It was a productive couple of days.

EXHIBITORLIVE is an annual conference, and this year it was held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, February 25 through March 1. More than 5,000 trade show and corporate event professionals attended the event.

The big news to come out of the show:  The Trade Group was selected as one of the top 40 exhibit producers in the United States and Canada by Exhibitor Media Group (an award-winning monthly magazine featuring best practices in trade show marketing – and host of the event) and Find It – Marketplace (a buyer’s guide for trade show products and services).

“The Find It – Top 40 represents the most exclusive list of U.S. and Canadian exhibit providers in the industry and serves as the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval when it comes to the companies behind many of the most successful trade show stands in the world,” Randy Acker, President and Chief Operating Officer of Exhibitor Media Group, is quoted as saying in an article about the award. “This program is intended to spotlight the best exhibit producers in the industry, while also providing a valuable resource for exhibit managers searching for new potential partners.”

“The application process was pretty intense,” said Stephanie Chavez, Marketing Director for The Trade Group. “There were well over 100 exhibit houses that applied for this award. All of the companies that made it are very deserving. To be included as part of this list is a great honor.”

More than 50 individual criteria were evaluated for this intensive and thorough vetting process in five distinct categories:

• Company and Capabilities
• Honors and Awards
• Thought Leadership and Industry Participation
• Reliability and Service
• Creativity and Key Differentiators

“The competition for a spot on the 2018 Find It – Top 40 list was extremely competitive,” said Travis Stanton, Editor of EXHIBITOR Magazine. “After evaluating dozens of criteria and totaling the scores, less than a single point separated several firms from making the cut. That’s a testament to not only how well this industry is served, but also the significance of this accomplishment for the 40 companies who qualified.”

During the evaluation process, EXHIBITOR surveyed each applicant’s current clients and considered past projects, selling points, and innovations. The review process also evaluated the companies’ and their employees’ commitment to the industry, in areas such as ongoing education. Which is why we were pleased to highlight our Marketing Director, Stephanie Chavez, who is in the midst of achieving her CTSM (Certified Trade Show Marketer), the industry’s only university-affiliated certification program. This two- to three-year certification process covers a comprehensive set of knowledge and skills for trade show and corporate event marketers.

“To be recognized by EXHIBITOR as one of the best of the best in our industry is a huge honor for us,” said Chris Stone, President and CEO of The Trade Group. “Everyone on our team works tirelessly to create the innovative exhibit and live-event solutions our clients have come to expect.”

Receiving the Top 40 award wasn’t the only highlight of EXHIBITORLIVE for The Trade Group. We also made our presence known on the show floor. The centerpiece of our attendance was a custom exhibit featuring three tall light boxes, our Digital Display Blocks, and our Chiosco Vertical Touchscreen Kiosk.

“We knew we had a hit when we received so many positive comments on the display,” said Chavez. “People kept coming by throughout the show – some of them our direct competitors – complementing the booth and its design. The response was so positive that we have decided to create a METALLI® kit (our line of modular displays, which includes over 20 ready-made design options) from this design. So, look for the new METALLI Vienna available for sale and as a rental later this year.”

A major feature of the display was our Chiosco Vertical Touchscreen Kiosk. We used the kiosk to highlight various examples of our design and fabrication abilities for exhibits, events, environments, and experiences. As impressed as attendees were with the on-demand and on-screen presentations and videos, they were equally impressed with the medium used to deliver them. The Chiosco Vertical Touchscreen Kiosk is a sleek and engaging 55-inch screen that’s ideal for attracting a crowd. We received plenty of inquiries about renting the device. Good news: we do.

Additionally, the display grabbed attention with our Digital Display Blocks. These modular displays really make an impression because they are easy to set up (no special rigging is required) and can be programed to play a single video or several individual ones. This means any size or shape is possible and, thanks to DLP® projection and LED technology, the superior image and stunning colors makes your content shine.

We also had our last three Exhibitor Awards on display. Anyone who wanted to learn more about the reasons we received these awards just had to pick up the nearby iPad containing video case studies for each.

The Trade Group had a fruitful showing at this year’s EXHIBITORLIVE, and we’re already looking forward to the 2019 show – where we intend to make the Top 40 list again.

To learn more about any of the products we mentioned here, or to discover how we can bring your next exhibit to life, give us a call at 800-343-2005.

The post The Trade Group hit the show floor at EXHIBITORLIVE – and walked away with a prestigious award while creating a new product. appeared first on The Tradegroup.