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EXHIBITOR 2012 Classic Video: Word on the Street — Feb 13th thru Feb. 17th

February 17th, 2012 Mel White 8 COMMENTS
EXHIBITOR 2012 Teaser Video

Word on the Street by Kevin Carty

EXHIBITOR 2012 Video

Here’s a video about our booth, the first in a series leading up to the EXHIBITOR 2012 Show. We’re working with Tim Patterson, otherwise known as “The Tradeshow Guy.” You’ve probably read his wonderful blog, www.tradeshowguy.com. This video reveals two concepts, one proposed by me and the other by Mel White, our VP of Marketing and Business Development.

Mel’s idea is stupid. Mine is brilliant. Let us know what you think . . . and feel free to share.

Reminders:

  1. We will host a Distributor Appreciation Reception on Tuesday, March 6 beginning at 3:30 in Mandalay Bay. Please stop by our booth (#1645) on either Monday or Tuesday for the location. We are hosting this reception in conjunction with Eco-Systems Sustainable Exhibits.
  2. Marlys Arnold, author of Build a Better Trade Show Image, will be in our booth on Monday and Tuesday from 11:30 to 12:30. She’ll be happy to discuss her book, trade show marketing, or any other questions you may have about trade show training.
  3. Tim Patterson, a.k.a. The Tradeshow Guy, will be in the booth as well to discuss SocialMediaEventMarketingU.com. Tim is the guru on all things social marketing when it comes to trade shows. Tim will also be video blogging and tweeting throughout the show.
  4. In addition to our booth, there will be approximately 6-7 Classic Exhibits display builds on the show floor. We’ll be happy to take you on a tour and show you the designs — both rental and purchase.

–Kevin Carty

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

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Posted in Kevin Carty, Word on the Street | 8 Comments »

Smarter, Faster, Cheaper Solutions for your Trade Show Program

February 13th, 2012 Mel White COMMENTS

Recent Trade Show Trends

ExhibiTrends

Earlier this month, I attended a Distributor Open House where over 200 customers came to see the latest exhibit trends and services. I was fortunate to participate in a 45 minute panel session entitled Smarter, Faster, Cheaper Solutions for your Trade Show Program. I thought I’d share those trends with you. The first five (Show Floor Trends) came from an Independent Labor Contractor. The next five or so (Design and Manufacturing Trends) came from Classic Exhibits. The last five (Smarter, Strategic Behaviors) came from the Distributor.

Let me know if you would like more information. Just send me an email, and I’ll connect you with the appropriate presenter(s).

Show Floor Trends

1. The Importance of Taking Immediate Action When You Receive Your Show Manual. (In order to Maximize Discounts)

2. The Top 5 Operating Cost Budget Busters to Watch — Freight, Labor, Drayage, Rigging, and At-Show Additions.

3. Exhibitors are providing shorter lead times to display house vendors, and it’s costing you more money on the show floor. (A foot soldier’s perspective from the front lines)

4. Thirty Things on the Show Floor that Conspire to Destroy Your Beautiful Trade Show Experience.

5. Understanding General Contractors, Exhibitor-Appointed Contractors, and the Labor Unions.

Design and Manufacturing Trends

6. The New Kid in town is Hybrid Exhibits. They offer more than Traditional Portables (Banner Stands and Pop-ups) while approaching the Look and Function of Custom Exhibits.

7. Tension Fabric is the BIG Beast in graphics. Fabrics dominate the show floor with vibrant colors, lighter weight, durability and small packing.

8. Versatile Engineered Aluminum is the BACKBONE of most design centric inlines. It looks great, can be shaped, is durable, and plays well with custom wood construction or basic banner stands.

9. Customized design is no longer for the 1%. You can tailor your exhibit space with the help of extrusion, fabric, and computer aided design without a six-figure budget.

10. Packaging, Assembly, and Sustainability have come a LONG, LONG way. Most exhibits now are easy to assemble, pack smaller, and include post-industrial and post-consumer materials.

10a. Don’t forget rentals. Rentals have gotten OH SO SEXY. Take a look. You’ll be surprised how rentals have shed their MOO-MOO for Upscale Designer Wear.

Smarter, Strategic Behaviors

11. Begin to plan the show with the end in mind. Create a Trade Show Marketing Plan that includes Pre-Show, At-Show and Post-Show Marketing.

12. Establish Specific Objectives. What do you really want to get out of the show and how do you get it?

13. Technology awareness and possible sharing. Who/what synergies are available to use at the show as a resource?

14. Secure Qualified Leads that will generate sales after proper follow-up.

15. Train and Schedule Staff. Your staff needs to effectively convey your sales message and ensure the booth is staffed properly.

15a. Create a WOW Exhibit that attracts people and conveys your brand in the best light.

–Mel White
http://www.linkedin.com/in/melmwhite
mel@classicexhibits.com

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Based in Portland, Oregon, Classic Exhibits Inc. designs and manufacturers portable, modular, and custom-hybrid exhibit solutions. Classic Exhibits products are represented by an extensive distributor network in North America and in select International markets. For more information, contact us at 866-652-2100 or www.classicexhibits.com.

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The “Build a Better Trade Show Image” Fest

February 9th, 2012 Mel White 1 COMMENT

I wanted to give you a heads-up on an exciting online event happening in the trade show world this month! We’ve been invited to participate in a special promotion — along with other exhibit industry vendors — to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the book, Build a Better Trade Show Image, by Marlys Arnold.

She’s put together a week-long gift-fest from Feb. 19-25. (Which also happens to be the 13th Annual “Build a Better Trade Show Image” Week) We’ll be offering (2) 30 minute design consultations, and there will be more cool gifts from the other vendors, including some great exhibitor education from Marlys. (In case you’re not familiar with her, she’s a trade show marketing strategist and has worked with exhibitors and show managers in all kinds of industries, including some of the largest shows in the U.S.)

To be sure you get in on the party, go to www.imagespecialist.com/tradeshowgifts and sign up for daily e-mails during the week of February 19 that will list all the gifts, plus some unannounced special offers. You won’t want to miss it!

In addition . . .

Beginning February 15, your customers will receive a FREE gift when they order a Classic Exhibits Hybrid Inline or Island, the complete 280+ page eBook of Build a Better Trade Show Image by Marlys Arnold. There will be a thank you postcard in their display packaging, complete with a promotional download code.

To see the download page, go to http://www.imagespecialist.com/classicexhibits

For more information about the promotion and a 45-page sample of the book, go to http://www.imagespecialist.com/classicexhibits/classic-exhibits-distributors/

Classic Exhibits will begin inserting the postcard into hybrid inline and island orders beginning Wednesday, February 15. The promotion ends May 31.

BONUS:  Meet Marlys Arnold at EXHIBITOR at the Classic Exhibits booth (#1645) from 11:30 to 12:30 on Monday and Tuesday and at the Classic/Eco-Systems Sustainable Hospitality Suite on Tuesday afternoon.

–Mel White
http://www.linkedin.com/in/melmwhite
mel@classicexhibits.com

*********************************

Based in Portland, Oregon, Classic Exhibits Inc. designs and manufacturers portable, modular, and custom-hybrid exhibit solutions. Classic Exhibits products are represented by an extensive distributor network in North America and in select International markets. For more information, contact us at 866-652-2100 or www.classicexhibits.com.

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Posted in Mel White, Trade Show Exhibit Tips | 1 Comment »

This, That, and The Other: Word on the Street — Jan. 23rd thru Jan. 27th

January 27th, 2012 Mel White 1 COMMENT
This and That

Word on the Street by Kevin Carty

It’s Mel. This week, I’m filling in for Kevin who is at Disneyland treating his five-year old twins to the Magic Kingdom. For those on the East Coast and in the South, yes, there’s still a Disney Park on the West Coast. I know. It seems weird with Disney World a mere 3000 miles away, but five-year olds don’t know the difference . . . yet.

This week we’ll share some odds and ends . . .

EXHIBITOR 2012

It is oh so close. A mere five weeks away. We’ll be in booth #1645, a 20′ x 30′. And just like your typical customers, the exhibit design is nearly done, we’ve outlined the graphic concepts, and we’re juggling 100 balls at the same time. Next year, “we’ll be done by December,” our mantra since 2005.

  • Classic Exhibits / Eco-Systems Sustainable Reception. We’ll host a reception on Tuesday, March 6, in a Mandalay Bay Suite. The reception will be from approximate 3:30 to 7 pm, or until we exhaust our beer, wine, and snacks. Please touch base with us on Monday or Tuesday at EXHIBITOR for the room number.
  • Optima Graphics Reception. You’ll also see our friendly faces at the Optima Graphics Reception on Monday March 5 in the Mandalay Islander D-E Ballroom. Please check with our good friends at Optima for details.
  • Other Classic Exhibits Displays. Based on our latest count, there should be around four or five Classic-built displays at EXHIBITOR. Ask us about them at the show, and we’ll give you an unofficial tour.
  • New Product Showcase. This year we submitted the MOD-211 iPad Counter Insert into the EXHIBITOR New Product Showcase. The MOD-211 is available on most Classic Counters, Pedestals, and Workstations. It’s an easy and secure way to transform any counter top into a iPad station. You’ll see several examples in our booth.
  • FREE Pass. For a free pass to the show hall compliments of Classic Exhibits and ClassicMODUL, click HERE.

Upcoming Promotion

We’ve teamed up with Marlys Arnold, the Image Specialist, to offer her book Build a Better Trade Show Image to your customers. Starting in mid-February, we’ll include an “Our Gift to You” promotional postcard with most inline and island hybrid displays, such as Sacagawea, Magellan, Perfect 10, Visionary Designs, and SEGUE. The postcard will have a unique code where they can download the 280+ page e-book on how to launch, improve, finesse, or fix their trade show marketing program. It’s an excellent book, valued at $27, which every trade show expert or novice should own.

To see the download page, please go to www.imagespecialist.com/classicexhibits. Marlys will be at EXHIBITOR 2012, including several sessions in the Classic Exhibits booth and (probably) at the Classic Reception. We encourage you to meet Marlys and pick her brain on training programs available to you and to your customers.

ClassicMODUL Aluminum Extrusions

We hesitate to use this term . . . but the ClassicMODUL website is now “sexy.” Well, as sexy as engineered aluminum extrusion can get. We’ve made a number of significant changes to the website, including easier navigation, an extrusion depot site legend, and a very cool page flipping tool to browse the MODUL 6.0 Index. In the next week or so, we’ll also be adding extrusion photos in addition to the renderings.

When do you order from ClassicMODUL (and not Classic Exhibits)? Whenever you are ordering cut or full-length extrusions on projects you are project managing yourself. ClassicMODUL provides CAD services and can detail the extrusions you’ll need. They can guide you toward the most cost-effective solutions based on your design. Plus . . . there are ClassicMODUL extrusion depots in Portland, OR, Cheshire, CT, and Birmingham, AL.

Some New Products You May Have Missed (in Your Haste to Make a Living and Have a Life)

MOD-211 iPad Counter Insert for Trade Shows

MOD-211 iPad Counter Insert

  1. LTE-1001 and LTG-1001 Tapered Pedestals:  These are less expensive versions of the always popular LTK-1001 Tapered Pedestal.
  2. MOD-211 iPad Counter Insert: I know. I’m repeating myself. But it’s a great idea and it’s only $295.
  3. VK-1850, VK-1851, VK-1852 SEGUE Table Top Displays
  4. MOD-1285 and MOD-1283 Lightboxes with Rotating Header
  5. VK-5081, VK-5082, and VK-5083 SEGUE Islands
  6. SEGUE Sunrise DS (ex. VK-2314 and VK-1910):  These are the two-sided versions of the popular SEGUE Sunrise, an affordable, no-tools assembly SEG portable display.

Some Changes to Exhibit Design Search You May Have Missed (in Your Haste to Make a Living and Have a Life)

  1. Audio Clips: Over the past three months we’ve added 30-40 second audio clips to many kits in EDS. These clips give a brief description of the features and benefits of the products, such as the Quadro S Pop Up, Xpressions, Visionary Designs, or Design Monday.
  2. eSmart Galleries: We recently changed the name of these galleries from Eco-Smart to eSmart. Not a big change, but one that was intended to send a subtle message. The eSmart Galleries are not only eco-friendly designs, but also distinctive and affordable designs whether your client is interested in a green display or not. We encourage you to include the eSmart galleries in your search whenever you’re looking for a 10 x 10, 10 x 20, or island. Go for the design . . . get Green as a bonus.
  3. Brumark and Display Supply and Lighting: These are not new, but way down at the bottom of EDS, there are four galleries for Flooring, Exhibit Supplies, and Lighting. These are the Brumark and Display Supply and Lighting Galleries. If you use these galleries, please let them know. If you would like to see changes or additions to these galleries, please let them know. They are important strategic partners of Classic Exhibits and of Exhibit Design Search.

Anywho . . . we are looking forward to seeing you at EXHIBITOR. Please stop by the booth and join us at the Reception. If you would like to meet with Kevin, Reid, Jim Shelman, or me during or after show hours, please let us know. We are filling in our appointment slots PDQ.

See you later alligator! (I am so old).

–Mel White
http://www.linkedin.com/in/melmwhite
mel@classicexhibits.com

*********************************

Based in Portland, Oregon, Classic Exhibits Inc. designs and manufacturers portable, modular, and custom-hybrid exhibit solutions. Classic Exhibits products are represented by an extensive distributor network in North America and in select International markets. For more information, contact us at 866-652-2100 or www.classicexhibits.com.

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Posted in Mel White, Word on the Street | 1 Comment »

10 Quick Tips for Any Trade Show Newbie

November 12th, 2010 Mel White 3 COMMENTS

Trade Show Tips for Trade Show Novices

Trade shows can intimidate anyone new to exhibit marketing, but the best course is to dive into the pool. The following tips — from the shallow end of the pool — will get you started. When it’s time to swim laps or do a swan dive, go to Trade Show and Event Tips for 49 articles guaranteed to turn you into Michael Phelps (or Mark Spitz for those of us with gray hair).

10 Tips for any Trade Show Novice:

  1. A trade show is neither a vacation nor a death sentence. Although it may feel like a death sentence during tear-down.
  2. Be nice to the labor. They can solve most of your problems or create massive headaches. Try to follow the Golden Rule . . . until they piss you off. When they do, contact your I&D labor provider or show management. And remember that the laborers in your booth didn’t write the show hall rules. If you disagree with the rules, contact your I&D labor provider or show management but don’t take it out on the guy or gal assembling your display.
  3. Breath mints are more valuable than gold or platinum at a trade show.
  4. Comfortable shoes are more valuable than breath mints, unless you are wearing comfortable shoes but chatting with someone who clearly needs a 3 lb. breath mint.
  5. Rule of Three — This is a sad but true fact regarding labor at most trade shows. If three people are assigned to your booth, one person will be a star, one person will be average, one person will be a dufus. Hire nine people and you are guaranteed to have three stars and three dufasses. Sometimes you get lucky, and the ratio works in your favor. Sometimes not (I could name show halls where this is almost guaranteed to happen, but I’d have to check under my hood every time I start my car).
  6. No two shows are the same. Think of each show as a first date. Look your best and do your homework about the show, the attendees, and your competitors.
  7. Every exhibitor has a “Joe.” He drinks too much, he gambles too much, and he wanders around too much. He’s like the explorer Ferdinand Magellan, constantly circumnavigating the show hall. About a half a dozen times a day, you’ll wonder what happened to Joe. Five minutes ago he was sucking down his third espresso, leaning on the counter, and ogling anything with two X chromosomes. Suddenly he’s gone . . . AGAIN.
  8. Be ruthless about evaluating your show graphics. Everything else is secondary. Replace them BEFORE they need to be replaced.
  9. I Bet You 50 Bucks You’ll Forget One of the Following:  wire management for the exhibit, cleaning supplies, business cards, belt (happens to me at least twice year . . . two belts in Las Vegas = one mortgage payment), lip balm (again, crazy, ridiculously expensive in Vegas), phone charger, or your moral compass.
  10. FINALLY, work with professionals, whether it’s a graphic designer, an exhibit consultant, or a certified trade show manager. Trade show exhibit marketing is a craft learned the hard way through trial and error.  It’s easy to burn through a lot of money before you finally figure out what works and what doesn’t work. Don’t stumble through a year or two of mistakes when you can rely on experts who can save you time, money, and embarrassment.

Bonus Tips:  For goodness sake, get some fresh air and a little sunshine once in awhile! Your mood will improve by a 1000 percent. And just once, put on the workout gear that you bring to every show and repack (unused) in your suitcase. Exercise is healthy.

— Mel White

Trade Shows as First Dates
Love on Aisle #600 — Trade Shows and Events
What Not to Wear (at a Trade Show)

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Posted in Fun, Mel White, Trade Show Exhibit Tips | 3 Comments »

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