Delivering excellence to the financial services industry

Long-time exhibitors at SIBOS – the premier annual business forum for the global financial community – Pelican wanted an innovative and immersive exhibition stand for 2019. And so they and their branding consultants decided to tender for a new exhibition design agency. Pitching against multiple agencies, RTH made it to the final two and were then selected as the chosen supplier.

Agility, innovation, experience, expertise

The main theme of SIBOS 2019 was “Thriving in a hyper-connected world”. And Pelican wanted to tap into this theme by exploring the future of payments. They wished to show something different and unique to build excitement and entice visitors to their exhibition stand.

A private meeting room was specified as essential, as was a coffee bar. Further semi-private and open meeting spaces were desired too if possible. With space at a premium, a lot of thought would have to go into delivering this in an aesthetically pleasing way. On the practical side, it was important for the client to have a lockable storage solution.

As a software business, Pelican wanted to showcase their digital products using eye catching technology. Different solutions were suggested including an array of touchscreen panels and curved LED screens.

Working and designing together

Part of our ethos at RTH is to be flexible, and the brief went through a number of evolutions. As Pelican refined their thoughts on what they were looking for, we provided modified designs. We have the experience to advise on what is possible within the budget and the timescales.

Our clients always appreciate us being available at the end of the phone, whether that be for organised conference calls or ad hoc check-ins to share their latest ideas. And for Pelican, we were always available.

The first exhibition stand to be completed at SIBOS 2019

Our exhibition stand for Pelican was the first at the show to be completed. This gave our client the chance for that early look. They were able to make some extra tweaks to the lighting beyond the brief to get it just as they wished.

Our tight scheduling helped to save them money too, in build labour costs. This was because the works were completed in such a tight timescale that a premium did not need to be paid for overnight or weekend work.

We pride ourselves on getting our build completed early

This brings several benefits to our clients, including:

• helping to control costs,
• providing peace of mind that everything is in hand,
• and giving them a time window to make final tweaks if desired.

The final stand

Covering 48m², the stand was completed in warm, dark shades creating a homely yet elegant feel. In a last-minute change, and with no extra budget, we were able to switch the flooring from carpet to a dark wood. This provided an eye-catching contrast to the carpeted walkways. Halo-lit logos, and floor-mounted RGB LED tape lights combined to accentuate the Pelican branding.

The essential private meeting room specified in the brief was completed with frosted glass to get the balance between privacy, lighting and space just right. In addition, the Pelican exhibition design featured a coffee bar and lounge area with additional ad-hoc meeting spaces. It gave their staff all the options they needed for hosting visitors throughout the show.

Use of technology

Pelican wished to provide their own tech to showcase their flagship software. And so this was achieved with two prominent touchscreens installed at the front of the stand to draw in delegates. Even so, with so much experience we knew it would be wise to have electricians and engineers available to ensure the AV was set up correctly for this exhibition design. This was welcomed by the client as the finishing touches were being applied onsite.

Discreet and effective in-show support

Of course, our work doesn’t stop when we hand over an asset to our client. We maintain a discreet presence on site during the show. And, far more than being just a phone call away, our project managers conduct walk-bys several times a day to ensure everything is running smoothly.

This gives them the opportunity to step in and fix an issue before it develops, often before a client has even noticed it. Even if it is something as simple as a build-up of used coffee cups, chairs which are out of place or a lighting feature which has been knocked loose. Pelican had someone on their side to ensure their exhibition stand remained looking great. This meant that their staff could concentrate fully on their visitors.

A successful show for Pelican at SIBOS 2019

The exhibition stand looked fantastic and we received favourable feedback on hand-over and during the show from Pelican. They had strong footfall and the meeting rooms were in frequent use helping them to achieve their branding and commercial objectives.

We are continuing to work with Pelican at SIBOS 2020 which is being held in Boston. Our US office, which is nearby in Massachusetts, helps clients like Pelican to achieve economies of scale. This makes it extremely useful for navigating differing regulations and the unions that dictate the build and delivery of exhibition stands in the US.