It was great seeing so many of you last week at EDPA ACCESS in San Antonio. I am not sure if you felt the same, but the connectedness of the industry and the renewed strength of our community was energizing!
In Design Monday last week, we mentioned our improved production schedule. As supply chain issues have dwindled, Classic has reverted to our pre-pandemic lead times. In many cases, we’ve shaved nearly a week off some kits in EDS.
However, not all challenges are gone. We continue to hire at Classic and while that jar seems to have loosened, it will take time to find the ideal employees. We’re still very picky when it comes to adding folks to our close-knit family. But even with that, HUGE KUDOS to our Production, Customer Service, and Design Teams in new builds and rentals. They have done an amazing job getting us fully prepared for the coming mayhem that is always Q1.
Assigning Orders Based on Size/Complexity
A big part of the shorter lead-times is our ability to turnaround orders more efficiently. Every order is assigned points based on the size and complexity. These points feed into our Production Schedule, which is reviewed by Production and Customer Service.
So, if you see a 10-15+ business day lead time for example, ask your PM what the current timeline is based on this schedule. It may be 10, 12, or 15 days based on the Production Schedule. Once we lock your order into a date, its locked assuming your client gets us graphic files on time (like they always do 😊).
As we continue to rebound as an industry, I want to extend our thanks for your partnership.
Look for our Annual State of Company Letter in early January with much more exciting news to share.
Back in November/December 2021, I was approached by Dave Brown, an old friend and colleague, regarding his new employer — Tive, Inc.Dave wanted some help to introduce Tive’s Real Time Visibility technology to the Live Events and Trade Show Industry.
I listened and the gears started spinning. Tive provides a software platform and tracking device(s) that can be placed in or on any exhibit asset to monitor the individual asset or the entire shipment’s progress in real time. But if I leave it at that, it’s just a cool gadget, but, it’s much much more. Let me explain.
Testing the TIVE Trackers
First, I tested it myself. A Classic Distributor Partner asked
me to supervise a 30 x 30 built for their client at ISC WEST in Las Vegas. The
client is a security device company, with cameras, doorbells, and keypads for
businesses and homes. And much much more. Lots of high-end electronics.
ISW West is the client’s largest event each year. It’s important to them. Supply chain and trucking issues along with the time sensitive requirement of a trade show meant this would be the ideal test for delivery issues, both on the road and in the convention hall.
TIVE Solo
The shipment was five crates that included the exhibit and the client’s valuable electronics. Before the crates left our facility in Portland, OR, I placed a Tive Tracker in each crate. Five total. Then I loaded the shipment information into the TIVE Tracking Technology software.
Destination… Las Vegas
My flight to Vegas was in three days. The show would be held at the Venetian Expo Center (i.e., The Sands Expo). After the shipment left our dock, I went home and about three hours later, I opened the Tive software because I was curious. My son was on the couch with me and wanted to see what I was doing. When I opened it, there were the five crates on the map, pinging their location. My son asked me to zoom in a little to see their exact location. At which point he says, “Ha! Ha! Dad, the driver is taking a pee.” Funny BUT he was right! We could tell from our many road trips that he was at a rest stop near Canyonville, Oregon. The rest stop is literally the only thing there. But I digress…
Tive’s Real Time Visibility Technology allows for GEO fencing and tracking light, shock, and temperatures along the way. Plus, the ability to set the levels of sensitivity for each. It then alerts you (for example) if there is a light alert, like the crate was opened, or shock alerts, if the crate fell over or off the truck. Thankfully none of those happened.
You can also set a destination in the software, so it alerts you when the shipment is within a preset distance from the destination. On the day I was set to fly, while waiting to board my flight in the morning, a Tive text alert DINGED! The crates were in the marshalling yard, and I felt relieved knowing I would be hitting the ground running once I landed in Vegas.
When I landed, there was another DING! The freight was at the Venetian Expo.
Nope… Watch This!
At the exhibit hall all but one of the crates was in the booth space. The I&D Lead said to me, “I will walk over to the freight desk and see if we can find out where it is…or if it’s still in the yard or something.” I said, “Nope… watch this!” I opened my laptop, navigated to my Tive login, and saw that it was on the far side of the hall in a corner behind some other crates. Easy peasy, and the forklift driver was dispatched to fetch it.
Admittedly, Classic does mostly one-way shipments unlike our Distributor Partners who handle turnkey storage, service, and shipping for clients. However, I experienced the backend advantage to Tive as well. Since I was supervising the I&D, I travelled with a rolling toolbox that was placed in one of the crates. After setup, I took it to a UPS store in the hotel and shipped it back to my Office. Well, a week later it dawned on me that my tool case was still not back so I tracked it on UPS. LOST!
“Crap!” I thought. But then I remembered I put all the trackers from the crates in my toolbox. So I opened my Tive login again and wouldn’t ya’ know it they were pinging bright in the UPS warehouse on Swan Island in Portland. I called our UPS rep and convinced him to get someone to go look in the NW corner of the building for a small black hard-shell tool case. They found it and delivered the case the next day.
Contact Dave Brown at TIVE
So why the long infomercial on a non-Classic product? I believe Tive has a strong future in our industry. While Classic may not be their biggest customer with our one-way shipments (rentals aside), our Distributor Partners are perfect candidates for this valuable technology. Think about it. Doesn’t it make sense with all the out and back shipments you handle for your storage clients and their expensive assets? I urge you to connect with Dave Brown (dave.brown@tive.com) to explore this sophisticated but relatively inexpensive freight tracking security blanket.
I am confident you will feel the same as me after your trial run.
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.
Brands and Agencies
The attendees fell into TWO primary camps:
Brands looking for new technology and best practices
for their Live Event Marketing plans for the coming year. As well as find
potential new suppliers for different aspects of their Live Events Campaigns.
Agencies looking to network with Brand Managers and
find new partners in the supplier side to include in their offerings to Brands.
Read the complete post.
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. I knew we would be the “oddball” as a Private-Label Manufacturer that DOES NOT sell direct. But over the past 8-10 years, “Agency” Distributor Partners have become an increasingly larger percentage of our customer base. Specifically, on the build side for their Client Activations, Retail POP-UP’s, Corporate Events, User Events and Outdoor Event needs.
Really Engaged Attendees
I really enjoyed speaking with the Brand Managers, who were always totally engaged! Perhaps it was because of the intimate nature of the event, but when folks were able to roam the floor, they would walk up and wait to start a conversation with me, even when I was speaking to someone else.
The catch always came about three minutes into the conversation when inevitably the Brand Manager would say, “OH… so you can sell direct to me!” To which I would reply, “No, but I do have a great Distributor Partner in your area that would be a perfect fit. They would be your main contact, and I would just be guiding the build side from behind the scenes.”
About eight of you already know what I am talking about because we’ve already scheduled calls. More are coming as I continue to process through the show leads.
The Agencies were great as well! It was inspiring to hear what they do and how they make client events interactive, fun, professional, and educational.
The Buzz in Vegas
Many have asked me, “How was the buzz in Vegas?” “WOW!” is all I can really say. There were events at all the major trade show facilities AND the NFL Draft was right in the heart of the Strip. Vegas was on fire in the best way. Whether at the hotel, in a cab, or at a restaurant, Vegas was over the top welcoming. It felt great!
In closing, to the entire team that helped put EMS2022 together, thanks for making this first-timer feel welcome and letting me know that “This is how we do it!” You put on a Class A event. I’m looking forward to next year. already.
–Kevin Carty
Classic Exhibits has been designing and building solutions since 1993. We’ve been honored as an Exhibitor Magazine Find-It Top 40 Exhibit Producer and an Event Marketer Fab 50 Exhibit Builder multiple times. Along with numerous Portable Modular Awards.
With over 200 Distributor Partners throughout North America, there’s a Classic representative close 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 safety divider with all the bells and whistles. We’re not just different. We’re better.
I borrowed the “What Recovery Looks Like” title above from my friend Chris Griffin at CrewXP. As you know, we’re in the midst of a crazy, chaotic start to 2022. Busy is good and the Classic Family appreciates your ongoing support.
Normally, I would have written our annual “State of The Company Letter,” but this year I’m heading in a different direction. Basically… where we are and how we got here during the recovery.
The post-COVID restart began around mid-June and has been non-stop ever since. Has it been neat and tidy? Nope. There have been challenges along the way similar to those you’ve no doubt experienced in your business and personal life. Let’s address four of them.
SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES
Incoming Shipment of Aluminum Extrusion
Supply chain issues still exist and will continue to exist. But there are bright spots. Back in June and July, we rolled the dice and ordered MULTIPLE LARGE quantities of aluminum extrusion because the lead times had gone from 12 weeks to 48-52 weeks. That gamble has paid off.
In the past four weeks, we have received the equivalent of a three-month supply of extrusion from one of our vendors with another double order landing in the next two weeks. Those two orders, along with some smaller extrusion deliveries, mean we’ll have a healthy inventory for the next 6-9 months. Those profiles included Gravitee, SuperNova, Symphony, Eco-systems Sustainable, and the building blocks for our hybrid kits and accessories. In addition, we’ve seen extruders revise their 48-52 week projections down to 18-20 weeks.
PRICE INCREASES
The struggle is real. We selectively increased our prices last summer to reflect the increases in metal, wood, shipping, and plastics. Will there be future increases? Likely yes… but not across the board. For example, we just received another 7-15% price hike from our laminate vendors. We are evaluating how to blend those into our overall wood fabrication pricing. No one likes surprises. We promise to be open and upfront about pricing. Let’s all cross our fingers (and hope) there will be decreases as the supply chain stabilizes.
ORDER LEAD TIMES
Classic’s Job Board
KUDOS to YOU. Over the past year in our Classic Conversations Groups and in our email blasts, we have spoken about the need to prepare clients for the restart. The current trade show market requires planning weeks and even months ahead. Everything is taking longer — graphics, exhibit fabrication, shipping, materials, etc.
Thankfully, you have answered that call. I have shared with many of you that in my 28 years of doing this, I have never had meaningful sales visibility beyond 3-4 weeks. That’s always been our reality. Currently, we have visibility into early June because you are working with your clients to plan and prepare. Thank you!
At Classic, our PM’s and Designers are having that conversation on the front end. They’re letting you know, so you can tell your clients when we need the PO and graphics to meet parts, printing, and manufacturing timelines. In this way, we can hold production timeslots and better manage overall capacity.
Have we had to decline jobs? YES… but again thanks to you these have been mainly projects that would have been hard to do in the best of times.
LABOR
Electrical Cabinet
Classic is no different from anyone else when it comes to labor challenges, and it’s not for a lack of trying. Simply put, in baseball terms, we were batting about .130 in our hiring vs interviewing from June – November. That percentage has gotten MUCH, MUCH better in recent months. But it is still very challenging. Fortunately, we were able to retain our core team throughout the pandemic. Same leads in Production and Rentals. Same leaders in Customer Service and Design. As a result, our core institutional knowledge is still there and flourishing, and we expect to be back to pre-pandemic staffing soon.
An ASK and a THANK YOU
ASK – Please continue to reinforce with your clients the need to plan. We’re in the business of designing and building successful trade show exhibits. That’s taking more time. What used to take 10-15 days is now taking 15-25 days for all the reasons mentioned.
THANK YOU for your continued partnership. The past two years have been HARD, but our partnerships have gotten stronger because of your support. Those conversations and unique sales opportunities kept us doing “something” during the pandemic. We are most thankful for your emotional support when everything was gloomy and the future murky.
We were already partners, but now we’re family. Like it or not. 😉
Hope to see you at either EMS or EXHIBITORLIVE. #whatrecoverylookslike
Custom Inline Lightbox Exhibit
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.
