Roller Banner Buyers Guide | Discount Displays

What are roller banners?

There are a number of different names for roller banners, including pop-up banners, retractable banners, pull-up banners, and banner stands. All of these terms describe the same basic type of banner that features a roll up banner that is stored in a metal base unit. To set up a roller banner, the graphic is pulled up from the base and secured using a pole. Designed to be portable, quick to set up, and affordable, roller banners have become a staple display in a range of industries. In this buyers guide, we’ll explore some of the key considerations and points to look out for when purchasing a roller banner.

Common applications for roller banners

Lightweight and portable, roller banners are a popular display for promotional events and marketing. They are also commonly used in retail promotions, business presentations, education, and a broad range of other applications. Some the most common uses include:

Promotional events - portability and high-grade graphics make roller banners a popular display for trade shows, conferences, exhibitions, business fairs, and more.
Retail - roller banners are often used for advertising and promotions in store window displays, point-of-sale displays, showrooms, in-store promos, etc.
Public information - roller banners can be used to produce impactful information displays in libraries, hospitals, GP surgeries, dentists, council buildings, and other public spaces.
Partitions and backdrops - roller banners can be used to partition spaces, as well as for creating backdrops for home offices, photo shoots, and product launches.
Education - schools, colleges, universities, and training centres use roller banners to display information for students and visitors at open days, in receptions, careers fairs, etc.
Museum and gallery displays - pop-up banners are a great way to create exhibition displays in museums, visitor centres, and galleries.

Advantages of roller banners

Roller banners have a number of features that make them one of the most popular display choices. Some of the main benefits are:

Portability - pop-up banners are lightweight and pack down into compact carry cases, making them easy to carry by hand to events and venues.
Ease of assembly - set up time is often limited at promotional events and roller banners can be assembled in a matter of seconds, giving them a big advantage over more complicated types of banners.
Eye-catching graphics - when properly printed, roller banners can offer superb quality graphics—helping to effectively communicate your message and branding.
Low cost - Many exhibition counters feature storage space for promotional materials and personal possessions, which can help keep your stand looking tidy and presentable.

Setting up a roller banner

One of the main selling points of roller banners is how quick and easy they are to set up. Nearly all models of retractable banners have more or less the same assembly procedure:

Rotate the support feet by 90º, then place the base unit on the floor.
Remove the pole from the case and join the sections together into a single length.
Place the pole in the hole in the centre of the base unit.
Slowly pull the graphic banner up from the base cassette and hook it over the top of the pole.

These four simple steps are all it takes to set up a roller banner, with the whole process taking less than a minute.

Roller banner sizes and dimensions

Roller banners are available in a wide range of widths to suit various locations and uses. Our pop-up banner stands have widths from around 800 mm up to extra wide banners of 3 m width. These extra wide banners can be used as an alternative to exhibition stands and backdrops, with a large surface area on which to print your messaging and brand information.

Most banner stands have a set height of around 2 m. Models such as our Premium Banner Stand let you set the height within a range, which can be useful when using the banner in a variety of different spaces. Extra tall banners of up to 3m can be used in large open spaces.

Roller banner artwork and graphics

One of the most important aspects of buying a roller banner is ensuring that you get the best quality graphics and print quality. Good quality professionally printed graphics can effectively communicate your messaging and are more likely to attract the attention of customers and visitors at events. Unclear and poorly printed graphics will put off potential customers and make them question the quality of your products and services.

At Discount Displays we print all our roller banners in-house using the latest digital printing technology, which gives us tight control over all aspects of the printing process. This results in consistently superb quality printing that will make your roller banners stand out from the competition. Banners are printed at up to 1400 dpi resolution and using six-colour technology, for stunningly sharp photo-realistic images and bright vibrant colours.

When designing the artwork for a roller banner, it is important to consider the purpose and location of the banner. Banners used as retail advertising displays often have simple designs with large photos and text, while a roller banner used as part of an exhibition display may include smaller text about a product that is designed to be read close up. We provide digital templates for all our pop-up banners to help with the design process. If you do not have the time or expertise to design your own banner, our in-house graphic design team can create an impactful and professional design using your brief and digital content. With a range of excellent value design services, we can help you maximise the impact of your banner design.

How to choose the right roller banner for you

Options and features

While most roller and retractable banners have the same basic design, there are a number of special features and options worth looking out for:

Banner materials

Roller banner graphics can be printed on a variety of materials. Economy models are often printed on PVC, while premium banners can use materials such as lightstop polypropylene for improved durability and performance.

Eco friendly roller banners

Made entirely from cardboard and paper, our Recyclable Cardboard Roller Banner offers a fantastic sustainable alternative. This is ideal for businesses looking to demonstrate their green credentials to customers and clients.

Linkable roller banners

Linkable roller banners can be used as a hassle-free alternative to backwalls and stands. Two or more banners can be placed side-by-side, with graphics spanning multiple banners.

Double-sided roller banners

Double-sided retractable banners can have the same or different images on each side and are great for open locations where the banner will be viewed from all sides.

Tabletop and mini roller banners

These counter top and mini banners bring the convenience and quality graphics of a roller banner to smaller spaces such as table tops and retail counters.

Replaceable graphic banners

Some roller banners have removable cassettes that can be used with multiple different designs, which can be handy when using a banner for lots of different events.

Things to look out for when buying a roller banner

When buying a roller banner, there are a few things to consider to make sure you are getting a quality tool that will last:

Durability and build quality - There are a lot of cheap, inferior quality banners on the market that use materials that will break after a few uses. Look for roller banners from established manufacturers that come with a warranty or guarantee.
Graphic/print quality - Badly printed graphics can ruin a well-designed banner. Make sure you buy from a supplier with a track record of consistently professional graphics.
Weight and portability - For roller banners that you want to carry to events by hand, consider the weight and whether the banner comes with a carry case.

Why buy a roller banner from discount displays?

Comprehensive range

We have an amazing range of roller banners for use in a wide variety of applications.

Professional quality

All our pop up banners have been chosen for their innovative features and build quality. We only sell the best performing and most reliable roller banners.

Superb graphics

We print all our banners in-house using state-of-the-art digital printers, ensuring unsurpassed graphic quality that will separate your business from the competition.

Personalised service

Our experienced and friendly team of advisors can help you find the perfect roller banner for your application and can answer any questions or queries you may have. Please call us on 020 8664 5660 to speak to one of our expert team.

Fast delivery

As a UK supplier that does everything in-house, we can offer rapid turnarounds on our custom printed roller banners. Most banners can be printed and delivered in 3–5 working days.

Lowest prices guaranteed

With a warehouse, design studio, and print workshop all under one roof, we cut out the middleman to offer our customers the very best prices. Our price match promise means we will beat a quote from any other supplier.

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