Many inline and island trade show exhibits include furniture, like lounge chairs, bar tables, stools, and end tables. Much of it rental furniture. More recently, rental options have expanded to include safety dividers, rugs and pillows, and even charging options for phones, tables, and laptops.
As trade shows resume post-COVID, this rental trend will continue, if not increase as exhibitors choose more cost-effective options. For most exhibitors, selecting from the show book can be confusing (and expensive). As better option is Exhibit Design Search with two comprehensive CORT galleries with over 200 rental designs: Rental Gallery #1 and Rental Gallery #2.
Rental Furniture Examples
Last week, new designs were added to the galleries. See below for some of the additions.
Counters and Pedestals,
like Rodney Dangerfield, get no respect. Yet, nothing works harder on the show
floor. They’re the ultimate Swiss Army knife.
At Classic, we know a little bit about counters
with over 250 custom, modular, and portable kits in Exhibit Design Search.
Yes, that’s a lot. Others might label it OCD, but we call it being
thorough. Hey, don’t judge!
A well-designed counter combines branding, design, and practical features like storage and accessories. Think about the last time you were on the show floor. Chances are you spent the bulk of your time standing or sitting around a counter.
We’re particularly proud of new Symphony designs shown below. They assemble without tools, pack flat, include shelves, and are perfect for graphics. Plus, they include a unique Classic feature – the locking countertop. Don’t see exact what you want in EDS? That’s nOCD problem. Let us design and build it.
You’ve probably seen the “Match Made in Hell” commercial by the Ryan Reynold’s creative team. The only thing missing was an empty convention center.
It’s been a tough year for the exhibition and event industry, as well as travel, food, and hospitality. With the release of vaccines, there’s a glimmer of hope for a healthier 2021.
It would be easy to pooh-pooh the holidays this year. To dismiss it and move on. And yet, neither you nor Classic has taken that path. During our Classic Conversations sessions in December, you’ve talked about what you’re grateful for. For example, how the pandemic strengthened relationships, broadened your skills, and allowed you to reassess your business. And how you have learned to embrace the present and are planning for the future.
The Classic Exhibits Family wishes you a Joyous Holiday and a Brighter New Year. Above all, we are grateful for your friendship and support throughout 2020.
PANTONE Color of the Year 2021
Introducing Cheerful and Dependable | The EXACT Opposite of 2020.
PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray + PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating, a marriage of color conveying a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting. Illuminating is a bright and cheerful yellow sparkling with vivacity, a warming yellow shade imbued withsolar power. Ultimate Gray is emblematic of solid and dependable elements which are everlasting and provide a firm foundation.
Please join us in congratulating Katina Rigall Zipay, Classic’s Creative Director, for receiving EDPA’s Designer of the Year Award.
The award was presented to Katina at the EDPA ACCESS Conference in San Antonio. The Designer of the Year Award acknowledges a designer who works diligently to enhance the professional standards of experiential/exhibit designers, contributes their talents, creativity and personal time to bring innovation to experiential/exhibit design.
She was also recognized as a 2020 EDPA Future Leader. Congratulations Katina!
EXHIBITOR Portable Modular Awards
Earlier this week, EXHIBITOR announced the finalists for the Eighth Annual Portable Modular Awards. We are delighted to have five finalists: Greystar Worldwide, NuNaturals, Verity, Odyssey Foods, and GE Appliances. This is our eighth straight year of having multiple finalists. And, yes, we are bragging (a bit).
See all 40 of the finalists on the PMA People’s Choice Voting Page. You can vote for your favorite, once a day, until March 1. Classic has won the People’s Choice Award on several occasions, including last year (yes, a little more bragging).
We encourage you to vote and support the PMA’s.
Event Marketer Fab 50
Absolutely Fabulous! If you understood that reference, then you’re clearly over 45 and watched too much Comedy Central (or PBS) in the 1990’s.
Our thanks to Event Marketer for naming Classic Exhibits a Fab 50 company, their annual editorial listing of the industry’s top builders.
What’s even more exciting is how many Classic Exhibits Distributors made the list – 34 TOTAL. That just proves we are in good company.
This year represents our fifth year as a Fab 50 honoree. If you watch Saturday Night Live, you know the importance of being on the Five-Timers List.
A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to all the Exhibit Builders on the Event Marketer Fab 50 List.
Classic’s Exhibit Design Search
Recently, we updated EDS on the Classic website to the format of the branded EDS sites. Over the past three years, we’ve made significant UI changes to the branded sites, such as larger gallery images, full screen optimization, hamburger menus, and a mobile-friendly format. Those upgrades are now part of the Classic EDS.
Please let us know if you see any issues or have questions. We welcome your feedback.
Some Good News: As we head into 2021, we’ve made the decision not to charge a subscription fee for your branded EDS sites for at least the first six months of 2021. It’s in everyone’s best interest. We want you to have Classic products on your website. AND, we both know you’re more likely to be successful selling portable, modular, custom and rentals with a branded EDS. It’s that simple.
This applies to all Classic Distributors with an active branded EDS beginning in 2020 or added EDS this year. We will re-evaluate in May for the second half of 2021.
Tim Patterson, aka Tradeshow Guy, takes us on an informative tour of the newest galleries in Exhibit Design Search. In this video, Tim navigates through TradeshowBuy.com, his branded version of EDS.
Personal Protection guidelines are starting to unfold for schools, universities, medical facilities, and businesses. We are deep in that mix and know it very well. Currently, we have about twenty schools under our belt, eight banks, and several hospitals. And the requests are growing exponentially.
PPE is an immediate need for these organizations, and they are desperate for your guidance and expertise. They don’t want tacky acrylic barriers held together with Velcro and unfinished wood. They want attractive, professional solutions.
You can significantly increase your closing percentage by asking us to participate in the call with your client. We’re available, whether you need assistance on product specifications, design, or simply a wingman to close the deal.
PPE Business is Local
From our experience, all PPE business is local. Your greatest asset is leveraging local relationships, personal friendships, and existing clients to find new opportunities.People love doing business with friends, acquaintances and vendors who support them. In most cases, they won’t find or contact you. You have to find them by calling, emailing, or visiting their website or social media pages.
The planning process has started for schools, churches, banks, museums, retail locations and offices so the timing is ideal. Become the local expert for PPE products. We’re here to help you any way we can.
Exhibit Design Search Updates
Whether you call itshifting, pivoting, or evolving, we aren’t standing still. There areFive New Galleriesin EDS:
Jim Shelman and his team have made extensive updates to the (3) Rental Galleries. New designs, more details, and even a SALE.
The designs include SuperNova lightboxes, Gravitee inlines and islands, and even promotional prices on our newest portable system, Symphony. We expect rentals, especially customized rentals, to be active once trade show return as exhibitors choose smaller and more affordable options.
Join Us at the Together Again Expo in Orlando on July 24
Kevin, Jen, and Katina will be in Orlando on July 24 for the Together Again Expo. In booth #400, a 10 x 20 Symphony and Gravitee Display, along with examples of our Hand Sanitzer Stands. They are planning several live broadcasts.
No need to preregister. All are invited! Save the links below!
If you are attending the event in Orlando, please stop by and visit them while adhering to mask and social distancing protocols.
The show organizers havevirtual training and panel sessions planned as well. You will need to register if you want to attend any of those activities. Fingers crossed that it sends the right message that the trade show industry can be active and responsible.
Employment Love Connection
Displaced? Furloughed? Laid off?
We would like to help if possible. As a national manufacturer with
over 200 distributors, we know there are people looking for other great people.
That need will be even greater in the coming months.
Let us know if we can make any employment love connections. We would love to assist. Reach out to Jen LaBruzza, Harold Mintz, or Tom Beard.
