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What are Silicone Edge Graphics (SEG)?

June 10th, 2010 Mel White COMMENTS

You may have noticed something new at trade shows and events. Traditional fabric graphics are frequently being replaced by Silicone Edge Graphics (SEG). So what is SEG and what are the benefits?

What is SEG (Silicone Edge Graphics)?

Silicone Edge Graphic (SEG)

Silicone Edge Graphic (SEG)

SEG is a high-resolution dye-sublimated fabric graphic finished with a thin silicone strip (or welt/gasket). The silicone strip is sewn directly to the edge of the graphic, and the strip is then inserted into a frame with a recessed groove. The size of the graphic must be precise so the fabric is taut when installed in the frame. The result is a large format graphic that mimics the old fashioned hard panel graphics commonly found on custom displays and interior spaces.

What is Different or Special about SEG?

  • Lightweight Fabric. Fabric is lighter and more durable than tradition direct print graphics.
  • Versatile. SEG can be used on many SEG aluminum extrusion profiles (including ClassicMODUL TSP profiles).
  • Dye-Sublimation. Dye-sublimation graphics are durable, vibrant, and lightweight.
  • Less Frame. SEG graphics are the perfect choice when more graphic and less frame is desired.
  • No Sew Line. Unlike bead or pole pocket fabric graphics, the sew line is hidden within the extrusion providing a
    more finished look to your exhibit or retail wall display.

    SEG Two-Sided Lightbox

    SEG Two-Sided Lightbox

What are the Benefits of SEG?

  • Storage and Shipping. Fabric is lighter than many other graphics. When folded neatly, fabric graphics take up much less space than traditional direct print graphics.
  • Care. Fabric graphics can be washed and steamed and are more durable and long lasting than traditional graphics.
  • Lightweight. Larger graphics weigh less, perfect for draping or creating space definition.
  • Cost. More image bang for the buck!
  • Green. There are the obvious transportation and storage benefits. Even more exciting is the growing list of fabric options created from recycled materials.
  • No Glare. Fabric is the perfect choice for media walls or any backdrop that is being photographed or filmed.
  • Versatility. SEG fabric can be applied to most displays or event structures.
  • Less Visible Frame. The silicone edge means you see more graphic and less frame.

Here’s a great video from Optima Graphics about how to take a correct measurement for a Silicone Edge Graphic:

Some examples of trade show exhibits and event displays using SEG:

For more information about SEG including detailed images and photos, download the comprehensive FAQ Fact Sheet and Common SEG Extrusion Profiles. Have questions? Please call us.

–Mel White

http://www.linkedin.com/in/melmwhite
mel@classicexhibits.com
Classic Exhibits Network (LinkedIn)

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Shooting from the Hip — 7.10 (What I’ve Learned from My Employers)

June 9th, 2010 Mel White COMMENTS

Shooting from the Hip (trade show tips)

Shooting from the Hip by Reid Sherwood

What I’ve Learned from My Employers

It’s official. It’s June. Looking back, business should have tapered off in May. Instead, orders were steady throughout the month, and we’re grateful as we gradually wind down into the normal summer doldrums. We’ll enjoy it for a few days (or maybe even a week) but then we’ll be antsy for the insanity to return.

Earlier this week, Mel and I had a meaningful conversation about both life and business. We talked about the influences in our lives and the wisdom we’ve received over the years from colleagues, customers, and bosses. I’ve had the pleasure of working in the tradeshow industry for almost 25 years. It has been very good to me. One of the main reasons has been the quality of the people I have worked for.

I started with Ron Armstrong at Armstrong Displays just a couple of years out of college. He is younger than me, and literally, the only paying job he has ever had has been in this industry. He started sweeping floors for his mom and step-dad when he was 12 and bought the company from them when he was 19. The road was rocky for a few years, but I have to give Ron all the credit in the world. He knew it was going to get better. There is nothing a positive attitude and some hard work can’t fix. I was there for 13 years, and there was never a cross word. It was a pleasure.

Lessons Learned In 2000, Jim Hoffmann offered me a job traveling for Optima Graphics. I enjoyed what I did for Armstrong Displays, but I LOVED what I did for Optima. Over the years, Jim became like a father to me, and we had a lot of great times. Jim is probably the most beloved guy in our industry. If you work for Jim, he’s going to tell you to “Always remember that THEY are the customer.” Yes, there are times when that can be painful, but you talk about it and get through it. My own dad had the same philosophy. He’d say, “Always and I mean ALWAYS take the high road.” Any of you who know Jim know that is the only way he does business.

In 2008, I went to work for Classic Exhibits. I had been friends with Kevin Carty for several years before working with/for him and had known Mel White as a very bright marketing guy. They continue to impress me with their solid business minds and just being fine, rock-solid people. I am NOT bucking for a raise or anything. This is just what they do:

  • Align themselves with great partners
  • Give Classic employees responsibility and independence
  • Help customers become more successful
  • Take calculated risks with innovative products
  • Communicate and market / Communicate and market / Repeat . . .
  • Always look to improve
  • Respect Classic and ClassicMODUL distributors

All in all, this life has been very good to me. Thanks to ALL of you who have helped make it better.

Talk to you next week  . . .

–Reid Sherwood

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Word on the Street — May 31st thru June 4th

June 6th, 2010 Mel White 1 COMMENT

Why we participate in the TS2 Show

Word on the Street by Kevin Carty

What a Difference 60 Minutes Can Make!

Really think about that for a moment and then apply it to your life, whether it’s at work or at home. Think about how much can happen in just 60 minutes. Good or bad. Life changing or trivial.

Now before you think I’ve flipped my lid or think I’m having some uber-esoteric moment, I’m not. But something happened this week that really made me think about how fast things change.

On Tuesday, I had a normal day at work, but I was catching a red-eye flight that evening to Chicago for a 7:30 a.m. meeting at the O’Hare Hilton with several vendor partners. After the meeting, I turned around and flew right back home.

Well, as a fan of red-eyes, I have taken this particular United flight no less than 20 or 30 times. It leaves around 11 p.m. Portland time and gets into Chicago at 4:45 a.m. (CST) the next day. But this time we actually got in closer to 4:15 a.m.

According to Wikipedia, Chicago’s O’Hare Airport is the 5th busiest airport in the world (YTD). And if you travel through O’Hare frequently, you can surely attest that it has a life of its own — day or night.

But, have you ever been there at 4:15 a.m. on a Wednesday? Well, if you ever do have the fortune, or misfortune, depending on your situation, find a place to sit in one of the main concourses and just watch what happens over 60 minutes.

O'Hare International Airport

O'Hare Airport -- Chicago

Now before I go any further, I admit I was a bit loopy. My body and mind do not handle all-nighters like they used to so I may have been having a bit of a Timothy Leary experience (minus the drugs of course). All based purely on sleep deprivation.

I was really tired, and I knew nothing was open at the Hilton yet, so I just took a seat in the C-Gate area of Terminal 2 and decided to work on my laptop for an hour before heading over to the hotel to eat. It was then, while sitting there, that I recognized the absolute silence. It was eerie actually, considering how many times I have been through this city within a city, to hear it so quiet. I decided to shut my laptop and just watch for awhile.

It was really cool. The best way to describe it was like seeing time elapsed photography happen right in front of you. First, all the janitorial staff started milling around at 4:30 a.m. to finish cleaning the floors, hand rails, and bathrooms. Then the coffee shop people began arriving a few minutes before 5:00 to warm up their espresso machines for the rush that was coming. Then the security appeared around 5:10 a.m. to take their posts.

Next, by about 5:15 the gate agents wandered in and the first travelers started appearing for their 6 o’clock flights. All around me, I could hear the rapid clacking of 1983 dot matrix printers printing flight manifests.

Finally 5:30 a.m. hits. I know it’s exactly 5:30 because there’s a page on the intercom saying, “It’s 5:30 a.m.” and no less than 200 people were instantly milling around within 100 feet of me. Just like that, in 60 short minutes, the O’Hare I have know for years was in full swing.

It was amazing to witness, not only because of how quickly it happened, but also how it happened in such an organized fashion.

Anyway, it has been stuck in my brain all week. Imagine if our business — trade show sales, design, and manufacturing — had the same regularity? I’m used to cycles in our business, but predictable orders, designs, and manufacturing? I can’t image it. What about you? Would you find it comforting or would it slowly drive you insane?

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Be well.

–Kevin Carty

http://twitter.com/kevin_carty
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/kevin-carty/3/800/32a

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Trade Show Exhibit Websites

June 5th, 2010 Mel White COMMENTS
Making an Impression . . .

Making an Impression . . .

Lately, I’ve been researching websites of trade show displays and trade show distributors. What works, what doesn’t, what looks good and appealing, what looks good and appealing but doesn’t offer any fruit? Personally, I want to find information quickly, which is why I like Classic’s Exhibit Design Search.

I’m an online shopper. As many of you know, my house caught fire last fall which meant I had to replace a lot of stuff. I bought our new TV online, actually ordered it and spent $2400 after working with an online sales consultant. The entire transaction took about 30 minutes, largely because the website was informative and comprehensive and the consultant knowledgeable and professional. I knew if I had questions after the TV arrived that I could call the consultant, and he would gladly work with me. The online company made shopping and ordering easy. I have since recommended the company to friends.

Now, not all trade show websites are e-commerce sites. In fact, most are not.

Based on my research, I’ve discovered there are three basic categories:

1. It’s a website but not a deep website.

It really isn’t an online marketplace —  rather it’s an online billboard where you can find some basic information about the company. Perhaps you’ll see a couple of exhibits built for their loyal customers. There is a “status quo” feeling to the website. Most trade show exhibit websites fit this description. The quality varies. Some are excellent with professional graphic design and intuitive navigation. Others have that “brother-in-law” look and feel. What’s important is that they have a web presence.

2. The online catalogs where price is the driving force.

Again the quality varies, as does the product assortment. Let’s not kid ourselves. Price matters, especially in a down economy. However, as Maslow describes it, “When your only tool is a hammer, then all your problems begin to look like nails.” There is nothing wrong with this approach. But exhibits are not nails and exhibit marketing requires more than just a hammer.

Are some exhibit products becoming commodities, such as banner stands and pop ups? Perhaps. However, there are tools you purchase at Barney’s Bargain Barn because you only need them to last 4-5 times and you don’t care that Barney doesn’t know much about tools, construction, or warranties. There are other tools that need to last years. Those tools are of a higher quality, and you purchase them at Fred’s Hardware. Fred makes sure you get the right tool and honors the warranty should it break. Trade show exhibits are no different. You get what you pay for.

3. The last website, which for lack of a better term, I’ll call the Business Relationship Websites.

These websites mirror my personal approach. The goal is to build a relationship with the customer to the point where they want to call and talk about solutions to problems or to find a method of reaching a goal. The person is willing to measure past results and change the path based on the results needed. They are generally interested in design and trade show marketing, and not simply products. This suits my taste. I want to talk to experts and this type of website seems to communicate that type of relationship.

This is like the car dealership who says, “We have a lot of different methods of transportation, from trucks to hot rods, from a used Vega to a new Cadillac, but after we sit down and decide what works best for you and your budget, we are going to be there to service you and take care of you long after the sale.”

What kind of website do you have? What websites do you purchase from and why?

–Reid Sherwood

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Shooting from the Hip — 6.10 (More Favorites)

June 2nd, 2010 Mel White COMMENTS

Shooting from the Hip (trade show tips)

Shooting from the Hip by Reid Sherwood

More Favorites

Last week was moving week for the Sherwood family. This week is putting stuff away week. How can a family with two house fires in less than two years have this much stuff? I’m blaming an 11 month old girl. Little Reida (not really her name, but it is MY blog) weighs 17 pounds and takes up 1100 square feet of living space. Once we actually re-purchase bedroom furniture it won’t seem so bad.

Last week was also favorite’s week. Food and beverage favorites to be exact. Here are some of my other favorites, and the why’s. I have nothing to base these on but my opinion, so if you don’t agree, that’s fine.

Favorite Airline – American Airlines. When you travel as much as I do, you notice that things tend to go wrong.  Unless you learn to deal with that quickly, you will be in the cardiac care unit. Everyone thinks that it’s all about points and miles. And it is to a point. But when things go wrong, it’s how an airline handles it that sets them apart. Because I fly from Grand Rapids most of the time, and American has a small presence here, I have gotten to be friends with some of the gate agents. In my case, a quick phone call to them and many things get “fixed” (and you don’t ask questions). They take care of their customers.

Favorite Hotel Chain – HILTON all the way. They know customer service like nobody else. I have been a diamond member for 11 years now. They ONLY thing they do that bothers me is that they refer to me as Mr. Sherwood. Mr. Sherwood was my father. I am not old enough to be Mr. anything. It seems as though sometimes they can read your mind. It doesn’t matter if you stay at a Hampton Inn or the Conrad. The service is always impeccable. And their loyalty program is second to none.

Favorite Car Rental Company – Here is where I have NO loyalty . . .  this is all about MONEY or saving it. Lately I have been using Priceline and have gotten some great deals. Only a couple things matter to me about a rental car. First – it must be a 4 door. I was cool 30 years ago. Now I am practical. The other thing that matters is that it’s an American-made car. No, I am not prejudice. American cars allow your cell phone to charge while the car is off and you are at an appointment.

Newaygo, Michigan

Newaygo, Michigan

Favorite City to Visit – This is a mixed bag. As a general rule, I am not a fan of cities, which is why I live in Newaygo, Michigan. But if I were picking favorites, I’ll break it down into super large cities and small cities.

Super Large – Chicago. The Rush Street life is great and the pizza rocks.

Small Cities – This is a coin toss. Both Savannah, Georgia and Portland Maine are great towns. They offer much of the same. Lots of history, great seafood, small homey atmosphere. Savannah has great music on the waterfront every night, so I guess that is the deciding factor.

Favorite Sunset – There are some awesome sunsets around the world. I don’t believe there is a better one than at the end of Mallory Square in Key West, Florida. And they serve cocktails there.

Favorite Stadium – Emotions aside, I think the greatest place to see a game is Joe Louis Arena — possibly because I am a Michigander at heart — probably because it is just that special of a place — absolutely because you get to throw octopus on the ice! There’s no place like it.

Favorite TV Show – Anyone who knows me very well knows that I am a sitcom junkie. It comes down to four shows:  MASH 4077, Friends, All in the Family, and Seinfeld. My favorite is Seinfeld. How they pack so much laughter in a 30 minute show is amazing to me. I have seen every episode a dozen times. I don’t even have a favorite. Just all of them.

Favorite Exhibit Company – Classic Exhibits by a light year. Home of the Portable Hybrid: Sacagawea, Magellan, Perfect 10, and Visionary Designs.

Now if I missed anything of importance, please comment and let me know.

Talk to you next week  . . .

–Reid Sherwood

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