Sometimes You Have to Make a Stand…. SilverStep that is…

Oftentimes I am asked to make a recommendation for self standing banner displays. There are countless varieties to choose from and the quality build can vary greatly from one manufacturer to another. When trying to figure out if a particular display option is good or not there are a few things I look for. The first thing I evaluate is the quality of the carry bag that holds it. I know that may seem an odd place to start but if the bag that holds the display is cheaply made and will not adequately protect the display going inside it, I am loathe to entrust it for safekeeping a client’s investment.

The next thing I look at is the unit itself. Does it have feet that have to be adjusted to make it stand up or is the base itself adequate for making it self standing. Older and cheaper units usually have feet that have to swivel out to make the display stand up. While this is not a bad thing, it is another thing that can break, another thing that gets me dirty when putting it up or putting it away and also does not enhance the “curb appeal” when looking at the display. If the display is used in high traffic areas the feet sticking out also creates a “trip” element that cause the display to needlessly get knocked around.

I also check out the quality of the pole that holds the banner. While again this may seem an odd thing to worry about, I have found if the quality build of the pole is bad, then the end result will equal it. I say this because a cheaply made pole will tend to bend or skew under pressure and then the banner in the stand will appear to lean either forwards or backwards. There is nothing I dislike more than seeing a banner stand that can’t stand straight under its own design.

A couple other things I look for is if the stand has adjustments on the base to compensate for uneven floors. Oftentimes convention halls and large rooms will have floors that are not even. If you set a few banner stands next to each other to make a portable backwall and you have uneven floors, it can be troublesome to get the displays to line up. The better quality retractables factor this in by giving levelers on the base.

The way the graphic attaches to the frame is also important. Does the graphic attach to the roll up internal leader via tape or velcro or some other system? Tape systems are the least desirable because changing out tape based systems can be messy and less than reliable after a few change outs. It is also important how the graphic attaches to the top bar too. Does it use screws, tape, velcro or a reliable clamp mechanism? The way the graphic attaches to the base plays a factor in how straight the graphic appears in the stand. If you have an uneven fastening system, the graphic will not look taught and may have a wave like appearance at the top. That is another pet peeve. I want the graphics to stand taught and straight.

As with most things in life, the better the quality the higher the price.

I do have a favorite model from all that I have looked at to date. It is called the SilverStep. It comes in 4 widths – 2′, 3′ 4′ and 5′. How easy is that to remember. It also comes with the worlds greatest banner stand hand bag to hold it. Not only does it have 1/4″ padding, nice reliable handle, great zipper build, it also has extra room for not only the display but also for a few small items such as lights, tape gun, stapler, etc. It has a telescoping pole so the display can be used full size as well as a table top. Not many systems offer that kind of flexibility. It has no feet to frustrate me and it does have the levelers for making it stand straight if on an uneven surface. If there is one weakness on this unit is the quality build makes it just a tad heavier than a cheaply build one. It only adds a couple pounds but nonetheless, sometimes that can be a factor.