A new Austin business is hoping to use a national award as a springboard to more sales.

Ellumilite Inc., which opened in August, won the 2013 Buyers’ Choice Award at this year’s Exhibitor 2013 conference in Las Vegas March 18-20 for its Up-Lite product, a back lit retractable display. Now thanks to the award and contacts the business got at the conference, Ellumilite president Lori Anderson said she hopes to establish international sales.

“This has created a lot of momentum, and we anticipate feeding off this momentum to grow Ellumilite rapidly,” Anderson said.

Ellumilite, at 1805 14th St. NE, is a lighted screen printing producer with five employees. The company manufactures retractable displays, signs, floor mats, table displays and posters — all lit by electroluminescent, or EL, technology.

The Up-Lite drew attention at the conference. One judge wrote, “This is the most innovative thing I’ve seen on the entire show floor, I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s very cool.”

Anderson and executive vice president Steve Comer attended the conference. They were confident going into the conference that their new, patent pending Up-Lite could be unique in the industry, but they weren’t prepared for the overwhelming positive response, according to a news release.

Up-Lite’s retractable display is created from a thin sheet of electroluminescent lighting that uses phosphorous ink to create an even glow when electricity is added. Display graphics are then printed directly to the coated polyester surface, or to a separate sheet of polyester for interchangeable graphics. The resulting display is an illuminated graphic that is flexible, hard to break, energy efficient, and nonhazardous. Up-Lite is available in sizes up to 27 by 77 inches, and rolls easily into the base of the display for portability.

For more on Ellumilite, visit www.ellumilite.com or call 507-396-8022.