PORTLAND, Ore. – If a company’s portable display could talk, what might it say? Would it tell show attendees about a product or service? Share branding or marketing messages? Invite passers-by into a booth?

PosterGarden’s brand new Display Speaker brings portable displays to life, letting exhibitors add music, messaging or any kind of audio to banner stands, popup displays, or just about any other surface they can imagine.

“Our Display Speaker is one of the most innovative accents I’ve ever seen in the world of portable displays,” said Michael Rigby, PosterGarden’s director of product development. “It takes a normal, static display or product and turns it into a dynamic speaker and sales tool.”

The ingenious audio device consists of a small battery pack and an even smaller acoustic generator, which can be attached to almost any surface — graphics, banners, tables, products, and more — to produce full, rich sounds. The generator attaches to surfaces with a reusable adhesive polymer. Users can then plug in almost any smart phone or portable music player via a standard headphone jack to pipe in messages or music.

The Display Speaker eliminates the need for bulky speaker systems and gives exhibitors the flexibility to add sound in a variety of different settings. Powered by two AAA batteries or the supplied USB cable, the speaker also was designed to be bold in sound, yet discrete in appearance. In the right application, Display Speaker becomes virtually invisible.

“The Display Speaker gives exhibitors an easy way to not only differentiate themselves from their competition, but to increase the impact of their displays,” Rigby said. “We’re really excited to see the creative ways our customers are going to use these speakers. The sky’s the limit.”

Varia.Lux Banner Stand

At first glance, PosterGarden’s latest banner stand, the Varia.Lux, may look like a classic trade show retractable banner stand. It’s got a sturdy base, lightweight pole, and full-color retractable graphics. But beyond that, the Varia.Lux has little else in common with its archaic trade show cousins. It’s actually a multiple configuration display that can be used not only as a full-length, 8-foot banner stand, but also as a stunning compact tabletop display.

“These days, a lot of people need a portable display that’s more than just a one-trick pony,” said Michael Rigby, PosterGarden’s Director of Product Development. “The Varia.Lux easily converts from a full-length stand to a tabletop one – or anywhere in between – and gives exhibitors the flexibility they need for a range of different settings.”

The Varia.Lux gets its versatility from an innovative universal connection joint that allows for the stand’s simple configuration changes. An optional bracket also provides an easy way to connect two Varia.Lux stands together for a two-sided display.

In addition, the Varia.Lux employs new design features and accents that set it apart from standard banner stands. In place of aluminum endcaps, which often bend and bow, damaging the internal graphic mechanism, the Varia.Lux endcaps are made of sturdy chromoly steel.

Unlike banner stands that have bases constructed of multiple pieces, the Varia.Lux base is a one- piece, lightweight aluminum extrusion that ensures stability. The entire base, along with magnetic endcap covers, can also be customized with printed, wraparound graphics.

“The Varia.Lux is the first of many new innovations from PosterGarden that are really going to give customers a lot more creativity and flexibility in their displays,” Rigby said. “And the new design features and accents are adding a unique flare and an unmatched level of quality. People are really going to like these displays.”