In recent years, modular exhibition stands have been taking the exhibition stand industry by storm. Pioneered by UK-based exhibition stand designer, Quadrant2Design, the stands have been favoured for their sustainability, cost-effectiveness and versatility. Where the stands were once thought of as simply a wall of graphics, they are now known for their unique, stand-out bespoke look and capabilities. Whether a leading tech giant or an artisan food retailer, businesses are embracing modular designs.
In this blog, we’ll explore why modular designs are becoming so popular, from the sustainability and ease of exhibiting to the flexible and reconfigurable nature of the stands.
A Sustainable Solution
Modular exhibition stands are the most sustainable exhibiting solution on the market. The exhibition industry is unfortunately well-known for its wasteful practices, most specifically, the use of traditional custom-build stands. These stands are used for just a day or two, before being thrown into landfill. Modular stands, in contrast, utilise an aluminium expandable frame, with high-quality enveloping graphics for typography, branding and logos – all of which are reusable.
To further sustainability, companies like Quadrant2Design offer a Free-Hire Plan, where businesses invest in their graphic panels, and hire the hardware of the stands, free of charge. This saves even more on valuable resources, ensuring the framework is used to its maximum lifespan.
Flexible, Versatile, Reconfigurable
Since Modular exhibition stands are made from separate components, they are very flexible and can be reconfigured in different ways to suit every stand space, type, orientation and size! This flexibility is very useful for exhibitors as with just one set of graphics, they have a wide range of possible stand configurations.
Design Freedom
Modular stands are not just a wall of graphics. Though the graphics serve as the perfect canvas for branding, the stands can also host bespoke and unique features, like edge-lit acrylics, backlit features and rotating headers! With the advances in modular solutions, the stands can be used to meet any design brief or idea!
Cost Savings
Traditional custom-built stands can be expensive to design, build, and transport and you have to start from scratch every single time. Modular stands, on the other hand, help businesses to save money each time they exhibit. Where a custom-build could cost £20,000 per show, a modular stand could cost that for the entire year. With Quadrant2Design’s Free-Hire Plan exhibitors can save up to 60% after their first investment in graphics.
Brand Consistency
Exhibiting with Modular exhibition stands allows brands to maintain brand consistency across multiple shows. When using custom builds, it’s near-impossible for brands to achieve perfect colour-matching and style. When using a modular stand, brands reuse graphic panels, even if the configuration is different. A perfect match boosts memorability, and recognisability.
Clean Installations
Modular stands require no tools, painting, or last-minute finishing touches and produce no dust or fumes. Imagine displaying your food product on a stand covered in construction dust; it wouldn’t look good. Clean installations allow exhibitors to get set up earlier, without having to wait for paint to dry or pieces to be drilled together. Simply turn up ready to exhibit.
Pre-Build
When you exhibit with modular, you can build the stand in full ahead of the show. Exhibition stand designers like Quadrant2Design will never send a stand to an exhibition without conducting a full pre-build. Pre-build is the ultimate quality check and the ultimate risk management procedure. The first time you see your exhibition stand should not be on event day. Pre-build allows clients to view their stand before the show, conduct a product dress rehearsal, and check the stand is exactly as envisioned!
3 Brands That Chose Modular
With all of these benefits, it’s no surprise that modular stands are so popular. Here are three great brands that chose modular this year!
- Starlink from Elon Musk’s Space X – Starlink recently exhibited with a modular exhibition stand at the Everything Electric London show. Backlit, high-level branding allowed the iconic brand to be seen all throughout the hall!
- Michelin Connected Fleet – The iconic Michelin brand was seen on modular this year at the Road Transport Expo! Marketing Manager, Matt Childs, expressed that as a brand, Michelin wants to “move away from single-use stands” as they are “unsustainable”.
- Actiph Water – Another great brand, exhibiting with modular this year is Actiph Water. Actiph were seen at IFE and The National Convenience Show with an impressive, sustainable, exhibition stand. This modular solution has allowed Actiph Water to exhibit more frequently and further afield. The team have plans to take the stand to SIAL, Paris, later this year.
In Summary
Modular exhibition stands offer a myriad of benefits, including sustainability, flexibility, cost savings, brand consistency, and clean installations. The use of the modular exhibiting solution by Starlink, Michelin Connected Fleet, and Actiph Water exemplifies the versatility and impact of modular stands in different industry settings. With their ability to adapt to various stand spaces and configurations, modular stands have become popular among businesses looking to make a lasting impression at exhibitions.
