Friday, June 24, 2011

Is Tradeshow Marketing Dead? 12 Tips to Resuscitate a Classic Lead-Gen Tactic

In this article, you'll learn...

  • 12 steps to getting results from your next tradeshow
  • How to effectively plan and execute your tradeshow strategy at each stage
Read more

Monday, June 20, 2011

TSEA's Advocacy Efforts: Member comment

As an exhibitor I want to applaud TSEA for putting together the Red Diamond Congress. I attended last year when it was open to only exhibitors, and I learned a ton about the industry and its inner workings. The event equipped me with language and ideas to have real conversations with my vendors and the organizations where I exhibit.


I saw on the registration site that this year's event will include vendor partners, organizers, general contractors etc. I'm thrilled to hear this because including everyone is the only way to broaden discussions around material handling, cost transparency and effective consumer engagements to come up with real solutions. With the increasing pressure we exhibitors face to cut costs and prove ROI, this forum is exactly what the F2F marketing industry needs to stay relevant and provide a venue where all stakeholders can work together for a mutual benefit.


-by Bob Exhibitor


What do you think of TSEA's RDC?

Thursday, June 16, 2011

McCormick Place, Trade Shows, and Unions: The Latest Labor Battle

In short: the state passed legislation meant to curtail the costs of holding exhibitions at McCormick Place. Some of the changes were pretty small, but convenient for exhibitors, like allowing them to bring their own food and beverages instead of having to buy them through McPier. But some of the rules impact labor: "The rights also include expanded hours for straight time, allowing exhibitors to select specific workers, reducing worker crew sizes and reducing the number of stewards working the floor."

Sound simple? It's not. As Crain's Greg Hinz put it in 2009:

Right now, McPier is a hydra-headed monster jointly run by the mayor and the governor. Since neither has ultimate responsibility, each has grabbed the goodies rather than taking care of business, with the mayoral-controlled McPier board left free to squabble with the gubernatorial- selected McPier CEO.

It's complicated: it's a government entity, in an awkward place between the city and state, which is complicated enough, but the actual business of putting on conventions is done by private businesses. The exhibitors, i.e. the people actually showing stuff, pay the trade association, which puts people in front of the exhibitors. The trade association pays McPier for the floor space, and hires a contractor, which is paid by the association but recoups the cost from the exhibitors. Full article.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Surviving and Thriving in This Uncertain Economy

As you know, companies are looking at their departmental budgets much closer these days and are trying to figure out ways to cut costs. You probably all feel it; unfortunately a lot of times trade shows are one of the first areas where cuts are being made. Although we know this is often an overreaction, we also know this is due to many companies not making the best of their trade show opportunities. So how do we as an industry and individuals address this problem, find ways to keep doing business and keep exhibitors exhibiting? Let’s take a look at several questions on that topic and what the answers are to thrive in this economy.

How did the trade show industry fall victim to the economic problems and how can we avoid this from happening again? Full Article from B 2 C