Why More Marketers Are Opting For Modular Exhibition Stands

It’s a well-known fact that face-to-face marketing plays a key role in successful business strategies, usually via exhibitions and trade shows.  To maximise their marketing budgets in face to face activities, savvy marketers know it’s important to have the right exhibition stand to facilitate engagement and reflect brand personality, and send out a strong message to the wider industry & customers with an eye catching display. 

What is a Modular Exhibition Stand?

Modular display systems are mostly made up of lightweight materials, often aluminium, along with other components and connectors, and their framework is designed to make the application of a variety of graphic substrates, nice and easy. Popular among these substrates are fabric graphics, which can be backlit to create a focal point for the display.



The modularity of this type of display system makes it quick and easy to assemble and disassemble, without the need for tools, meaning they do not need specialist installation and they will generally pack down into smaller cases - perfect for those smaller duration trade shows, or different layout spaces.

What is a Custom build Exhibition Stand?

A custom build is a bespoke construction which is purpose-built, also known as custom stands.  Custom exhibition stands are usually created with very specific design requirements in mind. For the most part, custom displays are constructed using wood, metal, laminates, and paint. Various substrates can also be applied to them, with fabric substrates and magnetic panels among these.



Generally, a custom display build is heavier than a modular display stand, and can be more awkward to transport depending on the size of the overall design. It also requires the skills of an experienced installation crew and by its very nature takes more time to construct than a modular alternative.

However, you can build anything you like including double decker stands (stands with two levels) and it offers a higher level of design specification, providing a bespoke exhibition stand solution for any marketers requirements.

Why Have Modular Exhibition Stands Gained Popularity ? 



Here are just some of the benefits to consider.

Design Flexibility 

For a long time, people brushed off the modular display system as a candidate for delivering impactful exhibition stands because they mistakenly believed that it couldn’t match the design possibilities of a custom exhibition stand. In some cases, there still is no beating a custom exhibition stand, but modular exhibition stands are coming right up behind them. These days it can be much harder to spot the difference between the two as there is now much higher flexibility in the design process for modular displays and impressive visual feats are completely achievable.

Design Possibilities

Modular exhibition stands have become more structurally sound, which means that they can be constructed to reach impressive heights. A whole host of elements and technological features can also be incorporated into a display to give it a custom-build look and feel. For example, curves, shapes, and angles can be created using the framework and substrates, and variable heights can be incorporated along with edge-to-edge graphics and clever lighting. 

You can even incorporate custom elements such as woodworking, AV, LED screens and custom shelving into a modular display.  Together, these elements to form unique visuals and an exhibition stand that really packs a punch!

Practicality

Practicality is definitely another reason to go modular for a marketer.  For many, it is key driver in terms of the practicality of the modular system that sways them towards opting for this type of stand. Transportation, for instance, is much less hassle with a modular exhibition stand compared to a custom-build. 

Even when modular is chosen for a larger display, the typically lightweight construction and component-led design means that the entire display can be easily transported in a small van and built quickly with a small installation team.

Whilst we’re on installation, it’s worth pointing out that modular exhibition stands can be straightforward to construct, so anyone can put their own display together – quickly and without need for tools – saving on both time and installation costs. 

Cost Saving

The modular exhibition stand is more cost-effective than custom build, so it makes total economic sense to a growing number of marketers to invest their money here, especially when you consider the ever-tighter budgets that most of us must work to.

What makes it the more economical option? For starters, because the stand is built from modular components, it can be dismantled and rebuilt in different configurations time and time. For a brand refresh, simply add new graphics to completely update your design. Plus, modular systems can be packed away into smaller flightcases, reducing transport and storage costs. The result of this: lower costs and higher return on investment.

Flexibility

It’s also important to note that modular makes busy or challenging event programmes possible as extra components can be bought or rented to cope with any event requirements, anywhere – a definite bonus!

Sustainability

With the components of modular being able to be used repeatedly  in multiple reconfigurations, modular is much more sustainable than custom build where much of the waste goes straight to landfill or there are high transport costs to recycle. 

Modular packs down smaller meaning cheaper fuel costs and the option of simply hiring your stand rather than buying is an even more sustainable option.

So, there you have it!

As we have seen, modular exhibition stands are a viable and attractive alternative to custom-built displays among marketers. For some it is the abundance of choice that this solution promises, be it the flexibility or reconfigurability of the system, the lowered costs, or ease of build. For others, it is the generous design capabilities that are now achievable with a modular display system.

Whatever the reason, one thing is for certain: the demand for modular exhibition stands is on the rise.