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Upcoming Events for The Classic Exhibits Family: Word on the Street — Sept. 10th thru Sept. 14th

September 16th, 2012 Mel White COMMENTS
Upcoming Events for The Classic Exhibits Family

Word on the Street by Kevin Carty

Not only is this “the busy” season, but this is also a busy time for events at Classic.

First, Club 815 Fundraiser

The time is finally here. The Fundraiser Ride for Mike and Janet Swartout is this Saturday, September 22. Yes, it’s the culmination of months of training, but more importantly, it’s the culmination of your tremendous support for Classic’s Design Director, Mike Swartout, who is battling cancer. Thanks to those who have been so very generous by contributing to the team that includes Joel Roy from Creative Dimension, Greg Garrett from Greg Garrett Designs, David Brown from Optima Graphics, Tony Ricci from Optima Graphics and his lovely wife Betsy, Mel White, Charlie Shivel and me from Classic, and my step-father Grant Murrell.

Your donations and support have been nothing short of humbling. Many have been asked us to resend the information so you can still donate. It certainly is not too late. Jut click this link to support our team. And remember to let us know if there is anyone in your life that we can ride “In Memory of” or “In Honor of” as we scale Mt. Hood next Saturday.

Club 815 Fundraiser: https://ssl.charityweb.net/echelongranfondo/hood_river/club815poweredbytheedpafoundation.htm

Special note to our team –Guys and Gal, I truly am honored by your participation and really look forward to spending a couple days together riding, hanging out, and recovering. It’s going to be fun. And I know I speak for Mike and Janet when I say “Thank You” for your inspiring willingness to take on this challenging event.

Shared Knowledge University (SKU)

After the ride, Shared Knowledge University starts at Classic Exhibits Monday morning September 24. The training will be two comprehensive days for experienced and new Classic Distributors.

Like the last SKU event, we will cover everything from product training to procedures to design to project management for Classic Exhibits, Classic Rentals, Eco-systems Sustainable, and ClassicMODUL.

Optima will be there to give a graphics presentation. And you will have the opportunity to spend time and meet all the Classic Exhibit employees that you work with everyday on the phone.

Like any event, it can’t all be work. 🙂 We have two evening events planned that the attendees will really like. Both located at very unique and very “Portland” venues.

To those who are registered, I am really looking forward to seeing you and showing why I think Classic Exhibits and its employees are simply the best.

A little teaser . . . To those distributors who have Exhibit Design Search on their website, expect BIG, BIG changes this week. The new EDS is done, Version 3.2. You can see it on Classic’s website now. It will appear on your website sometime this week. Expect a blog post from Mel in the next day or two detailing all the changes.  They are significant!

Hope you all have a great week ahead. Be well.

Kevin Carty
http://twitter.com/kevin_carty
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/kevin-carty/3/800/32a

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And Away We Go!: Word on the Street — July 30th thru August 3

August 5th, 2012 Mel White 1 COMMENT
And Away We Go

Word on the Street by Kevin Carty

August is finally here . . . and depending on your perspective, that’s either a good thing or something to regret.

From a personal perspective, I am like, “Yikes! How did we get to August so quickly?” But from a business standpoint, I am breathing a sigh of relief. Why? Because July is behind us!

July is always a down month, even a good July like this year. If I wear my sales hat, I wish July had been even stronger. That said and before our PM’s and Designers shoot me, July was NUTS for them. Quoting seems to be higher than ever actually, which means Design Requests are up big time as well. And with respect to our designers, WOW, the properties have gotten much bigger for the upcoming fall show season. We are headed into what looks like an Island Paradise this August, September and October. Sans the margarita maker and white sandy beaches.

New Products, BBQ, Partnerships, and Fundraiser

MOD-1334 iPad Kiosk

August also means that new products are ready for release. For example, in Design Monday this week we are showcasing three new portable iPad Kiosks. The new iPad Kiosks, called the Port\Land Designs, feature our exclusive Swivel Stop solution. The Swivel Stop permits the iPads to swivel between the Portrait and Landscape mode without tools (Port to Land — Get it!). OK, maybe the name is a little cheesy since we’re based in Portland, but it’s ours and we’re keeping it.

August also means the Company BBQ. It’s a personal and professional highlight for us at Classic, Exhibits NW and ClassicMODUL. It’s on Friday, August 17. Just in case you have a hard time reaching us around lunch time, it’s because we are napping after consuming an insane number of hamburgers, hot dogs, and desserts.

My challenge to you is to focus on our partnerships and relationships — distributors, manufacturers and vendors. When the trade show industry spikes over the next three months, we get hectic and chaotic to varying degrees. Lean on one another from a partnership perspective and with a sense of understanding that we are all on this roller coaster ride together. I know that’s sort of “fluffy and Polly-anna” but it is true. When we all ramp back up for the busy season, we can’t forget that we rely on one other for our Shared Success.

Lastly, August means that Dave Brown, Joel Roy, Tony Ricci, Betsy Ricci, Charlie Shivel, Mel White, Greg Garrett and myself are only seven weeks away from our fundraiser ride for Mike Swartout. To all of you that have already donated, thanks so very much. It has been nothing short of amazing and touching to receive your support — financially and emotionally. For those of you who have not sponsored Club 815 Powered by The EDPA Foundation, here is a link to our webpage. And below that is a link to a recent posting on the EDPA Foundation website about our band of idiots. Every little bit helps:  $25, $50, $100.

Club 815 Fundraiser: https://ssl.charityweb.net/echelongranfondo/hood_river/club815poweredbytheedpafoundation.htm

EDPA Foundation Story: http://www.edpa.com/foundation/

Be well and have a great week ahead.

–Kevin Carty
http://twitter.com/kevin_carty
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/kevin-carty/3/800/32a

 

 

 

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Did You Miss Out? SKU & You Webinars are Online

June 30th, 2012 Mel White COMMENTS

Three Great Webinars From Classic Exhibits

A few weeks ago, Classic Exhibits hosted three educational webinars about silicone edge graphics (SEG), hybrid exhibits, and trade show island designs. The response was extremely positive. For those who missed these webinars, here’s your chance to experience them via the magic of YouTube and GoToWebinar. We hope you enjoy, and we welcome your comments.

classic modul website designer tips hybrid SEG CE website CE website

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Club 815 for Cancer: Word on the Street — June 11th thru June 15th

June 17th, 2012 Mel White 2 COMMENTS

Riding for One of Our Own

Every year, I embark on a 100 mile bike ride to raise money through the Livestrong Foundation for Cancer Research.

Well, this year I recruited some friends and together we have decided to help one of our own: Mike Swartout, Director of Design at Classic Exhibits Inc. Most know Mike, are friends with Mike, and some even call him family.

This September, employees from Classic Exhibits, Optima Graphics, Creative Dimensions, and Greg Garrett Designs will go the distance for one of their own — literally.

Dave Brown, Kevin Carty, Mel White, Tony Ricci, Betsy Ricci, Greg Garrett, Charlie Shivel, Joel Roy, and others will bike 100 miles (The Century Ride) in Oregon’s Eschelon Gran Fondo of Hood River to raise money for Mike Swartout and his family.

According to Dave Brown, VP of Sales at Optima Graphics, “Mike has been there to help Optima and its customers many times over the years so when Kevin suggested we do this ride to raise money for Mike’s family, we immediately said yes.”

I am approaching my 12-year cancer-free anniversary next month, and in that time I have been very impressed with Mike’s selflessness, courage, and attitude since his terminal diagnosis.

Unfortunately, I have known too many people who have been affected by cancer, but none have personally moved me quite like Mike. He decided, very early on, to become a research patient after his diagnosis of Advanced Stage 4 Prostate Cancer. He was not going to sit back and just take it. He wanted to do something for others.

Since his diagnosis, Mike has opted to undergo countless experimental treatments. Treatments that are solely intended to benefit people diagnosed with this dreaded disease in the future.

Optima Graphics, Classic Exhibits, Creative Dimensions, and Greg Garrett Designs certainly have a great working partnership, but within our companies, the relationships run much deeper. We are friends. So, when thinking about participating in this event, I naturally wanted to take the challenge with my friends and Mike’s.

EDPA Foundation

Special thanks to The EDPA Foundation! Dave Walens and Jeff Provost stepped in right away and allowed us to raise money through the foundation for Mike, thus allowing any and all donations to be fully tax deductible for individuals and businesses.

Visit our team’s page to learn how to donate to Mike’s family and how to help alleviate the severe financial hardship they are experiencing. In particular, Mike does not have life insurance which is a future hardship for his lovely wife Janet.

Mike is a huge proponent of men having regular prostate exams; prevention and early detection are the keys.

The team, “Club 815, Powered by The EDPA Foundation” will ride on September 22, 2012. If you are interested in riding with us, email me and I will send you all the information (kevin@classicexhibits.com).  There is a 30 mile, 80 mile, or 100 mile ride. So take the challenge . . . I dare ya! 🙂

Please consider supporting us. We would appreciate it.

Hope you all have a great weekend and be well.

–Kevin Carty
http://twitter.com/kevin_carty
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/kevin-carty/3/800/32a

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SKU & You: Word on the Street

May 13th, 2012 Mel White COMMENTS
Shared Knowledge University & You

Word on the Street by Kevin Carty

Shared Knowledge University & You

About this time of year, we normally send the Classic Distributor Network a survey with 15-18 questions. Not this time. We have cleared our schedule on June 12, 13, and 14 to connect with you. We’ll talk, we’ll listen, we’ll learn, and we’ll find answers together.

Join us on June 12, 13, and 14 for three days of sharing via Classic’s “SKU & You” sessions. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, you can participate in three (3) educational webinars, two (2) topic specific webinars, and two (2) one-on-one phone calls with Kevin Carty, Mel White, and Reid Sherwood. Choose the session(s) that target your interests and/or concerns.

Schedule:

1.  Knowledge Webinars (45-60 minutes) | 10 am – 11 am

  • Designer Design Tips for Sales-cessful Island Exhibits (Tuesday) —  Exhibit Designers: Erik Frost, Michael McCord, Mike Swartout, Katina Rigall, and Greg Garrett
    [Reserve Your Seat Now]
  • A Hybrid is a Hybrid is a Hybrid. Really? (Wednesday) – Mel White
    [Reserve Your Seat Now]
  • What’s All the Hub-Bub about Silicone Edge Graphics (Thursday) — Kevin Carty with a special guest from Optima Graphics
    [Reserve Your Seat Now]

2. Open Session Webinars with Kevin, Mel, and Reid Sherwood (45-75 minutes) | 11:30 am-12:45 pm

  • Open Chat  (Tuesday). What’s New in Design, People, and Trends. Join Us!
    [Register Now]
  • Open Chat  (Wednesday). Take Us to the Woodshed . . . What Did We Do Wrong/What Can We Do Better. Join Us!
    [Register Now]

3. One-on-One Phone Calls with Kevin and Mel

  • Two Hour Open Blocks on Tuesday and Thursday. We’ll be sitting by the phone waiting to answer your questions or just chat. First come. First serve. No tipping required.

Look for times and additional details later this month in LinkedIn, the Classic Exhibits blog, and e-broadcasts to the Classic email list.

Be well!

–Kevin Carty

http://twitter.com/kevin_carty
 http://www.linkedin.com/pub/kevin-carty/3/800/32a

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