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.
How To Entertain Yourself During Any Meeting
Here are a few suggestions on how to entertain yourself during any meeting. Your colleagues will appreciate your efforts; perhaps not during the meeting or that month but when they look back and reflect on all the years they spent cooped up like a chicken in a factory farm they’ll have a little chuckle.
Is Santa Real? Yes, For One More Year!: Word on the Street — December 22nd thru December 26th
We are a family of traditions from what we eat to where we go. Each year, we look forward to it. And this year was no different.
What I saw next gave me a moment of pause. Up in the sky, approximately a mile away, was a sleigh flying through the air being pulled by reindeer with Santa inside. I AM NOT KIDDING!
Excellent Surface Pro 3 Review at Forbes.com
If you are unfamiliar with the Microsoft line, here’s a long-term review of the Surface Pro 3 from by Ewan Spence at Forbes.com, published last week. It’s an excellent summary of its strengths and weaknesses. Like most Classic Distributors, you are undoubtedly being quizzed about tablets by your customers — Apple, Microsoft, and Android.
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”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.
10 Basic Business Rules in a Broken Economy
Two weeks ago, I wrote about the federal budget impasse and the inability of Congress and the President to negotiate a reasonable, intelligent, and non-partisan solution to the deficit. No doubt, you have your opinion about the final “deal,” one that is well-reasoned and not influenced by the talking heads and their simple solutions for complex problems sound bites. The market found it unsatisfactory, just as did Standard and Poor’s.
The Greenbuild International Conference and Expo
Using GREEN to Grow Businesses
The Greenbuild International Conference & Expo is right around the corner, taking place in Toronto, ON from October 4-7. For those who have never been, the show is spectacular, filled with some of the most innovative sustainable products that you will ever see.
Is The Great Recession (TGR) the New Normal?
I enjoy a challenge. Not a Darwin Award challenge or a Mexican Drug Cartel challenge, but a normal middle-class, just risky enough to be interesting kind of challenge. Three years ago, I thought that meant hiking the Appalachian Trail for a week or installing laminate flooring in three rooms or attending an extended family reunion and not passing judgment on my Appalachian cousins. They were manageable challenges, which had a start date and end date. Or, at the very worst, I could decide to opt-out mid-stream.
Silicone Edge Graphics (SEG) as Wall Murals and Displays
To Classic Exhibit and ClassicMODUL Distributors
We all know that floor space is limited in most of your showrooms. Yet, you need a way to show the clean, uncluttered look of Silicone Edge Graphics (SEG). Here’s a solution. Chances are you have wall space available, or you’ve finally decided to replace that motel art you bought at the State Fair back in 1983. Exhibits Northwest Portland, a division of Classic Exhibits Inc., faced the same dilemma. They were getting requests for SEG displays and frames, but only had a 1 ft x 1 ft frame to show how SEG slotted into the ClassicMODUL aluminum extrusion frame. Clients kind of understood the concept, but only vaguely.
First-Timer Stories: Word on the Street — July 18th thru July 22nd
Stranger in a Strange Land
Three months ago, we embarked on a new relationship with an IT vendor, and it has been nothing short of stellar. The vendor, Convergence Networks, has quickly vaulted into one of our best relationships. because they are responsive, knowledgeable, and totally customer customer focused.
Last month, Convergence came to Classic Exhibits asking for our assistance. They had agreed to be the main sponsor of a business to business event organized by the Portland Business Journal. This would be Convergence’s very first trade show of any kind, which made their sponsorship commitment even scarier. Needless to say we were delighted to guide them through the maze that is trade shows.
The $500K Question: Word on the Street — July 11th thru July 15th
Have you ever wondered what you would do if you won the lottery?
I remember a couple of years ago when Powerball was up to some crazy amount like $280 million. Or how someone from a small town in Washington State won Mega Millions for $380 million. And if you are like me, you always wonder, “What would I do if I won the lottery?”
When Imitation IS NOT the Sincerest Form of Flattery
Under the Heading of “Are you friggin’ kidding me?!”
This week, we received a booth for storage, which is a service we offer through our Exhibits Northwest division. Like normal, we assembled it to determine if there were any issues. Now, here’s where it gets really interesting.
The display was built by ‘Blue” (and you know who I mean). Frankly, we have a great deal of respect for “Blue.” They have been market leaders for over 20 years in design, marketing, and product innovation. They know trade show marketing, and they know how to sell design. As a leader, you expect them to be trendsetters, not imitators. Certainly, you don’t expect them to copy iconic designs from other manufacturers. That wouldn’t make sense. They are “Blue,” and “Blue” doesn’t even acknowledge that there are other system manufacturers. But . . . I digress.
‘s Going On?: Word on the Street — July 4th thru July 8th
Lots of Exciting News
This week, I’d like to recap some recent press, promos, and blogs. There’s a lot going on in the world of Classic. We’re relentless . . . but that’s one of the many reasons you love us (and why we love you).
Exhibit City News Article about Aluminum Extrusions
Aluminum Extrusions Offer Few Limitations
Written by Exhibit City News
Thursday, June 30 2011
Not all aluminum extrusions are equal. Some have limited uses, flexibility and structural weight tolerance. But no matter what vision an exhibit designer has for the layout of the booth, there is an engineered aluminum extrusion that can help bring it to life.
Exhibit City News recently interviewed three trusted sources in the extrusion industry to get a comprehensive look at the benefits, trends, and technology that make up this growing segment of exhibit design.