25 Ways to Cut Costs at Your Next Trade Show
Trade shows often make up about a third of B2B marketing budgets, representing huge costs to wholesale distributors, manufacturers, and other B2B organizations. So how can you save money on your trade show exhibitions without sacrificing marketing impact? In this detailed webinar, trade show expert Mel White will provide 25 great strategies to get more from your trade show budget.
More Changes! Exhibit Design Search
Get a Distributor-branded Exhibit Design Search for your website. Only $300. We do the work. You get the credit. Give Jen, Reid, or Mel a call for more information.
SKU and Me: Word on the Street — Nov.9th thru Nov. 13th
Twice a year, we invite 30-40 distributors from around the country to learn about all things Classic Exhibits and several strategic partners. This past week was our Fall 2015 session.
Our “Shared Success” Values
At Classic Exhibits Inc., we believe that healthy relationships with employees,
suppliers, and distributors (and their customers) depends on Shared Knowledge,
Shared Responsibility, and Shared Innovation. We value honest communication,
transparency, trust, and hard work. We are committed to the Shared Success of all
stakeholders based on their contribution.
It’s Personal. Our New Custom Exhibit Gallery
We created Custom Exhibit Gallery on the Classic website, not in EDS. It’s very similar to our Retail Gallery and Graphic Inspiration Galleries. All are are meant to show you our full design and production capabilities.
Perfect 10 Promotional Materials
We love it when distributors re-purpose Classic’s marketing materials. This week, Atlantic Exhibits sent an email broadcast promoting Perfect 10 Portable Hybrid Displays. Not only is the P10 on sale thorough 11/27, but it also carries the 100-Day Return Guarantee. It’s the PERFECT One-two punch product as you head into the holiday season.
11 Printable Product Sheets from Classic Exhibits
Once or twice a week, we get a request for a printable handout for Sacagawea, Perfect, 10, Visionary Designs, etc. Most of the time, the distributor wants a simple one-page product summary to leave with their customer or as an email attachment. Rarely does the distributor ask for a large, multi-page brochure.
Is Your Display Supplier an Importer, an Assembler, or a Builder?
Recently, a distributor asked me about the capabilities of X, a trade show display supplier in our industry. We talked about X, which led to a conversation about A, D, and G. I realized after our call that the industry has shifted. The categories or labels we’ve always used to define exhibit suppliers/builders are no longer accurate.
“Roll On Columbia, Roll On”: Word on the Street — Oct.5th thru Oct. 9th
Earlier this year, Classic Exhibits was awarded the contract to build an Interpretive Visitor Center for the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) in Portland. A local design firm brought us the project. This past Wednesday, we were delighted to attend the Grand Opening of the Interpretive Center.
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?
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Recent Posts
Pajama Jockeys
What I’m about to discuss will make some of you really mad and some of you really, really happy. I’m not sure whether to point the finger at the trade show industry, manufacturers, distributors, or exhibitors.
Over the years, I’ve written about trade show marketing from multiple angles. I don’t pretend to be an expert. Unlike you, I’m not on the front lines working with clients, nor am I attending a dozen trade shows every year. On the other hand, I have the luxury of seeing your projects everyday and hearing from you, our designers, and our project managers about your orders and your client’s goals.
Summer Crush Specials — Savings on Quadro EO and iPad Kiosks
Quadro EO and iPad Kiosk “Summer Crush” Promotion
The Summer Crush Specials feature the Quadro EO Pop Up combined with the newly released iPad Kiosks MOD-1312 and MOD-1314. The savings are ginormous. Literally GINORMOUS!
iPad Kiosks and Summer Specials: Word on the Street — May 28th thru June 1st
June, July, (and August) Specials
Table Top Savings
Save 10% on select Table Top Displays including Sacagawea, Perfect 10, SEGUE, and Intro. These are some of our most innovative table tops, which we’ve never discounted before. But, it’s summer in Portland, OR, and we’re apt to lose our sanity after not seeing the sun for nine months. 20 kits total. Be sure to check out the quick, easy, and inexpensive iPad option for Intro Fabric Table Tops. So very, very simple. So very smart.
Sacagawea Video from Evo Exhibits
Kevin Fett, one of the owners of Evo Exhibits in Chicago, passed along this video of the Sacagawea Portable Hybrid Display. We liked it so much, we wanted to give you a chance to see it too. It’s a good mix of time lapse assembly and a soft sales pitch on the features and benefits of this portable system.
According to Kevin, “Thought I’d share a video of Susan Johnson putting up a Sacagawea in time lapse. Susan is 5’0″ — so we thought it would be cool to see her put one up by herself.”
Well done Kevin, Susan, and the entire Evo Exhibits team. Enjoy everyone!
Happy Memorial Day: Word on the Street — May 21st thru May 25th
While we are all enjoying a long weekend, I hope that we do not forget the reason behind this Memorial Day Weekend: Remembering those who have served and or lost their lives serving our country.
How to Win a Gold Medal at Your Next Trade Show
The Sochi Winter Olympics is just around the corner. We love watching the competition — who wins, who loses, and the inspiring stories about athletes who participate but do not win a gold, silver, or bronze medal. Athletes want to win, even if they know it’s a long shot, so they plan, prepare, and train for a chance to stand on the podium. No one prepares for the Olympics just to win a participation trophy.
Trade shows are no different. For anyone new to trade show marketing, here’s a tip no one’s ever going to share with you. You can waste A TON of MONEY participating in trade shows if you don’t know what you are doing.
‘s: Word on the Street — May 14th thru May 18th
Getting it Done in 75 Days
It’s that time of year –mid-May– when at home or at the office, you find yourself tackling projects that have been accumulating in that “to-do” list. You know the ones! They start accumulating in mid-January when it’s too cold, but we’ll get to them when we have a little more time.
SKU & You: Word on the Street
Shared Knowledge University & You
About this time of year, we normally send the Classic Distributor Network a survey with 15-18 questions. Not this time. We have cleared our schedule on June 12, 13, and 14 to connect with you. We’ll talk, we’ll listen, we’ll learn, and we’ll find answers together.
“New and Improved” Peek-a-Booth — More Webcams!
The New and Improved Peek-a-Booth
Peeking just got better. We added another camera in the Purchase Set-up Area for a total of three. Plus, we added two to the Rental Set-up Area. The Purchase and Rental areas are on opposite ends of the Classic Exhibits facility.
The Dirtiest Word in the RFP Process: Word on the Street — April 30th thru May 4th
Earmuffs Kids . . .
“BUDGET!” There I said it! The dirty word that none of us like to discuss when starting a new design. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Let me be so cavalier as to suggest that we rip the band-aid off when we first start the design. Don’t get me wrong, make sure you introduce yourself and show the client around your place a little or let them show you around theirs . . . whichever applies.
In the “Old Days” . . . .
It was Better Back When (Except When It Wasn’t)
The trade show market seems to be back, maybe not with a vengeance, but certainly with a nice steady fire. (Yes I know all the fire comments are coming — but hey, I asked for it.) Classic Distributors haven’t complained recently about business, but they have all said, “It’s good, but still not like the old days.”
SKU…What a Pisser: Word on the Street — April 23rd thru April 27th
What a Pisser
If you attended Shared Knowledge University, you know what I am talking about. 🙂
This past week we held Shared Knowledge University (SKU) training at Classic. Based on the early feedback, I think it was a success. We had 24 wonderful distributors from as far east as Albany, New York, as far south as New Orleans, and as close as Las Vegas and Orange County.
From “8 Core Beliefs of Extraordinary Bosses”
I thought I’d share a great article in www.inc.com. in case you didn’t see it. Be sure to read the comments for differing opinions. Steve Jobs? — an extraordinary boss or just “a bully with a vision”?
According to Geoffrey James in Inc.com, “The best managers have a fundamentally different understanding of workplace, company, and team dynamics.”
Shared Knowledge University (SKU): Word on the Street — April 16th thru April 20th
Class is in Session
For seven years, we have been committed to “Shared Success”! The concept is simple: What can we do to make our distributors better and to help them be more successful. Their success, in turn, makes us more successful. It requires listening, sharing, and implementing ideas to serve you and your customers.
Trade Show Marketing Insights from Marlys Arnold, the ImageSpecialist
If you visited our booth at EXHIBITOR 2012, you probably met Marlys Arnold. Known as the ImageSpecialist, Marlys travels the country consulting and training both exhibitors and show managers, and is the author of Build a Better Trade Show Image (2002), host of the Trade Show Insights blog-cast, and creator of the ExhibitorEd Success System.