It was a summer day like any other… until it wasn’t. So many questions… “I’ve never done this before. How am I supposed to spit?”
Temperatures all week were flirting with 100 degrees. It has been toasty. But when came Friday, the day of Classic Exhibits Annual CompanyPotluck, the barbecue gods heard our pleas… the temp dipped to a beautiful 84 degrees with light breezes to cool one’s brow.
With Chef Boy R Kevin behind the grills pushing out burgers, dogs and veggie patties, the company stuffed itself on traditional picnic fare. With the noshing complete, it was time to unfurl the Official Seed Spittin’ Tarmac and begin launching watermelon seeds.
The slight breeze was fickle,
sometimes coming in on your face and other times gently cooling your back. Choosing
when to spit was just as important as
choosing the perfect seed.
The rules are clear and simple:
Each Spitter gets 2 (two) spits.
There is a toe line. DO NOT CROSS.
To be registered as an official spit the seed must come to rest atop the tarmac. If it is off the tarmac, that’s a DQ (disqualified spit).
Let there be spit. As the
initial spitters began to launch their seeds, it was clear that records would soon
be falling. While the breeze was minimal it was just enough to lift an average
spit to a good spit status while a fairly good spit could be elevated to Olympic
Spit Repute.
I shall keep you waiting no more. Here
are the results:
CLASSIC EXHIBITS 2023 CHAMPIONS
Women’s 2023 Champs
1st Place/Gold Medal Gail C 16’-7 1/8”
2nd Place/Silver Medal Edie A 15’-7”
3rd Place/Bronze Medal Gergana H 13’-11”
Men’s 2023 Champs
1st Place/Gold Medal James S 50’-0”
2nd Place/Silver Medal Kevin C 39’-3”
3rd Place/Bronze Medal Ted C 29’-11 ¾”
Yes… you read that correctly. James’
spit of 50’ was unbelievable. It was outrageous. It didn’t just have distance
– of which it had plenty. But it also had accuracy keeping his seed on the 60”
wide tarmac a massive 50’ away from the toe line.
In the 40 years I’ve been hosting
Watermelon Seed Spittin’ Contests, I’ve never, ever seen a seed launched that
far and that accurately. It was a spit for the ages. Those in attendance will
be telling grandchildren about the spit
heard round the world.
“Let’s host an event in Louisville for our Distribution Partners
during EXHIBITORLIVE.” Yes, please! Throwing unique corporate events is one of the most
enjoyable tasks anyone can ask of me.
When someone says Louisville, you
might immediately think Kentucky Derby. Or where 90% of the world’s bourbon is
distilled. Not me. While they’re both iconic and associated with Louisville,
they’re both just a bit too on the nose.
Louisville to me says baseball because it’s the home of the Louisville Slugger Museum and Bat Factory. Starting in 1884, Hillerich & Bradsby (aka Louisvillle Slugger) is the country’s oldest continually operating sport’s equipment manufacturer in the United States. Every kid who’s ever played Little League knows Louisville Slugger baseball bats. And as luck would have it, it’s a convenient ½ mile walk from the Louisville International Convention Center.
Hosting Your Event
Hosting a successful event is simple if you follow a few guidelines. Here are 5 tips to hosting a memorable event that your guests will remember for years:
1. Pulling the Rope– Why are you hosting the event? Are you trying to promote a new product or service? Are you presenting year-end awards? Just like designing a successful exhibit, the best way to accomplish any goal is to know it and share it with your entire Team. Pull the rope in the same direction at the same time.
2. I Want Buzz – We’ve all attended corporate events held during trade shows. Maybe it was a party sponsored by a client, a vendor, a publication. While I’m always thrilled to be invited, these events often end up being “okay” or “nice.” I don’t want nice. Don’t they all just sort of fade away into a hazy blur of sameness just as soon as you walk out the door?
If you’re going to host a party, make
it memorable. I want buzz. I want people thinking about the event long after
it’s over.
3. Forget the Crudite – Hotel Ballroom? Trade Show Floor? There are reasons companies host their events in these spaces. It’s simple. But simple doesn’t usually lead to memorable.
Find unique venues. Look for a place
where parties aren’t usually held. Throw more money into the location rather
than the food being served. Guests will remember a unique space long after
they’ve forgotten about that crudité.
I’ve thrown events in a stinky 90-year-old
boxing gym, the bell tower of the National Cathedral, a wax museum, Cirque de
Soleil’s private gym for their performers, the Kennedy Center. I once scouted
the ballroom at the Russian Embassy in DC. The venue is EVERYTHING.
Once you’ve selected your unique venue, add layers. Did you know that you can rent the island of Alcatraz? You can!Thank you, National Park Service! For that party we hired an ex-guard and ex-prisoner to speak with attendees in the prison’s old chow hall. Memorable? Exclamation Point!!!
4. It All Starts with the Invitation – The event doesn’t start at 5:00 pm. It starts about a month before the event when the invitation lands. That’s when you start building the buzz with an unforgettable invitation
Louisville Slugger Museum – An oversized vintage baseball ticket and a box of Cracker Jack.
Alcatraz – An oversized Monopoly Get
Out of Jail Free card.
National Cathedral – A shocking postcard that demanded attention.
Boxing Gym – A cool, retro boxing poster.
Invitations offer an opportunity for some
pretty serious pre-buzz, weeks before the event ever begins.
5. If You Build It, They Will Come – While there are lots of things you can stress about, getting your guests to show up probably isn’t going to be one of them. As a matter of fact, once your guests experience one of your parties, they’ll be on the lookout for next year’s invitation months in advance.
Wanna talk about planning unique, fun business events for your Clients? Give me a call. Happy to chat.
The trip odometer read – 1741 miles. That’s one serious road trip. Just a few weeks ago, I traversed the Southeastern United States for two weeks to visit Classic Exhibits Distributor Partners in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Driving that many miles over 13 days gave me plenty of time to experience life on the road.
Yes. Go!
Most road warriors understand that business travel impacts others as much as themselves. Sitting at the top of this list is how your absence can affect your family life. The longer the trip, the more impact.
Me: “Dear, I’m starting to plan a business trip for early December. Looks like I might be gone for a few weeks. You OK with that?”
My Wife: “Yes. Go!”
Well, that seemed a bit too easy. Make a note to bring Susan back pecans from Georgia. Susan loves pecans.
Notes from My Trip
Sales Volume – Almost everyone’s sales were up in 2022. And not just up. Most distributors on this trip told me that 2022 was their best year ever (financially).
Showrooms – Are they making a comeback? No, not from what I’ve observed. But one thing is obvious… those who have showrooms stand out and get noticed! Of the 17 offices I visited, only 4 (four) had showrooms. These four offices had impressive showrooms showing a wide assortment of products including double decks, backlit graphics, LED signage, interactive digital offerings, etc. And the showrooms weren’t just there “for show.” They also served as client meeting/conference rooms. Clients were surrounded by product and design offerings without being actively “sold” on them.
Petrol – I live in Los Angeles. As almost everyone knows, gas prices in California are stupid. At the height of the stupidity, we were paying over $7.00 per gallon. As embarrassing as this may sound, I do a happy dance in CA when gas is only “$4.95/gallon.”
On this road trip, I stopped to fill the rental car somewhere outside of Atlanta and gas was $2.39/gallon. Less than a gallon of milk. I texted my wife a picture of the prices, and her response was “Forget the pecans… bring home gas!”
Gray Hair – A question I try to ask all Distributors during a visit is, “What is currently giving you gray hair? Short term or long term… what do you need to work on or fix to make your business run more smoothly?”
When You Ask Questions, You Get Answers
Of the 20 or so times I asked this question, here are some of the most common answers I received:
Managing Staff (HR, employees new to the industry, and training)
Vendor Quality (no, not Classic, but discretion prevents me from speaking poorly about competitors)
Client Response Times are running like molasses in January
Still need more hands on-deck (specifically in the shop)
To Portable or Not to Portable… THAT is the question. It almost takes as long to sell a 10 ft. display as it does an island. Some are weighing dropping the attention paid to smaller booths.
Turn Times are Still a Challenge (they’re better than they’ve been but not “back to normal” just yet)
Customer Mix – New vs Existing – Another question I tend to ask is “What percent of your business comes from Existing Customers vs New Customers?” While I tend to get a variety of answers, the vast majority tell me that 75% of business comes from current/former clients while 25% comes from new contacts or referrals. (Looking for ways to tip the scales toward NEW Clients? Send me an email and I’ll tell you – Harold@classicexhibits.com)
Just Like a Doorknob – I stayed in a different hotel just about every night. I’d check in, drop my bag off into my room then go out for my evening meal. When I would get back to the hotel, I head to the elevator and press my floor’s button. The elevator rumbles up to the 3rd floor and the doors open. I now have a decision to make – is my room to the left or the right?
Doesn’t matter… Whichever direction I choose is wrong! ALWAYS WRONG! It’s comical. I have the sense of direction of a doorknob.
In Closing…
Two weeks is a long road trip: Two weeks of bad coffee, loud hotel neighbors, and being away from home and family.
Our industry is filled with seasoned Road Warriors. I learned from the best — Alex, Dave, Reid, Jen, Tom, Hendrik, Lynn, Gina, Kevin, and Mel. So many folks who drive our industry forward. If you are a Road Warrior, regardless of your role, I feel for you and appreciate what you do.
Last but not least. Classic’s Distributors make this job easy to enjoy. You never cease to surprise and amaze me. Like when you:
Ask a question about my family or past health issues
Get excited to learn something about Classic that you didn’t know a few minutes before
Share intimate tidbits about your own personal lives
Finally, when I connect with a new salesperson who like a sponge sucks up everything I say. Thank you!
The exhibit industry really is a family. I appreciate the opened doors and the time you spent with me last month. Already looking forward to the next trip. But more on that later.
Based in Portland, Oregon, 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
I joined Classic Exhibits in 2019 after a 10-year hiatus from the trade show industry. One of my first assignments was to walk Natural Products Expo Westin Anaheim. I was tasked with reporting on how exhibit design had changed over the previous decade. As it turned out, I discovered that the basic rules of trade show design had remained constant — bright colors, bold lighting, and high contrast never go out of style.
Last week I walked the floor of Natural Products Expo West once again, and I couldn’t be more pleased to report that the place was jam-packed. Lots of exhibitors, lots of attendees, and lots of tasty little snacks to sample as I strolled the floor.
Attention Grabbing Exhibits
The first booth that grabbed my attention was a 10’ backlit booth (Rambler). I couldn’t help but stop and take it in.
I LOVED how
the backlit orange simply ignited the backwall. And the stacks of
product along the sides of the booth showed their clean, crisp packaging while
eliminating the need for significant storage cabinets – a serious challenge in
a 10’ booth.
Bright colors kept grabbing my eyes demanding that I look their way.
Then I started noticing displays that put graphics against a black background. Anything on black jumps right out at you.
The same can almost be said for graphics with a white background. It’s hard not to look.
Lighting demands attention as well. Check out this booth. It’s hard to tell from the picture but the three lightbulbs shown as part of the “hanging lamps” are actually lightbulbs that have been inserted into the cut fabric. Bright lights, breaking the plane of the fabric. Nicely done.
This one as well.
BOTOX YOUR BOOTH!
I told myself that I wasn’t going to capture images showing examples of bad graphics at Natural Products Expo West. We all know when we see graphic designs that don’t work. No need to poke hard-working designers.
But wrinkles… wrinkles are not caused by designers. Wrinkles are easily fixable if I&D teams are prepared for them. And there is no excuse NOT to be prepared for them. I’ve done my best to crop out any identifying logos. I saw dozens and dozens and dozens of examples. PLEASE tell your I&D crews to be prepared. BOTOX YOUR BOOTH!
And lastly…
This might just be the best booth I saw all day – MYNTZ
— Harold Mintz (MYNTZ), Regional Sales Manager
Classic Exhibits has been designing and building solutions since 1993. We’ve been honored as an Exhibitor Magazine Find-It Top 40 Exhibit Producers and an Event Marketer Fab 50 Exhibit Builders multiple times. Along with numerous Portable Modular Awards.
With over 200 Distributor Partners throughout North America, there’s a Classic representative closer by. Contact us today whether you need a durable hand sanitizer stand built to last, a rental display guaranteed to attract trade show attendees, or a custom 30 x 40 exhibit with all the bells and whistles. We’re not just different. We’re better.
