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.

‘s TOWN CALL This Tuesday — Join the Conversation!

‘s TOWN CALL This Tuesday — Join the Conversation!

Join us for Classic’s Quarterly Town Call Webinar on Tuesday, Feb. 12. There will be a review of 2012, predictions for 2013, and an overview product trends. Panelists include Kevin Carty, Mel White, Jim Shelman, Reid Sherwood, Jen LaBruzza, and Eric Albery (Eco-Systems Sustainable Exhibits). Expect a lively Q&A/Discussion with Distributors.

Reserve your seat today — https://www.gotomeeting.com/register/559525874

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15 Tips for a Successful Installation & Dismantle

15 Tips for a Successful Installation & Dismantle

Successful Installation & Dismantle

Planning ahead will save you time and money on your next setup. More often than not, preventable snags slow down installations on the show floor. Here’s a list of ten tips that will help avoid those common obstacles that can waste time and drive labor costs through the roof. As you’ll see, there’s a theme here — PLAN AHEAD . . . and you’ll probably come in under budget!

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The Classic Exhibits Facebook Page

The Classic Exhibits Facebook Page

You’re a regular reader of Classic’s Tradeshow Tales blog, and you joined the Classic Distributor Network on LinkedIn. But, you’re still not getting enough “Classic Time.” Well, who can blame you. Tune into Facebook. The Classic Facebook page shows a more relaxed view of Classic Exhibits and Classic Rentals.

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Lasting Impressions: Word on the Street — Jan. 28th thru Feb. 1st

Mi Casa es Su Casa: Word on the Street — Jan. 21st thru Jan. 25th

What It’s Like to Visit Classic Exhibits

While many distributors have visited us over the years, to review projects, for one-on-one training, for Shared Knowledge University, it sometimes slips my mind that many of you haven’t been to our facility. So, if you have haven’t been to the Classic shop before, you’re probably wondering what it’s like. Well . . . it’s impressive and it’s weird.

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Recent iPad Kiosk Trends

Recent iPad Kiosk Trends

Let me share iPad Kiosk sales from an unnamed Classic Distributor. Last week, I ran a report on this distributor focusing exclusively on iPad kiosk sales over the past four months. This distributor is primarily online, but one I suspect you don’t know. They fly under the radar.

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Recent Posts

Word on the Street — June 8th thru June 12th

Everyday, if you are like me, you find yourself talking to your exhibit industry peers to see “what’s up” in their world and in our industry. So, at the recommendation of others, I am going to write about what I am hearing each week and post it every Friday by noon. I look forward to your comments and feedback.

& Dismantle

The trade show floor can be like operating in a foreign country – with the various unions, terminology, and hazards. However, if you follow a few basic tips, you can successfully and economically navigate the Installation and Dismantle waters of your next show.

Why Retail Managers Should Get More Respect

Are you a current or former manager in a retail business? Do you work in a clothing, shoe, or discount store? Are you managing an electronics, jewelry, or specialty shop? Stand proud. Chances are you don’t get much respect, but you should.

Defining Interconnectivity

By definition, interconnectivity is “to be connected with one another.”

The term interconnectivity fascinates me on a lot of levels ranging from my personal to my business life. So much so, that I have found myself looking for “the connectedness” of things recently. It has become somewhat of an obsession.

Search for Exhibit Photos in P5D — New Feature

P5D (Past Five Days) has been a permanent feature on Classic Exhibits website, and on all distributor versions of Design Search, since September 19, 2006. Over that time, we’ve made multiple incremental improvements. Today’s improvement is anything but incremental.

“New and Improved” ClassicMODUL Website

Introducing the “New and Improved” ClassicMODUL website (www.classicmodul.com). By far, the BIG BIG BIG improvement is to the “Our Line” section. There are now detail drawings of every extrusion and accessories. The products are organized into categories, and you can download DXF files for each one. In addition, there is now a search tool so you can find exactly the item you want in a flash. There are several other upgrades which you’ll have to discover on your own.

The Tradeshow Exhibit Rental Business is Booming

The exhibit rental business is booming. That shouldn’t surprise anyone. Exhibitors, both large and small, are looking for cost-effective ways to maintain their exhibit marketing on tight budgets. Renting a display makes sense for a variety of reasons, including cost, flexibility, storage and handling.

‘m an Idiot

Like most marketing managers, or any manager who understands his or her limitations, I rely on talented people, who are immersed in graphic design issues everyday. Not only do they understand the tools, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, or Quark, but they spend their days immersed in graphic design issues. They understand the nuances and the trends. They remind me that this color text on that background is unreadable and that I’ve created visual clutter and confusion in my effort to say and show too much. If I ask them to add a “star burst” with a price, they guide me to a more contemporary solution that doesn’t reek of 1980’s clip art.

Connectors and Relationships

Have you ever noticed that one person at a party, a business function, or a public gathering that seems to know everyone? There is a reason for that . . . they do know everyone and everyone knows them.

ClassicMODUL Opens an East Coast Extrusion Facility

ClassicMODUL, a designer and manufacturer of aluminum extrusions and accessories, announces the opening of an East Coast facility. The Cheshire, CT manufacturing and warehouse facility will stock select aluminum extrusion profiles for exhibit houses, retail designers, and museum display builders.

Perfect 20 Video By a Classic Distributor

Tracy Lindsay, a Classic Exhibits distributor, created the following video highlighting the Perfect 20 Portable Hybrid Display. In the video, she walks you through the P20 exhibit her client purchased in February and highlights the benefits and features of the system.

Past Five Days — Reviewing Photos in P5D

On 09/23/06, we started an experiment when we launched Past Five Days (P5D). We decided to publish photos of exhibits, components, and accessories on Classic Exhibits.

Design Search — Using the My Gallery Feature

One of the most used features on the Classic Exhibits website is Design Search. And the one of the most useful tools in Design Search is My Gallery. At first glance, this feature is both obvious and straightforward. And it is. However, you may not know that My Gallery can be used for Design Requests and that selective designs within My Gallery can be sent to a recipient.