Mar 24, 2010 2:23 PM, By Dave Kovaleski
The worst year for the exhibition industry in recent history—2009—ended with an overall decline of 12.5 percent, representing declines in attendance, number of exhibiting companies, net square footage of exhibit space booked, and revenues, according to the CEIR Index, published by the Center for Exhibition Industry Research.
The decline of 12.5 percent is four times greater than the previous worst year ever, 2008, when the industry fell 3 percent.
There was no avoiding the negative effects of the recession as all 11 sectors that CEIR tracks experienced overall declines last year. "The length, depth, and reach of this recession made resistance impossible," said Douglas Ducate, president and chief executive officer at CEIR, in a press release.
In the fourth quarter the industry dropped 9 percent compared to the same period the previous year, marking the seventh straight quarter that the index has shown an overall decline. The decline was not as steep as the third quarter, when the index fell 13.5 percent on a year-over-year basis.
Looking at the four metrics that the CEIR Index tracks, professional attendance performed the best, declining 4 percent in the fourth quarter. The number of exhibiting companies dropped 6 percent, while net square footage of exhibit space declined 12 percent, and revenues fell 13 percent. All four metrics were an improvement over the first three quarters, but were still down 15 to 30 percent from 2007 highs.
CEIR officials say the outlook for 2010 is much better. Anecdotal information from events held in January and February is encouraging, indicating that the recovery is under way. However, since the exhibition industry is a trailing indicator, it will take a robust economy before the industry experiences sustained growth.
The complete 2009 CEIR Indexwill be released at the Society of Independent Show Organizers CEO Conference, April 11-14, in Austin, Texas. For more information on the CEIR Index, go to www.ceir.org.
Related links
Exhibition Industry Declines 3.1 Percent in 2008
CEIR Index Falls in Third Quarter
Exhibition Industry: Bottom Hit?
Monday, May 3, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Aids Walk Miami another success!
Expo Convention Contractors, Inc. assists Care Resource with the success of Aids Walk Miami. Expo also assists with the historic White Party Miami which also generates huge donations toward HIV/ Aids care.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
16 Fun Things To Do At A Trade Show
16 Fun Things To Do At A Trade Show
February 12, 2010 | Mike Thimmesch
Trade shows are a serious marketing medium in which we invest billions of dollars. In our quest to achieve business results, we often talk about getting the highest ROI (Return on Investment) or ROO (Return on Objectives). But what about the greatest ROF (Return on Fun)?
Trade shows are about meeting people, those unpredictable, emotional beings. To be engaging, you need to be having some fun, because if you are bored or too serious, that puts up an invisible barrier. After a few days per show, and many shows per year, how can you keep yourself entertained (without going overboard at the clubs and the casinos)? Here are a few suggestions:
Look up on the show city’s Visitors and Convention Bureau website all the fun activities you can do outside of show hours (try indoor skydiving in Las Vegas, it’s a blast).
Go to dinner with the funniest sales person who is staffing the booth. Repeat nightly.
Count how many trade show booths you can walk by before a booth staffer tries to engage you.
Visit your competitors at the show and ask them what they don’t do well. Watch ’em squirm.
When you meet attendees in your booth, stop treating them like numbers on the sales chart, and treat them instead as if they are going to be your new best friend.
Drinking game: Walk down the trade show aisle carrying a bottle of water (unless you are at a European show). Whenever a booth staffer says, “Hi! How are you?” you reply, “Fine,” take a swig, and keep walking.
Pick up giveaways from your fellow exhibitors, and then give them back … to different exhibitors.
Go to lunch with the second-funniest sales person who is staffing the booth. Repeat daily.
Look up old friends you haven’t seen in ages that live in the show city, via Facebook, LinkedIn or other social media, and relive the glory days.
Create a fun activity in your booth that helps get your message across to visitors.
Walk into an island trade show exhibit and play with their products. Count how many seconds (minutes?) it takes for a booth staffer to engage you.
Smile at your booth visitors, even if they aren’t. Pretty soon you’ll both be smiling.
Have a contest with fellow staffers to see who can work specific obscure words into conversation when talking with booth visitors, such as “corollary,” “obtuse,” and “Sandra Day O’Connor.”
Walk the show with a colleague. Have a bet on who can count the most: booth staffers sitting down or booth staffers on the phone. A third friend can count booth staffers eating or drinking. (This is like counting states on license plates when on a long drive.) Loser buys lunch.
Have another bet: Before you hit the show floor, bet which trendy new color will be on the trade show displays. Then count the exhibits with that color. Loser buys drinks … that are the color they picked.
Thank everyone who has helped you with the show – your booth staffers, your exhibit house, your manager, the show owner, the show labor, and especially your booth visitors. You’d be surprised how much fun that can be.
February 12, 2010 | Mike Thimmesch
Trade shows are a serious marketing medium in which we invest billions of dollars. In our quest to achieve business results, we often talk about getting the highest ROI (Return on Investment) or ROO (Return on Objectives). But what about the greatest ROF (Return on Fun)?
Trade shows are about meeting people, those unpredictable, emotional beings. To be engaging, you need to be having some fun, because if you are bored or too serious, that puts up an invisible barrier. After a few days per show, and many shows per year, how can you keep yourself entertained (without going overboard at the clubs and the casinos)? Here are a few suggestions:
Look up on the show city’s Visitors and Convention Bureau website all the fun activities you can do outside of show hours (try indoor skydiving in Las Vegas, it’s a blast).
Go to dinner with the funniest sales person who is staffing the booth. Repeat nightly.
Count how many trade show booths you can walk by before a booth staffer tries to engage you.
Visit your competitors at the show and ask them what they don’t do well. Watch ’em squirm.
When you meet attendees in your booth, stop treating them like numbers on the sales chart, and treat them instead as if they are going to be your new best friend.
Drinking game: Walk down the trade show aisle carrying a bottle of water (unless you are at a European show). Whenever a booth staffer says, “Hi! How are you?” you reply, “Fine,” take a swig, and keep walking.
Pick up giveaways from your fellow exhibitors, and then give them back … to different exhibitors.
Go to lunch with the second-funniest sales person who is staffing the booth. Repeat daily.
Look up old friends you haven’t seen in ages that live in the show city, via Facebook, LinkedIn or other social media, and relive the glory days.
Create a fun activity in your booth that helps get your message across to visitors.
Walk into an island trade show exhibit and play with their products. Count how many seconds (minutes?) it takes for a booth staffer to engage you.
Smile at your booth visitors, even if they aren’t. Pretty soon you’ll both be smiling.
Have a contest with fellow staffers to see who can work specific obscure words into conversation when talking with booth visitors, such as “corollary,” “obtuse,” and “Sandra Day O’Connor.”
Walk the show with a colleague. Have a bet on who can count the most: booth staffers sitting down or booth staffers on the phone. A third friend can count booth staffers eating or drinking. (This is like counting states on license plates when on a long drive.) Loser buys lunch.
Have another bet: Before you hit the show floor, bet which trendy new color will be on the trade show displays. Then count the exhibits with that color. Loser buys drinks … that are the color they picked.
Thank everyone who has helped you with the show – your booth staffers, your exhibit house, your manager, the show owner, the show labor, and especially your booth visitors. You’d be surprised how much fun that can be.
Monday, December 14, 2009
SMA Fight Night Huge Success
Thank you to everyone who came out and supported our event. It was a huge success raising more than $4000 to go toward Madison's care as well as other children with SMA.
I would like to thank our sponsors, Outback Steakhouse, Club KO, M Point Productions LLC, Smokey Bones and www.sofloradio.com.
Weigh In Face Off
The big boys made weight.
And the winner is.....Rich "Frank the Tank" Curran by submission choke.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Fight for S.M.A. DECEMBER 12
Hello Friends & Colleagues,
I wanted to invite you to come watch my Mixed Martial Arts debut at a charity fundraiser we are having for Madison’s Wish.
Come out and support Madison's Wish as we present the "FIGHT FOR S.M.A." Charity Event. This will be a Boxing, Kick Boxing, Grappling & M.M.A. Exhibition.
Watch Dave "The Tree Man" Stewart take on Rich "Frank the Tank" Curran as they battle it out at CLUB KO, Pembroke Pines.
8050 PINES Blvd. 954-432-3939 WWW.CLUBKO.NET
December 12, 2009 Doors open at 6pm, first fight at 7pm.
Tickets are $20 and there is limited seating so please get yours soon.
Sponsorship opportunities are available.
Please visit www.madisonswish.com for more info on Madison and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (S.M.A.)
Please contact me at 954-437-7574 or richardc@expocci.com to get your tickets.
Thank you for your continued support of Madison's Wish and FSMA.
Sincerely,
Rich Curran
Monday, August 31, 2009
Trade Show Contractor Issues
I found this web article and thought I would share.
Trade Show Contractor Issues by Mitch Tarr
A good trade show contractor can make your day. A bad one can ruin your week.
In reality, it's not the contractor or its people that are the issue. It is often how you deal with them that is or becomes the issue.
Before and during a trade show it can be hectic and managing this relationship can be a new or daunting task.
In the larger shows at the major convention centers the event manager will direct you to use their trade show contractor for services.
Often, they are the only place you can receive these services. Take the time to review your exhibiting agreement and know what is allowed in the building and what must go through the trade show contractor.
Here is a sampling of services you may be offered.
Booth rental
Graphics design and signage
Carpet and furnishings
Exhibit transportation and cartage
Set up and break down of booth labor
Daily Cleaning and maintenance
Carpet, furniture and electrical
Utilities and internet connection
You may also see services designated like photography, flowers, catering, computer rentals and other related items.
You are not obligated to use ALL the services offered but some a mandatory and you will just work with it.
Others you have already in-house or may consider the convenience of dealing with the on-site trade show contractor.
You will be more successful if you treat this as a key vendor relationship to manage and not as an adversarial relationship which causes you heartburn.
Remember, contractors are people too, and they won't always be in the mood to handle your heightened level of stress (should you be in that state).
You may get better results with Mrs. Fields cookies than with evil glares!
Trade Show Marketing Tip
From here on in you are reading an excerpt from The World's Most Powerful Trade Show Marketing Guide.
Get a Trade Show Swiss Army Knife
Bring a survival kit with the booth. That means duct tape, paper, pens, phone numbers, spare parts, light bulbs, fasteners, holders, and anything that can be used to solve a last minute breakage problem.
Bring a small office worth of supplies.
Generally you will find that on set up day things don't quite go as planned. Small things break, last minute ideas crop up and you will be in a convention center far from a Staples.
Make sure you also map out where the closest Staples is so you can cab over there on Sunday afternoon and find the missing "insert last minute forgotten item here."
Fishing tackle boxes and tool boxes make good carrying cases for your Trade Show Swiss Army Knife items.
Plan for small annoying missing items and bring a supply with you.
original site: http://www.tradeshow-marketing.com/articles/trade_show_contractor.html
Although this article is brief, it touches on some very important things. If you ever want to discuss more in depth feel free to email me exporich@gmail.com, or call 305-751-1234
Thank you,
Rich
Trade Show Contractor Issues by Mitch Tarr
A good trade show contractor can make your day. A bad one can ruin your week.
In reality, it's not the contractor or its people that are the issue. It is often how you deal with them that is or becomes the issue.
Before and during a trade show it can be hectic and managing this relationship can be a new or daunting task.
In the larger shows at the major convention centers the event manager will direct you to use their trade show contractor for services.
Often, they are the only place you can receive these services. Take the time to review your exhibiting agreement and know what is allowed in the building and what must go through the trade show contractor.
Here is a sampling of services you may be offered.
Booth rental
Graphics design and signage
Carpet and furnishings
Exhibit transportation and cartage
Set up and break down of booth labor
Daily Cleaning and maintenance
Carpet, furniture and electrical
Utilities and internet connection
You may also see services designated like photography, flowers, catering, computer rentals and other related items.
You are not obligated to use ALL the services offered but some a mandatory and you will just work with it.
Others you have already in-house or may consider the convenience of dealing with the on-site trade show contractor.
You will be more successful if you treat this as a key vendor relationship to manage and not as an adversarial relationship which causes you heartburn.
Remember, contractors are people too, and they won't always be in the mood to handle your heightened level of stress (should you be in that state).
You may get better results with Mrs. Fields cookies than with evil glares!
Trade Show Marketing Tip
From here on in you are reading an excerpt from The World's Most Powerful Trade Show Marketing Guide.
Get a Trade Show Swiss Army Knife
Bring a survival kit with the booth. That means duct tape, paper, pens, phone numbers, spare parts, light bulbs, fasteners, holders, and anything that can be used to solve a last minute breakage problem.
Bring a small office worth of supplies.
Generally you will find that on set up day things don't quite go as planned. Small things break, last minute ideas crop up and you will be in a convention center far from a Staples.
Make sure you also map out where the closest Staples is so you can cab over there on Sunday afternoon and find the missing "insert last minute forgotten item here."
Fishing tackle boxes and tool boxes make good carrying cases for your Trade Show Swiss Army Knife items.
Plan for small annoying missing items and bring a supply with you.
original site: http://www.tradeshow-marketing.com/articles/trade_show_contractor.html
Although this article is brief, it touches on some very important things. If you ever want to discuss more in depth feel free to email me exporich@gmail.com, or call 305-751-1234
Thank you,
Rich
Monday, August 3, 2009
Please be Green !
There are so many reasons to "Go Green". I feel that what ever reason you have is a good one as long as you do something. In case you have been living under a rock, here are some reasons.
Green Corner
Brought to you by the MBCC Sustainable Living Council
Green Tips:
5 MORE Reasons to Recycle
1. Preserves Landfill Space
No one wants to live next door to a landfill. It preserves existing landfill space.
2. Prevents Global Warming .
In 2000, recycling of solid waste prevented the release of 32.9 million metric tons of carbon equivalent (MMTCE, the unit of measure for greenhouse gases) into the air.
3. Reduces Water Pollution
Making goods from recycled materials generates far less water pollution than manufacturing from virgin materials.
4. Protects Wildlife
Using recycled materials reduces the need to damage forests, wetlands, rivers ~.,JI and other places essential to wildlife.
5. Creates New Demand
Recycling and buying recycled products creates demand for more recycled products, decreasing waste and helping our economy
Green Corner
Brought to you by the MBCC Sustainable Living Council
Green Tips:
5 MORE Reasons to Recycle
1. Preserves Landfill Space
No one wants to live next door to a landfill. It preserves existing landfill space.
2. Prevents Global Warming .
In 2000, recycling of solid waste prevented the release of 32.9 million metric tons of carbon equivalent (MMTCE, the unit of measure for greenhouse gases) into the air.
3. Reduces Water Pollution
Making goods from recycled materials generates far less water pollution than manufacturing from virgin materials.
4. Protects Wildlife
Using recycled materials reduces the need to damage forests, wetlands, rivers ~.,JI and other places essential to wildlife.
5. Creates New Demand
Recycling and buying recycled products creates demand for more recycled products, decreasing waste and helping our economy
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