Author name: standout

StandOut would like to thank GE Health for letting us be part of  the RANZCR Expo this month.The stand looks great! Thanks for everyone who came along and particapted.We are looking forward to working with you again soon GE Health!

Pet Expo 2013 Royal Canin stand at the Pet Expo 2013 held in Auckland. Had a wonderful time meeting furry friends.Thanks Royal Canin for letting us be part of this adorable weekend!

Well done STANDOUT Design! On Monday night this week STANDOUT was at the Langham in Auckland to theme a Tourism Malaysia dinner for Soiree – Extroadinary event makers.  Soiree had organised traditional dancers, fabulous Malaysian imagery and we had added to the night with floral centrepieces, floor standing pieces, tropical plants like orchids and fabulous bromeliads.  We polished it off with light ceiling draping and scalloping which was highlighted by the venues chandeliers. We had great feedback from Soiree on behalf of Sabrina McLeod at Tourism Malaysia…”We have already had some amazing feedback from agents who attended saying it was the best Asia event they have ever been too!  I appreciate that we were ‘speed-eventing’ and you both worked miracles in putting all elements together. Please pass on my thanks to the whole team who were on site last night and your amazing creative designer” Thanks Soiree!

If you thought that ‘pulling off’ a highly successful event that gets everybody talking is outside of your grasp, then read on. When it gets down to the nitty gritty of being the perfect host, it’s really just a case of capturing a few crucial ingredients. Whether you tackle the task entirely or partially on your own, or if you instead opt to call in the experts, hosting an outstanding event enjoyed by all is always worth the effort. Clearly Understand Your Objectives Right from the very beginning of your planning process, it is essential that you have a clearly defined objective in mind. Whether that be to educate your attendees, promote your company (or product) or perhaps purely to reward staff for their efforts, it pays to actually record what it is you wish to achieve. These objectives will act as your driver and give you a sense of direction throughout the organizing phase. Ultimately, this will keep you on the right track to execute the real event. Planning This is perhaps the most intensive part of hosting any successful event. Pay attention to the details. Think through your choice of foods and beverages. Décor, location choice and themes need to be carefully considered. Do you want to use company colors? Will guests be inside or outside? What is the ‘vibe’ or ambiance that you want to engender? Elegant? Exciting? Laid Back? Every aspect regarding the forthcoming event has to be planned and executed in a thought out manner. Be sure to give consideration to the layout of your venue and event decoration. Creating a space where people are subtly steered together to mingle as a large group might be ideal for your objective. Or perhaps you prefer to guide them instead to certain focal points, or allow them to cluster in more cozy alcoves and recesses. Most people tend to instinctively avoid large open spaces, unless they are filled with other people or have some specific purpose or draw-card. Lighting and possibly music can also be key components in producing the ideal atmosphere. Build Anticipation Research confirms that if people approach an occasion with the expectation that they are going to enjoy themselves, then they are much more likely to actually do so. This too goes on to have a snow ball effect. Being the gregarious creatures that we are, when we sense that people around us are having fun we are again more inclined to have fun ourselves. So how do we capitalize on this Do not neglect the build up leading to your event. This is just as important as the effort you put into the event on the day. Whether it is through a well thought out and attractive invitations, a clever and engaging advertising and promotional campaign, or by attention grabbing teasers and reminders, you need to capture your audience well before they even arrive. Keep Them Engaged It does depend on the nature of the event of course, but usually it is important to make sure participants are free to mingle and interact with each other. Think through the different stages of your event and ensure that your guests are always engaged in some manner. This might be talking to others, listening to music or presentations, or looking over displays and exhibitions. People typically don’t like to feel that they are ‘just waiting’ or milling awkwardly without purpose. Aim to allow people to mix or engage in some meaningful activity right throughout the entire event. If at all possible, “aspire to surprise”. This might be in the form of a give-away or complimentary offering. It might be an unexpected piece of entertainment… or perhaps just overall, by impressing your guests through the caliber of your event. When you surprise and impress your guests, you get them talking. You create that ‘after-buzz’. And after-buzz is exactly what we are aiming for… after-buzz is the hallmark of every successful event. If you are planning an event and are based in Auckland, be sure to chat to the experts at StandOut Design. The friendly and experienced staff will happily advice and assist with all your up-coming event planning needs.

The team at Stand Out will match colours to your logo and company colours to give you that special look. With over 100 years of combined experience in our design team, and a passion for interior design and decorating, Stand Out Design is the obvious choice for buying Christmas Decorations from or having them installed at your corporate christmas party.

Looking for that ideal Event Decorator in Auckland? So you have an upcoming event, trade show or corporate function and you want to find a reputable, experienced, reliable event decorator that offers exceptional services to wow your audience? You want the best Event Decorators that Auckland has to offer. Well, look no further. Fortunately you have landed on one of the most experienced event decorators in New Zealand and you are now in safe hands, so rest assured. STANDOUT Design has created innumerable events and exhibitions since they were established in 1997. Don’t underestimate the scope and variety of events that we will decorate. Perhaps your business anniversary or birthday is approaching and you would like to invite your top clients as a thank you for their support. We know how to represent you in a way that you can be proud of.  From conception through to reality we make your ideas come to life and if you are lacking in ideas, worry not, we are full of them. Be sure to visit our site to view examples of our previous work. You will see how we can convert a large convention centre into a venue for the most memorable night of the year. We can assist you to host a themed sales conference or Christmas Party that will keep everyone buzzing or a product launch that everybody remembers. We believe that hosting an event with flair is an invaluable way to make an impression and to get people talking. With years of experience, there is pretty much nothing that phases the team at STANDOUT. For example, if you were planning to hold an outdoor Christmas event of some description, we lead the way in outdoor decoration – everything from malls through to main roads and shopping centres.  We can design and install inspirational ideas that will amaze you. Dealing with an event decorator who has extensive knowledge of Auckland City and New Zealand venues is imperative. Knowing the best place to get what from where will make your life so much easier.  Decorating inspires us – everything from Ceilings, Dance floors, Entrances, Stage and Walls.  STANDOUT Design know what works where and how to make the biggest impact. The calibre of an event often depends on the standard of service provided by the Event Decorator. Talk to us about what theme you have in mind, we understand what makes an experience to remember. We can take all the hassle away when it comes to arranging the perfect dance floor, disco light ensemble or sound and light package. From colour schemes right through to that intangible ‘vibe’ that you are aiming for, we know that attention to detail is key. There is no turning back time after the “fail” of an event.  Don’t take that risk. Let us take the stress and hassle out of your hands. Leave it to the professionals to inspire, organise and arrange an event of the highest standard. We know what works, so let us work with you to turn your perfect event into a reality.

Does your company have a trade show coming up? We managed to track down Susan Tapper of well known event and exhibition company STANDOUT Design and asked her to help with some common questions that event and exhibition decorators get asked regularly.Susan was kind enough to take time out of her busy schedule to share a few tips that she has learned over her 17 year career in event and exhibitions industry.From Te Papa to Sky City if you have been to a trade show or enjoyed a large corporate event then you would have seen Susan and the STANDOUT Exhibition & Event Design team’s work. Enjoy the questions and feel free to leave comments on our Facebook Page here Q1. Where do I start with a trade show? Should I start with a designer or a project manager first? SusanMy advice is to look for a exhibition designer first and let that person drive the project. A good designer will  be able to provide a turnkey service for you and co-ordinate contractors and materials. Be clear with your brief and your expected goals and be open to new ideas. I suggest you start by looking online for a suitable supplier and ensure your supplier has a long proven history, provides a quality finish in their delivery and most of all; stunning creativity that will ensure you stand out amongst the crowd. You’re paying a lot to exhibit at a show so make sure your stand will attract your target market. Pick a company that has a history of stands of your size and don’t be scared to ask for proof up front. Experience is essential, not every company is equipped to build split level trade show stands for example. Q2. Should I use a theme or is that not appropriate ?SusanUnless it’s an industry show or something around human interest we wouldn’t suggest you use a theme unless it is part of your branding or brand strategy. Themes tend to take the focus away from your brand and the message you are trying to convey, which can be very confusing and off putting for a potential customer. So often we see at exhibition trade displays,  large expensive stands that are confusing to the target market and failing to convey the brand strategy that has cost a lot to develop. The brand, brand values and identity must tie in with the exhibition display stand, so be sure every little detail reflects that . If you are selling medical equipment for example, your target market will want to see a super clean stand, strong fresh brand in prominent position, excellent lighting to keep it looking fresh, and be sure to clean every morning and perhaps during the show to maintain that clean, fresh identity. Q3. How much should I spend on a exhibition display stand? SusanThis is a common question and one that we get often. Every company’s budget will be different however as a general rule of thumb if you take the cost of the exhibition site and you double or treble it, that will give you a good idea of what you should spend on the look and delivery of your stand. There is no fixed rule on the amount of square meters my stand should cost such as such, you generally pay based on the look and presentation of your stand. There’s no point in exhibiting badly when you have paid a lot of money to be there.  You can be creative with budgets but don’t compromise to the point where you are inconsistent with your brand message. Q4. How can I get more customers onto my stand? SusanAs a rule of thumb the more people you and your staff engage with, the more chances you have of  achieving a really successful show and preparing yourself and your staff prior to the show with training is the way to do that. The critical thing is have a hook that allows time for engagement and a way to collect data for followup. It is not always possible to convey the full features and benefits of your product on that day so following up is essential post the show. I would suggest offering a competition or incentive as a method to get people onto the stand and ensure these are located in a prominent spot. Having the appropriate lighting can be very attractive to people and having movement in the form of AV is also helpful. Be sure that your incentives or competitions are targeted appropriately to your potential market. Having friendly, approachable staff who know all there is to know about their product or service is the biggest way you can get consumer interest and carry it through to sales or orders. With thanks to LED Exhibition Lighting for the photograph