Staying Competitive in a Crowded and Fast-Changing Marketplace

By Larry Ragland

It’s been just over a month and my trip to China is still very vivid in my memory.

I landed in Shanghai on Tuesday, July 9 and the only thing familiar was the weather. Surprisingly, it was in the mid-90s with near-100 percent humidity. Early July summers in Virginia seemed to follow me halfway across the world. If I had spent a little more time looking at a globe before going, this heat and humidity would not have been a shock!

This trip however proved to be an important expedition for Mark Bric Display-US.  Our Swedish headquarters personnel have done a fantastic job over the past few years of establishing a base of operations in China to make sure we remain competitive in this fast changing marketplace.  All of our More Expo product line is carefully sourced directly from the Chinese factories.  This was my first opportunity to meet with our people in China and explore first-hand the many opportunities (and challenges) available to us there.

China and areas around Shanghai and Guangzhou, in particular, now seem to be at the epicenter of much that is happening in the world of portable displays.  This means there is no better way to get a quick overview of products and manufacturers in this industry than to spend time at what is likely the largest related trade show in China, the APPPEXPO in Shanghai. Working directly with Adovo, the Mark Bric Display company formed for the purpose of sourcing and controlling the quality and secure supply line for any products we choose to bring in from China, we had on-the-ground contacts and were ready to get to work.

 

APPPEXPO took place at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC). My Adovo contacts, Sam and Selena, met me the morning of the first day of the show and with their help, we started gathering intelligence on exhibits and portable displays.

It didn’t take long to realize that this would be a fairly overwhelming undertaking. Beginning Wednesday and continuing over the course of three days, we spent time at the booths of at least 30 producers of portable display products.  Out of those 30, we targeted a few with what seemed to be the best, most promising displays, and spent additional time at their booths as we continued to gather information.

Not surprisingly, rollups were everywhere at the show. First introduced about 13 years ago, these retractable banner stands are easily the most popular portable display product of the past decade.  Our BannerUp line of retractables, with the original Quick Change system, was first introduced in 2001 and has been amazingly successful for us.  Now our More Expo line of rollups, led by our Campaign Extra, has added some great low-budget choices for our customers.  Surveying the wide range of budget rollups now available from Chinese manufacturers, I am convinced that we will soon be making new product selections and introductions that will offer our dealers some great new alternative winners in this competitive arena.

Beyond rollups, we were also on the lookout for innovative yet cost-friendly new products in all segments of the portable display market.  The good news is that many great prospects were identified, with sampling, testing, and factory inspections now well underway.  I am confident that our More Expo line of displays will soon be expanded to include some of these exciting new products.  And thanks to our feet-on-the-ground operation at Adovo, our customers can rest assured that we will continue our focus on quality, consistency, and dependability.

Larry with Helen, Sam, Selena and others at Adovo offices

 

In addition to touring the expo, I had the chance to visit several factories—not all of which are created equal!  This was another vivid confirmation of the importance of our own operation at Adovo.  Without trained local personnel in place, it would be virtually impossible to build a secure relationship with the right, best manufacturing companies—companies where the policies and procedures are well established, and where quality of products goes hand in hand with the quality of the people involved.  

After a little sight seeing, (even a little Karaoke!), it was time to head back to the United States.  I rode a sleek, fast, and efficient train from Guangzhou to Hong Kong, where I had a lovely afternoon with Mr. Y.T. Tang and his wife, longtime Mark Bric partners in Hong Kong.  On my flight back, I reviewed pages of notes, with growing conviction that we are on the right path.  With our dual commitments to premium, best in class products such as BannerUp, ISOframe, Flexiframe, and others, alongside our commitment to the ‘best of the budget’ products under the More Expo umbrella, we will continue to provide complete, comprehensive product selections to all of our value-added partners.  It’s important for us to confirm and to constantly reaffirm that our customers and dealers are making the right investment when they purchase from us.

So, next time you consider making that purchase, think of my trip to China, and rest assured that Mark Bric Display has done its homework and has your best interests in mind.

Introducing … ISObar and ISOframe Fabric

We are excited to share with you our two new innovative products recently initiated into the ISOframe family: ISObar and ISOframe Fabric. Both of these new innovations will soon be stocked in the USA.

We’ve raised the bar, literally.

What might you ask is ISObar?

From strong, but light wooden tabletops, to inner shelving, our innovative ISOframe line of displays now incorporates a NEW interchangeable system of Large Reception Counters. 

Designed to be built up in sections, the ISObar gives you so many design options like 

• A straightforward 3-section counter.
• Complete full circle enclosure.
• Capabilities for ‘inies’ and ‘outies’ on the curves, to be shaped to fit in any space.
• Single or double-sided graphics.

The possibilities really are endless!

 

Tired of lugging around that bulky toolbox? There’s no need for one with ISOframe Fabric!

Leave the tool-box at home!

Like the rest of the ISOframe, assembling ISOframe Fabric is tool-free! This means BIG TIME SAVINGS to you on constructing and dismantling.

ISOframe Fabric is fully integrated into the standard ISOframe system and that means that you can now add silicone edge graphics (SEG) fabric sections to the more traditional ISOframe displays, as well as use them as stand-alone fabric displays.

SEG, now an industry standard, are fabric panels with a thin strip of silicone extrusion sewn around the edges. The strip is inserted into a groove on the ISOframe posts and beams, forming a tight fit that stretches the graphic just enough to produce a stunning, seamless fabric wall, free-standing double-sided display, or wall mounted fabric frame. It’s simple, easy to use and looks GREAT!

At Mark Bric Display, we take pride in staying on top of the latest innovations in the world of display and exhibition systems. Our newest products, ISObar and ISOframe Fabric, illustrate how the ISOframe program represents a large and constantly evolving exhibition system around which you can create everything from small, hand-carry displays to large exhibit kits capable of delivering a stunning display in booth spaces of 20 x 20, 30 x 30 and larger!

Click here for more information regarding these new products or to place an order call 1-800-742-6275 or email us at markbric@markbric.com.

We hope you will join us in welcoming these new products into our family!

August Dealer of the Month

It’s that time of the month again where we recognize one of our best customers! For August, we are excited to announce that our “Dealer of the Month” is GDS Retail and Display Graphics, of Bloomington, IL.

GDS has been an expert in the large digital print industry since being formed by Harvey Meister in 1997. The company has been “digital since day one” and believes that paying attention to small details yields the biggest results. GDS is currently capable of printing roll-to-roll or direct to substrate using a variety of best-in-class print devices. Supporting finishing services include cutting, coating, assembly, kitting, and shipping.

Since 2005, GDS has been a loyal customer of Mark Bric Display. The company offers many of Mark Bric Display’s products for their client’s needs and has been a fan of the ISOframe Wave display system since its launch in 2011.

The ISOframe is a new unique aluminum display and exhibition system that can be quickly and easily assembled. This product is also the world’s first fully flexible portable display system, which can be custom-flexed and shaped for different venues, booth sizes and spaces. Wide-Format Imaging magazine recognized the ISOframe as one of its 2013 Top Products.

We are extremely grateful to GDS Retail and Display Graphics for being a loyal customer for eight years!

Thanks again GDS!

July Dealer of the Month

We are thrilled to announce this month’s Dealer of the Month: Mediagraphics Inc., located in Clifton, New Jersey.

Mediagraphics Inc. is a full service, graphics service bureau established in 1988 by Marge Offutt. The company is considered a pioneer in large format printing and set the standard for state of the art displays. Mediagraphics shares our values in quality and customer service and on a daily basis they produce and ship time sensitive packages all over the US and internationally.

Marge & Jim Offutt have been loyal Mark Bric Display dealers since 1995.

They recently completed a great custom size ISOframe Wave unit for a large insurance company. The display system was for the stickers campaign, recently promoted through the media with recent TV commercials and has gone viral via social media. Mediagraphics’ cool display has already been used in multiple meetings and seminars with great success!

The ISOframe Wave products are considered the world’s first fully flexible display system. The product was launched in the UK in 2009 and became an instant bestseller. The ISOframe Wave allows exhibitors to custom-shape, extend or reduce the exhibit wall as needed at each venue. We are so proud because recently, the ISOframe Wave was chosen by Wide-Format Imaging magazine as the 2013 Top Product in the Banner Stands/Portable Displays’ category. It is such an honor to be recognized by their readers!

We are extremely appreciative for loyal partners like Mediagraphics and want to thank them for their continued dedication to our industry.

If you also have displays that you would like to share we’d love to brag about them too! Upload pictures and descriptions here and we will post them to our Pinterest Page.

Thanks again Mediagraphics!

We ”Exhibit” Customer Service At The Highest Level

At Mark Bric Display, we couldn't be the company we are without you, the customer.
That's why we raise the bar and strive to take customer service to the highest level. We don't just provide you with a customer service representative, we have “customer advocates” at your service.

As customer advocates, our service team strives to provide you with as much assistance as you may need no matter when, where, or how. We are your face behind the scenes here at Mark Bric Display. Whether it be a question, comment, or concern, our team is just a phone call or email away.

We have all made those calls to a customer service center where you're asked to leave your name and number and a recording tells you, "We'll have someone get back to you." The problem is, sometimes you don't hear from them for a week or more. It is our goal to connect with you in a prompt and timely manner. You will talk with one of our friendly customer service representatives, Anita, Pam, or Kelli and you can tell they always have a smile on their face and are happy to help.

Let's be honest. Mistakes happen, we are all human.

While we try our absolute best to make your order perfect, there may be a time when an order is incorrect. We understand how frustrating that may be. Our customer service representative put themselves in your shoes and work to fix any mistakes as soon as they are presented. They are there to listen about any problems you may have and “exhibit” advice, counsel, or a solution. As advocates, they are working for you to correct any problems as quickly as possible.

We thank you for your business and are happy to listen to you. Providing the best customer service experience for you is our goal. Don’t ever hesitate to contact us at markbric@markbric.com or 1-800-Pic-Mark.

We are here for you.

First Annual Summer Sales Series

It’s definitely been a mild start to the summer in RVA and what better way to turn up the heat by introducing our first annual Summer Sales Series!

The June product of the month is our popular BannerUp Display!

From June 11 - July 14, we are offering BIG discounts on select styles of all BannerUp units*.

If you order NOW you can qualify for discounts up to 50% OFF if ordered in pallets containing 50 BannerUp units. Pallets can be mixed and matched with units to meet your needs.

Why Choose BannerUp?

• Guaranteed Satisfaction – if it breaks, we FIX it!
• Extreme Durability – packaged to keep the wear and tear of travel at a minimum so you don’t have to worry about damages right before a show!
• Recyclable – saves you $ with our patented banner quick-change kit, allowing the simple replacement of graphics.
• Versatile – be prepared for anything since it comes in various heights and width capabilities as well as being equipped with 4 hideaway swivel stabilizer feet.

Check out this video that illustrates all these great benefits listed above.

These great summer savings are in addition to the substantial BannerUP price reductions made earlier this year. Offer ends in less than 30 days so take advantage of this sale TODAY and stock up, before it ends!

CALL NOW: 1-800-742-6275, or email markbric@markbric.com. North American dealers only, please.

Check back next month for the July’s Product of the Month. There is sure to be some amazing deals you wont want to miss out on!

*BannerUp Mini’s not included in this promotion.

Our “101 Guide” To Preparing For A Show

It’s midnight and you've finally gotten your shipping crates back after the last long day of a three-day show. Your back aches from standing in the showroom for 8 hours. Your feet hurt from those shoes that need more support. And all you want to do is catch a little sleep and head home to your family, and your own bed! So what do you do? You cram your displays into their cases quickly, and maybe not carefully, with hopes you will be home for that home cooked Sunday meal.

Sound familiar?

If you have found yourself in this situation before, you probably have also found yourself in another one…

Come time for the next show, you arrive at the conference hall and pull out your display to set up, and find it damaged! Argh. Now what?!?!

At Mark Bric Display, we want to help.

Here is our “101 Guide” to avoiding these potential problems during this busy show season.

Avoid The Curl

If you rolled up the graphics to your display and stuck them in storage, we encourage you test the graphics before you leave for the show. Lay them flat for a few days, to stretch them out and avoid that curl!

Check The Mag Tape

Is your magnetic tape still holding? Mag tape can lose its grip after wear and tear, especially if you haven’t stored your display carefully. Avoid attaching the magnetic sides of the tape together and avoid getting permanent magnets next to magnetic tape. If you don’t the mag tape might lose its magnetism. Make sure everything on your display is holding tight and won’t fall down mid sales pitch!

Don’t Go Off The Rails

It’s important to make sure all the system hardware is in working condition. Test all connections and components to make sure they move fluidly, connect as designed, and aren’t bent from travel, before packing up and heading to the show.

The Nuts and Bolts

Hardware is important! If your system uses loose fasteners like nuts and bolts screws and washers, check to make sure you aren’t missing any critical part. Make sure to store them in a closed separate compartment to keep them organized. There is nothing worse than missing that one piece of the puzzle! These small pieces to your display are usually lost when you are packing up in a hurry to get home. Don't lose the battle like the cavalry soldier whose horse couldn't be ridden because a shoe was missing and no one could find the nail!

Preferably, we recommend you perform a dress rehearsal before leaving for the show. Make sure you test out all the components before you arrive to avoid any troubling situations. We want your experience with our displays, or any displays for that matter, to be the best it can be, so making sure you plan ahead is important.

As always, there are circumstances that happen that can put you in a jam come show time. If you find yourself in a predicament never fear, Mark Bric On Call is here! Need a replacement part or help troubleshooting an exhibit issue? Just call or email “Mark Bric On Call,” 1-800-Pic-Mark or markbric@markbric.com. In most cases, we can overnight a part or product to you to keep you in play.

THE SHOW MUST GO ON!

Mark Bric Is Always “On Call” For You

By: Larry Ragland, president of Mark Bric Display North America

Have you ever arrived at a trade show far away from home (and your local support system) all ready to knock it out of the park, only to find that something you shipped didn’t make it? You open up your packages and find that your display had a turbulent trip and wouldn’t make a great first impression? Ah! What do you do?

Well, we are thrilled to share with you an exciting new service that Mark Bric Display is offering to all customers and non-customers alike.

Never fear, “Mark Bric On Call” is here!

Whether you need a total replacement display, or just an important accessory for your booth, Mark Bric On Call is ready to help you. And you don’t even have to be a customer to take advantage of this amazing support system.

Why call us? 

Trusted Advisor

Mark Bric Display has been a leading innovator and supplier of display systems and exhibition stands on the market for over two decades! Our goal is to always be the leading quality producer of display & exhibition systems, with up-to-date and innovative product solutions for the Retail, Roadshow, and Tradeshow arenas worldwide. We know what works and find ourselves exhibiting at shows all across the country, so we know the trials and tribulations of show season.

Quality Is Key

Is your display broken, torn or non-functional? We can help with replacements. Even better, all Mark Bric products are manufactured with the highest standard of workmanship and made of the best quality of materials available. Top quality – no compromises!

On-Site

There is no need for you to leave the show and wander the streets to find a solution. Whether you are an end-user exhibiting at a show or a large format printer with exhibiting clients that are in a jam, just call us and we can help find a solution to the problem. We can rush product to the show site, or can even call in a local dealer to help out.

Worldwide Family

Mark Bric Display runs like a family. And we take care of family. We care about our customers and about their reputation. Mark Bric Display is also part of a larger international family so if we aren’t near you, our relatives might be! We have relationships in almost all the major cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Through our network we can find help most anywhere in the world. Don’t want to incur ghastly shipping costs? We often ship for U.S. clients from our Swedish headquarters if there are shows in Europe and the cost and risk is too high. We've even arranged installation teams in Germany and in the UK for U.S based clients.  

Regardless of your need, we will always find a solution.

Show season is in full force and we recently helped a company in a pinch by mailing new spotlights for a display that was created in Europe. Their problem? The plugs didn’t fit here in the US! Luckily, Mark Bric on Call came to the rescue.

Find yourself in a jam (or have a customer that is stressing out) and need a replacement part or help troubleshooting an exhibit issue? Just call or email “Mark Bric On Call,” 1-800-Pic-Mark or markbric@markbric.com.

Need a solution? We are only a call or click away!

Bob Englert Joins Mark Bric Display

Mark Bric Display has named Robert “Bob” Englert, a sales and consulting veteran with more than 20 years of experience, as the new sales representative for its Southwest territory covering Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas.

Mark Bric Display is a leading innovator and supplier of portable display and exhibition systems worldwide, with its products sold in more than 70 countries. The company is based in Sweden with its North American headquarters based in Prince George, VA.

“We’re very excited to have Bob join our sales and consulting team,” said Larry Ragland, president of Mark Bric Display (North America). “He has a wealth of expertise in sales management and business development and an extremely impressive sales record that speaks for itself. He will bring a new level of customer service and sales support to an area of the country we are targeting.”

Englert, who is based in Dallas, TX, will work under the direction of Ed Marquez, vice president and director of sales for Mark Bric Display, as he gets acquainted with the product line. He has successfully sold complex systems and also been recognized as a top sales representative numerous times for Renex Corp., EDS, Interstate Electronics and Data Products Corp.

His previous experience also includes serving as the vice president of business development at Trueposition Corp., a leading provider of wireless location systems. In this role, he was key in refocusing the firm’s E-911 solution and sales efforts, securing its strategic relationships with Global 1000 companies and increasing its revenues.

Prior to that position, he was Vice President of Strategic Alliances at EDS, for both the Technical Products Division and the Manufacturing Strategic Business Units. There he developed new B2B, Internet and Intranet solutions, and the acclaimed Renascence Channel.

Inventor of Mark Bric Display’s ISOframe® Display Is Available For Media Interviews

Richard Lawson, the inventor of Mark Bric Display’s award-winning ISOframe® display and exhibition system, will fly in from England for the ISA International Sign Expo 2013 Trade Show April 4-6 in Las Vegas, NV.

Lawson, who invented ISOframe after spotting a niche in the market for a tool-less, flexible portable display system, will be available throughout the trade show to greet visitors, and meet with and answer questions from the media. He will be at Mark Bric Display’s booths 311 and 313.

The ISOframe Wave products are considered the world’s first fully flexible display system. The product was launched in the UK in 2009 and became an instant bestseller. In 2011 Lawson partnered with Mark Bric Display of Sweden, with Mark Bric securing the sole overseas license to manufacture and sell ISOframe outside the UK. Through the Mark Bric Display network, ISOframe is now sold in over 70 countries worldwide. ISOframe Wave has also recently been chosen by readers of Wide-Format Imaging magazine as the 2013 Top Product in the Banner Stands/Portable Displays’ category.

“Designing a fully flexible display system seemed like a simple idea - how wrong I was, said Lawson of the challenges he faced. “The concept had to be stable, easy to build, easy to carry and, of course, look professional. It also needed to work with a standard, unchanging graphic width of 31.5". After 18 months of design and development, the solution was a unique, patented, flexible beam that adjusts its length automatically as it is flexed so the graphics always fits perfectly no matter what the shape.”

Lawson began his career in technical writing and marketing, waiting until 1999 to join his family’s display business Supalite Displays as managing director. The company was started by his father, who invented the first truly lightweight portable display system in the UK back in 1967.

Today, Lawson continues to develop new products, and is in the process of building his own house in the heart of the English countryside. In his spare time, he enjoys sailing Tempest keelboats, and is a keen windsurfer, cyclist and skier. He graduated from Portsmouth Polytechnic on England's south coast with an honors degree in Mechanical Engineering, majoring in design.

Mark Bric’s ISOframe Wave TM Display Wins National Award

Mark Bric Display’s ISOframe WaveTM display and exhibition system has been chosen by readers of Wide-Format Imaging magazine as the 2013 Top Product in the Banner Stands/Portable Displays’ category.

The eighth annual Wide-Format Imaging Readers’ Choice Top Products Awards feature breakthrough products that have caused the most excitement in the industry and have been a valuable asset to wide and grand-format businesses over the last year.

“It is a great honor to have our ISOframe Wave recognized by the readers of a leading industry publication,” said Larry Ragland, president of Marc Bric Display (North America). “This product has not only been a game changer for our customers and their clients, but for our business as a whole.”

ISOframe Wave is the world’s first fully flexible portable display system, which allows the exhibitor to custom-shape, extend or reduce the exhibit wall as needed at each venue, Ragland added.

The winners of the 2013 Readers’ Choice Top Products Awards will be recognized in the April issue of Wide-Format Imaging to be released on April 1. Awards will be presented during the ISA International Sign Expo in Las Vegas, NV, also in April.

Wide-Format Imaging covers the industry news, trends, products, services, and management issues that help wide-format printers grow their business. The magazine has 17,000-plus print recipients, over 27,500 digital edition recipients, and 23,000 weekly e-newsletter subscribers.

Mark Bric Display Unveils SnapUp “Elegance” Display System

Mark Bric Display announced today that it has added to its line of displays the Mark Bric SnapUp® “Elegance,” a new and innovative product from the family of SnapUp exhibit systems.


SnapUp Elegance is the next evolution in pop-up systems. It can be used with curved ends like a traditional pop-up system, or flat ends with decorative corner trims similar to Mark Bric’s top-selling ISOframe. This functionality gives the system a more contemporary "non-pop-up" look as well. The system also includes attached tables and state-of-the-art LED spotlights.

“What makes this system most unique, however, is that it is strong enough for the suspension of media screens,” said Larry Ragland, president of Marc Bric Display (North America). “The optional media holder can accommodate either an LCD screen or an iPad and that’s a first for the SnapUp line of displays. This is something that more of our customers were asking for, and it’s why we designed it to include this feature.”

The Elegance display is Mark Bric’s top-of-the-line SnapUp product. It is self-locking and cross-braced, which means that the graphics will always hang perfectly, despite the frequent challenge of uneven floors. This construction also makes the system extremely strong and stable. The slim frame of 190 mm/7.5" also looks great and saves stand space.

For exhibitors who need counter space or a podium, the Elegance system’s options include a semi-circular attachable table as well as a hard shipping case that carries the display system plus graphics, with the traditional case-to-counter conversion feature.

About Mark Bric SnapUp®

Mark Bric Display’s family of SnapUp exhibit systems allow for fast presentation of seamless large-format graphics. Text and graphics are totally uninterrupted and will attract full attention. The SnapUp product line is based on the pop-up principle. Backwalls of straight, curved and cylindrical shape, as well as counters and reception desks are available to fit all types of display requirements. All products offer unparalleled durability, portability and ease of use.