European Sign Expo acquires ScreenMedia Expo 2013 and combines events

Screenmedia Expo 2013 has been acquired by European Sign Expo and will now be wholly integrated within the June event. Screenmedia Expo 2013 will no longer take place as a standalone event at Earls Court in May 2013.

European Sign Expo is a new, dedicated event for marketers, advertisers, brand owners, buyers and specifiers of advertising and signage, and signmakers. With digital screen media expected to continue to impact integrated marketing strategies this year, the event will showcase the full range of technological innovations and applications available in this space.

Signage and digital media occupy an increasingly critical role in the marketing mix, from corporate identity to retail point of sale, out-of-home advertising, events and experiential marketing. Visitors to European Sign Expo incorporating Screenmedia Expo will leave with fresh impetus to creatively integrate digital and analogue signage media to meet their brand communications objectives.

Alongside digital out-of-home media (DOOH) and interactive screen media â€" all of which are gaining momentum in the corporate, retail and leisure environments - visitors will also be able to see and touch fresh examples of architectural and informational signage media, including channel lettering, illuminated displays and signage systems.

The three-day European Sign Expo is co-located with FESPA 2013, the leading global event for printed signage and graphics (ExCeL London, 25-29 June 2013), giving visitors to either FESPA 2013 or European Sign Expo automatic access to the neighbouring event free of charge. Together, the two events create a one-stop showcase of visual communications technology, applications and best practice.

Visitors to Screenmedia Expo are decision makers from global business brands, leading agencies and blue chip technology companies, with responsibility for researching and buying digital ‘place-based’ technology and commissioning digital content. These important media specifiers will now benefit from free access to the co-located FESPA 2013, where they can see and learn about the latest developments of DOOH alongside wide format printed graphics, and access case studies underlining print’s proven effectiveness within a multi-channel marketing mix. Special content programmes and inspirational exhibition features within FESPA will be available for this specific audience.

European Sign Expo is a joint venture with the European Sign Federation and FESPA. FESPA is a not-for-profit federation of trade associations serving the digital printing, screen printing and textile printing community. Through its Profit for Purpose programme, FESPA has invested millions of Euros into the global printing community over the last seven years, supporting the growth of the market.

Neil Felton, FESPA Managing Director comments: “Acquiring Screenmedia Expo is a step forward for European Sign Expo and will enable marketers and brand owners who visit the show to evaluate new creative and commercial opportunities within this vibrant market. The event will also be important to members of FESPA’s global print service provider community, a third of whom are interested in the digital signage sector, enabling them to see and experience innovation and best practice in digital out-of-home. This technology is increasingly complementary to printed graphics, and the two are being widely integrated in markets across the world to execute effective and impactful marketing campaigns.”

Screenmedia Expo has committed exhibitors, including screenmedia practitioners, digital outdoor providers, interactive screenmedia providers, ATM and kiosk manufacturers, and mobile and social media providers and developers.

Mark Pigou, managing director, Screen Events Ltd comments, “This is a natural move for Screenmedia Expo, which puts the event at the heart of a much broader visual communications community. The delivery of information and content, whether promotional or practical, is increasingly multi-channel, blending analogue and digital to meet the needs of content owners and engage their audiences. By showcasing digital screenmedia side by side with innovations in other areas of signage and printed graphics, both elsewhere in European Sign Expo and at FESPA, our exhibitors can bring their offerings to the attention of a more diverse and indeed global visitor audience.”

The established Screenmedia Expo team will remain responsible for sales and exhibitor liaison for Screenmedia Expo exhibitors, reporting to the board of European Sign Expo.