How To Save Money On Your Custom Printed Tent (A Beginner’s Guide): Part 2

Now that you understand Tip #1 discussed in Part 1, we can dive right into tips 2-6 on how to save on your next custom printed canopy.

Tip #2: When it Comes to Your Tent Logo, Keep It Simple

Have a simple version of your logo that is just 1 or 2 colors.  Small pieces of color in the logo, fades or drop shadows cannot be seen from a distance.  Why waste your marketing budget on tent details that won’t attract the eye of your potential customers?

 Tip #3: Color Choice Matters

Select a canopy fabric color that is the same as one of your logo colors. If your logo is a blue star with a red moon in the center, then you can go from a two-color print to a one-color print by selecting a red canopy top and only printing the blue star. Simply “drop out” to the red canopy fabric for the red moon  

 Tip #4: Know Where You’re Using

If you’re going to be using the canopy mostly indoors, or just a few times a year, tell your supplier. There are different levels of steel strength and aluminum. The assumption may be that you need the tent for consistent outdoor use.

 Tip # 5: Bundle Buy

If you’ll be using more than one printed tent over the course of the year, you should consider buying them at the same time - so everything is printed at once. The savings are significant! Because your artwork is already converted to print-ready format, take advantage and have your vendor quote you for additional products you’re considering, such as table covers, bow flags and banners. At the very least, you’ll have an understanding of other promotional items available.

Tip #6: Order Early

Avoid rush charges and overnight fees by ordering your custom tents at least 3 weeks before your event. The overnight fees charged by shipping companies are exorbitant on even small packages. Rush shipping a 70 lb. packaged tent? Not a way to save.

Tip #7: Ask for Help

Ask for advice before you design.  If you have a logo and an idea of what you’d like, call one of our design experts for advice.  They can quote you for a range of custom tent options and create a layout for no charge. If you’re thinking about purchasing a custom canopy tent, asking for help is the best place to begin!

MVP Visuals is a supplier of custom printed trade show table covers and displays.

How To Save Money On Your Custom Printed Tent (A Beginner’s Guide): Part 1

Custom printed canopy tents are super popular these days for events and trade shows and serve as an excellent branding opportunity. But are you overspending during the planning process? Let’s find out!

Here are a few pointers to save money on your next canopy tent order.         

Tip #1: Understand the Print Methods

Since the print is a large part of the overall cost, let’s discuss the print process first. Canopy tents can be printed in two different ways:

1.      Screen Printed

2.      Digitally Printed

Due to the advances in digital printing technology over the years, the pricing for 4 color process digital printing has come down significantly. However, a 1 or 2 color screen print could still be less expensive depending on your design. The bottom line: how you design your tent will impact the price.  

Screen Print

A screen print is when the printer is actually taking ink and pulling it over a screen with film of your logo cut out on it.  For a spot color screen print, you need to create a new screen for every color. For example: if you have a 2-color logo tent, two separate screens will be created. Once the screen is built, the cost of running the ink over the screen is small in comparison to the cost of building the screen. So if you have a 2-color logo, and would like two different sizes of that logo printed, the total number of screens created is 4. As a result, we’d recommend screen printing when using the same logo (at the same size) in as many locations as possible.

Digital Print

The digital process uses a formula of ink with the four colors Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black (CMYK) to “build” the color.  Because the dots are printed right on the material, it’s necessary to start with a white substrate, or base material.  So any time you’d like your printed tent to be a color other than white (or our 22 stock colors), it requires “full coverage printing” – meaning the entire tent has to be dyed. We’d recommend asking in advance what stock colors are available. As a result, digital printing is more cost effective in two areas: when there are 2+ colors on more than 1 peak or valance or when there are 3+ colors anywhere.

We’ll always help you through the order process, but hopefully this gives you a head start. Now that we’ve covered the canopy tent print process, you’re ready for the additional tips in our next post!

MVP Visuals is a supplier of trade show table covers and 

Printing Round Table Covers

Printing on your round tablecloth can be a bit of a challenge. To keep your message in the viewable area you may need make some adjustments. Round table throws (drape style) are very popular because they can fit a variety of tables. However, unless you want to print on the table top, printing your logo on the side of a round table throw doesn’t work well as you can see below . The logo gets lost in the folds of the sides.

The best style of round tablecloth for branding is the “barrel style”. Barrel style table covers do not pleat so you can keep your message seen clearly as viewer walks around the table.

If you need to have your message seen in the front of the tablecloth try manipulating your logo or maybe trying a step and repeat pattern so your full logo will be seen from all sides of the tablecloth.

MVP Visuals offers a variety of table cover styles and print methods. Fabrics such as basic polyester ; flame retardant fabric, recycled fabric, water repellent; can be printed and made to fit almost any size table cover so just give us your dimensions and logo and we’ll do a free layout. http://www.mvpvisuals.com/. (800) 980-6871

The best style of round tablecloth for branding is the “barrel style”. Barrel style table covers do not pleat so you can keep your message seen clearly as viewer walks around the table.

Is Your Art Good to Print?

In the large format print business we have the same issue every day. Customers come to us with a low res jpg or gif file, often something they took from their website, and ask us to blow it up and print it on a tablecloth or banner. Generally they have already been to a few printers already that told them, “Sorry, we need vector art!”

MVP Visuals can help with most issues so you don’t have to miss out on having your favorite image printed on your trade show table cover, carpet, banner or any other large format display.

Low res jpgs and gifs are called “raster or bitmap” files. These files are made of little pixels. Pixels are little dots (more like squares) like you see below. The quality of the image depends on the number of these pixels per inch (dpi – dots per inch) When a low res file is kept small it looks just fine. But when they are enlarged, each pixel gets blown up and gives the image a fuzzy (pixelating) look.

Vector files are made of paths (lines and anchor points) that are more like an engineering CAD Drawing. When this type of file is enlarged, each line is mathematically enlarged in exact proportion so there is no pixelating or distorting. This makes vector files ideal for printers.

Unless you have a high resolution a file (this is where there are many more dots per inch in the image file so each pixel doesn’t blow up to distort the image), we would need to recreate your image into vector format. If your image is a photograph then generally it will not recreate well into vector so we would need a hi res file. You can send us your photo and we can tell you.

Vector files are most frequently .ai, .eps or even .pdf. YOU CANNOT JUST SAVE A LOW RES JPG WITH AN .AI OR .EPS EXTENSION TO MAKE IT VECTOR. MVP Visuals offers vector recreation services and most files can be converted in 24 hours!

by Mary Dykas. MVP Visuals is a supplier of custom imprinted tablecloths, banners, tents, carpets and trade show displays.

MVP Visuals Gets Selected Once Again!

MVP Visuals will be producing more of Artist Dale Zheutlins work this fall. Last fall the New Rochelle Public selected the artwork of Dale Zheutlin to adding a finishing touch to the lobby “refresh project”. The colorful fabric banners have been installed in the lobby’s atrium, the result of a competition sponsored by the NRPLF and the New Rochelle Council on the Arts. The winning designs were submitted by artist Dale Zheutlin, and the fabric banners created from her designs were installed last week and produced by MVP Visuals.

Ms. Zheutlin’s banner design consists of three double-sided satin fabric banners, with six different “faces”; Ms. Zheutlin’s submissions“

Freedom” and “Community”, each consisting of three panels. Each of Ms. Zheutlin’s banners bears one of three different messages: “A library is a place to exchange ideas”,

“A library is a gathering place for seekers of knowledge” and “A library is a window on the world.”

“I am delighted that the banners were chosen to enhance the library experience,” says Zheutlin. “These banners explore how art,design, and craftsmanship intersect in the visual arts. My paintings’ transformation — from paint on paper, to a digital image,to a site-specific installation — celebrates the limitless potential of materials and techniques.”

Zheutlin says that libraries have become “so much more than a collection of books, but more a multi-faceted portal to human expression and knowledge.

MVP Visuals is a supplier of fabric banners, displays and trade show table covers.

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MVP supplies a wide range of custom printed materials for events and shows. Visit http://www.mvpvisuals.com to view our custom printed products such as: blade banners, light pole banners, canopy tents, table coverings, carpet, banners and flags and trade show table covers

Add Glitter and Shine on a Dime!

When it comes to trade shows and events you have two goals: look fabulous and keep within budget... Not Easy!! But there are some things you can do that are easy and won’t push you over budget.

You can add glitter and shine by adding low cost overlays to your standard tablecloths. Three fabrics can give your standard look some glitz and glamor! You can get a 54”x54” overlay for any of the fabrics below for about $15!

1) Tissue Lame: Lame is all glamor and shine. This gleaming metallic will make your low budget look like big time sophistication. You may not know that this beautiful metallic fabric is very affordable.

Lame is a combination of metallic yarns and synthetic fibers. The fabrics metallic yarns shimmer by catching and reflecting light. Silver and gold are the most popular colors check out the dazzling colors for a unique look. Great for accent bows! This is a difficult fabric to clean so only use this in situations where it won’t get grease on it.

2) Sparkling Organza: Sparkling organza fabric is a soft, sheer fabric which is perfect way to scatter a cloud of sparkles over your table. Sparkling Organza with its tiny metallic flecks can also be used for sheer curtains to bring starlight to your walls. The transparent fabric works well with mixing and matching colors the sheer colors. Organza is fabric is soft enough to tie and stiff enough to be used for bows.

3) Duchess Satin: This satin has a beautiful low luster sheen it has a soft hand and drapes. Duchess Satin has a soft sexy draping appeal and works both as an overlay or even as a full length tablecloth cloth accented by Organza overlay. Duchess Satin is 100% Brushed polyester and is machine washable and easy to care for and comes in a wide assortment of colors.

MVP Visuals is a supplier of event and Trade show table covers.
by: Mary Dykas http://www.mvpvisuals.com

5 Myths about your Trade Show Table Covers

5 MYTHS ABOUT YOUR TRADE SHOW TABLE COVERS

Full Color Prints are more expensive than screen printing:

MYTH: Not any more! Years ago full color printing was very expensive but today the technology has improved where full color prints are more economical than ever and often more economical that screen printing 1 color prints! Companies are now able to advertise with full color high resolution product photos on their trade show table covers promoting their products. Full color front panel printed 6’ tablecloths are $159 ($141 for 1 c prints) and 6’ Full printed table wraps are $120! Full coverage all over prints which are table covers that are printed on the entire table covers are as low as $240.

Printed tablecloths must be dry cleaned:

MYTH: The chemicals used in dry cleaning are not good for printed table covers and spandex table covers. The best is the lowest cost option of just cold water wash with a low temp tumble dry!

I need to buy multiple tablecloths to fit various trade show tables:

MYTH: Trade shows can bring you to different venues with a variety of table sizes. There are products out on the market today that offer tablecloths that they call “adjustable” but actually are just 6’ drape style trade show table covers that end up being too short on the sides and back when used on an 8’ table. That’s not adjustable! MVP Visuals offers truly adjustable options. First, we offer a truly adjustable trade show table cover that has Velcro™ under the table top and allow the table cover to achieve a fitted look when used on a 6’ table and open up to a drape style when used on an 8’ table. Secondly, we offer new table wraps. Table wraps work just like skirting with a full bleed print. The printed tablecloth will wrap around the table using skirt clips so now your tablecloth will fit any size table!

Screen Print lasts longer the Dye Sub Print:

MYTH: Dye sub full color print process is actually dyed into the fabric. Screen printing process stays on top of the fabric. Screen printing inks have improved and are more flexible so are now less likely to crack but dye sub prints never crack because it is actually dyed into the fabric so lasts longer.

I can’t get my tablecloth printed because I only have low res artwork:

MYTH: Graphic software has improved to the point where most logos and be recreated into vector format so you can get your logo recreated into vector format which is the best for printing quickly and at a low cost.

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MVP supplies a wide range of custom printed materials for events and trade shows. Visit http://www.mvpvisuals.com to view our custom printed products such as: blade banners, light pole banners, canopy tents, table coverings, carpet, banners and flags.

MVPVisuals.com - Print Options For Your Custom Printed Tablecloths

MVPVisuals.com - If you ever needed custom printed tablecloths for an event, you know that there can be big difference in price based on the artwork you want to print. If you knew more about the print process you might have either changed the artwork or the colors around so you can take advantage of a more economical method. Here is what you should know to help design a tablecloth to achieve your look and meet your budget.


SCREEN PRINTED TABLECLOTHS- Screen printing a tablecloth is perfect for simple prints with few colors and the more you order the lower the unit price so it is perfect for when you are ordering multiples.
Screen print is generally priced by the number of colors, size of logo and number of times the logo will be printed.


If your print has 1, 2 or 3 spot colors it will probably be most cost effective to screen print (you must find a printer set up to print small volumes). Unless you are ordering a volume (over 50) screen printing generally is not cost effective for designs with over 4 spot colors or designs with photographic type images. Digital print would be best in those cases. For screen printed tablecloths you will need to supply your printer with vector artwork (.ai or .eps file).

SCREEN PRINT FEATURES:-

• Most economical for spot color prints especially for high volume prints.
  
• Can be printed on any color fabric.
  
• Bold print because the ink actually lies on top of the fabric.
  
• Can mix ink to match your specific pantone color.
  
  

DIGITALLY PRINTED TABLECLOTHS – If you have a 4 color process image, a photographic type image or an image with lots of colors and fades, digital print is your answer. Digital print is generally priced per square foot of print. With digital printing you can use either vector files (.ai or .eps ) or high resolution raster art files (jpg or tiff).

Digital printing must be done on white fabric so if you wanted to have a 4 color process logo printed on a blue tablecloth, the blue color would actually have to be printed. As you can imagine, this can get very expensive because the price is calculated per square foot.

If you want a 4 color process logo on a color fabric tablecloth you can save money on digitally printing by printing the font panel only. You can digitally print the font panel and use plain fabric (any color the fabrics come in) for the remaining 3 sides. For example, if you wanted to have a 4 color process print on a red tablecloth, you would have to print your image and the background of red on the front panel. It is important to keep in mind that you are trying to match the digitally printed red background on the front panel to a dyed red fabric on the remaining 3 sides. It may not be an exact match.


DIGITAL PRINT FEATURES:

• Most expensive print option.
  
• Can use almost any type of artwork (high resolution raster art or vector art)
  
• Colors are not as bold as in screen print because the fabric absorbs some of the ink.


• Digital print is generally a CMYK mix so the colors are “built” right on the fabric.
  
• For this reason digital prints cannot insure that the colors will match your pantone color exactly.

APPLIQUE PRINT – Appliqué’s are perfect for when you would like to have a 4 color process logo on a fabric color other than white. Appliqué’s allow you to have a graphic digitally printed on a small piece of fabric, cut out and then it applied (sewn or with heat activated adhesive) to the tablecloth. This way you can use any color tablecloth.

APPLIQUE PRINT FEATURES:

• Most cost effective way to print a 4 color process logo.
  
• Can use almost any type of artwork (high resolution raster art or vector art)
  
• Colors are not as bold as in screen print because the fabric absorbs some of the ink
  
• The appliqué cut will have to be a simple cut. Generally intricate cut outs will not work.
  

Your printer will be able to make a recommendation for the best print method for your tablecloth. The best way to save time and money is to give them a call before you do the design so your art dept can make the design fit both the look you are trying to achieve and the budget you are working with.

Written by Mary Dykas, . MVP Visuals is a supplier of event materials such as tents, tablecloths, banner blades, pennants strings, flags, and more.mary@mvpvisuals.com 800 980-MVP1

MVPVisuals.com -True Dye Print Gives Stained Glass Effect

MVPVisuals.com - The State University of NY at Brockport wanted to mimic historic stained glass windows in fabric to hang in their library.

MVP Visuals supplier of custom printed displays, was asked to create fabric banners for their Drake Memorial Library printed in a way that would give the effect similar to stained glass.

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To achieve the effect of stained glass, MVP Visuals used a single piece of satin. Printing on both sides of a single sheet of satin would allow the light to illuminate the graphic as it does with actual stained glass.

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Using a True Dye print method on both sides of the satin would make sure the double sided print had 100% color penetration. View actual banners at mvpvisuals.com

The original photographs taken of the stained glass windows were used for the artwork for the print however the photographs did not capture the vibrant color of the stained glass. Color corrections were done to enhance the colors as well as lighten up the blurred dark spots that muddied the facial images.

The true dye method is used when perfect print penetration is needed. Both sides of the same piece of fabric are dye sub printed with careful registration. True dye gives the most vivid color and detail over other digital print methods. True Dye double sided print works particularly well with photographic images.

MVP also supplied the silver banner arm hardware which was aluminum with adjustable wall bracket and matching acorn tip.

The result was a stunning effect and the banners are now adorning the halls of the library.

MVP Visuals is a supplier of custom printed trade show and event supplies for corporations, sports teams, municipalities, schools, hospitals, and many others.

For more information on the full line of E-Z UP ® Tents go to www.mvpvisuals.com or call (800) 980-MVP1 (6871)

How to Save on Your Event Tents

Custom printed canopy tents are immensely popular both for events and trade shows. A custom printed tent is an excellent branding opportunity but you may be spending too much! Here are a few tips to save money on your next canopy tent order:

First lets discuss the print process. Tents can be screen printed or digitally printed. Because digital printing is a more expensive process than screen printing I’ll keep this subject out of this discussion on “saving money”. Let’s talk screen print.


A screen print is actually taking ink and pulling it over a screen with film of your logo on it. For spot color screen print you need to create a new screen for every color. That means if you have a 2-color logo, you will have 2 screens to create. Once the screen is built the cost of running the ink over the screen is small in comparison to the cost of building the screen. If you have a 2 color logo and you want to print a large logo and a small version of the same logo you will still need to build another set of screens for the small version of your logo. Now you see that there are 4 screens to build so it is most economical when possible to use the same logo at the same size in as many locations as possible.

Now that you understand the print process, you’ll understand these tips better:

1) Have a simple version of your logo that is just 1 or 2 colors. From a distance the crowd cannot see the subtle fades and drop shadows in your logo art anyway so why waste your marketing budget on things that won’t be seen.

2) Select a canopy fabric color that is the same as one of the colors in your logo. If your logo is a blue star with a red moon it the middle of it then you can go from a two-color print to a one-color print by selecting a red canopy top and only printing the blue star and then “drop out” to the red canopy fabric for the red moon.

3) If you are going to be using the canopy mostly indoors or just a few times a year tell your supplier. There are different levels of steel strength and aluminum and the assumption will be that you need the tent for consistent outdoor use.

4) If you know you will be using more than one tent over the course of the year then buy them at the same time so you can have them printed all at the same time. The savings is significant!

5) Since you have your screens already made, take advantage of it and have your vendor use them for your tablecloths or banner blades or railing / barriers - now you are really saving money!

6) Most importantly, ORDER EARLY. Avoid rush charges and overnight fees by ordering your tents 3 weeks or more before you need them. The UPS overnight fees are outrageous on even small packages, you can image what they are on a 70 lb. packaged tent.

I hope you find these money saving tips of interest and that they help to make your next event a huge success!


Written by Mary Dykas, President of MVP Visuals a supplier of custom printed promotional displays including the worldwide best selling EZ Up tents! Call 800-980-6871 or visit http://www.mvpvisuals.com - Custom printed tents - Custom printed tablecloths

Tips for More Productive Trade Shows

Build it and they will come... sure, but will they remember you.

I've got some good news and some bad news. First, for the bad news... trade shows are hard work, a logistical nightmare and second only to field sales as the most expensive cost per lead. But now the good news... if well planned and executed, a trade show can pay off handsomely in quality leads.

Many companies spend more time planning their recreational activities outside of the trade show than their activities in the show. They will just sign up for the show... take a day to pack the display... arrive at the show... open the display case and whoops! out drops last year's lead sheets... yep, the leads that never got followed up on last year! Now, of course, we are not talking about YOUR company, we are talking about all of those other companies who for some reason are not taking their trade show investment seriously!

First, let's look at the costs:
Depending on the size of your presence, a trade show will run approximately $10,000.

Generally you can get a 10' x 10' booth for about $2,000, then you have your booth expenses, show services, transportation, advertising and promotional activities and personnel (travel, hotel and expenses).

How do you select which trade show to attend?
Trade Show Selection:
Companies give some suprising reasons for how they select the trade shows they attend:

a. "Out of habit! We just always go to that show."
b. "We have to be there because our competition is there."
c. "The boss likes to play golf there!" (most troubling)

Frequently, companies assume that the competition knows more than they do about the value of a show. There is no point spending time and money having conversations that will be unproductive so your show selection is important.. A good way to determine what shows to go to is to ask your current customers where they are planning to go this year. Also, ask the sales force what they are hearing out in the field. Take the time and reevaluate your show selection.

Pre-show Mailings and Press Releases:
Get the attendee list or last years list and do a few pre-show mailers and press releases focusing on what is new about your product/service.

Mention the show, date, place, booth number and have pictures of your products, and your logo. You are trying to build brand recognition in everything you do to get it embedded in your propspects memory so your logo and colors should be everywhere.

Trade Show Apparel:
I know you probably don't love that bright red shirt with the blue and white company logo on it but you ARE the company when you are at the show. You need to look professional and recognizable (your company logo and colors). Apparel with your logo and colors will help the people who came to the booth remember your company. It will also help generate contacts outside of the booth as your staff walks the show.

Look professional and recognizable!

Additional staff will need training
on how to guide people into your booth! Train your staff!
This is probably the single most important task and probably the least done. You have just invested a good portion of your marketing dollars on a show to get quality conversations with qualified leads don't let them slip away!

1. Your staff should not be huddled in the corner of the booth chatting as your prospects walk by.

2. Stand outside the booth looking to answer questions and READ the ID tags! You'd be surprised how often you'll meet up with a new prospect at a company you are already doing business with or recognize a name of someone you've been calling on for months. Adding a face to the name and having a short conversation will make a world of difference next time you call.

3. Have someone in the booth that can talk intelligently about your product and that can answer questions and listen, listen, listen and take short notes when a prospect comes into the booth. You are there to try to make a connection not just make a sales pitch. If you can solve his problem, he'll remember you!

4. If you want your niece there to help hand out brochures, fine, but give her a few questions she can ask prospects so she can lead a prospect into your booth where your knowledgeable staff will be. Otherwise, it's just a very expensive way to mail your brochure!

Giveaways and Incentives:
Giveaways really are optional, they bring prospects by and help keep the conversation going after they have left the show. They should be printed with your website address to keep the contact motivated to learn more about your products. Statements such as "Find our new product line at www.xyz.com" will direct your prospect to your online information and will help them recall their visit to your booth.

Offer your brochures and catalogs online. Your information should be as accessible as possible. If you don't have a good detailed site and it is not kept up to date. UPDATE IT! Your information should look professional and be current.


You can't do a good follow up if you are too busy talking. Listen and take short notes and your follow ups will be easy.


Follow Up:
If you are delivering a "features and benefits pitch" vs. listening to prosects at the show, it will be very difficult for the sales team to reconnect on the follow up and the call will be just like the 150 other exhibitors they visited...

"Hello Mr. Prospect. Thank you for coming to our booth, is there anything we can do for you?"

If you have even a short note on the prospects needs, your follow up will be much more productive.

"Hello Mr. Prospect. Thank you for coming to our booth. I see you mentioned chrome plating and I have some information for you on that."

Now you've got him listening!



Written by Mary Dykas - MVP Visuals, LLC
MVP Visuals, LLC also represents ThomasNet.com - Online Business to Business Marketing programs. If you are interested in learning more about online b2b marketing call us at 800-980-6871 or email mary@mvpvisuals.com
Looking for tradeshow displays: http://www.mvpvisuals.com/ - Custom Tablecloths -
Custom Printed Canopy Tents