Exhibition Stand Designers and Builders Manchester

First off, it is important to note that often you won't know. We design you a great exhibition stand that fits your budget and your needs. The materials behind the scenes are our expertise, you do not need to choose.

Custom exhibition stands are designed and built from scratch where the sky is the limit, using various materials to achieve more ambitious designs using such materials as timber, glass, plastics, metal, GRP etc.

Modular exhibition stands use reusable components that reconfigure for different venues and sizes. Modular stand booths are designed and built with sustainability at their core whilst ensuring they still look just as good as bespoke exhibition stands, just slightly more limited on what can structurally be achieved.

Exhibition stand designers UK companies like Creation are briefed on brand guidelines from day one if clients have them. However, not all exhibition stand design companies are equal, it is about gaining an in depth understanding to fully maximise your brand. We start with a discovery session to understand your requirements in depth and how to work within your brand standards and push the exhibition stand design to its potential.

Creation supply all types of Large format print and exhibition graphics depending on your requirements. Exhibition graphics, retail graphics and POS, shop window displays, office branding, custom wallpapers, print and cut vinyl, direct-to-material printing, signage and floor graphics fabric prints, wall graphics, office branding, 3D signs and logos and bespoke wall paper printing all start with an understanding of your requirements. We then match this with the best solution, and handle everything start to finish; from site survey, quoting, visualisation, artwork (if you need it) and delivery, including installation if you require.

A shell scheme exhibition stand uses the venue's standard booth frame, usually plain white wall panels with metal post structures, supplied as part of your floor space. You usually choose between shell scheme exhibition stand of space only, or if you prefer less limitations to your exhibition stand whether it be increased height to optimise a modular exhibition stand, or a bigger presence with a custom exhibition stand. Creation transforms your shell scheme using modular framework to create a seamless graphic backdrop, complimented with lighting and additional furniture if you require. This can totally set you apart from the other shell scheme exhibition stands around you.

A shell scheme stand uses the venue's pre-built booth frame, while a custom exhibition stand is designed and built from scratch to achieve more ambitious designs. Shell scheme delivers a professional, on-brand presence at a fraction of the cost and without the lead time of full custom build, which makes it ideal for first-time exhibitors or tighter budgets.

The venue provides the standard shell scheme frame, usually plain white walls and a carpet as part of your shell scheme stand. Creation Exhibitions adds everything that makes it yours: floor to ceiling seamless printed graphics, quality lighting and a range of additional fittings such as shelving, product display and more - all built to the same standard as our custom builds.

Shell scheme exhibition stands from Creation start from £5,000. The final cost depends on the size of your space and the graphics, lighting and finishes you need. We quote to your brief, not off a fixed price list. We can include integrated shelves, product display and other features, which can often create a hybrid exhibition stand. Again, don’t get caught up with definitions. We start with your vision, create a 3D design proposal free of charge and quote to your budget for the full journey.

What you do with the frame is what separates your stand from the identical boxes either side, and that is how Creation gets you noticed. We design shell scheme stands that punch above their weight, using graphics printed to spec, panels finished properly and lighting and fittings beyond the venue standard.

Shell scheme stands are well suited to first-time exhibitors. They deliver a professional, on-brand presence without the lead time or cost of a full custom exhibition build, using the same Creation design team and the same attention to detail applied to the shell scheme format that we use on our custom built stands or our modular stands. They can still form an important part of more regular exhibitors schedule.

A brand activation is a live, interactive experience designed to connect a brand with its audience and prompt them to take action. Activations are built around participation and include formats such as pop-ups, product launches, roadshows, retail installations and experiential events. The aim is a memorable, often shareable moment that builds awareness and turns interest into memorable moments.

An exhibition stand is your branded space on a trade show floor, where visitors come to you whether you have a bespoke exhibition stand, a custom exhibition, a modular exhibition stand or any other term you may use when exhibiting. A brand activation is a live experience that can happen almost anywhere: a retail space, a festival, a city-centre pop-up or a touring roadshow. Exhibition stands maximise presence at a specific show, while activations take the brand experience directly to your audience wherever they are.

Brand activations create face-to-face engagement that passive advertising cannot. Through engaging experience, they build awareness, generate leads and produce content people share, which extends reach well beyond the event itself. Because the experience is interactive, it tends to shift audiences from simply aware of a brand to actively engaged with it, which is why activations are one of the fastest-growing channels in experiential marketing, often working alongside your other marketing activity.

Interactive technology turns a passive visitor into an active participant and creates the shareable moments that justify an activation budget. Options include touchscreens and configurators, AR and VR, motion-reactive walls, RFID or QR-triggered content and live social or content capture.

Timelines vary with the format and the number of locations, with simple retail pop-ups turning around faster than multi-stop touring programmes that may include brand launches, exhibition stand design, interactivity throughout a wider marketing campaign. As ever, the more time you have, the more consideration you can give, the more design exploration you can do and the less stress you have compared to with a condensed schedule.

Large format printing produces graphics at scale or size, from exhibition stand panels and roller banners to wall graphics, signage, window displays and floor graphics. Creation designs, prints, delivers and installs large format graphics to spec, supplied either as standalone print or as part of a full exhibition stand build, handling everything from the creative design, quoting, site survey and installation.

Creation produces retail graphics and POS, shop window displays, office branding, custom wallpapers, print and cut vinyl, direct-to-material printing, exhibition graphics, signage and floor graphics. The work spans retail, office and exhibition environments, delivered on virtually any substrate across the UK. We can help you decide which one is the best option for you.

We handle all design, proof, print and finishing for you. Whenever we outsource anything, it is with our trusted partners who share our values on sustainability. Our main focus, every graphic has to be perfect!

Both. Creation produces graphics and large format print as a standalone service or as part of a full exhibition stand build. You can commission print on its own, or have it designed, produced and installed as part of a complete exhibition stand.

Creation can provide prints on virtually any substrate, including fabric for tension systems, vinyl for floor graphics and fret-cut lettering, wood, plastic, backlit panels, custom wallpapers and direct-to-surface printing. Material choice is tested against the lighting conditions your graphics will actually sit in, so colour holds up under real conditions rather than just on a proof. For exhibition stands, graphics might be more short term, where as for larger projects, they have to stand the test of time.

Either. Creation can provide and assist with your artwork, taking it from brief through design to final sign-off, or handle specialist print production from files you supply. You get as much or as little design support as the project needs whether it be an exhibition booth, brand activation or stand alone graphic printing

Yes. Creation designs, delivers and installs, with professional installation in any environment throughout the UK, for larger projects and exhibition stands we also deliver overseas. When graphics are part of a full stand build, the same team that prints them installs them on-site, so they are designed with real install conditions in mind, not just print specs.

Yes. Sustainability is built into Creations’ print offering, using eco-friendly materials such as recyclable plastics and sustainable inks, and responsible production methods that reduce waste. Reusable items are utilised across multiple events and recycled at the end of their life.

Yes. Creation Exhibitions has produced graphics and large format print for brands including Harvey Nichols, Ray-Ban, Hermès and Manchester United, across retail, flagship store and exhibition environments.

Double-decker exhibition stands look amazing and stand you out from the crowd literally and metaphorically. We own our own double deck structure so that we can design and build double deck exhibition stands cost effectively and sustainably.

A modular exhibition stand is a reusable stand built from interchangeable components that can be reconfigured to fit different spaces, layouts and events. Creation designs modular stands that combine the visual impact of a fully custom build with the flexibility and sustainability of a modular system, so you get a bespoke presence without building a new display for every show.

Modular exhibition stands start from around £7,000, with the final price depending on stand size, design complexity, graphics and features such as lighting, counters and multimedia. Because the core structure is reused across shows, the cost per event falls significantly compared with building a new custom stand each time.

Yes. Reusability is the core advantage of a modular system. The same components can be reconfigured for different floor plans, orientations and stand sizes across your events calendar. We design modular stands specifically so one investment can serve multiple shows.

Our exhibition stand contractors team cover all major UK venues including ExCeL, NEC, Olympia and Manchester Central, plus many more European shows. Whether it starts at our in-house facilities in the UK, or with one of our specialist partners, our reach has no borders. We have built exhibition stands in the US, Canada, Germany, UK, Netherlands, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, UAE, Singapore, Australia to name but a few. Our main London office is where the dreams come together and then managed globally from there.

An exhibition design and build agency handles every stage of the stand, from initial brief through concept design, fabrication, install and dismantle. Creation handles and manages all of it in-house for a stress free experience for our clients.

Yes. We are among the exhibition companies UK that marketers use for European shows. We have delivered stands in Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands and throughout the world. Our UK stand build team can collaborate with overseas partners and labour to ensure maximum cost efficiency and increase sustainability of our exhibition stand carbon footprint.

Whilst there are so many variables to consider, when we opt to use custom exhibition stand build methods, they range from £15,000 to £500,000+ depending on size and complexity. These are typically more expensive than the modular approach we use can which can achieve a more cost effective exhibition stand starting from £10,000 compared to shell scheme stands from £5,000. We take time to listen to your brief, and if you need a complex exhibition stand because of specific requirements, we will create something custom, whilst being conscious of your budget. Or at the other of the scale, you may want a custom double-deck exhibition stand which can vary between £150,000 all the way up to £500,000 or more for something off the scale!

Exhibition stand design and build involves two key parts; the exhibition stand design, and the exhibition stand build. The time in between that is where exhibition stand project management takes place.

We always advise clients to start the process as far in advance as possible ensuring we can dive properly into your brand and your vision, create an outstanding exhibition stand design and allow the time to make any amendments that you need. We take care of all the venue and organiser deadlines, and the sooner we begin, the more efficient we can be.

Anything less than 8 weeks, the timeline has to be more compact. However we have built over 600sqm of exhibition stands at COP26 with just over 3 weeks’ notice! (please don’t aim for 3 week timelines!) Notwithstanding, we are experts in making big dreams come true with tight deadlines if you are last minute.

A summary guideline of realistic timings:

Modular Exhibition Stands: 1-3 months

Custom Exhibition Stands: 2-6 months

Complex Double-deck exhibition stands: 4-12 months.