What do you do when Apple won't appear at your trade show? One conference, Macworld/iWorld, chose to hire actors Ashton Kutcher and Josh Gad, who play Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak (respectively) in the forthcoming biopic "Jobs," instead.

Am I the only one who thinks it's a bit strange? After all, it's not like Kutcher or Gad has any insight into the Apple brand. (Or do they?)

Regardless, according to Macworld, the stars "will kick off next week’s Macworld/iWorld conference in San Francisco with a session in which they talk about portraying Apple’s two Steves." For hardcore Apple fanatics, the discussion could be really cool. But for the rest of us? Eh...

Apple hasn't made an appearance at Macworld/iWorld since 2009, and in its absence, the trade show has "expanded to include the iOS mobile operating system alongside the traditional sessions on Mac hardware and software," Macworld reports.

There will also be educational sessions, how-to presentations and an impressive expo hall with approximately 300 exhibitors and developers.

For the last couple of years, American Express has been the front-runner of boosting the local economy. They've created a shopping day that started off as a marketing ploy and became a day that has been supported by businesses big and small and government officials big and small.

Small Business Saturday has been on the Saturday between Black Friday and Cyber Monday for the last two years. With $5.5 billion spent in local businesses on that day alone, it might not be too long until this shopping holiday becomes a Federal holiday. 

Sadly, I wish there was more than just one day to get some great deals from small businesses. Luckily, for those close to Colby, Kansas, there is the Five Weeks to Christmas at Smoffee's. Smoffee's is a local coffee joint and bakery but is best known as an active member of the community. Each weekend since Thanksgiving and concluding with the weekend before Christmas (December 21-23) Smoffee's sets up space for local vendors to sell their items. Vendors will be on-site selling candy, candles, jewelry, electronics, ornaments, toys and much more.

The people at Smoffee's understand that it takes more than one day to build up the local economy. For more information on how you could see the local vendors or get in on the action selling your promotional items, please visit the Smoffee's website. 

From my experience with many promotional products trade shows, I feel that the display plays a very important role. Your trade show exhibit says alot about your company and how you choose to represent yourself. A great display represents cleanliness, knowledge and experience. In my opinion the display must captivate and engage the client to visit your booth. There are many creative and unique ways to set up a tradeshow display. Pop up booths, table top stands, banner stands, full floor kits, tents, and signs, these are just a few of the tradeshow materials that can greatly assist you with standing out in the crowd at a tradeshow. How do you want to portray your brand?

A deal struck earlier this week between the unions at McCormick Place and Navy Pier, two Chicago locations, will make it easier for trade shows to come to the windy city.

As of Tuesday, three trade shows, including a comics show and a book expo, have already committed to come through McCormick Place.  This is big news considering trade shows had almost completely backed out of Chicago all together.

"They had abandoned Chicago, basically, because they weren't getting the product they needed or the services they needed here," Jim Reilly, chief executive of the firm that owns McCormick Place and Navy Pier, told the Chicago Tribune.

The new agreement will allow for big clients like Microsoft to organize corporate gatherings in Chicago.  The Chicago Tribune explains: "...the labor break-through -- allowing stagehands, rather than show-floor electricians, to do audio-visual production work for presentations held outside the exhibit area -- should open the door to potential mega-clients..."

Hopefully the new work-rule will help bring in new business to Chicago soon!

When you think about which areas of the world are at the forefront of mobile technology, innovative app development, and the ever-expanding capabilities of cloud computing, places like California's Silicon Valley and New York City probably come to mind.  But the location of this year's Mobile World Congress, host to visionary keynotes, top-of-the-line product and service exhibits, and App Planet, the "center of the mobile apps universe," may surprise you.  

The mobile technology trade show, which began yesterday, February 27, 2012 and runs through Thursday, March 1, 2012, takes place in none other than Barcelona, Spain.  The Mobile World Congress' agenda reveals that the four-day event comprises seven keynote addresses, multiple educational seminars, and several networking opportunities.

But what attendees are undoubtedly most looking forward to are the phones and other mobile devices on display.  And, according to Fox News, the star players at this year's show are the super phones.  "At the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week, the annual coming out party for new mobile handsets, the trend is clear," Fox News reported.  "Rather than getting smaller, smartphones are getting bigger -- and more powerful."

The overwhelming presence of large and intelligent phones at this year's conference begs the question:  Are consumers really going to buy the bulky new cell phones?  Fox News reports that it's almost certain.  After all, the latest devices were designed with customer use in mind:

"Super phones are partly an acknowledgement of how people are using smart phones these days. They're making fewer voice calls and making more Facebook posts and text messages. Most people use apps for finding a restaurant, uploading a picture or checking in to a coffee shop rather than calling home."

And the response to the electronics industry trade show promos so far has been a positive one.  Guests at the conference are enjoying the products' faster processors and larger screens.

If you're not a fan of the expensive and brawny smartphones that are getting the most attention at this year's Mobile World Congress, don't worry; there are options for you, too.  Computer World reports that both Nokia and Intel are displaying "cheap smartphones" for those who refuse to pay for (or simply are not interested in) a quad-core processor and a huge screen.

Gaming enthusiasts are no doubt freaking out right about now, and not in a good way.  A couple of weeks ago, Microsoft (the creator of Xbox) announced that this will be its last year at the highly popular Consumer Electronics Show, where it's served as the event's "anchor company" for over a decade.  This week, Sony also revealed some disappointing information regarding its PlayStation gaming system.  

The Wall Street Journal reports that "Sony said it does not plan on making an announcement about a new home console at this year’s E3 videogame trade show, deflating expectation that a successor to its PlayStation 3 will be on its way soon."  Apparently, Sony asserts that the PS3 has a "10-year life cycle," meaning that gamers should not expect a new promo game console until 2016.

We're still weeks away from the January 10, 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), and yet it's been making headlines for months.  First, we learned that popular men's television channel Spike TV was named an official partner.  Then, we discovered that video game giant Nintendo is slated to make an appearance at the upcoming trade show.  Today's news, however, is not so positive.

The Washington Post reports that 2012 will be Microsoft's final year at CES.  Microsoft, which has been the show's "anchor company" for years, has decided to pull out after this year's show because "it no longer fits its needs and its timing does not always mesh with its product announcements."

Microsoft's announcement is a particularly huge blow because, according to Wired, the corporation has delivered the keynote at the event for 14 years.  It begs the question:  Now that Microsoft has decided to not appear after 2012, who will take over?  Some speculate that Samsung, which has a dominant seat in the world of Android, may be a good fit.

Others wonder if Amazon, Google or Apple may take over the keynote.

No matter what, the promotional electronics trade show will go on!  As Rotman Epps told Wired, "CES is bigger than Microsoft — it has become the most important place for partners in the tech ecosystem to connect and do business."

Back in October, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) chose Spike TV to be a partner for the January 2012 event.  Since then, other developments have surfaced.  One major announcement that was made today is that video game company Nintendo is scheduled appear at the trade show.

The gaming company released the following official statement: "Nintendo of America, working with the 2012 International CES management, will offer demos of the upcoming Wii U console to members of the media who did not see the system at the 2011 E3 Expo."  So while the Wii U is not necessarily brand new, for many people it will still be a first impression. 

However, the Wii U system was not exactly well-received at the 2011 E3 Expo.  According to TG Daily, "When the new console was unveiled, the company's stock price actually dropped, a phenomenon that is almost unheard of among the major game console companies."  What's Nintendo hoping will be different when it presents the promotional game at CES?

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata revealed in an interview that he wishes he had "shown a single picture of the new console, then started talking about the controller" at E3.  Perhaps Iwata will alter his presentation in order to appeal to attendees at CES.  Here's hoping for some new information on the Wii U!

Technology; it paves the road for our world's future.  That's why the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is one of the most highly anticipated events of the year.  At CES, attendees are guaranteed to "see where a single stroke of genius can change the course of tomorrow."

But the world of technology is also ruled by men.  Therefore, news of a partnership between the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and Spike TV for the CES was no big surprise.  After all, Spike TV is known for being "The First Network for Men."

However, the collaboration begs the question:  What role will Spike TV play at CES?  According to a Spike TV press release, the television channel will broadcast the tradeshow live.  But its presence goes beyond TV; Spike TV's press release reports that "Spike will also introduce 'CES All Access Live,' which will offer tech fans more than 12 hours of 2012 CES coverage across multiple platforms – TV, online, mobile, social and more."

Tech junkies all over America are no doubt celebrating the announcement of Spike TV's multi-platform initiative.  They'll get an inside look at all the most influential exhibitors and their electronic giveaways.  Indeed, Spike TV reports that "From whichever platform viewers choose to watch, Spike's 'CES All Access' will offer a first-hand look into the 2012 CES’ hottest items, from televisions to tablets, cell phones to cars and games to gadgets, as the team sifts through thousands of new products and analyzes the biggest trends, the best inventions and the most important new technologies of the future."  Few other trade shows offer such an interactive experience!

The event is scheduled for January 10 - 13, 2012 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.  If you can't make it, no worries; just tune into one of Spike TV's many broadcast platforms!

You've read several posts here at the Trade Shows Blog that make mention of Apple products.  From Nick's recent post stressing the importance of bringing your custom printed iPod accessories to the Pennsylvania Music Expo to Stacie's entry about apps that are built specifically for navigating through trade shows, it's clear that Apple has had a profound impact on the industry.  Therefore, it's not surprising that when the news of Apple's ex-CEO's death reached a popular trade show outside of Tokyo, attendees were stunned and upset. 

PCWorld reports that at Ceatec, the largest Japanese electronics trade show, big-name companies like Sony and Toshiba exhibited their sleek tablets, designed specifically to compete with the iPad.  It was difficult for trade show attendees to pass the rows of booths without thinking of Steve Jobs and his influence on the digital world.  "Jobs was really the one that had pulled the world along behind him in terms of computers and technology, and his death will rattle the tech world," second-year college student Kanae Tani told PCWorld.

Others took the news of Jobs' death more harshly.  One woman, who claims to have been an Apple fanatic since 1995, said she was shocked by the news.  "I knew this day would come, but I didn't know it would be today," Miyuki Noma told PCWorld.  "I've been crying since morning," she said.

Apple's mobile devices were the first foreign products of their kind to win over a large portion of Japanese consumers.  According to CNN, in May 2010, Apple had grabbed 72% of the nation's smartphone market.

Will Jobs' death impact American tech sales in Japan? Only time will tell as the world recovers from Jobs' untimely passing.