Progress? What Does Recovery Look Like?

 I have always used the phrase, cautiously optimistic. I have always been a glass half full kind of girl. If you look hard enough, you can find good in almost any situation. It isn't always easy, but you can. 

I have noticed the shutdowns in our industry have changed me. I promise and am committed to the fact that it will not change me forever.  But I am painfully aware that I was changed by those events. The world was changed by those events. I ran into some people I knew last night, and we talked about the effects of the shutdowns on entire generations of young people. I don't want to dwell on those things, but realizing how I have changed is the first step to moving beyond it.

I am still slightly fearful in our business. Not in what we do, or what we deliver, but in the future. It is my current reality.

Our industry has rebounded beyond belief. There is so much encouraging news and activities surrounding trade shows.  For example, Shot Show, one of the largest shows of the year boasted record numbers of exhibitors and attendees this year.  You can read some stats here:  Shot Show Stats.

All over my LinkedIn Feed I see reports like this one showing a 69% increase from 2022 (which by the way was a great year for trade shows) to 2023.  Read more here:  69% Increase

Also, all over LinkedIn are trade show exhibit companies like Total Displays, all over the country that are looking for new staff in absolutely every type of position.  

Today, what got me, as I was sitting at my desk, is watching 4 cars drive into our parking lot to park out front and come into our office. We have an interview this morning for another position.  I so clearly remember the days where it was just David and me in the office, wondering, honestly, if we were going to make it. Watching those cars pull in, I teared up a little. There is always hope. 

I am thankful for the partners that stood by us, the customers and prospects that trust us with their business. We are very blessed.

The Importance of Trade Shows

After the pandemic, there has been an excitement to get back on the trade show floor. People are eager to interact with each other and want to continue to grow their business through networking and connecting face-to-face. Trade shows are a good place to find new clients and enrich existing client relationships. 

Event locations are not only selected based on meeting space, but also the group activities and experiences attendees can enjoy outside of the show floor. Some of the largest trade shows are held in top entertainment cities in the United States, for example Las Vegas, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Orlando. These locations have unique offerings for attendees , which helps drive attendance to shows and provides a great way to create memorable experiences and foster business relationships. 

Booth design is very important to help draw people into your booth to learn more about your product or service. And once you’ve drawn them in, it’s even more important that you’ve designed a booth that is engaging and noteworthy. You want attendees not only to learn more about your offerings, but also walk away feeling confident about your business and wanting to work with you in the future. 

Total Displays can help bring your vision to life. We’ll work with you to understand your needs and goals for your trade show. We’ll then create a professional and engaging design and booth setup that will maximize your efforts.  

Trade shows remain the best way to build your client list and nurture your partnerships with current clients. They can also be a great resource for you and your team to enhance your knowledge of your industry. Everyone is eager to connect with each other and in-person events and trade shows are a great place to make that happen! 

 

Why Work With a Small Business?

My experience working for multiple small businesses has provided me with the opportunity to not only gain knowledge of every part of the creation, production, and installation process, but it also showed me the value of working with small businesses. The focus that small businesses put into developing and maintaining genuine and trustworthy relationships is key to their success. 

 

At a small business, we understand that communication and flexibility are key to providing exceptional service. It’s important to us to provide customers with clear explanations of what they are purchasing, how to use it, and visualizations of what the finished product will look like in-person. We’ll work with clients one-on-one to gather their ideas and needs and will adapt as needed for the desired outcome. Working together is essential for building a long-term partnership. 

 

You will also be working with people who want to grow their own business and will work hard to deliver. When working with large corporations, it can be challenging to find the loyalty and flexibility that a small business can provide.  

 

Drive and work ethic are the cornerstone of every small business. Here at Total Displays, we are grateful for the trust you put into working with our company and as such our employees are focused on delivering for our clients.