| May Edition

Trade Show Blog

Experiential Marketing Summit 2022 (EMSlive)

What a great week in Las Vegas at EMSlive 2022. I walked into this event not knowing what to expect, but several friends who had attended before told me, “Just go, interact, network, and converse and you will quickly see why this event is a part of our yearly plans.” They were correct.

EMSlive is a blend of EXHIBITORLIVE based on the end-user attendees and EDPA ACCESS with its showcase floor. And yet totally different.

For Classic Exhibits specifically, we participated for two reasons: guilt and opportunity. We have been named to the Event Marketer FAB 50 Exhibit Builders for 5 of the past 7 years, but we hadn’t participated in their event. We owed it to them to be there. However, guilt was not the only reason (Click to read the full article).

Tom Beard Returns (Part Deux)

Tom Beard

On March 18, 1995, Michael Jordan sent an “I’m Back!” fax to the media announcing his return to basketball. Like MJ another Chicagoan is returning. Please welcome Tom Beard back as a Regional Sales Manager for Classic Exhibits.

According to Tom, “I look forward to re-connecting with my friends and colleagues in the industry. In case you retired my contact information, I can be reached at tom@classicexhibits.com and 815-321-9258.”

Tom will be responsible for IL, WI, MN, IN and MI. Expect to see or hear from Tom in the coming weeks.

New EDS Gallery — Games & Digital Activations (CP)

There’s a new Gallery in Exhibit Design Search – Games and Digital Activations (CP). We delighted to welcome Captello as a strategic partner to EDS. The Captello gallery includes eight affordable games for trade shows or events which can be launched on any electronic device. The games include custom branding, leaderboard options, and prizes. And like our other partner galleries (CORT, DS&L, Brumark, and Taylor), you can order directly from them (not Classic). Click HERE for the Ordering Process PDF.

Business Model: 10% Referral Fee or 30% Reseller Fee

Referral Fee is when distributor refers end-customer to Captello to handle invoicing, payment, etc.

Reseller Fee is when the end-user purchases directly from the Classic Distributor and the Distributor handles the purchase and support. Resellers will have access to their own Captello account and the ability to switch to different sub-accounts to set up the end-user software on their behalf. Reseller Partners receive training and support from Captello. End-users do not have to pay an onboarding fee with this model. Reseller can profit from professional services and training in addition to license fees. White label options are also available.

EXHIBITORLIVE 2022

Classic Exhibits EXHIBITORLIVE Exhibit

Las Vegas… one final time?

  • Conference: Mon., June 20 – Thurs., June 23
  • Exhibit Hall: Tues., June 21 – Thurs., June 23

To register for your FREE HALL PASS, go HERE and ENTER code #4044. Classic will be “glowing” with a 20 x 30 island in booth #1219. Visit us and you could win a $500 discount on your next order. 

People’s Choice Voting

People's Choice Voting Page

The People’s Choice Page is active with 50 finalists. However, only one design can win the People’s Choice.

You can vote once per day until June 22, 2022. The finalist with the most votes will be named this year’s People’s Choice Award winner. All winners will be announced during a ceremony at EXHIBITORLIVE 2022 in Las Vegas.

As many of you know, we have been consistent cheerleaders for the PMA since the beginning, including sponsoring the voting page (see our banner ad). Please support the PMA by voting for the next two months.

Women in Exhibitions Breakfast

Women in Exhibitions Breakfast at EXHIBITORLIVE

Calling all Women in Exhibitions and Events! The 4th Annual Women in Exhibitions Breakfast event will be held in the Connection Zone at EXHIBITORLIVE on June 22 from 8-10 am. Enjoy a delicious continental breakfast while you network with peers and share your experience in breakout sessions. Learn how women are uniquely suited to take on leadership roles from our special guest speaker MaryCay Durrant.

Date and Time:

  • Wed, June 22, 2022
  • 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM PDT
  • Register HERE

Space is limited. Purchasing tickets in advance is STRONGLY recommended.

Find It Top 40 Exhibit Producers

For the 5th straight year, Classic has been named an EXHIBITOR Find It Top 40. EXHIBITOR “received nearly 500 applications from exhibit houses in North America, all of which were subjected to an exhaustive evaluation process including more than 50 individual criteria weighted to reflect how EXHIBITOR readers and Editorial Advisory Board members value them when vetting and selecting potential partners.”

We’re honored to be named a Top 40 once again, and we’re proud and delighted for the 29 Classic Exhibits Distributors who were also honored. Well done! Pretty darn special.

Webinars

In May and June, we are sponsoring (3) “fast-paced” webinars in conjunction with Lev Promotions, Brumark, and Tim Patterson (The Tradeshow Guy).

20 Trends in 20 Minutes

  • 20 Clever and Creative Promotional Products with Rama Beerfas, Lev Promotions
  • 20 Step-by-Step Flooring Trends with James Zacharias, Brumark

The Fast and Furious 50

  • Tradeshow Stupid to Tradeshow Smart in 50 Minutes. 50 Essential Trade Show Tips for Every Newbie (or Wannabe). Tim Patterson, Tradeshowguy Exhibits

Look for the details, including dates and times, in an ebroadcast later this week.

Filter by Category

Filter by Year

Recent Posts

10 Online Tools for Classic Exhibits Distributors

At a recent Shared Knowledge University, we reviewed ten online tools available to all Classic Exhibits Distributors. The attendees told us that these tools are invaluable to their sales, marketing, and customer service teams and are unique within the exhibit industry. 

Why Small Businesses Fail to Grow by Jay Goltz

Excerpt from the “Art of Running a Small Business.” Many, if not most, Classic Exhibits distributors fall into the small business classification as defined by the Small Business Administration. Small businesses have challenges that larger businesses do not.

Top 12 Trade Show Bad Habits

All animals, humans included, are creatures of habit. We learn how to survive, then follow those routines day after day. Trade shows are no different. Exhibitors and attendees find their safe space and get comfortable: same shows, same people, same message.

Your Trade Show Marketing in 2026

When it comes to trade shows, many exhibitors don’t have a detailed plan on how to market their company. They purchase a display, which they think is the key to a successful show. Your exhibit may be the star of the show but it’s only one element in a comprehensive strategy.

IMEX America Hosted Buyer Lounge (Condensed Version)

IMEX America 2025 brought together 17,633 participants, including more than 6,000 buyers from 75 countries, reinforcing the event’s position as a high-value marketplace for the global meetings industry. At the center of this ecosystem was the CORT Events’ Hosted Buyer Lounge, designed as a dedicated environment.

40 Weird Things You Do @ Trade Shows

Trade shows can be a strange world whether you are an exhibitor, attendee, or an industry insider. While many behaviors might seem normal to you as a member of the trade show community, others are downright bizarre to those who rarely set foot in a trade show hall.

Why Are Companies So Bad at Trade Show Marketing?

Some companiees will hint at it. Then there are the ones who are honest. They simply don’t understand trade show marketing. That’s not surprising. It’s rarely taught on the undergraduate or graduate level. At best, it’s mentioned in passing in a marketing textbook.

10 Things Zombies Can Teach Us About Tradeshow Marketing

Single-minded Focus. You may not appreciate their all-consuming desire to eat your flesh, but they are committed to the task. They let nothing get in their way, except an ax to the brain. Your next trade show will be wildly successful, if you make it a priority, not an afterthought.

10 Things To Ask When Renting Trade Show Furniture

Selecting trade show rental furniture is a critical step in your exhibit planning timeline and it should happen well before your move-in. Ideally, you’re confirming your exhibition rental furniture several weeks (if not months) in advance.

Exhibit Design Mistakes Most Companies Don’t Realize They’re Making

What one exhibitor views as an exhibit design mistake another may view as a brilliant strategy. For example, some companies contend that a hanging sign should only include the company’s name and logo. Others would insist that it include what the company does or the problem they solve. To be fair to both… It depends.

The Ultimate Guide to Trade Show Giveaways (2026 Edition)

When used wisely, trade show giveaways are an investment in your business. They serve as silent salespeople, promoting your company long after the trade show or sales event is over. If you are considering adding incentives to your marketing strategy, you are in luck.

How Modern Smartphones and Trade Shows are Similar

You probably don’t consider smartphones and trade shows as having much in common. After all, one is small enough to hold in your hand, and the other is a large attractive display in an exhibit hall. However, you might be surprised at how similar they really are.