The Sale That Got Away
Sales are funny that way. We are so conditioned by “sales success” that we tend to ignore “sales failure.” So we congratulate ourselves on what we did right to land the order. Not on what we did wrong that kept us from getting it. It’s easier to create excuses. To blame the situation or a person.
John Zipay: Six Month Update (or What I Did During My Summer Vacation)
Wow! I can’t believe it has been six months since I joined the Classic Exhibits Family as the General Manager for Exhibits Northwest!
Where to begin… The Northwest is fantastically beautiful with postcard views in every direction. The folks here are down-to-earth, extremely health, and environmentally conscious. Professionally, my daily challenges haven’t changed very much, and the overall industry feel is more or less the same. Just like you, we use our experience to recommend the best exhibits and services to our customers.
How to Speak Graphic Designer (Infographic)
28 Design Terms Marketers Should Know
Wow! Two sensational infographics within a week. This one should be printed, framed, and hung on the wall next to every graphic designer and marketing manager. No more misunderstandings about leading and kerning. No more wasted conversations about web-friendly fonts. No more confusion about UI and UX.
10 Steps to Trade Show Success (Infographic)
Some infographics can be confusing… But not this one! An outstanding infographic from Bag of Ideas, a promotional products company in the UK. This is one worth printing or forwarding to your tradeshow clients. Bag of Ideas — A pat on the back for this clever and practical message. Well done!
Trust Me!
I receive Seth Godin’s daily blog post. To say “I receive” his posts doesn’t do them justice. They’re always the first or second email I read in the morning. This one was especially relevant.
Here’s a simple marketing strategy for a smaller company trying to compete in a big-company world:
Choose your customers, trust them, treat them well.
Say yes. Bend the rules. Show up on time. Keep your promises.
Don’t exert power merely because you can.
Be human, be kind, pay attention, smile.
Not everyone deserves this sort of treatment, not everyone will do their part to be the kind of customer you can delight and serve. But that’s okay, you don’t need everyone.
Deep Thoughts from the E2MA Red Diamond Congress
I attended the E2MA Red Diamond Congress in Boston last week — my third time at this annual two-day conference. The RDC is a small, but growing, group of stakeholders in the event and tradeshow industry which includes show organizers, general contractors, associations, distributors, tradeshow managers, suppliers, and labor.
When Technology Bites: Word on the Street — July 20th thru July 24th
I love technology! But sometimes, I fear, we miss the basics, the commonsense in our effort to make things more efficient and streamlined — like what makes sense. For example…
Last week I met with a transportation company, one of the well-known Big TWO. At the beginning of 2015, this carrier introduced a slick handing system in their sorting facilities replacing the old system that required someone to manually check measurements on larger packages.
Mid-Year Review: Word on the Street — July 13th thru July 17th
I am writing this a few weeks late, but in fairness, there’s a lot going on at Classic Exhibits.
It’s been an exciting 2015, thanks to you, our loyal and creative distributors. Orders have been ALL ACROSS THE BOARD. So let’s review the highlights, identify some trends, and share a few stories.
The year started with a bang. January set the tone after a busy late December. It was clear we were going to be in for a wild ride filled with growth, unique challenges, and a mixture of tradeshow, event, retail, and permanent install projects.
Under $3K to $25K Display Brochures
I’m getting old, but not too old to learn from my mistakes. Over the past year, I’ve largely ignored printed sales collateral as a tool for Classic Distributors. That’s not to say we haven’t created high quality PDF’s (such as Tablet Stands and OTM Neo and Express Furniture), but they have been mostly promotional sheets, not product line sheets. My feeling was — It’s all online on the Classic website or in Exhibit Design Search.
New Charging Stations — Q&A Video with Kevin and Mel
When we introduced our newest Charging Stations at EXHIBITORLIVE, we expected them to do well. Our definition of “well” should probably change to “Yowsa!” They’ve been a big hit. As with any new product, there are questions so Kevin and Mel sat down for a casual Q&A video about the charging stations.
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See Classic Exhibits Inc. in booth #1645 at the EXHIBITOR2012 Exhibit Hall, March 5, 6, and 7, from 11:30am to 3:30pm.
Courtesy of Classic Exhibits Inc
Back from the Magic Kingdom: Word on the Street — Jan. 30th thru Feb. 3rd
ey All!
As Mel mentioned last week, I was on vacation in Disneyland and California Adventure. And boy was it a blast. Going as an adult can be different, but taking your kids for the first time is just pure joy. Seeing them react to everything was priceless and an experience my wife and I will never forget.
The Great “Classic” Tradeshow Wall
Classic’s Great Tradeshow Wall
Sometime you just gotta take a flyer and throw it out there. If it sticks, it sticks. Jeffrey D. Brown has created an intriguing concept called The Tradeshow Wall, based on his success with The Guitar Wall. It’s part advertising, part resource center, part artwork. And, of course, it’s 100 percent unique.
We agreed to participate in the original free wall. Then after seeing it, we took the next step and had Jeff create a Classic Great Tradeshow Wall that includes images from Classic Exhibits, ClassicMODUL, and Classic Rentals.
This, That, and The Other: Word on the Street — Jan. 23rd thru Jan. 27th
It’s Mel. This week, I’m filling in for Kevin who is at Disneyland entertaining his five-year old twins at the Magic Kingdom. For those on the East Coast and South, yes there’s still a Disney Park on the West Coast. I know. It seems weird with DisneyWorld a mere 3000 miles away, but five-year olds don’t know the difference . . . yet.
This week we’ll share some odds and ends . . .
‘s Sage Advice: Trade Shows Work
If you’ve ever visited us in Portland, you know that we always treat you to lunch at Bob’ Red Mill. Bob’s Red Mill packages whole grain products, such as oatmeal, beans, bread mixes, etc., for supermarkets in North America and around the world. You may not recognize the name, but the next time you visit your local supermarket, head to the “healthy foods” section and you’ll see Bob’s Red Mill products in clear cellophane bags. They also happen to have a restaurant and company store on International Way.
Meet Katina Rigall, Designer: Word on the Street — Jan. 16th thru Jan. 20th
Our Newest Design Addition — Katina Rigall
We are excited to welcome Katina Rigall to Classic Exhibits. Katina has an extensive custom design background, along with a solid knowledge of portable, modular, and hybrid displays. She is going through our training program this week, otherwise known as “15 Years of Facts Crammed into 7 Brutal Days.” Rather than give you a high-highfalutin, PR-spin bio of Katina, we thought we’d let her introduce herself.
100 Global Trends in 2012
100 Things to...
2011 “State of the Company” Letter from Kevin Carty
Happy New Year! Hope you had a great Holiday Season.
Classic Exhibits Inc. and its divisions continued to rebound in 2011, after showing solid increases in 2010. Across the board, volume grew from 22 to 33 percent, depending on the division. Most refreshing, we saw no single trends, meaning our sales volume came from kits and custom, rentals and extrusions, and trade shows and retail. Nearly every week we were surprised by interesting projects that challenged and stimulated us.
Pedestals and Workstations and Counters! Oh My!
Do you remember last year’s trade show debacle? The booth staff complained about the lack of storage. The marketing manager wondered where and how to demo your company’s product. Especially embarrassing was the aimless wandering of potential clients.
This year is different. You included, at the suggestion of your exhibit designer, pedestals, workstations and a reception area. They are the unsung workhorses of any exhibit, easy to overlook during planning, but always missed during a show.
” x 10% Perrrfect Specials
January and February Specials on Perfect 10
Everyone stares the first time they see a Perfect 10. It’s mesmerizing how the patented “S” appears to defy gravity. The magic of the Perfect 10 is all about creative design and smart engineering. The distinctive frame is engineered for perfect weight distribution and each functional accessory— such as the cubby, monitor mount, and dimensional signage—enhances the Perfect 10’s visual and functional balance.
Out with the Old, In with the New: Word on the Street — Dec. 26th thru Dec. 30th
I trust you enjoyed your Holiday Season and were able to recharge your batteries as we head into 2012.
As is typical, the end of the year has been BUSY, especially the past two weeks with budget dumping orders as well as projects for the first three months of the year.
Small Can Be Beautiful
I can already hear the chuckles and see the smirks. Anyone who knows me, knows it would be a stretch for me to be chosen as a forward or center on any basketball team. I barely qualify as a guard on most middle school teams. But this is not about me. It was inspired by an article in The New York Times about the unloved small car trio of the Pinto, Vega, and Gremlin (Import Fighters? No, Just Punchlines).
Happy Holidays from the Classic Family
Classic Exhibits Holiday Greeting — 2011
‘ll Never Be the Cheapest
The Cheapest
Anyone who sells a product or provides a service will invariably get asked at some point, “Why aren’t your prices lower?” That’s a tough question because the answer isn’t always what the questioner wants to hear. Frankly, everyone thinks everyone else charges too much. It’s the nature of buying and selling.
At Classic Exhibits, we get asked that question from time to time. Typically, it’s by a distributor who’s competing against an online display site like www.sittinginmybathrobe.com or www.10percentmarginsrule.com. Their prices are cheaper, sometimes significantly cheaper on basic products like pop ups, banner stands, etc.
We could apologize . . . but we won’t. We’re not selling products of similar quality and design or offering the same “take it or leave it” service. So, why are our prices our prices?
EDPA Access 2011 Review: Word on the Street — Dec. 5th thru Dec. 9th
EDPA Access Review
Success! One word that describes EDPA Access this year!
This year’s event was set at the beautiful J.W. Las Vegas Marriott Resort and Spa. It not only provided a beautiful setting, but also a nice venue for the Supplier Showcase, the networking events, and the conference sessions.