Trade Show News by Tradetec Skyline Chicago

Archive for August, 2008

Modular Exhibits are scalable and reconfigurable, like Lego blocks, here’s a movie that shows all the ways one modular exhibit display can be reconfigured for different trade show booth sizes and spaces.

Looking for more information on modular exhibits, or trying to find out just what is the right fit for your trade show needs? Request a brochure

Windpower Chooses 2009 Home
– Tradeshow Week, 8/22/2008 10:15:00 AM

The American Wind Energy Assn. announced the Windpower Conference & Exhibition will be held at Chicago’s McCormick Place May 4-7. The trade show originally was scheduled for June 7-10 in Minneapolis, but had to pull out because of exponential growth making the Minneapolis Convention Center too small to accommodate it.

Trade Show Marketing is alive and well in Chicago - with the recent expansion in 2007 of McCormick Place, adding 460,000 square feet of exhibit space; 250,000 square feet of meeting space its evident that exhibiting is still an option.  With the amount of exhibit space that McCormick place houses, the opportunites are endless for exhibitors. 

Tradetec Skyline a Chicago land exhibit house has seen the growth in conventions and trade shows over the past 3 years as well, being named one of the fastest growing companies in the nations, by providing clients with trade show service solutions, shipping, custom on line exhibit management programs and detailed exhibit graphics and design.   With McCormick Place in it’s back yard, Tradetec Skyline can offer exhibit solutions to clients in the hub of one of the busiest convention centers in the country.

Tradetec Skyline, Inc. is recognized for being one of the fastest growing private companies in the nation by Inc.5000 Tradetec Skyline is a Chicago Area Trade Show Exhibit House that designs, sells, services and manages trade show exhibits, graphics and programs.

One of the reasons for Tradetec Skylines continued success and growth:

Exhibit builders benefit from low warehouse rates in the Chicago area, compared to the two coasts. The company also uses the O’Hare hub for major cities in the U.S. and overseas. However, Tradetec’s competitive advantage is its Web-based trade show and exhibit management program that manages every detail in the storage and staging of a trade show.

NAA Turns Two Shows Into One
– Tradeshow Week, 8/18/2008 10:51:00 AM

The Newspaper Assn. of America will restructure its NEXPO and the Marketing Conference tradeshows. After a massive drop in NEXPO’s square footage, exhibitors and attendance between 2007 and 2008, the two shows will be combined into one and renamed NAA mediaXchange. The show now will focus more on digital publishing and less on newspaper manufacturing equipment, according to the association.

The new trade show will be taking place in Las Vegas - March 9th, 2009 -

Leaving plenty of time to get your trade show exhibit preparation underway.  Across the nation trade show budgets are being reviewed, Trade Show Management can be a very daunting task, but given the proper online software, you can track your exhibit properties and budget accordingly, setting up your estimates and   projections for the upcoming spring trade show season.  Keeping close track of your Trade Show ROI, and being able to produce custom downloadable spreadsheets for review can assist in your marketing decisions.

Written by Jim Kendall - Daily Herald

SubscriberMail, LLC, is a 21st Century business: The Lisle company, which a year ago cracked Inc. magazine’s list of fastest growing privately held businesses, manages e-mail marketing initiatives for such clients as the Bulls, Blackhawks, Xerox and the American Marketing Association.

In comparison, trade shows smack of old-time excesses - a boondoggle for directors and senior management.

Why, then, does SubscriberMail exhibit at trade shows? Getting there is costly. Booths are expensive. Founder and CEO Jordan Ayan is a savvy e-mail marketer.

“There’s a point in time when you need to meet face-to-face” with prospective clients, Ayan explains. “The challenge is that trade shows are a really big investment, but you’ve got to do something to get your name out there. Trade shows are a very important part of growing a business.”

Besides, says Ken Buckman, trade shows have changed. “Trade shows have become an actual business, not just a free vacation for management, and spouses and kids,” says Buckman, CEO of Tradetec Skyline Chicago, a Lombard booth and trade show services provider.

The trade show industry was one of those that ground to a halt in late 2001. Attendance, Buckman says, still is below the totals of the late 1990s. The difference today is that attendees are more likely to be decision makers.

Still, there’s the cost factor. Depending on the size of your booth and travel, figure you’ll spend $30,000 and up to exhibit at a trade show.

“It’s a tough decision because of the upfront costs,” Ayan acknowledges. “You have to look professional. No card tables. Well-produced literature. Your sales people must look sharp.”

Ayan knows the excesses. He has paid “$400 to vacuum a 10×10 rug every day (and) $32 to replace the fish bowl we forgot.” Regardless, SubscriberMail is on plan to exhibit at “four to five shows” over the next 12 months.

Assuming you’re at least intrigued by Ayan’s assertion that trade shows offer an important face-to-face opportunity, it’s helpful to know how he chooses shows:

• If Ayan doesn’t know a show well enough, “I call others in our industry,” he says. “‘We’re thinking about the XYZ show. What do you know? Is it a good place to meet people?’ At some shows, the real activity is off the show floor, and you might not want a booth.”

• Ayan looks for shows that “really draw the decision-makers,” something he assesses by looking at the types of sessions the show offers, and the names and qualifications of the speakers.

• He looks at sponsors, too. “A successful show will have a large number of sponsors,” Ayan says.

• SubscriberMail grabs non-exhibit opportunities as well. “I do a lot of speaking,” Ayan says. The fact that Ayan is on the program creates both visibility and credibility for SubscriberMail - and is less costly than exhibiting.

© 2008 121 Marketing Resources Inc.

Chicago will be the host of NECA 2008 - October 4th - 7th, 2008 at McCormick Place Lakeside Center.   Registration is still open with a the chance to win free air fare and admission to the event.

Exhibitors at NECA can meet with Electrical Contractors, decision makers, and buyers,  in an industry with over 130 billion dollars worth of buying power in lighting, power and communication systems that are used in buildings and communities throughout the country.

Educational seminars that offer focus on Green Building, educating the attendees with a deep product understanding in energy efficiency and environmentally friendly building.

Green Exhibiting interest has grown among exhibitors and suppliers in 2008, more than a third of exhibitors have taken steps toward adopting Green Exhibiting options.  The National Electric Contractors Association is again focusing on the Green alternatives, customers themselves are the driving force behind alternative solutions for energy savings and efficiency.  Offering Green Alley and several technical workshops for attendees.

Biz Bash Event Style Expo is a one day only trade show event.  Chicago Event Style Expo will take place at the Merchandise Mart on Wednesday, August 20th, 2008. Featuring 100 of the area’s best exhibitors, the expo is a meeting place for special event and meeting planners to connect, gain new ideas, and get inspired.

Can a one day trade show event help with marketing strategies?

If you are considering exhibiting in Chicago and are not quite ready to delve into the full blown trade show arena at McCormick Place or any of the other larger venue’s, there are many smaller trade shows, conferences and events that can help you and your company open doors to your success.
There are many industries that rely on Trade Shows and Exhibiting, many companies whether they are seasoned exhibitors or new up and coming companies with plans for a new product and service launches have several exhibiting opportunities in front of them in many cities across the United States.

In the tough economic times it may be a hard decision to make to begin your trade show marketing strategies, but with smaller, niche opportunities and an exhibit design that will splash your statement in front of a well defined audience, you can gain the respect and loyalty of buyers in your industry.

Creating a unique look for your upcoming trade show can be accomplished with, modular exhibits, a light weight and versatile solution with cost savings.  Stunning Exhibit Graphics that will draw attention to any exhibit space, whether it’s a banner stand, marketing kiosk or island exhibit.  It’s about creating and making a lasting impression with your prospective clients, whether the show is a large Chicago Event, or a smaller niche focused trade show.