I was in DFW this morning, waiting for my seating group to be called and two travelers decided to disrespect the rules and jump ahead. But why? Because they could. Because they felt they were more important than the rules everyone else was respecting. We see this everyday. Not yielding...

At a recent U.S. trade show the alcohol was flowing throughout the exhibition hall. Not only were show organizers freely distributing this, but many exhibitors decided to get in on the act and serve alcohol at their exhibits too. Things started to get slightly out of control when I noticed...

Maybe there is just too much logistics in your path. Exhibit and convention managers are being pressed to become more strategic, but are having a hard time achieving that status. Why? (1) they are viewed as experts in logistics (2) they are so pressed for time that they are working...

Temps can be a valuable addition to your exhibit or they can just be an distraction. I just left the National Association of Convenience Store annual convention in Chicago. Over 1200 exhibiting companies and thousands of attendees seeing what is new and different in the way of products, merchandising, financing...

What does your exhibit staff do to enhance, detract or destroy your organization’s image? When I was at IBS in Orlando in January, I was reminded of what Malcolm Gladwell, in his blockbuster book Blink said. In a blink of the eye we make “snap decisions” on our perception of...

Don’t be afraid to let your visitors touch and try your products. That is the very best way they can learn and really have a feel about the benefits to them. At a recent show, I watched booth staff actually put visitors on their products, let them see how it...

At a recent American Library Association show we discovered an exhibitor’s banner stand proudly touting its reference series on a green and sustainable future. These e-pubs included such topics as Green Ethics, Green Health and Green Education. There were a dozen titles in the portfolio.The bizarre part of this effort...

Sometimes the lure of high tech in-booth communications has blurred the goal of face-to-face marketing – quality communications that accelerates the sales cycle. Exhibitors are adopting computer based e-detail systems using PC’s, tablets and now iPads. In doing so, they forget that these high tech tools have the same role...

Shows in the food industry are just great! At a recent show, I spent two days eating my way to 3 new and unexpected pounds. Samples, samples everywhere! More amazing was that in wandering the aisles, it was obvious that gathering qualified leads was not on most exhibitors’ minds. Of...