Marshall Yard:

Grab your bags, Kevin wanted to go shopping! If you are new to Marshall Yard - The Trade Show Blog - Kevin is our resident Mascot and is a Mississippi Map Turtle.   Often times he journeys with me from trade show to trade show.  

Global Shop is returning to Chicago, March 18th - 20th, 2008, in the new West Hall at McCormick Place.   With over 8,000 new products being showcased, and 900 exhibitors, this is the largest annual retail design event in the United States.   There will be several conferences from scent marketing to woman’s retail rituals.

I wonder how exhibits are perceived from the view points of men and woman?  Is one exhibit booth more aesthetically pleasing than another because of our gender?  Have you ever bought something for the opposite sex that you thought was stunning, and yet they looked at it as if you picked it out of the trash can?  A perfume or cologne you love on a spouse, that they can not stand?

I really think the perception of anything visual does have some sort of gender boundry. 

I belive it takes a diverse team of marketing specialist to create and integrate idea’s and plans for a full impact trade show display.  Constant communication during design and brainstorm sessions can bring alot more clarity and balance to any project.  

Voice your opinion.. 

Kevin - The Mississippi Map Turtle Mascot, was not real happy I shared his post about being depressed yesterday, so I got him online and we wanted to share some information the  MDM - Medical Design & Manufacturing Trade Show.  Coming to Aneheim California on January 29th-31st, 2008 at the Aneheim Convention Center.  Whether your business is designing of equipment for cardiac care, respitory, or surgery, this is the place that new product previews and launches are anticipated. 

Two great conferences will be taking place for any VP or Director level medical manufacturing executive.  If you are attending the MDM Expo, you are also invited to the industry related trade shows: Electronics West, Pacific Design & Manufacturing, WestPack, Plastec West and Automation Technology Expo.  With an increasingly competative healthcare market place these trade shows are informative and continue on with great advancements in our medical needs. 

While you are  thinking of your exhibit strategy for MDM West Trade Show, keep in mind the comfort of your exhibit for your prospective clients that will be reviewing the product launches all around you.  Promotional pre-show strategy can also give you an added advantage over your competition. 

So many medical advances have taken place over the years, it is quite amazing, while reading about some of the technology that is present at these shows, I thought of a process called plasmapheresis - a word that I had never heard of until my mother was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease. It is the removal, treatment and the return of blood plasma from the circulatory system.  The medical device that is used for this is called a cell seperator, it is quite amazing, it’s a process that literally washes the blood of the impurities that your system can not eliminate on its own. 

I was astounded at all the new medical devices and instruments that will be present at the MDM Expo, from Sterilization Equipment to computer aided devices. 

Kevin came back early from his weekend home because he was “DEPRESSED” as Lauren put it…she brought him back to the hustle and bustle of the exhibit house chaos, but seriously, as we sit here this evening watching Crossroads, I think it is all about the music…mind you Lauren, he is from Mississippi and likes to hear the blues and not rap music.  You all know my feelings about  Stevie, well, Kevin feels that way about Ry Cooder’s blues.  

That swampy sound of the slide guitar has Kevin in a twist, down with those snakes and alligators, he feels right at home! Can a turtle get depressed, I actually have to agree with Lauren, yes, I think they can.  Let me tell you, I have brought Kevin home now for several weekends, and his little trade show exhibit mascot spirit seems to be taking a beating. Initially I thought that it would be good for the little fellow, but he just seems to sink himself deep in the water and not even the meanest of blues tunes brings him out to feed in front of his weekend collegues.

I thought I was doing Kevin a favor bringing him home on weekends, for the heat lamp and the feeding, but heck, if it is going to get this boy singing the blues, I ’spose it is best to leave him be. I noticed the fact as well as Lauren that he sat himself in the deep blue sea of the aquarium that I bought him that he is not quite as active in his weekend environment.  I can truly hear Kevin quoting Crossroads characters, “if you are going to be a janitor..mop my room.” 

Well, we get back to the Janitor..and I have visions of walking around the ISSA trade show, and thinking oh my gosh, how many more exhibits with bathrooms and toilets, and toilet paper, or fuffy smelly good stuff can I see, the answer to that, unless you are in the exhibit house business, or in the janitorial supply rep business, you can never imagine…and let me tell you, urinal cakes, make and extremely funny gag gift.

Kevin continue’s to eat, and continue’s to grow, with the addition of lettuce and spinach lately, he asked what other grub he could be munching on, which in turn got us thinking about;  The World Wide Foods 2007 Trade Show which will be held at McCormick place on October 24th-26th, 2007.   

If your company has anything to do with the Food & Dairy Industry, this is a place to be to promote your business solutions.  With over one million square feet of exhibit space, and over a thousand suppliers, the opportunity for networking is fantastic.   On hand will be the latest and greatest in processing software, supplies, and much more.  I really did not grasp all the topics that could be covered at an expo such as this,  Safety of Food Handling, Chemicals that are used in the packages, from candy bars to fast food french fry packaging and last but not least responsibilities to customer needs when deliverying products. 

There will be hours of education for anyone in the industry from plant managers to quality control professionals.  Exhibiting at Worldwide foods has proved to be a value to several of exhibitors past.   The AMI Expo and IDFA Expo will be hosted within the confines of McCormick Place as well, AMI will be focusing on Meat, Poultry & Seafood - I told Kevin there would be no turtle soup served! The IDFA is focused on the Food, Dairy & Beverage. 

With key decision makers and heavy hitters attending the expo, it is a great place to network and get your products knowledged and get a bite out of the competition.   Why not spice up your exhibit booth and draw in the attention of the prospects that are waiting for you at the Worldwide Food 2007 Trade Show. 

AHR Expo is coming to New York, for the first time in 17 years, the AHR Expo for HVAC&R Industry Professionals will be at Javits Convention Center.  January 22nd-24th, 2008 will bring forth a wealth of information at AHR Expo, buy, sell, network and learn is what Kevin & I read on the website.  (Kevin is sleeping under his heat lamp right now-ain’t he the cutest) Before his nap, he said he loved the heat lamp, and would I investigate anything related.   Actually, I need a heat lamp, its like the arctic back here!

With the AHR Expo being housed in the Empire State Region, the attendance is supposed to climb.  This is the biggest residential and commercial HVAC&R area in the market in the U.S.   With hopes of drawing in many more attendees and exhibitors who have not had a chance to attend in the past.

With 1500 Exhibitors already signed up, there are many more international companies from over 30 various countries.   According to a survey from AHR 2007, 95% of the visitors said they found products & information to improve their business operations. 

Planning and preparation of your trade show exhibit can improve your effectiveness, and give you a better edge after the show ends.  Involving management shows a deep support team and the process of setting trade show goals can come full circle and your achievements can be astounding.

HVAC equipment is expected to grow to a 14.5 billion dollar buisness by 2019, planning to exhibit at AHR Expo could be of great value in trying to grow your business, with new and exciting features being offered at this years AHR Expo, education in new technologies and networking are among several possibilites.

Oh yet again,. Kevin pooped in the cooler, remind me, not to load that one up with Corona’s anytime soon.  The ride home was an adventure.  If I get in an accident, whats going to happen when Kevin flys out of the cooler? I thought of that while driving and paying more attention to him trying to escape the mini six packer’r that he is packed in for his venture to my house. 

Who would ever look in for a turtle being transported? Not me? Any paramedics out there that would? Hmmm….a cooler that looks like it was pooped in? I doubt the first thought would be what was in there other than some food.  A sloppy cooler carrier?

Turtles can carry salmonela, so it is a good habit to get in to always wash your hands after you touch them, or handle anything.. such as the disgusting cooler! I got him home, and chose a few more rocks from the garden, which mind you, I got eaten by mosquito’s while trying to pick the right ones for his weekend visit to my house, its like a volleyball team of mosquito’s out there, and we the humans are their ball!

Kevin-loveD the spinach that I fed him, his mommy told me I could..and that made him a bit more active on his weekend hiatus!

Kevin dug out some pictures of Catalyst Exhibits, Inc. annual Dog Day from a few years back and wanted to share a few tid bids on Pet Care and the Global Pet Expo Trade Show 2008. This year the trade show will be taking place on February 14th-16th, 2008 at the San Diego Convention Center.   In 2007 there were over 760 Exhibitors that attended and took up over 230,000 square feet of exhibit space. 

If you are attending the expo as an exhibitor, keep in mind that this is over a 41 billion dollar business.  With pet’s becoming part of our families, and being subjected to many more environmental issues, you will want your exhibit to make an impact, you’ll want your exhibit to be what you want your products to be.  Build a better trade show image with a great marketing program, attending trade shows can be time consuming, finding an inspired exhibit company can help make that process a bit more simple.  Allowing you more time to focus on the your prospects, and making them feel comfortable with your knowledge of the products & services you are exhibiting. A innovative exhibit company helps you intertwine the details of your product, services & knowledge blending them together for you in an eye catching, creatively cool trade show display.

Kevin wanted me to share with you his excitement from the other day.. WORMS! He loves eating worms, trust me, we have no shortage of rain so the pickings in the parking lot are great.  The more plump the better in his book.  He asked that I share with you some things not to feed your pets;

Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pet
- Alcoholic beverages (Stanley my cat would be very upset at this one - he finds open beer delightful)
- Avocado
- Chocolate (all forms)
- Coffee (all forms)
- Fatty foods
- Macadamia nuts
- Moldy or spoiled foods
- Onions, onion powder
- Raisins and grapes
- Salt
- Yeast dough
- Garlic
- Products sweetened with xylitol

Kevin took a little trip into my office yesterday while his 40 gallon habitat was cleaned of turtle dookie, a chore that the girls need to do about every two weeks.  Yeah..yeah.., I will get to CES Trade Show 2008  in a moment, but for all you turtle surfers, I’ve gotta give you a little tip; I thought you needed to completely empty the tank, but one of the ladies..(haha) if you could hear her mouth..you’d understand, told me that you actually don’t empty it completely, it does need to have some level of bacteria left in it.  

CES Trade Show 2008 will be held January 7th-10th, in Las Vegas with Bill Gates kicking off as the keynote speaker.   While Kevin was in my office, he took a liking to the keyboard, and the questions about technology started flying out his little muppet mouth.

Catalyst Exhibits, Inc. represented four clients at CES last year, the custom exhibits that were designed for CES ranged from 30′ x 30′, 55′ x 60′ and a meeting room that was 4200 square feet.   Exhibitors at CES range from Home Networking, Gaming, Audio Visual and Wireless Technologies, just to name a few.  Emerging technolgies are coming forth at lighting speed, and as we sit at our computers its not surprising in the least that they are outdated, and considered dinasours.  Actually, the moment they shipped from the factory, they have been put on the endangered list.