- KOSIGN 2005 -
Providing Eye-Catching Products and Increasing Purchase Decision Makers

The 13th Korea International Sign & Design Show (hereafter called as KOSIGN 2005) had been held in the Pacific Hall of COEX for four days from 10th till 13th of November, 2005, which is recognized as the biggest trade show in the sign industry of Korea. Every year this exhibition has been developing as the greatest ground for marketing in the sign and design industry, taking up its standing as a foundation for the growth of sign and design industry. The Next show for 2006 will be held from 2nd to 5th, November, 2006 in both the Pacific and India Hall of COEX.

Towards the International Paramount Event
The 13th KOSIGN show has showed a distinct growing momentum comparing with other years. COEX, the organizer of the show had been dedicated to introducing the new products, the changes and trends in the market to the domestic and overseas buyers and relevant businesses through monthly newsletters. Especially they have organized an aggressive marketing strategy such as an intensive promotion of KOSIGN by participating in the worldwide sign trade show and targeting at professional agencies. COEX released the statistic results for the 13th KOSIGN showing that 550 booths for 155 domestic and foreign enterprises were sold out, attracting the 25,000 visitors in total including the 15,000 professional buyers home and abroad, and achieving the growth by 23% versus the previous year with US$34,700,000(KRW40.8 billion) for order inquiry and US$20,833,000(KRW24.5 billion) for virtual contracted order.

Competitive Sales Promotion Among Large-Format Printers
KOSIGN 2005 is the feast of large-format digital printers as the past exhibitions were. Last year, a textile printer for placard and sign board and a great number of solvent-based digital printers put onto the show and competed vigorously. Especially, the digital printers with thermal type printhead is equipped with the built-in or external thermal processor and produce the endurable banner graphic with high quality color performance and permeability onto the rear of media by processing it at high temperature like the existing thermal printing and painting placard. A lot of flatbed printers with the strength of multiple applications of media were introduced as well, hitting up the atmosphere of the show. Although the number of UV Curable flatbed printer exhibited in the 13th KOSIGN was decreased, it showed the newly upgraded function and improvement in printing speed. The small size flatbed printers have drawn the visitor’s attention with the enlarged printing size. The manufactures have achieved the step-forwarding progress in printing size for sign production beyond the capability of printing on trophy items, panels and small indoors sign products.

LEDs and Engraving Machine, “New Engine” of Sign Industry
The remarkable growth of LEDs lighting systems was highlighted as one of promising business in the future. LED related lighting products were displayed at its own pavilion booth area in KOSIGN 2005, expanding its application into the interior and outdoor illumination beyond the sign. The LEDs lighting solution has brought a storm into the outdoor market for recent 2 ~ 3 years and the development of LEDs technology encouraged more and more LEDs manufacturers to participate in this exhibition than the previous ones. The LEDs lighting-related industry has made great effort to develop the new and specialized trends in line with demand in the market and latest product. In addition to the existing three color of lights, R.G.B (Red, Green, Blue), the great interest has especially focused on the white LED, which was introduced to the domestic market first time in 2004. The industry is making effort to develop the white LED as a replacement of fluorescent lamp. Along with the LEDs, the field of engraving machines had attracted the numerous visitors for sales promotion in KOSIGN 2005. The wind of change in the business gets stronger to meet the customer’s expectation. The businesses have devoted themselves to promote their latest products with upgraded motor and precise parts as well as reinforced power. Several new engravers routing the uneven surfaces more evenly were introduced as well. There were as many media manufacturers as LED manufacturers participated in the exhibition. Thanks to the popularization and recognition of solvent based digital printers, the visitors showed their impassioned interest in this area. Visitors experienced a variety of products such as PCV film for wrapping, Color sheet, Wrapping Film for vehicle, transparent film, PET film, flam-resistant film, etc. The ink manufacturers exhibited environment friendly inks with low level of toxic contents and stressed the distinct features in textile inks and fluorescent inks such as acid dye-, reactive dye-, dispersing dye-based, etc. They approached to the customer with various marketing strategies such as giving free sample inks to the visitors, providing the free check-up service and replacement of components and giving the mileage coupon in the case of purchasing inks.

The Banner Stand, the Bigger and Bigger!
The banner stand-related field’s desire for various size of the product has been reflected in KOSIGN 2005, displaying variety types of banner stands to the show. They ranged from a small-sized advertisement board in 450mm (W) X600mm(H) to a gigantic board for large graphics in 3m(W)X2.5m(H), challenging its limitation of product size. There were several distinctive banner stands with multiple purposes in the show. And The small banner stands, which are designed to be installed on the desk, provide a special feature such as photo and mirror, contributing to the interior decoration which the products on the wall have simple and neat appearance to supplement the weakness of the existing banner stands. It is the most important to install outdoor advertisement board in the place with a large transient population for the best advertising effect considering its static characteristic. Nevertheless we could see the renovating product breaking such a foundation in KOSIGN 2005. A company introduced a banner stand a person can carry on his back (Back-pack type), which allows more aggressive promoting activity seeking out the place for more people rather than an existing passive one installed outside.

Successful Closing
There was great number of foreign visitors from Asia, Europe, America and Africa in the 13th KOSIGN. Foreign visitors enjoyed themselves over exploring the exhibition cheerfully and were satisfied with Korean advanced technology and service, showing great interest in Korean market. KOSIGN held the 13th exhibition this time and proved it is the biggest event in the industry with the flood of visitors such as young children holding hands with their parents and enthusiastic students studying the design besides relevant peoples in industry for four days.