Word on the Street by Kevin Carty
“On the Road Again”!
I hope last week was a great one for you! It certainly was for me. I was on the road visiting customers and partners. I also met with several “future” partners.
Here are some of the things I learned that continue to give me hope for the state of the trade show industry.
#1 — Sales are increasing everywhere.
Mostly inline displays but A LOT OF THEM. I received many positive comments about the Classic Hybrid lines such as Perfect 10, Magellan, and Sacagawea. Distributors appreciate the design differences they see in our lines.
#2 — The outlook, while still tenuous, is looking brighter.
Our crystal ball shows that sales are increasing, which is what we all want. There’s more chatter about ordering new displays and attending shows.
#3 — Smaller island designs are coming back. This fall looks good in that regard.
Mainly 20 x 20 and 20 x 30 hybrids, but with good budgets. Yippee!
#4 — New product development at Classic is in full swing.
Expect some unique product designs from Classic in Q3. We’re keeping it under wraps for now, but I promise you they will be truly different.
#5 — Our partnerships are stronger than ever.
I am anticipating a big announcement as it relates to ClassicMODUL sometime in the next six months. But again, I’ll just tease you with that for now.
Everyone during my trip seemed to agree that May, June and July are “wait and see” months. There’s a great deal of optimism right now, and from the look of things, we expect the normal summer doldrums to be healthier this year.
So . . . to those I visited, had nice meals with, had productive meetings with, played games with at Dave and Busters, and planned the future with . . . thanks so very much for making my week enjoyable and productive.
Be well and have a safe and restful weekend. Let me know what you are hearing and seeing in your market.
–Kevin Carty
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