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When ever you attend a major fashion exhibition such as the National Lingerie and Swimwear Exhibition, you expect there to be a catwalk where the various collections are showcased. The staging of these fashion presentations becomes ever more sophisticated in terms of theming, set design and staging; lighting and music.

Congo Blue Design design and build these presentation areas for many well-known fashion exhibitions including MODA, Clothes Show Live and the National Wedding Show.

In more recent times, other exhibition organisers have realised the merits for exhibitors and visitors alike, to provide an area for the live showcasing of products and services - hence the extension of the concept from catwalk to feature stage.

Some exhibitors are able to make mini presentations within the confines of their stand, but will welcome the opportunity to present on the larger canvas of a feature stage.  Cars, garden implements, health and safety equipment have all been showcased on feature stages designed and built by Congo Blue Design. As well as offering a showcase for the best products in the exhibition, the feature stage also increases the time spent by visitors on the exhibition floor as they wait to see the next show or hear a specific speaker.  This increases contacts and sales for exhibitors.

The challenge then, is to attract audiences to the specific presentations and this is where all the techniques of creative stagecraft can be applied - to show each product with impact and pizazz.

Showcasing products can take many forms, using a range of talent including celebrity presenters, models, actors and dancers. Products can be demonstrated in a variety of ways, supported by video presentations, light shows, live demonstrations, audience participation or with supporting entertainment. The catwalk presentation is no longer the sole preserve of the fashion industry!

As specialists in the design and management of feature stages, Congo Blue Design provide the complete package.  We liaise with exhibition promoters to design the best solution for the exhibition venue.  Our technical expertise means we design with practicality in mind - taking account of space, ceiling heights, visitor footfall, power requirements and safe working.

We have experience of working at most of the major UK exhibition venues - including Earls Court/Olympia and the NEC.

We provide all the technical disciplines - staging - set - lighting - sound - and screens and provide the vast majority of resources from our own considerable stock of equipment, which has been carefully selected for Feature Stage use.

We will work with you to develop fresh and appropriate themes and staging ideas to ensure memorable showcases.  Our practical designs are quick to install and include space for storage and even changing rooms where necessary.

In terms of lighting, we don't just provide lights, we provide lighting design.  We have a wide stock of LED products, such as LED 'bricks', which can quickly transform any set.

We can provide image and video projection or screens using Plasma and LED technologies.  We are able to provide live video coverage and edit packages for later distribution on DVD.

Our sound expertise means that presenters will be heard, while taking account of other exhibition users in the vicinity.  We can provide simple audio playback or mic-up and mix a full band.

About the only resource not provided by Congo Blue Design is talent in the form of actors, dancers, models and presenters.  After creating a suitable stage or work areas, we will provide the crew and fully rehearse the shows.

Our crew will then ensure that shows run to time and give the professional edge deserved.

Because we provide everything you need for your feature stage from a single source, you are dealing with just one supplier - and Congo Blue will always provide our service with commitment and enthusiasm!
Alongside Feature Stages, we provide the same approach for demonstration areas, seminar theatres, exhibition stands, in-store shows and music stages.

As well as providing entertainment, the exposure of a product within a good show presentation has been proven again and again to boost sales dramatically.  A business with a small stand gains major exposure for its products when it buys into the feature presentation, to the extent it can often be self-financing.