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.

Why Sustainability Should Be Your Key Sales Differentiator

Why Sustainability Should Be Your Key Sales Differentiator

Sustainability can create a selling advantage. The subject of sustainability may not be something you lead with in a presentation, but it might be the added benefit that could spark interest and make you stand out from your competitors. If everything is equal between you and a competitor in the mind of your client, then sustainability might be what wins you the project.

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What to Expect from Classic Exhibits at EXHIBITORLIVE

What to Expect from Classic Exhibits at EXHIBITORLIVE

As you know, we participate in EXHIBITOR primarily to meet with our Distributor Partners. In other words — YOU. And while end-users visit us as well and we pass those leads along after the show, we are committed to spending as much time as possible with our distributors.

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Taking It Up a Notch! — The “Classic Exhibitionists” Run for a Cause

Each year, a group from Classic Exhibits, our vendor partners, and friends raise money for Cancer Research/Awareness.

In the past, we have accomplished this through bike rides ranging from 75 miles – 100 miles. This year we are taking it to a whole new level!! We are going to run 199 miles!

Retail Displays Gallery: Word on the Street — May 19th thru May 23rd

Let me guess . . . you don’t view Classic Exhibits or ClassicMODUL as retail display builders? Quite honestly, I don’t blame you. We don’t design and build cardboard product displays. We never get orders for 1000 merchandising racks. No one comes to us for rounders or rolling clothing racks or 500 pieces of slatwall hardware.

29,363 Miles in 93 Days

I enjoy creating new concepts! It’s what I live for to be honest. All the trips I’ve taken as a representative of Classic Exhibits in 2014 have reinforced that passion: from Dusseldorf for EuroShop in February, to Vegas for EXHIBITOR in March, and now NYC for the FIT Exhibition Design thesis presentations.

RECENT Exhibit Design Search Updates (see the GIFs)

Your Branded Exhibit Design Search

Nearly every month, we push functional or visual changes to your branded Exhibit Design Search website. Some you may notice. Some you may not.

Do you want to know a secret? I’m a obsessed with EDS (OK, that may be the world’s worst kept secret). And I force Tony, Glenna, and everyone else at Classic Exhibits to share that obsession. If only there was a 10 step program for an EDS addict?

Trade Show Marketing Success Video (Very Practical Advice!)

Earlier this week, Classic Exhibits hosted the Countdown to Trade Show Success webinar with trade show marketing expert Marlys Arnold. I wish EVERY EXHIBITOR would take 45 minutes and watch it. She presented practical advice about exhibit marketing, graphics, and booth etiquette. If nothing else, start watching at the 29 minute mark, “The 10 Commandments of Booth Staffing.” Excellent advice and spot-on photos of bad and good behavior.

Book Download — Super Networking at Events and Tradeshows

A couple of months ago, Tim Patterson, otherwise known as The Tradeshow Guy, wrote a 90 page e-book titled, Super Networking at Tradeshows and Events Using Social Media. He had copies printed and gave them away to friends, industry colleagues, and at trade shows. Classic Exhibits was a sponsor for both the book and the printing.

Reconfigurable Custom Inline Exhibit

All Custom. More Than Modular.

One of the most overused terms in the exhibit industry is “custom modular.” Too often, it means, “At some point in the future if you purchase more components, you can transform this display into another size, but you’re unlikely to do it any time soon.”

However, when done well, it truly means “custom” and “modular.” Here’s an excellent display example, narrated by Charlie Shivel, a project manager at Classic Exhibits.

Why the Big Picture MATTERS in Graphic Design

Many trade show clients and graphic designers are unfamiliar with how to design for 3D structures. If you have a client that fits that description, then our new Graphic Inspiration Galleries will be useful. We’ve dug through the Past Five Days (P5D) photo archives and identified outstanding examples of graphics.

Invite Your Clients and Prospects to Free Training

On April 29, Classic Exhibits will host the “Countdown to Trade Show Success” webinar with trade show marketing expert Marlys Arnold. You have the opportunity to invite your clients and prospects to participate for free, compliments of Classic.

RFP Certification Program: Word on the Street — April 7th thru April 11th

The EDPA RFP Certification program seeks to verify that certain items are in existence, that industry standards and best practices are met and adhered to, based on various benchmarks. Research conducted in 2012 with the assistance of Exhibit Surveys to Corporate Exhibitors proved there “was unanimous enthusiasm for the concept of an EDPA ‘Good Housekeeping Seal’ that would prescreen exhibit house vendors on the basis of business integrity and operational practices and capabilities.

The Experts at the Table: Word on the Street — March 31st thru April 4th

So, forgive me if you’ve seen this video after Seth Godin posted it. It quickly went viral. But, it’s just too good not to share in my weekly WOTS.

Have you ever been in this meeting before? And if you have, should I ask, “Have you ever been any of the ‘non-engineers’ depicted in this video?”

Sour Apple(s): Word on the Street — March 24th thru March 28th

I have long admired the folks in Cupertino for their innovative thoughts, ideas, product aesthetics, design intuitiveness, etc. Apple is a model in many ways of how marketing and product development should be.

Well . . . even the shiniest Apples sometimes have a worm in them, or best said, sometimes they are picked a little too early. This apple is a little sour once you take that second or third bite.