Marketing Project Turnaround: Optimise Your Project Budget and Workflow

Whether you’re new to marketing installations or have years of experience, you know there are many moving parts to ensure everything runs smoothly and your event is a success. 

A seamless setup is crucial for capturing your audience’s attention and getting the best return on your investment. 

At NEXT Printing, we’ve spent years perfecting custom installations, learning what works and – more importantly – what to avoid. 

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the key steps to avoid costly mistakes and help keep your project on track, on time, and within budget. 

Detailed Pre-Event Planning 

Before you can get going with any marketing installation, you need to consider the logistical planning to help you, and any third parties complete the job efficiently. But what does that look like? 

Not surprisingly, this varies from one facility to another, and precisely why planning the installation logistics is critical to your event’s success. 

There are a few points to think about here, including: 

• Building or facility access – can you enter the site easily? Are there any time restrictions? Who is your contact onsite? 
• Internal access – how do you gain access to your specific display area? Are there any lifts or stairs – and if so, what are their dimensions? 
• Delivery – is there a loading bay and forklift or access platform to help lift heavy materials? 
• Space – will your display fit the available space based on its size and layout? 
• Power – does the intended space have an energy source for lighting or technical equipment? 

These are just a few of the many logistical details to handle before your installation begins. While our team at NEXT will handle the setup, it’s your team’s responsibility to provide all the necessary information. 

Without proper planning, your installation simply won’t happen! 

Most venues have a formal bump-in and bump-out installation process, which outlines set-up and pack-down times based on the event schedule. It also covers essential logistics like building access management, delivery restrictions, and power sources. Be sure to work with the event venue to confirm all these details in advance – and then pass them to your project team at NEXT! 

Optimum Site Safety for Installations 

Now, imagine our team is on-site. At this stage, safety becomes even more critical. 

Given the temporary nature of most marketing installations and the quick turnaround times for setting up and dismantling displays, accidents can easily happen. That’s why ensuring safety is vital – not just for the installation team, but for everyone nearby, including other workers, consumers, and event guests. 

So, what does optimum safety involve when it comes to custom installations? 

Safety protocols may vary from venue to venue, but there are several general safety measures that apply to most event installations. Typically, venues will notify you and your team about the following key precautions: 

• Relevant fire safety protocols 
• Prohibited items – for example, flammable materials or power-intensive equipment 
• Electrical work requirements – which may require audio-visual or electrical specialists, depending on the installation  
• Necessary work licenses – such as a White Card (for certain constructions) or a Yellow Card (when the installation requires an EWP operator) 

For any external installations – that’s displays you plan to erect outside a store, facility or outdoor event – you may require a council permit. This is usually arranged by you or the venue directly with the local council, although NEXT will advise you at the quoting stage if we think this applies to your planned installation.  

Safe Work Method Statement  

Maximising Event ROI  

As we all know, marketing is a crucial prerequisite to sales. Particularly in the retail space, marketing installations are a favourite among marketers for getting up close and personal with consumers to convey their brand. According to V-Count, a physical experience is key to setting you apart from the competition – in other words, nail your custom displays and those consumers are more likely to become customers, making your marketing efforts worthwhile. 

Of course, this can form part of a much broader (and often longer) process involving other marketing channels – like personalised digital marketing, which can up a customer’s spending by 40%. But at its very core, marketing serves to warm up sales – and if we don’t get the returns, we may as well not be marketing at all! 

Think, then, how a business owner might feel knowing their marketing team didn’t hold an event due to insufficient planning or a safety issue. All that time and resources spent on concepting, designing and creating your installation, wasted.  

Logistic and safety planning for a marketing installation isn’t just a nice-to-have – it’s a crucial part of your campaign. Skipping these essential steps can cost you valuable time fixing issues mid-project. Beyond frustrating your installation team, it can quickly derail your marketing budget. Do you really want to see your budget disappear because of avoidable mistakes? 

A Final Word 

Whether you’re an event newcomer or a seasoned pro, you know how important it is to make your marketing campaigns both efficient and effective. Investing time in the planning stages now will save you headaches – and expensive problems – down the road. 

And don’t forget, you’re not in this alone. From exhibition planning to safely installing displays in busy city centre malls, NEXT is here to help you execute your custom campaign flawlessly and leave a lasting impression on your audience. 

When you next need support with a custom installation, talk to the team at NEXT. 

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