showcraft

EXHIBITOR magazine exhibiting advice- Article: Trade Show Bob, March 2010

showcraft — Wed, 26 May 2010 16:45:22 +0000

What message is your exhibit sending?

EXHIBITOR magazine – Article: Trade Show Bob, March 2010.

Show day 2

showcraft — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:15:58 +0000

I was staring at glossy walls of glass and giant metal support beams. A red carpet covered the floor and the sun beamed down through the ceiling. I heard cell phones, black suits everywhere and could hear the rumble of business all around me.

It was the second day of the show. I had made it back to the hall and felt the slight sensation of déjà vu. Yesterday was but a dream. The booth was flawless, inviting and ready for round two.

As the day went on, I got new assignments. I made a few important phone calls and arranged for a couple catering changes. Refilling the water dispensers proved to be a difficult task for someone wearing high heels. Then again, I actually knew where room 3B01 was and had no problem with the coffee. Just as the day before, the booth was buzzing with activity. The meeting rooms were full and things were running smoothly. I made sure the giveaways were stocked and the coffee area looked neat.

By the end of day two, my legs and feet were throbbing. I felt relieved because the job was over. Working the show floor requires plenty of effort; however, I couldn’t help feel a little sense of sadness because my first show was officially over.

Show day 1 continued

showcraft — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:34:07 +0000

Every detail was completed. The booth was clean, the meeting rooms were organized, and the equipment was in place. I was dressed to impress with my name badge proudly around my neck. I was ready to take on the world – after I made a coffee run, that is. I collected everyone’s order and hurried to Starbucks. My first challenge was the line. It must have been two blocks long! I waited and I waited, patiently of course, repeating the order in my head: one Tall soy latte, one Grande triple nonfat vanilla latte, one black coffee with cream. I surely did not want to screw up my first assignment of the day. As the line inched forward, I noticed they were out of vanilla flavoring. This posted a serious problem. How was I going to order a Grande triple nonfat vanilla latte with no vanilla? It was almost my turn. Of course, the one thing I am in charge of, coffee, and I can’t even get it right. After safely delivering the coffee, without the vanilla, with a smile, I felt ready to take on anything. A little coffee run couldn’t scare me. Bring on the CEO’s and VP’s. I was feeling confident, and ready to show the world of trade shows what I was made of.

A frantic woman dashed to our booth and asked me where room 3B01 was. After stuttering a bit, I came up to what I thought was a decent answer. She then asked me to find someone who actually knew what was going on. So I grabbed the closest person and sighed. My super human strength was gone and I was back to zero.

The rest of the day went surprisingly well. I found myself re-stocking the giveaway bags and emptying the trash. The day was soaring by. The booth was packed wall to wall and the demo stations were full. I learned a lot about trade shows by observing my surroundings. When the day wrapped up after a solid twelve hours, we were all ready to get back to the hotel. One day down and one to go. With my feet blistered and sore, we walked out of the hall. My mind was filled with thoughts of the next day and what obstacles would come my way.

Introduction

showcraft — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:19:41 +0000

BEEEEEEP! Why do alarm clocks make such an irritating noise? My eyes slowly opened as I rolled over to see the digital numbers on the clock reading 5:15 a.m. Eventually, I peeled myself out of bed and jumped into the shower. The first day of the show was finally here. The more I thought about it, the more excited I became. My hair was done, makeup on and I was dressed in my neatly ironed outfit. I grabbed my bag, put on my boots and long black coat and took one last look in the mirror before leaving the hotel room.

It was 7 a.m. when we arrived and there were people in suits everywhere. The mess that seemed to cover the hall a day earlier was gone. The hustle and bustle had started. The smell of doughnuts and coffee filled the air. I could hear the buzz of people talking and cell phones ringing. People were moving swiftly throughout the lobby, grabbing coffee, registering for the show and mingling.

I turned the corner to the entrance of the hall and a radiance of red caught my eye. It was as if our booth was glowing and I felt proud to be part of it.

There were different exhibits scattered everywhere, but none of them could compare to the Oracle booth. One had a café where you could grab coffee made to order; another had a stage where the winners of America’s Best Dance crew from MTV were performing every hour. The entire room was filled with signs and banners. After getting over my initial shock, I took a deep breath and thought to myself, “Here we go!”

Relaxing night

showcraft — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:37:28 +0000

After three days of setting up, I was worn out. With the first show day approaching, I knew I needed some serious relax time. Michelle and I decided a night in would serve us well. I strolled to my hotel room, washed my face, changed into sweats, put my glasses on and fixed a ponytail in my hair. We sprawled out on the beds in Michelle’s room, popped in a movie and did nothing. After the movie and talking about the upcoming days, it was time to get my beauty sleep. Back in my hotel room, with a locked door and the lights off, I curled under the covers and fell fast asleep dreaming of what was to come.

How rude of me!

showcraft — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:34:52 +0000

I have not told you about any of my fellow travelers. You didn’t think I went on this trip alone, did you? I have to say the group was a blast and made my first trip a success. I will start with Michelle, my guide and teacher. She has been there for me throughout my whole Showcraft experience. Through all the challenges, we laughed the entire trip and kept each other balanced. Adam is responsible for getting these blogs up on the web, but more importantly he is our #1 computer guru on the show floor. John is President of Showcraft and has taught me about the trade show industry in five weeks. Last but not least, we have Brian and Jeff. They are in charge of building and installing the booth. If it weren’t for them, the show would be filled with chaos and confusion. They do an incredible job and make it all come together.

At showcraft everyone is special…

Javits Convention Center

showcraft — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:13:02 +0000

After getting settled into the hotel room we took off for Javits Convention Center; my home for the next five days. Walking down the long hallway felt like some kind of initiation. As we walked up the stairs, turned the corner to the grand entrance of the hall I could not help but get butterflies. This was it! This was what I had been waiting for since I graduated college. It was my chance. As I looked up, there it was. The two story booth was up. It was much bigger than I imagined and seemed to dwarf the surrounding booths.

Although the booth was up, there was still alot of work to do. Wooded crates were scattered in the aisles; furniture was wrapped in plastic and ready to be put in its place. The monitors and computers needed to be set up and the carpet needed vacuuming. We did not waste any time. I started unpacking boxes of giveaways and accessories, and organized the meeting rooms. It felt like preparing for a party. Everything is a mess and you have to clean the whole house in time for your guests to arrive. So you scramble to make sure everything is in its place. The floor sparkling, the furniture dusted and the candles are lit, you feel a sense of accomplishment. That is what the days leading up to the show felt like. Chaos the first five days and then perfection that made you stand back and admire all of the hard work put into it.

I had to remind myself more than once that this was not a vacation and I was on this trip for work. Who would have thought that it could be so much fun? I found myself a little too enthusiastic at times. From taxi rides to room service, it was all so new to me. Before I go on, you have to realize that for the last four years of my life, I was turning one meal into four and selling my books to make the rent. Shortly after graduation I got an internship. I thought I was on top of the world until I realized working for free is not as much fun as it’s cracked up to be. So now, having my own hotel room and eating at nice restaurants feels like a foreign language. My team laughed at me when we went to registration to get our name badges. Seeing my name printed made it official for me. It’s sad to say but, I am probably going to frame it. Don’t tell anyone.

So the journey begins

showcraft — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:11:09 +0000

So the journey begins. I am about to embark on an assignment that has a lot of firsts for me. It will be my first work trip, my first trade show as an exhibitor and my first time to the Big Apple. I am excited to leave my safe zone in Burnsville, Minnesota in search of learning and discovering something new. Bags are packed and mind is open. Here I come New York City!

After a quick flight filled with reading and entertainment provided by my iPod, we landed at LaGuardia Airport, picked up our bags and made our way to the taxi line. It was like waiting for a ride at an amusement park. Alot of people lined up between two metal barriers while a sea of yellow taxi cabs waited on the other side. The temperature outside was a measly 30 degrees. To me, it should have felt like summer as I am a true Minnesotan; but it seemed much colder and the wind felt like needles on my face. Soon enough our taxi was waiting. We got in and headed for the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. My mind filled with anticipation.

The taxi ride was my first glimpse into New York culture. The cab was darting through the streets at a speed that made me a little queasy, barely stopping for pedestrians or dogs. The constant sound of angry drivers and honking horns filed the air as the buildings looked like a blur on either side of us. I looked up only to see the massive size of the sky scrapers with the reflection of the sun beaming down onto the streets. It was gigantic; it was hectic; but it was also amazing. I could not wait to see what the rest of the trip would have in store for me.

NRF Experience

showcraft — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:32:20 +0000

I am leaving the world of sweat pants, ramen noodles and late night cram sessions for something new. My decision to take the next step towards adulthood and start my real-life, seriously mature and well-respected career has proven that my years of schooling have been worth every penny. With my college years behind me and the opportunities endless, I am ready to spread my wings and take a stab at the “real world.” After many odd jobs and a couple internships, I have landed at Showcraft, where my journey begins.

Five weeks have gone by and life as a classy, sophisticated adult could not be better. Coming into the company with little knowledge about the trade show industry was intimidating to say the least. Slowly, the pieces have been coming together. Making reservations, filling out service orders and arguing with the copier are a few of my many talents. So far, everything is going great. My favorite part of this company is the fun atmosphere and friendly people. It is a wonderful feeling to walk into your job with excitement and enthusiasm every day.

One of our client’s biggest events is coming up quickly! NRF 2010 (National Retail Federation’s 99^th Annual Convention and Expo) is taking place in New York City the beginning of January. I jumped on board as the finishing touches were being completed for Oracle’s massive 2-story, 50’x80’ booth. This exhibit has hundreds of meetings taking place in 12 conference rooms over the span of 17 hours. Managing over 200 meetings in two days sounds frightening, but I am up for the challenge! Slowly but surely, everything is sinking in and I am full of anticipation as my first show draws near. This blog will document the entire trip from start to finish, including pictures, stories and videos. It takes a lot of planning and hard work to pull off a great show. Let’s hope all goes well. Wish me luck!

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