Banner stands are eye-catching and effective display tools that showcase custom graphic messages with ease. Whether used for wayfinding, sponsor recognition, branding, or promotional marketing purposes, they are an absolute staple in the meetings and events industry. If you’ve ever hosted or attended a conference, trade show, meeting, or event, then you’ve certainly come in contact with a banner stand or two. Banner stands are such popular forms of signage that the market is flooded with endless options to choose from. Unfortunately, this can make the banner buying process challenging. To prevent this from happening, we’re highlighting everything you need to know to ensure you purchase the banner that’s right for you.
There are two basic types of banner stands - retractable and non-retractable, also commonly referred to as free-standing banner stands. A traditional retractable banner stand also referred to as a pull up or roll up banner stand, comes with the banner graphic stored inside of its base. When pulled, the graphic easily extends from the base and sets into place with a pole. Retractable banner stands are very popular amongst meeting planners for their convenience, professional look, and quick assembly.
Free-standing banner stands are lightweight and versatile. With a free-standing banner stand, the base and graphic are separate units that must be attached manually to form a complete unit. Since the graphic is not installed inside the base, you can quickly swap banner graphics on-site. Which is very different than most retractable banner stands that have to be sent back to the manufacturer for a graphic change. Most free-standing banner displays give you the creativity and versatility to change the width, height, or angle of your graphic to showcase different looks and match any venue space.
Deciding between just two types of banner stands sounds simple, right? Here’s the thing, both retractable and free-standing banner stands come in many different styles and materials ranging from cost-effective, budget models to top-tier, premium models. So how do you narrow it down to ensure that you purchase the best banner stand for you?
When you first begin your banner search you should think about what elements are most important to you in a banner stand. Some key factors to consider are budget, quality, versatility, reusability, size, and material. Not only is it important to consider the features and benefits of the banner stand itself, but the venue space should also play a big role in your purchasing decision. When it comes to where you will be displaying your banners, it’s important to keep in mind the layout and size of the space, ceiling height, and attendee foot traffic as these can act as major obstacles if you choose the wrong banner stand.
Now that we’ve covered the basic differences between retractable and frees-tanding banner stands, let’s discuss the various different styles of each:
Finding the Right Retractable Banner Stand
Finding the Right Free-Standing Banner Stand
