Archive for June, 2010
Wednesday, June 30th, 2010
In the course of writing this blog I’ve mentioned more than once that one key to being successful is to make sure the theme of the trade show is a good fit for your product. While I still believe this, a recent article in of all places Entertainment Weekly has me changing my tune at least slightly. The article is all about this year’s Comic Con show in San Diego July 22-25. Any pop culture fanatic will tell you that Comic Con isn’t your average comic-book convention, it’s the most anticipated event of the entire year. With over 125,000 people showing up for the three day event, this year’s organizers have put together a list of exhibits that goes beyond the realm of comic-books. In fact this year’s show will feature over 40 booths that are not to tied to comics at all such as televisions shows like Glee, Castle, and Hawaii-Five-O.
With all of these seemingly unrelated vendors showing up, I have to ask “When registering for a spot at a trade show, is being different always bad?” If you ask me the answer isn’t a clear yes or no, but like most things somewhere in the middle. If you are in the business of selling wrenches then a rug show is not the place to popup a tent for the weekend. However if it’s a car show where mechanics and automobile lovers alike will be visiting in hordes, then chances are you might do well. In other words there’s nothing wrong with being different as long as there’s a common thread to connect you with the other vendors attending the show. An island exhibit featuring a new high-tech wrench at a car show works because car lovers love to work on their cars, but the same display has no place at a rug show because the demographic is different. Likewise Comic Con is all about the most talked about television shows, movies, books, as well as comics so regardless if the vendor features a new cop show, sitcom, or drama the buzz is what connects them.
Being different is a classic double edge sword. Standing out can be a good thing if what you are offering has a base connection to the overall theme of the trade show. By the same token though being too different will only leave you high and dry as those attending the event keep their focus on what attracted them to the show to start with.
Tags: booths, comic-con, Conference Vendor, conventions, creating buzz, Display Booths, Event Planners, Exhibits, island exhibits, kiosk displays, popup displays, portable trade show display, potential customers, tents, Trade Show Booths, upcoming trade show
Posted in Conferences & Venues, Expert trade show advice, marketing tips, SpaceStation Popup Displays, Trade Show Exhibits, Trade show popups, Trade Show Tips, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Sunday, June 27th, 2010
Literature displays, portable kiosks, and table wraps are great tools to have with you when showing off your ideas and products to the public, but all three pose the same problem for those that sell items that are considered hands-off……they give the customer too much room to touch, feel, and possibly damage the item being displayed. I once knew a guy that worked for a publishing house. One of their bestsellers was a book that described and priced rare coins. As part of the promotion for the book, my friend would visit several trade shows and use a couple of rare coins he had purchased over the years to show people how easy it was to use the book. He kept running into the problem of people wanting to touch the coin that he had paid so much for. Since the money added value to the books he was trying to sell, he had to find a way to display the items without making them so easily accessible.
The body’s natural oils have always been known to breakdown and cause damage to antiques or rare items whether it be books, metals, or fabrics; that’s why it’s important to limit contact with these types of things. Plus anything of value can easily be stolen hence vendors who sell these types of items need some security to avoid loose hands taking something that can’t be replaced. Thankfully for those that prefer their exhibit items to been seen and not touched, there are Merchandise displays available. Similar to what you would see in a jewelry or retail store, merchandise displays feature a clear see through case with a sliding door in the back and optional shelf perfect for rare coins, jewelry, artifacts, or anything else that you want to show off the public. Each display comes with a base available in a wide variety of colors and even the option of a door in order to give you some secure storage space underneath. Portable, lightweight, and easy to break down, like all things offered from Godfrey each display can be customized to feature your company logo.
If you have been searching for a better way to show off your products or simply want some extra security, than look no further! Easy to transport and featuring multiple designs to choose from, these Merchandise displays are just what you have been waiting for. Call us today at 800-789-9394!
Tags: booth, booths, conventions, customers, Display Booths, Exhibit Booth Company, jewelry, kiosk, kiosk displays, literature racks, merchandise displays, portable trade show display, security, table wraps, tradeshow display, unique trade show display
Posted in Custom table throws and runners, Deskwrap, marketing tips, Trade Show Displays, Trade Show Exhibits, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Friday, June 25th, 2010
We’ve all been there, you’re at the store and the one thing you need is the only thing that is not marked with a price tag. You immediately start scanning the tops of the aisles for signs that a price scanner is nearby so you can see how much the item costs. Maybe it’s not a price you are looking for, maybe you are in a hurry or are looking for something specific like baby friendly mosquito spray. Your first inclination of course is to look up in hopes of finding a sign pointing you the in the right direction. It’s natural. You get frustrated, begin to feel lost, need help….you instinctively look towards the sky in hopes of being pointed in the right direction. Maybe it’s religious. Looking up inspires hope, good thoughts, no limitations. Looking down means looking backward, being limited by your circumstances, without choices….
When you’re at a trade show looking up is just about the only way to find what you are looking for and that’s why hanging banners are so important. A customized hanging banner with your company’s name and logo has the ability to act like that ray of sunshine parting the dark clouds and lighting a path for consumers to follow straight to your exhibit. If you don’t believe me just check out our round, tapered, or pinwheel headers for yourself.
If your frustrated about the lack of traffic coming in the direction of your booth or kiosk then instead of looking up, look to Godfrey where we have just the thing to part those cloudy skies. With thousands of designs to choose from, the sky is the limit as to what can be specifically tailored to fit the needs of your organization. So what are you waiting for? Pop over to our main site today and learn more about our fantastic signs, eco-friendly forums, and of course overhead banners.
Tags: booths, Custom graphics, customers, Display Booths, Eco-friendly displays, hanging banners, hanging headers, marketing tips, Overhead banners, overhead signs, potential customer, Trade Show Booths, Trade Show Tips, unique trade show display
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010
Getting ready for a trade show involves a lot of guess work. How many people will be attending? Will they be in the mood to spend or will you just get a bunch of window shoppers? Is going big the right direction or would something more personal have a more profound impact? Like I said guess work. All the prep in the world will only get you so far and the fact is that once it’s all said and done, how effective you were all boils down to how well you were able to influence the customer. Something as simple as the temperature of the building, the layout of the event, or the condition of the facilities could make or break your whole trip. Maybe instead of guessing what your customers want, you should be asking them straight out.
Feedback straight from the customer is one of the best ways to judge how effective your displays are. All the custom graphics, overhead banners, video stations in the world mean nothing if instead of attracting the customer they distract them or worse send them running in the other direction. Feedback is easy to get cause all you gotta do is ask. Forget surveys or questionnaires, just strike up a conversation with those that visit your booth and ask them what they think. Like they taught us in school it’s about the What, When, Why, and How of it all. “What do you think of our presentation?” “How do you think we could be more effective?” “Why would somebody not want to know more about what we are offering?” “When do you think you might want to talk more about our product?” Try to be as casual as possible so as not to give people the feeling of being interrogated, but at the same time don’t be afraid to ask people for ways you could have done a better job at getting your message across.
After all the glitz and glamour of the trade show is over with, what matters the most is how effective you were in getting your message across to the customer. By talking to visitors throughout the day and getting their opinions on your presentation not only are you creating a relationship with that person, but you also gain some insight how you can be better prepared for your next event.
Tags: booths, conventions, Custom graphics, customer retention, Display Booths, hanging headers, interested customers, kiosk displays, Overhead banners, potential customer
Posted in Conferences & Venues, Custom graphics, Expert trade show advice, marketing tips, Overhead banners, Trade Show Booths, Trade Show Displays, Trade Show Exhibits, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Monday, June 21st, 2010
You may remember last week at this time we were all taking about the kick off of the E3 Expo in Los Angeles, Ca. and the rumors that were swirling around concerning the latest in high tech games that would be announced. As it turns out Project Natal (now called Kinect) and the Nintendo 3DS both premiered to huge crowds and immediately were proclaimed crowd favorites. Though I wasn’t able to attend the trade show, I did catch the majority of the coverage which was carried live on the G4 network and I gotta say impressed is simply not a good enough description of how I felt after catching a glimpse of all the amazing booths. From a full sized wrestling ring featuring characters in the video game Lucha Libre AAA Heroes of the Ring to literally hundreds of hands on demos of some of the most talked about games in years, if the folks behind E3 did anything right it was knowing what video game fans wanted to see and making sure those vendors were there.
As a vendor your priorities are different from those that are responsible for the scheduling and promotion of an event, but the lessons learned from E3 still apply:
- Customers want to be catered to. Long gone are the days when a company can just put a product on the market, come up with a general slogan, and hope to attract attention. Today’s consumers want to feel like you are talking directly to them. They want custom graphics, hands on demonstrations, sneak peeks or spoilers for upcoming products, and over the top demos. At the same time people want to know they are getting a certain amount of quality with their purchase as well as the thrill of being the first in their group of friends to own such an amazing item.
- In order to be successful you must go where the people are. The E3 Expo is a classic example of how birds of a feather flock together. If you’re a company that understands the value of attending trade shows and other events in order to showcase your products to the public, than you want to make sure you are setting your kiosks up where the people actually are. If you make kitchen appliances there’s no need to setup at a video game convention. If you paint portraits for a living, a car show isn’t the place to show off your skills. Before you hit the road make sure you’re not going to be the odd duck at the event and that there are similar products being demonstrated.
While events like the E3 Expo are amazing to witness and generate tons of support for all those involved, beyond the glitz and glamour lie some very important lessons that all vendors need to take notice of. By creating custom demonstrations geared towards making consumers feel unique and catered to, companies are finding better ways to create buzz and generate sales. Also in order to get the most of a trade show you want to make sure your product stands out from the crowd while at the same time is connected to the other vendors around you.
Tags: 3DS, booth, booths, Custom graphics, customer service, customers, Display Booths, electronics entertainment expo, Event Planners, kinect, kiosk displays, kiosks, marketing tips, Natal, portable trade show display, potential customers, showroom, trade show booth, Trade Show Booths, Trade Show Displays
Posted in Custom graphics, Expert trade show advice, Kiosk placement, marketing tips, Trade Show Booths, Trade Show Displays, Trade Show Exhibits, Trade Show Tips, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Friday, June 18th, 2010
Are you tired of struggling to get every one’s attention trade show after trade show? Do you spend more of your time staring at your shoes than into the faces of eager customers? Well maybe Godfrey can help by shedding some light on the situation. See we understand that in today’s cut throat market in order to stand out from the crowd you’ve got to not only make your product relevant, you’ve got to establish yourself as the life preserver consumers have been desperately waiting for. You do this by making yourself necessary. How do you make yourself a must visit booth at a trade show? Simple! You give the public what they have to have….food and drink.
You see everyone has at least three things in common: 1)They need to eat 2)They need to drink 3)They need to rest (sleep). Trade shows take up a ton of space and are often held in the largest possible locations. Because of all the walking that is required, at some point all those visitors need a place to stop and refill their batteries. That’s where you come in with the help of our Soda Can Station. Designed to resemble an aluminum cola can, this is one display that is sure to attract attention like an oasis in the middle of a long hot desert. Like everything else from Godfrey, our Soda Can Station is made of top of the line materials and can easily be customized with your name, logo, and color scheme emblazoned on all sides. Featuring an umbrella top and a wrap around counter, trade show visitors will be thanking you for helping them recharge their batteries while they take in the days events.
Imagine a convention center full of potential customers carrying bottles of water and telling others where they got them from. If you are looking for a smart, creative trade show booth with mass appeal and built in word of mouth, than the Soda Can Station is the answer to your prayers. Great for outdoor events and easily customized, this is one display that is sure to soak up the sales. Order today!!!
Tags: booth, booths, client, Custom graphics, customer service, customers, kiosk displays, marketing tips, outdoor displays, potential customer, potential customers, samples, trade show booth, Trade Show Booths, trade show display, unique trade show display
Posted in Custom displays, Custom graphics, Expert trade show advice, marketing tips, Trade Show Displays, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 16th, 2010
It’s another one of those weeks where if you’re a sports fan there is something happening every moment of the day. The NBA finals are finally getting interesting with the Celtics forcing a game seven with the Lakers. Tiger Woods is out to prove what he hasn’t so far this season at the U.S. Open teeing off this Thursday and that’s the thought that he’s still the same golfer he was before his recent struggles kept him away from the game. All of baseball fandom is hanging on Stephen Strasburg’s every pitch and for the first time in forever the Nationals are must see TV. Not to be out done football is proving it’s America’s number sport even in the off season as rumors run rampant that the Big 12 will soon cease to exist. Last, but certainly not least, the entire planet has their hands all over the World Cup as soccer is putting South Africa front and center in everyone’s minds eye. Meanwhile even as I type this all across the country trade show vendors are taking advantage of these events by getting their message and products to the public via game displays.
You may not know this, but Godfrey offers more than just a few game and promotional displays. In fact the possibilities are limitless thanks to Godfrey’s ability to create any type of game display that meets your exact specifications. Of course we’ve got the standard spin- to-win, football/freesbie toss, and putt putt displays, that are a sure fire hit guaranteed to always draw a crowd, but for those that really want to crank up the excitement Godfrey has just the ticket. How about a basketball shootout setup to go with the NBA Finals? Maybe a bean bag toss game for Major League baseball fans? We could even set you up with a kick and score display sure to bring those soccer fans to your booth.
With Godfrey the sky’s the limit when it comes to customized game displays whether your a sports fan or just a fan of high profits. Each and every display can be tailored to meet your specific needs with your logo emblazzoned for all in attendance to see. Don’t let the competition get the best of you at your next tradeshow; call, fax, or email your design needs today!!
Tags: baseball, basketball, booth, booths, conventions, customer, customers, Display Booths, Display Company, Exhibit Booth Company, Exhibits, golf, NBA Finals, outdoor displays, portable trade show display, potential customer, potential customers, soccer, sports, trade show game display, trade shows, unique trade show display, world cup
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Monday, June 14th, 2010
If you’re a fan of video games or simply electronics in general, than you are no doubt already aware of the E3 Expo that kicks into full gear this week in Los Angeles from the 15-17th. With over 40,000 visitors and booths representing 98% of U.S game manufactures, it’s no wonder fans are proclaiming the circus is coming to town. E3 for short, the Electronics Entertainment Expo proclaims itself to be the premier electronics even of the year and is only available to those professionals directly employed by the interactive entertainment industry. Exhibitors aside, this however is not what makes this trade show so special; it’s the dozens of exclusive fist time look products that will be unveiled to world for the first time. The top two of these rumored to be the new Microsoft Xbox Natal controller and the Nintendo 3DS.
The new Natal is literally being previewed with the help of the world famous troop Cirque Du Soleil. Forget all those thoughts of what a videogame controller is, was, or should be; the Natal is the controller that puts the contoller in your hands by doing just that…making your hand the controller. Straight from Microsoft, Natal is “a revolutionary new way to play: no controller required. See a ball? Kick it, hit it, trap it or catch it. If you know how to move your hands, shake your hips or speak you and your friends can jump into the fun — the only experience needed is life experience.” Talk about custom graphics!! How much more custom can a trade show exhibit be?
Not to be out done, Nintendo is planning to demonstrate it’s latest world changing technology with the premier of the 3DS. The successor to the DSi XL, this new addition to the hand held game arena takes the worlds recent addiction to all things 3D to new heights by giving the public it’s first 3D gaming system that takes the tradition glasses and throws them out the window. That’s right, no glasses required!!
With demonstrations, exhibits, displays, and kiosks from everyone who is anyone in the electronic gaming industry, this year’s E3 Expo promises to be a dream come true not only for gaming fans but for those that love checking out the latest in trade show marketing tools. From floor to ceiling and wall to wall, you can guarantee that E3 will only provide those in attendance with the best in custom graphics, hands on work stations, and theme displays. Who knows maybe we’ll see you there!!
Tags: 3DS, booths, conventions, Custom graphics, E3 Expo, Event Planners, Exhibits, Godfrey Group, kiosk displays, kiosks, marketing tips, Natal, new products, Nintendo, portable trade show display, Trade Show Booths
Posted in Conferences & Venues, Expert trade show advice, marketing tips, Trade Show Displays, Trade Show Exhibits, Trade Show News, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Friday, June 11th, 2010
As a parent I’m used to noise. In fact at home it’s the silence I can’t stand because it usually means somebody’s up to no good. At work though things are completely different. Distractions are a nuisance and trying to focus on the task at hand is often harder than than the work itself. Anybody that has ever worked in a cube farm can tell you that there is always something going on that, if not ignored could leave you feeling like nothing was accomplished at the end of the day. Radios turned up louder than they should be, a dozen phone conversations taking place, water cooler talk about last nights game or episode of Desperate Housewives, printers and copiers slinging paper out non-stop, visitors and delivery drivers endlessly walking through….all of this chaos is swirling about and you’ve got a deadline that must be reached. At times it seems there is no possible way to drown out all the noise and still be productive.
Noise pollution isn’t just something you are exposed to when the guy you are stuck next too in traffic decides to crank his radio up, it’s everywhere including the office. Luckily though Godfrey has a simple tool that can help you eliminate noise pollution without going to extreme measures and it begins and ends with a simple bulletin board. SoftSound Acoustical Panels are multi-layered sound dampeners that can be custom sized to meet your needs and are also fully functional bulletin boards perfect for hanging signs, logos, or other types of info. Each panel is covered with a special type of fabric that works well with Velcro and comes featuring a classic look sure to blend in to any environment whether it be classroom or conference room. Plus for those that need a little extra coverage, SoftSound panels can also be used as ceiling tiles which are easily installed.
Perfect for the office, a must have for daycares, and a great addition to any public place, SoftSound Acoustical Panels may be just the thing you have been looking for to keep noise down and productivity up. Featuring a classy look, the ability to blend into any background, and available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes; if you have a noise problem today’s the day to fight back. Simply dial 1-800-739-9394 and find out more about this and our other great products today!!
Tags: acoustical panels, Conference Vendor, Custom graphics, customer service, customers, kiosks, marketing tips, noise pollution, office space, potential customer
Posted in Custom graphics, custom office displays, lobby displays, marketing tips, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 9th, 2010
We’ve all heard the sayings ”The pain you feel today will be the strength you feel tomorrow”, “The beauty of flying like an eagle is the ability to soar without looking back.”, or my personal favorite featuring the cutest of kittens dangling from a tree “Hang in there!” These days it seems that everyone is trying to motivate you to do something. Just one look at the world’s most popular media site Facebook and you’ll quickly learn that people all over are using these types of motivational phrases to not only boost their own moods, but to also give others a bit of inspiration in hopes of making it through a tough time in their lives. Nowhere are these words of wisdom more needed then in the work place where just like the economy, hopes of a better future are at an all time low.
The question is though, do motivational posters placed around the office work? Well according to Ken Brown a professor at the University of Iowa they do. “If they’re part of a broader campaign, with clearly outlined goals and a commitment from management, they may have some impact ” says Brown. Brown then goes on to say, “It’s hard to alter peoples’ behavior, so getting workers to increase their value to a company is not easy. If the change effort is part of a multipronged strategy with committed management working to create change, and they create a sense of urgency that change is needed and clearly explain the reasons, then posters and coffee mugs can be a small part of it.” The Godfrey Group understands this idea and that’s why all of our products are geared toward helping you spark a sense of desire in the hearts and mind of your target market.
Whether you are in fact looking for poster frames perfect for those motivational phrases to hang around the office or you need an eye-catching display practically guaranteed to draw people to you, Godfrey has just what you need to get the job done. If you get down to it from our Pop-up displays to our Portable Kiosks, to our Computer Stations; everything Godfrey does is essentially created to motivate. If you are looking to inspire your customers or improve the attitude of your own employees, contact Godfrey today and get on the path to a brighter tomorrow.
Tags: booths, client, computer stations, customer, customer service, customers, display, Display Booths, employees, Event Planners, hanging headers, kiosk displays, kiosks, lobby, marketing tips, motivation, outdoor displays, pop up displays, portable SpaceStation popups, portable trade show display, Poster frames, potential customers, showroom, Trade Show Tips, unique trade show display, video stations, work place advice
Posted in Custom displays, Custom graphics, Custom hanging headers, custom office displays, Deskwrap, Expert trade show advice, lobby displays, marketing tips, Office fixtures, Poster frames, Promotional Ideas, SpaceStation Popup Displays, Uncategorized | No Comments »