Exhibition Industry Outperforms U.S. Economy, CEIR Reports

Although the country's economic recovery continues to lag amid fears of a double-dip recession, the exhibition industry is on the rise, according to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR), which last week released the second-quarter results of its CEIR Index research report, showing that the exhibition industry outperformed the overall U.S. economy during the first half of 2011. Continue reading from Successful Meetings

EXHIBITOR Research Shows Most Exhibitors Still Own Exhibit Structures

EXHIBITOR Media Group, the leader in trade show and corporate event marketing education, today announced the results of EXHIBITOR Magazine's 2011 Rental/Refurb Survey, sponsored by Lynch Exhibits Inc., which indicate that while most exhibitors still own their structures, many extend exhibit life through refurbishment.

Results of the survey show that 89 percent of exhibitors own at least one exhibit structure. Nearly a quarter of respondents own five or more exhibits, while 31 percent of exhibit managers plan to build a new custom exhibit in the next 12 months.

"Custom is apparently still king," commented Travis Stanton, editor of EXHIBITOR magazine. "But it's clear that rentals and refurbs are viable, cost-efficient options that offer exhibit managers their own unique benefits." Continue reading from MarketWatch

7 Rules for Selling at Trade Shows

• RULE #1: Avoid Being Blackmailed. Trade show organizers often try to sell pricey booth space by raising the specter that your customers will think you’re going out of business if you don’t show up. Ignore them and decide to attend only if you think it’s useful or cost-effective. If you’re worried about customers thinking you’re in trouble, rent a suite in a nearby hotel, and hold a big party. It will cost about 1/10th as much and have more impact anyway.
  
  
• RULE #2: Ignore Marketing’s “We Gotta Be There.” Marketeers love ALL trade show because they can run up the expense account and network (i.e. job seek and/or sleep with) with other marketeers. Nothing wrong with that, but it might not be the best way to spend your marketing dollars. Continue reading from BNET
  

Go Green At Your Next Trade Show: Recycle

The definition of “recycle” is “to convert waste into reusable material.” Although I've already discussed how to best reuse material in your exhibit, I'll take a closer look at a few more ways you can implement recycling into your trade show experience.

There are many economic and environmental benefits to recycling. For instance, it:

-Saves energy

-Decreases emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change

-Prevents pollution caused by the manufacturing of products from new materials

-Conserves natural resources

-Helps your business save money

-Creates roughly 1.1 million U.S. jobs

Continue reading from Map Dynamics

Magic's Social Media and Interaction Strategies Expand Show's Reach, Triple Attendee Engagement

The show floor is buzzing this week for Magic, the massive fashion trade event running Monday through Wednesday at the Las Vegas and Mandalay Bay convention centers, with related events all around town.

But the impact of the event goes well beyond the walls of the show's venues here in Las Vegas: Digital and social media strategies have allowed Magic to transform from a twice-yearly program in town to a 365-day platform that reaches fashion industry people all over the world. Continue reading from BizBash

I’m Sick and Tired of Exhibitors Who Won’t Follow-up

I’m really miffed right now. Actually I’ve been miffed for about a month. I’m miffed as a trade show attendee and I’m really miffed as a trade show producer. Why am I miffed? Let me tell you. Continue reading from B2C

How to Look and Act Like a Leader

Savvy executives know the part, act the part and look the part. That's because they exude "executive presence," a broad term used to describe the aura of leadership. Continue Reading from the Wall Street Journal.