Word on the Street — August 9th thru August 13th

Trade Show Blog

Why we participate in the TS2 Show

Word on the Street by Kevin Carty

It’s That Time of Year . . . .

I have been doing this for 16 years now . . . same company . . . same trends. I hope!

Mel and I both joke about how every year, even the most seasoned Tradeshow Pro’s tend to forget that the business goes dormant in June, July, and early August — Only to be reminded that it always ramps back up around the 15th of August.

Each year like clockwork, we hear the questioning in the voices of distributors: “Is this normal? When will the business pick back up?”

Then BAM! Mid-August hits and we’re all “suddenly” reminded of what the busy season feels and looks like. People begin to feel overwhelmed with their work flow, forgetting that this is only about half as busy as late September and October.

It’s hard to get back into the swing of being BUSY. Both mentally and physically to be honest. Yet we all do it.

This is a cyclical business for sure. One with defined seasons, seasons that dictate our lives and schedules. We all know you don’t take long vacations in September in the trade show business.

Each year, we all remind our staffs that this is normal, the slowdown, and to prepare for the busy season that is coming. And each year, it proves to be true.

Magellan VK-1082 Hybrid

How about this year? Well, for me, I am sticking with the odds. Every year has proven to be true. And like year’s prior, we are gearing up for the fall season with new items and new twists to existing product lines. Take a moment to review Design Monday where you’ll see “New and Improved” Magellan Portable Hybrid designs. For a sneak peak at what’s coming over the next two weeks, check out the Magellan gallery in Exhibit Design Search.

Finally, what would the fall season be without a sales promotion? And not just a La-De-Dah, Ho-Hum, Roll Your Eyes promotion, but a Blow Your Socks Off, Are You Kidding Me, Have They Lost Their Minds promotion. Krazy Kevin is back with a deal on the Quadro EO Pop Up. Look for the “Krazy Kevin” email in your mailbox on Monday.

Hope you all had a safe and restful weekend.

Here’s to the start of yet another busy fall season!

Cheers

–Kevin Carty

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

Filter by Category

Filter by Year

Recent Posts

10 Tips for Designing Large Format Graphics for Trade Shows

Most designers rarely design a layout larger than a corporate booklet or perhaps a 20″ x 30″ poster. Designing for large format, like trade show graphics, is actually quite simple once you know the basic steps. All it takes is a leap of faith… and trust in my advice.

Trade Shows and the Desire to Change

Are trade shows are relevant? Is there a future for industry trade shows? Are companies willing to spend their valuable marketing dollars building a temporary structure just to attract new customers or meet with existing ones?

Buying a Trade Show Exhibit? Ten “Must Ask” Questions

It’s common to express remorse after a big ticket purchase. Typically when the purchase is infrequent, such as a home, car, or expensive equipment. Buying a trade show exhibit is that type of purchase, especially an inline or island exhibit for a large trade show. .

Trade Show Rental — Mullets, Trapper Keepers, Pagers, and Rentals

Recently, what I thought would be a simple, straight-forward conversation left me scratching my head. I was meeting with exhibit industry colleagues, and the topic turned to rentals. Admittedly, rentals shouldn’t be puzzling. Rentals have exploded at a rate 3 to 4 times faster than exhibit purchases. What surprised me was the perception and the language used to define the exhibit rental landscape.

What is Your Trade Show Kryptonite?

We shouldn’t but we do. We hope hope hope that the next attendee who walks in our booth is Superman. Not Superman Superman, but the sales equivalent of Superman. Faster to sign a contract than a speeding bullet. More powerful than the VP of Purchasing.

How To Make Your Trade Show Backdrop Stand Out!

Many exhibitors assume a backdrop is a simple two-dimensional graphic along the backwall of an exhibit. But it can be so much more. A backdrop in a 10 x 10 or 10 x 20 booth space doesn’t have to be basic. Modern inline displays come in various shapes, heights, and configurations.

Is Your Trade Show Display an Oreo or a Fig Newton?

As an adult I can rate just about everything on a cookie scale. For brevity, I’ll limit this article to Oreos, Fig Newtons, and Nilla Wafers, but be assured that the “science” behind my methodology includes Frosted Animal Cookies, Pepperidge Farms (as a collective group), Girl Scout Thin Mints, and Chips Ahoy.

Does Your Trade Show Exhibit Have To Be Clever?

That’s not to say your trade show exhibit shouldn’t be attractive. It should, but I would encourage you to focus on more practical matters the next time you design or rebrand your display. What do you need in the booth space to conduct business? Make it less about showmanship and more about conversations and information.

What Cats Can Teach Us About Trade Shows

We are a nation devoted to pets, whether they’re on the farm or in a purse. They learn from us, but we learn from them as well. The other day while watching Animal Planet with a cat in my lap, one on the sofa, and another puking upstairs ( it sounded like the world’s worst ventriloquist), I realized that we could learn a thing or two about trade show marketing from our feline companions.

Gravitee One Step — The World’s Easiest Modular Wall System

Gravitee — The World’s Easiest Modular Wall System. Unlike traditional modular wall systems, Gravitee has no loose connectors. The frames are constructed with durable engineered aluminum extrusion and the system uses time-tested patented technology.

Who is Our Biggest Trade Show Competitor?

Recently, I’ve been on the road, visiting Classic Distributors in the Midwest and South. We chat about industry trends, new products, and challenges in their market. Occasionally, they will ask me about competitors. That’s a topic, to be honest, that makes me uncomfortable.

3 Essential Trade Show Marketing Questions

These are questions every designer should ask their client before designing the ideal trade show display. If the client walks in just thinking about the nuts and bolts of the project, they may miss an informed conversation on why they are exhibiting in the first place and that can fundamentally affect the design of a booth. The Why can greatly impact the How in Exhibit Design.

What You Should Know about Exhibit Marketing

Exhibit marketing is all about marketing your products or services to buyers at expositions, conferences, and trade shows. A successful exhibit marketing program will be rewarded with increased revenues, referrals, and industry networking. The goal is to understand how exhibit marketing differs from the other types of marketing.

Managing Your Trade Show Budget

Trade shows are expensive, and some costs are often puzzling to exhibition newbies, but there are multiple ways to manage those expenses with a little planning and some assistance from an experienced trade show professional. Don’t be afraid to tap into that expertise.