At one time, the only type of fabric display people were familiar with was shelving for fabric bolts found in a fabric store. Now the term fabric display has a whole new meaning. Today’s fabric displays are bright, vivid advertising tools. With advanced printing techniques, you can print your brand or whatever message you want on fabric to use as advertising.

While this type of advertising is most common at trade shows, you can still find uses for fabric display racks in your retail store or office. There are many fabric displays types and styles available. As you consider what style works best for you, keep the following in mind:

1. The cost of the display fabric.

2. The equipment necessary to display the fabric.

3. The size of the fabric displays that you need.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose tabletop cloth displays

If you normally have small booths at trade shows, or if you have a small budget, a tabletop cloth display can be very effective. You still can have a wide range of fabrics branded with your company's name. Tabletop cloth displays can be rectangular, but they can also have other shapes that allow you the freedom to create an eye-catching booth.

I recommend: Advatum Trade Show Displays prints fabric ads in a size that fits on a tabletop. Add your message to tabletop fabric booth displays from Superior Displays. It has a large selection of tension-mounted fabric displays.

Pick pop up fabric displays for unique arrangements

Pop up fabric displays make use of lightweight frames to allow the display to stand on its own. In addition to traditional rectangular shapes, there is also a large selection of other shapes you can choose. These pop up displays work well when you have some floor space in your booth or just outside of it. They are a good way to lure customers into your trade show space to visit with you.

I recommend: Choose one of the many pop up fabric displays types and styles available from San Diego Sign Company. You can customize its fabric trade show displays to set your trade show booth apart. The The Godfrey Group also has a selection of items to make fabric panels portable displays that are easy to set up.

Secure a hanging fabric display from a wall or the ceiling

If you have access to the ceiling fixtures or booth space against a wall, there are fabric trade show signs designed specifically for that purpose. The hanging cloth displays come in all shapes and sizes. You can often accessorize them with special lighting. The flat wall panels can serve as a backdrop to your trade show booth, as well as be the focal point.

I recommend: Design your own wall cloth displays at Impact Displays. These free standing fabric displays come in a variety of sizes. Fabric panels displays from Smash Hit Displays attach to a wall or hang from a ceiling. These eye-catching fabric panels portable displays are sure to catch the attention of your customers.

No matter what product you sell, fabric displays are an easy way to attract customers to your booth or demonstration at a trade show. The types of cloth displays available make this a great choice of advertising media. The only limit on the cloth displays is your imagination.

Today's fabric displays are nothing like the shelving for fabric bolts that were once a staple way of displaying fabric. Today’s fabric panel displays use cutting-edge printing techniques and eco-friendly inks. You can repeat images in your fabric booth display, or each of your fabric display racks can display an entirely different image. The three main types of fabric displays are:

1. Flat hanging fabric displays.

2. Freestanding displays.

3. Pop-up fabric trade show displays.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Design your display fabric graphics

Talk to a printer who is familiar with creating fabric booth displays. Make sure the printer uses fabrics that have a long life so you can use them from one trade show to the next. Ideally the fabric should be lightweight and wrinkle resistant. The printing process should also allow you to fold and re-fold a sign many times without it developing noticeable cracks or peeling.

I recommend: First Trade Show is a printing company that specializes in fabric graphics. OnPoint Visuals also offers a wide variety of graphic options on fabric. Both companies print on flat panel sheets, and design signs to fit on modular frames.

Mount your fabric displays on fabric display racks

Make sure your fabric trade show displays are easy to assemble and disassemble. Most fabric panels snap or button onto a lightweight metal frame. It's best to learn any tricks to setting the equipment up before you arrive at the trade show.

I recommend: Impact Displays offer a wide range of fabric panel portable displays. The Godfrey Group is another company that offers the various trusses you need to set up fabric booth displays.

Choose the right fabric for cloth displays

If you plan to use the hanging fabric display many times, it only makes sense to choose a durable fabric. If possible, select a fabric that's washable as well. Ideally, you should be able to toss the sign in the washer when it needs cleaning and let it dry and it's ready to go to your next trade show.

I recommend: Companies like Beautiful Displays offer a variety of printed fabrics for you to choose from. ACI Design is another company that offers “wash and go” graphics.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure to feature your company's logo in all your fabric displays. Branding is such an important part of marketing success. Don't miss out on any opportunity to put your company's name front and center in your customers' minds.

A hanging fabric display can say a lot about your business. If you take plain, flat fabric panels displays and attach them to the right equipment, suddenly you have an eye-catching advertisement. Fabric booth displays come in all shapes and sizes. It’s important that you find the right supplies and equipment for fabric displays to get the most out of your advertising.

As you look for supplies and equipment for fabric displays, there are a number of things you should consider. Obviously cost is a major factor. If you can’t afford new equipment for your fabric displays, there are some businesses that offer used fabric display equipment for sale. So keep that option open. You should also consider:

1. The type of fabric displays you want: tabletop, wall mounted or freestanding.

2. The accessories you need for any given style of fabric display.

3. The ease of setup and takedown of supplies and equipment for fabric displays.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose the right stands for your cloth displays

Getting the right frames is a key component of presenting your brand effectively at a trade show. Make sure the frames are sturdy enough to withstand moving. They should be easy to set up and take apart. If your cloth displays need base supports or feet, make sure the feet are sufficient to carry the weight of the display. You may need more than one set of feet for larger displays.

I recommend: You can attach a hanging fabric display to one of the banner stands at Impact Displays. Pick one of the frames for pop up fabric booth displays available from The Godfrey Group. You can pick these cloth displays in a variety of configurations.

Find accessories for larger cloth displays

You can find a number of accessories that either attach to the frames of cloth displays or become part of the actual display itself. Shelving is a popular option that gives you more display space in your trade show booth.

I recommend: The San Diego Design Company offers shelving for fabric bolts or any other items you might wish to display. Accessorize your fabric panels portable displays with shelving and lighting BeautifulDisplays.com. It offers many accessories you can attach to the freestanding trusses that support your fabric displays.

Pack your supplies and equipment for fabric displays in a carrying case

Fabric displays are not cheap, so be sure you protect your investment while it's in transit. You can find lightweight general-purpose cases or you can use cases designed specifically to carry fabric displays. Some cases have a wheeled option that is definitely worth the extra cost, especially if you attend several trade shows.

I recommend: Preserve your fabric displays in cases from Advatum Trade Show Display. You can choose fabric trade show cases in a variety of sizes to protect your display fabric. If you need cases for your fabric trade show displays, consider the roto-molded carrying cases from Exhibit Wholesale.

If you are buying fabric displays for your next trade show, you should have a good understanding of fabric displays key terms before you place your order. Knowing these key terms can help you get the right banner and tension displays. It can also help you get the right printing on your fabric, whether it’s dye sublimation or screenprinting. Take a minute to learn these fabric displays key terms before you shop for fabric displays.

Action Steps
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Dye sublimation, or dye sub

Dye sublimation is a process that sets the graphic image to the fabric in such a way that the image looks woven in. It creates a soft finished product that makes it a good choice for banner displays. Dye sublimation fabric displays are weatherproof to a point, and can withstand moderate outdoor exposure.

I recommend: Read more about dye sublimation at OnPoint Visuals.

Dispersed dye print

With dispersed dye print, the inks penetrate the fabric. This is essentially a screenprinting operation. However, the inks do not rub off since they become part of the fabric. You can use multiple colors in your graphics with a dispersed dye print fabric display.

I recommend: See MVP Visuals for more information about dispersed dye print.

Tension fabric displays

Tension fabric displays involve a graphic printed on fabric mounted on a lightweight metal structure. The display may be flat and rectangular, or it may have any number of shapes including curves. Tension fabric displays can set on a table, stand on the floor or hang from overhead.

I recommend: Samples of tension fabric displays are available for viewing at ExhibitDeal.

Backlit panels

Backlit panels make your fabric display visually pop. A thin light box placed behind printed fabric stretched on a frame makes a backlit panel operational. Backlit panels are available in a number of configurations.

I recommend: The Godfrey Group demonstrates a number of backlit panels on its website.

Banner stand

A banner stand fabric display is a simple rectangular shape designed to display your company's logo or other information. It may be single-sided or double-sided. The banner stand display either needs a wall, ceiling or freestanding mount.

I recommend: Advatum Tradeshow Displays explains various options for banner stands.

Table drape

A table drape is a tablecloth imprinted with your company's logo or advertising message. Since most trade show displays involve a table, using a table drape is one more opportunity for you to brand your product.

I recommend: Table drapes are available in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors from Table Drapes.