I don’t suppose I can buy replacement parts?

Ah, a question that gets asked more frequently than we’d ever have expected, together with the slightly less familiar “what's the least number of these I can buy?”

This is one we can't even blame on the Bankers. You know, those that caused the global meltdown and made us all tighten our belts and see where we could make economies and make do!

We can't blame them because; we've always been asked these questions.

Our answer has always been unwaveringly, boringly and predictably the same.

“You can buy as few as a single banner. In fact you can buy less than one banner because we will sell you individual components”

This is not a sales ploy. It's just the way we've always been.

We understand that occasionally, things get broken by accident. 

Items can get lost or mislaid, through no-ones intentional fault.

The MD decides a change of corporate design is needed (normally after you've just taken delivery of some new banners and you were not included on that memo!!!)

 A ground-stake and quick-connect pole section.

These are the most frequently replacement requests for ‘lost’ items. The ground stake, because someone forgot to take it out of the ground(!) and any one of many pole sections. This one just happens to be a quick connect base section pole with our Quality Control imprints on to determine batch and date of manufacture.

 

We got to this level of service not because we were dragged kicking and screaming to it but because, from the outset of our business planning, we believed (and time has borne this out) this is what you as the customer would want and need.

So if you need a replacement pole section or even a new fabric for what you already have, you can feel comfortable in asking for it, so please give us a call.

We can also advise on caring for your banners to make them last longer, which will be a later blog but, feel free to ask us about that anytime.

It's just a shame some of our competitors don't feel the same about your needs!

Higher still, and higher

Sometimes banners at events, whether they are Teardrop, Flying, Feather, Wing or whatever shape imaginable, don’t do the exact job the event organisers are after.

Therefore, some years ago one of our longest standing clients told us that they liked the height of our large banners but didn’t want or need the amount of print area that went with that larger size.

They did however really like the size and print area available on the medium size banners.

“We don’t suppose you have anything that might combine those elements for us. Also, we have looked elsewhere for something but nobody has anything!!”

Two things came out of this.

Firstly, we know that clients will ask around and that’s a good thing. It keeps us on our toes and invariably has a client coming back to us for a solution.

Secondly, we had the solution all along; if only the client had told us they had this issue!! (We do always ask if there’s anything we can do and if the solution fits the bill. If we forget, please remind us!)

The solution was to put the medium Flying Banner fabric onto a large pole set. Simples!

 

         

                            The Great Swim                                    Hard Rock Calling

 

It’s actually a bit more technical than that for us as we have to extend the banding on the banner edge, which is a tapered piece of material (to mirror the tapering of the poles as this makes a better fit, smoother operations etc but, as I’ve mentioned in a previous blog, this is our attention to detail!) and make some other very minor adjustments but, for the client, it’s that simple.

Oh, nearly forgot to mention, it’s a more cost effective option for the client too!! 

We’re quite pleased our competitors don’t offer these types of client solutions. 

 

 

Medium fabrics on EXTRA LARGE pole sets!!  

Yes, there really are some banners in this shot!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do we need to get that technical? Yes, it’s attention to detail.

It's a funny thing, but when everything is going along tickety-boo, people don't seem to want to know any detail.

As soon as something breaks, we all want to know why, how & what in minute detail, whether we're going to understand it or not.

I'm no different.

However, the smallest details can make a significant difference in how well something does, or doesn't work.

Knowledge and expertise combined with a willingness to look for solutions in places that we wouldn't normally look make those little differences.

We notice these differences with our competitors, who for many years have copied our simple products but, haven't really looked closely enough or, properly understood why we do it that way. They just look for the cheaper, quicker solution for them. Not for you, but for them.

For example, on our Flying Banners (teardrop shaped), we include a thing called a leech line in the straight edge of the material. What does this do, I hear you ask. (I have a vivid imagination)

 

The leech line exposed

Well, it has a twofold purpose. Firstly it stops the printed banner material being in continuous and varying tension, which is not good for the shape of the print or fabric. Secondly, it stops that straight edge oscillating (I was going to use flapping but I like this word more!) in squally winds and thereby reducing the life of the banner.

 

                        Nicely tensioned banner        Another nicely tensioned banner

 

What is it? It's a piece of very tough braided cord that is sewn into the seam of the leading edge of material. A vital small element that's there for the wellbeing and longevity of your banner.

So, do we need to get that technical?

Yes is the answer.

Because if we don't, no-one else, including our competitors, will bother. (To give you the product you deserve!)

All Banners are double-sided, right? WRONG!

Well it is true that every banner has two sides to it, but that's about as far as it goes and by no way answers a brand managers questions.

What's most important for a Marketing Manager is Brand recognition together with the campaign message.

Now, we can’t all be as well known as Coca-Cola or McDonalds (and we've worked with both of these!) and we can all recognise their logo's whether they're back-to-front, upside-down or even just a slither of the design.

But we're not all as fortunate as that!

So, what to do, what to do?

First, don't be fooled by some of our competitors who will tell you their banners are double-sided when, what they mean, is right-reading one side and a mirror (back-to-front) image on the reverse.

We can print like that too, but better than most as we get around a 95% ink strike through the way we print.

Next, if you want right-reading print to both sides, ask first if the banner company can do this. Ask to see a photo, preferably with the banner in strong light behind it so there's no 'show-through'. Once you've got that, you can move forwards with confidence.

 

same design, same colours

single and double-sided

We've been producing true double-sided print for well over 8 years now.

We can do this because we've spent vast amounts of money on our own internal R&D Department. Not only this, but we even have our own material coating plant.

And if that weren’t ownership enough of the process, we actually produce our own fabric from yarn to finished product.

2 sides of the same banner

We could be developing an OCD with this, don’t you reckon?

Maybe our competitors should do the same?

It would certainly be better than trying to fool you into thinking they made double-sided print!!!

If you’d like to know more, let us know. We’ll listen to what you and your event needs, not what we can get away with!

Happy New Year!

With everything returning to normal after a lovely break for Christmas we're gearing up ready for our upcoming shows, Event Production Show & National Convenience Show 

If you're in London on the 5th or 6th February or in Birmingham between 14th & 16th April why not pop along to see what the Expandasign range can offer you.  If you need fast branding solutions we'll have a solution for you whatever your event. Our range includes flying, feather and wing banners, media walls and gazebos as well as pop ups. 

All products are weatherproof, light and portable and our quick set up feature will let you set up with very little fuss but achieve maximum exposure. 

Expandasign Flying Banners

At Expandasign we have been printing and manufacturing our Flying Banners for over 15 years.

As leaders in the printing industry we understand that you need your banners to stand out above your competition and we can offer you true double sided banners with no show through from the reverse side.

Each of our banners comes with a digitally printed fabric, pole set and durable carry bag. Wherever your banner is to be used and on whatever surface you choose to use your banner we have the hardware option for you. 

Our Flying Banners come in 6 sizes for you to choose from and the even the 6m banner folds down to under 1.5m and weighs less than 5.5kgs making them easy to transport around.

Click here to see all the sizes of our Flying Banners and if you have any questions please feel free to contact any of us.

Expandasign UK Sales Team

Virgin London Marathon

Tower Bridge - The Calm Before the Runners!

We would like to say a MASSIVE well done and congratulations to Expandasign Nina for completing the London Marathon and a HUGE thank you to you those who sponsored her....

The final figures are in!

Nina raised £2678 

£1238 for Thames Hospicecare & £1440 for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Nina Running on Tower Bridge                     Nina accepting her Medal

It was a lovely clear April day, good Marathon running weather!  Nina's strategy to get her round the course was to count the Expandasign banners but unfortunately her mind was focused on the task in hand, maybe next time.  It took Nina 5 hrs 50 mins to run the 26.2 mile marathon course. Nina enjoyed running her first Marathon so much that she's already applied to run next year as well!  Watch this space for more details!

Thanks again for your fantastic support.

Expandasign UK & Expandasign Nina!