Bay Area Trade show display, Event Marketing

Upcoming Events

No events.

Event Calendar

May 2013
M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30	31	EC

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

Filed under: Jessica's Blog | No Comments »

Nov

Jessica’s Blog: Happy Thanksgiving!

I am always anxious to enter Q4, or even as early as September, as I know fall is waiting in the wings. Kids are back in school, the nights are colder, and the fall trade show season is in high gear. With all of these activities and in addition to the holidays, I find the most inspiration during these months. The season’s color pallet, burnt oranges, browns, deep reds, are of such rich hues that it can be implemented in various design aspects. The transitions of color gives such a great flow and in design gradients translates very well to the eye.

Now enjoy all the falling leaves, bundling up and turkey with family and friends. Cheers!

For ideas on how to incorporate a fall color palette you can email me at jlorias@skybay.com

Filed under: Jessica's Blog, Show Tips | No Comments »

Oct

Jessica’s Blog: The Scoop Ball Chair – A simple design decision

Just like in a home, furniture in trade show exhibits create the overall style of a booth. While Herman Miller, Ethan Allen, & Restoration Hardware are not trade show friendly, there are other pieces that do accent well, convey uniqueness, and will not take a huge hit to the budget. We know all too well the infamous grey padded silver show rental chair for $250.00/each.

The choice of furniture has a huge impact, especially on theater settings. The seating selection is the first element attendees will draw their eyes to. For a split second the overall look in seating will implant in their heads and sway their decision to determine if the presentation is worth commiting a couple minutes, and in some the leading motive, to relieve their walking feet from hours of walking the trade show floor (We all have been there).

The scoop ball chair is one of my favorite pieces for theater seating. It’s ergonomic form is such a talking piece at events since it is so different. It comes in a ton of colors which really can make your space pop while splashing a little mod to it.

For questions on the scoop ball chair email me at jlorias@skybay.com

Filed under: Jessica's Blog, Show Tips | No Comments »

Oct

Jessica’s Blog: Thank you Mr. Steve Jobs

I was closing out my LinkedIn account yesterday around 4pm, and the recent status on my timeline reads “RIP Steve Jobs”. It was a semi-shock feeling, but more the shock of seeing those words actually together in a sentence. I knew of his health issues and the chances of him passing were realistic, but you always think the inevitable wouldn’t happen to people of that stature. The entire Silicon Valley has a sweet spot for Mr. Jobs. Thank you for building the Valley to what it is today.

Ten years ago exhibitors would walk into our doors asking for a “cool” booth. They wanted to stand out and set themselves from the competition, because of Steve Jobs’ vision our “cool” is now “Apple”. “Apple” is most used design term in the Silicon Valley for trade show exhibits in the past 5 years.

“We want to look like Apple.”

“The design should be clean, minimal, simple and modern. Think Apple.”

“The furniture should be light wood colors like the Apple store.”

“We are looking for an open and inviting booth like Apple.”

“Skyline’s Envoy system evokes the look and feel of today’s most in demand brands as in Apple…”

Apple conveyed a strong brand across all experiences, product design, marketing design, packaging design, down to even the retail environments. It is so clean, simple and strongly recognized that it attracts all. It is modern, sexy, classy and the tradeshow world now considers this design as the founding father. Skyline Exhibits did not ignore its strength and was the inspiration to our newly designed Envoy System.

Steve Jobs unknowingly set the tone for design trends in the trade show world. Mr. Jobs you can add another accomplishment under your belt.

Filed under: Jessica's Blog, Show Tips | No Comments »

Jun

Do tradeshows set the tone of the economy?

Marketing & tradeshows mean one thing, spending. It’s a pretty easy formula to understand and an econ 101 basic rule, if there is no spending there is no growth. As we slowly recover from our most recent “downturn,” tradeshows are definitely a good gauge to predict if we are heading in the red or black.

In the start of our “recession,” fear was publicly spreading in 2008, however in the tradeshow world marketing budgets were already set, spent, and committed for the year. The tradeshow world in 2008 was still ok. As budgets for 2009 were being determined, there was a complete shift. Companies were trimming off the fat, and marketing was first in line. Exhibitors locked in spaces back in 2008 however since budgets were drastically cut all around there were only 4 options marketing teams had to decide from, 1) chose and continue to spend to exhibit, 2) cancel attendance 3) if cancellation was not an option, negotiate with associations to a smaller exhibit space or 4) take the “no show approach” and forfeit space deposits all together to avoid having to spend the remaining cost to actually exhibit. Options #2, #3, & #4 were the most popular. Tradeshows looked like a ghost town, attendees were not traveling, and Las Vegas, the tradeshow capital, was hit hard. It was obvious our economy was not in a good place.

As 2010 came around, the “no show” approach created a negative impression. If you were not at a tradeshow, a company was perceived as not doing well. Marketing teams had to break the stereotype as the “no show” approach was hurting their brand more than sitting back and not spending marketing dollars. Exibiting was back up, but this time marketing teams were more cautious on spending.

Now as we are into the half of 2011, it certainly has been a better place for marketing. Attendance is stable and the quality that is out there is much better. For exhibitors, trimming the fat was good, as it weeded out low potential and brought in more quality prospects.

The tradeshow world is planned 6-12 months in advance and sometimes is the first to know how active companies will be. It certainly sets the tone of what to expect.

For ideas for your next show feel free to email me at jlorias@skybay.com

Filed under: Jessica's Blog, News, Show Tips | 1 Comment »