Taking bricks to Denmark - Medical build
We have a saying in the UK - “It’s like taking coals to Newcastle”. Not always helpful as Newcastle was once a centre of coal mining! The thought ran through my mind as I crossed customs into Denmark with a large LEGO model!
Earlier this year, we were asked by an agency if it would be possible to build a hospital for a trade show. Nothing too complicated there, of course we can! However, they wanted more interactivity so we decided to build the model live on their stand, whilst also helping stand visitors to build their own model. Oh, and it had to look reasonable from day 1. Not only this, but we’d be building the model in both Copenhagen and Lisbon - so it had to travel well!
Working with a very talented local fan designer (who actually works in a hospital!) we came up with a plan. We would build a modular hospital design, so each room could be separately built and added into place, like a drawer. These rooms would be designed and assembled in the UK, before then being disassembled for their journey to the first event. There, we’d build it over the course of the event, then unbuild it, pack it for transport and start again!
On top of the actual model build, moving the model around Europe brought it’s own challenges. We designed a custom case that could be checked as baggage to ensure that the model could arrive on time, with a limited window to install it. There couldn’t be any worrying about where the model was! On behalf of our client, we would arrange all of the customs Carnet - ensuing that no import/export duties needed to be paid.
Once on stand, the model was a big hit! As well as showing how out customers’ medicines could help fight respiratory viruses - each visitor was asked to build a red cross, green cross, or red crescent - to show their support. In exchange, we would donate to charity for every cross made. As you can imagine, we soon ran out of wall space!
In fact, the model was so successful that after the first event, the customer decided to keep the model permanently in their head office! We arranged for it to be professionally crated and arranged all of the shipping and receiving for not only the Lisbon event, but an additional event in Italy too!
So, if you’re in need of something special to attract visitors to your trade stand - and all of the logistics that surround it - why not get in touch?
