Kevin, Why Have You Worked at Classic So Long? “C”ing is Believing!
July will mark my 22nd year at Classic. I often hear, “Wow, that is a long time by today’s standards to be with the same company.” Or I am asked, “What is it that keeps you there for so long?” The answer is easy.
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.
Universal Trade Show and Event Charging Stations
Our charging stations are ideal examples of how Classic Distributors drive innovations. Several years ago, we were asked to develop a charging station with two monitors. Good idea. Great product. But not very useful for most trade shows and events.
Classic Exhibits… By the Numbers
In business, as in life, we celebrate milestones. This morning after adding an article to Trade Show Tips, I decide to count them — 74 articles. It’s more than I thought, but 74 isn’t 740 or 7400 so the number didn’t freak me out.
Having started down this path, I decided to look at other numbers. For example, how many blog posts have we published in Trade Show Tales?
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Recent Posts
Tradeshow Rentals: Growth and Customization Trends
Our exhibit rental business continues to surge. There’s never a dull day in the Classic Rental division. And that’s what I like about what we do here.
Flexibility and customization has been the key to our continued growth.
Alcohol and Business Entertaining: When Is Enough Too Much?
People like to have a drink, especially when a vendor comes around and asks “Do you want to go to happy hour?” Of course, you do. From the vendor’s point of view, it buys some extra time with the customer, puts them in a decent mood, and most of all spreads some goodwill
Something is Not Adding Up!: Word on the Street — Oct. 8th thru Oct. 12th
I am a Marriott Man. And proud of it. I love the hotels, the way it’s run, the options it provides, the generous rewards program. I Love Marriott!
So this is going to be really weird, because I am going to throw them squarely under the bus. And, not just under the bus but pull forward and backwards multiple times kind of running over with the bus.
What I’ve Learned (or The Tao of Jen)
Lesson #43: Understand Your Customer’s World, then See How Your Product and Your Company Fits.
If Willie Nelson can have a Tao, well, then so can I.
I’ve been on the job as Classic’s Western Regional Manager for a few months. Let me just say . . . working four hours a day is exhausting. 😉 Over the past 60 plus days, I’ve learned a few things, made some mistakes, and grown not only as a professional, but also as a person.
SKU …. Part Deux: Word on the Street — October 1st thru October 5th
Teacher’s Pets
Two weeks ago, we hosted our second Shared Knowledge University training. It was a very successful educational and networking event with an outstanding group of new and veteran distributors. To the attendees, we loved having you here. The give and take, your humor, and your insights made it truly special. If there was an award for Teacher’s Pets, you would have all won.
Bread Crumb Orders
Sandwiches, French Toast, and Bread Pudding
Recently, we conducted Shared Knowledge University (SKU), our two day distributor training program. On the first day, we started the meeting by discussing “Shared Success” and “Shared Knowledge.” These philosophies serve as the foundation for our business, not only with distributors, but also with Classic employees and our suppliers. Shared Success and Shared Knowledge depend on honesty, trust, and respect. That starts with us. We do our best to work within those guidelines, but it would be naive to assume that every distributor views our business relationship as a partnership.
Things Legends are Made From: Word on the Street — Sept. 24th thru Sept. 28th
OK, well maybe that is a bit overstated 🙂 ….or maybe not.
Last Saturday September 23, Club 815 Powered by the EDPA Foundation saddled up to ride and to raise money for Mike and Janet Swartout. The event was the Eschelon Gran Fondo of Hood River.
iPad Kiosk and Backwall Solutions from Classic Exhibits
In this (informal) informational video, Mel White from Classic Exhibits reviews the company’s assortment of iPad solutions, including kiosks and backwall attachments. Prices vary from $129 to $679. To see the complete product line, visit the Workstations and Kiosk Gallery in Exhibit Design Search.
The ALL NEW Exhibit Design Search
How new? It’s so new that it still smells like fresh programming code on a dewy spring day. Inhale and savor the crisp scent, my friend. It’s a new day in the land of Exhibit Design Search (EDS).
Upcoming Events for The Classic Exhibits Family: Word on the Street — Sept. 10th thru Sept. 14th
Not only is this “the busy” season, but this is also a busy time for events at Classic.
First, Club 815 Fundraiser
The time is finally here. “The Fundraiser Ride for Mike and Janet Swartout” is this Saturday, September 22. Yes, it’s the culmination of a lot of training, but more importantly, the culmination of your tremendous support for Classic’s Design Director, Mike Swartout who is battling cancer. Thanks to those who have been so very generous by contributing to the team that includes Joel Roy from Creative Dimension, Greg Garrett from Greg Garrett Designs, David Brown from Optima Graphics, Tony Ricci from Optima Graphics and his lovely wife Betsy, Mel White, Charlie Shivel and me from Classic, and my step-father Grant Murrell.
“The Importance of Exhibitor Education” by Marlys Arnold
Marlys Arnold, from Trade Show Insights, wrote a terrific blog this week about The Importance of Exhibitor Education. She based her comments on the recent CEIR Report, “How the Exhibit Dollar is Spent.”
I encourage you to read (or listen to) her post. Here’s a snippet:
“Earlier this month, the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) released their report, “How the Exhibit Dollar is Spent.”
Quadro S Pop Up Assembly and Features Video
Recently, a Classic Distributor asked us to record a quick video showing the basic assembly and features of the Quadro S Pop Up Display. So a few days ago, we recorded this off-the-cuff and very casual video in our shop once everyone had left. You’ll quickly see why I never auditioned for any high school or college plays.
We thought we’d share it for anyone unfamiliar with the benefits and features of the Quadro S. My thanks to Jeff Garrett, our video guru, for turning a pile of @*!% into something mildly presentable.
The Fallacy of Running a Small Business
Sales/Marketing, Finance, and Operations
Choose one. Just one. You’ll won’t be good at all three.
In a former life, I was a small business consultant for start-ups, mostly with technology companies and inventors. It was rewarding . . . and it was brutal. Nearly every day, I worked with entrepreneurs on their financials, marketing plans, and operations. Most were obsessive and deluded. They knew their product or service, but they struggled with long-term planning, raising capital, implementation, and customer service.
Classic Exhibits 2012 BBQ and Potluck
Last Friday, we held our Annual BBQ ad Potluck at Classic Exhibits. Even on a hot day Portland, it didn’t appear to curb anyone’s appetite. Our thanks to all the employees at Classic Exhibits, Classic Rentals, and Exhibits Northwest Portland who attended and brought so many excellent salads, desserts, and appetizers.
See below for photos from the event.
iPad Sneak Peek — Perfect 10 Pedestal with Swivel Stop Feature
Perfect 10 Pedestal with Swivel Stop iPad Mount
We don’t do this very often . . . but here’s sneak peek of a new product. It’s a P10 Pedestal with the patent pending Swivel Stop. It’s shown in portrait setting, but it easily swivels to the landscape mode with a quick twist. We are developing new uses for the Swivel Stop. These existing products already have the Swivel Stop feature: the iPad Kiosks MOD-1332, 1333, 1334, and the backwall extrusion mount MOD-1318.