Trade Show Tales Blog

Trade Show Tales is your comprehensive guide to informative articles about trade show marketing, exhibit industry news, promotions, and updates on Classic Exhibits. 

For specific topics, use the Search Tool in the blog or visit the Trade Show and Event Tips in Exhibit Design Search.

The 7 Truths about Renting a Trade Show Exhibit

The 7 Truths about Renting a Trade Show Exhibit

Trade Show exhibit rentals are growing. Rapidly. And exhibit companies are trying to position themselves based on their individual strengths. Some rental-only exhibit companies are touting renting as the only solution. They say, “Why buy when you can rent? No more storage fees. You can change the display for every show. The cost is less.”

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What to Look for in an LED Lightbox Manufacturer

What to Look for in an LED Lightbox Manufacturer

Stroll through any airport, mall, event, or trade show and you’ll see hundreds of colorful LED lightboxes in every shape and size. Over the past few years, most have switched to backlit tension fabric SEG graphics. The reasons are obvious. Not only is fabric more durable than direct print graphics, but it’s also cheaper to ship and easier to maintain. And depending on the print process, the colors are vibrant and the details nearly photographic. 

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Introducing Harold Mintz

Introducing Harold Mintz

Harold Mintz, a Classic Regional Sales Manager, compares visiting trade show distributors 10 years ago to visiting them now. Most of the folks I’m meeting don’t know me. Maybe they’ve heard my name, but most are unaware of me or my experience in the industry. This is a constant reminder of the old axiom, “What have you done for me lately?”

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Recent Posts

| Day #2

Today, we stroll through the colorful history of our product names. We’ll even touch on the funky Classic Exhibits logo. Don’t scoff. It’s more interesting than you think.

| Day #1

I’m a giver. What can I say? It’s who I am.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I thought I’d share 25 “Classic Tips and Insights” over the next week. Five per day. Some you may know. Others probably not. I promise to keep them short, sweet, and easily digestible.

Short and Sweet EDS Video by Tim Patterson

Last week, Tim Patterson, aka the TradeshowGuy, created a three-minute video for his clients showing recent Exhibit Design Search updates. It’s concise, informative, and interesting. The video trifecta. Thought I’d share. Enjoy!

Ignorance and Indifference on the Trade Show Floor

We all recognize this scene from Seinfeld: The rental car desk. The banter between Jerry and Elaine. And the snide, indifferent response from the rental car agent. We’ve all experienced this poor customer service from an overbooked flight, a missed service appointment, or a bait and switch on an advertised product.

Does Your Trade Show Exhibit Have To Be Clever?

That’s not to say your trade show exhibit shouldn’t be attractive. It should, but I would encourage you to focus on more practical matters the next time you design or rebrand your display. What do you need in the booth space to conduct business? Make it less about showmanship and more about conversations and information.

| Reid Sherwood

I wanted to share with you all some news. Reid Sherwood, the Eastern Regional Manager, was offered a wonderful opportunity and is leaving Classic Exhibits on November 4, 2016. He’ll shift gears to the supplier side of the industry.

| Stack It High. Watch It Fly.

When I worked in retail, I knew it was the holidays when the corporate buyers would tell us to “Stack It High and Watch It Fly.” We would be told to “merchandise” product displays in the aisles, a no-no at any other time of the year.

| December 2016 and January 2017

These OUTSTANDING December and January trade shows are a hit. And like Ted Williams at the plate, you’ll want to keep your eye on the ball and knock it out of the park.

Your Exhibit Design Search Updates

Exhibit Design Search is a work in progress where new features are added without fanfare. They just appear. So what’s new in the past three months?

| Fall 2016

Get ready. Classic’s Shared Knowledge University is just around the corner, November 14-15. Distributors who have attended SKU, many multiple times, know it’s an immersive two days into all things Classic Exhibits: products, processes, and people.

Contemporary, Affordable Charging Stations for Tradeshows and Events

Contemporary, affordable charging station furniture from Classic Exhibits, including bistro, coffee, and end tables. The tables have LED perimeter lights, laminate counter tops, and (8) USB ports. Add vinyl graphics for unforgettable branding. Perfect for tradeshows, events, or permanent environments like lobbies and lounges.

Is Your Exhibit an Oreo, a Fig Newton, or a Nilla Wafer?

This experience gave me a solid foundation for judging things. As an adult I can rate just about everything on a cookie scale. For brevity, I’ll limit this article to Oreos, Fig Newtons, and Nilla Wafers, but be assured that the “science” behind my methodology includes Frosted Animal Cookies, Pepperidge Farms (as a collective group), Girl Scout Thin Mints, and Chips Ahoy.

| Event Marketer FAB 50

In addition to this week being busy, it’s also been FABULOUS! Why you ask? Because for the fourth straight year, Classic Exhibits Inc. was honored as an Event Marketer FAB 50. The FAB 50 names the Top 50 Exhibit Fabricators in North America.