20 Short and Impactful Years: Word on the Street — July 21st thru July 25th
Back in 1994, specifically in July 1994, I was working the 11 p.m. – 7 a.m. shift throwing overnight freight at a grocery store in Lake Oswego, Oregon. A co-worker/friend of mine had been telling me about this other job working for his dad’s business. One day, seeing that I was growing weary of the job, he asked me if I was interested in coming to talk to his father about an opening. I jumped at the opportunity, if for no other reason than I wanted to see the light of day rather than sleep through it.
A Humbling Lesson About 10 ft. Displays
Over the years, I’ve learned a humbling lesson. There’s safety in numbers when it comes to 10 ft. inline trade show displays. Most exhibitors choose the predictable over the bold, the safe over the dramatic. And while I understand, I also don’t understand. Yes, budget is a factor. Fear too. No one wants to make the wrong decision when purchasing a display.
A Sustainable Partnership that Works — Eco-Systems
Late last week, Eco-Systems took another big step — redesigning their website. For those who have gone through that ordeal, you know how arduous it can at every stage. There are no easy tasks when it comes to website redesign, organization, graphics, and coding.
Custom Table Top Display Video
Charlie Shivel, a project manager in the Customer Service Department, discusses a custom Visionary Designs table top display. This table top was designed by Trina Broten, a Classic Exhibits Designer, to fulfill the specific marketing requirements of a distributor’s client. Charlie does a terrific job of keeping it short, sweet, informal, and informative. Well done Charlie.
NEW Rental Rewards Program
At Classic Rental Solutions, our mission is simple. To produce the highest quality rental exhibits and experiences in the industry. No exceptions.
We stage, inspect, and photograph every order before shipping. We pack the exhibit very carefully. We include staging photos, packing photos, and setup diagrams with every shipment. And we’re available anytime, day, night, and weekends for any questions from your I & D team. We understand that a quick call might save your client an hour or two of extra labor.
Happy (Post) 4th of July!: Word on the Street — June 30th thru July 4th
July is here and it’s off with a BANG! Even in this shortened week, business is booming, and by the looks of the quotes you are sending us, the remainder of the month looks to be busy.
EDPA Foundation Scholarship Fund: Word on the Street — June 23rd thru June 26th
Aside from being on the Board of Directors for the Exhibit Designers and Producers Association (EDPA), I also sit on the EDPA Foundation Scholarship Committee. It’s a committee that I have been apart of for five years and feel very strongly about.
The EDPA Foundation Scholarship Fund was created in 2004 to award scholarships for families of industry members to help pursue a college/university level education. The EDPAF Scholarship Program applications are now being accepted for the 2014-2015 school year.
Recorded Version of the Exhibit Design Search Webinar
Twice a year, we conduct an Exhibit Design Search webinar. The title always changes, but it’s always a Tips, Tricks and Techniques session on how to use EDS more effectively. Typically, I don’t record it because, well, I forget. I’d love to give you a better excuse, but I can’t. This time I remembered.
Does Your Mirror Lie?: Word on the Street — June 16th thru June 20th
We ALL do it. Every morning we look in the mirror. If we are honest, we ask ourselves, “Does what I see in the mirror match what my colleagues, family, and friends see in me?”
Before you think I am going on some sort of Freudian rant, I am not. But, as business professionals, we face this question every day.
Red Diamond Congress (RDC) — 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.
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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.
FAQ — Euro LT Modular Laminate Exhibits
When you select a Euro LT Custom Modular Exhibit, you get modular flexibility, solid construction, and sophisticated laminate designs for your trade show exhibit. The Euro LT Custom Modular Exhibit does what no other trade show display system can do because no other exhibit can match the Euro LT for price, performance, flexibility, and elegance.
Word on the Street — September 20 thru September 24
Survey Results and Responses — Part 1
Our thanks to everyone who participated in the recent Classic Exhibits survey. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. I know surveys can be a nuisance, but the data and the comments you shared will not fall on deaf ears. Much to the contrary. Like surveys of the past, we use this information to keep evolving as a company. So again, thanks!
FAQ — Visionary Designs Hybrid Exhibits
I love the name Visionary Designs. It’s the perfect description for a trade show system that represents the cutting edge of portable/modular trade show design. Only Visionary Designs combines vibrant tension fabric graphics, durable aluminum extrusions, and elegant laminates into an unmistakable island or inline trade show exhibit. OK, enough bragging. Here are some informative FAQ’s about VD : 😉
FAQ — Flooring (Carpet and Padding)
Attractive flooring is essential to any successful trade show display. The first choice is often carpeting. The reasons are obvious. It’s available in many colors, it’s easy to transport and maintain, and paired with the right padding, it’s comfortable. To get you started in the right direction, here are some basic FAQ’s.
1. How do I calculate the amount of carpet I need?