Kevin Carty, VP Classic Exhibits
We recently welcomed several new, very talented employees to the Classic Family. And as is our custom, Mel and I sit down with these employees to check-in and see how things are going after about a week of training and immersion.
During this time, we take the opportunity to talk about “Who Classic is” both internally as well as externally to our customers/partners. In that discussion, we use the term “Invisible Inc” quite often. It’s a phrase that was spawned from our participation in EDPA ACCESS Meetings.
The concept is not new to us, just the name. It’s a tidy, descriptive term that encapsulates our mission, and one that became even more important during the recession as we saw competitors changing their business practices. It’s at the core of our business model. But, like any mission statement or corporate culture, you have to live it and talk about it if you want it to be second nature to every employee. It can’t simply be printed on a poster and hung on a wall.
What does it mean to us? More importantly, what does it mean for you, our trusted and valued partners?
You only need to take a 10 minute stroll through our Production Shop, as I did this morning. As I walked the floor, I saw large, very custom, wood-constructed exhibits in various phases of the production process. I saw countless 10 x 10 and 10 x 20 hybrid exhibits being prepped in the Set-up Area. Most of which will be previewed with graphics before being sent to your customers. I saw cart after cart of pre-cut, pre-milled and pre-bent aluminum extrusion waiting to be packaged and sent to exhibit houses that will use the extrusion in their own in-house design-build projects. And, I saw 52 On The Move portable stools with end-user graphics applied to the seats ready to be packed into cases and shipped to a large upcoming consumer event.
So what is unique about that? You see, most of what I just described will eventually be leaving this building with YOUR brand on the crates . . . or YOUR packing labels on the cases . . . or YOUR branding on the set-up instructions . . . or be used in YOUR final exhibit build that you are working on in your own shop.
Don’t get me wrong. Classic Exhibits is very proud of its Brand. Please know that. But we are even prouder of the opportunities we are given each and every day to boost YOUR BRAND with our products and the hard work of our remarkably talented people.
For years now, you have heard us preach about “Shared Success…Your Success is Our Success.” Through all that, we often joke about how, outside the exhibit industry, we are largest “most unknown” Exhibit Manufacturer in the North America. 🙂 It’s a title we wear proudly.
YOUR Invisible Inc. means that if you are a Custom Builder in your market, you can also be a Pop-up Manufacturer and Hybrid/Modular provider. Or, if you are a Portable/Modular Distributor, you can also be a Custom Exhibit provider.
To all that continue to embrace our odd approach, thanks as always. I hope you have a great and restful weekend with your families.
Be well!
–Kevin
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Tags: Classic Exhibits, corporate culture, Mission Statement, Trade Shows
Great strategy and business model. It sets Classic apart. Thanks for the interesting post Kevin.