It’s peak season for events, and this August, we’re preparing for a record-breaking month of installations across the UK and Europe.
May at Quadrant2Design was one of our busiest months yet, with 29 exhibition stand installations in just four days. This September, we’re well on track to smash this record. We have been designing, manufacturing, printing, project managing and pre-building 79 stands, ready for installation at 15 venues across the UK and Europe.
In the video, Maggie discusses the details of the project at hand.
A Seasonal Industry
Over half of all UK exhibitions take place in just 4 months. So, we've built the business and the processes to cater to the seasonality of the trade show calendar.
James Vicefield, Head of Marketing & SalesTo those outside of the industry, this number of installations in one month may seem inconsequential. However, we work in a seasonal sector, where over half of the UK’s exhibitions take place in March, September, October, and November!
The surge forces many contractors to take risks and cut corners to keep up with the fluctuating demand. Whether it’s subcontracting builds or skipping vital steps like pre-build, the security of the projects is put in jeopardy.
We never put projects at risk, regardless of whether we’re in the peak events season or quieter months. Our business model, in-house procedures and stringent quality-control measures ensure that we deliver flawless exhibition stand projects, even when operating at full capacity.
Communication
In order to make this a seamless transaction, every department needs to work together in harmony.
Stuart Matthews, Head of OperationsAs we mentioned above, at Quadrant2Design, every employee operates in-house from our beautiful open-plan studio in Poole. That’s marketing, design consultancy, CAD design, graphic design, project management, operations, and pre-build, all in one building!
Our in-person working environment lends itself to excellent communication, higher efficiency and even crisis management. After all, sometimes the exhibition industry throws you a curveball; it’s the handling that makes the difference between a successful and unsuccessful event.
Building Capacity
Custom-modular stands offer a considerable value proposition: reuse. In order for customers to make the most out of their investment, we must have capacity. That means maintaining a large enough library of stock, in-house trained staff, project managers and designers, throughout the peak events season and our off-season.
We’ve got to make sure that we've got that capacity. So, you know, exhibitors don't have to resort to maybe their quick or disposable single-use stands, that in the end, really represent such poor value for money.
It's very natural, of course, for our customers to confirm their intention to work with us at all different times. that has an impact or a domino effect on all of the key milestones, the CAD approvals, the artwork approvals, and of course, ultimately our pre-built schedule.
Pre-Build
Building capacity is one thing, but pre-building every single stand ahead of the shows is another. This is a quality-control measure that we will never compromise on.
In actual fact, for the last 2 months, our building has been in operation approximately from 8:00 each morning till 1:00 the following morning at least 5 days a week and sometimes 7 days a week.
So, that gives you an indication of the level of activity we've been involved in to ensure that all of these 79 stands are built perfectly.
Continued Growth & Development
This year has marked a significant milestone in our growth and capacity as a company. We’re really proud of everything that we have achieved, and the care that has been given to each and every project. But we won’t stop here. This month has only encouraged us more to continue pushing the boundaries in modular stands with more investment in our premises, staff and equipment.
I'm immensely proud of everything that we've achieved and looking forward to installing the stands through September. I think we've earned a little break, but then really next for us is more investment in our facilities, processes, and people. So, we can deliver even more projects next year.
James Vicefield, Head of Marketing & SalesReady for September
We are midway through August, and we are ahead of schedule! Already, 56 of our 79 exhibition stands have been pre-built and quality-checked, now securely stored in our locked cage, ready for installation at the shows.
Maggie will be on the road visiting exhibitors throughout September at amazing shows like DSEI, PPMA, and SPE Offshore Europe. We cannot wait to see each project in situ!
Feeling inspired? Get in touch with our expert design consultants! Email design@quadrant2design.com or call us on 01202 723 500 for a free, no-obligation design proposal!
For more information on Quadrant2Design, please take a look at our credentials.
