A few years ago, iPad and Surface Stands were all the rage. And just when you thought they had peaked, they are back with a vengeance.
Microsoft and Apple have transformed the humble tablet into a wannabe laptop with improved hardware and software. There are predictions that iOS 11 will propel the iPad even further in that direction. No company has more solutions for trade shows and events than Classic Exhibits. Choose from over 25 designs, ranging from stands, kiosks, and even lightboxes. All engineered and built to Classic’s legendary quality.
To download the unbranded PDF version for Tablet Stands, click here. To listen to the bonus audio tip, click here.
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Classic Exhibits Inc. designs and manufacturers portable, modular, and custom-hybrid exhibit solutions. Classic Exhibits products are represented by an extensive distributor network in North America and in select International markets. For more information, contact us at 866-652-2100 or www.classicexhibits.com.
Summer… and the trade show livin’ is easy. Technology and fashion are big hits with the summer crowds both on and off the trade show floor. Still not feeling the fun and romance? How about a musical soundtrack with Olivia and John to get you in the mood? Ah, perfect!
SEMICON West, July 11 – 13, 2017, Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA
Business and technology leaders, researchers, and industry analysts from across the microelectronics supply chain gather at SEMICON West to get a glimpse at what’s next and find innovation engines. SEMICON West features more than 600 exhibitors and 115 hours of programs and networking opportunities. SEMICON West connects the entire extended supply chain, all in one place and at one time. It’s the premier place to re-connect with your contacts and make new ones to drive business forward. @SEMIexpos #semiconwest
AmericasMart Atlanta, July 11 – 18, 2017, Atlanta, GA
The industry’s largest gift and home furnishings Market of the summer, featuring more than 8,000 brands across all categories of gift, home décor and furnishings. Summer Market includes an array of seminars and demos, industry networking events and the ICON HONORS celebration. Who should attend? Buyers from small, medium and large retailers, designers, rug retailers, event planners, buying groups, bloggers, and media – Everyone in the home furnishings and gift industries.@AmericasMartATL #atlmkt
Summer NAMM, July 13 – 15, 2017, Music City Center, Nashville, TN
Showcasing a complete product landscape set within one of America’s most musical cities—Nashville, Tennessee—Summer NAMM celebrates the local community music store and honors our industry’s Top 100 Dealers. Enjoy star-studded events and the lure of the Nashville night life while making connections that will last a lifetime. Summer NAMM offers music instruments and product debuts from top brands and has become a go to resource for pro audio, live sound, house of worship, lighting and event technology professionals. @NAMMShow #NAMM
Comic-Con International: San Diego, July 20 – 23, 2017, San Diego Convention Ctr, San Diego, CA
Comic-Con has become the focal point for the world of comics conventions. The event offers the complete convention experience with over 460,000 sq. ft. of exhibit hall space and 130,000+ attendees. 2017 marks the 48th year for the show, making it the country’s longest continuously-run comics and popular arts convention. @Comic_Con
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, July 26 – 30, 2017, Salt Lake City, UT
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market is committed to delivering the widest and most comprehensive outdoor buyer demographics that has open-to-buy and a passion for the outdoors. Summer Market is the largest outdoor sports show of its kind, and caters to a specialty audience. Not just technical innovations and outdoor sports apparel, Outdoor Retailer Summer Market takes pride in the outdoor conference offerings – providing education to retailers, reps and manufacturers to improve business.@OutdoorRetailer #weareOUTDOOR
ASD Market Week, July 30 – Aug. 2, 2017, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
ASD Market Week is the most comprehensive B2B trade show that brings the world’s widest variety of retail merchandise together in one efficient shopping experience. The ASD Market Week show floor is filled with quality choices at every wholesale price point buyers could want to find. It is truly the wholesale buying event that can’t be missed for any small to large sized retail, distribution, or importing business. ASD Market Week offers 2,700 exhibitors with over 1Million products across 19 merchandise categories. #ASDmarketweek
SIGGRAPH 2017, July 30 – Aug. 3, 2017, Los Angeles, CA
SIGGRAPH is the world’s largest, most influential annual conference and exhibition in computer graphics and interactive techniques: five days of research results, demos, educational sessions, art, screenings, and hands-on interactivity featuring the community’s latest technical achievements, and three days of commercial exhibits displaying the industry’s current hardware, software, and services.@siggraph #SIGGRAPH2017
NAPE Summer, Aug. 16 – 17, 2017, George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX
The annual Summer NAPE Expo in Houston is a networking event that brings together all the players necessary to forge, facilitate and close deals. NAPE is the oil and gas industry’s marketplace for the buying, selling and trading of prospects and for producing properties. Our one-of-a-kind organization focuses on showcasing prospects in an environment where people come with the expectation of doing business. Deals are made at NAPE because we attract all the parties necessary to evaluate, fund and make deals. @NAPE_Expo
The Great American Trucking Show, Aug. 24 – 26, 2017, Dallas, TX
The Great American Trucking Show is an all-encompassing convention of trucking professionals. GATS has something for everyone. There are more than 500 exhibitors representing truck, trailer, engine, component and parts manufacturers, as well as services catering to the heavy and medium duty truck industry. Attendees include owner operators, for-hire trucking company management, company drivers, private fleets and all others aligned with the trucking industry.@TruckShow #GATS
VMworld, Aug. 27 – 31, 2017, Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
VMworld is VMware’s premier thought leadership and education destination for cloud infrastructure and digital workspace technology professionals. At VMworld, attendees will join the industry’s top thought leaders for five days of innovation and learning new skills, hearing expert insights and gaining tools to enable business success. This the one indispensable event to discover the technology, trends and people wo are shaping the future of digital business. @VMworld #VMware
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Classic Exhibits Inc. designs and manufacturers portable, modular, and custom-hybrid exhibit solutions. Classic Exhibits products are represented by an extensive distributor network in North America and in select International markets. For more information, contact us at 866-652-2100 or www.classicexhibits.com.
Do you feel like trade shows are a secret religion where you need a high priestess to explain the path to enlightenment? You shouldn’t… but it’s easy to waste a lot of money before you discover trade show nirvana. Take rental displays for example. So many misconceptions, even by trade show professionals.
Probably nothing has changed more in Trade Show Land than exhibit rentals. What used to look like subsidized housing on the show floor is now indistinguishable from purchase exhibits. Well… in most cases. I recently saw this design on a custom house website as a rental option. I kid you not — THIS was the BEST of the six offerings. Sigh.
It’s no wonder there is so much confusion about rental exhibits. Let’s explore The Five Most Common Fallacies about renting an exhibit.
Attendees Will Know It’s a Rental Exhibit
Yes, if you rent the crappy display shown above. Otherwise, no. At any major trade show, 15-20% of the exhibits are rentals. Quality exhibit rental suppliers, like Classic Rental Solutions, have hundreds of rental designs based on successful purchase designs. These include extrusion, modular wall, and custom modular designs from 10 ft. inlines to 40 x 60 islands with large format fabric graphics. Even double-deck displays. In the end, most rental suppliers will personalize the rental for your trade show needs. It may not be a custom exhibit, but it will be attractive, functional, and cost-effective.
Rentals Can’t Be Customized or Personalized
Well that would certainly make our lives easier if it was true. But, it’s not. Everyone wants an exhibit, purchase or rental, that’s tailored to their trade show marketing needs. That’s an expectation. If you are shown 6 examples and told to pick from the list, pretend you are Usain Bolt and sprint to the next exhibit house. If you are told that that purchasing is a better option if you want any customization, then put your track shoes back on. It’s time to sprint… again.
That’s not to say there aren’t limits. And in many cases, it makes sense to purchase some or all of the exhibit. But it’s not either/or. It depends on your supplier’s inventory and manufacturing capability. Some work from an in-house inventory. Others rely on a large rental supplier like Classic Rental Solutions, which supplies rental displays to more than 200 distributors in North America. That volume allows for greater flexibility in design requests and accessory options. Need 30 counters. We got it. Need 25 monitor stands. We have that too.
It Will Cost Less. It Will Cost More.
Regardless of what anyone tells you, there’s no magic formula when it comes to deciding whether to rent or purchase. In general, renting is less expensive, particularly if you reuse the graphics for multiple shows, but that’s the same for an exhibit purchase. Because marketing is always a moving target, graphics will always change over time. On the other hand, if you make “sprockets,” which never change, and plan to keep the same structure and graphics for several years, then it would be smarter to purchase your display.
You decided to purchase the exhibit. Now you (or someone else) has to store the exhibit. And pack and prep it for each show. That’s a cost that’s often ignored during the design phase. Are you a company that wants the flexibility to change the exhibit design, size, or accessories depending on the show or your budget? Then renting makes more sense. Or consider purchasing the core structure, but renting the kiosks, counters, monitor stands, charging stations, etc. giving you greater flexibility from show to show.
My Show is in Chicago. Should I Rent the Exhibit in Chicago?
Perhaps. Is your show always in Chicago? Do you only go to shows in Chicago? Are you based in Chicago? Otherwise, it doesn’t really matter. Work with the exhibit house that fits you like a glove. It’s not about location. It’s about relationships and success. You have shows all over North America. Does it really matter where the rental exhibit ships from? Honestly, it has to ship from somewhere. If your exhibit partner is truly a partner, they will work with you on the design and your trade show marketing goals, and ensure your exhibit ships as economically as possible.
Do I Have to Rent from the General Show Contractor (GSC)?
The displays from a GSC can be cost-effective, which might make sense for a first-time exhibitor testing the water. However most GSCs have a limited rental inventory and mostly basic designs, although there are exceptions. That said… a GSC is focused on that show. What happens at the next show with a different GSC in a different city with different design offerings?
Exhibitors who view trade shows as an investment do not differentiate between a rental or a purchase. It’s all about creating the best possible ROI for the company. That means working with a partner who understands your company and your goals, someone invested in your success over the long-term, not just for one show. That might seem obvious, but exhibit rentals are often seen as a “Hail Mary!” just to meet a limited budget. A partner will ensure your rental is not a compromise.
Still a bit confused? Renting an exhibit is not for everyone, just like leasing a car isn’t for everyone. However, it’s wise to know your options, particularly since rental designs are much more flexible and attractive than ever before. There’s no longer a stigma associated with a well-designed rental exhibit, and most rental exhibitors are primarily interested in flexibility, both in structure and cost. It’s a worthwhile conversation to have with your exhibit partner, regardless of what you decide.
Classic Exhibits Inc. designs and manufacturers portable, modular, and custom-hybrid exhibit solutions. Classic Exhibits products are represented by an extensive distributor network in North America and in select International markets. For more information, contact us at 866-652-2100 or www.classicexhibits.com.
It’s easy to dismiss portable trade show displays as simple and unsophisticated. But nothing could be further from the truth. Engineering an attractive, durable, and truly portable display is hard, very hard. The Perfect 10, Magellan, and Sacagawea Portable Hybrids are clever, sophisticated displays with features not found in less expensive imports, such as knob assembly, adjustable support legs, and best-in-class 4K dye-sublimation fabric printing.
When buying a trade show display, especially online, always ask the tough questions about construction, print quality, assembly, and packaging. Engineering a portable hybrid display that will last for years doesn’t happen by chance.
To download the unbranded PDF version for the Portable Hybrid Displays, click here. To listen to the bonus audio tip, click here.
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Classic Exhibits Inc. designs and manufacturers portable, modular, and custom-hybrid exhibit solutions. Classic Exhibits products are represented by an extensive distributor network in North America and in select International markets. For more information, contact us at 866-652-2100 or www.classicexhibits.com.
Most modular wall systems were designed for European trade shows where tools and time are in abundance. North American trade shows prioritize speed, modularity, and easy assembly because time and tools cost money. The Gravitee One Step™ Modular System assembles without tools or loose parts. The double-sided panels connect with the attached clips. You’ll never fumble for a loose bullet connector or search for a special tool.
Gravitee’s lightweight aluminum panels accept both direct print and SEG graphics. SEG graphics never need to be clipped, so north or south, east or west, it’s one continuous run ensuring a perfect fit every single time.
To download the unbranded PDF version for the Gravitee One-Step Sales Tips, click here. To listen to the special audio clip, click here.
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Classic Exhibits Inc. designs and manufacturers portable, modular, and custom-hybrid exhibit solutions. Classic Exhibits products are represented by an extensive distributor network in North America and in select International markets. For more information, contact us at 866-652-2100 or www.classicexhibits.com.
