Happy Anniversary!

13 years ago today, we sat in a conference room signing papers and checks!  Total Displays had been in business in the Twin Cities Metro area since 1984 and we were now the proud owners!

First and foremost, thank you to our many clients.  Many of you have been with us for all 13 years and we continue to add more and more great clients every month.  Without you, we wouldn't be who we are today.

Thank you also to current and former employees that have helped us continue to grow!

I feel like I am accepting an academy award.  13 years is a big deal.  10 years is a big deal.  In this economy and surviving the bottom falling  out back in 08/09 is a HUGE deal.    Last but not least thanks to our amazing manufacturing partners.  I would name them, but I know I would forget someone important.  Because they are ALL important.

Before Total Displays, David had been the general manager for a local retail store fixtures and decoratives provider.  That company serviced, Marshall Fields, Bath & Body Works, Bombay Company, Nieman Marcus, Macy's, Dillard's and many others.

We had been looking for a long time for a company to purchase.  We looked at a little bit of everything through our business broker.  An asphalt company, a placement company in healthcare, a wine and coffee bar to name a few.  One day our broker called and said, "I have the perfect company for you".

We met with the current owner, and it was a match made in heaven.  There was a lot of crossover in vendors for graphics, structures and many other things.

David ran the business, while I was part owner of an enterprise software company.  I helped out with sales, marketing, crm and process on the side. Since the beginning one of our manufacturing partners kept asking, when is Lori going to join the business?  Every time we saw him he would ask.   I joined David full time in 2010.

We are blessed to be able to work together and provide great product and services to our clients for these past 13 years.  As a boutique trade show exhibit company we offer many different and unique product lines.  Products to fit every customer and every budget.  We have custom exhibit clients and we have pop-up exhibit clients.  

The beauty of a company like ours is we have all the same custom exhibit capabilities that the custom houses do without all the overhead and without all the extra account management fees etc that go with many of those companies.

Some changes that we have made since purchasing the company:

Small Dark Showroom =======>  Large, Light Showroom

Tiny Warehouse ============> Large Warehouse Storing Multiple Island Exhibits for Clients

Limited Services ========> Transportation, Installation & Dismantle, Show Management Services

Very Limited Rentals============> Significant Rental Properties, Inlines, Islands

No Furniture or Flooring  ======>  A Wide Variety of Furniture & Flooring for Purchase or Rental

No Technology =========>  Touch Screens, Content Management, LED Screen Purchase & Rental

No Training Services =========>  A Full Line of Training Classes for Client's Staff

No Consulting Services ===========>  Unique Consulting Services Options*

Total Displays is a full service company with something for everyone.  As a boutique exhibit house that is family owned and operated, your service levels are unsurpassed.  Even if you are working with any of our reps, we touch every client and have a stake in every relationship.  Relationships are what make us a great company.

We had a competitor call us a "pieces and parts" company a few years ago.  He dismissed us as someone he really didn't have to worry about.  We won that deal for 2 10 x 20's.  We had a local custom house stop by one of our large clients last week during a show to try to solicit their business.  They called us immediately to tell us.  We were up against a large local competitor on a 20 x 30 island.  They dismissed us.  We won that business.    We store a lot of exhibits from other local exhibit houses in our facility.  Why?  Our service.

We are proud to have been servicing the US market for 13 years.   Look for more great things from us moving forward.

If you want to learn more about Total Displays you can call David or Lori at 952-941-4511 or email us at sales@totaldisplays.com

*Watch for a new blog post soon on our consulting services.

If you like what you read, please share it!

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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/

#Did You Know? - Exhibit And Materials Storage

As a full service trade show exhibit house we offer everything and anything that relates to trade shows, exhibits and events.  That can be overwhelming for a prospect.  I can send an email out to a prospect with a bullet list of things we can do for them.  That is pretty ineffectual.   First, they are not going to read the list.  Second, even if they read it they won't remember anything beyond the one or two things they might be considering at that time.

Island Exhibit Ready to Head to Advance Warehouse

So, we are going to be starting a once a week, DID YOU KNOW post.

So often when a prospect or even a customer comes into our showroom we often hear, "I didn't know you did that!"

Shame on us.  So stay tuned, and follow our blog to learn all the things Total Displays can do for you.  Our goal is to make you look great and take some of the pressure out of exhibiting!

STORAGE

We have a large warehouse and offer storage of exhibits, booths, materials etc here in our location.  We have customers from all over the country and world that use this service.

Storage can be so much more than just physically keeping your properties here.

How often have you gotten to a trade show and found that you were missing things, or that the last person to use the display didn't pack it correctly or that the table throw is covered with mold because it was packed up wet.  Or, the worst... your exhibit is broken.

Let's talk about getting ready for a trade show.  You have booked a space.  Now is when the fun starts.  Here is an example of the steps someone may have for a trade show.

• Figure out the advance warehouse dates and determine when you need to ship it to get it there on time.
• Fill out all the paperwork
• Order electrical
• Order furniture
• Order lead retrieval
• Order flooring
• Pull out the exhibit, make sure you have all the pieces and parts you need.  You don't want any surprises during setup!
• Check the graphics, iron the table throws, steam out any wrinkles.
• Do I need to order anything new?
• Pull together your supplies box
• What are the giveaways and do you have enough
• What literature are you bringing
• What product are you bringing
• Pack everything up
• Put it on a pallet an shrink wrap it all
• Set up the shipping

Of course these steps vary slightly for everyone depending on your exhibit size and the type of shows you do.

Here comes the DID YOU KNOW?

We handle all that for many of our customers.  Storage is not just about physically having your exhibit here, it is about so much more.  We once had a prospect with a heavy show schedule get very excited when they learned, we could manage all those smaller inline shows for them for an hourly rate.  

Our services are a la carte so you pick and choose what you want us to for you!  

Be aware.  There are companies out there that are giving away storage.  TRUST ME - THEY ARE GETTING THEIR MONEY FROM YOU SOMEWHERE!

In quoting exhibit storage for one of our new storage clients there was a HUGE variation in storage quotes they received.  They received 3 quotes.  

1. 2,000/year
2. 5,000/year
3. 11,000/year

Why the variation?  Some people offer this as a service, some as a revenue center.  Others almost give it away and make it up by over inflating prices somewhere else.  Watch for hidden charges like account manager fees and other fees that pad charges in other areas.  

With Total Displays you always get 100% transparency.  We will explain any charges or line items on any invoice.  We will show you when and where you can save money.  We provide you with white glove service so that your exhibit experience is as painless as it can possibly be.

Call Total Displays to ask for your free storage quote and analysis.  We will also review bills with you from current providers to be sure you are getting the best value.

If you like what you read, please share it!

====================================================
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/