EXHIBITOR Show 2009 Review
09/April/09 01:21 PM Filed in: Show
Reviews
Duration: 13 min. 12 sec.
Size: 12.2 MB
This year's EXHIBITOR Show in Las Vegas was a time to come together as an industry to demonstrate that we will not only survive, but can also thrive. Companies debuted new and innovative products and services for exhibitors, and once again showcased some clever exhibit displays and booth attraction ideas.
Clever Theme & Design Examples
Instead of avoiding the subject of the economy, several exhibitors decided to tackle it head-on.
- Kubik used a low-budget chalkboard wall with the message "Cutting back shouldn't leave you feeling empty. Be a smart cookie."
- Steelhead Productions also used a food-related theme with their Lemonade Lounge: "Turning sour budgets into sweet exhibits." Visitors received a glass of lemonade and were entertained by a flair bartender.
- And speaking of tackling your challenges head-on ... the folks at Switch featured a truck crashing through a brick wall, encouraging attendees to "Liberate your brand."
Booth Design Elements
It was no surprise that many exhibits this year were very simple and often used fabric to help with today's shrinking budgets.
- One very streamlined display was EZ Backdrops, which is a fabric banner that requires no hardware to display! Simply attach the banner to the show's pipe and drape system instead.
- Another simple fabric display is Brand Booths, which are freestanding kiosks that are great for outdoor festivals.
- Nimlok featured a bi-layered banner that gives an illusion of being 3-D.
- Although not fabric, STAX is a lightweight modular system that allows for nearly infinite combinations for your display.
- Fabric Images showcased a giant fabric "ceiling fan," which had no motor of its own.
- How do you demonstrate how your product is superior to competitors? Eco-Systems Displays used an innovative "Good, Bad & Ugly" flip board!
Promotion & Attraction Ideas
- Got something to say? Wear it on a digital badge! Audience.tag badges have a small video screen that plays a loop of your company's messages.
- Speaking of digital messaging, Kaon Interactive featured touch-screen monitors that offer visitors a 3-D tour of your products.
- Globotech featured their digital banner stand, which is a completely portable plug-and-play system.
- For more low-tech, pocket-sized messaging, there's the Mini Brochure.
Several people commented that they noticed less giveaway items this year, probably due to reduced budgets. But the trends for giveaways that remained were:
1. Green: Think Green Promos featured their custom recycled bags and stated "Green is the new black."
2. Personalized: Ardent Impressions (formerly InstaFotos) showcased their laser-engraved photo dog tags, engraved flash drives, and various foil imprinted items.
This episode of Trade Show Insights is protected by copyright. You may share this recording with colleagues, as long as it is copied in its entirety and is not used for commercial purposes.
Click to play
Size: 12.2 MB
This year's EXHIBITOR Show in Las Vegas was a time to come together as an industry to demonstrate that we will not only survive, but can also thrive. Companies debuted new and innovative products and services for exhibitors, and once again showcased some clever exhibit displays and booth attraction ideas.
Clever Theme & Design Examples
Instead of avoiding the subject of the economy, several exhibitors decided to tackle it head-on.
- Kubik used a low-budget chalkboard wall with the message "Cutting back shouldn't leave you feeling empty. Be a smart cookie."
- Steelhead Productions also used a food-related theme with their Lemonade Lounge: "Turning sour budgets into sweet exhibits." Visitors received a glass of lemonade and were entertained by a flair bartender.
- And speaking of tackling your challenges head-on ... the folks at Switch featured a truck crashing through a brick wall, encouraging attendees to "Liberate your brand."
Booth Design Elements
It was no surprise that many exhibits this year were very simple and often used fabric to help with today's shrinking budgets.
- One very streamlined display was EZ Backdrops, which is a fabric banner that requires no hardware to display! Simply attach the banner to the show's pipe and drape system instead.
- Another simple fabric display is Brand Booths, which are freestanding kiosks that are great for outdoor festivals.
- Nimlok featured a bi-layered banner that gives an illusion of being 3-D.
- Although not fabric, STAX is a lightweight modular system that allows for nearly infinite combinations for your display.
- Fabric Images showcased a giant fabric "ceiling fan," which had no motor of its own.
- How do you demonstrate how your product is superior to competitors? Eco-Systems Displays used an innovative "Good, Bad & Ugly" flip board!
Promotion & Attraction Ideas
- Got something to say? Wear it on a digital badge! Audience.tag badges have a small video screen that plays a loop of your company's messages.
- Speaking of digital messaging, Kaon Interactive featured touch-screen monitors that offer visitors a 3-D tour of your products.
- Globotech featured their digital banner stand, which is a completely portable plug-and-play system.
- For more low-tech, pocket-sized messaging, there's the Mini Brochure.
Several people commented that they noticed less giveaway items this year, probably due to reduced budgets. But the trends for giveaways that remained were:
1. Green: Think Green Promos featured their custom recycled bags and stated "Green is the new black."
2. Personalized: Ardent Impressions (formerly InstaFotos) showcased their laser-engraved photo dog tags, engraved flash drives, and various foil imprinted items.
This episode of Trade Show Insights is protected by copyright. You may share this recording with colleagues, as long as it is copied in its entirety and is not used for commercial purposes.
Click to play
Trade Shows Are Not Dead!
06/February/09 01:57 PM Filed in: Trade Show
News
Duration: 9 min. 22 sec.
Size: 10.7 MB
The trade show world has been buzzing for weeks about the future of Macworld Expo, now that Apple won't be exhibiting. So what does that mean for MWE, and what are the lessons for other shows? In this episode, we break it down and predict future moves for MWE. One thing they've done already is offer free registration to the 2010 expo (as of this writing).
This episode of Trade Show Insights is protected by copyright. You may share this recording with colleagues, as long as it is copied in its entirety and is not used for commercial purposes.
Click to play
Size: 10.7 MB
The trade show world has been buzzing for weeks about the future of Macworld Expo, now that Apple won't be exhibiting. So what does that mean for MWE, and what are the lessons for other shows? In this episode, we break it down and predict future moves for MWE. One thing they've done already is offer free registration to the 2010 expo (as of this writing).
This episode of Trade Show Insights is protected by copyright. You may share this recording with colleagues, as long as it is copied in its entirety and is not used for commercial purposes.
Click to play
Mistakes Exhibitors Make
30/November/08 02:09 PM Filed in: Essential
Tips
Duration: 9 min. 19 sec.
Size: 10.7 MB
Today's episode is an excerpt from my guest appearance on Suzanne Falter-Barns' Get Known Now teleseminar series. In this segment, we discuss the importance of exhibiting and having realistic expectations and goals.
If you'd like to have a copy of the entire interview on mistakes exhibitors make, just send an e-mail with the subject line "Mistakes interview." Other topics covered include: generating traffic, attracting visitors, working with leads, and more.
This episode of Trade Show Insights is protected by copyright. You may share this recording with colleagues, as long as it is copied in its entirety and is not used for commercial purposes.
Click to play
Size: 10.7 MB
Today's episode is an excerpt from my guest appearance on Suzanne Falter-Barns' Get Known Now teleseminar series. In this segment, we discuss the importance of exhibiting and having realistic expectations and goals.
If you'd like to have a copy of the entire interview on mistakes exhibitors make, just send an e-mail with the subject line "Mistakes interview." Other topics covered include: generating traffic, attracting visitors, working with leads, and more.
This episode of Trade Show Insights is protected by copyright. You may share this recording with colleagues, as long as it is copied in its entirety and is not used for commercial purposes.
Click to play
EXHIBITOR Show 2008 Review
23/April/08 05:59 PM Filed in: Show
Reviews
Duration: 12 min. 37 sec.
Size: 14.6 MB
It's time for our annual review of the Exhibitor Show in Vegas, held in March 2008. We'll discover some new and innovative products and services for exhibitors, along with some clever exhibit displays and booth attraction ideas.
Booth Design Elements
- Last year, we featured some of the innovative earth-friendly products from Eco-Systems. This year they were back with even more innovations, including graphics printed on panels made from recycled soda bottles.
- Who says your flooring has to be boring? Wise Industries showed their wild side with zebra-print flooring. And carpet isn't just for floors. They displayed some of their other carpet samples as butterfly cutouts mounted on a pillar.
- For a cool mix of nature and retro-chic, Expotechnik showed off their design skills using a conference area that featured leather and metal chairs combined with a white bamboo fence.
- Want a touchscreen kiosk in your booth, but don't want that "techie" look? The one used by Image Work Communications was definitely creative!
- You might not think of your booth staff as a design element, but the ladies of Softspace did. Each day they dressed in one of the colors of their booth: orange on Day 1, green on Day 2, and blue on Day 3.
Clever Theme & Attraction Examples
- Want a tasty way to attract traffic? Crepes a Latte is a themed catering company with an outgoing staff that gathers and works the crowd.
- And speaking of food ... MG Design built their theme around "The Idea Kitchen," starting with their pre-show mailer, which looked like a refrigerator and included a scratch & sniff sample. Thanks to a team effort with the Creative Cooking School of Las Vegas, there were tasty demonstrations in the booth and a VIP event on Tuesday evening.
- Okay, so food and the smell of food was an underlying theme for me this year! I attended a session called, "AccScent Your Exhibit," led by Gael Hancock from UNLV, where we learned about the science of smell and how to use it to your advantage in exhibits. Then later that day on the show floor, I discovered that InstaFotos is now offering EnhanScents, which features an aroma machine and coordinated scented giveaways.
- 3D Exhibits repurposed part of their red booth from last year's "Bling" campaign, shifting the red shag (made from cut-up t-shirts) from the wall to the floor. They also used a "Show & Tell" theme, inviting attendees to share advice or tips, which were then displayed in a video wall.
- So what would you do if you ended up stuck in a short aisle at the back of the hall, behind two tall island booths? Impact Unlimited placed a card in the reg bags that invited attendees to come to their booth "wa-a-ay in the back of the hall, next to the restrooms." Those who made it to the booth were registered to win an iPod touch.
Giveaways & Promotions Ideas
- EventPages is a new promotional tool for exhibitors. The company will design an event-specific mini Web site (or microsite), creating an online community for attendees to interact before and after the show.
- MG Design reinforced their "Idea Kitchen" theme by handing out cards with the featured recipes on them.
- Nth Degree played up how they can help you accomplish the things on your to-do list by giving away spiral notepads. (And they were the perfect "reporter-sized" pads -- that's where I made all the notes for this episode!)
- ELITeXPO demonstrated how to truly do green giveaways by handing out miniature trees in tubes from the Arbor Day Foundation.
- George Fern Company had a very appropriate giveaway for exhibitors -- a mini tool kit!
- And while everyone may be giving away USB flash drives, the latest version now comes in bracelet form. Several exhibitors were handing those out, with the added teaser of being a random winner if you were caught wearing the bracelet.
This episode of Trade Show Insights is protected by copyright. You may share this recording with colleagues, as long as it is copied in its entirety and is not used for commercial purposes.
Click to play
Size: 14.6 MB
It's time for our annual review of the Exhibitor Show in Vegas, held in March 2008. We'll discover some new and innovative products and services for exhibitors, along with some clever exhibit displays and booth attraction ideas.
Booth Design Elements
- Last year, we featured some of the innovative earth-friendly products from Eco-Systems. This year they were back with even more innovations, including graphics printed on panels made from recycled soda bottles.
- Who says your flooring has to be boring? Wise Industries showed their wild side with zebra-print flooring. And carpet isn't just for floors. They displayed some of their other carpet samples as butterfly cutouts mounted on a pillar.
- For a cool mix of nature and retro-chic, Expotechnik showed off their design skills using a conference area that featured leather and metal chairs combined with a white bamboo fence.
- Want a touchscreen kiosk in your booth, but don't want that "techie" look? The one used by Image Work Communications was definitely creative!
- You might not think of your booth staff as a design element, but the ladies of Softspace did. Each day they dressed in one of the colors of their booth: orange on Day 1, green on Day 2, and blue on Day 3.
Clever Theme & Attraction Examples
- Want a tasty way to attract traffic? Crepes a Latte is a themed catering company with an outgoing staff that gathers and works the crowd.
- And speaking of food ... MG Design built their theme around "The Idea Kitchen," starting with their pre-show mailer, which looked like a refrigerator and included a scratch & sniff sample. Thanks to a team effort with the Creative Cooking School of Las Vegas, there were tasty demonstrations in the booth and a VIP event on Tuesday evening.
- Okay, so food and the smell of food was an underlying theme for me this year! I attended a session called, "AccScent Your Exhibit," led by Gael Hancock from UNLV, where we learned about the science of smell and how to use it to your advantage in exhibits. Then later that day on the show floor, I discovered that InstaFotos is now offering EnhanScents, which features an aroma machine and coordinated scented giveaways.
- 3D Exhibits repurposed part of their red booth from last year's "Bling" campaign, shifting the red shag (made from cut-up t-shirts) from the wall to the floor. They also used a "Show & Tell" theme, inviting attendees to share advice or tips, which were then displayed in a video wall.
- So what would you do if you ended up stuck in a short aisle at the back of the hall, behind two tall island booths? Impact Unlimited placed a card in the reg bags that invited attendees to come to their booth "wa-a-ay in the back of the hall, next to the restrooms." Those who made it to the booth were registered to win an iPod touch.
Giveaways & Promotions Ideas
- EventPages is a new promotional tool for exhibitors. The company will design an event-specific mini Web site (or microsite), creating an online community for attendees to interact before and after the show.
- MG Design reinforced their "Idea Kitchen" theme by handing out cards with the featured recipes on them.
- Nth Degree played up how they can help you accomplish the things on your to-do list by giving away spiral notepads. (And they were the perfect "reporter-sized" pads -- that's where I made all the notes for this episode!)
- ELITeXPO demonstrated how to truly do green giveaways by handing out miniature trees in tubes from the Arbor Day Foundation.
- George Fern Company had a very appropriate giveaway for exhibitors -- a mini tool kit!
- And while everyone may be giving away USB flash drives, the latest version now comes in bracelet form. Several exhibitors were handing those out, with the added teaser of being a random winner if you were caught wearing the bracelet.
This episode of Trade Show Insights is protected by copyright. You may share this recording with colleagues, as long as it is copied in its entirety and is not used for commercial purposes.
Click to play
Trade Shows 2.0 - The Next Generation (part 2)
31/January/08 06:09 PM Filed in: Tools for
Exhibitors
Duration: 12 min. 37 sec.
Size: 14.4 MB
Today we conclude our two-part series on Trade Shows 2.0. Last time, we covered Web 2.0 technology tools for both exhibitors and shows. In this episode, we'll talk about how some groups are reinventing the traditional trade show format, both online and offline.
Interactive Technology for Trade Shows
While virtual trade shows aren't exactly new, they have yet to gain a lot of traction. But more and more shows are beginning to see the value of having a year-round virtual supplement to their physical show. These can range from static exhibitor listings to full-fledged virtual sites, similar to SecondLife. Visit the MIGurus site to read a case study of one such show. There's also a Virtual Events Checklist. Two producers of these types of shows include iCongo and Unisfair.
In addition to virtual technology, there are many other interactive tools popping up in conjunction with physical shows. Probably the most popular is the software that allows for networking prior to a show, similar to LinkedIn or Facebook. Two companies that are providing this service include EventMingle and BDMetrics.
A third type of online tool, also provided by BDMetrics, is Tradeshow TV. This is similar to having your own YouTube channel to promote your show. For examples, visit the PackExpo Web site. A variation of this is to stream webcasts from the show floor. This service is offered at numerous venues around the country, according to an article in Tradeshow Week. For some examples, watch Steve Jobs' keynote at Macworld Expo (and here's a humorous, 60-second bite-sized version from YouTube).
Alternative Trade Show Formats
Creating more interactive trade shows doesn't always mean an online element. Trade shows in all kinds of industries are trying innovative formats to create energy on the show floor and create more in-depth conversations.
One such strategy is known as the "reverse trade show." Here the format is for buyers to sit at tables, with vendors moving from one to the next by appointment. A variation on this has been done numerous times at our local MPI Chapter here in Kansas City. We call it "Marketplace," but it's often referred to as "speed dating for exhibitors." Here the exhibitors set at a table and groups of attendees move from one exhibitor to the next at scheduled times (usually 5 or 7 minutes per table).
Next week at MPI's Professional Education Conference in Houston, where the theme is "Meet Different," a large part of the show floor will be set in conversation areas rather than traditional booths. It will be interesting to see which parts of the show floor are the busiest.
Another approach doesn't involve the actual booths, but rather designing a gathering place on the show floor. SIA's SnowSports trade show does this with "The Yard," a community zone that hosts daily events and networking.
Final Thoughts
Last time we talked about all of the Web 2.0 tools out there, and I have another one to add. You may have heard of Squidoo, which was developed by Seth Godin of "purple cow" fame. This one rolls blogging, social bookmarking, and video sharing all into one. For an example, visit my Squidoo "lens" on Trade Show Marketing.
So what do you think of all the new tools out there for exhibitors and show managers? Have you tried any of these, or heard of others we didn't discuss? Please send your questions and comments.
Event Announcement:
You can catch me at the EXHIBITOR Show in Las Vegas this March!
I'm leading an Authors Executive Series session on March 12, called "Taking the Show on the Road," as well as an after-hours excursion, "TSI: Trade Show Investigation."
I look forward to meeting you there!
This episode of Trade Show Insights is protected by copyright. You may share this recording with colleagues, as long as it is copied in its entirety and is not used for commercial purposes.
Click to play
Size: 14.4 MB
Today we conclude our two-part series on Trade Shows 2.0. Last time, we covered Web 2.0 technology tools for both exhibitors and shows. In this episode, we'll talk about how some groups are reinventing the traditional trade show format, both online and offline.
Interactive Technology for Trade Shows
While virtual trade shows aren't exactly new, they have yet to gain a lot of traction. But more and more shows are beginning to see the value of having a year-round virtual supplement to their physical show. These can range from static exhibitor listings to full-fledged virtual sites, similar to SecondLife. Visit the MIGurus site to read a case study of one such show. There's also a Virtual Events Checklist. Two producers of these types of shows include iCongo and Unisfair.
In addition to virtual technology, there are many other interactive tools popping up in conjunction with physical shows. Probably the most popular is the software that allows for networking prior to a show, similar to LinkedIn or Facebook. Two companies that are providing this service include EventMingle and BDMetrics.
A third type of online tool, also provided by BDMetrics, is Tradeshow TV. This is similar to having your own YouTube channel to promote your show. For examples, visit the PackExpo Web site. A variation of this is to stream webcasts from the show floor. This service is offered at numerous venues around the country, according to an article in Tradeshow Week. For some examples, watch Steve Jobs' keynote at Macworld Expo (and here's a humorous, 60-second bite-sized version from YouTube).
Alternative Trade Show Formats
Creating more interactive trade shows doesn't always mean an online element. Trade shows in all kinds of industries are trying innovative formats to create energy on the show floor and create more in-depth conversations.
One such strategy is known as the "reverse trade show." Here the format is for buyers to sit at tables, with vendors moving from one to the next by appointment. A variation on this has been done numerous times at our local MPI Chapter here in Kansas City. We call it "Marketplace," but it's often referred to as "speed dating for exhibitors." Here the exhibitors set at a table and groups of attendees move from one exhibitor to the next at scheduled times (usually 5 or 7 minutes per table).
Next week at MPI's Professional Education Conference in Houston, where the theme is "Meet Different," a large part of the show floor will be set in conversation areas rather than traditional booths. It will be interesting to see which parts of the show floor are the busiest.
Another approach doesn't involve the actual booths, but rather designing a gathering place on the show floor. SIA's SnowSports trade show does this with "The Yard," a community zone that hosts daily events and networking.
Final Thoughts
Last time we talked about all of the Web 2.0 tools out there, and I have another one to add. You may have heard of Squidoo, which was developed by Seth Godin of "purple cow" fame. This one rolls blogging, social bookmarking, and video sharing all into one. For an example, visit my Squidoo "lens" on Trade Show Marketing.
So what do you think of all the new tools out there for exhibitors and show managers? Have you tried any of these, or heard of others we didn't discuss? Please send your questions and comments.
Event Announcement:
You can catch me at the EXHIBITOR Show in Las Vegas this March!
I'm leading an Authors Executive Series session on March 12, called "Taking the Show on the Road," as well as an after-hours excursion, "TSI: Trade Show Investigation."
I look forward to meeting you there!
This episode of Trade Show Insights is protected by copyright. You may share this recording with colleagues, as long as it is copied in its entirety and is not used for commercial purposes.
Click to play
