What makes a good exhibition stand?

How to attract visitors to your exhibition stand

So, what exactly are the tried and tested methods of getting people to visit exhibition stands? Here are our top design tips.
 

Use striking graphics that are visible from afar

With such an impressive range of exhibition stand graphics now available, there is no reason to settle for the drab and dowdy. You want your patch of the hall to stand out and grab people’s attention. From frontlit and backlit polyester films to banners, photo papers, wallpapers, textile hanging signs, and more, you can use a wide range of media to get your brand message across.
 
Make sure that as well as looking appealing up close, your stand has the wow factor from afar. One way to do this is to use backlit graphics that are clearly visible from a considerable distance. Use suitably large fonts for your main branding too so that people can see exactly who you are from far away.

Tell a clear story

With so many design possibilities, it’s important to exercise some restraint when it comes to presenting your brand story. You need to convey your message simply and clearly so that people know exactly who you are and what you have to offer.
 
For example, when it comes to using text on signs, less tends to be more. A few carefully chosen words will typically have a much greater impact than a paragraph of text. The same principle applies to your colour scheme. By sticking to your brand colours and using them consistently, you can create a visually striking stand that perfectly encapsulates the essence of your company.

Include interactive elements

Interactive technology can be a major draw at exhibitions. From branded digital games to augmented reality apps that allow people to engage with your products, there are now many different ways to encourage people to interact with your brand during exhibitions. In turn, this can help to create a buzz around your stand and attract more attention. Even something as simple as providing selfie frames and props that give people a chance to take a branded snapshot can get more people over to your stand.

Think about acoustics

With so many people in one space, exhibitions tend to get noisy. This can make it hard for people to hear your brand representatives and it might discourage them from sticking around at your stand. Fortunately, there are things you can do to address this problem. Most notably, you can incorporate acoustic textiles into your exhibition stand that absorb sound and create a quieter environment. 

Offer giveaways

Everyone loves a freebie, so handing out branded gifts to people who visit your booth can help to drum up interest. For the best results, make sure your giveaways are useful to attendees. Popular examples include everything from stationery to power banks and flash drives. As people take these giveaways and walk around the hall with them, they can attract interest from other attendees - who may then come looking for your stand. 

Can exhibition stands be sustainable?

Following the suggestions above will help you to attract more people to your stand, but there is one aspect of exhibition stand design that we have ignored so far - and that is sustainability. It’s not uncommon for businesses to build bespoke stands for each individual exhibition they attend, often using a variety of materials that may not be particularly eco-responsible. However, recently there has been a growing trend away from this wasteful approach and towards greater environmental consideration.
 
By putting sustainability at the core of your exhibition stand planning, you can showcase your care for the planet and boost your green credentials.
 
At Antalis, we are championing the drive for sustainable exhibition stands. Our approach centres on using modular structures constructed from eco-responsible materials that can be repurposed and reused for multiple events, and then recycled when they become damaged or are no longer needed. One material that is superb for this purpose is Xanita board, which is a type of engineered fibreboard made from fibres that are recovered from used cardboard boxes. It can be decorated with various surface finishes and is both lightweight and loadbearing.

To make life easy for our customers, we have created a Green Star System™ that allows you to identify the environmental credentials of the materials in our portfolio. You can use this rating system as a guide when looking for sustainable materials for your exhibition stands.