As the owner or leader of a smaller business, you probably have the opportunity to attend at least one trade show or expo every year.  If you are like a lot of smaller businesses, you probably find yourself running around a day or two before the show, gathering up all of the things you and/or your staff will be taking to represent your company at your booth.  In the current economy, you may not feel comfortable spending several thousand dollars on a custom booth set-up, especially when you're not sure what the ROI of such an expenditure will be.  However, you also want to look professional, attract attention and showcase your brand message.  Enter the Banner Stand.

Banner stands are really a trade show necessity for smaller businesses.  They are portable and cost-effective, and they can be used in a number of ways.  They are also easy to carry and set up.

If you only have the budget for one banner stand, start with that.  The beauty of having one stand is that it can also be used in lobbies or conference rooms throughout the year.  Banner stands are easy to bring to speaking engagements or even networking events that you might be sponsoring- they add instant professionalism and visibility.  If you have the budget for up to 4 banner stands, you can put 3 together to use as the backdrop for your trade show booth while the 4th can be placed up front.

Banner stands generally come in "retractable" and "non-retractable" styles.

Retractable banner stands are the most popular style today.  Generally, you pull the graphic banner out of the base and attach it to a pole.  They are very easy to set up and take down.  The range in pricing can be fairly wide based on their construction materials and design.

Non-retractable banner stands usually look a little "cleaner" because they don't have a base.  The graphic's fabric material is stretched out over the frame and usually attached with magnets or velcro. These stands are not quite as easy to set up as the retractable stands, but their clean look and ability to pair together make for an attractive back wall in a booth.

The material that you choose for your graphic image is important.  A company like ours that deals with banner stands will be able to advise you on the best material based on your frequency of use and the image you want to have printed.  Obviously, better materials and better printing methods will produce better looking images.  However, there is a banner stand for just about every budget.