Free seminar sessions guide sign makers on business, innovation, regulation and trends 

Experienced sign makers and installers - as well as wide format printers looking to enhance their signage offering for customers - can benefit from the free Sign Forum at this June's European Sign Expo (25-27 June 2013, ExCeL London).

The Sign Forum seminar theatre on the show floor at European Sign Expo offers visiting sign makers access to a programme of invaluable education and insight, free of charge. Seminar streams will cover management, sales and marketing, design and installation, innovation and technology, and future trends.

European Sign Expo, incorporating Screenmedia Expo, is Europe's only event in 2013 specifically targeted to the signage supply chain. The event is co-located with FESPA 2013, and sets out to bring together trends and innovations in all areas of non-printed signage, from conventional display systems, channel lettering and illuminated displays, to digital signage and digital out-of-home media (DOOH).

The sales and marketing stream within the Sign Forum will offer specific tips and advice on how best to promote a sign business and enhance its sales proposition for a successful future. Already confirmed to present is Rebecca Dack of Signs Express - the UKs largest sign company - providing advice on How to Market a Sign Business.

While the design and installation sessions will consider the role of sign design in delivering effective messages, and the latest possibilities and solutions around safe and efficient installation and maintenance.

A full day will be dedicated to technical innovation and regulations of sign production and installation. Following its recent introduction of pioneering technology to capture viewer engagement data from printed signage, the presentation by EFI's Mark McGowan on ROI in OOH is expected to be particularly popular.

The Management stream will cover critical skills for sign shop owners, with seminars looking at cost-effectiveness, pricing and personnel. Denise Flahey of Woop! Recruitment (the exhibition recruitment partner) will explore Recruitment and Retention, a key issue for all SMEs including sign businesses.

On Thursday afternoon, visitors can participate in the Future Sign Conference, a free half-day event developed by exhibition partner, the European Sign Federation. A strong line-up of international thought leaders in signage will discuss the current state of the industry and consider upcoming trends that can help to catapult your sign business into the future to stay ahead of competition. Confirmed speakers include Jim Waters on the Future Vision of Sign Design, Peter Raynham asking Are LEDs the Answer?, and Mike Hall and Fausto Martin offering a glimpse into the future with Standards in 2020.

Sign makers with an interest in digital signage will also want to take advantage of European Sign Expo's Screenmedia Theatre. Those just starting to explore the digital signage opportunity will make a point of attending Digital Signage Basics that will highlight best practice for the creation of digital signage content and look at future trends in digital signage and digital out-of-home.

Sign makers will also find useful insights into DOOH in the Digital Signage Integration stream with key speaker Jeff Hastings, CEO of digital signage technology provider BrightSign, who will answer some critical 'best-practice' questions for specifiers, users and suppliers of digital signage.

Full details of the Sign Forum and Screenmedia speaker programmes will be published at www.europeansignexpo.com during May. Register online now to receive regular updates on European Sign Expo visitor features and events. Visitors to European Sign Expo can also explore the adjacent FESPA exhibition free of charge with the same visitor pass.