exhibit houses

Exhibitslist scoured the trade show floor and managed to capture a picture of an exemplary installer: well prepared, brought all his equipment. But let's just imagine he didn't.  Well, just as the panic starts setting in and he begins brainstorming various workarounds involving stacking buckets, rolls of duct tape, and one perfectly timed jump-- part 2 of the 'Installers Code' kicks in.

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This is the first in a series of "Installers Life" articles on the unwritten code and set of rules of trade show exhibit installation.

I've been working in the trade show/exhibit installation world for the last twenty years and I've found that there's a strict code that exists on show floors. Break the code and you tend to have more difficulty and you will quickly gain a bad reputation, especially if you're always working in the same venue. Large installation houses like Czaranowski and Nth Degree are always the most likely to stick to the code. Sometimes new installers take a while to get up to speed.

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Many of us know the phrase, "Form Follows Function."  It is a part of the industrial design terminology to describe how a product was inspired - usually from the function of the product itself.  Form follows the function, once an innovative and curious phrase, now seems to be overused as much as box frame laminate and fabric construction is used in the exhibit business.  It is so 1990's!

Consumer product design begins with an underlying function that is engineered to meet a specific need, or solve a problems that consumers experience daily.  To make a long story short, product design has value and can truly make someone else's life easier.  It can be measured and as a result can be appreciated.

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I have always worked for one company. It fits my lifestyle, but I have always wondered if it would be better to work freelance. There are a number of issues involved, but I think it comes down to your personality and your willingness to take risks.

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Many companies worry about making sure their design, build and install of exhibits in Europe go flawlessly.  But of what use is all that work if your exhibit never makes it to the exhibition floor.  Exhibitslist recently had the pleasure of talking with Paul Van Zijl the managing director of Fairexx a leading logistics company in Europe who work in the exhibits logistics business in Europe.  They have offices in the Netherlands and Germany.  Paul is well known to Exhibitslist and has a great sense of humor and his team are service oriented and professional.  

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Tradeshow Sales Guy:  "You've been using ABC Exhibit house for 10 years, that is quite a track record.  I assume you are awfully happy with whatever they are doing for you?"

Tradeshow Exhibitor:  "We are THRILLED with ABC Exhibits.  They are the Best!"

Tradeshow Sales Guy:  "Hmm.  What is it that is so great about ABC?  What do they do that is so much better than anyone else?"

The likely answer to that question might catch newcomers to the trade show world off-guard.  It is not how impressive the trade show designs are.  Their prices are probably higher than some of the competition.  And no one will immediately rave about what high quality their exhibit house provides.  More than likely, it comes down to three things:

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It is said that what separates those who are good from those who are great is that great talents make their jobs look easy.  Most of us remember how effortless Michael Jordan made the game look; tongue wagging and a smile on his face, he would sink fade away jump shots, or leap over the likes of Patrick Ewing or Charles Barkley in the final moments of regulation.  For a moment we all felt like it was something we could do; just another day at the office for him, after all.

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Materials and Methods

One of the most common materials used in the design and fabrication of a custom trade show exhibit is laminate. Carpenters understand the properties and characteristics of laminate enough to know what to expect when they work with it. Project managers know to buy a vertical post forming grade laminate when skinning round columns. Or use a normal, multi-purpose grade laminate for flat surfaces.

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In twenty years in the industry I've had a chance to work all over the world setting up exhibits, and boy, have things have changed when it comes to doing installs on the road.  I'm sure you all have some great war stories about flying blind on the road, long before Al Gore invented the internet.  Today, your project manager and logistics people collect a lot of useful information about the venue where you will be working before you've even packed your duffel bag.

It also seems to me that not only has I&D progressed, but companies in general have become a lot more savvy in dealing with work on the exhibit floor....

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Exhibitslist was on the floor of the Toronto International Auto Show at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre tonight.  It was good to see that many of the automotive companies have not stopped exhibiting, but it seems like they have toned down their booths a notch.  Maybe some of that bail-out money next year can go to some exhibit marketing. :p

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