As mentioned earlier in the month, we made a trip out to the Javits Center for the ASI New York trade show. Besides getting a chance to see the renovations on the main building (which already show promising signs of new-age design and space management) it gave us a chance to see some new products available on the market. They are being added to our website on a daily basis but I'd like to point out some of my favorites and what makes them so great.

Telescopic Flashlight - 3 LED

As part of my spring cleaning ritual, I cleaned every part of my house over the weekend. I enjoy the idea of having a super-clean house but don't look forward to the bending and reaching involved in cleaning behind the couch, under the bed, etc. I blindly vacuum under the couch and bed sometimes only to run the risk of damaging my vacuum with small bits of metal like coins and nails/screws. (yes, there are more nails/screws than I'd like there to be) This product makes this task much easier to clean these items up,especially for those who have disabilities or injuries. This piece has a telescopic handle that is magnetic to pick up small metal items and works great in tight-quarters. To confirm that everything is picked up, use the flashlight - the 3 LED lights are great for emergency use too.

Rolly Guy Bottle Opener

Just as I start to relax with a bottle of soda, sparking water or beer, I find that I need a bottle opener. I get up to rummage through my drawers of miscellaneous kitchen junk to find it always at the bottom and dangerously close to knives and pizza cutters. So I brought home the Rolly Guy Bottle Opener and leave it out on the table. It wobbles around when poked, making it a fun conversation piece and its shape/design is meant to be left out. Your imprint can be located on the "guys chest" - guaranteed to be seen by anyone who sits down at the table. 

Travel Toothpick Dispenser

There are two unenjoyable things about going to the movies. The first is the prices but that can be overlooked with a great movie. The second is when popcorn gets caught in the back of the throat and in teeth. We spend the rest of the movie (and rest of the day) with fingers in our mouth and tonguing kernels in our teeth until it comes out. I never have toothpicks on me but I know the Travel Toothpick Dispenser is the perfect way to solve this problem. It includes room for 12 toothpicks and comes in a futuristic plastic case. I can see restaurants having this in the near future. (and hopefully, movie theatres too)

Zoom Energy Bar Pro

High-tech gadget giveaways are becoming huge and it makes sense. If given a gift basket or the Zoom Energy Bar Pro, I would get more use out of (and thus, pay closer attention to) the Zoom Energy Bar Pro. This portable electronics battery is really tiny, measuring less than 3" x 2" x 2" and with 8,400mAh capacity, can charge many electronics close to 100% and even have room leftover for other charges. It looks stellar in white and comes in super low minimums (starting at 6) for giving out to a select few. 

So why mention all of these products? These products and several others not mentioned were discovered by attending a trade show and being active.

It pays to pay attention at industry trade shows. 

In today's "bigger is better" world, you might feel like your small exhibit might not stand out at that upcoming trade show. But fear not! There are ways to shine, even if your booth isn't humungous.

Let's go over some tips from Exhibitor Online:

Bring lighting

Did you know that you can rent portable lights to brighten up your trade show space? Industry research reveeals that proper lighting can improve booth visibility by up to 50 percent!

Avoid clutter

You might be tempted to display as many products as possible. But heed caution: Showing off too many items can come across as crowded and messy. Instead, choose a few favorites that are more likely to draw people in.

Be bold

Using colors that catch the eye from a distance is imperative at a trade show. Be sure to decorate with colors that pop against the background.

Use quality trade show displays 

Graphics at your trade show booth should be large enough to see from in front of your booth. Avoid using small text that cannot be read by visitors.

I came across a funny article on Tradeshow News Network. The article, entitled "16 Embarrassing Signs You Need A New Trade Show Display," listed many humorous behaviors and visuals that hint that one's displays might be from a different decade or century altogether. 

The reasons, which include everything from "Your booth staffers wear bags over their heads." to "Your trade show exhibit uses more duct tape than MacGyver." are meant to be used satirically. But with kidding aside, many people think that a trade show booth is a life-long investment when purchased once. While companies in specific industries can have a tradeshow last a lifetime (with the right design and care) many companies still feature outdated information, text or designs. If you prop your trade show booth next to a modern looking one, it is evident to the consumer and client who is taking care of their image.

Replacing your trade show exhibit on a regular basis (every few years or so) tells the consumer and client that you are forward thinking and that you think highly of your outward image. 

If this article of the article on the Trade Show News Network has you scratching your head thinking of the condition of the trade show exhibit in storage, you may want to start looking into another. Luckily, Motivators has custom Trade Show Packages. These packages include imprinting on all pieces and have one thing in common: to make your company stand out. 

If you just need to replace part of your booth, there are items from displays to heavy-duty clips to help repair or improve your exhibit. 

Impressive trade show booths do not have to be big, clunky and expensive pieces that require a crew to transport. In fact, you can give the illusion of a large, fancy booth display with something as simple as signage. That's right! For your next trade show try setting up a series of retractors that appear as one cohesive sign like this:

Retractors are highly portable, lightweight and (best of all) inexpensive! So what do you think? Would you give them a try?

Did you know that trade shows reportedly create 600,000 tons of waste every year?

Expo Web reported that the combination of banners, booklets and more make the convention industry the second most wasteful. More than 1 billion lbs. of waste is generated from the 60 million people who visit trade fairs each year. If you're alarmed by these numbers, you should be. Here are three ways to help reduce the rubbish:

1. Do Things Digitally
   
   Why hand out flyers when you could instead pass out promotional flash drives that contain your marketing materials? Not only do digital versions save paper, but your imprinted product will help boost your brand well after the trade show's over. QR code technology can also help.
   
   
2. Use Eco-Friendly Products
   
   These days, you can find eco-friendly everything -- from cups and cutlery to bags and giveaways. When shopping for items to be used at your trade show, consciously look for ones that made from recycled or biodegradable materials.
   
   
   

   

   
   
   
3. Make Recycling Easy
   
   This is really as easy as setting up waste bins throughout your trade show floor. Creating color-coded bins is a great way to distinguish between different types of waste, like cans and paper.

 Making trade shows greener isn't as hard as it seems. Follow these three steps and together we can help reduce the waste this industry produces.

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?

Transit isn't the name of a mass-transportation telecommunication meeting of the minds or an aviation industry tradeshow. Instead, fans of America's Next Top Model and Project Runway will be the ones flocking to Transit.

Transit is a mid-week celebration of the trendy shoe. Deemed "...LA's only dedicated footwear trade event..." it is Transit that is the West Coast equivalent to heavily influential east coast shows like Accessories Circuit and the women's equivalent of MRKET - both taking place this year at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.

Shoes are a women's best friend and seeing as Los Angeles is a major fashion-forward city in the USA, this tradeshow is bound to be visited by locals and international travelers alike, looking for the hottest fashions to come out during the holiday season and even for a sneak-peek into what may be expected for early 2013. 

Although the show takes place in just over two weeks, registration is still open and an opportunity to build up your tradeshow booth is still within reach. Simply visit the Motivators website and purchase a custom imprinted Tradeshow Package. 

So be sure to be in the LA area between August 6 and August 8. More information can be found on the Transit official website. 

You can staff your trade show booth with your finest employees and distribute the best trade show giveaways, but if your display is awful nobody will visit you.  That's why American Image Displays has been providing trade show displays for more than 25 years, specializing in everything from table tops to accessories.

American Image Displays announced today that to help your brand get noticed over the next few months, it's launched a summer sale.  Products like the Xpressions Lightbox and the Connex Xpressions Snap display will wow your target audience and get them over to your booth.

Most exciting are American Image Displays' new trade show kiosks which are designed to hold iPads safely and securely throughout the show.  This makes it easier to showcase product demos and videos.  What an awesome way to incorporate current technology!

Check out www.American-Image.com for more exciting, new products.

If there's one really awful trade show strategy, it's this:  Trying to exhibit at as many as possible. The truth is not all shows are suited for your company or organization, so outdoing your competition will only end up costing you more money.

To avoid this common pitfall, it's important to focus on high-quality conventions that will get you maximum exposure. But how do you find the best trade fairs in the country? The Trade Show News Network (TSNN) unveiled its list of the 2011 TSNN Top 250 Trade Shows in the United States yesterday. Shows were ranked by net square footage. Let's take a look at the top three events:

1. CONEXPO-CON/AGG
   
   The Las Vegas, Nevada trade show brings together professionals within the construction industry to take a look at equipment, technologies and services. Over 86,000 people attended the 2011 show.
   
   
2. International CES
   
   Our world is becoming increasingly focused on technology, so it's no surprise that the International CES made TSNN's list. The event is the top technology tradeshow worldwide, and attendees get a first-hand look at new technologies and innovations.
   
   

   

   
   
   
3. The January Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market
   
   According to TSNN, "AmericasMart encloses 7,053,000 square feet of space housing 4,500,000 square feet of product, which takes center stage as the chief attraction for retailers from every U.S. state and more than 80 countries worldwide attending its 13 annual markets."  The trade fair focuses on a variety of products from gifts and home furnishings to fashion and apparel.

For a look at TSNN's full list of top 2011 trade shows, click here. And remember, more is not always better! Focus on high quality shows and your target demographic to really make a difference for your company or organization.

While trade shows are very beneficial to those who do attend, many avoid conferences and tradeshows during the weekend. A weekend is an opportunity to rest up from the work-week, not a continuation of the already hectic work-week. Work-week tradeshows and conferences are hard to come by.

Those who are in the electronics industry and seeking such a tradeshow that doesn't interfere with the work-week or the sought-after weekend should check out the Del Mar Electronics Show. The Del Mar Electronics Show takes place May 2nd and May 3rd at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. This is a great way to meet like-minded people in the electronics industry while taking part in seminars and visiting world-reknowned exhibitors - including 3M, Duracell and Nemco USA. 

With less than a month until the Del Mar Electronics Show, now is the perfect time to pick out an exhibitor's space and to pick out promotional tradeshow items adorned with your logo.