Grafityp has become the first company to sign up to exhibit at the first edition of brand new industry event SignLink Live.
Due to take place from October 11th to 13th at the International Centre in Telford, alongside co-located event The Print Show, SignLink Live will bring together key elements of the sign-making market to celebrate the diversity and creativeness of the industry.
Operating under the header ‘A Fascination for Fabrication’, the event, which will be staged in Hall 3 and The Ironbridge Sweet at the venue, focuses solely on the manufacturing of signage and its supply chain, and will not feature wide-format print technology, with this instead being covered by The Print Show next door in Halls 2 and 3.
Grafityp UK is one of the most recognisable names in the UK industry, known for its supply of self-adhesive media, wide-format inkjet printer portfolio, laser engravers, laminators, vinyl cutters, and textile transfer products. For the last two years it has exhibited at The Print Show, taking one of the biggest stands available, but for 2017 it will split its presence over the two co-located events.
Neil Stevenson, sales director for Grafityp UK, said: “I am feeling very positive; I have always said that Link Exhibitions, where ever it was, would put on a very good exhibition.
“I obviously had concerns like everyone else about getting visitors to the new venue at The International Centre, but I think what the organisers are strategically planning and putting in place will ensure it gets the numbers it needs. We really are happy with the performance of the team behind Link Exhibitions, which we have experienced from the co-located Print Show for the last two years.
“The first year of The Print Show was very good, and this year was even better. You might have thought in the first year ‘was it a fluke’, but the second year was even stronger, and a lot of our reason for signing up for the 2017 event and taking a stand at SignLink Live is based on those results and how the shows have been positioned together. Fingers crossed things have gone really well so far, and I think it will carry on for many years.”
Chris Davies, event director of SignLink Live and The Print Show, added: “We’ve been working with Neil and the Grafityp team for some time now through the magazine and The Print Show, and to have the sign up as the first exhibitor at SignLink Live further cements what is already a solid partnership.
“Grafityp has had a major presence at The Print Show for the past two years and I’m looking forward to working with Neil and the team to ensure they get the best out of attending both events this year.”
Confirmation of Grafityp signing up to the show came as organisers also unveiled further details about SignLink Live, its various features and content programme.
The show will feature a number of specialist areas, including ‘The Profit Factory’, which has been designed to help visitors gain an insight into businesses in a box that require low capital investment, but are capable of producing high margin product and services. The section will be split into four specialist areas—‘Enterprise Engraving’, ‘Promo Print Alley’, ‘T-Shirt Towers’ and ‘The Curiosity Shop’—allowing visitors to learn about the most profitable areas of the industry.
Elsewhere, ‘the Swap Shop’, which will be run by Grafityp, will focus on speciality vinyl, looking at areas where this material can be used. From wrapping sports cars and mountain bikes, to tables for a new coffee shop, this area will showcase how sign-makers can best utilise special effects films.
‘The Craftsman’s Corner’ looks set to be one of the most popular sections of the show, having drawn its inspiration from the much-applauded ‘Traditional Print Masterclasses’ hosted by sister event The Print Show. Here, visitors will be able to look back into sign’s past and see some of the more traditional techniques, which are still on offer in today’s modern market. Live demonstrations will include gold leaf signage, hand sign-writing, bas-relief carving and traditional screen printing.
Moving on to the ‘Business Seminar Theatre’, this educational area will host specialist speakers that are lined up to pass on advice and tips to visitors, to help them gain an advantage in a competitive market. The speakers will also focus on the importance of diversification and help visitors understand ‘Blockbuster’ syndrome. In short, once a mighty king of the video rental industry, what Blockbuster forgot was that their product was not a film in a box and some upsold chocolate peanuts, but actually a relaxed and entertaining night at home in front of the TV. By focusing on the means of delivery, rather than product, they collapsed in spectacular fashion in the face of internet film streaming.
Elsewhere, the ‘Software Training Theatre’ will offer demonstrations on many of the key products used by companies across the market during the production of signs, with the likes of Adobe Indesign, CAD/CAM systems and MIS to feature. In addition, for those looking to gain further knowledge of the neon market and the opportunities here, ‘For the Love of Neon’ would be a recommended stop, with this area to showcase neon’s continued value to the UK industry.
SignLink Live will also give a top of its hat to environmental considerations with the ‘Green Horizons’ zone. Here, visitors can find out about both the importance, and benefits of using environmentally-friendly solutions and products such a ultra-low power consumption LEDs or solar-powered energy sources.
And finally, with so much to see at SignLink Live 2017, visitors can look forward to a deserved rest at ‘The Sign-Maker’s Sink Hole’. Enjoy a sit-down, good food and, of course, network with industry colleagues or customers, both new and old.
As and added incentive, every contact on SignLink Live’s 10,000 strong business database will receive a personalised print invitation to the show with a Golden Ticket attached to it. To enter the draw, visitors should bring the ticket to SignLink Live and have it scanned on the door. The message on each invite will be specifically targeted to the recipient, along with their details being printed on their own Golden Ticket.
In 2017, there will be more than £8,000 worth of prizes every day of SignLink Live, with three lucky visitors will be independently drawn at 12.00, 14.00, and 16.00. The prizes on offer will be gift vouchers, luxury hampers, electronic goods, and a top prize of a high-end vinyl cutter.
