| Eco-Systems Sustainable Winter Promotion
There’s never been a better time to consider an inline or island from Eco-Systems Sustainable, whether you are an ECO expert, novice, or newbie. For the next two months, Eco-systems will reward you with a $500, $250, or $100 Visa Gift Card.
Greetings from Kevin Carty at EDPA ACCESS
Last week, I attended EDPA Access which was held in beautiful Carlsbad, California at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort. Let me say, as someone who has been a member of EDPA for more than a decade, this was easily one of the Top 3 venues ever. Great layout, great services, beautiful facilities, and much more.
2018 EXHIBITOR Portable Modular Awards (PMA)
EXHIBITOR Magazine announced the finalists for the 2018 Portable Modular Awards this week. They also launched the People’s Choice Voting website where you can vote once a day for your favorite design (regardless of the category). We submitted five entries, and four were accepted as finalists.
Submit Your EXHIBITOR “Plan B” Story for Publication
Plan B is a humorous column about trade show disasters (e.g. missing graphics, last-minute booth alterations, exhibit fires, missing staffers, AWOL tractor-trailers, flooding, and more). More importantly, it’s about how you or your client solved or at least coped with them.
Not Just Any Custom Table Top Display
Recently, a client said, “I need a table top display. Do you have one that maximizes counter top space for samples, literature, and business cards?”
“Like how much space?” we asked. “Well… all of it… if possible.”
The “Why” Can Greatly Impact the “How” in Exhibit Design
Several weeks ago, we shared 15 Essential Exhibit Design Questions. These are questions every designer should ask their client before designing the ideal trade show display. In response to the blog post, a designer sent me an email. He wrote,
“Here are a few questions we always ask. 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.”
Kevin Carty — Video Update October 2017
In this video vlog, Kevin shares his thoughts about fall business, Shared Knowledge University, Classic Rental Systems, and EDPA Access (in late November). It’s been an exciting fall season at Classic Exhibits with increased orders and a HUGE bump in custom builds.
What Makes a Custom Exhibit a Custom Exhibit?
When is an exhibit custom? Now more than ever, it seems the term “custom” is fluid. Is it based on materials, project dollar size, or who builds it? Is it an original design, not one based on prior concepts? Or does it matter as long as your client views it as custom?
What Motivates Trade Show B2B Buyers to Buy
Those exhibiting at trade shows need to understand the prospects are most likely informed about the basic functions and qualities of your products or services before they approach your booth. They no longer need to interact with a salesperson to learn about the high-level information.
Brainstorming with Clients on a Whiteboard Bistro Table
Purpose1, a Classic Exhibits distributor in Harrisburg, PA, recently purchased an MOD-1432 Bistro Charging Table for their showroom. Although most charging stations are branded with a graphic, they chose a whiteboard laminate. Why? I’ll let Dan Liberatore, the president of Purpose1, explain:
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| Day 2 Notes
Day 2 (Innovation Day)
It was a day of epiphanies at the Red Diamond Congress about the trade show industry. Bob McClintock, COO of SMG, gave the morning keynote: A New Facility Model: Facility as Service Provider. I know. The title sounds pretty boring, but the topic and the speaker were anything but. SMG manages McCormick Place, the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and 70 other venues.
| Day 1 Notes
I’m in Chicago this week for the E2MA Red Diamond Congress. For those unfamiliar with the Exhibit and Event Marketers Association and the RDC . . .
The E2MA is a community of exhibit and event marketers driven to benchmark the value of face-to face marketing. By facilitating discussions among all industry stakeholders, the E2MA’s Red Diamond Congress develops actionable ideas and solutions that can provide for industry growth and success.
20 Short and Impactful Years: Word on the Street — July 21st thru July 25th
Back in 1994, specifically in July 1994, I was working the 11 p.m. – 7 a.m. shift throwing overnight freight at a grocery store in Lake Oswego, Oregon. A co-worker/friend of mine had been telling me about this other job working for his dad’s business. One day, seeing that I was growing weary of the job, he asked me if I was interested in coming to talk to his father about an opening. I jumped at the opportunity, if for no other reason than I wanted to see the light of day rather than sleep through it.
A Humbling Lesson About 10 ft. Displays
Over the years, I’ve learned a humbling lesson. There’s safety in numbers when it comes to 10 ft. inline trade show displays. Most exhibitors choose the predictable over the bold, the safe over the dramatic. And while I understand, I also don’t understand. Yes, budget is a factor. Fear too. No one wants to make the wrong decision when purchasing a display.
‘s a Partnership that Works — Eco-Systems
Late last week, Eco-Systems took another big step — redesigning their website. For those who have gone through that ordeal, you know how arduous it can at every stage. There are no easy tasks when it comes to website redesign, organization, graphics, and coding.
Custom Table Top Display Video
Charlie Shivel, a project manager in the Customer Service Department, discusses a custom Visionary Designs table top display. This table top was designed by Trina Broten, a Classic Exhibits Designer, to fulfill the specific marketing requirements of a distributor’s client. Charlie does a terrific job of keeping it short, sweet, informal, and informative. Well done Charlie.
NEW Rental Rewards Program
At Classic Rental Solutions, our mission is simple. To produce the highest quality rental exhibits and experiences in the industry. No exceptions.
We stage, inspect, and photograph every order before shipping. We pack the exhibit very carefully. We include staging photos, packing photos, and setup diagrams with every shipment. And we’re available anytime, day, night, and weekends for any questions from your I & D team. We understand that a quick call might save your client an hour or two of extra labor.
Happy (Post) 4th of July!: Word on the Street — June 30th thru July 4th
July is here and it’s off with a BANG! Even in this shortened week, business is booming, and by the looks of the quotes you are sending us, the remainder of the month looks to be busy.
‘t Like Free Money?: Word on the Street — June 23rd thru June 26th
Aside from being on the Board of Directors for the Exhibit Designers and Producers Association (EDPA), I also sit on the EDPA Foundation Scholarship Committee. It’s a committee that I have been apart of for five years and feel very strongly about.
The EDPA Foundation Scholarship Fund was created in 2004 to award scholarships for families of industry members to help pursue a college/university level education. The EDPAF Scholarship Program applications are now being accepted for the 2014-2015 school year.
Recorded Version of the Exhibit Design Search Webinar
Twice a year, we conduct an Exhibit Design Search webinar. The title always changes, but it’s always a Tips, Tricks and Techniques session on how to use EDS more effectively. Typically, I don’t record it because, well, I forget. I’d love to give you a better excuse, but I can’t. This time I remembered.
Does Your Mirror Lie?: Word on the Street — June 16th thru June 20th
We ALL do it. Every morning we look in the mirror. If we are honest, we ask ourselves, “Does what I see in the mirror match what my colleagues, family, and friends see in me?”
Before you think I am going on some sort of Freudian rant, I am not. But, as business professionals, we face this question every day.
| July 28-31
The 2014 Red Diamond Congress (RDC), the third annual meeting of the Exhibit & Event Marketers Association, takes place July 28 – 31, 2014 at the Oak Brook Hills Resort in Oak Brook, Illinois. The RDC brings together all of the major players from the exhibit marketing industry to engage in thought leadership, best practice exchanges, and education aligned with business and marketing metrics and strategy.
New SEGUE Sunrise Video (Without All that Yakety Yak): Word on the Street — June 9th thru June 13th
Last week, you saw a video where Mel White discussed the seven features and benefits of the Sacagawea Hybrid system. This week, Katina Rigall, our designer extraordinaire, takes center stage. Katina shows you how to assemble the SEGUE Sunrise, and unlike Mel, she doesn’t need six minutes and all that yakety yak. In 31 seconds she’ll show you why the Sunrise has become our most popular 10 ft. hybrid display under $4000.
Distributor Showroom Special — OTM Portable, Brandable Furniture
Sacagawea Video — 7 Benefits + 1: Word on the Street — June 2nd thru June 6th
What’s the BIG Deal with Sacagawea?
As many of you have come to enjoy, every few weeks we showcase one of the displays passing through Production in a quick video. Sometimes it’s done by the Project Manager who worked on the project. Other times by either Mel or me.
I wanted to share a recent one with you: a) because it answers SO MANY questions about our best-selling hybrid line, and b) because Mel and Jeff (the dude behind the camera) did a terrific job on pulling this video together.