New Main Stage Theatre line-up at Sign and Digital UK

Sign & Digital UK announced its main stage theatre schedule and speaker line-up headlined by celebrity retail expert, Mary Portas. The country’s leading trade exhibition for the sign making, display and digital printing industry returns to the NEC Birmingham from 24 to 26 April 2018.

In keeping with this year’s theme – Creativity Bought to Life – the main stage theatre will double-up as a TV studio, capturing content and also using the studio as a base to film the many demos, workshops and exhibition stands across the show floor.

To celebrate the show’s opening, visitors will be able to hear from celebrity retail and business champion Mary Portas, who will be interviewed on the main stage and then answering questions from the audience. After her main stage appearance, Mary will be visiting stands and demo areas at the show to interact with industry suppliers and experts and discuss the latest developments and innovations in the market.

The theatre’s extensive programme of free-to-attend sessions runs across the three show days, covering a diverse range of topics: from interior surface décor to vehicle wrapping and the future of the industry. Expert speakers will be discussing market trends, practical applications and the profound influence of creative signage and display in customer experience. The recently published Sign & Digital Explains guides to added revenue streams will feature in a series of interactive sessions on every day of the show.

Another new initiative from the show organisers is the introduction of three industry panel debates to discuss current and future industry topics.

Tuesday 24 April’s debate is headlined ‘’Bringing the modern workspace to life’’ and leading names from the interiors and workspace design arena including agencies Align and Interaction, along with Roland DG UK, will look at the ways inspirational graphics, printed textiles, signage and even wayfinding can bring the modern workplace to life.

On Wednesday 25 April, senior experts from Spandex, Hybrid Services/Mimaki, the BPIF -British Printing Industries Federation, Allen Signs, Signs Express and Epson will form a panel debating the future for the market. The panel will be chaired by Gareth Ward, editor of Print Business, and the discussion will touch on the next big thing, whether price will be even more of an issue or will customer service win in the future, and where wide format is headed next.

The Thursday 26 April debate, chaired by David Catanach, director of the British Sign and Graphics Association, is headlined ‘’ Running a successful business in the Sign & Graphics market’’ and the panel will comprise senior executives from Signbox, Hexis, Blackman & White, Signarama and DMA Signs. Topics to be debated include whether creativity is key to offering client solutions, and what the priorities are to keep your business at the cutting edge.

Sign & Digital UK 2018 takes place at the NEC, Birmingham from 24 to 26 April 2018 and is free to attend for visitors.

More info: http://www.signanddigitaluk.com