Trade Show Tales Blog

Trade Show Tales is your comprehensive guide to informative articles about trade show marketing, exhibit industry news, promotions, and updates on Classic Exhibits. 

For specific topics, use the Search Tool in the blog or visit the Trade Show and Event Tips in Exhibit Design Search.

| July 28-31

| July 28-31

The 2014 Red Diamond Congress (RDC), the third annual meeting of the Exhibit & Event Marketers Association, takes place July 28 – 31, 2014 at the Oak Brook Hills Resort in Oak Brook, Illinois. The RDC brings together all of the major players from the exhibit marketing industry to engage in thought leadership, best practice exchanges, and education aligned with business and marketing metrics and strategy.

read more
New SEGUE Sunrise Video (Without All that Yakety Yak): Word on the Street — June 9th thru June 13th

New SEGUE Sunrise Video (Without All that Yakety Yak): Word on the Street — June 9th thru June 13th

Last week, you saw a video where Mel White discussed the seven features and benefits of the Sacagawea Hybrid system. This week, Katina Rigall, our designer extraordinaire, takes center stage. Katina shows you how to assemble the SEGUE Sunrise, and unlike Mel, she doesn’t need six minutes and all that yakety yak. In 31 seconds she’ll show you why the Sunrise has become our most popular 10 ft. hybrid display under $4000.

read more
New SEGUE Sunrise Video (Without All that Yakety Yak): Word on the Street — June 9th thru June 13th

Sacagawea Video — 7 Benefits + 1: Word on the Street — June 2nd thru June 6th

What’s the BIG Deal with Sacagawea?

As many of you have come to enjoy, every few weeks we showcase one of the displays passing through Production in a quick video. Sometimes it’s done by the Project Manager who worked on the project. Other times by either Mel or me.

I wanted to share a recent one with you: a) because it answers SO MANY questions about our best-selling hybrid line, and b) because Mel and Jeff (the dude behind the camera) did a terrific job on pulling this video together.

read more
FREE Exhibit Design Search Webinar

FREE Exhibit Design Search Webinar

Hit the Ground Running this Summer and Fall

On Wednesday, June 25, Classic Exhibits will offer a free Exhibit Design Search Tips, Tricks, and Techniques Webinar. Join us when we cover significant feature updates to EDS since the last EDS session, including an expanded My Gallery, Trade Show Tips, and the new Price Range tool.

If you haven’t attended an EDS webinar, you’ll learn how to streamline your sales and design process and turn prospects into orders. If you have attended an EDS webinar, discover even more features in EDS that will turbocharge your sales.

read more

Recent Posts

The Top Trade Show Giveaways of 2010

In an article in Successful Meetings, although smartphones and iPads are shaping the meetings of tomorrow, traditional promotional products continue to impact the meetings of today according to a recent survey from the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI). More

100 Things to Watch in 2011

At the start of every New Year, the experts roll out their “trends” for the coming year. This one from JWT (J. Walter Thompson) takes a global perspective on technology, media, consumerism, and social trends in alphabetical order.You may not agree with every one or even recognize others, but frankly, that’s half the fun. Enjoy!

Shooting from the Hip — 16.10 (EDPA Access)

The Exhibit Designers and Producers Association (EDPA) held its annual meeting a few weeks ago – ACCESS 2010. Mel and I attended as the representatives of Classic Exhibits and ClassicMODUL. The meetings are held at a warm weather resort the week after Thanksgiving. It starts on Wednesday with a golf tournament or a fishing trip for the non-golfers (I always play golf since I can fish in ice in Michigan but can’t golf in it).

Word on the Street — December 13th thru December 17th

Are You Ready for the Most “Predictably Unpredictable” Two Weeks of the Year?

Sounds odd doesn’t it? But anyone who has been in this business long enough knows what I mean. The final two to three weeks of the year are like playing Roulette. The odds aren’t good, but if you put enough chips on the table, you may hit a ginormous winner.

Optima Graphics Wins the Golden Ham Award

Congratulations to our friends at Optima Graphics for winning the Golden Ham Award at the 2010 EDPA Access Conference in Ponte Verdra, FL. Dave Brown and Gina Porcaro are the feature actors in this one-minute spoof of a Progressive Insurance commercial.

Word on the Street — December 6th thru December 10th

Industry Predictions 2011 — Part 2

First let me say, “Hello!” With vacation and the holiday, I have been gone recently and as a result have not blogged for weeks. But I am back at the office now, and I would like to dovetail on Mel’s entry back in mid-November regarding 2011 industry predictions. So here are my thoughts . . .

‘s Between This or That — Choosing the Right Trade Show Display

Choosing the right trade show display is rarely straight-forward. Most of the time, you are selecting between two similar but slightly different displays. Sometimes it’s about the price. Other times it’s about a personal design preference. Many times, it comes down to weight and assembly.

We can’t cover every scenario, but we can review some of the more common “this or that” portable/modular choices. You gotta make a decision . . . which one will you choose?

Kevin Carty Elected to the EDPA Board of Directors

During the 2010 EDPA ACCESS meeting Kevin Carty, Vice President of Sales for Classic Exhibits Inc. was welcomed as a newest elected member to the EDPA’s Board of Directors with an initial two year term. Kevin and Classic Exhibits/ClassicMODUL are very active within the exhibit industry as members of not only EDPA but also TSEA (Trade Show Exhibitors Association) and HCEA (Healthcare Convention and Exhibitors Association) .

Shooting from the Hip — 15.10 (I am Thankful)

Things for Which I am Thankful

It has been a while since I blogged. It wasn’t that I didn’t have anything to say, but I didn’t have anything to say that mattered. Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving, I will reflect a bit on those things for which I’m thankful for with a bit more nostalgia than normal. These are in no particular order except the last one.

Word on the Street — November 15th thru November 19th

As we head into the holidays, I thought I’d put on my clairvoyant hat and peer into my crystal ball. It doesn’t take a fortune teller to know that 2011 is already on your mind. You’re wondering if the exhibit industry will plod along like a Clydesdale, sprint like Quarter Horse, or remain stubborn and unpredictable like a mule.

FAQ — Design Monday Exhibits

In Design Monday, you’ll see inlines and islands, portables and modulars, banner stands and hanging signs. Three new exciting designs each week from the best exhibit designers.

When it’s all about pushing the boundaries of creative design, everything is fair game. See what’s new every Monday.

Frequently Asked Questions . . .

How to Save Money on Your Next Trade Show Display

Buy Value – Not Price. Too often we focus on the price rather than the value. It’s human nature, especially when budgets are constrained. However, we all know the difference between a good value for the price and a low price on a shoddy product.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Glenna Martin at Flying High Creative Resources on the birth of her daughter: Lela Jane Blankenship. The mother and daughter are both fine. Lela tipped the scales at 7 lbs 4 oz and 19″ long. According to Glenna, “As you can see she has quite the head of hair. We’ve decided to keep her.” 😉