Blogs

Nov 25, 2017
No. 3: Relationships can make – or break – your exhibit. Exhibiting at my first trade show, I learned that relationships on the show floor can make – or break – you. It gave a whole new meaning to the saying, “no man is an island” when Murphy (of Murphy’s Law) dropped by my exhibit. From damaged inbound freight to forced freight on the outbound (plus a bunch of disasters in-between), just about everything that could have gone wrong did. It took a real team effort to bail me out – a poor, industry rookie – and gave me a whole new appreciation for the term “team player” that I often see in… more
Sep 20, 2017
My mom and I were making our way through her favorite supermarket recently, when she said to me, “We should have picked up a directory.” Although my mom has been coming to this store for more than 20 years, the store’s ongoing remodel had left her feeling out of sorts. It took a few wrong turns before we finally came across the orange juice. This experience reinforces what I’ve come across during trade shows: attendees want something to help them be more efficient when navigating an exhibit hall. Overhead signage and oversize directories at the hall entrance are helpful, but attendees still… more
Aug 28, 2017
Managing events requires planning and foresight to ensure the fruit of our efforts is a fantastic brand experience that exceeds expectations and delights audiences. The same can be said for sustainability. Making better event planning choices, even small ones, can make a difference. By planning ahead and thinking long-term about our actions, we’re in a better position to create not only a better event, but also a greener future for our industry and the world. We’d all like to be lean and green but sometimes the process can feel a bit lofty. The good news is it’s easier than you think. Let’s… more
Aug 24, 2017
In today's global landscape of environmental awareness, it is crucial to learn where event environmental impacts are generated. As part of the team who generated these Impact Statements and recycling reports for events like CES and IMEX America, I know the challenges of the existing systems and there needs to be a fresh approach to tracking event metrics. When thinking of environmental issues, energy consumption, waste minimization and CO2 emissions are among the top priorities, and it is usually the venue and general contractors who provide these statistics. When calculating a single… more
Aug 21, 2017
There has been lots of chatter in the world of event planning, associations, marketing and nearly every other industry these days. Why all the buzz? Companies like Apple, IBM, GE and Kaiser Permanente use Design Thinking’s human-centered process to meet customer needs in strategically viable ways – simply meaning, they make customers happy and they make money doing it. In his recent Harvard Business Review article, education company Blackboard’s vice president of design, Jon Kulko, notes that companies that have made Design Thinking (DT) an integral part of their culture share some common… more
Aug 17, 2017
From a business’s perspective, trade shows offer an exceptional opportunity to demonstrate their product and connect their brand to potential consumers in a face-to-face interaction. My team and I looked over some trade show statistics and found a lot of vindicating information for businesses who choose to take advantage of these events. Here are some compelling statistics that stood out to us during our research: 99 percent of exhibitors find unique value delivered by B2B trade shows that are not provided by other marketing channels. 83 percent of trade show attendees have some kind of… more
Aug 15, 2017
Most business owners don’t have the time to attend trade shows themselves while running and growing their business. But as your company grows, there will be more critical trade shows and great opportunities than you can attend yourself, so you’ll need to appoint some well-trained team members. How do you make sure your team is equipped to succeed at trade shows (even without you)? Here are a couple of tips to consider. Take every opportunity to practice There are multiple ways your trade show team can get customer service experience. Take a look at volunteer events in your area that… more
Aug 10, 2017
The purpose of using custom displays at trade shows is to draw in as large a number of people as possible to your booth. Nevertheless, a successful display doesn't come easily, meaning you should equip yourself with information about how to display outstanding exhibits. Managing expenditure and maximizing profits is a key factor for most businesses and it can be difficult to achieve at times. Purchasing a custom display is one way to get the attention you seek at trade shows and can be an affordable option, depending on the type of display and accessories you choose to add. But most often,… more
Aug 07, 2017
What marketing tools do you use to promote your events? Is social media on that list? It should be. It doesn’t matter how familiar you and your business are with social media. Your audience is using it and that means you need to be there. Americans check their social media accounts 17 times a day. Having a presence on social media means that your potential event attendees are more likely to see your posts and promotions there. But with the number of options of social networks, marketing tools, trends and types of content to share, how do you use social media the right way to reach the right… more
Aug 03, 2017
When setting up your trade show booth, it’s imperative that you make sure that booth is up-to-date and ready to impress. For many, this means bringing laptops, tablets and other devices that require electricity. Many vendors order electricity for their booths for this exact reason. However, some forego utilizing their electricity to its fullest by not making sure they have proper lighting for their booth! A beam of light on specific signage or a key component of your display can have customers coming over to check you out instead of your competitors. Knowing what types of lighting are… more
Partner Voices
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