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 Newsletter ~ September 2019

Up Your Game Newsletter ~ September 2019

Product launches can be terrifying, like our NEW SuperNova™ Tool-Less Lighboxes. Did we successfully communicate the features and benefits? Will customers embrace it? Will sales grow and how quickly?

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| The One-Step Wall System

Yes, Gravitee really is as simple and clever as it appears:

Panels Connect without Tools or Loose Parts
Upper Panels Stack without Tools or Loose Parts
Attach Direct Print or SEG Graphics
Flat and Curve Panels (60, 90, and 120 Degrees)
Lightweight, Durable Engineered Aluminum Extrusion
Connects to Euro LT and ClassicMODUL Extrusions

A Subtle Update to Exhibit Design Search

How often have you heard me say, “Exhibit Design Search is a work in progress, always evolving and changing.” I’m glad I can’t see you. It would hurt my feelings… just a little.

Nearly everyday, we make little changes to EDS. Sometimes it’s as simple as changing the wording, adding a kit, or linking to a new photo.

Women in Exhibitions Meeting at EXHIBITOR

Hi everyone, Katina here!

Calling all women in the exhibition industry! I’ll be leading the Women In Exhibitions (WIE) meeting on Monday, February 29 at 5 pm. Please join us as we network and build key relationships with other women in our intriguing industry. The Mandalay Bay conference room assignment has not been made yet, but if you are interested, please do two things:

1) Join the WIE Group on LinkedIn

2) Send me an email so I can follow up with you personally as soon as I have the location. My e-mail is katina.rigall@classicexhibits.com.

Custom Inline Exhibit with LED RGB Lights (Very Cool!)

Do you want to see something AMAZING?

As we head into EXHIBITOR, I wanted to share a video of a recent build. It’s two 10 x 10’s inlines that convert into a 10 x 20.

Before you say, “big deal Kevin…an inline exhibit…we have seen them all”…I challenge that idea.

| Monday After Next

So close. We’re a mere two weeks away from another EXHIBITORLIVE. And yes, out of respect for EXHIBITOR, I add the LIVE in italics and caps (but noticeably wince each time).

EDS Training Video by The TradeshowGuy

Tim Patterson, aka The Tradeshow Guy, created a quick video tutorial on Exhibit Design Search. He covers the major EDS points in just 7:34 min., something I couldn’t do under any circumstance. You’ll learn how to do a quick search, review details about a design, save them in a gallery, see exhibit photos, and share trade show marketing tips. Frankly, it’s hard not to be a little jealous of Tim’s video and audio panache.

| Vote For Classic Exhibits (please)

The E2MA and Exhibit City News present the first annual BEST Awards created to honor the Best in Exhibit Servicing & Technology among trade show industry service organizations and management companies.

Top 10 Trade Show Rental Designs

When I started in the this business, waaaayyyyyy back when folding panel systems and pop ups were duking it out for design supremacy, rentals were an afterthought. Really a non-thought. The Great Recession changed that. Rentals are now HUGE. And CUSTOMIZED. And BEAUTIFUL. At least those from Classic Rental Solutions.

Backlit Retail Kiosk with Monitor Mount and iPad Insert

Classic Exhibits designed and built these Backlit Retail Kiosks for an auto dealership. The kiosks include a large monitor connected to an iPad, USB charging connections, LED lighting, vinyl graphics, and a backlit SEG fabric graphic.

Classic Rental Rewards Winners

Several years ago, the Classic Rental Solutions Division had a problem. A large percentage of our returns were coming back with significant damage and/or missing components. We weren’t sure what to do, but we knew we had to do something. We couldn’t restock those components since our policy has always been “If it doesn’t look like new, we won’t ship it. Period.”

2015 Annual State of the Company Letter

We started the year on an upswing with a record-breaking Q1 across all divisions at Classic, including ENW, ClassicMODUL, and Rentals. There were several promising trends — some new, others cultivated in 2012-2014 but coming to fruition in 2015.

Custom Charging Station with Programmable RGB Lights

Custom Charging Stations with Programmable RGB LED lights. This bistro-style table includes (8) USB ports, two electrical outlets, and perimeter LED lights. Note the graphic branding on the counter top.

This is a custom variation of the MOD-1432 Bistro Charging Station.

‘s Counting

It’s been 10+ years, starting with April 18, 2005. This week represents the 560th weekly Design Monday with over 1300 individual designs. During that time, we missed a week here and there — usually on a holiday — but only 3-4 at most.

|’s Choice Voting

Three years ago when EXHIBITOR announced the Portable/Modular Awards, we were delighted. These display categories deserved recognition for design excellence.