Click to Enlarge!

Sometimes (the more the better) you need to point out the good stuff and make sure people know about it. For instance, during our regular strategery planning meeting this morning we noticed that Tradeshow Blues was outpositioning such notables in the field as Tradeshow Week and Tradeshow Executive magazines’ websites on basic search terms like… uh… say, “trade show” or “tradeshow”… to name a couple.

Now, to subtly prove our point, just click the image on the left to see a  larger view of a Google search from today (July 24, 2009). Of course you can do this yourself as many ways as you like… but this is more dramatic. And of course… we like drama!

Let’s face it folks, Tradeshow Blues not only rocks…  it ranks.

What do you want to do now? (answer here)

Experient has just informed us (in the middle of the night no less) that they have added four sales representatives to the Exp (BDS) known as Experient National Account Managers (ENAMs) located in primary customer markets throughout the United States and Canada.

The newest ENAMs joining the ESN are Jeanne Feuille, CMP, Kirstie Maynard, Richard Simpson and Janice Stillings.

Continue reading: Experient Independent Sales Team Expands »

WTF? (click for big)

Tradeshow Blues was off the air for a few days over the holidays as a result of some DNS issues surrounding our transfer of the original domain. Fortunately this anomaly occurred during a relatively slow news period before and during the 4th of July holiday.

Obviously we hate when this happens, but the good news is that all is well… and all is Wall.

We now resume our regularly scheduled programming as we join Days of Our Times already in progress.

A few days ago, Tim Patterson, a long-time radio personality now focused on the tradeshow and exhibit industry interviewed Tradeshow Blues founder, Jeffrey D Brown. This is Brown’s first in-depth interview since relaunching TSB in March. Take a listen here…

Play Interview Now >>

CEIR Predicts

The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) just announced that data collected for the annual CEIR Index report for the first quarter of 2009 reveals that the exhibition industry experienced an overall decline of 11.6 percent when compared to the same quarter of the previous year, before any widespread industry downturn had begun. Year-over-year contraction of the exhibition industry is directly linked to the continuing recession. Further declines are likely throughout the first half of 2009.

The 6th Edition CEIR Index, released in early April, reported that the National Association of Business Economists predicts that the U.S. economy will recover during the second half of 2009, with the GDP beginning to grow again at that point at an annualized rate of 1.6 percent.

More at www.ceir.org.

We are very pleased to announce this morning that we have just completed the installation of our Intense Debate system on Tradeshow Blues.

Join the Conversation on TSB

Now, nearly every article on TSB provides the Intense Debate follow-up commenting and interaction facility.

Our Intense Debate installation is simple, elegant and highly functional. It’s great for basic, short comments… or complex threaded discussions. You can even create a poll on the fly (which is not the same as a fly on the pole) or embed a YouTube video to add some visual stimulation to the discussion. And there’s even more to come.

Continue reading: TSB Adds Intense Debate »

Feeling a little blue?

Feeling a little blue about the possibility of say… a worldwide flu pandemic… with millions of people walking around in face masks. Obviously the worst case scenario is a serious matter so we thought it might make sense to pass along this information that IAEE and Freeman put out a few years ago when we had the bird flu scare.

Freeman and IAEE issued Business Continuity Planning Guidelines for Pandemic Influenza that is probably as relevant today as it was in 2006 when they were issued.

Download it here >>

In an effort to attach more personality and less… uh… email… here’s a little screen video produced by TSB founder and publisher, Jeffrey D Brown. It’s mostly audio voice-over with beautiful scenic views  of stuff you may have never seen before… but should.

The BluesLetter is Back

The first Tradeshow BluesLetter in many (like 4 or 5)  years went through the pipes yesterday and received an absolutely incredible  response.

We heard from so many people with “welcome back” messages like… “Welcome back” and “Glad you’re back” and “We’ve got your back.” It’s very gravitating and we really appreciate it.

In case you’re not a subscriber (and you can be using the form on the right sidebar) you can read it right over here.

For those of you who are attending the Exhibitor Show in Las Vegas, we encourage you to be on the lookout for Tradeshow Blues. Look to the left, look to right… stand up, sit down… have a good night. By the way, if you find Tradeshow Blues, please do let us know immediately with an email, phone call or telegram. You will be eligible for something special.

For those who are eagerly anticipating the full relaunch of Tradeshow Blues 2009… we have indeed set the date… March 31, 2009… give or take a day or two. It’s not like it’s going to magically appear or something… we’re already here. But the big industrial application of the unique concept that is Tradeshow Blues will be apparent then. Stay tuned.

IT’S BEEN A WHILE… some of you will remember us (with a smile we hope)… for others you may be wondering what it is. Tradeshow Blues emerged in the spring of 2002 during another difficult period, that one following the 911 tragedy. Things weren’t too good then either.

Marble Always Knew Best

We showed up just in the nick of time with an optimistic attitude and a mission that said there was no requirement to be serious, only responsible… and from there, we proceeded to shake things up, question the conventional and have a few laughs.

So… here we are again. The economy stinks. People have lost jobs. We’re all wondering when we’ll recover and will we make it until then. To ponder these issues with a positive attitude, a smile or two, a little historical significance and an off-beat look at the world of Tradeshow Enthusiasts... we give you the next generation… Tradeshow Blues 2009.

In the days and weeks to come (which will turn into months, quarters, years, decades and centuries), we’ll be adding to the fun… as well as thought-provoking content and commentary you should only expect from Tradeshow Blues.