On Friday, August 19, the Classic Exhibits Family held our Annual Summer BBQ. The BBQ wouldn’t be complete without great food, conversation, drawings, and the Harold Mintz-inspired Watermelon Seed Spittin’ Contest.
To help wash away the “end of summer” blues, we remind ourselves that the waning days of August also brings the best fruit season of the year! Every weekend Farmers Markets all over the country are bursting with nature’s bounty – the juiciest berries, the sweetest plums, and succulent peaches.
And then there’s the mother of all summertime fruits… the WATERMELON! When was the last time you spit a watermelon seed? Heck, when was the last time you ate a watermelon with seeds?
In Portland, we know a guy who knows a guy whose second cousin hooked us up with Hermiston, Oregon watermelons, the world’s best-tasting melons. And here’s the best part… he let us snag a few for Classic’s Annual Watermelon Seed Spittin’ Contest!
You might be asking yourself how does one spit an award-winning watermelon seed. Simple…
Select your favorite slice of red, ripe, juicy watermelon
Find the most aerodynamically shaped seed
Step up to the line
Place the seed on your tongue
Visualize the seed arcing gracefully
Wait for any slight breeze to give way to still air
Take a breath Enjoy the summer Fall is coming We’ve got your back Send us your overflow
Deep Breaths by Jen LaBruzza
A gentle poetic reminder that although it’s feeling Easy Like Sunday Morning right now, the Manic Mondays of Fall will be upon us before we can say, “20 x 40 island.”
And in case you missed our EXHIBITORLIVE memo, Classic Exhibits is North America’s Largest Private-Label Exhibit Builder. That means you don’t have to say, “No.” Just tap into our custom, modular, portable, and rental capabilities when your production schedule is maxed out.
So, as we pause and catch our breath, remember the Early Bird gets the BEST spot in the production schedule. It’s time to contact those Lazy Daisy clients and get those creative juices flowing. Reach out to our Sales Team, Designers, or Project Managers for assistance and let’s start filling up our dance cards.
Rental Winter Turns into Rental Fall by Jim Shelman
Sales: Q1 and Q2 Rental orders broke all previous sales numbers for Classic Rental Solutions. Early numbers show more of the same for the second half of the year.
To support our growth, we’ve added office and production staff. Josh Christensen joined CRS as a detailer, and he also manages our rental inventory. Kristofer Viaes and Victoria Writer are Project Coordinators. All three have already proven to be invaluable.
Gravitee Modular Walls have become our rental backbone. Backwalls,
towers, conference rooms, storage rooms, kiosks, and counters using Gravitee
and SuperNova are being utilized in every possible configuration. It’s hard to
imagine how we ever managed without the versatility of these options, along
with ClassicMODUL, to create any design imaginable.
Trends: We’re
seeing an increase in extended rentals for multiple shows, along with repeat
orders with replacement graphics and minor design tweaks. Repeat rentals with
no changes (except cleaning graphics) are more common. Yes, graphics can be
cleaned and look like new again.
Exhibitor Magazine People’s Choice Award
Award: Classic won Exhibitor Magazine’s People’s Choice Award for the Technolutions Slate Rental 20’ x 60’ Design with our Distributor Partner Jill Kinduell, Owner of Total Graphic Source.
We look forward to working with many of you on your upcoming rental projects, and we sincerely thank you for your business!
Fast and Furious Webinar Recordings
Over the past two months, we’ve hosted five Fast and Furious
webinars. And more are coming! Expect a webinar on Interactive Games for trade
shows (see the new
gallery in EDS) and an Exhibit Design Search tutorial, titled “EDS and
Coffee are for Closers!” 😉 If you missed any of the Fast and Furious
webinars, we uploaded the recordings to YouTube.
Finally, if you missed EXHIBITORLIVE or if you attended and want to see if made the final cut, see the two videos below. Kudos to our own Glenna Martin for documenting the show and creating both videos.
The 4th Annual Women In Exhibitions Breakfast was a huge success! Over 100 women gathered on June 22 in the Connection Zone at EXHIBITORLIVE. All who attended enjoyed a delicious breakfast and shared their personal experiences during a special presentation.
Guest speaker MaryCay Durrant provided insight into how women are uniquely positioned to take on leadership roles in ways that fulfill our desires for meaning, connection, health, and prosperity. Women In Exhibitions is proud to provide quality content and networking opportunities for the women in our industry, and this event was no exception.
This was all possible due to our generous sponsors:
Diamond – EXHIBITOR Media Group, Classic Exhibits Inc.
Platinum – Hill & Partners
Gold – Brumark, Centerpoint Marketing, CORT Events, Design Factory Las Vegas, Hamilton, Impact XM, NuVista, Pinnacle, Taylor
Too often, the terms “budget” and “portable” are used interchangeably for 10 and 20 ft. trade show displays. However, budget and portable have wildly different meanings depending on the manufacturer, distributor, or exhibitor. Budget can mean cheap, both in price and construction. Or it can mean value and quality.
Likewise, portables can mean tool-less and lightweight. But not always. Some portable displays require basic tools and pack in roto-molded rolling cases, which are convenient but not necessarily lightweight. These two terms are the trade show equivalent of egg-lingo – ex. cage-free, free-range, pasture-raised, and organic—where the exact meaning isn’t always obvious. .
Untangling the Budget Portable Ball of Twine
At Classic Exhibits, “Budget Portables” isn’t meant to be tricky or confusing. It’s actually very straightforward.
Budget. Price is a relative term, meaning our budget portables are less expensive than our other portables. These portables range in price from $3800 to $6100 and always include durable roto-molded cases with wheels, die-cut foam packaging for long-term convenience, numbered components for fast assembly, and detailed set-instructions.
Tool-less Assembly. Tool-less means no tools are required to assemble the booth. None. Some systems claim to be tool-less, except for the base plate or a literature tray or counter. Tool-less should mean tool-less.
SEG Dye-sublimated Graphics. SEG means Silicone Edge Graphics. SEG graphics have a silicone bead or welting sewn to the perimeter of the graphic. This bead fits into a channel on the aluminum frame. It should fit perfectly, which is why SEG is popular. No guesswork. Dye-sublimated is a printing process where images are transferred or sublimated into the fabric. It’s more expensive, but the colors are brighter and the end-product is more durable. Many vendors save money by directly printing on the fabric. It looks OK… for now. Long-term… not so much.
Engineered Aluminum Frames. Most budget portables are built with 1.25 in. round tubes. They’re lightweight, generally easy-to-assemble, and inexpensive. In short, they are graphic billboards. Our budget portables are structural, using aluminum extrusion. Unlike tubes, they are strong enough to hold accessories like monitors, tablets, literature trays, floating graphics, and workstations.
Lifetime Warranty on Workmanship and Made in the USA. Commitment and location matter. Lose a part? No problem. It’s replaceable, usually within a few days. Expanding or re-configuring your design? Again, no problem. The modular construction makes that simple.
SYK-2005 Symphony Portable Display
Buying a budget portable via the Internet is like placing $3000 on 26 Black at the roulette table. You might win… but there’s a much greater likelihood of losing. Don’t gamble. Work with a professional trade show consultant. They know the pros and cons of most portable displays and can advise you on the best choice for your budget and your marketing goals.
Symphony Portable Displays
For too long, portable displays have sacrificed elegant design for visual simplicity. Not anymore.
With Symphony, you can create the perfect 10, 20 or 30 ft. display by selecting from stylish backwall shapes and distinctive counters and workstations. The mix and match flexibility encourages unlimited design possibilities. Need a different look for your next show? Symphony’s modular SEG frames are double-sided and re-configurable.
Personalize your Symphony Display with attractive counters, workstations, floating graphics, iPad clamshells, and monitor mounts. The lightweight aluminum frames are engineered for SEG dye-sublimated fabric graphics for a seamless, wrinkle-free look. Add floating graphics for additional visual layering and branding.
Rama Beerfas of Lev Promotions shares 20 promotional product trends for 2022 in this Fast and FuriousWebinar, sponsored by Classic Exhibits.
For more information about promotional products, tchotchkes, or giveaways, contact Rama at rama@levpromotions.com or www.levpromotions.com. If you are attending EXHIBITORLIVE, schedule an appointment with her at www.levpromotions.com/exlive2022.
For an overview of Promotional Products: 0.00 to 6:39. To see specific products, along with benefits and features: 6:40 to the end.
20 Promotional Product Trends in 20 Minutes (or so)
20 Trending Products
Custom Designed Canister of Mini Gourmet Cookies
Apple Paper Appeel Mid Size Notebook
24 Page 7.25″x8.5″ Note Paper MousePad
Key Tag with ReturnMe Lost & Found Service
Sustainabalm
Smashlight 180
Bag Tag Survival Multi-Tool
QR Code Key Chain Custom Shape
Classic Series Post-it® Custom Printed Flag & Pen
Plantable Seed Card – Vertical or Horizontal
Phone Loops – Petite Loop Cell Phone Strap Holder
Professional 6″ Engineer Pocket Scale Ruler
MicroHalt Toothbrush Cover, Full Color Digital
SoberStick
Post-it® Extreme Notes w/Custom Printing
Cooling Stick
Soothing Stick
Hydra Stick
Retro Lunch Box
Whatever’s the Perfect Promotional Product for You!
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.
