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.

Up Your Game — July 2020 Newsletter

Up Your Game — July 2020 Newsletter

Personal Protection guidelines are starting to unfold for schools, universities, medical facilities, and businesses. We are deep in that mix and know it very well. Currently, we have about twenty schools under our belt, eight banks, and several hospitals.

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Is Your Office Cubicle Safe? Cubicle Height Extenders Offer Additional Protection

Is Your Office Cubicle Safe? Cubicle Height Extenders Offer Additional Protection

Cubicle Height Extenders with Clear Plex If you have an office with cubicles, you have a challenge. As employees return to their desks, they will be expecting additional personal safety. Most cubicles are 4-5 ft high and don't offer enough personal protection. At a minimum, cubicle partitions should be at least 6 ft. high. PlaceLyft Cubicle Height Extenders install in minutes and raise the...

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Our Remodeled Offices. Tour with Kevin Carty

Our Remodeled Offices. Tour with Kevin Carty

The office redesign includes Gravitee modular walls with detachable magnetic/whiteboard panels, tension fabric (backlit and non-backlit), and clear plex inserts. The changes provide greater personal safety since the surfaces can be cleaned or replaced. The upgraded cubicles offer more protection without sacrificing visibility or communication. All the surfaces can be branded.

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The Magical Middle of Trade Show Displays

Many exhibit houses and distributors devote nearly all their resources to low budget exhibitors (under $3000) or multi-national corporations. There’s nothing wrong with this approach, but it ignores the true sweet spot in our industry – The Middle.
These customers want value, quality, and most importantly, personalization in design and accessories. They
appreciate value-added resources such as consultation, reusable packaging, detailed setup instructions, and show services.

New This Summer at Classic Exhibits

Summer 2016 wouldn’t be “Classic” without new products and promotions. See all the new charging station options, including a 60″ conference table. The On the Move Portable Furniture line now includes curve, comfortable backs for white and black chairs. There’s two new Rental Furniture Galleries including soft seating, chairs, and bistro tables. Finally, you can’t go wrong with specials on 12 rental designs.

Trade Show Exhibit Systems by Pat Friedlander

When I was new to this industry, I heard the word “Octanorm” bandied about as if it were the last ditch attempt for stingy exhibitors There was no design consideration — just how many panels and how many uprights.

The 100-Day “Love It”| A Classic Exhibits Exclusive

There’s not much you can’t return or exchange these days… except a trade show display. Not anymore. Classic Exhibits announces the only 100-Day “Love It” Guarantee in the exhibit industry. Within the first 100 days after receiving your Sacagawea, Perfect 10/20, Quadro, or Quadro FGS Display, you can return it for a refund if you’re not completely satisfied (minus graphics and shipping).

A Better Way to Rent Trade Show Furniture

If you have ever rented furniture from the show book, you know it’s not always user-friendly. And too often, it’s a task that’s completed right before the show, adding stress and expense to your trade show experience. We have a better solution.

Meet Kim DiStefano, Classic Exhibits Designer

We’ve been talking with Kim DiStefano, an exhibit designer, for awhile. Kim lives a few miles from our shop in Milwaukie, OR. Enticing her to join us has taken some time and persuasion. Not that she didn’t like us, but as a contract designer with a family, she was uncertain if she wanted to work in an office. Well, eventually Kevin convinced her, wore her down, or she changed her mind. Probably a little of all three.

Classic Exhibits — Summer Gift Card Promotion

Earn a $25 Nike Gift Card for every $1000 in wholesale orders. Eligible on all Classic Exhibits inlines from May 26 thru July 31. Get your game on this summer with Nike gear compliments of Classic. Some restrictions apply. See details.

The Trade Show Show Podcasts

Last month, I had the good fortune of meeting Todd Youngblood while attending the E2MA Red Diamond Congress (RDC) in Orlando. Todd runs The Trade Show Show, a podcast series about the exhibit industry. The RDC was fertile ground for Todd, since the event attracts trade show managers, suppliers, show organizers, builders, exhibitor-appointed contractors, etc. Basically, anyone with a vested/financial interest in the trade show biz.

Price Changes in Exhibit Design Search

It’s May… and there doesn’t appear to be any slowdown in designs, quotes, and orders. So thanks as always.

Effective today, you will see modest price changes in EDS. Yes, the dreaded price increase. No one likes them, but they are a reality. I have taken a deep dive the past two months reviewing our pricing and costing.

Design Monday and Mike Swartout

If you read Kevin’s moving tribute to Mike Swartout last week, you know how much he meant to the Classic Family. What you may not know is how much he sweated over Design Monday.

Farewell to Our Dear Friend Mike

Saturday was a tremendously sad day in our internal and external family. Sadly we lost our beloved Design Director Mike Swartout this weekend.

Email Apocalypse — The Joys of Technology

As a Classic Distributor, you know — or can probably guess — that the past two weeks have been nothing close to Bunnies and Bounce-houses around here. Why? Because our entire computer server/network came to a loud crash around April Fools Day.

28 Strangers That Touch Your Trade Show Exhibit

Last year, TS Crew created 28 Strangers That Touch Your Trade Show Exhibit. It’s an excellent infographic because it shows graphically how many people “touch” your exhibit from the moment it leaves your exhibit builder’s dock. Simply start in the upper right-hand corner.

Seth Godin’s Perfection vs. Good Enough

Over the years, we’ve learned that it’s OK to “release” if you’ve done your best under the circumstances. The mistake is not listening to feedback and making adjustments. And honestly, that can be so much harder for some people and organizations because then it’s no longer about perfection. It’s about ego.