Kalamazoo WaterJet is Proud to be Part of ABC TV’s Battlebots!

         

Thursday, June 30^rd at 8PM EST will be the second episode of “Battlebots – Season 2”. And, Consort’s very own Bryan Lepley may be glimpsed on-camera at the Los Angeles ABC studio’s taping of the show. Consort’s Kalamazoo Waterjet division is, for the second year in a row, a major sponsor for the “WitchDoctor” crew and Bryan was invited to attend the competition in late May. But, “Mum is the word about who won and how Witch Doctor came out,” says Bryan. “Everyone signed a non-disclosure so I can’t say a thing! Just watch the show and find out. I can tell you that our Witch Doctor is supposed to appear on episode two, on the 30^th.”

            So, what is Battlebots? Here’s a brief overview: “The homemade robots are back for season two, where they will battle against each other in a single elimination tournament until there is one champion. The ten episode series will feature next generation robots – bigger, faster and stronger than ever before. The show will continue to emphasize the design and build elements of each robot, the bot builder backstories, their intense pursuit of the championship and the spectacle of the event. While there's only one weight class, there are a huge variety of deadly weapons. Forty-eight robots will enter, but in the end, only one will win the final trophy.”

            Until you see these robots in action you can’t imagine what this is all about, but check out this Youtube video of last year’s battle between Witch Doctor and Tombstone and you’ll get the idea: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4AAIfQD8ew . According to Bryan, all robots were redesigned and are generally tougher and proved to be more aggressive, especially Witch Doctor. Each entry has a weight limit and if there is an accompanying smaller robot or drone with the main entry, the total weight of the two cannot exceed 250 pounds. Witch Doctor has a little buddy, named Shaman, and there are flying drones with other entries. The drones are new for this year.

            The show is ten episodes and you’ll find that it’s somewhat addicting to see how the different designs and structures hold up against each other. “These folks are all nuts, but in a good way!,” says Bryan.

            Through Bryan’s efforts Kalamazoo’s own Schupan and Sons and Good Metals Company of Grand Rapid are also a Witch Doctor sponsors, making Southwest Michigan well-represented at this amazing battleground. 
Roger Lepley

Bacon, High in the Sky!

Well, as we say here at Consort, "What's Next?!"  How about bacon images on your Dori Pole pennants? 'Bet you never thought of that!

Yes, it's true, in Consort's home town of Kalamazoo, the annual 26.2 marathon has been a major community event near the first part of May for many years. For the past four years the inspired and enthusiastic neighbors that live near the halfway point have sponsored what every creative marathon needs, a Bacon Station! With porcine delights of many forms the racers are enticed to drop their racer-motivated diets for just the opposite. Of course, most of the bacon and bacon muffins, cookies, fudge, and so on are eagerly consumed by the cheering spectators. But, a surprising amount of the meat-candy is taken up by the racers,usually to be tossed aside 50 yards later where the neighborhood dogs have taken up their cheering section. Ruff! More! Ruff! More!

A delightful time for all and the racers appreciate the attention and support, even if they aren't into the dubious nutrition being offered them.

The bacon pennants are not a stock item in our array of available pennants, but if you're interested in those or have an idea for a specialty pennant design, contact your Consort sales rep today.
Submitted by Roger Lepley

Consort's Abstracta Shares Silver Award at GlobalShop 2015!

With the recent “Silver Award’ from the juried competition during the 2015 GlobalShop Show, our Abstracta Modular Display System is once again recognized as a world player! GlobalShop, the world's largest trade show for retail design and shopper marketing, is held in Las Vegas each March. The competition has become a much-anticipated event for showcasing outstanding recent retail-oriented projects around the world.

Our Abstracta system was the primary display medium for the Herman Miller “pop-up” store in New York City during May, 2014 where the large Michigan-based contract furniture company presented a striking, colorful and textural retrospective of Alexander Girard’s significant contribution to Herman Miller’s decades long success as an industry innovator.

In the words of a Metropolis Magazine editor, “The new Alexander Girard pop-up exhibit in New York’s Meatpacking District is a three-part celebration of all things Girard. The showcase highlights the architect and designer's fabric work, developed during his time as design director of the textiles department at Herman Miller from 1952 to 1973. Then there are the lounge pieces Girard produced for Braniff Airlines in the late 60s, a small number of the 17,000+ items he designed for the project. The third element is the striking exhibit installation, a Girard-esque living room, bursting with color and populated with period affects.”

The store layout was designed by Michael McGinn and his team at Standard Issue Design, of Brooklyn, New York and featured Girard’s most significant designs and patterns. For Consort, this was our second opportunity to work with Michael for a Herman Miller project with the first one

involving a 1,000 square foot portion of the company’s showroom at their massive showroom in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart in 2012.

Abstracta was chosen for its simple and classic features that inherently take a back seat to displayed objects, such as Girard’s work, to be elegantly featured.  It was the perfect choice for the incredibly eye-catching array of Girard’s brilliant work. 

Thank you Michael and Herman Miller for again choosing Abstracta!

Roger Lepley

Outdoor Ground Mounted Banner Stand (GMS) Has a New Size Feature!

Bank and credit union drive-throughs have been around for decades and most bankers will tell you that drive-throughs continue to be their customers’ preferred method for on-site transactions. Much like with the fast food industry, customers would rather wait in their cars. So, while they’re waiting…

Our popular specialty banner stand, the Messenger® GMS, can provide important information about bank services. And now, banks have the option to alternate banner lengths from 48” to 72”, as they please. The new standard Messenger® GMS will accommodate either of those sizes simply by moving the bottom bar up or down. 

Why is this good idea?  Well, sometimes we have more to say than other times. Sometimes the message is short and sweet like, “Thank you for
choosing Fifth Financial”. And, sometimes, we want to include more information about new services for example, along with images. Also, a 48” banner is a bit less expensive than a 72” banner.

Of course, this new feature isn’t just for the financial industry. Shopping centers, automobile dealers and service stations, drive-through lanes for restaurants and many others can now take advantage of the new banner size option. By the way, the "GMS" stands for Ground Mount System and widths of stands can be ordered to fit 16", 18", 20", 22" or 24" banners.

Thank you for your interest in Consort products! Please contact your sales representative for more information.

Roger Lepley

Tabletop Beer Menus Help Patrons Make Quick, Informed, Beer Selections!

Next time you visit a brewpup or bar, take a look at how they tell you about all the beers they offer. If they have to verbally recite the never ending list that numbs your brain or they point to some chalk board 15’ away, tell them they’re missing a super opportunity to make beer ordering simpler and quicker.

They need “Podia®Tabletop Display”!

Our Podia Tabletop Menu Holder is quickly becoming popular with breweries, brewpubs and bars because they’re durable, instantly changed and encourage customers to pick out their next beer before they finished the last. Simple and easy, right?! Servers and wait staff are often barraged with
questions like, “What’s on tap” and “Any

specials? “What’s Olde Frothingslosh taste like?” “Is that a strong beer?” and so on.

With Podia, the daily beer list can be printed and displayed in an a two-sided, unbreakable capsule to detail the type of beer, cost, alcohol percent and whatever information would help to have bar patrons make quick, informed decisions.

What's more it's unbreakable! Check out the Demo videos HERE and see for yourself.

Please tell your local brewpub about Podia.


Roger Lepley

Custom Shape Banners on FlagTrax

Here is a FlagTrax installation at the First Baptist Church of Troy, MI. The system is our standard FT-3096 (34.5"W x 9'6"H) and is powder coated black. The banners are 29.25"W x 47.25", vinyl, printed on both sides. Looking great!

FlagTrax Flags and Banners Materials

When the Kiwi company Nexus Developments created FlagTrax, it was in first place to fit single sided polyester or nylon flags. These materials are more commonly used as street side messages in New Zealand and Australia.

Since Consort Display Group started manufacturing and distributing FlagTrax on the North American market, a lot of customers have asked: can FlagTrax fit vinyl and acrylic (i.e. Sunbrella®) banners as well?

After doing some tests with these materials, the answer is yes!

Please see the different looks below :

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Single-sided bleed through flags.

These flutter with the wind and the sun gives them a certain "glow". They provide a more festive look than other materials thanks to their light weight. The artwork and text have a "mirror" effect on their opposite side.

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Double-sided flags with blockout liner.

Due to their 3 layers (flag, blockout liner, flag), they don't flutter as well and tend to wear out quicker than the other materials. They allow for the messages to be readable on both sides without the "mirror" effect of a single sided flag.

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Screen printed Sunbrella® acrylic banners.

These flutter but not as much as a single sided polyester because of their heavier weight. They allow for the messages to be read on both sides and their colors have a longer lifetime.

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Digitally printed vinyl banners.

These don't flutter a lot because of their heavier weight. They allow for the messages to be read on both sides and have the vivid color look that digitally printed vinyl banners offer.

Street Flags: A New Way To Use Your Light Pole

Consort Display Group introduces FlagTrax®, a whole new genre for street-side communication. FlagTrax is our newest outdoor system for providing information and adding color to light pole and buildings. 

The new genre is ‘street flags’, as opposed to the popular street banners that we see in thousands of communities. So what really is the difference of a street banner versus a street flag? A street banner is like our standard light pole banner that is stretched top and bottom with our banner hardware. It’s typically made from a vinyl digital banner or a screen-printed acrylic marine fabric banner. The banners are installed and changed using bucket trucks.

A FlagTrax street flag is similar in that it’s installed on the same type of city or shopping center light pole but once it’s installed using a bucket truck, all the flag changes can happen from the ground, saving thousands of dollars every year on a typical municipal street communication program. The fabric is generally a lightweight dye sublimation or nylon flag material that waves, glows and flutters in the breeze, similar to a regular flag you would see on any flagpole.

How does it work? The system operates on an aluminum track that is mounted vertically onto the pole or wall into which a flexible Push-Pull™ rod is inserted that carries the banner or flag up to the final mounting height. (watch the video) Access to this tamper-proof track can be mounted at shoulder height for maximum convenience or the six or eight foot level above the ground where added security may be required, alleviating the need for anything more than a small step stool.

Street pole banner changes in urban areas, in particular, are normally expensive and difficult with traffic concerns, as bucket trucks weave their way around, sometimes stopping traffic or diverting it with traffic cones. FlagTrax changes can be done by one person at any time of day in just a matter of minutes, often saving up to one hundred dollars per change in some of the larger cities. An additional benefit is that it will encourage more changes, more often, allowing event organizers greater flexibility to promote more events within a city, significantly adding to the sense of the area’s vitality and activity.


The FlagTrax street flag system was very well received at the annual Specialty Graphic Imaging Association and took home Product of the Year honors for Finishing and Display Exhibit Hardware. “SGIA's Product of the Year Awards showcase digital imaging products that keep the specialty imaging industry moving forward," said Jeff Burton, SGIA's digital printing analyst. "Winners have benefited from worldwide recognition and the ability to market their product as a winner of this valued competition."

For more information about FlagTrax, visit our website. 

Streetlight Banners Hold Up in High Winds—Even Hurricane Force

The following is an article published by the American Public Works Association's APWA Reporter in July 2013:

    “Communities are increasingly using light pole banners to add excitement and community spirit to events and occasions.  Yet many communities in high wind and hurricane zones face challenges using banners due to risks of light pole damage from the extra wind resistance created by large banners, in addition to worries of damage to the banners themselves. 

     While some neighborhoods find various forms of outdoor advertising amongst the debris following large

storms and hurricanes, towns and shopping centers that use the KBWBannerFlex have not only saved time from clean-up, they have saved money.          

     David J. Cangemi, in charge of General Services for the City of Hallandale, FL was especially impressed with the banners’ performance saying, “A tropical storm came blasting through south Florida. Debris and banners were dispersed all over the city.  I used KBW and not one of our banners was lost.”  

     For more info, call 800-525-6424, email info@consort.com or visit http://www.kalamazoobanner.com 

Roger Lepley

Simple, Inexpensive Trade Show Solutions from Consort Display Group!

Eye-catching, inexpensive options for the standard 10’ x 10’ booth.



Display One 8' digital panel

Today, trade show presenters prefer simpler, easier to setup and more cost-effective displays. And, in this digital age, you can now display “up-to-the-minute” products and services with the right trade show products and creative talent from Consort. We can help you customize each show’s images for specific audiences to maximize your trade show dollars.

Look to Consort for a dependable array of RTR™ Retractor Banner Stands, Display One® Messenger®-X Banner Stands, Table Throw Covers, PortFolio® Tabletop Displays, and more, for the simple 10 x 10 or 10 x 20 booth. With most products manufactured and printed in Michigan, you’ll receive the utmost in customer care and service. Need graphic design assistance? Consort has been in the design business since 1984.



Digitally-printed Table Throw Cover

 In our opinion, your product or service should be the “shining star” and the object of attention in your booth – not the fancy booth hardware! With wide-format digital printing, great lighting and simple podiums, for example, you can tell your story and capture the interest of your audience without lots of expensive hardware and quirky fixtures. Typically, those more complicated booths are expensive to purchase, expensive to ship and time-consuming to assemble. They may even require professional set-up labor. Our suggestion is have a few easily assembled and dis-assembled pieces that fill up your booth space with large digital images that help you tell your story.



33" x 86' Retractor Banner Stand

 Once your Consort trade show display is up and ready, probably in 30 minutes or less, the rest is up to you! We can’t supply the enthusiasm, bright-eyes and energetic sales force who will look each attendee in the eye and tell your story, but we can help you get noticed and help you visually get the ball rolling!

"Tradeshow exhibiting can be an effective and rewarding marketing tool. But, they can be more cost effective and enjoyable with displays from Consort Display Group."

Roger Lepley

Abstracta Featured in Herman Miller's Chicago Showroom to Exhibit Alexander Girard's Work

     Once again our unique and versatile Abstracta Modular Display System is an integral part of an impressive exhibit of design talents. Abstracta is now featured in Herman Miller’s Chicago showroom on the 3rd floor of the Merchandise Mart. The photos here show our 13mm (1/2") tubing in white powder coat recently installed as part of NEOCON 2012. NEOCON - “where the design world comes together” - is the annual design event for the contract furniture industry. And, most anyone who visits NEOCON, visits the Herman Miller Showroom.
   Abstracta was chosen as the display medium by Michael McGinn Design as the “natural setting” to display the history of one of Herman Miller’s earliest and most formidable designers, Alexander Girard.
     In the words of the Herman Miller blog:

“Trained as an architect, but proficient in all manner of activities, Alexander Girard was introduced to Herman Miller through Charles Eames and George Nelson. He established the Herman Miller Textile Division in 1952, and served as its Director of Design until 1973. From his outpost in Santa Fe, New Mexico, he designed over 300 textiles in multitudes of colorways, multiple collections of wallpaper, decorative prints and wall hangings, an expansive group of furniture, and both decorative and useful objects.”

     His textiles and objects, although wonderful and intriguing on their own, seemed even more dynamic and brilliant in the thoughtful, seemingly simple (although very complex!) setting of the slim, white Abstracta forms and “just right” spot lighting and traffic patterns throughout the exhibit.

     The Girard exhibit comprises about 1,000 square feet of the extensive Herman Miller Showroom. The exhibit will be up for almost one year and may travel a bit after that to other venues. The 1,400+ Abstracta tubes and 800+ connectors were all pre-cut and finished prior to being delivered to the site and the McGinn Design team had the entire structure up in about three days! An impressive and amazing feat.

     We at Consort are also pleased with Michael McGinn's thoughtful words when we saw him at the exhibit on opening day: "I would say that for this audience the second most popular thing about the exhibit, after Alexander Girard, is Abstracta. I overheard many remarks about its simple beauty."

Thank you  Michael  for choosing Abstracta!

Photos courtesty of Bright-Lyons, Brooklyn, New York.

Introducing “QU™" - The Designer’s Tabletop Display and Signage System

     Beginning today, we are placing our durable little tabletop display into the eyes and ears of top designers around the world under the new brand “QU™”. The name is a takeoff of “queue”, meaning “list of data, to stand up in line” and so on. The strikingly simple name and logo design is the brainchild of our good friend, Thomas Mills, of MillsIdeas, LLC in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
     The product was born as “Pōdia Tabletop Display” in 2004 and has been widely accepted in the hospitality business in the US under that name. But, now it’s time for the rest of the world to know about this wonderfully durable display product and we are starting with designers. The reason for this approach is simple. QU perfectly displays an 8.5” x 11’ standard printed paper. And who makes the best looking printed pieces of paper? Designers!
     The designer simply and easily composes the graphics into a standard two-column format using any graphic program, including MS Word, prints the document, folds it lengthwise and inserts it into the QU capsule for an instant display.
     The better looking the graphics the better QU looks, for the capsule totally takes on the look of the document’s design.
     How would designers use QU? For virtually any and all smaller graphic and communication needs. Of course, because they’re easily changed they’re perfect for menus, communicating hotel and resort services and welcoming guests. But, also, they’re wonderful to display photos and messages about designer’s works for self promotion, client use for trade shows, case studies and special events.

     Also, the QU model with the built-in wall mount bracket allows QU to be easily mounted horizontally on any surface where a nail or screw is installed. Please see our http://www.meetqu.com/ website for more information and to order your QU today!
Roger Lepley

Digital, Digital, Digital! Doesn’t Anybody Screen Print Anymore?!

     Yes! For exterior vertical streetscape banners, Kalamazoo Banner Works by Consort, continues to offer both screen print and digital printing. And, although the process of digital imaging on vinyl media continues to grow, the screen printed textile banner is almost in a come-back mode, according to our in-house sales force here at Consort Display Group.
     Interestingly, many of our customers have never ordered digitally printed street banners because they like the textile look, and many have ordered digital but have sworn back to the acrylic marine fabric screen printed banner. We are seeing the second category grow.
     “Screen printed is just richer looking”, says a long-time customer from Battle Creek, Michigan. “The Sunbrella® fabric colors are warmer and more vibrant than vinyl. We’ve had both digital and screened up at various times, but there is definitely a difference. We especially like the screened marine fabric at the waterfront area where the look just seems more natural."
                                     

     "Normally customers who order screen print don’t stray from that type of banner. They are a pretty loyal customer base," says Consort Sales representative, Suzy Triesenberg. 
     There is no argument that digital has some distinct advantages for more complex designs, with detailed photographic images being possible. But, as I’ve written in previous blogs (click here) sometimes designers get carried away with complexity to the point of unreadability. With screen print, the images tend to be simpler and bolder and typically easier to understand from a distance.
     For a better understanding of the look of digital versus screen print images, please view our gallery of both methods on our KBW custom banner sites: click here for digital and click here for screen print. For specific questions please contact us at Consort.
Roger Lepley

Why Mya® Personal Tables Make a Great Gift

The Holiday Season is upon us, and you may be asking yourself: “Hmmm… what to buy for that special someone?”

Each year around this time, a number of people from Kalamazoo and surrounding areas return to Consort to order a new supply of Mya tables to give as gifts. Their commitment to Mya comes as no surprise; they make the perfect gift!

Mya Personal Tables are extremely customizable. You decide from the L, J, or I-Series table styles, choose the appropriate height for the recipient, and of course, select the perfect table top from our vast selection. With so many different options, you could create the ideal table for practically anyone on your shopping list.

Mya tables are appropriate for those who enjoy entertaining, especially when there are no tables near the seating. And, know that Mya tables can be used outdoors as well and we might suggest the teak or tile tops for exterior use. In fact, several of our customers enjoy taking their Mya tables camping. With the right top, these tables are extremely durable and able to withstand the elements; a fitting gift for those who enjoy the outdoors on your list.

People who live in small apartments will especially appreciate the added convenience. The I-Series footprint measures just 7.5” square, making it easy to place where other tables would simply be too large.

No matter how large the room, Mya tables are comfortable. With just a 5-3/4” square top they perfectly hold your drink with unparalleled flexibility in their placement. Mya’s have many additional uses including a place for keys, sculpture, speakers and plants, making Mya tables a handy, quality and personal gift year after year.

Golf Course Geese Stay Away From Dori Pole Pennants!

“These pennant things are amazing! The geese are actually afraid of them,” cites golf pro, Dick Stewart, of the Kalamazoo Country Club who, along with the golf course superintendent, John Fulling, has tried “everything” to deter geese from making a mess of the 12^th tee and green and the 13^th tee. This Michigan country club has an extensive shoreline on a small urban lake where the geese have taken on their own dues-free membership on the beautiful and well-maintained grounds.

                  According to Fulling, the 100-year-old club has tried wires and shiny ground-hugging ribbons as well as dogs and much more, without much success (the dogs are effective but invariably become “pets” of the members and eventually lose interest in chasing birds). For the past five weeks Consort has helped the club with a test using four of their Dori Pole Pennants spaced about 80 yards apart along the shore, but strategically positioned to be out of range of golf shots. The 20’ high, 15’ long pennants float in the prevailing breeze and make the geese uncomfortable, as though a larger bird of prey were swooping around.

“The effect is uncanny”, says Stewart. “But, in those rare times when there is no breeze at all the geese start to move onto shore and trot right back up to the green and tees. Fortunately, we get enough wind that the pennants are probably at least 80% effective”.

John Fulling is encouraged and hopeful that the birds won’t get “used-to” the pennants and just ignore them after awhile. “But, even if they do, we can put them out and take them in for special events and tournaments and I suspect they’d work well for that. We’ll just have to see but currently, the news is all good!”

The country club already owned six Dori Poles with the club colors which they have periodically put up through the year for outdoor special celebrations including the annual “Invitational Tournament” and the February Winter Carnival, among other events. The tall pennants are also an income stream as they can rent them for the many outdoor weddings, where the bridal couple can choose special color pennants.

If you know of a golf course that would like to try Dori Poles for bird control or for outdoor display, please refer them to our Dori Pole website, doripole.com. Also, view our Dori Pole and bird deterrent videos.

MYA: Small Tables That Make a Big Statement

Part of Consort Display Groups Abstracta line of furniture is the Mya. Mya is a collection of "personal" sized drink tables designed for arm's reach convenience. Mya tables are perfect for serving anywhere or for accenting smaller spaces. Mya models come in varying heights from 19" to 28" to perfectly suit your taste. Choose from indoor-outdoor finishes of black or silver powder coat.

All Mya tables offer 5.75" square interchangeable tops including familiar and exotic hardwoods, tile, acrylic and a unique cigar ash urn. Mya can be accessorized with a number of tops from traditional tile to exotic wood species. With additional tops you can coordinate with the decor of any room. Of course you don't have to simply accessorize for the home. Tile and acrylic tops are well suited for outdoor use as is the durable powder-coated finish available on any table. All table tops fit the I-Series, J-Series, and the L-Series Mya Tables. The Mya tops measure 5-3/4" square.

The Mya Cigar Table offers a new level of style for the discerning cigar enthusiast. Praised by "Cigar Aficionado", Mya is perfect for the den or patio and is designed for tapping within an arm's reach. The ash tray top can be replaced with any of our other interchangeable tops when the cigar is extinguished and a table is desired.

Residential Application of the Dori Pole Pennant System

Many homeowners have been using Dori Poles in a wide variety of ways. Thats right, Dori Poles aren't only the perfect addition to an event, festival, or business; they are also a great for residential use. 

The pennant system is being used to define a sense of space and place for the homeowner. Gardeners truly enjoy using the Dori Poles to draw attention to their gardens. The pennants blow and flail in the wind, and keep unwanted birds away from gardens better than even the most realistic of scarecrows.

Show support for your favorite local sports teams by flying their team colors in your front-yard.   If the 19'-22' poles are too tall for your yard, don't worry, we've got you covered. Our Dori Pole Jr. is a two piece 12' fiberglass pole with a Dori Pole Jr. rotating yoke and 8' colorful pennant. This smaller scale is perfect as an eye-catcher for home parties, the beach, or to make your favorite teams colors fly in the wind! 

Dori Poles are a fantastic way to decorate for celebrations or birthday parties. With so many colors and pole lengths to choose from, Consort Display Group offers Dori Poles that would enhance any special occasion at www.consort.com.  So get yours for that next big celebration today!

Abstracta Furniture Featured in New Fall 2010 Design Quest Catalogue

Design Quest, one of America's leading Scandinavian furniture stores, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is featuring Abstracta furniture in their current catalogue. The title of our page is “Danish-American Innovation” and features some of our favorite Abstracta pieces. 

  

Our unique  little “Mya®” personal-sized beverage tables are designed for arm’s reach convenience and are easily moved around as needed. The multifunctional design is also useful as pedestals for sculptures, vases or plants, speaker stands, bedside tables, or outdoor patio tables. The wood, tile and acrylic tops are interchangeable to fit the décor and location.

Abstracta's Nesting Tables are shown and described as a way to “add a striking expression to your home with this modern version of a classic Danish design”. The nested tables give you plenty of surface space and provide attractive storage when all not in use. 

The Design Quest catalogue also features Abstracta's Bunch Tables. “These beautifully functional cubes are expressions of the simplest of forms. The minimalistic, sturdy construction is appropriate in any setting. Bunch Cubes are elegant as stand-alone singles, or group several in your own configuration for a eye-catching 'bunch'.” 

Please check out Design Quest's fall catalogue to see Abstracta in print! Or, visit Consort's Abstracta Furniture Page to view the full line of Abstracta furniture. 

Dori Poles and the Marina: The Perfect Combination

Dori Poles can attract attention to any business. The high flying fifteen foot pennants, on our non-tangling, swiveling “Yoke” bracket would catch the eye of even the most inattentive potential customer.   Not only does the Dori Pole grab people's attention, it is a great, green, eco-friendly bird deterrent. It is for these two reasons that Marina's love to use the Dori Pole pennant display system; they are the perfect match.

MarineMax Marina, located in Wilmington, NC, has heavily implemented the use of Dori Poles within their company. They have found the pennant display system to be extremely versatile, using it for several different applications.

The marina docks host several red, white and blue pennants flying up to twenty-two feet in the air. The bright, eye-catching colors attract plenty of attention, and serve as a great welcome back to marina members. Pesky birds are deterred by the flailing pennants, keeping the dock, and boats, clean and sanitary. 

While on outings and cruises, MarineMax uses a Dori Pole on the lead boat as they cruise down the river, making it easy for all following boats to distinguish where they are headed. They also mark their stops at various islands and beaches with Dori Poles, not only to serve as markers for stop points, but to create a sense of festivity and fun as well. Outing participants truly enjoy seeing the pennants flying in the air, and are able to see that MarineMax has a special eye for detail, and a commitment to making their time off-shore as enjoyable as possible. 

Here’s A New Term for You: “Bird Deterrent”! Or, Caution Geese: You Are Entering A Dori Pole Zone!

With Consort’s festival Dori Pole Pennant System, we receive quite a few questions similar to, “Does the Dori Pole really keep birds away from wherever it’s installed?” The amazing answer is, “Yes!” it really does do all that! I’m not even exactly sure how we discovered that it had that effect on birds. I believe it was about three years ago when someone, who had bought one to put on his lake dock just for the color and flutter, wrote to us with, “Did you know that the pennants seem to discourage geese from loitering under them?” Well, no we really hadn’t made the connection ourselves, surprisingly enough.


After that email we immediately did a bit of research that resulted in the honest conclusion that birds, any type of birds, including geese, ducks, blue heron (unfortunately!) and so on, just don’t want to be under that flowing pennant and are probably also frightened or distracted by the large moving shadow that is created with the movement. With our own lake dock in Michigan, where we have three pole installed at 20’ intervals, I then realized that we hadn’t had any of the typical goose mess that we’d had in the past. And furthermore, this past spring, I hadn’t quite gotten the Dori Poles up quickly enough after we had installed our canopied Shore Station that the birds had started to make nests under canopy. We’d been away from the cottage for longer than usual in the spring and when we’d returned we had birds constantly flying under the canopy. I then installed the poles and pennants and the birds never returned.

So, there you go. A bird deterrent! And, with no obnoxious chemicals or funny noises. Yes, a "humane" bird deterrent.

Of course, the tall, elegant and colorful pennant product was not invented to be a bird deterrent, but it has become a main selling point for use at lake homes and cottages. I’m told that a few golf courses have installed Dori Poles strategically behind ponds, etc. (but hopefully away from the normal line of play -“normal” for me covers all of the course, nearby woods, parking lots and nearby tennis courts…).

We do know, however, that a gentle wind is also required for the effect to work. That is, at least three mile per hour breeze will do the trick. A lake friend of ours installed three poles with bright red pennants and immediately sent me an iPhone photo showing a gaggle of geese grazing gentle under the three poles shown on an absolutely still day. No breeze. None. The accompanying text said: “They don’t work!” I texted back: “Take another pic tomorrow”. He did exactly that. The new photo had the pennants moving and geese nowhere in sight! So, yes a bit of a breeze, as is common almost all the time anywhere in the world, is a necessary component. And, we do know that water not only attracts birds, it also attracts breezes, thank goodness!
Roger