Tradeshow Exhibit Design and Graphics

Cleveland graphic designer and marketing expert, Rick Shaffer helps an array of customers with their marketing initiatives. Tradeshow planning, marketing and design is an area that Shaffer Design Works excels in and always produces exceptional advertising vehicles, regardless of the customers demands. To help with planning and execution of your next tradeshow I have outlined a few tips below.

Tradeshow Tips:

– When planning and researching a tradeshow, be sure you can gain or have a chance at gaining at least enough customers to make the event worth while.

– Be sure to have enough business cards printed before hand to handout. This may seem trivial to some people, however you would be surprised at the number of professionals who run out of business cards during or before an event commences.

– When producing tradeshow literature and collateral, be sure to keep it simple and eye catching. Professionals that often visit a show often don't read the literature that is handed out right away, this is why it is increasing important that your literature deliver a quick, clear and concise message to any potential prospect that may visit your organizations display booth.

– When managing or occupying a booth, don't underestimate the power of professional attire. The type of clothing you and your associates choose to wear when managing and attending a booth depicts how serious your organization is. So make sure you and your associates look the part.

Recently Shaffer Design Works, engaged in a project to assist with producing a tradeshow backdrop. An example of an 8' exhibit is shown below.


When considering your next trade event or if your company or organization is looking for great ideas when it comes to large or small tradeshow events and exhibits contact Shaffer Design Works at: http://www.shafferdesign.com/philosophy.php

Invitations Come in All Shapes and Sizes

Invitation design is usually something that is thought of as a smaller design application. Recently, Shaffer Design Works Cleveland design firm offering creative services for advertising and marketing applications was asked to create a fairly large invitation for an upcoming corporate event held in Baltimore, Maryland.

There were a few reasons for the large format chosen to house the invitation:

1.) Easy recognition via US Mail

2.) Quantity of information that needed to appear within the layout

3.) Multiple options for response (i.e. Phone, Email and Direct Response US Postal Service perforated card)



Some of the challenges we face at Shaffer Design Works range from time sensitivity to finessing the amount of content a finished piece requires. We always find creative ways to accommodate our customers.

The large direct mail/invitation was a success and was met with high praise.

For more great ideas in creative marketing see: http://www.shafferdesign.com/

Photography Retouching for the Fashion Industry

Expert Photo Retouching is a creative service that Shaffer Design Works has always offered to all industries (i.e. manufacturing, aviation, retail, human resources, construction, financial, medical ETC.). An example of photography retouching can be found below. These photos were shot on a Saturday and appeared in The Cleveland Plain Dealer the following Wednesday. While all of the photo retouching that Shaffer Design Works creatively executes for various advertising mediums is expertly color corrected the assignments sometimes come with tight deadlines. Shaffer Design prides itself on serving all of clients regardless of the deadline or ultimate goal of the marketing piece.

Speaking of last minute color correcting in Adobe Photoshop, The color correction specialists at the Shaffer Design Works studios in Streetsboro, Ohio worked there magic on removing a yellowish cast of light that was unavoidable when the photography was captured. By removing the yellowish cast the dress was brought back to its original true Lavender color. This photo alteration allowed the dress to showcase exceptionally well in the newspaper magazine advertisement.

Original Photography

Retouched Photography

Newspaper Ad Showcasing Retouched Fashion Photography

Contact Shaffer Design Works for exceptional photo retouching, creative advertising layouts and ideas. We also help out with the occasional copy writing assignment as well. Visit: http://www.shafferdesign.com/

Swatch Booklets for a Large Cabinet Manufacturer

Shaffer Design Works in the Cleveland, Ohio area creates high-end marketing solutions for manufacturing companies and small start-up businesses. Rick Shaffer says, "Producing great work involves getting to know your customers business, personality and long-term goals. At Shaffer Design Works, we have a philosophy that includes a series of brief questions to assist in the marketing and creative success of our clients creative advertising objectives. This process also helps bring added benefit to our efficiency both on the production and budgetary sides of the business."

Below is an example of a series of swatch books that were designed by the team at Shaffer Design Works. One of the challenges with this project was the swatch books had to look cutting edge along with being able to withstand the elements of a typical construction site. This example demonstrates what the swatch booklets looked like before redesign and also demonstrates the approved layouts.

Cabinet Swatch Booklet Covers BEFORE




Cabinet Swatch Booklet Covers AFTER



Additional Cabinet Swatch Booklet Covers to Further Demonstrate Continuity and Brand Conformity

Birch Cabinet Swatch Book


Cherry Cabinet Swatch Book


Maple Cabinet Swatch Book


Oak Cabinet Swatch Book

For great service and marketing ideas contact Shaffer Design Works at: http://www.shafferdesign.com/services.php

For more information about Rick Shaffer, Principal and Creative Director at Shaffer Design Works visit: http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=9416953

Holiday Retail Pre-print Design and Production

Shaffer Design Works Cleveland graphic design firm specializing in print, Web and Internet based design for advertising and marketing.

An example of a retail pre-print that appeared in newspapers across the country is just another example of how Shaffer Design Works exceeds our clients expectations. The retail marketing application is an advertising vehicle for a nationwide office supply company.



Please contact Shaffer Design Works today to find out more about the creative services that we offer and how they can improve your bottom line. See: http://www.shafferdesign.com/

Holiday Messages can Help Raise Awareness

Shaffer Design Works assists many different companies with their marketing strategies and overall advertising and marketing messaging. A sample of the work that the team at Shaffer Design Works produces can be found here. A financial institution located in Akron, Ohio needed our help when faced with a quick holiday newsletter.


Marketing Tips:
When considering the execution of newsletters, direct mail or any correspondence that will be sent around or during the holiday season be sure to allow enough time for fulfillment as holiday time is the busiest time of the year for the United States Postal Service.

Also, when writing and designing marketing pieces it is always a good time to let your customers, users and associates know what your business is up to and how they can participate in any holiday activities.

For downloadable USPS holiday shipping calendars see (the Web page includes: guidelines for U.S., Military, Holiday and International mailing): http://www.usps.com/holiday/mailing-holiday-deadlines.htm?from=holidayhome&page=mailingdeadlines

For more great trend setting ideas contact: http://www.shafferdesign.com/workspace.php

Newsletters continue to be a very good marketing vehicle to help get the word out. In this Blog you will find a sample of a credit union newsletter written, designed and executed by Shaffer Design Works. More often than not newsletters are not regarded as high end publications and marketing dollars are allocated to other areas. The irony in this is that for a few additional marketing dollars newsletters can have great impact when written, designed and executed properly.

MARKETING TIP:
When considering putting together a newsletter, think of it as putting together a high-end magazine that will have great impact on your customers and/or prospects. Gathering thoughts of recent activities or customer offerings going on in your organization will help you organize and write the newsletter articles effectively. Consider upgrading the photography or graphics within your newsletter. Graphics can add interest and impact to any publication.

Shaffer Design works can help with any and all aspects of your companies newsletter or small publication needs.

Shaffer Design Works recently finished a Point of Purchase display (POP) for Ford Motor Company. The POP is a hang tag that will be displayed from the rear view mirror in all new Ford vehicles found in dealers nationwide. The hang tag highlights the new navigation systems that Ford will feature in their vehicles.

Shaffer Design Works is familiar with all aspects of POP design and implementation.

DESIGN TIP:
When creating a POP make sure you take acurate measurements of the area that will house the POP and make a few test mock-ups before the approved design enters production. Also consider the material that the POP will be produced on – this is especially importatnt when double-sided printing is concerned.

For more information on creating POPs contact Shaffer Design Works directly at 216.536.8376.