-open lots or fields. Shade from sunlight and shelter from rain or snow tend to lack, as these areas also lack trees and other shade and shelter features.
Indoor vs. Outdoor Event Tips
Presenting at an outdoor show introduces challenges not present at indoor venues. Such as how to supply your display with power, safely from water or other elements, or other commodities readily available indoors. But there are also advantages; space is not as restricted. Use the additional space to your advantage and create displays that encourage interaction with those outside of them. Make the most of unlimited height considerations and have an element that is very tall or flies such as outdoor flags. Also, use the environment as an inspiration for your giveaways. Giving away fans, spray bottles, sunscreen, frozen treats or ice cream can be good products in warmer, sunnier climates. While umbrellas, scarves, ear warmers, mittens and hot beverages with your company’s name and logo, will have people flocking in the winter or rainier or snowier host cities.
Besides using the environment to your advantage, you must also consider what features will cause disadvantages. We discussed how shelter can be an asset as protection from wind and rain, but also shade for sun. So having a booth without some sort of canopy feature could be a mistake. Wind must also be considered, so besides being sunlight and rain proof, outdoor trade show displays must also be well-anchored to the ground. It may even be equitable to hire professional installers to make sure proper anchoring techniques are used. We offer stake kits, ballast weights, and water bases to help with anchoring. Furthermore, giveaways like fliers, cards and even pamphlets also become fodder for gusty conditions. They should be avoided lest you become the show’s most notorious polluter instead of successful product promoter.
Keep Your Booth Clean
Neatness can often suffer outside. It is important to cover and skirt tables and keep booths as clean as possible. If table covering is necessary to keep a both looking sharp, a stretch fabric table throw can be a good choice because it is machine washable. Personal effects and food items should always be out of sight. It is a professional environment, not a campsite.
Although, outdoor trade show exhibitions can create challenges that indoor venues do not, some of which can be completely unforeseeable. Outdoor shows present opportunities that indoor shows cannot produce. Creative Imaging Displays holds expertise in designing and creating trade show booths and large format printing. Including those for your outdoor exhibition needs. Our high-value, low overhead approach allows us to give you the best quality for your investment. View our full section of outdoor displays and contact us if you have any questions before your next event! Thank you for reading our tips for outdoor exhibits!
Mar 14, 2023 | Outdoor Events
It’s that time of year! Its still cold and stormy in most places, but in a few weeks baseball and farmers markers will be in full swing! Plan now and be prepared for your outdoor events to get a head start on your competitors! There are so many ways to advertise your business or product, it can be overwhelming. The ability to advertise without approaching someone or before they even step foot into your store or booth is a huge competitive advantage. Strategic advertising will get attention and draw in customers which will only help your business grow. Outdoor advertising best practices can be achieved in a variety of ways, not only in style but size and portability as well. Start with proper products and effective design to create a perfect outdoor booth space!
How to choose the right outdoor advertising products
The most basic and simple outdoor sign is an A frame. Signicade A Frame outdoor sidewalk signs are super simple, lightweight, and professional. They are a very sturdy sign and hold up in all kinds of weather. The graphic is fade resistant. It is a taller A frame making it more visible. It is easy to assemble and comes in single or double sided graphics. Apex is another A frame outdoor sidewalk sign. It isn’t as tall but it has no assembly or parts and that just makes it simple and user friendly.
The Signicade A Frame is a great starting point for people on a budget. Although it is plastic, it is very durable. Both the Signicade and Apex make great choices for Real Estate Agents or anyone else who need to pack up their signs daily or weekly. The Monsoon is a huge version of an A frame but acts more like a billboard. Its the same concept but on a larger scale. It is just under 3 feet high and over 5 feet long but still under 25lbs. You can still use this for a store front but would also be great at a Church, Camp, Day Care, or Athletic Clubs.
Choosing the right size
When trying to reach a larger audience with outdoor signs, height is crucial. Often times smaller signs can be overlooked due to foot or car traffic or just due to its size depending on your location. Zoom Flags are an amazing and simple way to get your business name seen. Print your graphic in an eye catching color and get it above the crowd so passing cars and people walking by can always see it. Zoom flags come in 9, 11, 15 and 18 foot heights and come with different types of bases you can purchase depending on your need.
In that same category you can also get the Mondo flag pole which is taller and just all around solid sturdy. It is offered in 13, 17 and 23ft heights. The price includes a heavy duty water/sand base and the flag is meant to make a huge statement. Wild Dancer Mini is a nice compromise of the two. The heavy duty similarities of the Mondo with the size options of the zoom. The Wind Dancer is offered in 8ft and 13 foot options.
Best Practices – Outdoor banner stands
The Thunder outdoor banner stand is a great option for store fronts. It has perpendicular feet you lock into place, a pole and a retractable graphic the hooks into place. The Blizzard is similar in style but has a fill base, easy hook on graphic and adjustable height and width frames to keep the graphic tight and always looking nice. The Outdoor Bubble Poster is another competitor with easy setup but fixed dimensions with a bigger base, giving it a larger footprint, but more sturdy. Printing is available for the base which is a huge upgrade over many other outdoor banner stands.
There are some extreme differences and options in outdoor advertising. The Parkway Street Pole Banner is a great solution for mounting printed graphics to any fixed pole. They are ideal for community events for holidays, parades, and sporting events. Use the parkway for light poles in parking lots, stadiums, and arenas!
Outdoor Canopies and Event Tents
The outdoor canopy is the center point for any effective outdoor event. All other product selection are built around the event tent. Zoom outdoor event tents include multiple sizes, printed walls, lighting kits, accessories, and flag attachments! We also carry the Casita and Showstopper product lines which include even more size and accessory options! It is worth every penny to invest in a full color custom canopy to effectively advertise your brand. With a full color canopy we can match company pantone colors, print photos, full color logos, basically any digital design can print on the canopy! For outdoor advertising best practices, use a flag attachment accessory to attach a printed flag to the tent to add additional height to the tent! Check out the Zoom tent product video for additional details on outdoor canopies and event tents!
It really doesn’t matter what or where you are advertising, there are plenty of options. Big and sturdy, can still mean easy setup and portable. Small and simple can still mean durable and eye-catching. Outdoor advertising best practices start with the right products and great graphic design. Combine multiple products and create an advertising campaign that will stand out among all other exhibitors!
