Category: Blog Post

How Tenji Concepts Saved the Day with a 5-Hour Turnaround (and How to Avoid Trade Show Disasters)

When it comes to trade shows and exhibitions, every detail matters. From the graphics on your booth walls to the banners that represent your brand, these elements are critical in making a lasting impression. But what happens when things go wrong at the last minute? At Tenji Concepts, we recently helped a client navigate such a situation—and the outcome was nothing short of extraordinary.

The Problem: A Trade Show Nightmare

The client had ordered their booth graphics from another supplier, but upon receiving the items at the last minute, they realized the graphics were too large to fit their booth walls. To make matters worse, the supplier was unable to rectify the issue, leaving the client with no solution just hours before the trade show leaving their booth totally bare and embarrassing.

In a desperate attempt to save their event, the client turned to Tenji Concepts, Brisbane’s trusted provider of trade show graphics and custom banners. Their request? Graphics to cover their booth walls, completed that same day.

 

Our Solution: Speed and Expertise

We knew time was of the essence, and our team immediately got to work. Here’s how we delivered a solution in record time:

1. Choosing the Right Approach
   To meet the client’s urgent needs, we needed to produce three large banners, each 3 meters wide by 2 meters high. This would perfectly cover their booth walls and ensure a professional, polished look. Of course one of Tenji’s Tension fabric tradeshow stands may have been a better option but this was needed same day so UV printed banners were the fastest solution.

2. Leveraging Advanced Technology
   Using our in-house UV curing printer, we were able to print the banners quickly while maintaining exceptional quality. This technology was the key to completing the job within the tight deadline because of its high speed high resolution and instant dry time.

3. Rapid Production and Pickup
   From the moment we received the client’s artwork, our team worked efficiently to print, inspect, and prepare the banners. In just a 5 hour turn around time, the job was completed, and the client was able to pick up the graphics that evening.

4. A Perfect Installation
   The client installed the banners later that night, and the booth was ready just in time for the event. They even sent us a photo of the finished setup, which looked absolutely stunning.

The Outcome: A Happy Client and a Successful Event

The client was thrilled with the results and noted that no other supplier in Brisbane could have delivered this size and quality in such a short timeframe. Thanks to Tenji Concepts, their booth was a standout at the trade show, and they avoided what could have been a disastrous situation.

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How to Avoid Last-Minute Trade Show Disasters

While we’re always happy to step in and save the day, we know that no one wants to face a last-minute crisis. Here are some tips to help you avoid similar issues:

• • Choose a Supplier That Prints In-House
    Many suppliers outsource their printing offshore, making fast turnaround times impossible. Working with a supplier like Tenji, which has in-house printing capabilities, ensures quicker production and better control over quality.

• • Work with Experienced Suppliers
    Suppliers with years of experience can rectify mistakes faster—whether it’s a reprint or an adjustment. Some suppliers may even refuse to fix errors, leaving you in a bind. At Tenji, we pride ourselves on our 17+ years of experience and customer-first approach.

• • Plan Ahead:
    Most missed deadlines are caused by insufficient planning. Here are some factors to consider:

• • Artwork Setup:
    Ensure your artwork is print-ready to avoid delays.

• • Freight Delays:
    Allow extra time for potential shipping delays. this of course is out of Tenji’s hands. Delays do happen in freight but sometimes we have no control over it.

• • Payment Terms:
    Be prepared to pay promptly, as not all suppliers offer credit. Many deadlines are missed because simply the client could not make payment as fast as it could be produced.

• • Allow Time for Setup
    Give yourself a few days to set up your display before the trade show. This way, you can confirm that everything fits, is included, and looks as expected—rather than scrambling to fix problems on the day of the event.

• • Have a Backup Plan
    Always have a fallback option, like simple roll-up banners or smaller graphics. Even if your main display isn’t ready, these can ensure your brand is still represented at the event.

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Why Tenji Concepts is Brisbane’s Trusted Trade Show Supplier

This story highlights why Tenji Concepts is the go-to supplier for trade show graphics in Brisbane and across Australia:

• Speed: We completed a high-quality job in just 5 hours.
• Quality: Our banners looked stunning and fit perfectly.
• Reliability: When others couldn’t deliver, we stepped in and saved the day.

Whether you’re planning ahead or dealing with a last-minute emergency, Tenji Concepts has the expertise, technology, and commitment to help you succeed. Contact us today

3×3 vs. 3×3!

So what do we actually mean by 3×3? Well contrary to most people think, for our 3×3 SEG Popup Display, the term 3×3 is actually speaking of how many SECTIONS the wall consists of, as you can see in the picture below:

The Confusion

So as you can see, this will quite often cause some confusion as to what you are actually getting when you order an SEG Popup Display. There are many people around who when they order a 3×3 SEG Popup Display, they are actually expecting a 3 METRE wall. This is in fact not the case as the size is determined by the number of units, not the physical length of the Wall.

Continuing with the 3×3 example, the 3×3 Pop-Up SEG wall actually measures to 2.24m x 2.24m.

How do I get the right Size?

Well, the sizing of each section is approximately 74.6cm, so to get the right size simply multiply this number by the number of sections in the row (or column).

Or… you can look at the true sizes of all our Standard SEG walls by heading over to the website. There, you can check out how big the walls are for our items such as the 3×3, 3×4, 2×3 etc. Click Here: https://tenji.com.au/product/seg-pop-up-walls/ to check them out!

Ensure you know what you’re getting

Make sure that when you’re placing your order that you know exactly what you are getting, the Last thing we would want is for you to find out that you’ve got the wrong size AFTER you’ve already received your order!

What if I’m still not sure?

If you still aren’t sure if you’ve got it right, all you need to do is contact one your amazing account managers at Tenji and they will gladly walk you through your ordering process to ensure that you’re getting the right product for you!

Check out this video explaining the sizing of our SEG walls!

Getting EXACTLY The right Measurements!

When you order a re-print for a Tension Fabric Frame, It is extremely important that we know EXACTLY the right measurements of your frame. We need to know this so that we can ensure that the new fabric print will fit perfectly and that you’re happy with your product. It is for this reason we have created this article and the video at the end, so that if you are unable to send back your frame we will still be able to make it to the correct size according to these measurements.

Measuring The Length

If you watch the video, you will see that the two main measurements we need are the length of the frame, and the height.

To measure the length, simply remove the bottom section of the frame as shown, then run your tape measure along the bottom, taking the measurements from the very ends of the frame.

It is very important to take the measurements using the bottom of the frame as it is the section that gives us the most accurate measurement of the length, as the top piece may have a slight discrepancy caused by the curved corners.

Measuring The Height

Once you have the length, the only other measurement you need is the height. To do this, replace the bottom of the frame, then remove the side pole, with the top and bottom corner still attached, as shown in the picture below.

Once you’ve done that, run your measuring tape along the length of the frame starting from the outside of the top corner.

We DON’T Want The STANDING HEIGHT

Once you’ve got to the other end however, it is very important that you take the measurement from the bottom connecting section, which is the section that the fabric actually sits over.

 We say this because a lot of clients in the past have given us the STANDING height, which is the height that the whole frame sits at from the ground. We cannot use the standing height as a basis for your print size as many different suppliers have different sizes between the ground and where the fabric actually sits on the frame. So it’s very important that we get the right measurement.

Once you have the correct height measurement, you’re done, they’re the only two measurements we need to ensure that your new print will fit your existing tension fabric wall frame. Once we have those, we can simply make up your new print easily, and it will fit your frame perfectly.

Simply put, Blockout is a specially designed fabric that is made to ‘block’ all light from shining through the material. This fabric is different to normal stretch fabric as it has a special light absorbing material knitted into the back of it. This material stops the light that hits the back of the fabric from shining through to the other side.

Does this affect the print?

The front of the Blockout fabric is the same white as normal stretch fabric. Because of this, the print still comes full colour with beautiful detail and incredibly vibrant colours.

 

When do we use Blockout Fabric?

At Tenji, We primarily use Blockout fabric when manufacturing our Original Changerooms. This is because it is perfect for preventing silhouettes and shadows from appearing on the outside of the changeroom. Even if you have a source of light on the inside of the changeroom it works. It also guarantees that nobody will be able to see through the fabric so you know you have absolute privacy.

 

What else can you do with the stuff?

Not only is Blockout Fabric perfect for our portable changerooms, but it is extremely useful for any Stretch Fabric walls. It is perfect for preventing the silhouettes that are caused by the frame itself. Just like with the changeroom. It also prevents any other objects that could create a shadow from doing so. This means that this material is perfect for using one of these walls in an area of bad lighting. For example, an event that has bright overhead lights, or if you need to sit your display against a window on a bright day.

Also, if you need a double sided wall, blockout is the best choice. This is because in certain light, one side of the print can show through on the other side,called shadowing, as seen in the below video. Because Blockout stops all light from coming through, it also guarantees that the shadowing effects don’t occur on your double sided wall.

Another great example of products that benefit greatly from this incredible material are Fabric Hanging Banners. If you hang up one of these banners with a light in the centre, the light will shine through and causing the frame to show through on the outside of the banner. If you get Blockout on the outside, the banner will always look perfect, even with a super bright light.

 

The options are endless

Changerooms and Fabric displays aren’t the extent of what you can do with blockout though. You can use it to shield almost anything from excess light. We just recently created a custom Lens cover for a high powered Telescope using Blockout fabric. This was because to much light exposure would damage the sensors inside the telescope. The Material was perfect for preventing the damage.

This incredible Fabric is extremely versatile and is perfect for any situation that involves the need for light to be blocked. So don’t hesitate to ask us if you can upgrade your display to Blockout Fabric.

For those of us that work in the printing or graphic design industry its easy to forget that our jargon or the terms we use day to day may not quite make sense to our clients or even worse may be misinterpreted. One thing we should all remember though is that we should ensure that our clients know exactly what we mean when we ask “do you have your own artwork?”

Here is a brief explanation of what anyone in the print or graphic design industry means when they say artwork.

What is artwork?

When a print company,  sign shop or related industry ask the questions “do you have your own artwork?” or “will you be supplying your own artwork?” they specifically are referring to print ready artwork. Print ready artwork is a computer generated file or files which has been created by a professional design program to meet a certain set of specifications.

Print ready artwork is set up to the correct size that the printer requires, will have all the correct bleeds, will be set up at the correct resolution and saved in the correct file format for that particular printers requirements.

Print ready artwork should be logically….. ready to print. This means the production staff will be able to open the file within their system and send it straight to print without having to make any alterations to the files.

What is not artwork?

The most common confusion we see is clients confusing a brief as artwork. To explain what I mean here is an example.

A client is asked when ordering one single banner “will you be supplying your own artwork?” Client responds “yes… I have my own artwork”. The client is then emailed through our specs sheet. The client emails us in return attaching 1 file containing a logo in jpg format 6 additional files containing photographs in jpg format along with a word document explaining how they would like their banner to look.

This could be considered by those of us who work in the industry a brief and would not accept it as print ready artwork.

Whats the big deal?

Graphic design is a service. There is a lot to know about supplying files correctly and creating takes time. It is a very widely debated topic across the internet about the graphic design industry being exploited and we generally feel for those professional designers feeling the pressure of competing with inexperienced untrained designers.

Finding a good designer is hard but when you do find the right designer it can make a big difference to your business.If you would like contact details for some great designers just ask us.

Common Misconceptions or Mistakes

• Using the right program/s to begin with. Publisher, Word and Paintshop should not be used to design for print. The Adobe suite is the clear industry leader with Corel Draw also being widely used and accepted
• Understanding resolution is a must to be able to supply files correctly especially within the large format industry.
• Colour reproduction. Understanding the difference between RGB and CMYK as well as being able to use the Pantone colour system is is important
• Understanding vector images, raster images, bitmap images etc. What are they? and when should they be used?
• Bleeds are important. Not having a bleed can cause all sorts of problems and will usually deem your job unprintable. Too much bleed or adding bleed when not required can also slow down production.
• Outline your fonts, outline your fonts and outline your fonts. You should always “create outlines” or “convert your fonts to curves” when supplying print ready artwork. This is something which even the most experienced designers never seem to take seriously.
• Outline your fonts…..