Polishing Perfection: Word on the Street — June 24th thru June 28th
First, the issue. We design, manufacture and sell tradeshow exhibits. We depend on you to find new clients or to work with your existing clients to develop their tradeshow program. But there is, at times, a fly in the ointment or a pink elephant in the room. It’s YOU!
Magellan Portable Hybrid Displays
The Classic distributors who attend Shared Knowledge University (SKU), our comprehensive training program, hear the history and the explanation of our hybrid lines. They always tell us that what was confusing, now makes sense. So, over the next few weeks, I’ll do my best to encapsulate the SKU review into a series of blogs about the Classic Hybrid lines. We’ll begin with Magellan.
Meet Katrina Broten, Our Design Intern: Word on the Street — June 17th thru June 21st
The Classic Family is very happy to welcome Katrina Broten to our Design Department as a Summer Design Intern. Many of you might remember Katrina from earlier postings. She and I met through the EDPA Mentorship Program with Bemidji State University last fall. During her final year, she collaborated with Mike and Katina from the Classic Exhibits Design Department as she worked on her senior projects.
” Custom Island Exhibit by Classic Exhibits
The 40′ x 40′ Calypto Island Exhibit was built by Classic Exhibits for Exhibits Northwest Portland. The custom construction island featured a 40 ft entrance with downlighting, backlit reception counters, silicone edge graphics, and three large monitors all framed by two large “C” bookends. Behind the entrance was private meeting rooms. Built using wood cam-lock construction, primarily 4 x 8 panels.
Let Your Fingers Do the Talking: Word on the Street — June 10th thru June 14th
It’s on your desk, in the battery charging cradle at home, or in the tray in your car. Some are black, some are white, some are shiny. They all have numerical keypads . . . keypads that rarely get used by anyone under 35.
It’s Your Phone
‘t Be Fooled by This Copy
Whenever I hear someone say, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” I know it’s because they just copied something. We see that a lot with our designs and our innovations. At EXHIBITOR2013, there were two exhibits, one from a Chinese manufacturer and one from an American distributor, that were EXACT copies of our designs. Sigh.
An Example of a Video Testimonial by a Classic Exhibits Distributor
In February, we built a custom 30 x 30 island for Communication One Exhibits in Salem, OR. The client was Bob’s Red Mill, a manufacturer of whole grain products. Anyone who has visited us is familiar with Bob’s Red Mill. The company has a visitor center and restaurant just down the road from Classic Exhibits. We almost always take our out-of-town guests to Bob’s for lunch.
10 Reasons to Love June and July in the Exhibit Biz
Everyone knows the trade show biz is cyclical. It’s busy in August, September, and October. November is a snoozer. December is always a gamble. Then comes January, February, March, and April when all hell breaks loose. And just when you can’t possibly work any harder or sleep any less, it’s late May.
Celebrating Grandma: Word on the Street — May 27th thru May 31st
This weekend, the Carty Family celebrates my grandmother’s 95th birthday. I come from a huge Irish Catholic family, meaning we’ll have 40-50 in attendance at her party. She has chosen an ice cream social, and it’s sure to be a great event. She is an amazing woman!
The Ultimate EDS Webinar — Tips, Tricks, And Techniques
Are you a POWER USER of Exhibit Design Search? You can be . . . all in 60 minutes. With our certified training program, you’ll impress co-workers with your savvy EDS knowledge, close more display sales, reduce visible wrinkles, and regrow hair (lots and lots of hair). Trust us. We’ve done tests.
Join us on Tuesday, June 11 at 10 am PST (1 PM EST) for EDS Tips, Tricks, and Techniques.
Recent Posts
Word on the Street — November 23rd thru November 27th
Happy Thanksgiving!
During this season of thanks, I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude to the Classic Family, including our vendor partners, distributors, and Classic Exhibits employees.
To our vendor partners who help make Classic Exhibits thrive, thanks for all that you do. Those companies include Optima Graphics, Brumark Flooring, EcoSystems Sustainable Exhibits, Display Supply and Lighting, Elite XPO Cargo Systems, and Momentum Management. Your dedication to quality and service contributes to our continued success. Thank you!
I Heart Knobs — Magellan and Sacagawea Displays
Let me begin by saying, this is probably more information than you want to know about knobs. But . . . .
Effective immediately, Sacagawea and Magellan Hybrid Displays are “knobbier.” Don’t shake your finger at me, “knobbier” is the correct term. I should know . . . I invented it.
What’s the difference between a tool-less knob system, such as the Perfect 10 trade show display, and “knobbier” systems like Sacagawea and Magellan? Depending on the configuration, about 2 to 10 knobs.
Word on the Street — November 16th thru November 20th
Get LinkedIn with the Classic Exhibits Network
I am sure many of you are already in LinkedIn, but do you use it consistently? And what does that mean?
I am on LinkedIn everyday, including weekends. Not because I am some obsessive compulsive personality or anything. Rather, it has proven to be a great source of information. It’s a place where I can keep up with the pulse of the industry in “snapshot” style.
Classic Exhibits Receives Patents on Perfect 10 Hybrid Display System
Classic Exhibits Inc., a designer and builder of portable, modular, and custom hybrid displays, has received two patents on the Perfect 10 Hybrid Display System. The Perfect 10 and Perfect 20 systems were introduced at EXHIBITOR 2008. Classic was awarded both a design patent and a utility patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. These patents cover, among other design and construction details, the Perfect 10’s unique reverse “S” shape and its modular, no-tools assembly. Additional patent applications are currently in process in the European Community.
Word on the Street — November 9th thru November 13th
Love thy Neighbor (Unless They Own a ’79 Chevette on Cinder Blocks)
Most neighborhood developments in America since the early ’90’s have covenants. These covenants specify what you can and can not do to your house, your lawn, and even whether you can park your land yacht in your driveway or paint your house bright pink. Why do neighborhoods impose these covenants? Basically, so you do not end up living next to neighbor with 4 ft. tall grass, plastic pink flamingos, and a ’79 Chevette on cinder blocks.
I propose that we consider similar guidelines for the trade show floor.
What Does a Distributor Want from a Manufacturer?
For the last 24 years, I have been employed by manufacturers selling primarily to distributors. Currently, I serve as the National Sales Manager for Classic Exhibits and ClassicMODUL. My job takes me on the road . . . a lot. Typically, I travel anywhere from 30-50 percent of the time, often leaving on a Sunday afternoon and not returning until Friday evening.
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Exhibit Renderings Rock . . . But Photos Rule!
The fastest growing segment in the trade show exhibit industry is portable hybrids. What are portable hybrids? Click on this link for an explanation, or simply click on the two photo gallery links below. These galleries show actual orders in Classic Exhibits Setup Area over the past six to nine months. It doesn’t include every portable hybrid ordered, nor does it show the other exhibit lines we manufacturer. If you are interested in seeing a more comprehensive photo gallery, we encourage you to visit P5D, our daily blog of photos (which goes back nearly four years). We think you’ll enjoy seeing how exhibit trends have changed from season-to-season and year-to-year.
Word on the Street — November 2nd thru November 6th
Great Marketing Or a Sign of Desperation?
I’ve seen a lot of promotions this week that left me wondering if the ads are brilliant marketing or a desperate attempt to pay creditors.
In any marketing campaign, you want to create an appealing offer that entices buyers to act, but your customers shouldn’t smell smoke — like there’s a fire sale in progress.
7 Tips to Selecting Your Next Trade Show Space
What You Should Know about Trade Show Booth Selection
Trade show exhibit booth space is assigned based on booth size and show seniority
Location is only one factor in selecting an ideal exhibit booth space
Keep some distance between you and your competitors
Restrictions on height can vary by show and by country
Sacagawea Portable Hybrid Display — 60 Day Guarantee
Effective September 1 through December 31, Classic Exhibits will offer an unconditional no questions asked 60 Day Return Guarantee on the NEW Sacagawea Portable Hybrid Display. Try it for 60 Days. If you don’t like it, you can return it to your Classic Distributor for a refund, minus graphics and shipping charges.
Word on the Street — October 26th thru October 30th
Variety is the Spice of Life
How many times have we heard that? For me, it is something I truly believe both in business and in my personal life.
Earlier today, I watched a great online seminar by Malcolm Gladwell who, as many of you know, is someone I admire greatly. In this video, Malcolm speaks about Howard Moskowitz, the man who revolutionized the way the food industry looks at and delivers its products to consumers. And I mean revolutionized!
Word on the Street — October 19th thru October 23rd
This week, I’d like to share an online article. The article struck a chord with me because it addresses “Value.” In nearly every face-to-face meeting I’ve had over the past 12-18 months with distributors, suppliers, and co-workers, they have asked me how I define and sell value in a market dominated by price.
When apples are being compared to apples, especially in a price-driven market, how do I, as a salesperson, differentiate myself from the competition?
“Is Our Industry Model Obsolete?” by Dan Cantor, President, EDPA
Our compliments to Dan Cantor, President, EDPA, on his recent and insightful article in the Global Insights Newsletter (Q3. 09): Is Our Industry Model Obsolete?
We highly recommend reading this article, especially in light of the challenges facing the exhibit industry over the past year. Business is improving, but it won’t ever be healthy unless we fix the underlying problems.
To quote Dan, “Our industry has a much bigger challenge: our business model is not globally competitive, and our industry will soon be in crisis as a result.”
There doesn’t appear to be a link on the EDPA website to the article, so we have included a link to a PDF version: Is Our Industry Model Obsolete?
‘t Tell You — #10
For the next two weeks, we’ll share 10 Things We Probably Shouldn’t — one each day. Actually one, plus another one. Enjoy!
#10. Unlike many of our competitors, we do not dictate your shipping/freight options. It’s your choice. We can arrange your freight, or you can arrange it through your carrier and your account number. We’re flexible. However, there are several reasons why allowing us to arrange your freight is advantageous. First, our FedEx and UPS discounts are probably much better than yours based on our volume and history. We consistently ship 10-20 orders per day. Second, we purchase freight insurance, not through the carrier, but through a separate policy. This insurance is MUCH BETTER and typically covers the full cost of the exhibit.
We encourage you to discuss your freight options with your Project Manager. You may discover that allowing us to arrange your freight makes a lot more sense both for your peace-of-mind and financially.