10 Reasons Why Tradeshows Work for Attendees

We’ve discussed the reasons why tradeshows work for exhibitors (see previous post), but there are also reasons why tradeshows work for attendees.  It may not make sense for your business to be an exhibitor at a tradeshow but it may be crucial for your business, for you to attend specific tradeshows.

Tradeshows provide attendees with the opportunity to:

1. Conduct research to ensure you make the best purchase decision
2. Establish relationships with key vendors
3. Learn latest industry trends and technologies
4. Gain insight into what others in your industry are purchasing and why
5. Learn from industry key opinion leaders
6. Discover new products
7. Compare competitive products side by side
8. Meet the people only known previously via phone/email
9. Purchase products at discounted prices
10. Have the chance to use a product before purchase.

When evaluating whether to attend a show or not, consider how your presence, or absence, at important tradeshows may affect your business.  Trying to save a few dollars today could compromise business tomorrow.

Remember that ZENTX is your tradeshow graphic provider whether you decide to be an exhibitor or attendee.  Contact us today at (989) 695-6770 or marketing@zentx.com.

Printing File Formats 101

When it comes to files there are a ton of formats.  For some people knowing if a file is “open able” or “un-openable” on their computer is adequate enough, while others may be interested in learning exactly what the different file formats mean.  Today we are going to briefly discuss the difference between file formats that are generally used for printing.

Before we go any further we need to discuss that there are two kinds of categories for files for printing – vector and raster.  We will discuss these categories below.

Vector files are resolution-independent images that are based on mathematical equations to display their image.  Still with me?  This means that no matter how you resize the image, it will retain all information without affecting the quality of the image.  Vector files can be created with Adobe Illustrator and generally have a file extension of “.eps”.  Vector is the ideal format for logos and generally is the most requested because it allows designers to resize the logo without interfering with the quality of the image.

Raster files, also known as bitmap files, are based on square bits of information called pixels to build the image.  Each pixel is a separate color and the entire image is made up of a patchwork of these color pieces.  This means that resolution plays an important role in how your image will look.  If the original image started out at 72 dpi at 100% and is increased to 200% then your dpi will drop to 36, which will result in your graphic looking less clear than it did at 100%.  Raster files generally are created in Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Paint and have “.jpg”, “.tif“, “.gif”, and “.bmp” extensions.  These formats are used for images on the web, photos, and scanned images.

JPEG – one of the most common file formats, especially for photos.  JPEG’s use a built in compression to reduce file size.

TIFF – one of the best types of files to use in print for high quality images

GIF – commonly used for on-screen viewing.  GIF’s should not be used for print because they are almost always 72dpi or less, meaning they will print poorly.

BMP – commonly used format for high quality scanned images

Hopefully, this has provided some insight on file formats.  Feel free to contact us at (989) 695-6770 or marketing@zentx.com if you have any design or file questions.

Do You Have Personality?

Branding is a major reason behind many companies’ success.  Have you ever wondered what kind of company McDonalds would be without the golden arches or what Nike would be without the swish?  Branding is just as important if you are small, medium, or large sized company.  That’s because your brand is your company’s identity (or personality) – it’s how consumers perceive you and ultimately plays a huge role in whether or not those consumers decide to use your products and services.

Branding is something that we deal with every day at ZENTX.  We are constantly integrating our clients’ brands into each design we create, as well as creating custom products that incorporate their brand.  Below is an example of a custom fabricated product that we created for Chemical Bank.  It is a custom coffee cart that they plan to use at some of their branch locations.  This custom coffee cart not only goes with the décor of their new locations but it is also cohesive with their brand.  These extra little touches are sure to be noticed by Chemical Bank’s customers, while simultaneously reinforcing their brand.

Does your company need help with your brand?  Contact ZENTX today at (989) 695-6770 or marketing@zentx.com to discuss possible ideas to develop or expand your brand.

Frequently Asked Wrap Questions

We receive a lot of questions about vehicle wraps on a daily basis – today we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions.  If you have a question you can email them directly to marketing@zentx.com or you can post them on our facebook page.

By far, one of the most popular questions we receive is if wraps can be installed on leased vehicles?  The answer is yes.  The wrap material we use will not damage the factory paint when removed properly.  We frequently apply wraps to leased vehicles for both fleet and personal usage.  The wrap actually helps protect your leased vehicle from stone chips and scratches, which is great for you when turning your leased vehicle back in.

Another popular question is if the wrap will damage their vehicle’s paint?  A wrap will not damage your vehicle’s paint as long as the paint is in good shape when the wrap is installed.

We often are asked how wraps are applied to windows?  We use a special perforated vinyl that can be installed on rear and side windows.  The perforated vinyl allows visibility from the inside out while preventing visibility from the outside in.

Customers always want to know if wraps are difficult to care for?  The only difference in caring for a wrapped vehicle is to pay special attention when washing it.  Check out our previous posting about Vehicle Maintenance which lists the best methods for washing your wrapped vehicle.

I hope this provided some insight about our vehicle wraps.  If you have any wrap questions you can contact us at (989) 695-6770, at marketing@zentx.com, or you can post questions on our facebook page.

How to Generate Leads After the Show is Over

The tradeshow is over, you have your booth and display all packed – another show is complete, right?  If you believe that, then you may be missing out on potential sales.  Directly after attending a tradeshow is the perfect time to follow up and contact all of those leads that you met during your time there.  This is something that surprisingly only 20% of businesses actually do.  It’s a good idea to think of your first day back from the show as your last day at the show – this allows you to block off time to contact leads and send out lead packages containing your marketing materials.

While at the show it is a good idea to use lead cards.  They are a great tool because they allow you and your booth staff to write down leads’ contact information, find out what they may be interested in, and jot down any notes.  This will make it easier for you and your staff to follow up with leads after the show and will make communication with them more personal and unique.

Remember that your booth is also a critical factor to generating leads as well.  You want a booth that catches the eye and draws leads to you.  Contact ZENTX today to discuss tradeshow exhibit options for your company at (989) 695-6770 or marketing@zentx.com.