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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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29,363 Miles in 93 Days

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.

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RECENT Exhibit Design Search Updates (see the GIFs)

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?

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

The Randy Smith Memorial Golf Classic is Right Around the Corner!

Berkeley Hills – Duluth GA | Monday, October 4, 2010 | RSMGC.ORG

Many of you know that I revere this event as the most important event of the year in our industry. And it has nothing to do with Sales, Revenues, Competition, Marketing Plans, etc.

FAQ — Trade Show Rental Displays

The trade show rental business is booming. That should be no surprise given the economy and the constrained marketing budgets of most companies. So . . . when does it make sense to rent vs. buy a trade show display? Here are some tips from the FAQ section of Exhibit Design Search. To see the complete rental design gallery, click here.

Blogging for Beginners — Sponsored by Classic Exhibits

Free Blogging 101 Webinar

Do you ever ask yourself: “Should I start a blog?” Or wonder “Where do I start?”

Most people ask the same questions. After all, blogging is not as simple or straightforward as joining Facebook or Twitter.

FAQ — Exhibit Design Search

So you think you know Exhibit Design Search? I’m sure you do, but just in case you need a refresher, here are Frequently Asked Questions about EDS, the world’s largest database of exhibit designs.

1. What is Exhibit Design Search?

Exhibit Design Search (EDS) is a comprehensive display database and search tool. There’s nothing even remotely close anywhere in the world. With EDS, you can select from over 1500 designs, ranging from banner stands to 50’ x 50’ Islands to find the perfect display for your budget and your marketing objectives.

Social Media 101 Webinar Slides by Tim Patterson

Slides from the Social Media 101 webinar that Tim Patterson conducted in July. Tim is the VP of Sales and Marketing at Interpretive Exhibits. The webinar was offered to Classic Exhibits Distributors.

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

When to order from Classic Exhibits vs. ClassicMODUL

This is a topic that comes up quite frequently, and I apologize for not addressing it sooner . . . or at least more often.

Here is the “2-Second Answer”: When you want it turnkey, order from Classic Exhibits, but if you want to order the extrusion and build it yourself, order from ClassicMODUL.

FAQ — Eco-Smart Displays

From small portable displays to large island exhibits, Eco-Smart Sustainable Displays are now front and center in most exhibit discussions. All of our eco-smart products are designed and constructed with the most environmentally friendly materials available. Review our Eco-Smart FAQ’s to learn more.

FAQ — Banner Stands

Banner stands are everywhere: retail stores, trade shows, conventions, churches, lobbies, and sporting events. I’m starting to think some folks even have them in their homes (“Bathroom — Third Door on the Left” or “Please Remove Your Shoes in the Family Room”). Still a little confused about your banner stand options? Me too! Here’s a quick FAQ about banner stands from Exhibit Design Search.

FAQ — Quadro S Pop Up Display

A few days ago we covered the FAQ’s for the Sacagawea Hybrid. Now, let’s review Frequently Asked Questions about the Quadro S Pop Up Display. To see the complete list, click on the FAQ button in Exhibit Design Search.

1. What is the difference between a Quadro S and a Quadro EO pop up?

FAQ — Sacagawea Portable Hybrid Displays

Several weeks ago, we added Frequently Add Questions to Exhibit Design Search. There are over 90 questions/answers in this FAQ database. Now, we aren’t foolish enough to think you’ll read them all in one sitting, although we’d be very flattered if you did. Instead, we’ll share samples in the Trade Show Tales blog over the next week or so. We know you read the blog. We have statistics to prove it!!

We’ll begin with the very popular Sacagawea Portable Hybrid Display System:

Word on the Street — August 30th thru September 3rd

It’s the kickoff of College Football Season! This weekend, homes, bars, neighborhoods, and stadiums will be filled with rabid fans who have been waiting for this weekend for eight plus months, waiting to see their favorite teams and/or Alma mater take the field for yet another season on the gridiron.

Shooting from the Hip — 13.10 (Making Customers Mad)

6 Surefire Ways to Tick Off Your Customer

No matter how long I’m in business, I am always amazed at the lengths some companies go to make their customers mad. I “get” the fact that you have to make money. I “get” the fact that the customer “ISN’T” always right (like we’ve been taught over and over again). HOWEVER, the customer is ALWAYS IMPORTANT! Here are a few surefire ways to tick off your customer.

‘s Quadro Pop-Up Special

Kevin Carty has lost his mind (again)! He’s decided to “break the bank” with an insane Quadro EO Pop-Up Special.

Here’s the deal:

* Purchase an EO-03 8 ft. or an EO-04 10 ft. pop up display.
* Receive an EO-01 table top for just $150 retail. That’s insane, frankly! The EO-01 retails for $950 msrp.

Word on the Street — August 16th thru August 20th

Perception vs. Reality

One of my best friends travels quite a bit for his job. We often joke about who travels more, but he has me beat by quite a distance. Approximately 30-32 weeks a year, he travels for his job. And most of his travel is to Events, Conferences, and Trade Shows. These can range from a small regional show in Alaska where he has a table top display to the industry hardware show in Chicago where he has a 20′ x 50′ island exhibit.

Exhibit Design Search — Super Cool New Features!

Announcing two new features in Exhibit Design Search (EDS).

Frequently Asked Questions:

We created FAQs for all the galleries in EDS. These questions are intended for end-users, but there’s beneficial information for distributors as well.

For example, here’s an example (from the Counters and Pedestals FAQ):