How Does Your Trade Show Partner Behave - Class & Integrity?

 Today, while I was scrolling through LinkedIn, I saw a post labeled, "learn from the oops moments at CES 2024".  This post was from a local competitor.  I will not name them here, because I do truly think it is tacky to do so. Stand on your own merits, don't put other companies down on any social media platform.  But I digress.

I took a look at the blog post for this company, and it actually contained photos and text that clearly called out the exhibiting companies!  Yeah, shaming them for their exhibits at CES. Really?

Here are a couple of phrases they used describing not only the exhibits, but the exhibiting companies.

"This year however, the streaming giant got it all wrong."

They went on to say that people waited in line to get into the exhibit and had they known what they were going to see, they "wouldn't have wasted their time"

"The fact that this was their solution would seriously make one think twice about partnering with (Insert exhibitor name here).

"The devil's in the details even when you are shelling out millions on an otherwise sensational stand. (Insert exhibitor name here) would have been better served by scraping these vinyl letters of their exhibit entirely."

There are more, but you get the gist. I was astonished and disgusted enough to make a comment saying it was tacky to post the exhibitor names and slam them like they did in this post. The language in the post was arrogant and condescending. 

Suffice it to say, my comment was removed by their social media people.

Unless you are the exhibitor, you have no idea what these exhibitor stories, maybe their freight was lost, maybe they are a start up.

Shame on this exhibit house. Really.  This, to me, was a HUGE OOPS moment on their part. Why would you do business with someone like that?

One of These Things Is Not Like The Other...

 

   

In the past, elegance and structure have not really been associated with portable trade show displays.  Let's think back to many years ago and Sesame Street!  Here is a blast from the past.

One Of These Things Is Not Like The Other - Credit Sesame Street.

I will answer your question, but we need a little history lesson to get there.  Portable exhibits have come in many shapes and sizes.  The most common had fabric panels, you could print graphics and Velcro them to the exhibit. They were revolutionary many years ago.  There have been a lot of product advancements with this system and many people still use them.  Photo mural panels elevated the popup to another level.

There have been many other portable/pop-up displays systems over the years.

One of the most popular is tube stands.  They are an aluminum tube system with a pillowcase graphic that slides over the aluminum frame.  

There have been advancements in this system to adding different frame sizes, accessories and more.  Different frame sizes used together to make modular displays.

Tube stands with pillowcase graphics have been around for a long time.  They are lightweight, they are easy to set up.  The pillowcase allows for 2-sided graphics.  

They have some downsides though too.

• They are beginning to look dated
• Graphics, unless done well can be saggy
• The cheap versions (usually sold by promotional product companies or others that have no business selling trade show exhibits) are not stable.
• Most carry limited warranties (you break it, you replace it)
• They really have become a commodity item
• Everyone seems to have them now

Now, why would I tell you the downsides of a system that we sell a lot?  Total Displays has always provided good quality products.  We do sell a lot of tube systems.  Typically, the people that are buying them are upgrading from an old school pop-up display.  They are often replacing retractable banner stands with simple tube stands.

1. If you are insistent and love the look of a tube stand, please be sure to buy from a reputable trade show exhibit company.  If you want to see the difference in quality, let me know and we can do a Zoom meeting where I can show you one of ours vs. one that was produced by a promotional products company.  Trust me when I say, they should stick to pens and hand sanitizers.  They really know nothing about trade show exhibits.

2.  Next time you walk the show floor, take notice of them.   How many look good, how many do you see?

Another popular portable option has been retractable banner stands.  Again, really a commodity item.  Seriously, everyone has them.  I have seen 10 x 30 and 10 x 40 exhibits filled with retractable banner stands.  They may be easy, but do they really represent your brand in the best light possible?  When used in the right situation and environment, retractables can be a great solution.  But if you really want major impact?  Look for something else.  

Why do you exhibit at a trade show?  What is the purpose of your exhibit materials?

One of the whole points of a trade show exhibit is to make you stand out in a crowd!  

I'm sure you are all on pins and needles wondering what we would recommend?  

We have an amazing line of products, called Symphony.  PORTABLE ELEGANCE.  Portable exhibits have generally looked portable.  The tube systems were a step in the right direction.  But now we have the next step.

Do these look portable to you?   

• Multiple frame shapes/sizes to build customs looks
• Large monitor support.  
• Cell phone charging ports on backwall counters.
• Curves.  
• Sturdy, aluminum extrusion frames.  
• Professional tight fit, silicone edge graphics.

• LOCKING storage in counters.
• COMPLETELY Tool-less assembly

Take a look at some kits to show you some examples of looks you could build with these components.  

Elegant Portable Exhibit Ideas

Or better yet, call or email us at 952-941-4511 or sales@totaldisplays.com to review components and build your own custom look with this amazing new system.  

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Lori Hanken has been in sales and marketing for over 30 years. She is passionate about service and providing value to her vendors, prospects and clients. Lori is currently co-owner of Total Displays with her husband David. They help people look great at events, trade shows, in retail, museums and develop long partnerships with customers and suppliers. If you would like to learn more, email her at lori@totaldisplays.com. She is an open networker, connect with her on LinkedIn here.

Read other Total Displays Blog posts at http://totaldisplays.blogspot.com/ or check out our website at www.totaldisplays.com