Our qualified craftsmen are the real stars in making the concepts  come to life. Scale plans, elevations and colour visuals are provided free of charge for every project and items that will make your exhibit stand out are supplied from stock or custom-made to meet individual needs, including bespoke furniture, graphics, display items and lighting.

Your exhibition stand not only acts as your showroom for sales, it also makes a statement about your position in the industry, your commitment to the marketplace and your confidence in the future.

If you are still undecided how to use the empty space on the floor in a draughty hall in Düsseldorf or Cologne which is to be yours for a few days a few months hence, make a positive move and call Platform Europe for advice for a guide to exhibiting successfully.

They devise the structural shapes, colours and textures to create a unique experience for the visitor to the stand. All design is produced using the latest CAD systems. The client first sees basic drafts, then a more detailed plan and elevation culminating in accurate plans and elevations rendered in full colour.

While the look and feel have to work, so does the layout. The client needs to know that all the product ranges are allocated appropriate opportunities for exposure and promotion, that they are displayed to the best advantage to appeal to the targeted stand visitor and that the product zones are ideal for optimum sales staff performance. A considerable amount of time is spent “walking through” the layout mentally with the client to ensure that we have the correct traffic flow to achieve the maximum effect. Some clients will go on to use the system in their own showrooms.

To find out more about how to make the best of your presence at an exhibition in Düsseldorf or Cologne talk to Platform Europe. Call Mysty on 01442 288295 or email mysty@platformeurope.com

One way is to find an exhibition design and build company that understands your industry and also knows the exhibition halls. A contractor that can provide superior build quality, outstanding service, excellent credentials and a long list of testimonials from clients and suppliers. And designs your stand in the UK, but builds it in Germany!

Such a company will centre their approach on consultation; ensuring that they understand the needs of the client – from how to display and demonstrate products, how the sales team will use the stand, through the characteristics of the client’s marketplace to visitor segmentation and profile.

This modus operandi helps the stand designer discover the little bit of magic that makes the difference between a run-of-the mill stand and one which attracts the right visitors, retains their interest and entices them to return; in short a stand that makes a genuine contribution to the exhibitor’s sales effort.

Companies exhibiting at Messe Düsseldorf and Kölnmesse shows in the last six months which have benefited from adopting this formula include:

• Classic Showjumps at SPOGA
• Quingo – 5 wheel mobility scooters (AVC) at Rehacare 2011
• POSSUM at Rehacare 2011
• Towers Thompson at ANUGA
• ZT Safety Systems at A+A – and many more.

The design and construction partner they work with? Platform Europe.

The only annoying aspect of being a participant at a really busy show can be the lack of taxis. Düsseldorf has a brilliant public transport system: trains, buses and trams are frequent, reliable and punctual and, even better, exhibitors and visitors at Messe Düsseldorf events enjoy free transport on their way to and from the exhibition centre.

However, for those who do want to take the occasional taxi, it can entail a long – and at Medica possibly cold – wait at a taxi rank. Or you try and book a cab only to realise the operator might not properly understand you. Alternatively, they assure you that a taxi is on its way but there will be a wait but they cannot tell you how long. So, do you get ready and stand outside the hotel, shop, restaurant, Messe – in the cold or rain – and wait, or do you wait inside and then risk breaking a limb in your attempt to get outside as quickly as possible when the taxi does arrive lest somebody else snatches it…?

Now help is at hand for smart phone users via the “my taxi” app (www.myTaxi.net). When you book a taxi using the app, not only will you know instantly if a driver is available, you also know where he is, how long he will take to get to you, you can follow his progress on a street map, you will be given his name and mobile number. You can even find out how much the journey will cost and, best of all, he will send you a notification when he is a few hundred metres away which gives you enough time to come down the stairs, put on your coat, fetch your suitcase, pay your bill, or finish whatever else you were doing – safely.

That is not to say that we are not busy or nothing is going on. If anything, we are beavering away preparing designs and quotes for what promises to be a very busy show season for us this Autumn and in the Spring of 2012. And wherever possible, we are producing ahead for bookings received already. We also tend to have a Summer clean (rather than a Spring clean) where we spruce up our modular system, refurbish furniture, walls, display aids, etc and generally take stock and ensure we are well prepared for the busy times ahead.

Following a visit last week to Messe Düsseldorf outside of the show season, I am glad to see that we are not the only ones to use “down time” to improve our assets. Messe Düsseldorf is continuing its extensive refurbishment programme and has currently turned its attention to Hall 4, virtually stripping it, to improve access, technical services and introduce more natural lighting. The restaurant in Hall 17 is also being modernised.

You too can beat the rush and prepare for the shows to come ahead of schedule. Platform Europe is currently offering preferable terms to companies who firmly book their stands for the forthcoming shows in 2011 and 2012 early. If we know for sure what and how many stands we are building, we can benefit from buying materials and start production early and, therefore, cheaper. And we are more than happy to pass on any savings we may make as it makes our lives easier in the long run.

Come on, get organised and enjoy the Summer Sale at Platform Europe!

Firstly there is, of course, the location of your stand within the show generally and the hall specifically. Secondly, there is the design which needs to be eye catching enough to grab the attention of new, potential customers during the 3 seconds or so that it takes them to walk past your stand. There are a whole host of other things as well, such as pre-show marketing, properly trained stand staff who are not only familiar with your show objective but have genuine, inviting smiles – to mention but a few examples.

There are simple ways to attract attention that do not necessarily have to be very costly. However, you are not very likely to succeed at securing the attention of visitors through the hustle and bustle, noise and imagery of your competitors without being clever and imaginative, preparing well and showing enthusiasm throughout the event. If you are not enthusiastic about showing off your product and services, then who is?

Well, we are! Platform Europe will help you with every step of the way: from securing of or advising on space – if appropriate, designing an attention grabbing stand within your budget, advising on pre-show marketing and publicity to realising your project on site.

Contact us on 01442 236363 or email info@platformeurope.com for an exploratory chat – we’re here to help!

Launched today and designed to provide an introduction to our service capabilities and illustrate how we can help you make the most of your presence at any show in Düsseldorf or Cologne.

We want Platform Europe to be the “go to” provider of creative and high-value trade fair stands for exhibitors and our website will reinforce our mission to provide the most-cost-effective exhibition solution.

Next year we shall be celebrating 20 years of creating and building UK companies’ stands at many of the largest and most prestigious trade fairs in the world. A milestone which we are proud to have achieved with the loyal support of our customers over the years. Customers who have spent time with us helping to develop and fine-tune our products and services.

We believe feedback is vital to allow us to continually improve our value to our customers, so please respond to this Blog with your views and experiences as an exhibitor. Remember great conversations can happen on the web.