Guinness World Records Confirms World’s Largest Lightbox

 Guinness World Records Confirms World’s Largest INDOOR ILLUMINATED SIGN at the State Fair of Texas

SEG Systems, a fabric frames and displays manufacturer based out of Charlotte, North Carolina, joined forces with SEG printing partner, Custom Color, to build the world’s largest lightbox and unveil at Mattress Firm’s annual exhibition at the State Fair of Texas.

Mattress Firm, a long-time lover of SEG products, approached the company with a big ask: a lightbox large enough to span the walls of their permanent location at the State Fair of Texas. SEG Systems was undoubtedly up to the task but decided to add more thrill to the project, knowing it would attract fans and customers from across the country: a lightbox that holds a Guinness World Record.

Reid Johnson, Vice President of SEG Systems, told us that “As a kid, I always thought it would be the coolest thing ever to hold a Guinness World Record. When SEG Systems partnered with Custom Color, Matt Keith [CEO and President] and I joked about how great it would be to share the record for the World’s Largest Lightbox. When we were presented with the challenge of lining the walls of Mattress Firm’s exhibit, we knew the time was now to make that dream come true.”

In order to fulfill the record for the Largest Illuminated Indoor Advertising Sign, the partners had just a few weeks of planning and manufacturing time at SEG Systems’ and lots of printing to be completed at Custom Color’s facility. After a day’s worth of installation in Dallas last week, the lightbox stands proudly at 10’ tall and spans over 200’ feet. The enormous freestanding fabric lightbox wraps around corners and covers nearly every inch of wall-space in the tent. Dye-sublimated graphics were installed into the 203.71’ aluminum frame, creating a one-of-a-kind sleek and powerful message from Mattress Firm, offering an evenly lit image that passersby just can’t look away from. The “Relaxation Ranch” advertises three sub-brands of the company, along with a Texas Longhorn representing Mattress Firm’s logo at the entrance. Check out the video below to experience it for yourself!

But why did the budget friendly mattress retailer go big in Texas? Aside from the fact that the company was founded just a few hours away in Houston more than 33 years ago, The Daily Dozers, Mattress Firm’s sleep experts, said “Of all the states with large fairs, the ratings are always highest for Mattress Firm’s home state of Texas.”

The partnership between SEG Systems, Custom Color, and Mattress Firm made this Guinness World Record possible. SEG Systems’ and Custom Color’s products not only lined the walls of the exhibit, but also filled the floor. The silicone edged fabric graphics can also be found on crowd control barriers that helped direct pedestrian traffic and merchandising signage throughout the tent representing the Mattress Firm brand at their biggest event of the year

Mattress Firm’s exhibit will continue throughout the entirety of the State Fair of Texas, so if you have to see it to believe it, you have until Sunday, October 20, to stand in awe of the largest lightbox in the world. But why did the budget-friendly mattress retailer go big in Texas? Aside from the fact that the company was founded just a few hours away in Houston more than 33 years ago, The Daily Dozers, Mattress Firm’s sleep experts, said “Of all the states with large fairs, the ratings are always highest for Mattress Firm’s home state of Texas.”

SEG Lightbox Accessories: 3D Lit Letters and Logos

SEG Lightbox Accessories: 3D Lit Letters & Logos

Make Your Impact with SEG Lightbox Accessories

Dimensional letters give your brand depth. Whether you have a freestanding, suspended, or wall-mounted display, 3D signage helps your brand stand out.

When it comes to choosing which type of channel letters are best for your brand, think about the look you want your brand to portray. With modern technology, your letters can be made out of aluminum, plastic, wood, and LEDs. Choose your font, size, LED colors, and mounting style to create a customized brand image for your business.

At SEG Systems, we offer several types of custom letters:

 

Face Lit

Face & Halo Lit

Prism

Face & Return Lit

Metal Trim Push Through

Neon Face Lit

Top Return Lit

Aluminum Return

Neon Open Face Channel

Bottom Return Lit

Stainless Steel Return

Recessed Acrylic

Bright and shiny not quite your style?

Bright and shiny not quite your style? Not to worry. SEG offers non-lit variants as well, using foam, plastic, metal, or wood.

FOAM LETTERS

Foam letters are made from Signfoam – a High Density urethan (HDU) (also known as Gator Foam) that is lightweight, yet durable. Offered from .5”-3” in thickness, we’ll be sure to make the surface smooth so that paint can be added.

PLASTIC LETTERS (LIT OR NONLIT)

Plastic letters are made with laser-cut acrylic in a variety of sizes from 1/8”-3/4” thick. No letter is too big or too small – SEG Systems can laser or router cut letters as tiny as ½” or up to 12’ tall.

METAL FACED CENTRA (NONLIT OR HALO LIT)

Metal faced centra letters offer an upscale look without the cost of solid metal letters. Several finishes are available, including brushed gold, polished gold, brushed silver, polished silver, and brushed copper. Finish off the edges with black or painted to match the face for a solid metal look.

Ready for your brand to shine with SEG lightboxes?

Reach out and grab a quote – what’s the worst that could happen? Your brand gains attention? You look better than ever?

Doesn’t sound like a bad deal to us! We’re in the business of making you look good so that your customers appreciate you even more.

 
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GlobalShop 2019: Back to Our Roots

GlobalShop 2019 – Back to Our Roots

 

Chicago, IL

 

In 2018 we went above and beyond at GlobalShop, resulting in a booth design award from IIDA. As thrilled as we were to receive the award, it wasn’t until after the event that we realized it’s a little difficult to pinpoint exactly what we do at SEG Systems. Retail environments, trade show booths, custom displays?

We do it all, but the true question is: what exactly do all of these projects have in common? 

Lightboxes

Now that we were able to pinpoint our pride and joy, we focused on those products at this year’s GlobalShop in Chicago (and even brought home two awards – we’ll talk about those later)! SEG Systems’ booth was full of frames and lightboxes in various shapes and sizes, covering all that we have to offer: lightboxes, systems, fabric frame accessories, and custom capabilities. Keep reading to find out what we brought to the table this year!

But first, a video…

 

We’ll give you a full video tour soon, but for now, check out some of the fun we had at GlobalShop this year!

The Booth

Now it’s time to learn about what all went into the booth. Ready? Set? Let’s go.

Interactive Lightbox Wall

Want to play a game? The interactive lightbox wall was the most eye-catching point in the booth, covering a wall that spanned 40’x16’. This wall showcased SEG’s current lighting technologies: Standard and Narrow Perimeter, AC LED, Optix, LGP, Mesh, and RGBW.

What makes this element even more meaningful is the image scattered across the mosaic lightbox wall – the Queen City. SEG Systems represented Charlotte in a royal fashion from over 750 miles away.

Lightbox Wall Command Center

“So how exactly was this giant wall interactive?” Let us tell ya. We created a control panel that let visitors come in and push our buttons. Well.. buttons to light up certain lightboxes on the wall, as well as sliders and dials to animate the wall and compare lighting solutions.

The options were aplenty, ranging from turning boxes off and on, to dimming lights, and even being able to change the temperature of lighting. This control panel gave visitors a quick lesson on how important the right type of lighting is for their next display purchase.

Landing Pad (AKA Conference Table)

This is where it all went down. The conference table was at the center of the booth, bringing visitors in from all angles. Our giant custom table was built in-house using our CNC and millwork capabilities. While the table may have looked like a delicious Oreo snack, the filling in the middle was actually LED strip lighting that was programmed to change colors and styles throughout the event.

To top off the table, we made sure to finish it with fingerprint resistant laminate to ensure a clean look over the course of the three-day show. The centerpiece of the table acted as both a calming and teaching moment – SEG’s take on a zen garden filled with aluminum extrusions and plastic pellets, illuminated by hidden front-firing LEDs. Woosah! 

Freestanding Frames and Lightboxes

Inside the booth were loads of frames and lightboxes standing around – but not just any old frames… These frames showcased different frame extrusion depths to show off the advantages of each. They were powder coated white and showed off all sorts of options for any environment, along with an assortment of lightbox systems and accessories – lollipop stands, glorifiers, millwork bases, pedestals, trigons, and accessories such as faux neon and merchandise shelving. We even threw in a custom game console! Yeah – there’s an extrusion for that.

SYSTEMS SIDE:

ACCESSORIES SIDE:

UL 970 Certified Manufacturer

Of those freestanding frames, one in particular was pretty special. This lightbox is the first and only UL 970 fixture certified in-house by a display manufacturer like SEG Systems. With the recent acceptance to the UL 970 program, SEG Systems’ Product Development team has been working diligently to create the safest displays for your customers.

Glorifying End Caps as Booth Walls

To bring the booth together, SEG frames were scattered around, mounted at all angles, and glorified on end caps that were lit with 4.0” perimeter lighting covered with white SEG fabric. This really helped show off the technology that SEG Systems handles on a day-to-day basis. What makes these end caps even better is the disco party in the middle: lit, suspended, spinning cubes. Say that three times fast. 

And the winner is…

SEG Systems!

Each year, the GlobalShop Product Design Competition honors manufacturers for advancements in innovation, function, and aesthetics in product design for the retail industry. This year, SEG Systems took first place for our new SEG Click-It Accessories. Stay tuned for how you can accessorize your SEG frames with a cost-effective solution!

Along with the Product Design Award, SEGSystems was recognized as one of the top booths at the event. The event was combined with two others shows this year to create RetailX, so with nearly 1,000 booths, we are honored to be recognized as one of the best!

Now what?

Well first, our team has to unpack. Since we made the entire booth in-house, we also shipped it to Chicago and back, which means we get to redecorate our showroom at the office. Stop by if you didn’t get a chance to check out the latest in SEG technology at the show.

We hope that whether you were at GlobalShop this year or not, you get an idea of what the SEG Experience is all about. SEG Systems is your one-stop manufacturing partner who can turn your ideas into the best solution for your brand. We like to say everything starts with a conversation, so feel free to reach out with questions, dreams, or ideas so that we can build a solution for you.

Explore our portfolio, sign up for our newsletters (below), and stay inspired. You never know what SEG Systems can do for you unless you ask!

We’ve got approximately 335 days (no one’s counting, though) to plan the next award-winning booth at McCormick Place in Chicago for GlobalShop 2020. We hope to see you sooner, but if not, we can’t wait to see you then!

The Who, What, & Where: GlobalShop 2019

The Who, the What, & the Where: GlobalShop 2019

THE WHERE

Heading to Chicago in a few weeks for GlobalShop? So is SEG Systems! We hope you’ll stop by our booth – we’ve got a lot in store for you! We’ll be in the Shopper Marketing area at Booth #5922!
 
 
 
 

THE WHAT

In the past, we’ve gone all out for GlobalShop and this year is no different. Our booth will be sprinkled with our pride and joy: fabric frames and lightboxes – with a few cherries on top.
 
 
Go big or go home, or just bring home with you when you go big. That’s the plan this year. We’re excited to represent the Queen City at this year’s GlobalShop! The collage above was created from SEG Systems’ lightboxes to show off various types of lighting that we stock. The best part? It’s interactive, allowing you to choose the best lighting solution for your brand.
 
 
We’re happy to announce that SEG Systems is the first to offer an in-house safety testing program which is cost-effective and efficient for your brand. We have UL 970 trained experts and testing equipment in-house for fast delivery of a UL 970 certified fixture.
 
We’ll have our Inaugural UL 970 certified fixture at the show for you to learn more about this program that protects your customers, employees, and reputation.

 

THE WAY BACK WHEN (#TBT)

 
Last year, SEG Systems won the Best Booth Design Award from IIDA. Check out our website and see how much we’ve grown since our first GlobalShop in Vegas in 2015!
 

 

THE WHO

Along with SEG’s Sales Reps, a few other team members will be in town. We’re talkin’ presidents, product development, marketing, project managers, manufacturing, the list goes on. If you have a question, we’ll have plenty of people with answers from every aspect of the company.
 
We can’t wait to see you and learn what you’re looking for in your brand’s next display. Ready to schedule a meeting with your favorite SEG Sales Rep while you’re in Chicago? Just click one of their beautiful faces and send over an e-mail!

GlobalShop 2019 – What’s all the hype about?

GlobalShop 2019 – What’s all the hype about?

 

GLOBAL WHO?

For more than 25 years, GlobalShop has served as the retail industry’s largest design and merchandising trade show. In 2019, the show has expanded the experience by bringing together GlobalShop, RFID Journal LIVE! Retail, as well as IRCE (Internet Retailer Conference and Exhibition) under the name RetailX.
 
What exactly does all that mean? It means that the event this year is bridging the gap between online sales and brick-and-mortar stores. Ways to show off your online brand with a physical presence include shop-in-shops, trade shows, and events – all of which will be highlighted at the show, and more specifically, at SEG Systems’ booth! Check out this video below to see what the big merger is all about!
 
 

WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL?

So what’s with all the hype about GlobalShop? Only this trade show delivers the best opportunities to grow your business and drive the future of the industry, with these activities, designed to help you thrive at the crossroads of retail:
  • Quality, face-to-face networking opportunities with over 20,000 industry-leading attendees
  • Leading edge trends in store design, planning, construction and visual merchandising;
  • Thought provoking educational sessions led by thought leaders in the physical and online retail industries; many of whom are moving strongly into brick-and-mortar as well
  • Visual merchandising and store design leaders, providers, and educational sessions
  • The opportunity to experience leading-edge retail technologies first hand
 
 

WILL SEG SYSTEMS BE THERE?

Most definitely.

We’ve been attending GlobalShop since we were born and growing with the show. Check out this video of our experience at last year’s event in Chicago.
 
 
While you’re at it, rummage around our website and check out how much we’ve grown since our first GlobalShop in Vegas in 2015!
 
 
 

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM SEG SYSTEMS?

Last year, SEG Systems won the Best Booth Design Award from IIDA.
 
 
This year, we have an exciting exhibit to show off highlighting all of our in-house capabilities.
 
 
You name it, it’ll be there.
 
Stay tuned for a sneak peek in the upcoming weeks.
 
 
 

WHO’S GOING TO BE THERE?

Along with SEG’s Sales Reps, a few other team members will be in town. We’re talkin’ presidents, product development, marketing, project managers, manufacturing. If you have a question, we’ll have plenty of people with answers from every aspect of the company.
 
We can’t wait to see you and learn what you’re looking for in your brand’s next display. Ready to schedule a meeting with your favorite SEG Sales Rep while you’re in Chicago? Just click one of their beautiful faces and send over an e-mail!

Strategic Partnerships: Set Your Company Up for Success

Strategic Partnerships: Set Your Company Up for Success

Strategic Partnerships: Set Your Company Up for Success

Big businesses, startups, and nonprofits alike: partnerships are an integral part of any company’s success. We’ve all heard the phrase “teamwork makes the dream work” – and while cheesy, it’s true. When you are strategic with your business’ partnerships, you all become more successful overtime.

When it comes to picking the perfect partner for your company, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. You may start by considering a partnership with a company that could make both of your lives easier. Sounds like a win-win situation, right? But partners come in many forms, and some may even be considered competitors. Think of it at as dividing and conquering. There’s strength in numbers, and when you both set your customers up to receive the ultimate buying experience, everyone wins.

No matter how you choose your partners, just remember to be strategic about it. Partners don’t have to be family or your best friend or a shop down the street. Pick a company with shared goals and a similar attitude for how to reach the top. If you both aren’t running the same race, that partnership may just slow you down. The goal is for both companies to harness strengths and abilities of the other, all while sharing secrets that fuel growth, innovation, and creativity.

Share secrets? Are you crazy? Sounds like blasphemy. But it works. At SEG Systems, we have armed our partners with the tools they need for success. And what does the success of our partners mean? Success for all of us. Your partners will need easy access to resources that help both of you succeed. According to Salesforce’s 2018 State of Sales survey, partners said that “technical resources – pricing, service documentation, and training material – are the most critical content for them to find and use,” and that’s exactly what we are aiming to do. Equip your partners with the tools they need to succeed, and you’ll be amazed at the results.

When you think of things to arm your partners with, don’t forget about an open line of communication. Simply put: communication leads to collaboration and longevity. In a recent article by Partner2GROW, it is pointed out that “a functional partnership can strengthen the weaker aspects of your business, so you can grow and expand in a way that would have been impossible on your own.” Questions will be asked, ideas will be thought of, and both companies will be more successful because of it. Employees at partnering companies have unique strengths and innovations that will take your business to a new level.

See? Teamwork really does make the dream work. The key to our success at SEG Systems has been that we have nourished relationships and partnerships from the start. Communicating with, collaborating with, and arming our partners for success has helped us to reach levels we never thought possible.