HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT TECHNOLOGY RENTAL FOR YOUR BUSINESS

When you are exploring technology rental for your business you want to ensure that you’re not just using cutting-edge solutions to impress; you want to explore your options and make sure that you are using the technology that will meet your specific needs. Here are some tips to help you choose the right technology rentals for your business.

Ease Pain Points

Whether you are planning a pop-up boutique, participating in a trade show or looking at options for an event, understanding the pain points of your customers is the first step to making the right decisions. Pain points will vary based on your client relationship. B2B clients share common issues, including spending, productivity, processing and support. The consumer will share concerns about spending, but this is not always a driving force. Although saving money is always desirable, it is not always the most important factor for the consumer, especially if you sell a high-end brand or offer a high-end shopping experience. Other considerations for the consumer should include how quickly they can check out; convenience; and selection, such as finding the colour and size they desire.

If this is not your first event, you can get more specific and speak to staff who participated and interacted with customers at the last event. This will allow you to determine if expectations of the customers were met, challenges they might have encountered from a service standpoint, and technology that could help improve engagement for visitors. This can help you focus on issues, so you can try to address them and make the second time around more successful.

You can also speak to staff about details such as set-up and planning. For example, did they encounter issues with the last technology company they used? Did the technology meet expectations? Did they find they were spending too much time troubleshooting to get the technology to work? All of these questions can help you determine what changes can be made to ensure their jobs are easier and help them focus on the customers’ needs instead of wasting time troubleshooting.

Leveraging previous experience your team might have gained with other companies can also be helpful if this is your first event or pop-up. Speak to your team to learn more about their background, whether it was working with a competitor or planning other events. You can even gain valuable knowledge based on your team’s experience on the consumer side shopping at pop-ups or attending trade events.

dentifying all pain points will allow you to come up with the best solutions to overcome shortfalls, become more proactive in foreseeing customers’ needs and avoiding downtime due to poor technology choices.

Consider your Purpose

The strategy behind your event is also key to what digital technology you want to rent. Some possible strategies might include:

• Attracting new customers
• Collecting email addresses for marketing new products or events
• Providing a brick and mortar experience to help to convert abandoned shopping carts into sales
• Geotargeting to gain market share in a new location
• One-on-one personal experiences to see and touch your product
• Demonstrating the launch of a new product or service
• Creating an experience or event to gain media attention

All of these scenarios create different needs that will affect your technology decisions. Understanding your purpose will allow you to prioritize your needs and make sure those needs fit within your budget.

Team Requirements

There are a few considerations when it comes to your team requirements. For example, if you will be in a very busy venue, such as a high profile trade show, having large screens available to draw attention to rolling digital demos is a must, in addition to tablet solutions, touchscreens and a social media wall. However, a smaller venue with less traffic might just require tablets to encourage one-on-one interaction with customers in tandem with a large screen to attract passersby.

Your team will also bring varying levels of familiarity with the technology you might require. Consideration should be given to how much training is required so that you do not put your team in a position to be embarrassed should they be unable to handle the technology you have chosen. Understanding how technology will impact your team will help ensure your choices provide support while meeting their skill level. If you choose technology that requires training, this will also have an impact on your budget. You will want to avoid technology that causes disruption in one area in an attempt to resolve a problem in another.

If you are going with new technology, make sure the digital technology rental company provides onsite support should you encounter any issues during the event. You can also decide if you want to partner with a company that can provide resources or if you want to consider a special team you can train specifically for your event or pop-up.

Understand What’s Available

Doing some research upfront will introduce you to some of the leading edge technology that’s available. Technology rentals cover a wide variety of options that each have pros and cons.

Some of the technology rentals available for events and pop-ups include:

• Video Wall Designs: This is perfect to create impact and show off products, but also create brand awareness.
• Social Media Walls: This allows people to post what they are experiencing at an event directly to social media in real time. Large projections attract people at the event, but posts will also help attract more people to the event when they see what they are missing.
• Projection Mapping: This is ideally to create interest using visual projections on any surface from buildings to fashion runways and stages to actual water.
• Touchscreens: These are perfect where interaction is encouraged from pop-up retail stores to trade shows and events.
• Diverse Tablet Solutions: This provides your team with access to information required from ordering to checking inventory and access to product specs to running one-on-one demos.

Other common solutions might include Indoor and Outdoor LED Displays, Outdoor Signage and customized tech solutions designed to meet your specific needs.

There truly is no limit to the technology available to make your event memorable and successful. Technology rentals should be designed to provide solutions to help meet your ultimate goal. This means having a strategy in mind that helps you choose the right tools to help you meet your core objectives.

To find the best solutions to meet your technology rental needs, contact us here or call us at 416-645-5186.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF OUTDOOR SIGNAGE

Outdoor signage is one of the most effective ways to attract people to your business or event. With today’s technology, it’s possible to create bold, colourful pieces that showcase your brand. Whether you’re advertising a new product or highlighting your grand opening event, a high-quality sign will certainly turn heads. And when it comes to shape, size, colour, and texture, the possibilities are endless.

Digital signage solutions allow companies to expand their target reach, thus, increasing profitability. LED technology and interactive storefront experiences are changing the way businesses engage with customers. If you like the look of digital signage, it’s entirely possible to incorporate this feature into a number of different styles. From A-frames to reader boards, let’s explore the various options available today.

A-Frames

This classic style is often found outside restaurants, hair salons, and many other neighbourhood establishments. The A-frame can be spotted easily by pedestrians, and is a good way to direct potential customers. Use this type of signage to grow your business by highlighting your services or daily specials. Highly customizable and lightweight, A-frames are one of the least expensive options on the market.

Backlit Signs

This option is a little more costly, but definitely worth the investment. A backlit sign can advertise your business 24/7, giving customers something to look at even when you’re closed for the day. Use digital technology to incorporate custom logos and colourful graphics that are relevant to your company. And remember, location is everything when working with this type of style. You don’t want your backlit masterpiece to get drowned out by all the other signs around it. Place your signage in an eye-catching area, and choose colours that stand out from the competition.

Channel Letters

Channel letters offer a crisp, clean look that are perfect for those who want to incorporate 3D texture. These letters have aluminum sides, and backs made of either aluminium or acrylic. The faces are made of acrylic too. Although they look good on their own, channel letters really come to life with LED lighting. They can be fastened directly to your building or onto a mounting board instead.

Electronic Signs

Electronic signage is one of the best ways to make your business or event stand out. These high-tech boards are programmable, so you can convey multiple messages without having to create a different piece each time. Electronic signage is best used as a complementary feature to a traditional sign. In colder Canadian climates, the lifespan of these products is not long. So be sure to invest in a durable, high-quality model.

Video Walls

Unlike traditional storefront signage, video walls are more engaging and exciting to look at. These customizable boards allow you to deploy a mix of moving video, artistic imagery, and even music to impress an audience. Some video walls have touchscreen capabilities, allowing your audience to interact with the content. If you’re interested in this style, work with a reputable AV equipment rental firm like Big Digital. An experienced team can not only help you install and maintain your video wall, but customize all its contents too.

Pylon Signs

Guaranteed to reach customers from a distance, pylon signs can advertise your business or event before patrons reach the building. Because pylons are quite large, they are generally more expensive than other styles. But they provide an opportunity to convey multiple messages, due to their four-sided facade. Just be sure to research your local bylaws to check that pylon signs are allowed.

Reader Boards

These handy contraptions are fully customizable and fun to work with. Reader boards are often used by schools to notify parents of important dates, or by churches to announce upcoming sermon topics. The only downside of a reader board is that it may be difficult during the winter months to rearrange its letters. If this seems cumbersome, consider investing in a digital sign instead.

Window Lettering and Graphics

This type of signage is a nice complement to other signs. Window lettering and graphics are a fabulous opportunity to add pictures and logos that may not have fit elsewhere. If you go this route, remember that window signage must be installed before temperatures reach 5 degrees Celsius. And be sure to place them strategically, as window signage can block out the sun.

A comprehensive sign campaign is one of the most important pieces of the marketing puzzle.No matter what type of style you choose, be sure to work with a firm that provides custom signage solutions—especially if you’re working with digital technology. Effective signage is key to luring customers away from the competition, and holding their attention just long enough to convey your message.

For more information about signage solutions, call Big Digital at 1-888-339-1815 or contact us here.

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT PROJECTION MAPPING EVENTS

Let’s face it: many people have event fatigue. After going to the same conventions, concerts, and pop-up shops all utilizing the same effects, organizers must constantly find new and creative ways to impress their audiences. If you’re tired of outdated strobe lights and boxed contraptions, then consider projection mapping.
With projection mapping, your guests can feel as though they’ve stepped into a completely different environment. Transform a cold, barren convention room into a wilderness escape. Or turn your grand opening event space into a winter wonderland. For real marketing impact, use projection mapping to splash your company’s message on a building facade instead. The possibilities are endless with this innovative technology that’s changing the event planning landscape.

What is Projection Mapping?

Simply put, projection mapping involves projecting images onto a surface. You’ll often see this technology used at NBA games to bring a basketball court to life. Other times, companies will orchestrate a projection mapping show to reveal a new product and get people talking.
The projections can be as simple as flat indoor stage graphics or as complex as moving video on industrial landscapes. Common objects are often turned into interactive 3D displays. Music or other sound effects are also incorporated to enhance the experience. Regardless of how projection mapping is utilized, there’s no doubt your audience will take notice.

Why is Projection Mapping Beneficial?

As mentioned earlier, many event goers are tired of seeing the same presentations over and over again. Projection mapping allows for creative flexibility, given that the technology can be used in multiple ways. Below are some reasons why you should consider it for your next event.

• Portability: A traditional display system can be heavy and difficult to move. Projection mapping devices, however, are quite small and lightweight. This is especially useful if your business is putting on an event or advertising your product in multiple cities. Any company can easily transport these portable projectors from place to place. If you’re lugging around a large LED panel and decide it would look better against a different wall, the contractors will charge extra to move it. With projectors, you can simply pick it up and place it in another location.

• 3D capabilities: Projection mapping goes beyond displaying 2D graphics on a flat surface. Use stunning 3D imagery to make your audience feel like they’ve been teleported to a different time and space. Your guests will be able to interact with your displays, encouraging them to feel connected to your brand. This type of engagement is only possible because of projection mapping’s 3D capabilities.

• Eliminate wasted props: Whether it’s an anniversary celebration or a new product launch, companies spend tens of thousands of dollars purchasing decorations and stage sets for various events. But once the engagement is over, what happens to all these props? Chances are they get stored away somewhere never to be seen again. Or organizers end up hoping all this “stuff” can be reused at another function. With projection mapping, however, there’s no tangible waste. A company doesn’t have to buy new projectors each time it wants to update material. Simply erase the current graphics, and design a whole new presentation using the same projectors instead.

Creative Uses for Projection Mapping

Do a quick search online and you’ll see some extravagant examples of projection mapping. But don’t be intimidated. Never feel pressured into competing with what’s on offer at the top end of the price and size spectrum. Work with your team to create a presentation that’s meaningful and relevant to your brand. And although 3D imagery is spectacular to look at, 2D graphics can be just as mesmerizing with some thoughtful design.
An AV equipment rental firm like Big Digital can help you create an immersive experience using this groundbreaking technology. From interactive floor experiences to complex building installations, anything is possible with the right team. If you’re ready to incorporate projection mapping into your next event, ask yourself these questions to get the ideas flowing:

1. Do you have a budget?
You may perceive projection mapping as expensive, but it can actually be done very affordably. Be realistic about your budget and try to stick to it during the design process. If your budget is limited, consult your AV team to see what’s feasible within that price range. The experts can advise the best route possible and ways to get the most bang for your buck.

2. How large is your event space?
The larger your venue, the more projectors you’ll need, raising the costs considerably. Don’t feel obligated to completely transform your event space for guests to have a good time. Choose a few focal points and pinpoint your projection efforts there instead.

3. What will you be projecting?
Depending on the detail and complexity of your images, the cost of projection mapping will go up. If your budget is limited, consider projecting high-quality imagery on a smaller surface. For example, display effective video projections at individual tables instead of splurging on a flashy wall mirage.
Whether we’re driving down the street, watching television, or scrolling through Facebook, we’re bombarded with ads every minute of the day. Everywhere you look, someone is trying to sell you something! Because of this reason alone, it’s important to increase the wow factor of your brand. Make your audience pause for a moment with stunning imagery that’s interactive and effective. With projection mapping technology, the possibilities are endless. Create an event that your guests will talk about for years to come.

For more information about projection mapping, call Big Digital at 1-888-339-1815 or contact us here