You can PowerPoint it. You can speak to it. You can even print it out on oversized poster board and put it on an easel. But there’s something to be said for giving a client a true prototype they can literally see and feel before it enters the marketplace.
Similarly, let’s say your marketing firm has called in a focus group to get their feedback on the concept prior to a rollout. How important is it to have the most realistic version of the display they’re going to interact with, so they can in turn comment on it accurately?
When people are no longer trying to imagine the concept and can instead see the real thing, it can make all the difference in the world between a “Let’s think about it,” to “Let’s talk next steps.”
That’s why ER2 Image Group (Formerly Bloomingdale Signs by Tomorrow) is creating packaging and point-of-purchase prototypes for a growing range of clients when they need to pitch the concept internally. It’s one more way we’re serving as a true partner to help our clients win those ever-important successes behind the scenes.
For example, a medical client recently approached us about building a portable display to distribute company materials – could we lend a hand in putting something together for presentation purposes? Actually, we could do far better than that.
We designed the display concept from scratch. We sourced the material. We used a router to shape the base of acrylic and rounded corners throughout. And we assembled the components. All for the purpose of supplying the client with a prototype for their internal meeting so they could make a crucial decision.
In fact, they’re not alone. We’re working closely with brands like these to develop impactful P-O-P prototypes:
- Hillshire Brands turned to us to create a point-of-purchase “pop-up freezer” that would help the customer envision Hillshire products in their own grocery store freezer case. (NOTE: Alan has pictures of this)
- Brown’s Chicken is relying on us to build prototypes of their newest menu boards
- When McDonald’s was considering an update to its Happy Meal packaging, they called upon us to develop an accurate prototype that company executives could share and evaluate closely.
In the big picture, we believe there’s so much more to a printer’s role than producing the finished product. So before that vital internal meeting, focus group, conference or trade show, let’s talk about how development of a prototype can help you sell the concept through to management, franchise owners, distribution partners and test markets prior to a large rollout.
Contact Gary Schellerer at [email protected] or call 630.893.4450.
