IFS

Millennium Point, Birmingham

Creative Solutions and Seamless Execution: IFS Connect UK Thrives with Conference Expo

Background

Having successfully worked on IFS’ annual Sales Kick-off event for several years, Conference Expo was invited, at short notice, to pitch for the UK edition of Connect – part of the EMEA event series. Their selected venue created numerous challenges due to its shared nature.

Their event required:

a multifaceted solution; partner stands;
branding across the site;
significant wayfinding signage;
mini theatres;
a feedback zone;
a showcase for one of their key clients;
and a creative platform for photo/social opportunities.

Innovative Solutions

Our successful response saw Conference Expo and Nimlok pool its talented resources to create thoughtful designs that encompassed:

Unique backdrops
Hanging banners
Diverse vinyl applications
Breakout room backdrops
Floor graphics

These elements helped showcase IFS and their important partners, ensuring delegates could navigate the shared and multilayered venue for various activities and sessions throughout the day.

Challenges and Strategic Response

Three months prior to IFS Connect UK, Conference Expo was contacted about delivering support for the event. A site visit exposed several challenges:

Potential disorientation due to the shared venue
Branding color clashes with the client’s main competitor
Entry access issues due to the tenancy period

Conference Expo used its extensive hire solution to create packages with integrated screens, enabling demos, visual solutions, and a floorplan to accommodate 30 stands for the partners and IFS to showcase on the mezzanine.

Challenges and Strategic Response

Conference Expo designed:

Backdrops for multiple mini theatres
A space to showcase Morgan (a key client)
A feedback zone for select partners
A customised selfie area showcasing a segment of the IFS Cloud Cable Car
Window and floor graphics
Exterior and interior venue signage and graphics
Registration counters
A 23m hanging banner

The joint team ensured consistent branding for all bespoke features, creating a professional and engaging finish, covering up the venue’s branding color clash issues.

Unique Experiences

To showcase the IFS Cloud Cable Car, Conference Expo collaborated with sister company Nimlok to recreate the cable car experience, providing visitors with an opportunity to capture memorable photos aboard the replica “step into the clouds” experience.

Seamless Event Management

IFS took advantage of Conference Expo’s hire inventory, including furniture, a media centre for delegate data capture, and bolt-on features available for each sponsor. This created a seamless event from design, print, pre-build, to post-show evaluation.

Eco-Friendly Practices

We work hard to offer our clients the highest quality hire inventory to reduce environmental impact. Through streamlined logistics and eco-friendly printing methods, we assisted IFS in minimizing their environmental footprint while maintaining professional excellence.

Successful Execution

The build ran smoothly, overseen by Conference Expo and Nimlok project management. The event day went without any challenges due to the thorough prior planning. The dismantling was completed ahead of schedule, allowing for the timely return of the tenancy.

Positive Outcomes

The IFS team were delighted with the successful project completion, receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback from partners. The customised selfie cloud cable car generated numerous photos and posts on Instagram and LinkedIn. This success prompted the transition from a bi-annual to an annual event. Additionally, Conference Expo extended its stand package solution to Connect DACH (Stuttgart) & Connect Nordics (Stockholm) in 2023.

“It was a pleasure to work with Conference Expo on our main customer event in 2023. The team were easy to deal with and came with lots of creative ideas for an unusual venue.

They worked closely with us, our exhibition partners, and directly with the venue which was really helpful as it eased pressure on team resources. This ensured that the branding of the event was a high standard and we could focus on other elements of event execution. We were happy to work with them again for our event in 2024”

Marketing Director | IFS