| EXHIBITORLIVE 2015
Several years ago, I shared my VEGAS LOCALS perspective on places to eat, shows to see, and things to do while at EXHIBITOR. A lot has happened since then, and I wanted to suggest some new places. These are not your standard tourist fare and many are (thankfully) outside the Hacienda Triangle (Mandalay Bay, Luxor, and Excalibur). In Part 1 — Dining Options.
Everything I Know About Business, I Learned From “THE Batman”
To me, the best issues have never been about crime fighting or adventure, but instead are the issues that focus on a forcefully driven man forcing the world to play by his rules, against all odds.
THIS is the Batman that has focused so much of my adult life and that has — believe it or not — helped shape the way I approach my professional life. You see, everything I know about business I learned from Batman.
A Wish and A Prayer — Trade Show Marketing
This cartoon, designed by our friends at American Image (www.american-image.com), speaks to the “wish and a prayer” marketing approach of most exhibitors. It’s a cautionary tale we can’t repeat enough to our customers. Our thanks to Charles Dugan and Jacob Norris for permission to reprint it.
NETGEAR Showroom Tour at CES 2015
This video, produced by NETGEAR, shows their 2015 CES Exhibit. Except for the tables in the hallway in the beginning, it’s entirely a Classic Rental Solutions exhibit. Thanks to Steve Riches at Laguna Displays for sharing and for the order. A pat on the back the the CRS Team. This is a terrific example of how they create customized solutions for Classic Distributors every single day.
2014 “State of the Company” Letter by Kevin Carty
Thank you for supporting the Classic Family of Companies. Now before 2014 is too far in the rearview mirror, let’s spend a few minutes reviewing last year’s Top 10.
Our Five $200 Rental Rewards Winners
In July, Classic Rental Solutions (CRS) launched Rental Rewards, a program designed to reward our distributors for rental returns without damage or missing components.
Since July, we’ve issued 49 Rental Rewards Credits to 32 Classic Distributors. We’re thrilled with the early success of this program!
Promotional Product Trends in 2015
At nearly half a cent per impression, promotional products are a proven, cost-effective way of marketing your company and increasing your brand awareness. They have a lower cost per impression than nearly every other form of advertising. In addition, they have staying power with an average of just over seven months. If you’re not using promotional items, here are some reasons you should be.
|’s Choice Voting
The EXHIBITOR People’s Choice Award is open for all Portable Modular Award finalists. Classic Exhibits has four entries, either submitted by Classic or by distributor. And one entry by Eco-Systems Sustainable, a strategic partner.
‘ll Receive This Year
Because of this experience and others like it, I developed On The Move Furniture with Classic Exhibits, a line specifically for trade shows and events. It includes the upscale NEO line and the new, affordable Express series. This high-quality portable and brandable furniture this is logistically friendly, attractive, and cost-effective.
‘m Doing!
All in all, it was a great year because of the Classic Distributor Network. I won’t go into detail since Kevin will cover it in the 2014 State of the Company letter, but here is what I will say about my year.
Recent Posts
7 Mistakes Exhibitors Make
Are You (or Your Customers) Making These Mistakes?
Here’s the second in a series of 3 videos outlining the “7 Mistakes Exhibitors Make.” In Part 2, trade show consultant and author Marlys Arnold covers three mistakes exhibitors make regarding booth staff and how to avoid them. Click here to view this 6-minute video on YouTube.
Put Me in Coach: Word on the Street — Oct. 17th thru Oct. 21st
We’ve All Been There
We’ve all been in the position where we’ve been trying to get “that one account” for . . . forever. You patiently wait, all the while maintaining contact and slowly building a relationship, biding your time until the current vendor makes a mistake or there’s a project they either can’t do or aren’t willing to try.
Ten “Guaranteed” Techniques to Get Traffic to Your Booth
What Can I Do to Increase Traffic to My Booth?
I get asked this a lot. I explain the importance of selecting the right show, meticulous pre-show planning, careful graphic messaging, and booth sales training. They nod and say “Yes,” “Uh huh,” “OK,” and “Of course!” But I’m no fool. I can hear their disappointment and reluctance. All that takes time, energy, planning, and a dash of creativity. In other words, it’s too much work.
The Industry Gives Back: Word on the Street — Oct. 10th thru Oct. 14th
andy Smith Memorial Golf Classic Follow Up
On Monday, October 10, hundreds of industry professionals gathered in Atlanta to honor those who are either going through medical hardships, lost their battles, or lost loved ones to sickness or accidents.
Like years past, it proved to be a highly emotionally charged event. And this year Classic Exhibits had one of their own honored, Mike Swartout, our Director of Design, who is currently battling stage 4 prostate cancer.
‘t Make Sense
I’m about to become a heretic. Get those $6 bottles of convention hall Aquafina and Dasani ready. It’s the closest thing we have to holy water.
Since the mid-90s when I fell into the trade show biz, I’ve been conditioned to believe that every organization benefits from a well-planned trade show marketing program. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a Fortune 500 Goliath operating on seven continents or a three person non-profit in Elizabethtown, KY.
Yub Nub: Word on the Street — Oct. 3rd thru Oct. 7th
Ewokese
It’s the language of Ewoks of course. But that’s not really what I am hear to talk about. No! As many of you know, this past week we launched a new “Find Reid” contest. Last time we celebrated Reid’s love affair with the with the 60’s fro. This time we revealed a little more about our little fury friend that we have all come to love and respect. Seek the Sherwok . . . an endearing creature from the land of Newaygo.
Seek Reid the Ewok — Win an Amazon Kindle Fire!
Classic Distributors: Seek Reid the Ewok in EDS
Locate Reid Sherwood on Classic Exhibits’ Exhibit Design Search to win one of two Amazon Kindle Fire Tablets. To be eligible, send your correct answer to Mel White by Friday, October 21.
The Elevator Pitch: Word on the Street — Sept. 26th thru Sept. 30th
The Elevator Pitch
Let me start of by saying that I am NOT very good at this! But, it is something I strive to improve on and a skill that I admire in others.
If you don’t know what I am referring to, it is based on the idea of stepping into an elevator with someone and saying something clearly and succinctly in a compressed time frame. Depending on the number of floors in the building, you may only have 2, 5, or 10 minutes max. It’s a cool concept and applies to business interactions everyday — whether you’re on an elevator, a plane, in a meeting, or at a social gathering.
Randy Smith Memorial Golf Classic: Word on the Street — Sept. 19th thru Sept. 23rd
The Industry Gives Back
Randy Smith Memorial Golf Classic
Every October, our industry pulls together to raise money for those struck by tragedy, illness, and/or the loss of industry colleagues.
For the industry, this year will be no different. But for Classic Exhibits and its family of companies and employees, it will be different. One of our own is a beneficiary this year. Mike Swartout, our Director of Design, who is battling Stage 4 cancer. Please read about Mike and all the recipients at the following website: https://rsmgc.org/RSMGC/www.rsmgc.org/Recipients/
”s Hybrid Display Systems
New distributors and account executives often ask, “What’s the difference between a Sacagawea Hybrid and a Perfect 10 Hybrid? Or a Magellan and a Visionary Design?” Can it be confusing? Absolutely! Classic Exhibits has six distinct hybrid lines: Sacagawea, Magellan, Perfect 10/20, Visionary Designs, SEGUE, and Euro LT. Or to look at it another way, it’s more than any other systems manufacturer. Why so many and how are they truly different?
The Bucket List Project Revealed: Word on the Street — Sept. 5th thru Sept. 9th
A few weeks ago, I described it as a “bucket list” project. But it really became so much more than that. What once started out as a bucket list project quickly turned into one of the longest, hardest and most personally gratifying project/event I have ever been a part of.
PJ20 was the name of the project: A celebration of the 20th Anniversary of Pearl Jam.
30 Second Audio Clips in Exhibit Design Search
Audio in EDS — Are You Listening?
Exhibit Design Search has a new feature — Audio. Now, that may not seem so new, what with the explosion of video, but brief audio clips are excellent way to communicate product benefits and features. Each audio clip reviews a product line, such as Sacagawea or a specific kit, such as the iPhone VK-1032. In addition, the audio complements the renderings and bullet point descriptions, while elaborating on the most important benefits of the product.
Quadro Pop Up — FREE Monitor Promotion
Fall in Love: Quadro Pop Up FREE Monitor Promotion
Here’s a recent trend that may surprise you: Half of all Quadro Pop Ups orders include a monitor mount option. That’s true whether it’s a curve or a flat frame, or a Quadro S or a Quadro EO kit. Monitors have become a “gotta have” option for a pop up, and no system makes it easier than Quadro. It makes sense . . . we invented the monitor mount option for flat screen LCD’s and Plasmas for pop ups. In fact, the Quadro S Pop Up Display is the only frame that can handle as many as five monitors. Yes, FIVE!
Update — When Your Bucket List and Your Job Converge (8/29/11)
Happy Monday to you all. Hope your weekend was good.
Thanks to our wonderful production staff here at Classic and to our Project Manager, Edie Arambula, mine was much less stressful than it certainly could have been. Starting on Friday, I began an annual endurance/idiotic event called the Hood to Coast: a 200 mile run from Mt. Hood to Seaside on the Oregon Coast. And thanks to our great employees, I did not have to worry about work on my Bucket List Project that shipped while my team and I were running.
When Your Bucket List and Your Job Converge: Word on the Street — August 15th thru August 19th
Thursday, August 4 at 1 p.m.
I was returning to the office from a lunchtime doctor’s appointment when I got the call. The call came in on my cell phone and was from one of our newest and most consistent Classic Exhibits Distributors. To be honest, my first thought was, “Oh boy, I hope nothing went wrong on our recent project.” The owner normally doesn’t contact me on my cell. Usually their project management staff works directly with our Customer Service team.