| Minus the Fall: Word on the Street — October 21st thru October 25th

Trade Show Blog

Autumn at Classic Exhibits | Everything But Fall

Word on the Street by Kevin Carty

As we roll into the last week of October, I wanted to update you on Classic Exhibits and its Family of Companies.

Strong Sales

We are heading into November with more momentum than ever.  After a summer that was, well let’s be honest, unpredictable at best, our September and October numbers have been very encouraging. Thanks to you!

The projects are not only larger, but also more dynamic than ever before. Design is truly driving the ship. And while people are still budget conscious, it’s clear their budgets are more and more forgiving once presented with THE DESIGN that really meets their needs

Internally, our Design Department is all a buzz. As you may remember, we welcomed Katrina (Trina) Broten back in the middle of June as a Design Intern. Well, she is an intern no longer. We are fortunate to call her a full-time Associate Designer now, and we could not be more proud. Trina is not only a great and upcoming Designer in this industry, but also a perfect personality fit for Classic.

Those of you who have worked with her already know what I mean. She has a strong future in our industry. We are very proud to have her join the Classic Family.

iPad Air

Granted, I am some what of an Apple Honk, so I won’t comment on the recent Apple Announcements and New Product Releases. But as many of you may have noticed, the new iPad Air is coming soon, and with it come new dimensions. Many of you called this week worried about how the new dimensions will affect the iPad tablet kiosks that Classic has become synonymous with. Well not to worry. We had advanced warning on the new product developments. The existing clamshells will fit the Air just fine, but we will have an even better solution once the new new iPad Air tablets are available.

Annual Classic Exhibits BBQ

Albeit a bit later in the year than normal, due to being busy quite frankly, we held our Annual BBQ/Potluck on Friday October 25. It was very yummy! Steaks, burgers,  and more desserts than anyone should ever digest in one sitting. Thanks to our entire team for bringing their favorite dishes.

I had a blast at the grill. Don’t believe the rumors about the fire chief having to be called. But I will say, I hope the hair on my arms grows back sometime. My eyebrows . . . we’ll that’s another story. 🙂

[nggallery id=37]

Moving into November

Not wanting to jinx November, but boy oh boy I think we are heading for our largest November ever. The projects on the slate so far are some real beauties. Many highlight capabilities of our amazing production staff. Large Island units seem to be the driver for the remainder of the year, something that speaks well to the value many of our distributors, large and small, are experiencing in their relationship with Classic Exhibits. I am looking forward to showing you what is coming down the pike as they are built — and selfishly showing you that creating a “direct sales” channel (or a hidden one with commissions) is not the only alternative for a manufacturer seeking to increase its sales volume. Unlike some of our competitors.

Be well this weekend. Enjoy those families. And Go DUCKS! 🙂

Kevin
https://twitter.com/kevin_carty
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/kevin-carty/3/800/32a

[subscribe2]

 

Filter by Category

Filter by Year

Recent Posts

The 3 Essential Trade Show Marketing Questions

These are questions every designer should ask their client before designing the ideal trade show display. If the client walks in just thinking about the nuts and bolts of the project, they may miss an informed conversation on why they are exhibiting in the first place and that can fundamentally affect the design of a booth. The Why can greatly impact the How in Exhibit Design.

What You Should Know about Exhibit Marketing

Exhibit marketing is all about marketing your products or services to buyers at expositions, conferences, and trade shows. A successful exhibit marketing program will be rewarded with increased revenues, referrals, and industry networking. The goal is to understand how exhibit marketing differs from the other types of marketing.

Managing Your Trade Show Budget

Trade shows are expensive, and some costs are often puzzling to exhibition newbies, but there are multiple ways to manage those expenses with a little planning and some assistance from an experienced trade show professional. Don’t be afraid to tap into that expertise.

Why Are Trade Shows Important for Business Growth and Branding

With the rise of online meetings and ecommerce, business experts have predicted the death of trade shows and live events for 40 years. Yet, the benefits of trade shows and events have never been more important for businesses. There were over 13,000 separate events in North America in 2025 alone.

Best & Biggest Convention Centers in the US for Trade Shows

What are the biggest and best convention centers in the United States? And does overall size and location matter when it comes to a convention center? Unless you’re a trade show nerd (like me), you’ve probably never wondered if the Las Vegas Convention Center is bigger than McCormick Place in Chicago. Or if the Orange County Convention Center is in FL or CA?

10 Online Tools for Classic Exhibits Distributors

At a recent Shared Knowledge University, we reviewed ten online tools available to all Classic Exhibits Distributors. The attendees told us that these tools are invaluable to their sales, marketing, and customer service teams and are unique within the exhibit industry. 

Why Small Businesses Fail to Grow by Jay Goltz

Excerpt from the “Art of Running a Small Business.” Many, if not most, Classic Exhibits distributors fall into the small business classification as defined by the Small Business Administration. Small businesses have challenges that larger businesses do not.

Top 12 Trade Show Bad Habits

All animals, humans included, are creatures of habit. We learn how to survive, then follow those routines day after day. Trade shows are no different. Exhibitors and attendees find their safe space and get comfortable: same shows, same people, same message.

Your Trade Show Marketing in 2026

When it comes to trade shows, many exhibitors don’t have a detailed plan on how to market their company. They purchase a display, which they think is the key to a successful show. Your exhibit may be the star of the show but it’s only one element in a comprehensive strategy.

IMEX America Hosted Buyer Lounge (Condensed Version)

IMEX America 2025 brought together 17,633 participants, including more than 6,000 buyers from 75 countries, reinforcing the event’s position as a high-value marketplace for the global meetings industry. At the center of this ecosystem was the CORT Events’ Hosted Buyer Lounge, designed as a dedicated environment.

40 Weird Things You Do @ Trade Shows

Trade shows can be a strange world whether you are an exhibitor, attendee, or an industry insider. While many behaviors might seem normal to you as a member of the trade show community, others are downright bizarre to those who rarely set foot in a trade show hall.

Why Are Companies So Bad at Trade Show Marketing?

Some companiees will hint at it. Then there are the ones who are honest. They simply don’t understand trade show marketing. That’s not surprising. It’s rarely taught on the undergraduate or graduate level. At best, it’s mentioned in passing in a marketing textbook.

10 Things Zombies Can Teach Us About Tradeshow Marketing

Single-minded Focus. You may not appreciate their all-consuming desire to eat your flesh, but they are committed to the task. They let nothing get in their way, except an ax to the brain. Your next trade show will be wildly successful, if you make it a priority, not an afterthought.

10 Things To Ask When Renting Trade Show Furniture

Selecting trade show rental furniture is a critical step in your exhibit planning timeline and it should happen well before your move-in. Ideally, you’re confirming your exhibition rental furniture several weeks (if not months) in advance.