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Posts Tagged ‘Visionary Designs’

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What’s a Segue Hybrid Display?

May 17th, 2010 Mel White COMMENTS
Classic Exhibits VK-1309 Hybrid Display

Segue VK-1309 Hybrid Display

You may have noticed references to Segue over the past three or four months. So, what’s a Segue?

Segue is a new hybrid design line from Classic Exhibits. What makes Segue different from other lines, such as Perfect 10, Sacagawea, and Magellan, is that Segue incorporates Silicone Edge Graphics (SEG) and MODUL TSP aluminum extrusion profiles.

SEG is a high-resolution dye-sublimated fabric graphic finished with a thin silicone strip (or welt/gasket). The silicone strip is sewn directly to the edge of the graphic, and the strip is then inserted into an aluminum frame with a recessed groove.

At this point, Segue Display designs are a work in progress, meaning that we have yet to separate them into a district product line on the Classic website. Instead, you’ll find them within Visionary Designs and 3D Banner Stands. As we design more SEG/Segue kits, we’ll segment (no pun intended) them into their own galley within Exhibit Design Search.

We believe that SEG, which has been popular in Europe for several years, will capture a larger share of the graphics market, and we want you (and Classic) to be ready. Expect to see more Segue designs over the next six months. For now, click on the links and images below to see recent Segue Hybrid Designs from Classic.

VK-1309 | VK-1314 | VK-2306 | VK-2302 | DM-0621 |

MOD-1259 | DM-0636 | DM-0634 | DM-0588 | DM-0580 |

Segue (Silicone Edge Graphics) Hybrid Display from Classic Exhibits

For more a more detailed explanation about Silicone Edge Graphics, please download the SEG FAQ sheet.

–Mel White

http://www.linkedin.com/in/melmwhite
mel@classicexhibits.com
Classic Exhibits Network (LinkedIn)

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Word on the Street — May 10th thru May 14th

May 16th, 2010 Mel White 2 COMMENTS

Word on the Street by Kevin Carty

Distributor Sales or Direct Sales? Why Distributors Matter.

This has been a hot topic all week.

Not that it’s something Classic has contemplated. Much to the contrary. But for some reason, I was asked about this several times.

“Do you sell direct?” . . . “Hey, can I order directly from you?” . . . “Why don’t you sell direct?”

I thought I’d take a moment to address our philosophy on this matter.

First let me say that this is not to slight any manufacturers that sell direct and work through distributors at the same time. Some of our friendliest competitors do that in specific markets, like their own backyards, and it works well for them. Which is fine. Others have opted to go for Company Branded Locations or Company Stores in key markets, and that works well for them. Classic, for instance, has Exhibits Northwest, which sells exclusively in Washington and Oregon. But, Exhibits Northwest is not exclusive in those markets. We have other distributors in Oregon and Washington as well.

When we first entered the market in 1993, there were many established manufacturers already. We were essentially five guys in a garage . We weren’t, but you know what I mean. As such, we did not have the “reach” of other companies, so we needed to rely on distributor relationships to spread the word about Classic Exhibits’ products.

Then in about 2005, when we decided to re-brand the company and really start marketing the our products and services, we made a conscious decision. We recognized that we were not a “National” brand, nor did we feel that was the right approach for our company. Instead, we opted to focus on branding our marketing materials for distributors in each given market. In other words, we recognized that it was THEIR brand that mattered — not ours. Our products and our marketing materials would serve to strengthen their brand.

That is the essence behind Exhibit Design Search. Provide distributors with a professional search tool at very little cost, brand it for their website, deepen their product offerings, and substantially elevate their web presence in their market. A larger presence means more opportunities to close sales and more opportunities to sell Classic products. In other words, Shared Success.

Classic Exhibits Distributors

Now, fast forward to the present. We have invested a large amount of time and energy to develop what we feel is the best Distribution Network in the Industry. And in most cases, we have created Partners, not just Distributors, and forged relationships with companies that believe in the philosophy of Shared Success. Classic started with a distribution model and has kept it that way since the company was incorporated. Our Distributors are our life’s blood.

Having said all that, to answer the questions from earlier this week, we will never sell direct. We have too many good partnerships and friendships. Why risk a solid partnership and years of sales by selling a Perfect 10 or Visionary Designs direct? That makes no sense. We’re NOT THAT STUPID.

To quote Mel White, our resident curmudgeon, “Working with distributors is a big enough pain in the ass. Why complicate our lives even more by working with end-users.”

Thanks to you all.

Be well and have a safe and restful weekend.

–Kevin Carty

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

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Word on the Street — April 19th thru April 23rd

April 25th, 2010 Mel White 1 COMMENT

Word on the Street by Kevin Carty

R & D:  Seven (Not so Simple) Steps

Just writing “Seven Steps” makes it sound so simple, like it has a defined start and finish. But if you do much of it, you know it’s a living, breathing thing that never really rests. To stay ahead, you have to constantly be thinking of innovative and practical designs for your customers (See Design Monday this week for example).

Coming off my last trip that living, breathing thing was full of life. This week was all about intensive R & D planning on a series of exciting products rolling out over the next nine months. More products in a compressed time frame than I can ever remember.

So, how do you approach R & D? What are some of the steps you take? For me, I try to keep it the same and maintain a process.

My basic steps are:

  1. Develop a basic idea with a trusted team of people and partners. These can be vendors, Classic Exhibits employees from various departments, customers, or all of the above.
  2. Put the concept to paper with a great design team. I like to utilize both internal and external designers and engineers for this step. It gives you the best shot at something truly unique and infuses it with several different design perspectives.
  3. Give the designs to a trusted group of builders/creators: our Production Engineer, shop guys, and project managers. 🙂
    They know how to transform the impractical into the practical and how to re-engineer the needlessly complex into the real world simple.
  4. Get input on the initial product demos from trusted industry partners and customers. This is the tire kicking step. Will it sell and does it function according to plan? Then send it on the road to see if it’s durable.
  5. Rework it after you receive feedback.
  6. Turn over the final product details to Marketing to make it pretty on paper and e-broadcasts.
  7. Release the product to the Distributor Network.

Visionary Designs VK-1017

Now as I re-read those Seven Steps, it seems too simple, and we all know it’s not. More than anything, if you take the time to ask for input from a trusted team inside your own building and a trusted team inside your industry network, you give yourself the best chance at success. But even with all that, sometimes products never really take off  . . . or at least take a long time to take off. Look at the Visionary Designs VK-1017 for example. We spent a long time developing that kit, and it was just one kit. After we released it, it did nothing for nearly two years. Yet, when we were developing it, we were convinced that it would be a home run.

That was over three years ago. Now it sells quite well and is a very popular kit. So you never know what will be an immediate hit, what will fail, and what will take months or years to find an audience.

Take the Perfect 10 — a great example of a product line where we followed all Seven Steps to a “T.” And once released, it clicked conceptually. People loved it! Loved the design . . . loved the price . . . loved the packaging . . . loved it all.

In the end, I will always follow the Seven Steps, even though they are not so simple. I believe it gives us the best chance at success as we develop new products and designs.

How about you? What are your thoughts about Research and Development in our industry? Please comment.

Be well and have a safe and restful weekend.

–Kevin Carty

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

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Polarized Artwork on an Inline Hybrid Display

April 12th, 2010 Mel White COMMENTS

One of the luxuries of working in the trade show business, particularly as a manufacturer, is seeing so many creative displays and graphics. Not a day goes by that we don’t witness something impressive. But there are those days when we see something truly spectacular.

The images shown in these photos and video were designed by Austine Studios for Maui Jim Sunglasses. The Classic Exhibits distributor was Chris Chase at Everything Tradeshows. When you first glance at this Visionary Designs exhibit, the backlit graphics are dull and obscured, but put on a pair of polarized glasses, in this case Maui Jim sunglasses, and the images are instantly transformed into a vibrant, tropical mosaic. It’s AMAZING! See for yourself . . .

Without Polarized Glasses

With Polar

With Polarized Glasses

–Mel White
http://www.linkedin.com/in/melmwhite mel@classicexhibits.com Classic Exhibits Network (LinkedIn)

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Word on the Street — March 29th thru April 2nd

April 3rd, 2010 Mel White COMMENTS

Word on the Street by Kevin Carty

It’s Evolution Baby!

Not only is it a great song 🙂 . . . but it’s a living philosophy at Classic. As a company, if you fail to evolve or fail to take chances then you stop giving people a reason to turn to you for solutions.

For example, we have reinvented our very first hybrid exhibits — the VK-1001, VK-1002, etc. You can see the first wave in Design Monday this week. We’ve made three significant changes. Two are construction related and one is graphics. And, for those of you who are wondering, the price includes ALL the graphics: dye-sub and direct print alike. As well as all the monitor mounts.

But back to the changes:

Segue Hybrid Trade Show Displays

Segue Hybrid Trade Show Displays

Change #1: We have re-engineered the uprights. Gone is the Q 914, a larger square profile, and in is the S 44, a smaller but still structurally solid upright. The smaller profile means less weight and a kit that can (and should) be packed in portable roto-molded cases with wheels.

Change #2: Like the Perfect 10, Magellan, and Sacagawea, the new kits are primarily “knob assembly.” That means less assembly time and much happier customers and much sadder show contractors. I want to cry for them but the tears just won’t come.

Change #3: Silicone Edge Graphics (SEG). To our knowledge, these are the VERY FIRST SEG hybrid exhibit kits in the exhibit industry. Going forward, any hybrid kit, lightbox, or island primarily using SEG technology will go by the name Visionary Designs “Segue.”  I’m sure I don’t have to explain the name, but I can’t help myself. Seg for SEG and Segue for the seamless transition we’re seeing in trade show graphics. Anyone who attended EXHIBITOR saw the proliferation of SEG profiles and applications. Change is coming and it’s coming quickly. Fortunately for Classic and ClassicMODUL, we have over 10 SEG profiles and can bend many of them (unlike our competitors). However, if you want to use Velcro on these kits, just let us know. It’s an easy switch.

Oh yes, one more minor but aesthetically interesting change. We have modified several of the previous “flat” designs to a gentle curve. Looks nice! Adds a really dimension to the standard units.

Lastly . . . take a look at the new, sleeker designed base plates. Pretty nice huh?

To download a PDF showing many of the new SEG profiles, click on this link:  TSP Sheet.

I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback on the new look Segue VK kits. Send me an email or leave a comment.

Be well and Happy Easter

–Kevin Carty

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

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