The Beginning
1989-1994
First launching as Image Development in 1989, we commenced trading from a small city centre office in Cathedral Street, Norwich, which was home to our design studio and admin facilities. Meanwhile our modest production facility for sign-making and graphics (my dad's garage), was located in Swanton Morley with a further exhibition carpentry workshop (my grandfather's garage), based in Dereham. By June of the same year we had moved to our newly built, two unit premises at Hellesdon Park, on the Norwich north-west ring-road. It wasn’t anytime at all until those two units had grown to four, and as they say the rest is history. We incorporated as Image Display & Graphics Ltd in 1996 and here we are today, some 34 years on, and still at it.
Over the decades, we’ve been proud to win many awards for our stand design and build prowess. Moreover we’ve been happy to help so many of our clients get noticed with our graphics in the high street, in stores, on billboards and vehicles. We’ve helped them get their products to market and connect them with buyers and consumers at exhibitions. We’ve been there to create environments and sets, and assist when they entertain or motivate and communicate with staff, management and customers at conferences. We’ve kept their visitors informed, entertained, engaged. We've kept the food and drink flowing when it mattered, and everyone feeling safe from start to finish. In short for 30 years we’ve helped communicate our client’s brands, values and goals in personal, relevant and memorable ways... and our extraordinary continues to evolve today.
Expansion
1994-1999
By now we had expanded to four industrial units at Hellesdon Park, one of which was a dedicated sales and exhibitor centre. Our sales force had grown to a full time staff of three and we had introduced a trade division. We’d achieved that must have “ISO BS 9001 accreditation for conceptual design and manufacturing and in 1997 incorporated as Image Display & Graphics Ltd. As a result of digital technology the pop-up display was having its day and the banner stand had arrived. New, faster, better quality digital printers replaced our old HP’s and bigger, faster finishing machines added to the mix. We took on further distributorships which included an exclusive UK deal for rights to import and distribute the original Swedish designed pop up. Marler Haley, the biggest and oldest manufacturer of modular displays at the time appointed us as regional distributors, which was a big feather in our cap. Now there wasn’t anything on the market we couldn’t sell and the whole country wanted DIY portable displays. Not surprisingly our focus changed from traditional custom build to being much more modular and graphics led. Meanwhile our involvement in county shows had grown; we were installing stands at up to 60 county and royal shows a year, not just building award winning show stands but manufacturing and operating our own fleet of exhibition trailers. Little did we realise that the challenges that awaited before the end of the decade.
Rise of the web, Demise of events?
1999-2004
The internet had taken hold having gained popularity since arriving around 1995. By now the media industry was besotted and everything that was anything just had to be online. We were told we didn’t need brochures, print was dead and of course exhibitions and live events were a total waste of time. Of course we would later learn that this wasn’t to be the case but just like the theatres and cinemas, exhibitions and live events took a downturn as we ended the new millennium. Having seen the writing on the wall we had thankfully already began to make changes. The advent of technology had seen staff levels squeezed and as our leases ended on three of our units at Hellesdon Park we moved everything under one roof into new premises in Bowthorpe. In the wake of the county shows being destroyed by an outbreak of foot and mouth, when the country was brought to its knees by of all things the world cup of 2002. Prospects appeared a little gloomy into the 2000's, but soon we aimed to make this new order work in our favour.
A new order in the Noughties
2004-2009
By now, modular and portables were being hit badly by poor quality imports and everyone and their sons seemed to be offering digital print solutions in a race to the bottom. We invested in bigger and better digital print technology adding outdoor eco solvent to our repertoire. This opened up an entirely different area of possibilities and enabled us to expand our environmental credentials which were becoming increasingly important to many of our customers. Fortunately the internet hadn’t killed exhibitions (who'd have thought) and live events were becoming more popular again. With this renewed interest in exhibitions came a greater level of understanding of the bigger picture. We found our clients didn’t have money to waste at exhibitions but were prepared to spend measured budget for an appropriate return on their investment to reach the right objectives. Music to our ears. This refreshed thinking fitted perfectly with the way we had restructured our business in an effort to encourage and support our clients. Our custom/modular approach to construction was a perfect solution and suited the growing focus on brand and budget. Meanwhile, our involvement in other events such as conferences, brand and product experiences, had increased the blending of disciplines between signage, graphics and live events.
Continuing to Grow
2009-2014
Outgrowing large format alone, we had expanded into “grand format” adding a new eco solvent print plant. The number of events delivered each year by our talented and dedicated team continued to grow both in number and variety. Although our core focus remained mainly on exhibitions and events signage, quality graphics had again become an increasingly important part of our day to day workload. Evolving beyond our rented Bowthorpe premises and with the lease coming to an end, we took the leap to purchase our own premises in 2012. Refitted and refurbished during the following months, as an an energy efficient, purpose built premises ready for the future of Image at Fletcher way in central Norwich. One year on, settled in, our investment continued in computer and print technology, upgrading to new large format print technologies and ever more, ready for the varied projects and opportunities on the horizon.
When we launched as Image Development in 1989, we commenced trading from a small city centre office in Cathedral Street which was home to our design studio and admin facilities. Meanwhile our modest production facility for sign-making and graphics (my garage), was located in Swanton Morley with a further exhibition carpentry workshop (my father in law’s garage), based in Dereham. By June of the same year we had moved to our newly built, 2 unit premises at Hellesdon Park, on the Norwich north-west ring-road. It wasn’t anytime at all until those two units had grown to 4 and as they say the rest is history. We incorporated as Image Display & Graphics Ltd in 1996 and here we are today, some 30 years on, and still at it.
Over the past 30 years we’ve been pleased to have won many awards for our stand design and build prowess. Moreover we’ve been happy to have gotten so many of our clients noticed with our graphics in the high street, in stores, on billboards and vehicles. We’ve helped them get their products to market and connect them with buyers and consumers at exhibitions. We’ve been there to create environments and sets, and assist when they entertain or motivate and communicate with staff, management and customers at conferences. We’ve managed to keep their visitors informed, amazed and fed them at hospitality events and outdoor shows. In short for 30 years we’ve helped communicate our client’s brands and values in personal, relevant and memorable ways... and we have no plans to stop yet.
The Beginning
1989-1994
Surviving, Emerging & Evolving
2019 - Today
After one of our most successful years in 2019, what followed was one of the most striking changes many businesses had ever experienced. Within a few months of 2020 the entire events industry was forced into deep freeze. As Covid took hold, survival mode kicked in. Launching our brand consultancy Image Development and our Image Garden Rooms venture, the Image brand was split into new forms, in equal parts excitement and desperation. But both proved successful, and confirmed our capabilities in business management, marketing and ushering creative ideas into existence, be it an event or a back garden, with our brand consultancy services continuing today.
Emerging into a new era for events marked the end of another. Following the father-son navigation of Covid, Iain our Founder & Managing Director of 34 years retired in 2023, with the mantle passing to Alex and the mood evolving from survival into something new.
Preserving our commitment to extraordinary service, practical know-how and honest unfiltered approach, we've set out to push the boundaries of what our business can achieve. As more story-driven exhibition stands join our roster and numerous brands look to us for expertise across the entire breadth of their marketing, Image Experiential is set to extend our extraordinary for many eventful years to come.
The Beginning 1989 - 1994
Expansion 1994 - 1999
Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Styles.
Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Styles.
Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Styles.
Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Styles.
When we launched as Image Development in 1989, we commenced trading from a small city centre office in Cathedral Street, Norwich, which was home to our design studio and admin facilities. Meanwhile our modest production facility for sign-making and graphics (my dad's garage), was located in Swanton Morley with a further exhibition carpentry workshop (my grandfather's garage), based in Dereham. By June of the same year we had moved to our newly built, 2 unit premises at Hellesdon Park, on the Norwich north-west ring-road. It wasn’t anytime at all until those two units had grown to 4 and as they say the rest is history. We incorporated as Image Display & Graphics Ltd in 1996 and here we are today, some 34 years on, and still at it.
Over the decades, we’ve been proud to win many awards for our stand design and build prowess. Moreover we’ve been happy to have gotten so many of our clients noticed with our graphics in the high street, in stores, on billboards and vehicles. We’ve helped them get their products to market and connect them with buyers and consumers at exhibitions. We’ve been there to create environments and sets, and assist when they entertain or motivate and communicate with staff, management and customers at conferences. We’ve managed to keep their visitors informed, amazed and fed them at hospitality events and outdoor shows. In short for 30 years we’ve helped communicate our client’s brands and values in personal, relevant and memorable ways... and we have no plans to stop yet.
By now we had expanded to 4 industrial units at Hellesdon Park, one of which was a dedicated sales and exhibitor centre. Our sales force had grown to a full time staff of 3 and we had introduced a trade division. We’d achieved that must have “ISO BS 9001 accreditation for conceptual design and manufacturing and in 1997 incorporated as Image Display & Graphics Ltd. (The name 'Image Development' was already taken). As a result of digital technology the Pop Up display was having its day and the banner stand had arrived. New, faster, better quality digital printers replaced our old HP’s and bigger and faster finishing machines added. We took on further distributorships which included an exclusive UK deal for rights to import and distribute the original Swedish designed Pop Up. Marler Haley, the biggest and oldest manufacturer of modular displays at the time appointed us as regional distributors, which was a big feather in our cap. Now there wasn’t anything on the market we couldn’t sell and the whole country wanted DIY portable displays. Not surprisingly our focus changed from traditional custom build to being much more modular and graphics led. Meanwhile our involvement in county shows had grown; we were installing stands at up to 60 county and royal shows a year, not just building award winning show stands but manufacturing and operating our own fleet of exhibition trailers, which we also offered for sale. Little did we realise that the bubble would burst before the end of the decade.
The Beginning
1989 - 1994
First launching as Image Development in 1989, we commenced trading from a small city centre office in Cathedral Street, Norwich, which was home to our design studio and admin facilities. Meanwhile our modest production facility for sign-making and graphics (my dad's garage), was located in Swanton Morley with a further exhibition carpentry workshop (my grandfather's garage), based in Dereham. By June of the same year we had moved to our newly built, two unit premises at Hellesdon Park, on the Norwich north-west ring-road. It wasn’t anytime at all until those two units had grown to four, and as they say the rest is history. We incorporated as Image Display & Graphics Ltd in 1996 and here we are today, some 34 years on, and still at it.
Over the decades, we’ve been proud to win many awards for our stand design and build prowess. Moreover we’ve been happy to help so many of our clients get noticed with our graphics in the high street, in stores, on billboards and vehicles. We’ve helped them get their products to market and connect them with buyers and consumers at exhibitions. We’ve been there to create environments and sets, and assist when they entertain or motivate and communicate with staff, management and customers at conferences. We’ve kept their visitors informed, entertained, engaged. We've kept the food and drink flowing when it mattered, and everyone feeling safe from start to finish. In short for 30 years we’ve helped communicate our client’s brands, values and goals in personal, relevant and memorable ways... and our extraordinary continues to evolve today.
Expansion
1994 - 1999
By now we had expanded to four industrial units at Hellesdon Park, one of which was a dedicated sales and exhibitor centre. Our sales force had grown to a full time staff of three and we had introduced a trade division. We’d achieved that must have “ISO BS 9001 accreditation for conceptual design and manufacturing and in 1997 incorporated as Image Display & Graphics Ltd. As a result of digital technology the pop-up display was having its day and the banner stand had arrived. New, faster, better quality digital printers replaced our old HP’s and bigger, faster finishing machines added to the mix. We took on further distributorships which included an exclusive UK deal for rights to import and distribute the original Swedish designed pop up. Marler Haley, the biggest and oldest manufacturer of modular displays at the time appointed us as regional distributors, which was a big feather in our cap. Now there wasn’t anything on the market we couldn’t sell and the whole country wanted DIY portable displays. Not surprisingly our focus changed from traditional custom build to being much more modular and graphics led. Meanwhile our involvement in county shows had grown; we were installing stands at up to 60 county and royal shows a year, not just building award winning show stands but manufacturing and operating our own fleet of exhibition trailers. Little did we realise that the challenges that awaited before the end of the decade.
Rise of the web, Demise of events?
1999 - 2004
The internet had taken hold having gained popularity since arriving around 1995. By now the media industry was besotted and everything that was anything just had to be online. We were told we didn’t need brochures, print was dead and of course exhibitions and live events were a total waste of time. Of course we would later learn that this wasn’t to be the case but just like the theatres and cinemas, exhibitions and live events took a downturn as we ended the new millennium. Having seen the writing on the wall we had thankfully already began to make changes. The advent of technology had seen staff levels squeezed and as our leases ended on three of our units at Hellesdon Park we moved everything under one roof into new premises in Bowthorpe. In the wake of the county shows being destroyed by an outbreak of foot and mouth, when the country was brought to its knees by of all things the world cup of 2002. Prospects appeared a little gloomy into the 2000's, but soon we aimed to make this new order work in our favour.
A new order in the Noughties
2004 - 2009
By now, modular and portables were being hit badly by poor quality imports and everyone and their sons seemed to be offering digital print solutions in a race to the bottom. We invested in bigger and better digital print technology adding outdoor eco solvent to our repertoire. This opened up an entirely different area of possibilities and enabled us to expand our environmental credentials which were becoming increasingly important to many of our customers. Fortunately the internet hadn’t killed exhibitions (who'd have thought) and live events were becoming more popular again. With this renewed interest in exhibitions came a greater level of understanding of the bigger picture. We found our clients didn’t have money to waste at exhibitions but were prepared to spend measured budget for an appropriate return on their investment to reach the right objectives. Music to our ears. This refreshed thinking fitted perfectly with the way we had restructured our business in an effort to encourage and support our clients. Our custom/modular approach to construction was a perfect solution and suited the growing focus on brand and budget. Meanwhile, our involvement in other events such as conferences, brand and product experiences, had increased the blending of disciplines between signage, graphics and live events.
Continuing to Grow
2009 - 2014
Outgrowing large format alone, we had expanded into “grand format” adding a new eco solvent print plant. The number of events delivered each year by our talented and dedicated team continued to grow both in number and variety. Although our core focus remained mainly on exhibitions and events signage, quality graphics had again become an increasingly important part of our day to day workload. Evolving beyond our rented Bowthorpe premises and with the lease coming to an end, we took the leap to purchase our own premises in 2012. Refitted and refurbished during the following months, as an an energy efficient, purpose built premises ready for the future of Image at Fletcher way in central Norwich. One year on, settled in, our investment continued in computer and print technology, upgrading to new large format print technologies and ever more, ready for the varied projects and opportunities on the horizon.
Celebrating 30 Eventful Years
2014 - 2019
We grew into our bigger premises very quickly, picking up new momentum as the projects we continued to work on made a return to more bespoke builds with a much greater creative flavour. Clients had grown even more “objective” focused, with emphasis on making their events more successful in context, rather than just deliver ROI. We’d always had the ability to manage events effectively and when engaged end to end, we started to show we could deliver much more than just a stand build. Our years of industry experience, creative prowess, innovation and attention to detail were becoming in increased demand. This led to 80% of our revenues being event or exhibition focused with 20% workload, this has continued to be diverse and reactive to the needs of our clients, largely creative or graphics led. This included expansion into bespoke wall coverings and interior décor for both business and residential use. This built on the innovative textiles and graphic treatments we incorporate at exhibitions providing us with additional design work and print production and installation.
We're so thankful to our wonderful clients, who have allowed us to be part of their events and trusted us to create something truly extraordinary. We can wait to see what the next 30 years has in store & we hope you will be a part of it!
Surviving, Emerging & Evolving
2019 - Today
After one of our most successful years in 2019, what followed was one of the most striking changes many businesses had ever experienced. Within a few months of 2020 the entire events industry was forced into deep freeze. As Covid took hold, survival mode kicked in. Launching our brand consultancy Image Development and our Image Garden Rooms venture, the Image brand was split into new forms, in equal parts excitement and desperation. But both proved successful, and confirmed our capabilities in business management, marketing and ushering creative ideas into existence, be it an event or a back garden, with our brand consultancy services continuing today.
Emerging into a new era for events marked the end of another. Following the father-son navigation of Covid, Iain our Founder & Managing Director of 34 years retired in 2023, with the mantle passing to Alex and the mood evolving from survival into something new.
Preserving our commitment to extraordinary service, practical know-how and honest unfiltered approach, we've set out to push the boundaries of what our business can achieve. As more story-driven exhibition stands join our roster and numerous brands look to us for expertise across the entire breadth of their marketing, Image Experiential is set to extend our extraordinary for many eventful years to come.
Share your project brief with us today, we'd love to help you bring the extraordinary of events into your brand & marketing.