Trade Show TalesBlog

Posts Tagged ‘Trade Show Exhibits’

Magellan Miracle Portable Hybrid Display — Setup Animation Video (Very, Very Cool!)

July 6th, 2009 COMMENTS

This enjoyable and informative video shows the assembly of the 20 ft. Magellan Miracle VK-2093 Portable Hybrid Display with (2) workstations, (2) monitor mounts, (5) 50 watt halogen lights,and tension fabric graphics.  Every Miracle Hybrid Display, including the 10 ft VK-1062 thru the VK-1065 and the 20 ft. VK-2091 thru the VK-2094 assembles with knobs and MODUL locks.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3YfnTYIsT4

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Magellan MOR Portable Hybrid Display — Setup Animation Video (Very Cool!)

July 5th, 2009 COMMENTS

Another excellent animation by Mike Swartout, the Classic Exhibits Design Director, for the Magellan MOR Portable Hybrid Display. The animation video shows the Magellan MOR VK-1076 with curve wings, two 50 watt halogen lights, and a large tension fabric graphic. All the MOR designs, from the 10 ft. VK-1077 and VK-1078 to the 20 ft. VK-2098 and VK-2100, assemble with attached knobs and MODUL hex key locks.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCLeUVLPsvA

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Word on the Street — June 15th thru June 19th

June 19th, 2009 COMMENTS
Word on the Street by Kevin Carty

Word on the Street by Kevin Carty

This week started with a call from a Classic Exhibits distributor regarding an existing quote that needed to be re-addressed. The week finished by reviewing client notes from a distributor on a project quoted several days ago.

Both the phone call on Monday and the email from this morning (as well as a conversation on Wednesday) involved the buzz word “Value Engineering.”

How many of you just cringed? : – )

So I went to Google to see the current definition of Value Engineering, and the two highest results were from Wikipedia and the US Army Corps of Engineers.

 Wikipedia says . . .

Value engineering (VE) is a systematic method to improve the “value” of goods or products and services by using an examination of function. Value, as defined, is the ratio of function to cost. Value can therefore be increased by either improving the function or reducing the cost. It is a primary tenet of value engineering that basic functions be preserved and not be reduced as a consequence of pursuing value improvements.

The US Army Corps of Engineers says . . .

Value Engineering is defined as “an analysis of the functions of a program, project, system, product, item of equipment, building, facility, service, or supply of an executive agency, performed by qualified agency or contractor personnel, directed at improving performance, reliability, quality, safety, and life cycle costs.” 

As it relates to the two projects mentioned earlier, it would appear that the clients (endusers) want a blend of the two definitions. From an aesthetic and functional standpoint, they want exactly what the Distributor and Classic Exhibits designed — but for less money.

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Word on the Street — June 8th thru June 12th

June 12th, 2009 COMMENTS
Word on the Street

Word on the Street by Kevin Carty

If you are like me, you find yourself talking to your exhibit industry peers to see “what’s up” in their world and in our industry. So, at the recommendation of others, I am going to write about what I am hearing each week and post it every Friday by noon. I look forward to your comments and feedback.

Week of June 8th thru June 12th

Budgets Looking Up Heading into 2010! 

That was the title of an article an industry friend sent my direction on Monday, and it really set the tone for the week.

In our business, we have seen a big spike in activity in design and quote requests so I thought i would make some calls and see if this was true for others. I spoke to some traditional Portable/Modular/Hybrid Distributors, Custom Houses, and a few suppliers of carpeting, lighting, and transportation services.

Their response confirmed our trend. With the exception of two companies, which said they are still hearing crickets rather than phones ringing, everyone else said that business has begun to pickup over the past two weeks. In addition, the projects seem real and have some meat. Not just “pie in the sky” speculative projects.

Everyone, myself included, is careful to mention that there has NOT been a comparable spike in sales, just in design and quoting. Which tells me that some money is being freed up for later summer and fall shows. The sales they are seeing right now are for refreshed graphics for existing exhibits and/or alternative “value” based exhibit options. At Classic, for example, we just introduced the Sacagawea Hybrid Series which has seen a lot of activity.

The other really consistent fact that all companies I spoke to confirmed was that their rental business is up anywhere from 25-50% over last year. Stands to reason right?!?!

They all agreed that May, June, and July will be spent getting back to basics. Making calls to as many people as possible. Keeping your company’s name out in the forefront is paramount during uncertain economic times like these. And for those who survive . . . the last thing you want to struggle with down the road is name recognition.

As I muddle and learn my way through this weekly blog thing, I encourage you to send me topics or questions that you would like feedback on. I would be happy to ask around as I make my calls each day and/or as I visit customers.

Talk to you all soon

Be Well

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

Search for Exhibit Photos in P5D — New Feature

May 14th, 2009 COMMENTS
Past Five Days -- Search Thru Over 1000 Exhibit Photos

Past Five Days -- Search Over 1000 Exhibit Photos

On April 13, we posted “Past Five Days — Reviewing Photos in P5D” where we discussed the history and features of Classic’s daily photo log. Past Five Days has been a permanent feature on Classic Exhibits website, and on all distributor versions of Design Search, since September 19, 2006. Over that time, we’ve made multiple incremental improvements. Today’s improvement is anything but incremental.

New Photo Search Function

We’ve added search functionality. Now you can search the entire P5D database by size and/or keyword. We all know the expression, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Too often, the challenge is finding the just right picture or photo. When it comes to trade show exhibit design, you may prefer renderings, but someone else in your organization may prefer photos. Now both options are available for many Classic Exhibits’ designs.

Say, for instance, you like Visionary Designs VK-1032 Hybrid Exhibit. Click here to see the rendering. “Very cool,” you say to yourself, but you wonder if there is a photo available in P5D that shows a “real” version of VK-1032. In this case, there is. Not just one, but seven separate entries for this design. Click here to see one of those photos. Not every photo will be complete with graphics. After all, those photos are taken in our Setup Area, and it’s not uncommon for us to ship displays without the graphics. The graphics may have been shipped directly to the client, or the photo was taken before the graphics were installed. It happens. Also, it’s important to remember that P5D is a sampling of orders. Not all orders. So, not every kit on Classic’s website has a corresponding photo.

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