New Hardware

Pop-up displays are the most popular type of portable displays for smaller booths at tradeshows and exhibits because:

• They set up and take down quickly without tools
• They pack into a small wheeled case for easy one person transport
• They can be configured many different ways, from basic tabletop displays to full 20’ long displays
• They state your message loud and clear even in a 10x10 booth space

In shopping for pop-ups you’ll find a wide variety of prices. Some are genuinely better deals, others, although not obvious on the web, are physically inferior and follow that old adage of getting what you pay for. As you would guess, the differences have to do with construction details relating to durability, ease of setup, and esthetics. Because we produce mural replacement panels for most brands of hardware, we handle a lot of different frames. That experience taught us what to look for when we chose the units we sell.

Vision		Snap

Benchmark offers two pop-up display models: A premium display and a mid price-range display. We have chosen not to carry a cheap unit in pop-ups. We do carry inexpensive Retractable Banner Displays. We believe the high cost of buying booth space and staffing an exhibit at a tradeshow would not be worth the small amount of money saved if something as important as a 10’x8’ display failed and made you look unprofessional at a show.

For graphics, we specialize in full matched panel murals. Although we offer them at a great price, they are made with top of the line large format materials and imaging. Our pricing advantage is the result of automation and economy of scale. Benchmark can print all sizes and sorts of materials to satisfy any need and design, including transparency bubble panels. For Velcro-on-graphics with fabric panels (detachables), consider contouring your graphic.

Most people are quite familiar with the 8 and 10 ft front curved pop-up displays. Fewer know that there are quite a few variations available: larger, smaller, back curved and flat, not to mention serpentine and wings. Images for a number of alternative configurations accompany each unit.

In the left column of this page you’ll see a list of features to pay attention to as you shop for pop-ups. You may want to read through them before continuing.

Take a look at Pop up backwall designs by other designers.

Hubs and Struts
These form the structure of your pop-up display. Strength here dictates the amount of force needed to cause a bend or break. Pay particular attention to where the hubs and struts meet. You can tell most of what you want to know just by looking at the construction and knowing a little about the composition.

Channel Bars
As simple as these may seem, the channel bars are an important part of the display. They represent the most pieces so they can be the biggest part of the setup process. They also create some of the structural integrity of the unit. Here are a few things to consider. The magnets on your panels will attach to the channel bars. Cheaper units have all-metal bars instead of bars with magnets. Metal bars mean you have half the holding power of magnet to magnet. Second, there are differences in the types of magnets used on the bars. The best type are called A/B magnets. With A/B there is a polarity difference between the bar magnets and the panel magnets. When the two come together the polarity difference positions the panel with a horizontal variance of 1/16” or less along the entire vertical axis of your display. What this means during setup is that when the panel drops into place, they're in the right place, no muss, no fuss. Both Benchmark units utilize A/B magnets. Lastly, you’ll want to be mindful of how the bars attach to the hubs of the frame. If there are lots of bars you’ll want to know how many different ways you can get it wrong. If anything will affect your “ease of setup” this is it. The two units we sell went about addressing this issue two different ways. Both are good solutions.

Hanger Bars
These are the stiffeners that make up the top of each panel and are responsible for vertically positioning the panel on the display. Done right they create a specific position for each panel so matching panels line up correctly. There are a lot of different hanging strategies and these are a favorite method of manufacturers differentiating their products from one another: Pins, Magnets, Molded Locators. Truthfully they all work well. Pin based hangers are visible to the viewer but it is negligible. If you find your customers (or your boss) looking at your hanger bars we would suggest improving the design of your graphics. There are two ways to produce panels: with the graphic image going all the way to the top of the hanger bar or with the graphic leaving a one inch reveal of the hanger bar. We make our panels with the full coverage. We feel that makes them look their best.

Cases
Rotomolded pop-up display cases are best. Blow molded use a different plastic that isn’t quite as durable. Having one case instead of two means you only have one thing to manage. Having two cases instead of one means each of the filled cases weigh a lot less, but you probably can’t wrap a removable graphic on them. Our Vision system gives you the option of either 1 or 2 cases and has a graphic wrap strategy for both. Don’t overlook the added value of wrapping your booth case in a graphic and using it as a podium. That is one more efficiency that makes “pop- ups” so pop-ular!

Lights
Lighting will enhance the visibility of your message. This is a frequently overlooked accessory. Research has proven that people’s attention is drawn to the brightest object in their field of view. The marketing translation for this is that your prospects will see your competition before they see you if they have lights and you don’t. Attachments for lights is an issue for ease of installation. The lights for both our Pop Ups are specifically made to easily install on our booths.