29,363 Miles in 93 Days
I enjoy creating new concepts! It’s what I live for to be honest. All the trips I’ve taken as a representative of Classic Exhibits in 2014 have reinforced that passion: from Dusseldorf for EuroShop in February, to Vegas for EXHIBITOR in March, and now NYC for the FIT Exhibition Design thesis presentations.
Surface 2 & Surface 2 Pro Stands: Word on the Street — May 5th thru May 9th
Up until now, Classic Exhibits has bet heavily on the iPad tablet. You could say we’ve doubled down a few times. And, we’d be lying if we told you that it hasn’t been successful. It’s been crazy (the loading dock is overflowing with orders) successful.
RECENT Exhibit Design Search Updates (see the GIFs)
Your Branded Exhibit Design Search
Nearly every month, we push functional or visual changes to your branded Exhibit Design Search website. Some you may notice. Some you may not.
Do you want to know a secret? I’m a obsessed with EDS (OK, that may be the world’s worst kept secret). And I force Tony, Glenna, and everyone else at Classic Exhibits to share that obsession. If only there was a 10 step program for an EDS addict?
The Classic Exhibits Family is GROWING: Word on the Street — April 28th thru May 2nd
As we continue to grow and fine-tune manufacturing, we recognized the need to fine-tune our Customer Service/Project Management Department as well. Growth presents challenges, and anyone who has experienced rapid sales growth knows, you can wait and react or you can plan and perform.
Trade Show Marketing Success Video (Very Practical Advice!)
Earlier this week, Classic Exhibits hosted the Countdown to Trade Show Success webinar with trade show marketing expert Marlys Arnold. I wish EVERY EXHIBITOR would take 45 minutes and watch it. She presented practical advice about exhibit marketing, graphics, and booth etiquette. If nothing else, start watching at the 29 minute mark, “The 10 Commandments of Booth Staffing.” Excellent advice and spot-on photos of bad and good behavior.
If You Only Have a Hammer . . . : Word on the Street — April 20th thru April 25th
Pointing your finger is almost a rite of passage in sales. It’s always the “other guy” who has a limited set of tools or your competitor who doesn’t listen to the client. Unlike the “other guy,” you would never guide your client toward a product or solution that “just so happens” to fit your product assortment.
Book Download — Super Networking at Events and Tradeshows
A couple of months ago, Tim Patterson, otherwise known as The Tradeshow Guy, wrote a 90 page e-book titled, Super Networking at Tradeshows and Events Using Social Media. He had copies printed and gave them away to friends, industry colleagues, and at trade shows. Classic Exhibits was a sponsor for both the book and the printing.
Reconfigurable Custom Inline Exhibit
All Custom. More Than Modular.
One of the most overused terms in the exhibit industry is “custom modular.” Too often, it means, “At some point in the future if you purchase more components, you can transform this display into another size, but you’re unlikely to do it any time soon.”
However, when done well, it truly means “custom” and “modular.” Here’s an excellent display example, narrated by Charlie Shivel, a project manager at Classic Exhibits.
Why the Big Picture MATTERS in Graphic Design
Many trade show clients and graphic designers are unfamiliar with how to design for 3D structures. If you have a client that fits that description, then our new Graphic Inspiration Galleries will be useful. We’ve dug through the Past Five Days (P5D) photo archives and identified outstanding examples of graphics.
Invite Your Clients and Prospects to Free Training
On April 29, Classic Exhibits will host the “Countdown to Trade Show Success” webinar with trade show marketing expert Marlys Arnold. You have the opportunity to invite your clients and prospects to participate for free, compliments of Classic.
Recent Posts
Word on the Street — November 1st thru November 5th
Our People . . . .
Many of you, who have been distributors, vendor partners, and industry friends, have heard us speak about how the heart and soul of Classic Exhibits is its people. They are the key to our success.
Obviously to be successful in this business, we also have to have attractive designs, quality products, and advanced manufacturing capabilities, but at the end of the day, its our people that make Classic a truly remarkable and great company. So please indulge me today as I share some information and some praise about our wonderful people.
FAQ — Island Exhibits
Designing a Trade Show Island Exhibit is equally exciting and nerve-racking. It’s exciting to design a display that showcases your marketing message and draws attendees to your booth. It’s nerve-racking because islands can be expensive, and when budgets are tight, you want to get the biggest bang for your buck and to maximize your Return on Investment.
FAQ — Intro Fabric Panel Displays
For nearly two decades, Intro Fabric Panel Displays have been the perfect choice for a flawless, re-configurable portable display.
Known for its strength, exceptional alignment, and customizable display panels, the “two-sided” Intro Fabric Panel Display performs beautifully in the most demanding trade show schedule. The Intro comes in 10 x 10, 10 x 2, and table top display configurations.
Word on the Street — October 18th thru October 22nd
The Tao of the Dude . . .
Last week, I was in Seattle for a management meeting at the Exhibits Northwest office. On the drive up, Mel shared an article with me from the magazine Mental Floss. Mel knows I’m a big fan of the movie The Big Lebowski, a Coen Brothers flick. The Big Lebowski (TBL) was featured in an article entitled, “The 25 Most Powerful Movies of the Past 25 Years.”
Perfect 10 Portable Hybrid Displays — 10% Special
No, no one’s pulling your leg, telling a whopper, or simply fibbing . The Perfect 10 is on sale though the end of the year. And what could be more enticing than a sale on the most innovative portable hybrid display EVER.
It’s true. Until 12/31/10, select Perfect 10 and Perfect 20 inline kits are 10 percent less.
In case you happen to be a Perfect 10 newbie, here a few of the reasons why the P10 has revolutionized portable trade show design over the past three years.
FAQ — Perfect 10 Portable Hybrid Display
There’s nothing quite like the Perfect 10 Portable Hybrid Display . . . Easily recognizable, utterly unforgettable. When you name a product Perfect 10, it had better be perfect and with Perfect 10 you get flawless performance at every trade show. Look to Perfect 10 and Perfect 20 Portable Hybrid Displays for an exhibit that blends large graphics, sexy curves, and portable assembly into a stunning trade show exhibit at a sweet price.
Word on the Street — October 11th thru October 15th
Diversifying was the overriding theme of conversations with distributors this week. When I make calls to Classic Exhibits Distributors, I ask about their sales and what they are seeing in the market. I inquire where their sales are coming from and where they see them headed in the coming months.
FAQ — Table Throws
Table Throws seem so simple. Yet, quality varies considerably. We offer only the best materials: premium twills, vinyl perma logos, and dye sublimation. Our trained artisans craft the highest quality seams and hems, and the throws are washable and fade resistant.
Choose from 8 ft, 6 ft, runners, or even custom sizes.
Word on the Street — October 4th thru October 8th
Worship the Moment . . .
This is not really a work subject, but it is something that a good friend and vendor rep. said to me at a dinner this week.
He and his wife were on vacation in the Pacific NW, so I had dinner with them on one of their last nights. Not only was it great to spend time catching up, but it was also a pleasure to hear about their vacation.
Blogging for Beginners 101 — Replay
Last month, Tim Patterson at Interpretive Exhibits conducted a Blogging for Beginners webinar. If you missed it, you can still see it through the magic of YouTube.
Here’s what Tim had to say about the webinar on his website (www.tradeshowguyblog.com):
Want toHlear about blogging? Want to know how WordPress works? Here is video playback of the Blogging 101 webinar I hosted in late September with the assistance of Classic Exhibits.
Perfect 10: On the Cover of Creative Magazine
What do Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Lopez, and Perfect 10 Hybrid Displays have in common? They are all featured on the cover of magazines this month. True, you won’t see our “celebrity” photo at the supermarket checkout stand, but we’re very proud nevertheless. Be sure to check out “Gia” in all her splendor in the August/September issue of Creative: The Magazine of Promotion and Marketing.
To read the magazine’s “tell all” expose turn to page 105. It’s shocking!
FAQ — Table Top Displays
When it comes to trade show displays, table tops are too often the Rodney Dangerfield of exhibits — they just don’t get much respect. That’s unfortunate since table tops are the exhibit and event lifeblood of many for profit and non-profit organizations. At Classic Exhibits, we offer more table top designs than anyone. Choose the two-sided Intro Fabric Table Top or the contemporary Aero Tension Fabric Table Top. Or, select the always popular Quadro Pop Up or the economical Classic Presentation Briefcase Display.
Word on the Street — September 26th thru October 1st
Survey Results and Responses — Part 2 of 2
Again, thank you for your participation and feedback on our recent survey. This week I’d like to cover some of the numbers in addition to answering many of your comments and questions.
Shooting from the Hip — 14.10 (Making Customers Happy)
(4+1) Ways to Make Your Customers Happy
A while back, I posted “6 Surefire Ways to Tick Off Your Customer.” Now let’s address this topic from another angle, namely how to make your customers happy, satisfied, and most importantly, loyal. We all know how much easier it is to retain a customer than to find a new one. This applies to the manufacturer/distributor model as well as a typical retail setting. Since I’m most familiar with the manufacturer/distributor model, I’ll discuss it from that perspective.
FAQ — Fabric Pop Up Displays
Is there any trade show display more familiar that Xpressions and Burst? The Fabric Pop-up has become popular with exhibitors because it’s portable, attractive, assembles fast, which combines for a great trade show experience. As familiar as you are with these products, you probably still have questions. We hope the following FAQs answer many of them.