We don’t know about you – but 2019 has already been a whirlwind.

January started off slow and steady, slow meaning time to catch up on admin that normally takes a back seat.

Then February has seen us hustling… and hustling hard! Which is right up our alley. We love working with all our clients and their various projects.

But while we were taking it relatively easy in January, we thought it was a great time to get stuck into our website which we’ve been wanting to do for ages.

Our website is now updated, and relevant to who Shades of Green is right now, and where we plan on going.

So please pop over and have a look – and you know, if you have something nice to say, please do!

All our best,
SOG Team x

If you’re looking to attend the most important annual pan-African trade event on the international calendar, look no further. Taking place for the 5th time in Cape Town next week on the 24th and 25th May, Source Africa 2017 brings together a culmination of textile, clothing and footwear buyers, manufacturers and suppliers.

According to Steve Lamar, Executive Vice President of the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA), “it is clear that Africa sits on the threshold of new opportunities for export diversification and regional integration in these industries”. The fact that Source Africa reveals Africa’s healthy economic growth over the past decade is what we love most about this specific tradeshow.

Source Africa goes beyond your usual trade exhibition – picture informative business seminars, networking functions, fashion shows and African country pavilions enabling you to explore and experience an all-encompassing range of African products and services.

And, if last year’s event is anything to go by, Source Africa 2017 is bound to be a successfully diverse exhibition. 2016 saw the two day trade exhibition featuring 183 exhibitors from 14 different countries namely Ethiopia, Kenya, Germany, Egypt, Madagascar, Lesotho, Mauritius, Tanzania, South Africa, USA, Zimbabwe, UK, Turkey and Nigeria.

*Images courtesy of Source Africa official website.

If you are as intrigued by this exhibition as we are, and you want to attend Source Africa 2017, click here to pre-register and find out further information:

Visit our Exhibition Gallery to find out about various exhibitions that you too could be a part of.

Contact us and let’s start SOURCing some ideas.

Ever wondered whether the exhibition industry follows an annual design trend? Well, this is in fact true. After reading up about Euroshop 2017, the number one retail trade fair in the world, we thought these 2017 exhibition design trends were too interesting not to share.

2017 Exhibition colour of the year: Greenery
According to Pantone, Greenery is a “fresh and zesty yellow green shade that evokes the first days of spring when nature’s greens revive, restore and renew”. Despite green being our favourite colour (for obvious reasons), we love how versatile this particular colour is. Picture fresh plant life, botanical wallpaper, graphics and flooring, bringing a sense of life to your next exhibition stand.

Sustainable exhibition stand designs:
Traditionally speaking, the events and exhibition industries are not the most environmentally friendly of industries. However, as we mentioned in Inspiration Station, sustainable exhibition designs are becoming increasingly popular worldwide. This involves the use of more sustainable processes and products when designing, manufacturing and implementing your final exhibition stand.

If you’re still not entirely sure what is meant by this, think reused, recycled and re-purposed materials and fabrics to create your next visually appealing exhibition stand. Incorporate elements of the 2017 colour trend and you are good to go.

Creating a virtual reality:
Digitisation along with immersive technology is fast becoming the key element to include in your overall exhibition stand design. The reason for this is simple – attract more customers, increase engagement and get visitors to explore your brand even more.

So, how can you create a virtual reality? Look to incorporate live streaming, interactive touch screens or experiential games to ensure exhibition-goers stop by your exhibition stand. Our post, Game On! elaborates on how an experiential game can be an effective addition to any exhibition stand.

Innovative lighting solutions:
This year, exhibition stands are deemed to become even more ingenious through the use of LED technology. Incorporating elements of this year’s sustainability trend, the use of recyclable lighting solutions is increasingly being used in exhibition stand designs around the world.

When contemplating how to attract visitors to your exhibition stand, be sure to consider the innovativeness of lighting and how it triggers a sense of emotion in exhibition-goers. Incorporating lighting that is smart, emotional and flexible, is bound to boost your exhibition stand and brand image as a whole.

So whether you are looking for a bit of colour, structural, technological or lighting inspiration let this year’s exhibition stand design trends guide you. Additionally, take a look at our Gallery to get a few more ideas for your next exhibition stand.

Pair these ideas with some of this year’s design trends and you are destined for success. Contact us to turn your concepts into reality.

Exhibitions are expensive in time and money and we know that it’s imperative to see a return. We have a few tricks up our sleeves to ensure that our clients demand attention and steal the show.

Besides ensuring that your exhibition stand is designed and styled in an aesthetically appealing way, we look to provide unique and tailored interactive elements to lure attendants in. One of the most common entertainment elements incorporated in to an exhibition stand is that of experiential marketing games. These come in all shapes, sizes and forms. Think touch screen devices, rapid reaction screens, product demonstrations, “Spin the Wheel” competitions and much more. It simply comes down to our client’s willingness to hand over the creative ropes to us.

Most recently the Shades of Green team incorporated a touch of experiential marketing into an exhibition stand done for NATMED at the RCOG which was held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from the 20th March 2017 to the 22nd March 2017. For this particular stand, a giant wire loop game was designed and constructed to attract conference attendees and increase overall interaction with the NATMED stand.

The overall aim of the wire loop game was for contestants to test just how steady their hands actually are. For many participants, the game was a lot harder than it appeared and this can be seen in the following video.

Overall, the inclusion of the wire loop game in to the NATMED stand proved very successful. Participants had far too much fun, spectators were entertained and the NATMED stand was admired. We encourage all our clients to stand out, engage with their audience and leave a lasting legacy.

Contact us for assistance with your exhibition stand and let’s get your game on.

Known to be one of the largest and most diverse trade shows in the world, Maison & Objet is considered “the multicultural crossroads of contemporary living”. Taking place twice a year, the tradeshow is one in which decoration; furniture, design, textiles, accessories, fragrances, tableware and more come together in a unique 360 degree product offering.

The tradeshow comprises of 3 main sections namely Maison, Objet and more recently, Influences. The Maison section presents a range of interior décor while the Objet section is considered to be the trade show’s “concept store” making it ideal for retailers from across the globe. The show’s unique Influences section is one that was introduced to assist with communicating and demonstrating a variety of innovative, up and coming creations.

Maison & Objet is an experience, enabling people from all corners of the earth, to arrive and discover a world of the unexpected. If you’re looking to grow your brand, look no further, as Maison & Objet is considered to be “a springboard for brand growth”. The next show is due to be held from 8 – 12 September 2017 in Paris and from what we’ve gathered it’s definitely something to be added to the bucket list!

To get a taste of what Maison & Objet is all about, have a look at this video that has captured a few of the highlights from this year’s January show.

Head on over to our Exhibition Gallery and browse through some of the innovative exhibition work done by the Shades of Green team.

Contact us and let’s discuss how we can assist you with your up and coming exhibition.