Excited about my new menu display system idea...

This year will be my 15th year painting at the Dakota County Fair in Farmington, MN. Over the years my booth has really evolved a LOT. Being a retail display designer for my "regular" job sure has helped though! Anyway, I thought I'd share my booth and the thing I'm most excited about this year...a new idea I came up with for displaying my menu boards.

Vistaprint just had a sale on banners, $5 for a medium banner which is 4 feet by 2.5 feet. Of course, I had to pay $12 for rush shipping on all of them, but it was still worth it. I designed banners, and then I ordered some adhesive backed clear sleeves from a plastics company. Peeled and stuck them to the banner, and now I am able to slide each design into a sleeve. It looks so nice and clean, and super easy to swap out designs.

By switching to banners, I've eliminated a lot of bulky stuff that I previously had to haul and set up (big framed panels & misc hardware). So, it has really slimmed down this year! I replaced a table with a large tent sign with just a banner to display a photo collage of previously painted fair-goers.







The mirror stand I made 6 or 8 years ago out of plywood, to hold that cool, giant, red mirror that I got at Ikea. I'm amazed it has survived this many years without breaking! But that sure draws in the little kids. They love to look in the mirror. ;-)

You can see some more photos and info on my most recent blog post if you're interested, HERE!

What a great idea...the mirror is so cute too. looks very pro - I would hire you in a heartbeat!!

Wow! This looks amazing! The mirror is a great idea!

Looks great I love the mirror..and how you have so many options with pictures changing them out....the colors are fantastic.

here is my banner i had it made here in Onalaska WI...the banner shop put the photo sleeves on for me I had this done last year its 3x5...pretty tall I can hang it on my tent also.. I know i have posted this before .[img][/img]

Really looks Fab! tell me, you really get $6-$8 for cheek art designs?

I love how you did that banner next to the mirror. It's such a cool way to show a lot of people in a "small" space. Can I "steal" the wave idea? I'll probably do it a little different way but I love the idea.

D.

The signs look fantastic! Good job on keeping such uniformity in your presentation.
Do mind linking to the company you got the clear sleeves from? I used to purchase mine at a local store but they no longer carry that product.

Gretchen,

I hope you didn't take my comment wrong...I LOVE LOVE LOVE your display!

Isn't it great when an idea pops into your head and you can make it happen so fast? Love Vista Print!

Impressive!!

that mirror is FANTASTIC

Wonderful display, would you share where you ordered the sleeves...I've looked for a couple of years and haven't found them. I cut up some I found on sheets and glue them. Self stick in the right size would be grand!

Sorry for the belated replies, everyone! Busy busy week with the fair!! ;-) Today is the last day and it's a little rainy & slow so I am replying FROM the fair!

Laurie, yes, I continue to be amazed at how much people pay for cheek art! I have been getting up to $10 for my cheek art. They start at $4 for the super quick ones. 10 minutes ago I did two $6 ones one one girl! My "full faces" are more of the mask-type than total coverage, and they range from $10-$15. Of course, I pay over $600 to be here for a week so with the booth fees rising every year, the cost of everything at the fair has really skyrocketed! My prices are on par with Mall of America though which is in my area.

Denise - Steal away!! :-) I had to design that banner FAST as I had one day left of the sale, and it arrived the day before the fair! Whew!

Barb - I love yours! That's really nice they put the sleeves on for you too! Do they stay stuck well? Do you roll it up or keep it flat?

I made the mistake of gently rolling my banners to transport them to the fair. I was careful to only let them fold between rows, but when I unrolled them at the fair the corners were peeling away. So, the adhesive is NOT the strongest. They did hold up though and none fell off, but some are curling a bit. I may go back and either use some Super 77 to stick 'em down better, or double stick tape. Other than that, they worked GREAT at the fair!

The place I got the sleeves was EveryDayPlastics.com. I believe I ordered like 130 of them and it was around $75 plus shipping. In hindsight I could probably have gotten the ones without adhesive back for less, and just spray mount them myself since they aren't sticking all that great. I'll be storing these banners flat from now on...somehow!

Gretchen have you ever thought about laminating your photos and than adhering with Velcro? That's what I do. However I do it with plain banners and never thought of your idea of having the cheapo ones done like that! Thanks for that idea! That way if I am outdoors and caught in the rain then my photos or graphics don't get ruined. I do scan my glitter tat images that way as well so I can laminate those pictures too.
Just a thought.
Thanks for your great ideas!

Gretchen, you should make these mirrors and SELL them to us. I don't have the materials to make it....very cool. Let me know (mamasbiggirl@hotmail.com) I will buy one.

barbb919: very clever your idea is...that is why I have not done a banner for my pictures, cuz I am ALWAYS changing the photos. Tell me tho....with the heat and all at the fairs, is there residue from the adhesive?