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.

SKU …. Part Deux: Word on the Street — October 1st thru October 5th

SKU …. Part Deux: Word on the Street — October 1st thru October 5th

Teacher’s Pets

Two weeks ago, we hosted our second Shared Knowledge University training. It was a very successful educational and networking event with an outstanding group of new and veteran distributors. To the attendees, we loved having you here. The give and take, your humor, and your insights made it truly special. If there was an award for Teacher’s Pets, you would have all won.

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Bread Crumb Orders

Bread Crumb Orders

Sandwiches, French Toast, and Bread Pudding

Recently, we conducted Shared Knowledge University (SKU), our two day distributor training program. On the first day, we started the meeting by discussing “Shared Success” and “Shared Knowledge.” These philosophies serve as the foundation for our business, not only with distributors, but also with Classic employees and our suppliers. Shared Success and Shared Knowledge depend on honesty, trust, and respect. That starts with us. We do our best to work within those guidelines, but it would be naive to assume that every distributor views our business relationship as a partnership.

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Upcoming Events for The Classic Exhibits Family: Word on the Street — Sept. 10th thru Sept. 14th

Upcoming Events for The Classic Exhibits Family: Word on the Street — Sept. 10th thru Sept. 14th

Not only is this “the busy” season, but this is also a busy time for events at Classic.

First, Club 815 Fundraiser

The time is finally here. “The Fundraiser Ride for Mike and Janet Swartout” is this Saturday, September 22. Yes, it’s the culmination of a lot of training, but more importantly, the culmination of your tremendous support for Classic’s Design Director, Mike Swartout who is battling cancer. Thanks to those who have been so very generous by contributing to the team that includes Joel Roy from Creative Dimension, Greg Garrett from Greg Garrett Designs, David Brown from Optima Graphics, Tony Ricci from Optima Graphics and his lovely wife Betsy, Mel White, Charlie Shivel and me from Classic, and my step-father Grant Murrell.

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‘s Rep

‘s Rep

Snake Oil Salesman or Snake Charmer

The traveling salesman has always had slightly negative, slightly shady reputation. If you’ve ever seen The Music Man, particularly the opening scene on train, you’ll know what I mean. I would like to think business has changed from the days of the “snake oil salesman” to what we now refer to as a “manufacturer’s rep.

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“The Importance of Exhibitor Education” by Marlys Arnold

“The Importance of Exhibitor Education” by Marlys Arnold

Marlys Arnold, from Trade Show Insights, wrote a terrific blog this week about The Importance of Exhibitor Education. She based her comments on the recent CEIR Report, “How the Exhibit Dollar is Spent.”

I encourage you to read (or listen to) her post. Here’s a snippet:

“Earlier this month, the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) released their report, “How the Exhibit Dollar is Spent.”

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Quadro S Pop Up Assembly and Features Video

Recently, a Classic Distributor asked us to record a quick video showing the basic assembly and features of the Quadro S Pop Up Display. So a few days ago, we recorded this off-the-cuff and very casual video in our shop once everyone had left. You’ll quickly see why I never auditioned for any high school or college plays.

We thought we’d share it for anyone unfamiliar with the benefits and features of the Quadro S. My thanks to Jeff Garrett, our video guru, for turning a pile of @*!% into something mildly presentable.

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The Fallacy of Running a Small Business

The Fallacy of Running a Small Business

Sales/Marketing, Finance, and Operations

Choose one. Just one. You’ll won’t be good at all three.

In a former life, I was a small business consultant for start-ups, mostly with technology companies and inventors. It was rewarding . . . and it was brutal. Nearly every day, I worked with entrepreneurs on their financials, marketing plans, and operations. Most were obsessive and deluded. They knew their product or service, but they struggled with long-term planning, raising capital, implementation, and customer service.

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