Vacation is two weeks away… for your kids! BUT you still have to go to work, punch the clock, and sell displays. It’s never easy this time of year, but our friends at Eco-systems have a solution. In May, June, and July, all inlines and islands are on sale. Plus, you can win cash. As in $111. See the details and contact Matt Wish (matt@ecosystemsdisplays.com) for a version you can email to your client database.
Word on the Street by Kevin Carty
International Partners Visit
This week was busy both with orders and meetings. But I want to speak in particular about the meetings we held on Monday and Tuesday with our friends and partners from MODUL International.
As many of you remember, Classic Exhibits Inc. purchased a company called Modul USA in 2005. At the time, we were Modul USA’s largest customer. In doing so, we became the exclusive North American Network Partner for MODUL International, and with the purchase, we launched ClassicMODUL.
This was significant for the Classic Exhibits side of the business, but it was even more significant for the MODUL product line in North America (USA, Canada, and Mexico). Our relationship with MODUL International is quite different from Modul USA’s relationship with our German partner. Modul USA was an importer. We are a manufacturer, designer, and contract extruder. In striking our relationship with MODUL International, ClassicMODUL obtained the exclusive extruding rights within North America. Meaning we can (and do) extrude the majority of the profiles sold in North America. In fact, many of the most common profiles we use every day are pushed by an aluminum extrusion provider just a few miles from our location in Portland (which saves on shipping costs and turnaround time).
www.classicmodul.com
The MODUL relationship has been important for Classic Exhibits, ClassicMODUL, and ClassicMODUL Distributors because it allows us to better manage inventory and to do so at a better cost to our distributors. While price is certainly a key component, it’s inventory control that presents the largest benefit to distributors. We currently have extrusion depots in Portland, OR, serving the West of the Mississippi region of the US and an extrusion depot outside of Hartford, CT serving the East of the Mississippi distribution. Soon we plan to open a location in the Southeast as well to serve from Texas to Florida and from the Carolinas to Missouri.
Well, I am happy to share with you that we reaffirmed our relationship with MODUL in North America this past week, and reviewed some exciting new profiles and accessories. These profiles will be available in the coming months.
On multiple occasions, you have heard me stress the value we place on our partnerships with vendors like Optima Graphics, Eco-systems Sustainable Displays, and Brumark (to name a few). But it is equally rewarding to have such a great relationship with our European partners. Relationships like the one we have with MODUL International allow us to better serve our distribution and manufacturing here in the States for years to come.
A special thanks to James and Bernd for their time, ideas, and partnership. James and Bernd — Be sure to spread the good word in Europe about the excellent Oregon Pinot Noir wines you discovered during your trip. And, yes, it did rain nearly every day you were here, but that only lasts for nine months. 🙂
Be well and have a safe and restful weekend.
–Kevin Carty
http://twitter.com/kevin_carty
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/kevin-carty/3/800/32a
Word on the Street by Kevin Carty
Love thy Neighbor (Unless They Own a ’79 Chevette on Cinder Blocks)
Most neighborhood developments in America since the early ’90’s have covenants. These covenants specify what you can and can not do to your house, your lawn, and even whether you can park your land yacht in your driveway or paint your house bright pink. Why do neighborhoods impose these covenants? Basically, so you do not end up living next to neighbor with 4 ft. tall grass, plastic pink flamingos, and a ’79 Chevette on cinder blocks.
I propose that we consider similar guidelines for the trade show floor.
This past week, I walked the Greenbuild Show in Phoenix. Let me start off by saying that the show was gorgeous — It was seriously one of the most beautiful and well-managed events I have attended in years. Kudos to Champion Exposition Services for putting on such a great event. Kudos to most of the exhibitors for their creative and stunning exhibits.
However, like all shows, there were still some black eyes. On Wednesday, Tim Morris, the President of Eco-systems Sustainable Displays, and I walked the floor for most of the day. And we both had a few moments where we shuddered a bit. I’m not including photos to protect the exhibitors in question, but man-o-man were there some doozies!
We were walking down an aisle filled with beautiful 10 x 10 and 10 x 20 inlines, mainly hybrid display systems, when we came upon Mr. Blue Fabric Pop Up planted between two of the most spectacular 10 x 20 inline exhibits on the aisle. Well, this pop-up looked like a dress shirt that had been balled up in the closet for about 24 months! Panels were wrinkled to the point that I am pretty sure they were folded and not rolled. Detachable graphics were nothing more than printed pieces of paper that had been stapled into place . . . CROOKED! And the topper (pun intended) was the header graphic . . . or lack thereof. It was the black and white sign provided by show services, hung haphazardly and off-center.
Now, I realize that we are in a rough economy and that people are pinching pennies — but REALLY!?!?
As Tim and I walked past, we couldn’t help but comment to the other exhibitors. They were not amused by Mr. Blue Fabric Pop Up. Their exhibits were beautiful and their neighbor was a ’79 Chevette on cinder blocks. It really did detract from their professional exhibits, and, it seriously made people walking past not want to engage the exhibitors surrounding Mr. Blue Fabric Pop Up. We watched it happen.
I know it’s a slippery slope, but I really think there should be some basic “aesthetic” guidelines that exhibitors must adhere to.
What do you think? And please share your examples of Mr. Blue Pop Up. Photos are optional.
Have a safe and restful weekend!
–Kevin Carty
http://twitter.com/kevin_carty
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/kevin-carty/3/800/32a
