Creating a high impact graphic can be a challenge. How do you support the image, how do you produce the image, and most importantly, how do you ship something that BIG?

Almost all of today’s aluminum extrusion makers (Octanorm, AGAM, etc.) have a gasketed graphic retainer. This is a small groove in the extrusion that accepts a silicone rubber gasket. The gasket is sewn into the perimeter of a fabric graphic which can then be inserted into the extrusion retainer. Kind of like making a window screen, or for you old-timers, me included, like stretching a screen for screen printing.

The beauty to this system is that it breaks down for shipping, and your graphic ships folded in a small package vs rolled onto a long tube. “But it will wrinkle!” you say. All the fabrics used in this process must have a small amount of stretch to make the system work. Wrinkles, if any, will fall out in a few hours after installation.  The graphic shown here shipped folded in a box that was 24″x18″x18″. It took 2 men 1/2 hour to install it, and that was mostly being moved around, up and down on a forklift. (3 men if you count the forklift driver).

Don’t shy away from gigantic images and don’t think that printing on fabric is less than desirable. Fabric ROCKS! The advances in fabric printing have been outstanding. Look to your vendors for samples of the latest fabrics and printing techniques.

Happy graphicing!

This is what you get when you spend $40 on a banner stand. This after one use. The aluminum on this unit is so thin that I can twist the stand by holding each end. What has happened in this photo is the receptacle that holds the pole upright, is now bent out of shape. When placed into the hole, the pole now wobbles and the graphic will lean back too far. Spend your money wisely. Spending a little more up front will save you a lot in the future.

You can perform mathematical functions in the dialog boxes in Illustrator. For example, double click the Rectangle tool and when you enter your sizes you enter something like 41.5-12.125 and your rectangle will be 29.375. Add, subtract, multiple (use * not X) and divide with /. Enjoy!

Chad-

I just wanted to take a quick moment to thank you for the excellent customer service that I have received from you and the team at Southwest Displays & Events over the past 4+ years that I have been a client. As we are beginning on the third exhibit build that you have executed for our company, I am reminded of the reasons that we decided to hire Southwest Displays & Events in the first place; outstanding customer service, close attention to detail, commitment to quality, and always going above and beyond the call of duty. These qualities speak volumes about your organization, but are just some of the reasons that you and your team are such a pleasure to work with. I wouldn’t trust the success of my tradeshow program to any other exhibit house! Thank you for all that you do.

Best Regards,

Erin Oettle
Marketing Services Manager
Network Solutions
Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Fred Carl, Jr.

Building Your Global Brand

Fred Carl, Jr. of Viking Range featured in Fortune Small Business magazine. Fred’s article covers building your global brand. Southwest Displays is proud to be a partner with Viking Range and a part of building the Viking Global brand.

When setting up your files for output, try to work 1:1. If you can’t, at least add a note in the margin or edge of the file stating the scale factor the file has been created in. For example, “This file is 1/2 actual size”. This will help us in determining the final output size more easily.

Although most of you already know, Southwest Displays & Events is a Dallas, Texas-based, national tradeshow exhibit company in our twenty-second year of business.  Independent ownership is from the sales side of business, not accounting or venture capital.  We want to aggressively pursue growth and are committed to further expansion of our National presence.

Over the last year, in a very difficult market, we achieved a healthy cash position.  Now, more than ever, our committment to aggresive growth is unwavering.  Because of this, I want to reach out and share with some of you qualified individuals my ideas for your possible future growth and financial well-being.

First, for the Account Executive… Are you a high-dollar salesperson with little or no possibility of ownership?  Do you ever want to be an owner?  Do you have the drive to bring your current business into an organization and be remunerated with more than just commission?  These are serious questions regarding you and your family’s future.  Who better to talk to than an existing owner who has been in your sales shoes and, actually did something about it.

To the Business Owner… Are you not exactly sure what may or may not happen to your company, but you know you do not want to sell your business?  Would an injection of new sales and business strategies be worth you selling a portion of what you’ve built?  Perhaps you are ready to sell, but are not sure how to go about it?  There are many ways to divest yourself of liabilities while we increase your personal assets.  I would be honored to discuss those with you.

If you have this real desire to personally and financially grow in the next several years, you should consider working with an independent company with an intense desire to stay aggressive in these climates.  Regional sales offices are one strategy to immediately discuss.  Please contact me directly with your thoughts and/or your personal goals.  I am very interested in what you have to say.  (You will see the “Life Change” icon on our website)

Over the past several months, I have witnessed business after business, person after person;  watching, waiting and wondering what will happen.  Is that you?  Or would a conversation on your personal business theories be that first step toward you becoming open to a life change of possible incredible significance and wealth?  Serious future partners need only to respond.

It starts with you. Contact me.  Confidentially and non-disclosure agreements will be required.

Kindest Regards,

Brian Cree/Cheif Executive Officer