Bay Area Trade show display, Event Marketing

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May 2013
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Welcome Skyline Exhibits Newest Member: Devin “Rae” Atabay!

I would like to introduce you to my new Marketing Assistant, Rae. As my new assistant, her responsibilities will include to support the marketing and project management department by assisting with the following up with clients.

She will help with advertising products and assisting in developing and implementing our newest marketing strategies.

Rae’s Background

Rae is local from the Bay Area. Just last year she graduated from James Logan, and is now attending the University of Ohlone
College.

She worked with Sears in the electronics department as the top sales representative in the district, but is now striving towards bigger and better things as a marketing assistant.

When she isn’t working she loves bike riding, local shows and rock climbing. She also enjoys listening to bands like, The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, and Modest Mouse.

Thanks for joining me in welcoming Rae to the team.
Rae can be reached at databay at skybay dot com

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Jan

Jessica’s Blog: Sanho / Hyper @ Macworld 2013 – San Francisco

What can my team over at Skyline Exhibits Bay Area do in 8 days?…. Build a 20′ x 20′ booth for Macworld from start to finish!

Skyline Exhibits Bay Area partnered with Sanho Corp. for their Macworld presence this year. Daniel Chin, President of Sanho, literally contacted us 8 days prior to the open of Macworld. Were we worried? YES. Were we confident we can pull it off in time. YES.

Sanho is our neighbor in Fremont and manufactures and markets IT accessories with a focus on Apple accessories, portable power and storage.

Their booth design consisted of a 8′ x 8′ x 16′ high central tower fully wrapped in fabric prints with locking door for product storage. Going big on the tower definitely meant we had to go big on audio visual as well. They used 1 80″ portrait mounted LED, 1 55″, & 2 46″ screens.

Their product display was complimented by the use of Skyline Engage, our most sturdy table line.

Will.i.am & Ashton Kutcher opened the press room at Macworld. Ashton Kutcher is portraying Steve Jobs in the new movie, “jOBS”, which set to be released this April. Can’t wait to see it!

For ideas for Macworld 2014 feel free to email me at jlorias@skybay.com

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Nov

Jessica’s Blog: The Evolution of Hanging Signs

When I first started my trade show career, hanging signs were deemed a huge expense and treated as a luxury item, just like upgraded flooring is today. As year’s went on it slowly became a trend however most companies still had to justify its expense. Times have now changed and hanging signs are more frequent than ever and even among some industries, mandatory.

In the late 90′s designers overcame the cost of hanging signs and came up with various ways to ground support an overhead branded sign. In the early 2000′s as the hanging sign trend grew, the norm was 6′ – 8′ rings and squares as the popular size for an island space. Today in 2012, as technology advanced and the prices for hanging signs are more competitive, 8′ signs are now a small fish in a big pond. We now see 16′ – 18′ signs, multiple signs, back lit, & unique shapes. The skyline at trade shows have been quite a sight.

Let’s start at the beginning.. this is when the market said “NO” to rigging (1998 – 2002):

Year 2003+ your were a “big boy” with a hanging sign:

and the hanging signs of today…

Hanging signs are now the staple for islands exhibits. You are creating even more exposure many aisles down which is definitely an increase visibility. The average 16′ sign weighs about 150 lbs and costs just around $2K in rigging in most states. In my opinion a very smart way to spend the marketing budget for a show.

For ideas and questions on Skyline’s hanging sign feel free to email me at jlorias@skybay.com

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Aug

Jessica’s Blog: VMworld 2012 San Francisco

A good amount of the Silicon Valley will be in San Francisco this week at VM World. VMworld is probably one of the most exciting shows to attend as it always guarantees awesome energy as they lead our tech world. I was on site for the opening on Sunday and was able to snap pictures of key players of the show and some awesome booths. The show goes until Wednesday of this week!

T shirt folding in process! Looks like a job for taskrabbit!

Shi using Skyline’s Envoy, Phase III!

Symantec’s flash mob rehearsing!

For ideas for VMworld 2013 feel free to email me at jlorias@skybay.com

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Jul

Jessica’s Blog: Modern Tradeshow Booth Designs Volume 1

Welcome to my new series of Modern booth designs. Here is where I will share what I find to be “modern” in today’s trade show industry. Please continue to check back!

Such a cool display of a vertical garden.

The first thing I thought of when I snapped this photo was “Spaceship”. I haven’t seen a double decker like this in the US in a long time.

Stretch knit fabric! LCD monitor placement is pretty cool too.

Simple and easy way to be decorative.

For questions on Modern booth designs feel free to email me at jlorias@skybay.com

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May

Jessica’s Blog: ElectronVault debuts at the International Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS26)

ElectronVault of Woodside, CA partnered with Skyline Exhibits Bay Area for their trade show debut at the International Electric Vehicle Symposium in Los Angeles. ElectronVault invents and licenses technologies that enable large-scale battery systems for electric vehicles and renewable energy systems to be manufactured, sold, and serviced. At EV26 they exhibited in a prime positioned and unique 10×20 island space at the Los Angeles Convention Center. At Skyline we decided the pair of our Envoy system would be an ideal look and feel for the vehicle technology industry.

On the show floor…

“What thrilled me about working with Jessica Orias and her team, was that very quickly, they understood our corporate image and how to translate that into a beautiful and effective booth. We received many compliments on our booth each day of the show, but most importantly, it was a good working and conversational space for my team and our booth visitors. Thank you!”

Linda Maepa, COO

For any questions on the above envoy design feel free to email me at jlorias@skybay.com

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May

Jessica’s Blog: Social Media at Trade Shows

The more I travel to shows there still is an area of events which has room for improvement, and and as odd as this is to say, interaction. As social media allows us to be constantly connected at rapid speed, at trade shows it takes a bit more time to do. Trade shows is a place to nurture relationships and makes them more personal. The act of the “hello” without pressing send these days is such the acclamation.

At the same time event producers and organizers have recently tried different ways of integrating social media and face to face interaction. Social media which feeds in pre function areas have been probably the best attempt at getting information out to as many attendees as possible. The use of hashtags (#) and conference codes via twitter has probably been the best way to find comments real time. It is not an ideal way as not everyone is a user, but a good start.

With us being in a world of “there’s an app for that,” Flock by Doubledutch has now created an application to interact an event all into one platform. Attendees can now interact and engage with the event as a whole. As this creates data for future use, comes analytics, and with today’s marketing it is all about analytics. Please visit Flock by doubledutch for more info and details.

What a great app as it is something which will truly improve events. I am hopeful the future of technology will streamline event interactions this way as the platform standard.

For ideas for Social Media at Trade Shows feel free to email me at jlorias@skybay.com

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Mar

Jessica’s Blog: Las Vegas Convention Center Expansion and Renovation

As much as I visit the Las Vegas Convention Center it never fails me to think when a renovation will take place. The pre function areas get me the most as lobby carpets are dated and lighting is quite poor compared to other venues across the country. As I was pinning on my Pinterest, I came across pictures of the proposed expansion and renovation from 2008. As the images intrigued me, I did a bit more digging and discovered it was a realistic projection however due to the economy’s turn it was put on hold by the LVCC board of directors in 2009. No updates have been made since.

The rendering pictures alone are great renditions on what the future can bring for this large convention space. Especially being the capital for trade shows, a face lift would be another great attraction for sin city.

With these drawings being almost 4 years old I can safely assume other design and architectural preferences are being explored. None the less, anything will definitely be an improvement compared to the current.

I do hope the economy only takes a consistent turn upward for this project to become live.

Photos via HNTB.com, http://www.hntb.com/our-work/projects/las-vegas-convention-center-expansion-and-renovation-las-vegas-nevada

Any questions feel free to email me at jlorias@skybay.com

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Mar

Jessica’s Blog: Nightclub & Bar 2012 – Las Vegas

The name says it all.

The Nightclub & Bar Convention and Trade Show is probably one of the more enjoyable shows compared to most I walk. I guess you can say, I can relate. This event is geared towards nightclub and bar owners who create successful environments to either serve as your local diver bar or the next dance “hot spot.” Within minutes walking the show, I realized bars and nightclubs mimic closely to those of a trades show booths. They must entice patrons using top of the line lighting, sound, & visuals. Trade shows also use similar tactics to draw attendees. Las Vegas alone is the mecca for this industry, so of course the best choice as host.

This event draws a ton of celebrities, those making appearances, or even pitching their new product. Here are some photos from the event:

50 cent’s Street King energy drink booth

Recognizable Heineken

Avion Tequila – The window shade effect I liked a lot.

Coca- Cola

LED video Curtain

TUUCI is a manufacturer of outdoor furniture. Their choice of using raised hard flooring really complimented their product.

HBO

This vertical AV video wall has a very impressive presentation. Each screen had a band member playing its own role and demonstrated as an actual live band taking turns speaking and collaborating.

Hangover Rememdy

Every nightclub and bar needs an ATM machine!

This design was by far my favorite and really encompassed the overall industry’s look and feel. Its booth models were prepared for every photo op!

E la Carte‘s tablet and software system allows you to order, play, and pay from your dining table.

…and of course the best demo of the show, the confetti launcher!

Of course, I wished I could have stayed in Las Vegas a bit longer this time around. A show like this has energy like no other!

For ideas for Nightclub & Bar 2013 feel free to email me at jlorias@skybay.com

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Feb

Jessica’s Blog: Tradeshow Hanging Sign

To this day, the hanging sign still will forever be the staple to an island booth design. It functions as the header of all headers on the trade show floor. It does not matter if you are in the first space in eyes view of entrance doors or in a sea of 20×20 booths, the hanging sign will always be the topic of debate.

From a booth builder perspective hanging signs are often viewed as a luxury to exhibitors. It is not required to have, but if done, has a minimum financial commitment to execute. Our friendly union riggers and stagehands have exclusive rights to set up all suspended exhibit materials. Boom lift rates start at $350/hr with typically a 4 hour minimum. Right off the bat your starting expense is at least $1,400 for the simpliest of signs. A more unique sign with some flavor (lighting, rotating, etc.) starts at a $3,000 rigging bill per show.

Here are some views of hanging signs for tradeshows.

Polaroid debuted a new Skyline booth design using an awesome custom hanging sign that incorporates down to ground level. Not only was the booth a design piece, it was also the backdrop for Lady Gaga’s appearance and signing for her partnership with Polaroid at CES 2011.

LG incorporated 3D signs along with 2D signs. A good way to create more mass.

String curtain is now incorporated in many ways in design, I have seen them mostly at spas or high end boutique hotels. They have now made their way in the hanging sign world. The overall look is very chic and modern.

And now for the more traditional signs. This is the family of stocked shapes and sizes which requires a standard graphic print or color. These options have inexpensive upgrade options, interior lighting, rotating, underlays, etc.

Skyline’s latest PictureCube line. A modular line of different widths and heights that can be either suspended or ground displayed.

Ocean Spray created a finished look by doing an underlay print at the bottom of their ring sign to avoid the large whole that would show. A great use for additional exposure.

Nintendo used a very simple square hanging sign to go with their overall white color palette.

This large oval hanging sign is used over the exhibit’s reception area

Phoenix Solar uses dual layer hanging sign for depth and color.

AMD really maximized stock options with multiple layers, interior lighting, and even added overhead can lights for more brightness.

So where do I stand on the great debate? From a marketing answer, in the grey area as I decide case by case. As an example at most technology shows it is a must. The majority of exhibitors are using them which leads to attendees eyes glancing up. It now does turn into a trade show in the air of who’s who and where. It does creates tough exposure, but the signs are now becoming as important as aisle number signs. Think of it as your own aisle number in the sky. At smaller shows I would only go the distance if you want to really want to strong arm, show some power and presence (but don’t we all at every show).

For ideas on hanging signs feel free to email me at jlorias@skybay.com

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