Maggie Clemence, Quadrant2Design’s PR Manager and Videographer recently caught up with Matt Childs, the Marketing Manager at Michelin Connected Fleet.
Michelin Connected Fleet attended the Road Transport Expo from the 4th until the 6th of June 2024 at Stoneleigh Park! Matt used a Quadrant2Design stand at this show and has shared insights on many facets of Quadrant2Design’s service, including the stand design, installation, artwork, renders, storage, the event website, project management, exhibiting abroad, and more.
Exhibition Stand Design
When you’ve invested in exhibiting, it’s crucial to have an exhibition stand design that has a lasting impact on audiences, boosts brand memorability and captivates guests.
In the video, Maggie asks Matt his thoughts about his exhibition stand design. He says:
“We were really pleased with the stand. In terms of the location, we had a prime location in terms of the hall we were in, but not a prime location in the hall that we were in. Rather than facing the centre of the room, we were kind of facing towards the back of the room.
What was really helpful was the high-level visibility and I think that was really well done in that we plumped for the extra high-level visibility illuminated rings, and it meant that despite where we were, it was very noticeable this halo was there!”
Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to book the perfect hall space. However, there are features on your exhibition stand that maximise visibility to ensure the best results. The high-level branding on this stand and backlit rotating headers ensured visitors could see the Michelin stand from any direction in the hall!
Artwork
Of course, a significant part of the exhibition stand design is in the artwork. Maggie asked Matt about the pressure of choosing an exhibition stand design and build contractor, as a credible company with a great reputation.
“For us, it’s an absolute non-negotiable that our brand is represented correctly. It’s taken 130 years to build the brand up to what it is now. The value of the brand, in particular, people like the Michelin man [..] is worth to us as an asset a huge amount of money, in terms of intellectual property and value. So we have very very strict brand guidelines and brand books and obviously, when we give it to companies, they can interpret it in a number of different ways.
What was really pleasing, was we got the impression you guys just got it. You understood the brand guidelines, nice and straightforward and we didn’t have to make many changes at all with the branding elements.
From our initial brief, in terms of what we wanted, or why we wanted it, you guys pitched it at the right level.”
Matt also shared that the 3D renders and video walkthroughs helped him visualise the stand before the event.
“One of the things I thought was quite nice and unique, which I hadn’t necessarily seen when we went to tender with other companies, was the ability to do the 3D renders and the video walkthroughs. They were really good at turning a static design into something I could visualise.”
Reusability
Reusability and reconfigurability are important for many exhibitors, as they make exhibiting sustainable, and allow for flexibility. Instead of buying a new display for each event, clients like Michelin Connected Fleet can reconfigure, so the stand appears and feels brand new, without the hassle and inconvenience of repurchasing each time.
As Matt explains, our stands create the illusion of a permanent structure while offering flexibility and freedom in exhibiting.
“We wanted to move away from single-use stands, which we felt were unsustainable, on both a cost basis but also from an environmental perspective. So we wanted to get multiple uses out of it, and we wanted something that meant we could flex if we needed to in terms of the stand so it looked like a permanent structure or a fixed structure rather than a pop-up, but meant that if we weren’t able to get the same plot, or we went to different shows, we could model it around or have the modular elements to make the investment work for us. We were really pleased with it.”
The Installation
When asked if there was anything we could improve on, Matt shared that it was hard to fault any aspect of the Quadrant2Design service.
Though there were some event day complications with electrics at the venue, our installers are very experienced, and we always allow good time to resolve issues so the stand was delivered in good time.
“The guys who were the stand builders themselves, I can’t fault them, they were so proactive. It was just getting the electrics connected was a bit fiddly.”
A Stress-Free Experience
Exhibitions require a lot of organising and in-house services like Project Management, installation, storage, and logistics handling completely take the pressure off, so you can focus on your event strategy.
“For me as a marketing manager, who’s a team of one, the best thing is, I arrived on the Monday and the stand was being built. I left at 16:00 or whenever the show ended on the Thursday and everything was done for me. You guys have got it back there, you’re looking after it for us. I haven’t got to worry about storage, I haven’t got to worry about anything. That kind of peace of mind is invaluable.“
Project Management
We love that Matt mentioned the many admin tasks that can come with exhibiting. Though our Project Managers are here to ensure everything runs smoothly with your exhibition stand, they also handle the painful admin and take away the stress.
“I like the fact that my Project Manager, you know, we really didn’t have loads and loads of conversations because I felt that they were on the ball and on top of things. There was a lot of stuff going on in the background which they were just able to do for me. It’s those painful admin tasks like work schemes for the stand build for the electrics and all these sorts of things. When you’re doing it all yourself, it’s your job to provide that to the organiser, whereas with Lily doing it all for me, I only had to provide the odd invoice here and there for pieces of equipment, you know specialist bits and pieces.”
The Event Website
As well as designing and building great exhibition stands, Quadrant2Design also has an in-house marketing team, who make websites dedicated to promoting your presence at a particular event. Matt shares insights on Yourstand.at.
“We used [the event website] quite a bit to refer customers to when they wanted to find out about our stand and what we were doing on it. And, linked it up temporarily to our webpage and social feeds so that we could use it as a kind of teaser. So that was actually a really nice touch.”
Value for Money
Quadrant2Design is a full-service provider, handling all facets of your exhibition, from Project Management, design, printing and production, to the build. However, because our stands are modular, reconfigurable and reusable, they also bring great cost benefits.
“I had three different companies pitch to me, all slightly different, and Quadrant2Design were clearly I felt the best pitch from a price perspective. What pleased me was that the price was definitely what I call value for money, so it was actually in line with budget expectations, I think a price at the point of the tender is one thing, but when you review it on the back of it and you think I have got value for money, that’s the most important thing. I do feel that the price I paid represented good value for money!”
Future Exhibitions
When you exhibit with Quadrant2Design for the first time, you invest in your graphic panels. After this, you can save up to 60% on second-time exhibiting!
“The good thing is for next year, it’s one less thing I’ve got to worry about, and really all I need to worry about is which shows I want to go to, rather than what’s gonna be the total costs. I know roughly what my fixed costs are, which makes the whole process much more streamlined,” says Matt.
To sum up
We would like to thank Matt for this brilliant, detailed review of Quadrant2Design. It’s been a pleasure working with Michelin Connected Fleet, and we hope Matt’s insights have shed light on the benefits of Quadrant2Design’s services and exhibition solution.
If you’re thinking of exhibiting, get in touch for a free, no-obligation design proposal. Contact us at design@quadrant2design.com or call +44 (0)1202 723 500.
For more information on Quadrant2Design, take a look at our credentials.
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