‘t See at a Trade Show
It’s human nature. We ignore the familiar. After a while, the pile of messy papers doesn’t exist and the big coffee stain is invisible. Then, someone comments on it, and we can’t not look at it. Until it disappears — again.
Trade show exhibits are no different and maybe even worse. Do you remember your first show with a brand new display?
The Mobius Strip Approach to Trade Show Marketing
Most of us are creatures of habit. Why change if it’s working? I’ve learned over the years that trade show marketing tends to follow the same, well-traveled road for most companies. Same shows. Similar booths. Little change to the exhibit staffing. Common frustrations year after year.
WatchDOGS: Word on the Street — October 27th thru October 31st
This past Friday, October 31 was more than Halloween for me. I volunteered for WatchDOGS, a program through the National Center of Fathering. The concept is multifaceted: it’s meant to get fathers involved in their kid’s classroom and participate in the school as a whole.
Ghouls… Goblins… and CyberThieves!: Word on the Street — October 20th thru October 24th
In business, we all rely heavily on our Intellectual Property. It’s the fruit of the hard work we do each and every day in our business. And it’s the root of what “Shared Success” is all about at Classic Exhibits and our proud Distributor Network.
Recently, we were directed towards a website for an online exhibit company based in Southern California. We were informed that the online company was using images from our website, along with our kit numbers.
5 Tips for Presenting to Senior Executives
Making the Perfect Pitch . . . Low and Inside
Presenting to senior executives can be a challenge, even to seasoned professionals. When it comes to pitching your company, your services, and your design, you have to be perfect since you rarely get more than one chance.
The slideshow below, 5 Tips to Presenting to Executives, is informative and entertaining. It’s by Bruce Gabrielle author of Speaking PowerPoint: the New Language of Business. Give it a quick look, then go back and study it carefully. You’ll be glad you did.
SEG Installation Video from Optima
Side-by-Side Comparison
Kudos to our friends at Optima for their recent videos. They’ve upped the ante on how to script and produce a professional educational video. Here’s a terrific one to share with your customer if they purchased a silicone edge graphic display. Force them to watch it. It will save you a 9 a.m. call from the show floor that the SEG graphic(s) doesn’t fit. It does.
“Countdown to Trade Show Success” Free Webinar
Free Exhibitor Webinar on Nov. 6
I’ve heard you say many times, “Is there a trade show webinar available to my customers that is Professional, Brandable, and Free?” Why yes my dimple-faced sweet dumpling, there is. Marlys Arnold, the Trade Show Image Specialist, will be offering her “Countdown to Tradeshow Success” webinar on Nov. 6.
BONUS: Marlys will create a branded webpage for you to promote the webinar to your clients. Just contact her at marnold@imagespecialist.com.
How to Build a Small Wood Crate — Classic Style (video)
Over the years, we’ve gotten lots of compliments on our wood crates. I often joke that a distributor will call and say, “My client really liked their new display, but THEY LOVED THE CRATE AND PACKAGING!” Sigh . . . I’m never quite sure how to take that.
Our dedicated crate building team does an amazing job, so we thought we would show you how we build a small crate, often called a “coffin crate” in the trade. Expect a video showing larger crates in about a month.
Why Distributors Enjoy Working with Classic
I’m asked this question a lot. New distributors will say, “What makes doing business with Classic Exhibits different from other manufacturers?” But, before I launch into this, a bit of a warning. I’m writing this from the hospital, hopped up on drugs before I have surgery. I’m in pain but I will be better in a few hours. So allow me a little latitude if this rambles.
Another Great SKU Class : Word on the Street — September 22nd thru September 26th
Last week, thirty trade show professionals descended on Portland, Oregon for Shared Knowledge University. The group was diverse, both in background and geography.
We are proud of every SKU graduating class, but this class was truly exceptional in my opinion. To a person, each and every student came to learn, listen, and participate in the class sessions and hands-on product training. For that, I thank you all. Your engagement across both days was truly over the top.
Recent Posts
Islands and Summer Just Go Together: Word on the Street — June 13th thru June 17th
Five Weeks of New Island Designs
It is officially summer next week . . . although in the Pacific Northwest you would be hard pressed to know that. Until a week ago, we’ve rarely approached highs of 70 all spring. But today, as I write this, it’s 75 degrees with no clouds in the sky. About time!
As the title of the blog suggests, summer is when we dream of a tropical island vacation. While I can’t offer you that, I can announce the release of a five new Island Designs. Beginning this week and over the next five weeks in Design Monday, we’ll showcase five fresh and exciting Island kits.
Eco-systems Sustainable Exhibits: Milestones and Timeline
Milestones and Timeline
Eco-systems Sustainable Displays In just over four years, Eco-Systems has become the leader of innovative and sustainable exhibit products and practices. Eco-Systems offers customers high-quality “green” display options — from table tops to islands — through a network of over 90 certified distributors in North America.
The timeline below highlights many of the important events that have shaped Eco-Systems over the last few years, including the development of many eco-friendly materials and product lines.
‘s Reminisce: Word on the Street — June 6th thru June 10th
This past Friday, I found myself thinking a lot about the past. During the day, I did an internal training session on the Intro Folding Fabric Panel System for our Project Management team. And then later that evening, I attended a graduation party for a family friend’s son who just finished high school.
Both really got me thinking about how time flies and all that has happened over the years in my personal life as well as in my business life.
Trade Show Exhibit Trends — Reid Sherwood Interview
Recently, Reid...
Trade Show Bullies
While on a business trip this week, I bought Inc. Magazine (June 2011) to read on the plane. Oddly enough, on page 35 there was an article, a column actually by Norm Brodsky, about the trade show industry. I thought I’d share, although it doesn’t cast a flattering light on our business. Here’s the first paragraph as a preview . . .
Five Months into a Great Year: Word on the Street — May 31st thru June 3rd
Five Months into a Great Year!
So how have the first months been for you and your company?
At the Classic Exhibits family of companies, I am delighted to report that 2011 has been different . . . and good . . . and surprising. And not just in terms of sales, but also in terms of product development and overall economic recovery.
The Professor of Social Media for Trade Shows and Events
Do you know just enough about Social Media to sound knowledgeable, but not knowledgeable enough to be a wiz bang expert? I’ve discovered that it’s very easy to get started, but getting to the next level can be more challenging unless you have a mentor. I do. His name is Tim Patterson at Interpretive Exhibits. Tim manages and contributes to the, www.tradeshowguy.com blog which tends to focus on social media issues, tips, tricks, and trends for the event and trade show industry.
Comcast Retail Interior Project: Word on the Street — May 23rd thru May 27th
It’s Comcastic!
If you have glanced at Past 5 Days on the Classic site recently, you noticed some pretty cool pictures of an interior project we completed this spring for Comcast Xfinity.
‘s Green Initiatives: Word on the Street — May 16th thru May 20th
Classic’s Green Initiatives
So, you may be saying “well it’s about time!” But not so fast.
Over the past three to four years, we have witnessed a lot of companies jump, or should I say “belly-flop,” into the Green/Sustainable movement. In doing so, many have, quite frankly, looked foolish by attempting to make “Green” a marketing ploy rather than a responsible business plan. I’m sure you’ve seen many of the claims. My favorite was the exhibit company that claimed their lunchroom was a green initiative since many employees ate there rather than driving to a fast food joint.
Why I Attend Trade Shows — Love on Aisle #600
Over the years, I’ve read more articles than, frankly, I’d care to admit about why trade shows are important, why exhibit marketing is effective, and why we MUST attend them. They make sense, in the same way that taking vitamins makes sense. On some level you know it can’t hurt and it’s good for you, even if you can’t always measure the results.
Classic Exhibits Welcomes Display Supply & Lighting to EDS
Lighting and Exhibit and Electrical Supplies Galleries
Classic Exhibits Inc., a designer and manufacturer of portable, modular, and custom hybrid displays, announces the addition of Display Supply & Lighting’s (DS&L) products to Exhibit Design Search. Exhibit Design Search (EDS) is a comprehensive web-based search tool for trade show displays and accessories, and includes over 1400 displays, 2000 photos, and 50 trade show articles. Most Classic Distributors have branded versions of EDS on their websites.
Trade Shows as First Dates
Trade shows are like first dates, first meetings, or job interviews. Unless you have an ego like Donald Trump, these “firsts” scare the bejesus out of you. They should. No matter how well you prepare, the unknowns trump the knowns by a ratio of about 10,000 to 1. If you ever had a blind date, or even a first date with someone you’ve just met, you know that a date is about being the person you strive to be, not the person you are.
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Word on the Street — May 2nd thru May 6th
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
This week, I was on the road visiting new and potential distributors for Classic and ClassicMODUL. Meeting with these folks reminded me of the power of photos in our business. Frankly, I take photos for granted since we take multiple shots of every display we build. I assume other manufacturers do the same thing. It makes sense. Photos document the order and serve as a convenient point of reference if there are questions once the exhibit arrives or several years later when the client wants to modify the design or reorder parts.
Who is Optima Graphics (and Why are We so Darn Shy)?
We Work Hard at Not Getting in the Way
Who is Optima Graphics? It’s simple, we are the wholesale graphics supplier to the trade show industry that helps you retain customers and grow your business. It sounds so mundane, but we listen to you, stay out-of-your-way, break the rules, provide you more time to sell, bring experience to your project and much more. Our behind-the-scenes business philosophy keeps your brand upfront with trade show consumers and keeps our brand out-of-sight. Think of Optima as an extension of your business, your own private factory. You sell exhibits, and we make sure you get those repeat sales from your client. Call us shy? I don’t know, some may refer to this approach as shymart. After all, you’re better at what you do, leaving us to focus on one thing — custom graphics.
Hiring a Project Manager — The 10 Essentials: Word on the Street — April 25th thru April 29th
Hiring a Project Manager — The 10 Essentials
Distributors who are looking to hire a project manager often ask me what Classic Exhibits considers the ideal qualities of an exhibit project manager. Here are 10 qualities we consider essential, in no particular order.