Moss Moves

Moss Inc. has moved its corporate headquarters from Lincolnwood, IL to an expanded office in Elk Grove Village, a suburb west of downtown Chicago and adjacent to O’Hare International Airport.

The new facility, featuring 105,000 square feet of manufacturing space, was specifically designed for the production of tensioned fabric structures, using lean manufacturing techniques for improved efficiency.  The new plant also includes a number of sustainable design initiatives, including energy efficient lighting.

“The expanded Elk Grove facility accommodates the company’s continued growth as well as its efforts to become more efficient and cost competitive”, says Charlie Corsentino, Chairman, President, & CEO of Moss.

The new manufacturing facility includes a state-of-the-art, climate controlled printing department designed to produce Moss’ industry-leading Photo Fabric graphics. The facility also includes a metal, machine, and welding shop for manufacturing frames and creating custom connections. The stitching department in Elk Grove has been designed to maximize Moss’ computer aided patterning and automated cutting processes.  The new plant also includes a large set up area for quality control and packing.  The Elk Grove facility will also serve as Moss’ Midwest rental depot.

For more information visit www.mossinc.com.

“As part of the alliance, EDGE and APCO are taking sponsorships to the next level by providing free standing, ECO-Friendly Kiosk units,” explains Jeff Nussdorf, President of EDGE Media Group. These innovative units will be strategically located in high-traffic areas of an event or exhibition. In turn, exhibitors will have the opportunity to present their products and services in a dynamic eye-catching manner, immediately grabbing the attention of the viewer, while driving traffic to the sponsor’s booth.

The 3D Autostereoscopic media technology displays three-dimensional images without the use of typical 3D glasses or any other type of headgear. “In other words, this technology produces a depth perception in the viewer – even though the image is produced by using a flat LCD device,” explains JC Diaz, President of APCO AUDIO VISUAL INC.

Moreover, APCO can take a company’s existing 2D video, PowerPoint or other digital media presentations and add dynamic 3D Autostereoscopic templates to them. APCO can also create completely new 3D content.

Sponsorships at Trade Shows are one of the fastest growing marketing techniques; thus, these sponsorships provide a competitive edge for Exhibitors who choose to take advantage of them. After all, these sponsorships can increase an exhibiting company’s visual recognition, booth traffic, and overall awareness – as well as provide the ability to quantify ROI.

For more information, visit www.edgemediagroup.com or www.apcoav.com.

DisplaysExhibits.com

We just heard about DisplaysExhibits.com, a new internet site that is combining creative exhibit designs with affordable pricing and promoting its knowledgeable customer support.

Featuring QuickTruss® and accessories by Milos Structural Systems, the new web store offers complete truss exhibit kits of all sizes and for almost any budget. 

Designed for quick navigation, the site provides exhibit designs categorized by booth size, truss size, or overall popularity. Easily find technical specifications for each exhibit display, including sizing, self weight and loading data. All designs can be viewed in large 3D view, with or without graphics, and in plan view.

All designs feature modular components, so set-up and tear-down is fast, and pieces can be easily reconfigured for different trade shows or for future growth.

DisplaysExhibits.com also offers single lengths of truss, junctions, clamps, clips, lighting, and other accessories and they are also offering a 10% discount off any purchase made in the month of July. All featured exhibit display kits are available for immediate shipment.

For additional information visit www.DisplaysExhibits.com.

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The Expo Group is now accepting nominations for its 2009 Show Manager of the Year (SMOTY) Awards program, which honors the most innovative and hardworking show managers in the industry. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the SMOTY Awards and the first year the event has been in Houston.

“We started this awards program 10 years ago to bring attention to show managers in our industry who were really making a difference. I suspect this year more than ever before the nominees will have demonstrated leadership, tenacity and perseverance,” says The Expo Group President and CEO Ray Pekowski. “This is a special year for the awards not only because of the 10th anniversary but also because of these unprecedented economic challenges in our industry.”

Anyone is welcome to submit a nomination. It’s easy to do online at www.theexpogroup.com/smoty. Nominees need not be clients of The Expo Group and are not solicited based on their nomination. Nominations are judged by an independent panel of industry publishers and noted tradeshow mentors.

“I personally am eager to hear about the accomplishments of the show managers nominated,” Pekowski says. ”Visit the SMOTY website to see how winning a SMOTY award has impacted one previous winner and learn who already has this prestigious trophy on their desk.”

The 2009 SMOTY winners will be flown to Houston for the Nov. 12 gala dinner. Honorees will receive the crystal obelisk trophy, industry-wide recognition and a $1,000 donation to the charity or educational institution of their choice.

Questions about The Expo Group SMOTY awards program can be directed to Lisa Cleveland of The Expo Group at 972-751-9636 or visit www.theexpogroup.com/smoty/faq.asp.

The Winner

To help launch its largest batch of new displays in its 29-year history, Skyline just completed a contest to pick their best new product by offering a free new display.

During April and May 2009, exhibitors were directed to an online contest page to choose their favorite new Skyline trade show display products.  The “voter turnout” was substantial, with 890 people judging the 6 new Skyline products.

The Mirage Backlit Display received the most votes for the Best New Skyline Product, and Dan Graham of Spintek USA, Inc. won a free display of his choice from among the 6 new Skyline products in the contest. Dan’s bottom line just got a nice little bump.

To see more information on the top 3 winners, and all Skyline’s new products, go to: www.skyline.com/new-products.

Recently announced figures for both GIBTM and AIME, on the back of record EIBTM numbers, show the importance the industry is placing on RTE events and their brand values of best business, best professional education, best networking opportunities and Hosted Buyer Programs, delivering quality business enquiries and return on investment according to Reed.

Reed’s flagship event EIBTM has seen total attendance increase by over 31% since 2006, reaching 8,131. Hosted Buyers were up 12% to 3,725, with a 29% increase over 2007 in pre-scheduled appointments, which topped 51,000. Additionally, over 2,600 delegates participated in the education programme – 30% up on 2007.

The event attracted 75 new exhibitors; 54 exhibitors took increased stand space and a total of 138 group co-ordinators attended.

GITBM in Abu Dhabi equally, has seen a substantial growth of 56% since its launch in 2007, attracting a visitor attendance – visitors and Hosted Buyers – of 1,693, up nearly 15% on 2008. A further 158 attended as media or speakers. This made GIBTM 2009 the largest ever gathering of meeting professionals in the Gulf.

AIME 2009, in Australia, also bucked the current climate increasing its total attendance by 10% on the previous year with a total of 3,581. Over a three year period the event has grown by over 35%.

For further information on EIBTM visit www.eibtm.com ; for GIBTM on www.gibtm.com ; for CIBTM on www.cibtm.com and for AIME on www.aime.com.au.

White Paper

For the first time ever, marketers must simultaneously consider five generations of consumers and rapidly evolving communication platforms. To help marketers navigate a complex marketplace, MC² has released Generational Marketing Balancing Act, a white paper that explores how each generation responds to an ever-changing media landscape and the digital marketing options that make sense for each audience. 

Written to help marketers assess the effectiveness—rather than jumping into—the latest technology, the white paper synthesizes current trends and statistics from more than 25 sources including surveys, reports and articles released since October 2008.

Sponsored by MC², Generational Marketing Balancing Act can be found in BtoB Online’s  whitepaper resources through the month of May.

Capitalizing

Capitalizing (yes, capitalizing… get it?) on the buzz factor since Barack Obama took the oath of office, Destination DC, the official convention and tourism corporation for the nation’s capital, and the Walter E. Washington Convention Center have teamed up to court qualifying citywide meetings with an offer inspired by the 44th President of the United States.

“We’ve seen more interest in Washington, DC since the new administration arrived,” said Elliott Ferguson, senior vice president, Convention Sales and Services, Destination DC. “With this incentive package, we’re giving our customers a way to bring some of that excitement to their delegates while taking advantage of a great deal.” 

The value-driven package serves up a slate of “44”-inspired incentives designed to motivate meeting planners to book more business in the nation’s capital.

“Travel and tourism are immensely important especially during a struggling economy.  We have a strong commitment to working with our partners at Destination DC and the city’s hotel community to create attractive short-term incentives to increase booking meetings in the nation’s capital,” said Gregory A. O’Dell, CEO and general manager, Washington Convention Center Authority.

Planners who qualify for DC’s Obama-inspired meetings package by booking a meeting with 1,000 room nights or more on peak between May 2009 and March 2010 can take advantage of powerful values, including:

• 44% off convention center rental fees;
• A 44-minute reception with 44-cent beer and wine;
• 44 meal options priced at $44 each;
• 44 free tabletop exhibits;
• A free drawing for an 8×10 classic DC image at 4:44 PM daily;
• A $44 rental fee when you book multiple qualifying meetings within 18 months.

The Destination DC and Walter E. Washington Convention Center sales teams promoted the “44” package directly to local, regional and national clients during a May 14th telephone sales blitz at the Convention Center. Promotional efforts will continue at upcoming tradeshows, sales calls and events.

The direct sales effort will also highlight hotel-specific offers available to qualifying customers at 36 DC-area properties, including:

• Waived attrition
• 1 comp room per 35 rooms booked
• Free Internet within the planner’s room block
• 15% off audio visual services
• 10% off the group’s food & beverage tab
• 10% off of attendee-related personal expenses (in-room dining, restaurant dining, spa services, business center, parking)

But wait… there’s more at destinationdc.com/powersavings.

New Business!

The sixth-largest medical show in the United States, Society for Neuroscience, has chosen The Expo Group to provide general contracting services and its patented Single Source Solution® for the Society’s 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 annual meetings.

“We have developed a number of technology-related products and services for our show organizer clients to assist them with the day-to-day task of running a major convention,” says The Expo Group President and CEO Ray Pekowski. “The SfN team is a forward-thinking group that understands the value of our service and appreciates how that translates into making exhibiting at their meeting so much easier than at other meetings.” 

Through The Expo Group, SfN will be able to offer their exhibitors the company’s Single Source® process for ordering all services they need to exhibit. They won’t have to deal with multiple vendors and web sites. This change from the status quo means exhibitors will have an easier time coordinating their logistics, saving everyone time and money.

The Expo Group will begin providing their  services at Neuroscience 2009 from Oct. 17-21, in Chicago, Ill. The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) is a nonprofit membership organization of scientists and physicians who study the brain and nervous system. SfN is the world’s largest organization of scientists and physicians devoted to advancing understanding of the brain and nervous system with almost 40,000 members.

For more info, visit www.theexpogroup.com.

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H+A International (H+A), a marketing communications firm specializing in trade show promotions, has added several website enhancements and updates including new video capabilities as well as multi-media case histories incorporating interactive games, animated e-mails and videos. These website enhancements will also serve to support the company’s expanded SEO efforts.

“Our improved website truly showcases our special capabilities in tradeshow marketing,” said H+A International CEO Roger Halligan. “The success stories and videos we added to the site illustrate our track record of helping tradeshows drive attendance, increase their exhibitor base, and turn their shows into events.”

H+A International currently works with several market-leading show organizers worldwide on a variety of top tradeshow events including the Craft & Hobby Association Convention & Trade Shows, International Home + Housewares Show, AHR Expo, CHEM Show and CMM International.

For more information, visit www.h-a-intl.com.