Is Your Trade Show Display an Oreo or a Fig Newton?
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.
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.
What Cats Can Teach Us About Trade Shows
We are a nation devoted to pets, whether they’re on the farm or in a purse. They learn from us, but we learn from them as well. The other day while watching Animal Planet with a cat in my lap, one on the sofa, and another puking upstairs ( it sounded like the world’s worst ventriloquist), I realized that we could learn a thing or two about trade show marketing from our feline companions.
Gravitee One Step — The World’s Easiest Modular Wall System
Gravitee — The World’s Easiest Modular Wall System. Unlike traditional modular wall systems, Gravitee has no loose connectors. The frames are constructed with durable engineered aluminum extrusion and the system uses time-tested patented technology.
Who is Our Biggest Trade Show Competitor?
Recently, I’ve been on the road, visiting Classic Distributors in the Midwest and South. We chat about industry trends, new products, and challenges in their market. Occasionally, they will ask me about competitors. That’s a topic, to be honest, that makes me uncomfortable.
3 Essential Trade Show Marketing Questions
These are questions every designer should ask their client before designing the ideal trade show display. 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.
What You Should Know about Exhibit Marketing
Exhibit marketing is all about marketing your products or services to buyers at expositions, conferences, and trade shows. A successful exhibit marketing program will be rewarded with increased revenues, referrals, and industry networking. The goal is to understand how exhibit marketing differs from the other types of marketing.
Managing Your Trade Show Budget
Trade shows are expensive, and some costs are often puzzling to exhibition newbies, but there are multiple ways to manage those expenses with a little planning and some assistance from an experienced trade show professional. Don’t be afraid to tap into that expertise.
Why Are Trade Shows Important for Business Growth and Branding
With the rise of online meetings and ecommerce, business experts have predicted the death of trade shows and live events for 40 years. Yet, the benefits of trade shows and events have never been more important for businesses. There were over 13,000 separate events in North America in 2025 alone.
Best & Biggest Convention Centers in the US for Trade Shows
What are the biggest and best convention centers in the United States? And does overall size and location matter when it comes to a convention center? Unless you’re a trade show nerd (like me), you’ve probably never wondered if the Las Vegas Convention Center is bigger than McCormick Place in Chicago. Or if the Orange County Convention Center is in FL or CA?
Filter by Category
Filter by Year
Recent Posts
Top 12 Trade Show Bad Habits
All animals, humans included, are creatures of habit. We learn how to survive, then follow those routines day after day. Trade shows are no different. Exhibitors and attendees find their safe space and get comfortable: same shows, same people, same message.
Your Trade Show Marketing in 2026
When it comes to trade shows, many exhibitors don’t have a detailed plan on how to market their company. They purchase a display, which they think is the key to a successful show. Your exhibit may be the star of the show but it’s only one element in a comprehensive strategy.
Customer Service and Success 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.
IMEX America Hosted Buyer Lounge (Condensed Version)
IMEX America 2025 brought together 17,633 participants, including more than 6,000 buyers from 75 countries, reinforcing the event’s position as a high-value marketplace for the global meetings industry. At the center of this ecosystem was the CORT Events’ Hosted Buyer Lounge, designed as a dedicated environment.
Your 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.”
40 Weird Things You Do @ Trade Shows
Trade shows can be a strange world whether you are an exhibitor, attendee, or an industry insider. While many behaviors might seem normal to you as a member of the trade show community, others are downright bizarre to those who rarely set foot in a trade show hall.
Why Are Companies So Bad at Trade Show Marketing?
Some companiees will hint at it. Then there are the ones who are honest. They simply don’t understand trade show marketing. That’s not surprising. It’s rarely taught on the undergraduate or graduate level. At best, it’s mentioned in passing in a marketing textbook.
10 Things to Consider Before Buying a Portable Modular Trade Show Display
Attend any recent trade show and you’ll see many, many portable modular displays. They have gone from the exception to the rule in many show halls over the past two or three years. Visually, the reason is obvious.
10 Things Zombies Can Teach Us About Tradeshow Marketing
Single-minded Focus. You may not appreciate their all-consuming desire to eat your flesh, but they are committed to the task. They let nothing get in their way, except an ax to the brain. Your next trade show will be wildly successful, if you make it a priority, not an afterthought.
10 Things To Ask When Renting Trade Show Furniture
Selecting trade show rental furniture is a critical step in your exhibit planning timeline and it should happen well before your move-in. Ideally, you’re confirming your exhibition rental furniture several weeks (if not months) in advance.
Comparing Modular Wall Systems — Timed Assembly Video
If you have assembled a Gravitee One-Step Exhibit (either as a purchase or a rental), you know it’s unlike any other wall system. There are no loose connectors. Just two corners (one adjustable).
Trade Show Display Videos on YouTube
Trade Show Display Videos. For years, Classic Exhibits has posted trade show display videos on YouTube. It just makes sense. After all, we’re in a visual advertising medium so why not take advantage of videos.
How Three Exhibit Companies Changed Their Businesses
These three exhibit owners made the gutsy decision to change their business model. It wasn’t an easy decision but they chose to see a problem as an opportunity.
Exhibit Design Mistakes Most Companies Don’t Realize They’re Making
What one exhibitor views as an exhibit design mistake another may view as a brilliant strategy. For example, some companies contend that a hanging sign should only include the company’s name and logo. Others would insist that it include what the company does or the problem they solve. To be fair to both… It depends.
The Ultimate Guide to Trade Show Giveaways (2026 Edition)
When used wisely, trade show giveaways are an investment in your business. They serve as silent salespeople, promoting your company long after the trade show or sales event is over. If you are considering adding incentives to your marketing strategy, you are in luck.