Experts & Opinions
Mar 23, 2013
“The trade show business must be dying.” The lawyer, whom I had just met at a reception, was convinced that the Internet was making trade shows unnecessary. "Why Should I Attend a Tradeshow?"
Trade shows were an important marketing channel 25 years ago …100 years ago. In fact, trade fairs were a means of conducting business in medieval Europe. I believe that they are important today and will continue to be for many years. The day may come when some aspects of trade shows can be conducted effectively via the Internet. Who knows how virtual reality will change… more
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Mar 23, 2013
While at Exhibitor2013, I had the opportunity to sit down with three project leaders from EP&M International: Amy Williams, Colleen McClaine and Tracy Allen. The topic was trends in the Asian trade show market and what to consider when developing your domestic booth, taking tips from the Far East.
Similar to what we are seeing domestically, there is a movement in Asia to incorporate a European look with clean lines, less copy and eye-popping images. White dominates the look of the Asian trade show, adding to the idea of ample space. There is a focus to cater to a… more
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Mar 14, 2013
I recently found myself with an Amazon gift card burning a hole in my pocket. I reached out to some of our trade show industry veterans and asked them what was on their bookshelf or Kindle that’s had an influence on their work.
Here is a run down on the books they shared with me and why they think you should read them.
Thank goodness for the ease of one-click ordering.
Lee Anne Orange, Special Projects Manager at AMT-The Association For Manufacturing Technology
Book: Make Space: How to Set the Stage for Creative Collaboration by Scott Doorley & Scott Witthoftby
Why you should… more
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Mar 11, 2013
There has been a lot of debate recently over a questionable blog post in Inc. I am sure all of you already know the blog – how to leverage a trade show without actually paying for it was the basic premise. Here is the article link in case you missed it: “How To Commandeer a Trade Show: 4 Tips” by Don Rainey. It bothered me on a lot of levels, but there were two main things that stuck out.
First, it guided our colleagues with newer companies that they do not have to work hard to grow their business. It actually promoted using other companies’ hard-… more
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Mar 09, 2013
I was reading an interesting article in the New York Times this week about resolutions falling by the wayside. A quote about what resolutions should do grabbed my attention, “They can inspire you and help you keep the bigger picture in mind.” 2013 will be a year of empowering my career and personal life and completing the goals that I set for myself. On the lighter side of New Year’s resolutions I’ve decided to take some of the hassle out of travel.
In our business, travel is a prerequisite and never seems to end. I always think about ways to lessen the stress and… more
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Mar 02, 2013
The Minnesota Chapter ofMeeting Professionals International hosted a full day of learning called iConnect. I had the honor of being the kick-off keynote and the "Conference Catalyst", but also was able to sit in on several educational breakout sessions.
Doug Chorpenningfrom the Wet Paint Group hosted an interesting discussion called “Don't Put Your Event Before Your Brand.”
His talk was thought provoking, as it pointed out that logistics are not enough for planners. Below is a mix of his shared ideas combined with my own two cents:
Event participants expect… more
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Feb 23, 2013
Almost every exhibitor will tell you they go to trade shows to raise their company’s visibility and build their corporate image.
Those visual metaphors are not coincidental. It’s essential to be seen at a trade show. And yet, despite their best intentions, too many exhibitors end up … invisible. Could that be you, too?
Let’s throw a light on what makes exhibitors invisible, even when they really want to be seen:
A Camouflaged Trade Show Display
Your trade show display will fade into the background like a soldier’s camouflaged uniform in a… more
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Feb 22, 2013
A little more than12 years ago at a gathering of top tradeshow organizers in Santa Barbara, Calif., the keynote speaker – himself an organizer who had just bought one of the largest shows and most well-known show groups in the U.S – stunned the room by telling his audience: “You are nothing but a bunch of concrete salesmen” and then continued to skewer them for running, in his opinion, unsophisticated businesses, where they bought floor space at a discount and resold it at a premium. He went on to say that he was going to single-handedly change the exhibition… more
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Feb 14, 2013
I just read a blog by Rachel O’Sullivan on checking after-show invoices. She focused on material handling fees, but I have to say, you probably need to check all invoices for services you get at the show for accuracy.
Human error
There are times when your electrician or plumber or materials handler marks things for your booth as incorrect. Put another way, how many times have you received crates that didn’t belong to you (that has happened to me a couple of times) or have had to go walking around a show floor for a clearly marked crate for your booth? (I push back if… more
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Feb 09, 2013
It’s great to hear visitors to your trade show booth say things like, “You’ve got just what I need!” or “We love working with your company!” or “Your booth really caught my eye!”
But because trade shows are so complicated, it’s possible that, no matter how much you prepare, something could go wrong. And as the trade show manager, you’re probably the first one who’s going to hear about it.
How bad could it be? Well, hearing any of these 21 things in your trade show exhibit will sound as bad as fingernails on a… more
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