Trade Shows and Wheel Chairs

I was perusing an old friend's site the other day, Julia O'Connor- trade show expert extraordinaire, and came across this nugget. It's importance shouldn't be eschewed. Two of my good friends are confined to wheel chairs and they've educated me over the years on the dos and donts as it pertains to awareness of their surroundings.

We are all attentive of the hard work inherent in a trade show, but that hard work is magnified for attendees who may use a wheelchair. Below are just a few of Julia's tips... take them to heart. Do yourself a favor and read Julia's entire article; for it will assist you with wheel chair intel and life experiences as they apply to those in wheel chairs.

1. Those in the chairs know they are in the chairs. It’s your responsibility to make them as comfortable in your space as any other visitor. Quick no-no -- don’t gawk.
2. These days, wheelchairs are smaller and allow more mobility. Watch out for them as they zip around the corners and scoot out of elevators.
3. It’s important to maintain eye contact, as with any visitor, but rather than hunching over, pull up a chair so you’re both at the same eye level and have a normal conversation.
4. Just as people with vision problem may have a person with them as a guide, so too may people in chairs. While it’s polite to acknowledge the guide, address your comments to the visitor, not the guide.
5. If you’re showing video, using a computer or have a demonstration at a 40" height, be able to adjust it for people in a wheelchair or who may not be able to see at that height. In a double deck exhibit? Have a duplicate on both floors.
6. Make sure aisles are wide and clear, chair and table legs don’t angle out and there are no sharp edges on the exhibitu, accessories or free-standing graphics

A Smash Hit Displays tries to be aware of our surroundings at every trade show. To be prepared for your upcoming show take a few moments to read our Trade Show Tips section on our site. The articles will give you a leg up on your competition and give you the necessary information needed to maximize your show experience.

Survey reveals most exhibitor staff training is "Hit or Miss"

We love Susan Friedmann, The Tradeshow Coach. She constantly surpasses herself by offering important articles relevant to the trade show arena. Her referenced article explains the purpose of a survey examining the content of staff training conducted by individual exhibiting companies.
The survey revealed some interesting tidbits.

Among those, that not surprisingly:
- 55% of most companies indicated training was done prior to the show doors openining. Almost - 80% of the training was done by that companies own staff
- Of the 20% that used outside training experts, 75% said their team responded better

It wasn't a surprise to read companies responded that external expert training is most effective in reminding the team of necessary exhibiting skills, forming a cohesive team, and enhancing team spirit.

So, the next time you have a big show on the horizon and are wondering how you will train your team for the potential windfall of customers, try utilizing the specialities of a trade show expert. As it turns out, it is usually better to delegate jobs such as these to maximize your potential business.

A Smash Hit Displays has been negligent of delegation at times. Its the old story of always thinking you can handle every aspect of business better than anyone else. But, all the great leaders of our time all knew important aspect of leadership- delegation to experts in their repective fields. So, when it comes to your next trade show display need, please defer that responsibility to the pros.

Media Relations tactics earning big bang for few bucks- Part II

As referenced in our daily Trade Show Tips and Articles from our website, a comment was posted to my blog last week from Joan Stewart, The Publicity Hound. Joan tendered an addendum to the article presenting additional avenues with which to elicit media relations for trade show exhibitors.

Her suggestions included 1) contacting local news reporters before the show dates to initiate interview opportunities, 2) trying to gain access to reporter's press room, 3) then following up after the show with the reporters in questions to offer your industry proficiency and expert point of view on the trade show expo arena.

Joan provided some great insight into cost efficient exposure. Kudos Joan and kudos to those of you who take these suggestions to heart and attempt them at your next show. If you don't try you never know.

Trade Show participation requires staged planning

The attached article referencs the necessary planning an exhibitor must undergo in order to take full advantage of their show event. Joyce Hansen offers before, during, and after tips for each show.
Her tips include direct mail pieces, inclusion with media flyers, contests, and the internet. Her in show tips include promotions or demonstrations, giveaways, and the importance of having knowledgeable staff. Her after show tips reference follow up plans and the time constraints. And finally she talks about having trade show savy. Trade show attendees are educated and sophisticated so the exhibitor needs to understand their needs and be able to provide solutions to their real life business needs.
A Smash Hit Displays always tries to understand our client needs. Whether those needs involve a simple trade show display shelf unit or a trade show counter accessory to accent their booth, we try and make sure their exhibit booths are enhanced to make the most of their expo space.

US Trade Shows are different

From time to time we reference articles from Julia O'Connor, professional Trade Show Trainer extrordinaire. This particular article references how US trade shows are different from others. Julia theorizes there are three universal components to any trade show, anywhere in the world - promotion, presentation and logistics.

The differences between US and other countries' trade shows are affected by culture and business expectations. The biggest challenge Julia hears are concerning logistics of US based events. Due to our unions, there are transportation and shipping problems, the set-up and tear-down. Where most countries and shows use a turnkey operation, the US often has different organizations for each component of the show before, during and after. This is very confusing as we all know.

It's this confusion, that A Smash Hit Displays tries to alleviate. We offer answers to client's questions concerning logistics should they require such. Understanding possible trade show display obstacles keep us aware and ahead of our competition. This prepared mentality breeds an aire of confidence; it's that confidence our customers respect and admire. To learn how you can understand what our past customers have, give us a call concerning your future trade show needs and desires.

Media relations tactics earning big bang for few bucks

Lead generation is most important when it comes to the success of most trade show attenders. They rely on follow up calls, emails, and direct mail directly after their showing to reap instant rewards while keeping their brand top-of-mind.
The referenced article explains how to maximize those leads. The author challenges businesses to apply focus, discipline and consistency to their top three lead generation methods in order to reap the greatest rewards.
She further offers 10 powerful media relations tactics for growing businesses serious about generating quality leads.
A Smash Hit Displays challenges our customers in much the same vein to create the best displays possible and inform them how to continue to reap rewards from their upcoming shows. Answers to your questions are just a phone call away; should you need something as simple fabric color availability, graphic assistance pertaining to ftp guidelines, or shipping information for trade show displays.

Fashion plays a starring role in trade shows

The major sports in our world have become so entrenched in fashion you can't seem to have one without the other. The following article details how a PGA trade show, the 2007 PGA Merchandise Show, Jan 25-27, is strictly a fashion show. Fashion is big business in the sports world and shows like this validate that point. You can't step on a golf course any longer without seeing many of the golfers dressed head to toe in the latest attire.
This particular show will have more than 200 top names in golf apparel and sportswear, daily fashion shows, the new Fashion Collection Review, plus apparel and retailing workshops.
It goes to show you that as the PGA is entertwined with the latest in fashion, so to is the trade show industry.
In the same vein, A Smash Hit Displays has seen trade show display fashion become forefront in the last few years. Evidenced by the new looks in truss systems, pop up displays, and banner stands. Shiek lines and bold looks have taken the standard display and turned it into an eye-opening advertising medium.

Who hired the jerk? The 7 Deadly Sins of Exhibitor Staff-

Julia O'Connor, of TradeShowTraining.com, has written another article. Julia is a friend who has her ear to the ground when it comes to the ins and outs of the trade show This one is timely given the new Verizon Envy cell phone commercials and their spoofs that play off the 7 deadly sins. Julia's article references those same 7 deadly sins as they apply to the trade show industry, specifically the trade show exhibitors. She states all exhibitors could show these characteristics and offers specific examples.
A Smash Hit Displays offers ways to flip the scenario and have your competitors show their 'envy' towards your displays. Through the sales of a pop up display, panel system display, targeted graphics, and curteous service, we take your trade show display experience to a whole new level of satisfaction.

MACTS annual event coming up

My uncle is one of the craziest people I've ever known. Obsessed with speed. But that's understandable given he's a pilot. For those flying enthusiasts out there like my retired uncle, you'd appreciate the upcoming show and maybe you can find a way to attend.

The Midwest Aviationon Conference & Trade Show (MACTS) will be held January 19-21, 2007 at the newly-renovated Busch Student Center at Saint Louis University.

MACTS is for anyone interested in any aspect of aviation, and best of all it's free! Most shows of this quality aren't free. So if you have the inclination to see record setting test pilots, military veteran aviators, and ballooning, not to mention many other aviation adventures then take a few days to enjoy the show.

Speed is something we all have enjoyed at some time in our lives. Whether it was that sprint contest back in gradeschool, testing that newly purchased car spedometer, weekend motorcycle rides, summer boating, or just picking up your normal pace during your daily jog.

A Smash Hit Displays sometimes has to speed up our normal routine because many of our customers ask us to build a display for them in an inordinately short period of time. We are accustomed to this and realize it's inherent within the industry. There will always be a portion of the public that puts off certain tasks until the last second.

In order to survive and thrive in this arena, you have to be able to work swiftly sometimes in order to create some customer's displays. Whether their displays are panel systems, horseshoe pop ups, or just table top graphics, we have the talents necessary to create a Matisse painting in a short period of time. Speed and quality are not typically used in combination but we have become professionals at blending both qualities.

In Charge of the Board

This is a great story of how to turn a devestating loss it into a huge gain. Steve Hayes, once a pro snowboarder, suffered a career ending injury, but managed to take that loss and produce a windfall in the form of a his own snowboarding company and is now a leader in the field exhibiting at many shows throughout the year.

Like most people Steve went through a career ending injury but managed to channel his drive and focus it into a new career in which he has fashioned a leader positionstance yet again.

For most snowboarders, this story will hit home. For others the struggle to get back to the mountaintop after taking a fall will resonate as well.

A Smash Hit Displays trys to assist companies on a daily basis with the items needed to make a new or returned visit to their specific mountain top. For most who call us their mountain tops are simply the next trade show on their schedule.

We are often given the task of trying to assist them with the creation of a display from trade show flooring to trade show pop up display to their out-of-this-world trade show graphics that will showcase their talents and place them alone on their mountain top removed from their competition. In order to do so, we have to understand and balance what is being attempted,
what time parameters need to be met, what monetary constraints are set, and lastly what we can do to separate them from the countless others they'll be showcasing against at their particular show(s)

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