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Bigger, Bolder, and Brighter Rental Exhibit Designs

November 19th, 2021 COMMENTS
Trade Show Rental Exhibits

If you had to pick a post-COVID design trend, would you have picked rental exhibits with lightboxes? Probably, but would you have guessed that nearly 80% of our island and inline rental orders have lightboxes?

It Kinda Makes Sense

First, lightboxes aren’t much more expensive than non-backlit solutions. Secondly, our rental inventory is deep in SuperNova and Gravitee frames. These two systems connect seamlessly and assemble without tools. As a result, their competitive prices, design flexibility, and ease-of-use makes them popular choices for designers and exhibitors. 

This week, we feature three new Rental Lightbox Designs — (2) 10 x 20’s and (1) 10 x 30.

  • RE-2123 uses a massive lightbox as a backdrop for three monitor kiosks. Along with two counters with backlighting
  • RE-2124 is a series of connected lightboxes in a step-pattern. “Stepping” is increasingly popular since it adds visual depth and a creative use of space
  • RE-3008 is a 10 x 30. We’re seeing more requests for 30 ft. inlines as an alternative to islands. This design is amazing “as is” or as a starting point for customization.

RE-2123 — Large LED Lightbox

Rental Exhibit | RE-2123 Inline Lightbox
Rental Exhibit | RE-2123 Inline Lightbox

Description: Unique products deserve unique exhibit designs. And the RE-2123 doesn’t disappoint. The large SuperNova lightbox with SEG fabric graphics is the perfect backdrop for the three monitor stands. The left, right, and center lightboxes create an immersive environment that compliments the overall theme without distracting from the core focus — the monitor demo stations.

The 20 ft. inline also includes two stunning backlit reception counters with locking storage. The booth assembles quickly and packs flat in a crate for convenient shipping.  

RE-2124 — Lightbox Step Design

Rental Exhibit | RE-2124 Inline Lightbox
Rental Exhibit | RE-2124 Inline Lightbox

Description: The stepping creates visual depth and interest while allowing an exhibitor to tell a compelling story through a sequenced graphic presentation. The design includes ample room for a casual meeting space (which can be a challenge in an inline) and the charging table with LED accent lights creates a casual yet business-like setting. The RE-1567 reception counter has attractive backlit graphics and locking storage.

Lights combined with colorful graphics may be the single-most important key to attracting attention on the trade show floor. The RE-2124 turns the table on traditional lightbox designs by “stepping” (5) 4 ft. x 8 ft. individual lightboxes.

RE-3008 — Meeting Space w/ Lightboxes

Rental Exhibit | RE-3008 Inline Lightbox
Rental Exhibit | RE-3008 Inline Lightbox

Description: Versatile 10 x 30 inlines are increasingly becoming an attractive alternative to an island exhibit. The RE-3008 offers ample space for demos and meetings in a booth that’s built for maximum branding and constructive conversations with attendees.

It includes three large lightboxes with SEG fabric graphics with a double-sided lightbox closest to the aisle. There’s also a semi-private meeting area that includes a charging coffee table with LED accent lights and countertop branding. Bookending the meeting space are two genius bars for additional seating. 

Let us know if there are rental design ideas you want to explore.

Don’t Pigeon-hole Portable Display Buyers

November 15th, 2021 COMMENTS
Portable Trade Show Display Counter

It’s easy to pigeon-hole portable display buyers. They want something cheap and easy, and they ignore advice about quality and design. 

What Most Corporate Buyers Want

Perhaps that’s true of some portable buyers, but most corporate exhibitors want an attractive, durable, and easy-to-assembly display. They value features like modularity and accessories like monitor mounts, tablet enclosures, and literature trays. Price is important but not at the expense of their brand. 

Too often, we undersell them and don’t give them what they need (or want). Why? Because selling on price is faster than selling on features. 

Choosing a High-Quality Portable

You’re not going to convince everyone to make the “smarter” decision, and for some, the $2000 display is the right choice. That’s OK. However, they deserve to understand what’s available in the display marketplace, like Symphony. You might be surprised at how often that “pigeon-holed portable buyer” chooses an upscale, high-quality portable. 

Did you know that pigeons are incredibly smart? They understand words, have good memories, and can recognize other pigeons and people. 

Symphony Portable Trade Show Displays
Symphony Portable Trade Show Displays
Symphony Portable Trade Show Displays

Join Kevin Carty (Virtually) at EXHIBITORLIVE 2021

October 27th, 2021 2 COMMENTS

If you’re not attending EXHIBITORLIVE, Classic Exhibits still wants you to experience it. On Tuesday, November 2, Kevin Carty will host a live one-hour virtual tour at 10 am PST/1 pm EST. You’ll see the Classic booth, chat with some interesting guests, and walk the floor. All live… so it’s bound to be entertaining. ALL are WELCOME!

Topics:

  • Day One Review of Show (attendees, traffic flow, atmosphere)
  • Current Protocols on the Show Floor
  • Trends in Exhibit Design from the Show Floor
  • Feedback from Attendees

Be sure to add the Live Feed to your calendar. November 2 at 10 am PST.

EXHIBITORLIVE 2021 Edition

October 21st, 2021 COMMENTS
EXHIBITORLIVE 2021 in Las Vegas

Just Get Me on a Plane!

Thirty-two months have passed since EXHIBITORLIVE 2019… Nearly three years. We understand not everyone will be attending for a variety of logistical, financial, and personal reasons. And that’s OK. For those who will be in Las Vegas, either as an attendee or an exhibitor, let’s connect – before, during, or after show hours.

The Classic EXHIBITORLIVE team will be Kevin Carty, Mel White, Jim Shelman, Jen LaBruzza, Katina Rigall Zipay, and Harold Mintz.

For those not attending, we will be hosting a live feed on Tuesday. See below for details.

Booth Space and Times

Classic Exhibits at EXHIBITORLIVE 2021
Classic Exhibits, Booth 324

To visit the Classic booth, turn right and head to the perimeter wall, a 10 x 30 booth (#324). We have lots and lots to show you, like the NEW Symphony Portable System. We’ll also have examples of the tool-less Gravitee Wall System and SuperNova Lightbox, along with a wireless charging table, hand sanitizer stand, and custom counter.

If you are unavailable during normal show hours, visit us during the Strategic Partner hours:  Monday 4 – 5:30 pm and Tuesday 8:30 – 10 am. And if those don’t work, then contact us. Each of us has our secret hiding place before and after show hours where we’ll be happy to treat you to a coffee or a drink. If you get there on Sunday, Jim and Mel will be in Las Vegas pretending it’s not Halloween. Harold will be wearing his Sam Elliot costume. As usual.

Our Live Feed, Tuesday November 2

Kevin Carty at EXHIBITORLIVE 2021

If you’re not going to the show, Classic still wants you to experience EXHIBITORLIVE. On Tuesday, November 2, Kevin will host a live one-hour chat. He’ll stroll through the show and meet and greet attendees and exhibitors. You’ll see the Classic booth, chat with some interesting guests, and walk the floor. All live… so it’s bound to be entertaining (and perhaps a little post-Halloween scary).

Topics:

  • Day One Review of Show (attendees, traffic flow, atmosphere)
  • Current Protocols on the Show Floor
  • Trends in Exhibit Design from the Show Floor
  • Feedback from Attendees

Click HERE to join the Live Feed on Tuesday.  

The New Product Showcase

Symphony Portable Display System
Symphony SYK-1029

Surprise. Surprise. Our entry is the Symphony Portable Display System. We won’t launch into a sales pitch, which took an impressive amount of self-control.

Instead, we invite you to visit the New Product Showcase page and scroll past the losers to the “S” listing. Yes, that was mean and snarky, but we’re not in the New Product Showcase for a participation trophy. We intend to win!

If you happen to see any of the judges roaming the floor, don’t be shy about asking them if they’ve seen the remarkable

Treasure Hunt w/ Prizes

Who doesn’t love a Treasure Hunt where winning valuable prizes is only half the fun? We do! And you will too!

EXHIBITORLIVE 2021 Treasure Hunt Game

Captello, a lead capture and interactive gaming company, has organized a treasure hunt with 10 stops. Simply visit the Captello booth to get started (#942 and #544), and then scan the QR codes at each stop, like at Classic Exhibits.

Treasure Hunt at EXHIBITORLIVE 2021

For bonus points, Classic Exhibits has designed a Symphony Memory Match game. Complete it in 2 minutes or less and you’re on your way to winning a year’s supply of Rice-a-Roni, the San Francisco Treat. Or something like that. The details are a little fuzzy to us right now.  

If you want to play the Memory Match for fun, click on this LINK. But be warned. It’s a little addictive.  

WIE Booth and Breakfast

Women in Exhibitions at EXHIBITORLIVE 2021

The Women in Exhibitions annual breakfast will be on Tuesday, November 2 from 8-10 am at the Border Grill in Mandalay Bay. Register HERE:

The discussion topic will be “5 Key Skillsets to Know and Hone Now” with an expert panel consisting of:

  • Moderator: Liz Nacron, Partner, President Creative and Production, Live Marketing
  • Kent Agramonte, Marketing Director, beMatrix USA
  • Jen LaBruzza, Holistic Health Coach and National Sales Manager, Classic Exhibits
  • Anne Trompeter, Partner, Strategic Account Development, Live Marketing
  • Kelly Noonan, Global Event Marketing Manager, Tate&Lyle

You can also visit the WIE at booth #1428 on the EXHIBITORLIVE show floor. WIE can’t wait to see you there!

Women In Exhibitions at EXHIBITORLIVE 2021

Sponsors:

  • Diamond – EXHIBITOR Media Group, Classic Exhibits, Reality Engineering, Optima, Hill&Partners
  • Platinum – Brumark, CORT Events
  • Gold – Access TCA, Design Factory, Genesis Exhibits
  • Silver – EDPA Las Vegas Chapter, 21st Century, Steelhead, Live Marketing, beMatrix, NuVista, ASTOUND, Willwork, HT Connect
  • Bronze – Team Worldwide, Poretta&Orr, ExhibitForce, Crepe’s A Latte, Eagle Management

Not registered yet. Register for free by entering Code 4044 for a Free Hall Pass compliments of (you guessed it) Classic Exhibits. Register HERE.

See you in Vegas Baby!

Top 15 Essential Exhibit Design Questions

October 13th, 2021 COMMENTS
15 Essential Exhibit Design Questions

The Best Exhibit Designs Make an Emotional Connection

How do you create a design the client loves without multiple meetings and revisions?

Get the designer and the decision-maker to talk to one another. It works! It’s why the designers at Classic want to be on phone calls with our distributors and their clients. We are happy to be introduced as YOUR DESIGNER. In fact, we are your designers so there’s no need to pretend! If for logistical reasons it’s not possible to have a designer participate in a discovery call with the client, the next best thing is to Answer These 15 Questions (in no particular order).

DesignQuestionsBlogHeader

15 Essential Exhibit Design Questions

1. Does your company have branding guidelines/logo or graphic files/website address? Can you share these files?

2. What size is the exhibit? Do you plan to reconfigure the exhibit for other shows? If so, what sizes?  Knowing this will guide both the design and the choice of materials.

3. What is the budget? This is essential. Still undecided about an exact budget? The next best option is a workable budget range. No exhibitor wants to be surprised with a beautiful booth outside their budget or underwhelmed by a booth designed for a lower budget.

4. Do you want to purchase or rent? Or a combination of both? This assists the designer in choosing material and designing to a specific budget.

5. What physical properties does the exhibit need to have? For example, workstations, counters, slatwall, semi-private or private conference area, monitors, storage, etc? This information allows the designer to create a functional trade show design.

6. What type of display have you used in the past? Are you looking for something similar or different? What did you like or not like about the previous booth?

7. Are there any materials or construction methods you prefer? Are you looking for something similar or different? Many experienced exhibitors have a strong attraction or aversion to specific materials.

Exhibit Design Questions

8. Are there any unusual dimensional restrictions? Can you provide show regulations? Some shows have unusual restrictions for the height of the booth or setbacks from the aisle.

9. Do you show product(s)? What are the dimensions and specifications? How do you prefer to show the products? Display cases, counter top, shelves, hooks, etc.?

10. Does the display need to be portable or modular? Does it need to ship via FedEx or UPS or are you OK with packing in custom crates? This will guide our use of materials.

11. Who will assemble the display:  show labor or your own team? We have great solutions for both scenarios.

12. Do you have any images of design elements you like? Even if these “inspiration images” are not trade show related, they are very helpful. For example, architectural elements, finishes, colors, natural elements, retail environments, etc.

13. Design Due Date? Typically, designs are completed within a few business days. However, every project and every client has their own timeline. We do our best to accommodate requested timelines.

14. Show Opening Date? So very important! Creating the design and them building it depends on the time frame. Designers can make material selections which will go a long way toward meeting a three-week vs. a three-month window.

And My Personal Favorite:

15. Are there any descriptive words you use to describe your company? What do you want visitors to your booth to “feel” about your company? From “opulent” to “bad-ass,” we have heard some interesting descriptors, and this gives the designer the insight to craft a personalized, experiential space.

Are there any other questions on your “must ask” list? I’d love to hear them if you do! Leave me a comment or connect with me at Katina@classicexhibits.com.