Graham Burgess started displayLED from an office in his London home ten years ago this November, following 20 years working with industry leaders such as Sony and Lighthouse Technologies. The basis in those early years was brokering used screen deals between rental companies. He has since grown displayLED into a global screen supplier and manufacturer, with clients including the world's biggest consumer brands and highest profile music stars.
Today displayLED has offices on four continents, customers in five, and is now one of the largest buyers of LED screens in the world. Drawing from both its own award-winning digiLED brand and other international manufacturers, including in China, the company has developed its own special expertise.
Burgess describes how in the late 90's he saw LED technology eclipse the first generations of Fluorescent Discharge Tube (FDT) and Cathode Ray Technology (CRT) giant video screens, and realised how his expertise in the sector could help screen users at all levels of the industry.
From providing a £2.2m upgrade to the world famous screen for Coca-Cola in London's Piccadilly Circus in 2005, he explains how the company has grown to supply iconic sporting venues such as Emirates Stadium (Arsenal FC), Hampden Park and Twickenham, auto shows for Kia and Ford (customers of Creative Technology) as well as tours by rock and pop stars such as Bruce Springsteen (customers of PBTVs) and P!nk (also CT customers).
The company now provides LED product for some for some of the world's most high profile events, working with AV rental companies, architects, sports and music venues, TV stations, commercial buildings and LED innovators in every corner of the globe.
One of displayLED's unique offerings is its 'China Sourcing' service. Burgess highlights the perils for those who fail to approach it properly, but the huge advantages open to those who use the on-the-ground knowledge of companies like displayLED. "Buying screens directly in China is still a risky business, especially if you are making an occasional purchase," he explains. "The China Sourcing side of our business now comprises an expanding commercial and technical team, based in China and Hong Kong, who can manage every aspect of an industry purchase from specifying the right product, to overseeing the production and handling shipping and logistics. We are one of the largest buyers of LED equipment in the world. All the major Chinese factories are aware of us and of our spending power, and we leverage that to ensure we get the best quality."
Asked about the high points of the company's decade in business, Burgess expresses his pride at launching new products such as the digiLED MC/MK range, which they developed after listening to the needs of rental companies. The first batch was delivered just four months after the initial design consultation - an impressive turnaround. In terms of individual contracts, displayLED installed over 700m2 for the Philadelphia Casino in 2009, two years later they were so impressed they came back and placed orders for a further 428m2.
"We're also extremely proud of our showroom, The Pixel Depot, which we launched in 2012," says Burgess. "It was created to give our customers and clients a place to educate their customers in the differing types of LED displays. Architects use it to develop their knowledge of this technology and rental and retail clients bring their creative people to test concepts. It is busy every day."
Burgess is quick to highlight the people behind the success of the company. "The people at displayLED make us stand out from our competitors," he stresses. "All key members of our team, including fellow director Guy Horrigan and head of technical Tom Mudd, have huge experience in the LED s
