This week was a travel week for me. I was fortunate to see new customers as well as some great existing customers/friends.
The standout day this past week was easily Wednesday. That was the day I attended an Open House hosted by one of our customers.
I have been to quite a few Open House Events in my 15 years of doing this. Many hosted or organized by folks who are reading this blog. Honestly, there are a few that I end up leaving and feeling “that was so close, but it was missing something . . . and I can’t seem to put my finger on it.”
Of course, I say this partially in jest, but boy isn’t it true right now?!?
And please don’t get me wrong. Like you, we are delighted to have the business. As many of you have shared with me this week, everyone is ordering much later this year.
I’m traveling for business this week. During several of my meetings, I discovered that not everyone knows what a Classic Project Manager does. That surprised me because our Project Managers are critical to how your quotes, your orders, and even your basic product questions are handled. They are your “eyes” and “ears” at Classic Exhibits. They are your advocate, not only in Customer Service but also when your order goes to our Production Manager and our Production team.
As we all know, the current economic situation in the US and around the world has been the primary focus in the news over the past year. Is it an economic downturn? I don’t care what economists want to label it . . . It’s a freaking recession folks! Whether you want to blame the new guy or the old guy or just some guy named “Guy,” we are in it together. Or are we?
In the end, all of us have one common goal. Make sure people and their organizations continue to attend and exhibit in tradeshows and events. It is, after all, what keeps us all employed. Yet, at least two to three times a week, we hear about people and corporations struggling to decide whether to attend or exhibit at their industry functions. It’s not that we are hearing they can’t afford the exhibit. It’s all the other costs associated with exhibiting at the show. There is a clear feeling in the market that they get “taken advantage of” once they and their freight hits the show floor.
The headline this week is clearly self-promoting. But there’s a good reason. Last week we talked about the upturn in business. This week the upturn continued, so much of my time was devoted to orders, quotes, and production.
