Posts Tagged ‘kiosks’

The Power Of The Proper Handshake

Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

According to some historians the handshake dates all the way back to the days of Camelot when kings and knights would shake a person’s hand in order to make sure no weapons were being concealed.  Today the handshake is a sign of respect, a gesture indicating that a deal is done, and for some it’s just as much an indication of who a person is as anything that is being said by them. A proper handshake takes practice and isn’t something you do half heartedly, it takes a commitment to the action and a lack thereof could lead to a major miscommunication.

Types Of Common Handshake Errors

  • Make sure you get in there- When shaking hands you want to make sure you complete the motion so that the hands are pressing together in equal proportions. If you don’t commit, the person you are introducing yourself to may get a handful of fingers and it could appear that you are not interested in meeting them.
  • Avoid sweaty palms- There’s nothing worse than to stick your hand out only to be met with a cold sweaty hand. Sweaty palms could indicate that the person is nervous or lacks confidence. One good trick for avoiding this is to keep a tissue in your pocket at all times and occasionally stick your hand inside to keep them dry.
  • The shake is not a test of strength- While you definitely don’t want to extend a limp wrist to a person you are introducing yourself too, trying to break their hand won’t do you any favors either. The trick is to be firm without squeezing in such away to cause any type of discomfort. A firm handshake exudes confidence, will power, strength, and a bit of attitude. Remember that it’s important to not over due it without appearing weak at the same time.

A good handshake has the ability to make every first impression a good one similar to the way that a custom designed trade show exhibit can also make a person feel an immediate connection with a company. Whether your company is in the market for something portable and easy to put up, an exhibit for outdoor use, or want to show how much they care about the planet by purchasing an environmentally friendly trade show display; Godfrey has just the thing you need to turn that all important first impression into the start of a beautiful friendship.

Moveable Displays Sure To Transform Your Next Trade Show

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

Back in the 80′s a little square by the name of Rubik’s cube took over the country like a wildfire. What was initially created to help architecture students learn something about how structures can flow and move within an area, has since sold millions to date and even has it’s own National Championship competition each year. This idea that you can take something that looks whole such as a Rubik’s Cube with each side containing all the same colors and turn it into something new is a concept that allows for many different designs to be made from the same materials. When discussing trade show displays a couple of variations of this idea can been seen with the Post-n-Panel system and the Brightwall Modular System.

The Post-N-Panel System  is a series of panels that can be molded into any number of shapes thanks to a series of interlocking clips. Whether it be a straight wall design, a triangular shape that you have in mind, or a cubicle style structure; with this type of display a vendor can literally mold the exhibit to fit any space. The Post-N-Panel system can also be utilized to create a conference room that can be taken down or reassembled in a moments notice. Panels variations include clear or smoke and have the option to include a velcro attachment that will allow that panels to be covered with custom graphics and logos. If a vendor tends to see the same people several times a year, the panels or the shape can be changed around to appear as an entirely diffent display.

The Brightwall Modular System takes the idea of panels that can be transformed to fit any type of shape or size and literally breaks it down into tiny pieces. The Brightwall system is a series of 2′x2′ squares that are easily attached to one another and in terms of designs is only limited by the imagination of the vendor. Each front facing panel can combine to feature one large image or can each contain their own independent image giving the entire structure a montage effect. With options that include back lighting to add depth or even a 3-D effect that has the ability to make it appear as though the image is changing depending on where the eye is, the Brightwall system is just about as customized as they come.

Trade show vendors and visitors are alike in that at some point they all want to see something new and exciting. A vendor that travels to a different show every month will get just as discouraged by a display they have built three dozen times before as the consumer will of seeing the same exhibit over and over again. With the Post-N-Panel and Brightwall Modular systems, the very same idea behind Rubik’s cube is utilized to create a display that it limitless when it comes to what can be created.

How About A Tradeshow Tailgate Party?

Monday, August 16th, 2010

The first official day of college football is less than a month away and where I’m from that means tailgate season is upon us. In the south college football doesn’t just last 5-6 months of the year, in Alabama it’s a 365 day discussion that never stops. On any given Saturday from September through the first of January malls are deserted, parks are left abandoned and empty, and the only people on the streets are those trying desperately to get home in time to catch the second half. If you’re a retailer or any type of event planner than the only way you can guarantee that people will show is the promise that they won’t have to miss the big game. I’ve been to both weddings and funerals where somewhere tucked in the corner of a room you could find a dozen men and women alike applauding a completed touchdown pass.

If you’re a trade show vendor and you know that your target market is full of die-hard football fanatics, then one sure fire way to get them to show up in droves is to contact them in advance and promise them a tailgate party with all the fix’ins. In order to throw a successful tailgate party the most important thing you need to focus on is atmosphere. With a few clicks of a button you can be on your way to creating a Grand Fabric structure that resembles a football stadium with your company’s logo emblazoned all around. The next thing you need is food. Think hot-wings, burgers, hot-dogs, and tons of potato chips complete with enough soda to drown an elephant. For special VIP customers throw a juicy steak on your portable grill and serve it all under the appropriately named Mushroom Kiosk that will give you plenty of counter space.

Now all you got to do give the people what they came to see and that’s the game itself. The Truss Me system with its monitor mount option and a dependable WiFi connection will give you the ability to blast the game all across the conference room floor. Throw a literature stand in the mix so everyone has a chance to learn about who sponsored the awesome party, a pedestal for all to leave their contact info, and what you have is tailgate party that gets the people out of their recliners and into your custom built trade show exhibit!!

Godfrey Guarantees Personal Trade Show Attention!!

Friday, July 30th, 2010

Over the course of researching what I want to share on this blog over the course of a week, I continuously catch myself thinking that I’ve seen everything that Godfrey can do only to be surprised yet again by something amazing that I never knew about. This week alone I’ve shared with you the perfect tent for outdoor events and gone over some of the benefits of offering your trade show visitors a chance to sit and take a break in a set of classic looking scoop-back seats. I’m always bragging about our pop-up displays and grand fabric structures. From poster frames, to table wraps, to LED displays, to inflatable props; Godfrey just never seems to run out of designs to meet your needs. What you may not know is that my latest discovery of what Godfrey offers just might change the way you plan your next trade show event.

Before I share my new find I want to discuss just how easy it is to start working on your custom display. The first thing you need of course is an idea. Do you want something large and elaborate or are you looking for something small that can quickly be taken down to carry with you? Once you have a basic idea of what you want it’s time to meet your personal project manager. This is the person who will help you take your idea and turn it into a fully customized display. Together you will work out the basics, come up with a concept, and from there everything is sent to our design team. The design staff takes what you and your project manager have done so far and turns those ideas into something tangible that will be submitted to you for approval. Once this is complete it’s just a matter of time before your custom display is built. During this process you will be notified regularly about what progress is being made and you will even receive pictures of how everything is coming together.

Next comes that amazing discovery I mentioned above that just proves that Godfrey is the best at what they do. Along with your display you will have access to a support manager that will actually accompany you to the tradeshow and help you setup your booth. That’s right! Godfrey actually has a team of job managers that will show up and make sure everything is installed just as you ordered. And it doesn’t stop there! In between shows you can even ship us back the display where we can then service, refresh the graphics, or even upgrade your design!

From start to finish and long after the show is over, Godfrey is here to give you the tools you need to make your next event the largest ever! Call us now and get your project manager working on a new design today!!

We’ve Got What You Need For Your Next Tent Event!!!!

Monday, July 26th, 2010

If you are one of millions that work for or own an auto-dealership than to say that the recent economic crisis has been tough may just be one of the biggest understatements you’ve heard in quite some time. If the money troubles faced by Ford, GM, and Chrysler didn’t hit you hard, then the total collapse of consumer confidence in Toyota due to all the safety recalls was surely the last straw.  Let’s face it everyone has had it rough recently and while dealerships are struggling to find customers, those customers are struggling to earn enough to get by themselves; still though one rule will always hold true: sooner or later everyone will need to buy a car. All across the country prices are coming down and rebates are going up as dealerships try their best to get America buying cars once again. One way this is being done is by going back to basics and re-establishing those core relationships with customers. I think maybe Godfrey can help with this thanks to a couple unique items that are sure to turn that empty lot into a crowded hot spot.

People love to eat and there’s nothing they like better to eat than free food. Hot dogs are cheap, bottle water is always a favorite…why not host a cookout and I bet you can guess that we’ve got the perfect thing to host it under. I’m not talking about just some ordinary pop-up tent, what you need is a tent cluster!!! Not just made of up one single tent, a tent cluster is actually four tents with a large outdoor umbrella in the center. Inside what you will find is a large circular kiosk perfect for serving for pitching hogs dogs and great deals out to the waiting public. All covered with your custom logo of course!

Once you have your tent city in place, you need something to get them off the street and into the lot. You need something just as big and dramatic as those rebates and low prices. This is where Godfrey comes through again with a custom designed inflatable prop. Is it tailgating season? Why not a giant goalpost. Would you like those driving by to know that all you really want to do is help them get that giant monkey off their back so they can stop worrying about when their car is going to breakdown? How about a giant gorilla! The list of designs that Godfrey can create especially for you goes on and on.

Now more than ever paychecks are hard to come by and because of this, consumers are being extremely selective when it comes to letting go of hard earned cash. Before they spend a dime they are doing their research, making sure they know exactly what they need, and are going the extra mile to get the best deal. Likewise dealerships need to remind the public they are there to help the consumer by providing them with a quality vehicle and top of the line customer service. If you are one of these struggling dealerships check out all the great outdoor props, signs, and tents and let Godfrey help you make your next sales event a guaranteed success.

Dear Trade Show Diary…..

Monday, July 5th, 2010

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Did you know many companies will borrow from the bank each month based on projected receivables? Furthermore supplies, production schedules, material costs, and labor all require a certain amount of forecasting in order to know what to expect from the coming month so that the company is not caught off guard by an expense or decrease in business that may change the shape of the budget. Projecting what is about to happen next requires a certain amount of looking back at recent trends and looking forward in an attempt to identify upcoming obstacles or new opportunities. Trade shows in particular offer some special challenges when it comes to forecasting, but the process is just as important. One way to accurately predict the expenses, visitor turnout, revenue, and overall success of an event is to keep a diary.

For most people the word diary probably brings to mind thoughts of little girls writing in pink notebooks they keep under their mattresses, but in fact everyone keeps a diary of some sort. Every time you balance your checkbook you are making an entry into a diary. Whenever you log how much mileage you put on your car so you can be reimbursed by your company you are keeping a diary. Even this blog could be considered a diary all about trade show tips, events, and custom displays. Keeping a trade show diary of your own may just the key to success you have been looking for. The next time you’re at a trade show take a moment to step back from your exhibit and write down what you see. What has been your biggest selling item so far? How many people have come by and what was their demographic? Was there anything about your kiosk that did flow right with the rest your setup? Were you a good fit with the vendors around you? Could you have done anything better? At the end of the event make notes about the number of contacts you made and be sure to follow-up with them at a later time. By answering these questions not only are you gaining insight into how well you are operating, but more to the point you are keepping a log that can be used at other events to help determine what works and what doesn’t.

In business forecasting is not an exact science, but whether you like doing it or not you can’t deny the results. Paying attention to recent trends and adjusting your finances accordingly could be one of the smartest business moves you will ever make. The next time you are walking out the door on your way to an event, grab a notebook and remember to make notes afterward. Trust me you’ll thank yourself later.

Lessons Learned From The 2010 Electronics Entertainment Expo

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.

Are You Ready For E3?

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!!

Destroy The Noise With SoftSound Acoustical Panels

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!!

It’s Time To Get Motivated!!

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.