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.
It’s hard to believe I’ve been with Classic Exhibits for seven months (although I feel like I’ve been here for years). Thankfully, it’s been a smooth transition and everything that I hoped it would be and more!
Here’s what I knew going
into this position. I would be surrounded by some of the most genuine,
respected, and talented individuals in the industry. No surprise there! I
believe our distributors can attest to this as well.
What I didn’t know, until I experienced my first large build, was how easy it is for our Distributor Partners to source projects to us.
No, we’re not the least
expensive but we are reasonable (I knew this going into my position). The value
we bring to our distributors is incredible. For a Distributor to send a PO and
artwork to us and essentially move onto the next opportunity truly sets us
apart. The level of detail from our Project Management and Production teams is
like nothing I’ve experienced in my 20+ years in the industry.
If you want to work smarter
not harder, then Classic is a great partner. If you want to save a buck by
sourcing to multiple manufacturers then figuring out how to put the complete
package together, then you’re making things much harder than they need to be.
At the end of the day, working with Classic Exhibits means our distributors save time which makes them money so they can focus on the important things in life… like actually having a life. 😊
Fifteen years ago, Classic Exhibits made a commitment to sustainable exhibits with ecoSmart Sustainable Displays. Our commitment hasn’t waivered with over 150 eco-friendly islands, inlines, and accessories.
We invite you to explore ecoSmart Sustainable this month. Our Summer Savings Promotion features over 25 contemporary eco-friendly designs. Effective through 8/31/23.
The sky’s the limit for our ecoSmart Sustainable Displays. All of our ecoSmart products are designed and constructed with the most environmentally-friendly materials available.
If you do not see a design that meets your specific needs, let us know. We have an exhibit design service. Allow us to create a unique, custom display that is specific to your needs.
You made the Symphony the gold standard for portable modular displays with tool-less assembly, (8) frame shapes and (17) upscale accessories, like iPad Clamshells, Monitor Mounts, Literature Holders, and Lockable Counters.
Now, as Emeril LaGasse would say, “It’s time to kick it up a notch!” Introducing Symphony Backlit Portable Displays with three elegant 10 ft. and 20 ft. designs: SYK-1050, SYK-1051, and SYK-2039. All include SEG fabric graphics, LED lattice lights, fabric reflector, and portable roto-molded cases with wheels. Need a workstation counter or floating graphic? The complete Symphony Accessory line attaches to the backlit versions too (same as non-backlit).
For details, visit Exhibit Design Search on the Classic Exhibits website.
Have you ever told a colleague, friend, or relative that you’re attending a trade show and they look at you with a puzzled expression? It’s as if they’ve heard the word “trade show” before, but don’t quite know what it means. They may say, “Do you mean like the local RV and boat show or the holiday craft fair?” Yes… and no.
Trade Show, as a term, is often used interchangeably with other similar words like conventions, exhibitions, conferences, trade fairs, symposiums, and expos. And while they are similar, trade shows, and in particular professional trade shows, have a specific definition. Oddly enough, a trade show may include a conference, a symposium, and an expo, which only adds to the confusion. Let’s untangle this with both an official definition and a more loosey-goosey definition based on real-life experience.
What is a Trade Show?
A trade show is an exhibition organized so that companies in a specific industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest products and services, meet with industry partners and customers, study the activities of rivals, and examine recent market trends and opportunities. Trade shows are typically held in convention centers or hotels, and they can last for a few days or even weeks.
For most companies and attendees, a trade show is an opportunity — both professionally and personally. It’s hard work with long hours and an unofficial vacation. It’s a chance to hang with colleagues, meet industry influencers, and check out the competition. There are educational sessions, keynote speakers, award ceremonies, and receptions. Good food. Bad food. And too much of both. Sore feet and not enough sleep. And the thrill of meeting a new client with a massive order for the right supplier.
All too often, however, trade show exhibitors and attendees treat a show as a vacation and/or a party. They don’t prepare, don’t plan, don’t create goals. It’s a week away from the office on the company’s dime. And while they may recognize the show as a “sales and marketing” opportunity, they don’t actively prepare for it by engaging in pre-show marketing or contacting existing or potential clients before the show. To them, it’s an event and what happens happens. Hopefully something wonderful, but there’s no way to predict it.
Those are the exhibitors and the attendees who report back after the show that “it was a waste of time.”
What is the Purpose of a Trade Show?
Trade shows are perfect for learning about new products and services, meeting potential customers, and generating sales leads. They can also be a great way to network with other industry professionals.
If you are considering attending a trade show, you’ll need to make sure that the trade show is relevant to your industry. Second, you need to plan your visit carefully. This includes deciding which exhibitors to visit, who you want to meet, and how you want to spend your time. Third, you need to dress professionally and be prepared to network.
Here are five benefits of attending a trade show:
Learn about new products and services: Trade shows are a great way to learn about new products and services available in your industry. You can see demonstrations of new products, talk to the people who make them, and get your hands on samples.
Meet with potential customers and partners: Trade shows are a great way to meet with potential customers and partners. You can introduce yourself to people who are interested in your products or services, and you can learn more about their needs.
Generate leads: Trade shows are a great way to generate leads. You can collect business cards, sign up people for email lists, and schedule follow-up meetings.
Network with other professionals: Trade shows are a great way to network with other professionals in your industry. You can meet people who work for your competitors, suppliers, and customers.
Learn about industry trends: Trade shows are a great way to learn about industry trends. You can hear from experts, attend seminars, and see what other companies are doing.
If you are considering attending a trade show, I encourage you to do your research and find one that is relevant to your industry. With a little planning, you can make the most of your time at the show and come away with valuable insights and contacts.
What Are Trade Shows That I Can Attend?
There are thousands of trade shows in North America and tens of thousands worldwide. Even the most aggressive exhibitor only attends a fraction of these. In reality, you’ll probably only attend trade shows relevant to your profession or personal interests.
Before deciding which show to attend, either as an attendee or as an exhibitor, contact friends or colleagues who have gone to the show in the past. They’re the best source of information about whether the trade show would benefit you and/or your company.
There are several search tools for finding shows in North America and Internationally.
EventsEye – Free source for locating trade shows, exhibitions, and conferences worldwide.
10 Times – Search by events, venues, companies, and the Top 100 Events worldwide.
The Tradeshow Calendar – Global search engine for B2B trade exhibitions with a strong North American database.
EXHIBITOR Calendar – Search by show names, dates, city, country, and attendees/exhibitors.
TradeFairDates – In addition to an international trade show search engine, you can also find trade show suppliers.
How to Prepare for Your First Trade Fair, Show, or Exhibition
Here are some tips on how to prepare for your first trade show:
Set goals: What do you hope to achieve by attending the trade show? Do you want to generate leads, make sales, or simply learn about new products and services? Once you know your goals, you can start to develop a plan to achieve them.
Choose the right trade show: There are trade shows for all sorts of industries, so it’s important to choose one that’s relevant to your business. You should also consider the size of the trade show, the date and location, and the cost of attendance.
Plan your trade show exhibit: Your exhibit is your chance to make a good first impression on potential customers and partners. So make sure it’s well-designed, well-lit, and informative. You should also have plenty of brochures, business cards, and other promotional materials on hand.
Create a trade show marketing plan: A trade show marketing plan can help you reach your goals by identifying your target audience, developing a message, and creating a budget. You should also consider using social media, email marketing, and other online channels to promote your trade show participation.
Train your staff: Your staff is the face of your company at the trade show, so it’s important to make sure they’re well-trained. They should know your products or services inside and out, and they should be able to answer any questions potential customers may have.
Attend pre-show events: Many trade shows offer pre-show events, such as seminars and workshops. These events can be a great way to learn about the latest trends in your industry and network with other professionals.
Arrive early: It’s important to arrive early at the trade show so you can set up your booth and get a feel for the layout. This will help you make the most of your time at the show.
Be prepared to network: Networking is one of the most important things you can do at a trade show. So make sure you bring plenty of business cards and be prepared to talk to people.
Follow up with leads: After the trade show, be sure to follow up with any leads you generated. This could involve sending them an email with more information about your products or services or setting up a meeting to discuss their needs.
Maximize Trade Show Success with Classic Exhibits!
If you are new to trade shows, don’t go at it alone. The rules, regulations, and informal information can be daunting and the jargon opaque and confusing. Do your homework whether that’s online articles or blogs or by reading books like Build a Better Trade Show Image or Tradeshow Success. And always work with a trade show professional at an exhibit house or industry consultant. Their expertise will not only save you money over time but also maximize your ROI at each trade show by following proven strategies.
Classic Exhibits Inc. designs and manufactures portable, modular, hybrid, and custom exhibit solutions, including Symphony Portable Displays. 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.
