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.
You Like Me, You Really Like Me!
EDPA ACCESS was great in so many other ways too. The theme was “Band Together.” Shared ideas about our beloved industry was practiced throughout the seminar and speaker sessions. In addition, Jim Shelman, Reid Sherwood, and I participated in the Supplier Showcase where we connected with current and potential customers, vendors, and even other suppliers in a way that was low-key and comfortable.
Eddie Haskell, Eddie Murphy, or Eddie Award?: Word on the Street — December 1st thru December 5th
This year at EDPA Access, Classic Exhibits Inc. won an EDDIE. And to say we are proud and unbelievably honored is an understatement. We won specifically for Exhibit Design Search or EDS as so many of you have come to call it.
The Power of Responsive Communication
You either get it or you don’t. We live in a world where we expect people and companies to respond IMMEDIATELY. That doesn’t mean the problem has to be solved NOW or the question answered ASAP, but it does mean that it has to be acknowledged.
Holiday Events 2014 Kickoff: Word on the Street — November 23rd thru November 27th
On Monday we start the final month of 2014. December promises to be a strong finish to an already amazing year in our industry. And December also means the Annual EDPA ACCESS Meeting. Classic of course will be there.
Attend EXHIBITORLIVE 2015 … FREE!
Who said, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch”? Multiple people, according to the knowitalls at Google. Well, we disagree.
Attend EXHIBITORLIVE FREE compliments of Classic Exhibits Inc. by entering code: 4044.
Creating a Game Plan for Victory: Word on the Street — November 10th thru November 14th
I Love College Football
It’s exciting. It’s fun. It’s often unpredictable. Whatever you think of the current debate about college athletics, I still believe that the college game has far less of the “show and glow” arrogance of pro athletes.
To me, the time and effort that goes into creating a winning game plan is amazing. Some teams have a clear defensive mindset, others are more offensive. Which approach creates the highest victory percentage is debatable.
Dumb Stuff People Do at Trade Shows
Now, I’m not calling anyone “dumb,” so lower your kitchen knives and baseball bats. What I am saying is that people do really dumb stuff at trade shows. Consistently dumb stuff. Anyone who participates in trade shows could write a book on what they’ve seen over the years. Pre-show marketing and post-show leads could cover several hundred pages.
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ClassicMODUL Opens Southeast USA Extrusion Facility
ClassicMODUL, a designer and manufacturer of aluminum extrusions and accessories, announces the opening of a Southeast USA facility.
The Birmingham, AL manufacturing and warehouse facility will stock select aluminum extrusion profiles for exhibit houses, retail designers, and museum display builders. The Birmingham facility along with the current Cheshire, CT facility serve as regional distribution hubs for MODUL aluminum extrusions.
Word on the Street — March 14th thru March 18th
It’s Showtime! EXHIBITOR SHOW 2011.
It is that time of year . . . and if you have been “peeking” at Peek-a-Booth, you probably already know what a creative and exciting display we have in store for the show. It’s a “Home” (of sorts) where you can relax and learn about all the great things happening at Classic Exhibits, Exhibits Northwest, Eco-systems Sustainable, and ClassicMODUL.
The EDPA Portable Modular Summit
he EDPA Portable/Modular Summit will return to Exhibitor this year after a 2010 hiatus.
This session will meet on Wednesday, March 30th from 9:30 am to 10:30 am in Tropics A-B of the Mandalay Bay North Convention Center (look for the NORTH Convention Center sign on the right side of the main entrance hallway, just past the Starbucks).
Bye Bye Pop Ups? Hello Hybrids!
Distributor Open House
I attended a Distributor Open House recently, where the distributor invited customers to see the latest trends in trade show marketing (ExhibiTrends 2011). Over 20 exhibit-related companies participated, ranging from portable manufacturers to lead generating companies, and from flooring suppliers to graphic providers. The event was well-organized and extremely successful. About 300 current and potential customers walked the event.
Jeopardy Questions — Test Your Knowledge of Classic Exhibits
Several weeks ago, a Classic Distributor asked me to create Jeopardy questions for his weekly sales meeting. He planned to test his Account Executive and Project Managers on their knowledge of Classic products and services. Since I enjoyed writing the answers/questions, I thought I’d put you to the test as well.
Below are all the answers and then the corresponding questions. So grab your buzzer and discover how well you know Classic?
Word on the Street — February 21st thru February 25th
Avoiding Arrogance
“Avoiding Arrogance” is an insightful blog entry by Tom Cox that appeared in Oregon Business last week. It reminds us of things NOT to do or to assume as we interact with colleagues and customers on projects. Below is the blog entry.
Word on the Street — February 14th thru February 18th
First Timer’s Experience
This past week had a running theme — First Timer’s. That is, people who were either attending and/or coordinating their first trade show, or in one case, preparing for their first retail installation. You know what this is like. It’s draining, exhilarating, and frustrating –usually at the same time.
Looking for a Deal is Easy . . .
Well, after last week’s sales calls, I decided that all anybody wants to talk about anymore is price. The price of EVERYTHING. Not just trade show exhibits, but everyone is looking for a deal. Looking for a deal is easy, because there is always someone or something cheaper. That doesn’t necessarily mean that it is equal, just cheaper.
Customer Appreciation Reception at EXHIBITOR
Join us for a a Customer Appreciation Reception on Tuesday March 29 at the Eye Candy Lounge. The reception is sponsored by Classic Exhibits Inc., Display Supply and Lighting and Optima Graphics. To receive a complementary drink ticket, visit the Classic Exhibits (#1455), DS&L (#1361), or Optima Graphics (#1721) on the EXHIBITOR Show floor on either Monday or Tuesday. There are a limited number of tickets available — so don’t dawdle my friend. Your odds worsen with each passing hour.
Our 2011 EXHIBITOR Show Invitation
Attend EXHIBITOR 2011 for FREE as a Guest of Classic Exhibits Inc.
Simply click the link below. You will be taken to a registration form. Once you complete the form, the final price will be zero, gratis, zippo, nada.
For this most generous gift, we ask one favor. Visit us at booth #1455, a 20 x 30 island exhibit where we’ll showcase the latest products and rentals from Classic Exhibits Inc. and Eco-systems Sustainable Exhibits.
https://preview.tinyurl.com/48ct6a3
Rental Exhibits Aren’t What They Used to Be. THANK GOODNESS!
We’ve Come a Long Way in the Exhibit Rental Business
Not so long ago, the choices were limited to pop ups, panel displays, and bent and dirty aluminum extrusion from the show contractor. You could spot a rental booth from clear across the show hall. All that has changed . . . Thank goodness! More often than not, you couldn’t spot a rental if you were staring at it on the show floor. Rental exhibits are no longer cookie-cutter, off-the-shelf kits. Most manufacturers welcome modifying and customizing existing rental kits or creating new designs. They’re individually designed just like purchased exhibits.
Word on the Street — January 31st thru February 4th
When a Company Gets “Too BIG”!
Please indulge me for few minutes. I really need to rant about a project from last week.
Now, I have no intention of naming names. However, I think this story has merit for being told, if for no other reason than to highlight what I hope Classic Exhibits never becomes, i.e., a company “Too BIG.”
‘s Counting?!)
When we launched Design Monday on April 18, 2005, our objective was simple (and perhaps a little naive): to transform the image of Classic Exhibits from a medium-sized systems manufacturer to a leader in innovative portable, modular, and hybrid displays. At the time, we were designing and building some of the industry’s most creative trade show solutions. However, as we joke about it now, the industry perception of Classic Exhibits was “five guys in a garage making folding panel and pop up displays.” We hadn’t been that company for many years, but we had done a lousy job of marketing our new designs and communicating the changes at Classic Exhibits.
Word on the Street — January 24th thru January 28th
I hope you all had a great week both professionally and personally.
Is it just me, or do you too find yourself feeling overwhelmed with business-related tasks right about now? Whether it’s quotes, new orders, expansion, marketing, etc. Whatever it may be, if you are like me, you need an extra five hours each day to accomplish everything on your list.
Tightwad Tuesday Specials
Some Customers Can’t Resist a Bargain
Look for these Retail Specials every Tuesday in February and March.