July 30th, 2010
Businesses looking to exhibit abroad and crack a new market could do well to learn a bit about local ways and customs before even getting their stand out of the truck.
According to speakers at the recent International Federation of Exhibition and Event Services (IFES) in Shanghai, China, it pays to learn a little about where you hope to exhibit next.
Asia is still seen by many western companies as a huge untapped business opportunity, particularly China. There are approximately 165 exposition centers in 15 Asian countries, with almost half of them located in China.
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Tags: business, china, exhibition, show
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July 22nd, 2010
With hardly a week going by without another exhibition event collapsing, the good news is that recovery for the sector is forecasted to kick-in during the second half of 2011. Woohoo!
At least according to a survey carried out last month by the Exhibition and Convention Executives Forum (ECEF). Speaking to 130 events executives, the majority claimed that show revenues will not recover until the second half of next year.
But there was some disagreement, namely between association organizers and independent exhibition organizers. Nearly two fifths of independent organizers think a recovery will occur only in the second half of 2011 but association organizers are that little bit more optimistic, claiming a recovery is on the cards for the first half of next year. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: event, marketing, show
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July 12th, 2010
Not a day goes by in the Catalyst Exhibits office without some, ahem, ‘vital’ sports issue being addressed, even more so since the Blackhawks recently won the Stanley Cup.
However, now that hockey season is over, it’s time to talk about baseball. If you had to take a poll at Catalyst Exhibits, I would say that about 90% of employees are Cubs fans…what are they thinking? (Go White Sox!)
How will the “south-siders” do, as they try to fight their way to the top of the American League’s Central Division? If you missed the recent game don’t worry—you’ll get the chance to see them during IMTS here in Chicago in September.
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Tags: baseball, exhibition, sport
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July 6th, 2010
Attending trade shows can be a great opportunity for your organization. However, if you don’t have the right focus, exhibits can be unsuccessful.
Many organizations suffer from tunnel vision about their products or services, when they should be more concerned with the perspective of attendees who visit their booth.
In order to make trade show sales more effective, you must understand how your current target market thinks, believes and acts.
Here are 5 tips to improve your trade show exhibit. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: business, exhibition, marketing
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June 21st, 2010
Here on the Best In Show blog for Catalyst Exhibits we’ve been covering topics ranging from key changes to Chicago labor laws that will help revive the ailing exhibition and events market to why renting rather than buying is a clever move when it comes to getting the right stand.
Today, we thought we’d pass on some tips from EXPO Magazine about how you can use SMS/text messaging to boost the number of visitors coming to your event.
Here are EXPO’s Top 10 reasons why you should be using it:
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Tags: exhibition, mobile, show, texting
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June 15th, 2010
Some argue that owning your own exhibition stand is a better investment in the long run but, that only works if you can see the future of your business in your crystal ball. Since that’s unfortunately not possible, the best option – especially in the current, dangerous economic climate – is to rent your stand.
Andy Besic at Catalyst Exhibits says it’s like buying a car, where you pay a lot up front and then find yourself paying out for expensive maintenance – not repairs – a few years down the road.
“Think of a time when you bought a car from an incredibly helpful salesperson that left you with an overall euphoric experience. Now fast forward a few thousand miles when you are standing in front of the service manager and he is giving you an unbelievable list of maintenance items. You know the type of thing: “you really should do with this oil change.”
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Tags: business, design, exhibition, renting, show
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June 9th, 2010
As the A-Team’s Colonel John ‘Hannibal’ Smith always famously said: ‘I love it when a plan comes together’.
The setting couldn’t have been more fitting either as the Catalyst Exhibits’ stand for Booz Allen Hamilton scooped ‘Best In Show’ at the Department of Defense Intelligence Information Systems’ (DoDIIS) Annual Worldwide conference.
The show, held in Phoenix, Arizona, provided the perfect showcase for the multi-billion dollar strategic and technologic consulting firm at the forefront of the national security, defense and civil sectors.
The conference is the stomping ground of elite defense solution providers, dedicated solely to the collection, analysis, and presentation of intelligence to policy makers and tactical users.
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Tags: defense, design, exhibition
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June 1st, 2010
Chicago is seen as an expensive place to hold conferences and exhibitions but hugely important changes in labor legislation were made law last week, which could stop the loss of major events to other cities.
Sweeping legislative changes have been made that will make McCormick Place and Navy Pier far more competitive and attractive to exhibitors.
One vital change…….
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Tags: Chicago, exhibition, labor, law
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April 8th, 2010
It’s tough in the exhibition market space and the big convention cities are being hit hard by severe dips in events and attendance figures.
Our own city of Chicago saw its 2009 attendance figures for McCormick Place conventions and trade shows dropping by almost 7% last year, according to reports in the Chicago Tribune.
But that’s nothing compared to the hits being experienced in Las Vegas and Florida.
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February 16th, 2010
Spend less on Drayage - But don't compromise Marketing Impact
One of our lovely colleagues brought in a delightful treat today – Paczki’s. Paczki’s, a doughnut/pastry of polish/french origin, are sold only one or two days each year. Apparently, doughnut restaurateurs do have a conscience when it comes to your waistline.
Why is it, then, that some exhibit houses have fewer scruples when it comes to the weight of your exhibit, or the SIZE of your material handling bill? Why is one of the most consistent features of a custom exhibit- heavy, bulky materials – a surefire way to clobber your drayage budget?
A modern exhibit design should be designed around some basic constraints – weight being a significant driver in that equation. When you look at a design, pay attention to materials. You may have to ask some pointed questions to get down to brass tacks on this aspect of a company’s design (sorry for the heavy-handed reference to fabric, one of our favorite weight-loss measures).
While aiming to reduce weight is among the chief goals of an exhibit house’s construction methods, this can become a double edged sword: Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: budget, Rental Exhibit, trade show strategy
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Questions?