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Trade Show Tips to the Beat of the 2010s

August 15th, 2016 Mel White 1 COMMENT

2010

The Keys to a Successful Trade Show:  The Follow-Up

Advicertainment by M. Christine Delea

The two biggest mistakes regarding trade shows? People not planning ahead of time, and people not following up once they get home. Some people claim trade shows aren’t worth the cost — but if you don’t continue the relationships you start at shows, you haven’t fulfilled the potential of the show. No wonder some people get so stressed out.

Your Lips are Moving

lipsSo open your email, pull out your phone, and say hello to those people you met a few days ago. No hard sell, just a friendly greeting. Get your lips moving and connect with potential customers — remind them who you are. Send an actual handwritten note to loyal customers. I’m not the only one who will tell you that leaving a blank space is a huge mistake. Nothing fancy is necessary. Just get ahead of the wave, and you will stand out.

The fact that business tools are changing is one of the few rules of business that doesn’t change. Use every aspect of technology at your disposal to show off how incredible you were at the trade show and to reconnect with people who attended as well as those who did not (those who had to stay home can get some cheap thrills vicariously, as well as learn from your great photos and notes).  As usual, all of your business correspondence should have as its underlying principle: I would do anything for you.

lenka2

Act as if there is a countdown clock for the ideas and inspiration you learned at the trade show, and share those as soon as possible with colleagues who weren’t there. Tell them everything at once if need be. Shared ideas can spur more innovations, and you need to look ahead to the next trade show.

And speaking of those colleagues, be sure you thank and congratulate all those who made the trade show so successful. It’s not tacky to let folks know that you really like them. Everyone likes to be appreciated.

Make your trade shows pay off. Follow up and follow through once you get home. You can be the Queen or the King of trade shows if you keep up with others after the show is over. Your customers will appreciate you remembering them.

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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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Posted in Business Tips, Classic Exhibit Systems, Guest Post, Trade Show Exhibit Tips, Trade Show Marketing | 1 Comment »

Trade Show Tips to the Beat of the 2000s

August 9th, 2016 Mel White COMMENTS

2000s

The Keys to a Successful Trade Show:  Packing Up to Leave

Advicertainment by M. Christine Delea

It’s exhilarating and tiring, and by the end of the trade show, you are ready to escape. Your own bed, your family, your car, your pets, your routine — everything you want is at home. But before you take off, be sure to wrap things up right. Check all the small things before heading out.

Look over your lead notes. Expand on anything you might forget after a few days go by. If I told you that you will not recall which product Lorraine Mastellone wanted and all the things she said, or that you won’t be able to decipher a phone number you wrote down, would you believe me? You should, because no one has an infallible memory.

Complicated

AvrilCatch as many folks as you can during those last few hours at the show or after it is over. Tell new associates how much you have enjoyed meeting them and that you look forward to working with them. Make plans to talk soon with those people, but don’t make things complicated. Even a quick wave and an enthusiastic “Hey, ya!” in the hotel lobby will make a great lasting impression.

Sorry to Mom out on you, but remember to pack carefully (I know you are exhausted and rushing to catch a plane). It’s no fun to get home and see a stain on your suitcase from a bottle of mouthwash that wasn’t closed completely or a cracked bottle of wine you bought for your dog-sitter. Take the time to pack right, and you won’t have to worry about a thing.

It’s a Beautiful Day

U2Did someone at the hotel, the show venue, the caterers, or the coffee kiosk help you be your best? Be sure to tell them thank you and wish them a beautiful day.

In case you don’t already know this, you should be leaving a tip for the hotel maid each morning, rather than all at once as you leave the hotel. The reason? Different maids will be assigned to your room on different days. Be sure to make it obvious that the money you leave is for the maid (a short note is fine).

Here I go again with the Mom thing, but double-check the bathroom, all the drawers, the closet, and under furniture before you leave your room for good.

Bye Bye Bye

And if your trade show is one of the big ones and you find yourself waking up in Vegas, be sure to escape without cleaning out your bank account. Okay, now you can leave. Bye Bye Bye.

Be sure to do a happy dance when you close the big deal. You deserve it.

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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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10 BIG Trade Shows in North America | October 2016

August 3rd, 2016 Mel White COMMENTS

Blog10Big

October 2016 is a busy month for trade shows in North America. Maybe they are on your radar. Maybe not. But it’s always nice when you don’t have to go hunting for information. So sit back and enjoy 10 BIG Trade Shows happening in October.

EMS World Expo – Oct. 3 – 7, New Orleans, LA

http://www.emsworldexpo.com

North America’s largest EMS conference and trade show, EMS World Expo, hosted in partnership with NAEMT, will bring over 5,100 EMS professionals together in New Orleans for an industry-leading event. Delivering state-of-the-art technology, products and services from 350+ exhibitors who are transforming EMS operations. Exclusively co-located with the World Trauma Symposium.

HR Technology Conference & Exposition – Oct. 4 – 7, McCormick Place, Chicago

http://www.hrtechconference.com

World-famous “buyers’ show” for HR Technology. HR Tech has been proclaimed the HR Show to attend by HR practitioners, independent analysts, journalists, bloggers, and even the former COO of SHRM. Many vendors even choose to announce their latest products for the first time at HR Tech. There is no better place to touch, compare and contrast the latest solutions from leading vendors in every category, as well as start-ups.

dairyWorld Dairy Expo – Oct. 4 – 8, Madison, WI

http://worlddairyexpo.com

Celebrating their 50th Expo this year, the World Dairy Expo serves as a forum for dairy producers, companies, organizations, and other dairy enthusiasts to come together to compete, and to exchange ideas, knowledge, technology, and commerce.

IBEX The International Boatbuilders’ Exhibition & Conference – Oct. 4 – 6, Tampa, FL

http://www.ibexshow.com

Where Better Boats Begin. IBEX 2016 returns to Tampa in October with more exhibiting companies, more new products, more boats on the docks, robust technical training, and essential conversations among industry professionals.

NRPA 2016 Annual Conference – Oct. 5 – 8, St. Louis, MO

http://parks.nrpa.org/conference2016/

The NRPA Annual Conference is the premier annual meeting of the park and recreation community. The three-day event brings together more than 7,000 park and recreation professionals, citizen advocates and industry suppliers or amazing networking opportunities, hundreds of education sessions, and the industry’s largest trade show showcasing the products and services of nearly 400 exhibitors.

InfographicGreenbuild International Conference & Expo – Oct. 5 – 6, Los Angeles, CA

https://greenbuildexpo.com

Greenbuild offers a place where more than 20,000 green building and design professionals come together with sustainability leaders from around the world for three exhilarating days featuring over 500 exhibiting companies offering innovative products and tomorrow’s technologies.

NAPE Expo – Oct. 12 – 13, Colorado Convention Center, Denver, CO

http://napeexpo.com

The annual Denver expo is a networking event that brings together all the players necessary to forge, facilitate, and close deals. This event offers prospects, producers, and purchasers a unique chance to connect, reconnect, and make deals. More intimate than the annual NAPE Summit, this show is a “must attend” event for those who want to network with the people and players that have firsthand knowledge of the opportunities and prospects throughout area.

NACS Show – Oct. 18 – 21, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA

http://www.nacsonline.com/nacsshow/Pages/default.aspx

As convenience and fuel retailing’s premier industry event, the NACS Show attracts more than 23,500 industry stakeholders from around the world. Buyers and sellers come together to conduct business and learn from one another – all in an environment rich with new ideas and partnerships. With 400,000 sq. ft. the NACS Show is the place to network and connect with convenience and fuel retailing industry peers and experts. You will discover thousands of the latest products and services that c-stores sell and use every day.

ImageIMEX America – Oct. 18 – 20, Las Vegas, NV

http://www.imexamerica.com/#

America’s worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings & events, IMEX America attracts key industry players from North America and around the globe. Buyers at the trade show represent all industry segments; Agency, association, corporate and independent planners.

The exhibitors you meet at IMEX America include U.S. domestic suppliers, global tourist offices and convention bureaus, major hotel companies, conference and exhibition centers, cruise lines, airlines, spa resorts, technology providers, event management specialists, and more.

2016 NFDA International Convention & Expo – Oct. 23 – 26, Philadelphia PA

http://convention.nfda.org

The world’s largest funeral service expo, where more than 300 exhibitors bring the best funeral service products right to you! Discover the latest product and service trends. Take advantage of exclusive exhibitor offers. Network with exhibitors and fellow funeral directors from more than 40 countries.

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Shopping for a new or rental exhibit? See over 1400 contemporary islands, inlines, banner stands, and trade show accessories at www.classicexhibits.com. Click on Exhibit Design Search for the largest display selection in North America.

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Trade Show Tips to the Beat of the 1990s

August 2nd, 2016 Mel White COMMENTS

1990s

The Keys to a Successful Trade Show:  Staying Fit

Advicertainment by M. Christine Delea

As a smart marketer, you attend as many trade shows as you can, all while managing the day-to-day operations of your business. Eventually, you may feel as if you’ve been everywhere. You may question if another one is worth it.

Remember that your team worked hard to prepare for this trade show. You ended up on imaginative roads that regular workdays often don’t inspire. The pressure of a looming trade show got your office brainstorming on that wonder wall board more intensely than you have in months. Give me one reason why you would let all of that hard work be for naught.

Resolve to be your best, which means staying healthy at the show. That recirculated air is working against you, but you can beat it. This is how we do it.

No Scrubs

TLCIf you are not washing your hands regularly, break from the old routine and become a little OCD about your hands. Wash throughout the day with regular soap for as long as it takes you to sing the Alphabet Song in your head as you scrub.

Get up early every morning and stretch for a few minutes. Take a few deep breaths (good exercise for your lungs) and resolve to swim in the hotel pool before you go to the show, stroll around the grounds after lunch, and/or get to the workout room where you are staying before you go to sleep. Don’t linger after meals. Skip dessert and take the stairs up to the social event you need to attend.

So Smooth

SantanasmoothCarry your water bottle everywhere. Stick with fresh foods as much as possible — salads and fruit/cheese/nut plates will keep you full and energized. Need to indulge? Try a smoothie with a boost of Vitamin C.

Get enough sleep. This will help you stay physically fit as well as mentally sharp. When a colleague calls your room at midnight to ask you to join the fun at the bar, (politely) say that you ain’t going nowhere and go back to sleep. You can always call them at 6:00 am and see if they want to join you for a swim!

On that last night, click up your heels and have a little fun dancing to the hits of the 1990’s. It’s hammer time!

 

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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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Trade Show Tips to the Beat of the 1980s

July 27th, 2016 Mel White 1 COMMENT

1980s

The Keys to a Successful Trade Show:  Handling Mistakes

Advicertainment by M. Christine Delea

What do customers want? It’s not complicated. They expect you’ll be good to them. How you respond makes all the difference, and saying and showing them that I’ll be good to you sets the right tone. However, even when you are paying attention and putting customers first, unexpected things can and will happen. Being human means that mistakes happen.

How we handle our mistakes is what sets us apart from our competitors. Admitting that your customer is correct — it’s a mistake, you take responsibility, and “Where is my mind?“— will go a long way toward repairing the situation.

Straight Up

StraightUpClear communication will be remembered more than the original mistake if it is sincere and straight up. And what goes around comes around, so it benefits your karma to treat others well when they stumble.

At the trade show, when a coffee clerk messes up your order, put it in perspective. When you are stepping out of the elevator and a distracted child spills juice on you, give that kid your sweetest smile. It’s all about attitude.

  • When your colleague steps on your foot,
  • When you realize someone at the office packed the wrong cards,
  • When the cab driver goes to the wrong address,
  • When the venue lists your meeting in the Abracadabra Room instead of the Magic Room…

Keep the faith and remember that things can only get better.

Salt In Your Tears

M_BrileyNo one wants to deal with a loud, belligerent, angry jerk — and that is why they sometimes get what they want, because a reasonable person just wants to get rid of them. However, those people also get spit in their soup, lost spa reservations, and no vacancies for next year’s trade show. The calm, pleasant person is more likely to get problems solved, and can eat their meals worry-free. That’s a good thing.

Sometimes it snows in April. Sometimes a butterfly in Costa Rica flaps its wings and your luggage ends up in Allentown instead of Georgetown, the location of your convention. That’s life. Accept the fact that mistakes happen, and it’s best to deal with them pleasantly. You’ll feel better about yourself if you own your mistakes and forgive those of others. And the jerk with the red face and the gross soup? Let him blunder his way to high blood pressure. He’s not worth the salt in your tears.

With accountability and a forgiving attitude, you can be a Zen master at the next trade show. Who knows, you may even be asked to come dancing to some Classic 1980s tunes. It’s all part of the positive karma of participating in a trade show.

Posts in the Series:

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

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 Business Tips, Classic Exhibit Systems, Guest Post, Trade Show Exhibit Tips, Trade Show Marketing | 1 Comment »

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