Inline...Online...

Mitsubishi Electric Automation at InterSolar North America 2011

2011-08-31T15:45:00.000-07:00

During the second week of July in San Francisco, the largest semiconductor tradeshow in the United States is held at the Moscone Center. A few years ago, the InterSolar North America tradeshow was produced and ran in conjunction with SEMICON. Over the years, InterSolar has grown to become an extremely large event with many programs and participants for the Solar industry.

For this years show, we worked with Mitsubishi Electric Automation of the Illinois office and helped provide a custom rental booth option. The exhibitor wanted to be budget conscience and looked to work with us as we are located in the same area as InterSolar was being held. This right off the bat cut down on transportation costs and additional out of town expenses in working with a provider that is not local or in the region. provide them a custom rental booth structure and elements. The

We provided a custom rental booth for a 20' x 40' space with fluid elements that could be configured to the exhibitor's liking. Certain structural elements were standard and allowed for branding, graphics, and demonstration areas. Other elements were custom designed to specifically display the exhibitor's products and services.

The demo areas were designed to highlight products and provide a quick overview of the station. In addition to value statements listed on graphics, QR codes were available for viewers to scan for additional information. User interaction was an important part of the development of these areas.

We implemented other strategies to help keep the budget on track and provide value added elements for a successful event for Mitsubishi Electric Automation.

Be sure to visit our Portfolio for additional details and photos from the show as well as other projects we have worked on.

Promotional items for Mitsubishi Electric Automation

2011-08-17T12:25:00.000-07:00

Last month in San Francisco was the annual SEMICON West and InterSolar North America shows at Moscone Center and we worked with a company based in Japan on their promotional mailers for a private event. Mitsubishi Electric Automation's US office out of Illinois asked us to assist them in designing and producing postcard mailers to help promote their private event that was held the week of the events at Moscone. This event was co-hosted by another client of ours, Owens Design.

The mailers were 4"x6" and designed to be easily carried. Mitsubishi Electric Automation asked us to design their card to be similar to the Owens Design card to keep continuity and recognition. We changed color elements, logos, and information to reflect the brand and company but used the same layout as the Owens Design card.

In addition to the print mailers, we were also tasked in converting the physical version into an electronic version. The original elements from the print mailers were used to create the electronic version but laid out to flow cleanly on an email blast. Again, we kept the same elements of the electronic version for continuity.

Promotional items such as direct mailers and email blasts are a great way to extend your marketing efforts and programs. They can extend your reach and sales efforts at a minimal cost. For Mitsubishi Electric Automation, the email blast was important to them for direct contact to their clients and potential customers.

Be sure to visit our Portfolio to view other projects and see how we can help Enhance Your Results too!

Promotional items for Owens Design

2011-08-01T14:13:00.000-07:00

Last month in San Francisco was the annual SEMICON West and InterSolar North America shows at Moscone Center and we worked with a local company to help promote their private event. Owens Design asked us to assist them in designing and producing postcard mailers to help promote their private event that was held the week of the events at Moscone.

The mailers were 4"x6" and designed to be easily carried. Owens Design had certain criteria that needed to be presented on the mailers and we enhanced those elements to make it stand out. We also assisted in the mail management for Owens Design.

Promotional items such as direct mailers and email blasts are a great way to extend your marketing efforts and programs. For Owens Design, this was a great way to reach their existing and potential customers.

Be sure to visit our Portfolio to view other projects and see how we can help Enhance Your Results too!

A New Project With The San Mateo Credit Union

2011-07-25T11:09:00.000-07:00

We recently wrapped up a project with the San Mateo Credit Union in which we provided them with new promotional items. These items were table throws in various colors that would be used at various marketing functions, promotional events, and internal events. These throws are a great addition to your table that will add some pop and color as well as help with brand recognition.

"I was so pleasantly surprised with the service and quality that Inline Connection provided. I have worked with many companies over the years to purchase Marketing materials and Inline has been one of the best that I have ever worked with. They were able to provide me with great information and a quote within a timely manner and the quality of their output was outstanding. It's also nice to know they they are a supporter of the community and local Chamber of Commerce. Just an added plus! We will definitely use them again." Michele Enriquez-Da Silva, Business Development Officer, San Mateo Credit Union.

You can choose from various colors and layout options to suite your needs. They are affordable, easy to use, portable, and stylish. Be sure to see the other colors that SMCU chose by viewing our Portfolio and check out our other projects.

The 6th Annual San Bruno Showcase of Businesses

2011-03-29T22:01:00.000-07:00

On April 2nd between 11am and 3pm, the San Bruno Chamber of Commerce is hosting the 6th Annual Showcase of Businesses at the Tanforan Mall. Inline Connection will be one of the many local businesses with a table that day to show you some of the projects we have worked on and how we can help you and/or your business.

Come visit us and other local businesses and discover new services and products. Be sure to stop by our table and mention this post and get a free gift as well. Details regarding the event can be found here. We hope to see you this Saturday!

Smart Marketing Is The Key to Business Success

2011-03-09T11:15:00.000-08:00

The first quarter of the year is about to come to a close and we have been working on a few projects. One of those projects is an upcoming seminar that we will be a part of on March 22nd. Hosted by three local Chamber of Commerces: The San Bruno Chamber of Commerce, the South San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, and the Brisbane Chamber of Commerce.

We will be part of a 3 speaker panel that will discuss various marketing techniques, tactics, and solutions to help you further your business reach. Social media, direct marketing, and more will be discussed to help individuals and businesses. The event will be held at the Radisson Hotel at 500 Sierra Point Parkway in Brisbane. Lunch is provided with your $30 fee and you can download the flyer here. Seats are limited so try and sign up as soon as possible. We hope to see you there!

Closing Out 2010

2010-12-29T11:30:00.000-08:00

2010 has certainly been an interesting year for everyone. With the show and event industry having a slight upswing, clients able and willing to spend a bit more funds with their suppliers and vendors, and the global economy coming back up a bit we as a company are going to finish off the year strong.

We wanted to share with you all our last project for 2010 which is a portable banner stand for Oncology Rehab Partners. We had originally designed a portable pop up booth and banner stand for the company last year and this banner stand is the second in the series of promotional products for them. This new banner highlights and promotes their new service/product line and will allow the company to bring the information directly to their perspective clients. Be sure to check out the banner on our Portfolio page of our website.

A portable banner stand is a great way to highlight your products, services, tell your story, and have an economical solution to do all this. They are lightweight, easy to carry, can be brought onto an airplane as a carry on, and affordable. If you are looking for a solution like ONCR for 2011 or beyond, let us know, as we are here to help you.

Have a great New Year, see you in 2011!

Portfolio Updates

2010-12-06T11:07:00.000-08:00

We've got a few new photos from previous projects that have just been posted up to our website.

For DemandTec, we designed and built a custom table top booth for them to use at their roadshows, events, and smaller tradeshows. This booth is one of a kind and is completely modular. It allows for different graphic skins to be applied to the front for different sales groups, teams, or events. It packs up into a small, rolling case that is fully protected and airline security compliant.

Here's the latest graphic set for the booth that was just used in Orlando. To check out all of the different graphics and how they look on the structure, be sure to visit our Portfolio. Be sure to contact us today to help you plan for your 2011 events and shows as well.

SuperComputing 2010 - New Orleans

2010-11-29T12:18:00.000-08:00

We have been away for a bit on the blog posts but wanted to get back to it with a recap of our last project we just finished up in New Orleans.

SuperComputing 2010 or SC10 as it is known, just wrapped up and we were there in support of our client, Voltaire. This year's booth was a 20' x 30' island space located on the main aisle in a great floor location. We wanted to take advantage of the great location to highlight the various

products and services for easy attendee viewing. We did have a challenge with two support poles of the Ernest Morial Convention Center behind the booth, but it was not a major hurdle for us. With such a great booth space, we wanted to be sure company branding was visible from all angles and distances so we utilized the 16 foot hanging sign to bring the Voltaire logo forward.

This booth was designed to incorporate the client needs and wants. With a conference room designed to utilize existing fabric graphics, to the large tower with additional branding opportunity, the multi purpose theater, and the demo stations, this custom rental booth was flexible for their needs. Elements were used and positioned to help direct the flow of traffic into and through the booth as well.

One area of interest in the booth was the theater which doubled as a game show stage during the show hours. Instead of using large, heavy and bulky print graphics, we decided to produce tension fabric that would wrap around the entire storage room. This helped cut down on costs in multiple areas and it was a clean, uniform look and feel.

The other element we added was the use of remote controlled LED lighting that transitioned through different colors in addition to specialized game show buzzers.

It was a great project to work on with various custom elements and great new ideas. Be sure to check out our Portfolio to see photos of the completed booth and also see how we might be able to assist you with your next tradeshow or event.

Client Logo Design/Creation

2010-06-28T13:42:00.000-07:00

Things have been busy for us lately here at Inline Connection. Sometimes, it’s not the large projects that can take up time and resources, but it can be a bunch of smaller ones that can bring just the right amount of time and energy to keep things going and busy.

We just wrapped a new logo design for a local business here in San Bruno. Truly Massage is the first California State Certified Licensed Therapist in the City of San Bruno; that is a huge achievement. The logo is a re-design of a previous version to help bring the company into their new location and help show their services and offerings. In planning with the client and discussing the goals, messaging, look, and feelings to be evoked, we designed a logo that showed these things. The Yin Yang sign shows balance, calming and serenity that you would expect from a massage. The colors were chosen to be softer, inviting and not too harsh or distracting. We wanted their customers and perspective customers alike, to understand that this is a professional business for all people to relax, be comfortable, and experience great customer service.

We also created an alternate colored logo keeping in mind printing and other promotional opportunities. In some instances, printing a 3 or more colored logo can be very expensive, so we created a simple, two colored black and white logo to help cut costs down in those instances. An alternate logo in two colors is always something good to have designed when going through this type of process.

You can check out the new logo designs on our website in the Portfolio and our various social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter). As more promotional items and such are created for this client, we will post and update them.

San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Grand Expo 2010

2010-06-03T11:27:00.000-07:00

On May 20^th, we participated in an event and for the first time, was in the shoes of our clients. We exhibited at the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Grand Expo 2010 which was held at AT&T Park on the club level. Our booth was perfect for our needs; a table showing highlights of our work and a banner stand to give us visibility. The event started at 5:30pm and right off the bat, it was busy. The attendees were a mix of individuals and businesses looking for new products and services to vendors and job seekers. It was a diverse crowd of exhibitors and attendees that included airlines, restaurants, wineries, universities, banking institutions, and many more.

Our goals for exhibiting were simple; reach out to the local community and try to help. We wanted to make sure local and fellow business owners were aware of our presence and how we can provide various services for their needs. It was a great event and being able to meet new people and network was also a plus. It may have been only 3 hours, but it was a fun, fast paced event that was extremely beneficial for us. For more information on how you can be a part of the San Francisco Chamber, visit their website here.








Check back soon for more updates!

Much Needed Update

2010-05-17T17:17:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

It’s been a while since we’ve posted an entry and we apologize for the delay. During our hiatus from the blogosphere, we’ve been quite busy actually. Since our last post, we wrapped up the portable pop up display and banner stand for Oncology Rehab Partners and it was unveiled at the American Physical Therapy Association CSM in San Diego. A portable display is a great economical way to get your messaging, branding, and products or services out to your target market. With many options for size, orientation, and add on features to make your booth stand out, portable displays can be the solution your are looking for to bring in more sales.

We also wrapped up another portable project for Vivus on behalf of Kikujam. There was a need for an ultra portable table top display that could incorporate graphics, text, data, and information quickly and clearly. The displays also needed to be easily put up and broken down for quick turn arounds. So solution we provided was to use a banner stand with a wide base for stability on a table top and a telescoping pole to achieve a certain height for the graphics. Instead of a full sized floor graphic, we turned it into a shorter, table sized version. The goal was to not do a traditional table top at all, but find something that would stand out and differentiate Vivus from their competition.

During our hiatus we also supported Globe X Logistics and their clients at Photonics West 2010 in San Francisco, CA. Our onsite supervision and logistics services can help you save money and time as well. We can be onsite during teardown of a show or event so you do not have to pay for an extra hotel day, a rental car, and even higher air travel rates. Our presence to help make sure your materials and booth are packed up correctly will give you piece of mind and help your budget.

One of our clients approached us with the need for a table top solution as well. However, DemandTec did not want something ordinary or what has already been seen. By collaborating with the client closely, we were able to create and develop a portable, inter-changeable, expandable, and illuminated solution. Our new portable display called the FLO, only available from Inline Connection allows you to have a table top display complete with LED lighting, lightweight fabric graphics that are inter-changeable but can also convert for other applications. You can place two of these displays together to create a custom 10’ pop up booth structure. You can also customize the FLO display to be a kiosk, entry way graphic element, and much more. If you are looking for something new and eye catching, the FLO display is perfect for you.

At the end of April, we assisted Voltaire with their booth at Interop Las Vegas 2010. The booth was a 20 by 20 foot area complete with a brand new hanging sign, new fabric graphics to wrap the conference room, and illuminated display counters. Keeping consistent with the look and feel we have been utilizing at previous tradeshows for Voltaire, we were able to create a space that incorporated multiple product areas, and open flow of traffic, eye catching displays, and high visibility. We work closely with the client to create this space and ensure that it will be effective to draw traffic and in turn, help drive sales.

We have more projects on the horizon and next week, we are exhibiting at the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Grand Expo (we are a proud new member!) at AT&T Park. Sign up, stop by our booth to meet us and see how we can help you. Be sure to view our Portfolio to see photos of all the new projects and check back regularly for more.

New Year, New Projects

2010-02-15T13:10:00.000-08:00

2009 closed out very quickly for Inline Connection with a few projects wrapping up and a couple taking shape for 2010. With 2010 now into the second month of the year, we are in full swing. Be sure to check out the Portfolio page to see photos from our onsite coverage of Photonics West 2010 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.

This week we will be in San Diego at the American Physical Therapy Association - CSM 2010 event supporting our client, Oncology Rehab Partners. Be sure to look for onsite photos, reports, and observations from the show floor. You will find these reports here on our website, via Twitter, and also on Facebook. Be sure to follow us and learn how we can help you as well.

SC09 (Supercomputing 2009)

2009-11-13T21:27:00.000-08:00

Every year, Supercomputing changes cities and venues to host their popular, large, and informative conference and exhibition. Last year it was Austin, Texas and this year, we are in Portland, Oregon. The event comprises of technical programs, classes, presentations, and exhibits. The participants are a very wide range too from engineers, developers, students, researchers, professors, designers, and many more. For this event, we are here to support Voltaire, Inc. and their exhibition booth.

Our first day of installation of the booth structure began yesterday with a full day of work and build up. Luckily, our electrical lines along with the carpet and pad did get laid out on the day before, so we were ready to go at 8am. A tip for tradeshow manangers and coordinators, always try to have your utilities installed at least the day before your start of build up as this could give you a full day of work, instead of waiting a couple of hours to get the lines placed. We also had sent the boot material into the advanced warehouse for this event. This meant that our materials, crates, etc. were in the booth, ready for us to begin work. As some of you know, a large show can cause delays at the marshalling yards and docks and sometimes delaying your delivery. But beware and be sure to check out the rates for direct to show vs. advanced warehouse deliveries as the rates can vary and be higher.

With any installation, things are never 100% smooth right off the bat and you will have your struggles. Ours was some damaged freight that had a minimal effect on the booth structure but was not a major factor. With our larger elements, we did have an advantage that the neighboring booth spaces had not yet began installation, therefore allowing us to utilized more floor space for installation and setup.

By the end of day 1, we were 85% complete with the booth build and at a great point to start off day 2. With minimal structureto be built still, we only needed to patch minor damage, build up some cabinets and turn on the lights. We have a great I&D team with The Term Group up here and our guys were excellent and professional. More updates this week as we go through a few more days of build up and then the start of the event on Monday evening. Be sure to follow us on Twitter for live updates, pictures, and breaking news.

The Presidents Cup

2009-10-14T08:40:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate to have been able to attend two days of The Presidents Cup last week here in San Francisco. For those who are not familiar with the golf event, it is a bi-annual golf event that is held usually on the east coast of the US or an international location and is a team event. Some of the best US golfers and International players (with the exeception of European players) go head to head for 4 days at differnt types of golf games to win points and ultimately the Cup. This event is differnt than a regular golf tournament as it has a team focus where a regular tournament has more of a individual focus and aspect.

On Wednesday, I attended a full day of practice rounds on the Harding Park course on Lake Merced and the Opening Ceremonies. With a heavy security detail and rules stating no cell phones all week and a ban on cameras from Thursday to Sunday, Wednesday was a great day to take some candid photos. Practice is very relaxed, but still serious as players were focusing on shots, angles, strategy, and swings of course.

The PGA worked with numerous groups, agencies, and people to make this event a reality for not only the world, but The City of San Francisco, fans, and the local economy. Plenty of grandstands were setup across the course along with hospitality suites for sponsors, corporate partners, media, and more. The vantage points for fans to view the action of the matches were excellent and well thought out. Large video screens were also placed in areas for easy viewing and score updates along with concessions and restrooms at strategic locations. From the event planning and coordination standpoint, it seemed very well thought out and executed. Great flows of traffic, security, direction, free shuttle services, usage of public transportation, and instruction. Other things of note that made it easy for spectators were huge directional signage, daily printed programs with times, maps, and locations of ammenities and more, a real time/hand held video device sponsored by Citi that allowed visitors to view the game play and also track scores and see their locations.

I was fortunate to also return to the tournament on Saturday during the actual game play and was impressed as well by the flow of the event. With numerous volunteers from all across the world assisting with various jobs and aspects of the tournament, the PGA and Harding Park put on a great event. It was fun to not only be there from a fan point of view, but also from a planners view to see how a large scale production of such magnitude could be coordinated and accomplished. Photos of the practice round on Wednesday can be seen here. As always, please follow us on Twitter and you can find us on Facebook too.

Special Events - The SF Giants Way

2009-10-01T10:22:00.000-07:00

As a resident of the San Francisco Bay Area, I am fortunate to be able to participate or attend the various festivals, events, and activities that the area has to offer. Being part of the event world in planning, producing, and coordinating events myself, it is fun to observe how the events are flowing, what works and doesn't work, new tips and tricks, and what could possibly work for my projects.

Last night I attended an event produced by the San Francisco Giants baseball team as part of their promotions and events for the season. As many professional sports teams do, they create and produce events to attract fans and help sell more tickets. Most promotions and events include an item or giveaway item as a draw, others are fundraiser or attraction events. Last night was the Oktoberfest event hosted by the ball club that included a stein (mug) in the shape of a baseball cleat, live music, a free beverage, and food all outside in the great weather. A large tent was errected in a parking lot near the ballpark for seating. Fans lined up to claim their free mug with the special ticket they had purchased and then spread out over the area to enjoy the music, food vendor tents that were spread out in the area, and more.

Of course, an organization such as a baseball team might have the resources and finances to produce and execute such a large scale event, but that does not mean you as an event organizer or planner are not able to do this as well. With good planning, a great location, pre and post event promotions and advertising, you can accomplish this too.

Inline Connection can help you with your events and any additional needs such as banners and promotional items to make a successful event. Visit Inline Connection today and see how we can help you , Enhance Your Results.

Intel Developer Forum (IDF) 2009 - Day 1

2009-09-23T10:15:00.000-07:00

Day 1 of IDF 2009 stated on Sept. 22 and it started off strong. The event is in the West Hall of Moscone this year and occupies all 3 levels. Registration was open earlier than 7:30am (we were there) and surprisingly, a decent crowd or registrants were around pioking up their badges and gift. For this year, nice computer shoulder bags were given with water bottles to registered attendees and I must say, these were nice. Not a cheap or low budget bag at all and I am impresed on the type of quality Intel went with this year.

The theme this year is working around whiteboards. Group collaboration, thinking out loud, ideas, and rambles in a sense. Intel is trying to promote the idea that putting ideas down for all to see can enable success, new ideas, and development. It's a great concept and with the large whiteboards placed strategically on all lobby levels, it works. The lobbies are inviting, have some demo areas with products or services to engaged attendees and limited seating. As always, keynotes, sessions, and large discussion groups are the focus here. There is an exhibit floor which Intel refers to as the Technology Showcase and it is open only during certain times of the schedule.

Intel pulled out the checkbook this year for sure. Last night's opening of the Showcase featured not only top notch exhibitors and sponsors, but new cabinets for each station (not sure if these were designed by The Taylor Group, Intel's house of choice) and much better food than before. Huge spreads of quality food from Moscone (SMG) catering instead of your basic F&B packages. Not cheap at all. It was hard to say if people were attracted to the food and drinks more than the items in the exhibitor's booths themselves. One thing to note as well is that there are no custom booth's here at this event. Intel provides the exhibitors/sponsors a packaged space made up of a system (Octanorm) extrusion and it gets larger if you of course, pay a bit more but this allows for equal exposure, space, and also make sure know one else upstages or tries to out do someone else. Other organizers practice this as well and in some circumstances, it can be an effective way to allow exhibitors to promote and sell on an even level. Another huge draw and a showing of more money spent, was the concert and performance of Maroon 5. Yes, Intel hired Maroon 5 to play in the ballrooms of the Marriott hotel last night for attendees. The mini concert was not heavily advertised (which was very smart) and it seemed to have a mixed crowd. Many attendees were wondering why this band was selected to perform for a very dynamically mixed group. There were some "older" folks that were standing in front of us complaining of the loud speakers and the bright lights and ultimately left after 30 minutes. While others just seemed out of their element in a rock concert. But, I must say, Intel again, was not afraid to pull out the checkbook.

We will back at IDF today and will have live updates via Twitter. We will also be at the CEMA networking event this evening and more details from there as well. Be sure to check back here for more observations and highlights from the various events!

Free Pass Anyone?

2009-09-21T10:46:00.000-07:00

How many tradeshows and events have you tried to attend or just go to and check out what the cool new things that were on display? For anyone, not just tradeshow managers and event planners here, but those who are fans, or professionals, or anyone who just wants to see the latest and greatest or hear what the new trends are; do you feel a free pass to an event or show would benefit you?

Don't get me wrong here (and if you are an organizer, I am not saying this is a must), events and tradeshows still need to be profitable on a certain scale to keep production costs in line and other expenditures, but how about a free pass for others sometimes. Of course, qualifications for free passes should always be in place as you do not just want anybody roaming the show floor or conference sessions. There are many shows and events that are industry or market specific that need to qualify their attendees to ensure that the correct people are there. Granted, fees are charged to those who might want to attend a conference that is attached to the event or a technical training session and I believe those are great practices. But, what about free passes to the general public for event floor access? To see new products, talk to prospective partners and suppliers, build new relationships, and garner new knowledge. How about even allowing students access on a limited basis to help bring in the future generations and get them started and excited?

The tradeshow and event industry does need to continue to make money for sure and with the past year, it has been much harder for anyone associated with this particular industry to keep those revenues up. But, looking at the future and when things come back up, why not look into those changes? There are some organizers and producers that already incorporate this practice and it's a great thing, but there are still others who do not for whichever reasons they feel are needed. In this economic downturn, evening opening up a limited number of free passes to others could help boost revenues and interest in your event.

On that note, we will be at the Intel Developer Forum this week at Moscone in San Francisco via our complimentary pass that Intel has put out. We will be Tweeting live from the event and giving insights on our blog and what we see and hear.

Coking.com - Roundup

2009-09-18T14:30:00.000-07:00

We apologize for not blogging on a daily basis for this event, so we will do a roundup post to cover what was going on during the week. We will get some photos up soon from the event as well.

This conference has a heavy focus on technical seminars, breakout sessions, techniques, training, and more. From morning group sessions, to training seminars, groups discussion topics, the focus here is more on the conference than the exhibition. There are only a about 20 total exhibitors this year, down from last, but good quality. Mostly portable displays and one company brought large display items for their booth. Since most of the equipment in this industry is quite large, it would not make sense to bring materials. We are talking football length and multiple story high products. None of that would fit into the 12 foot height we had.

The thing that was interesting to me, was that this is an event that is placed in a city or region where oil drilling and production is heavy, but not many local attendees where present. There were some people from Asia, some from Europe, some from South America, but none from the local area. One would think that getting in the local or regional companies and business associated with Coking would be there, but it did not seem to be the case. Given the economic times and cut backs, it makes sense that this event is down from the previous year, but you would think the reachout to the local industry would be there or at least a bit stronger.

I do like how the conference/meeting area and the exhibits were in an adjacent ballrooms, therefore not making you go far or to another part of the hotel to get to each section. This does deter attendees from going off on their own or not to a certain part of the event, which is good planning. Granted, we had to change the floor layout and was a major overhaul, it turned out great. This organizer produces multiple events around the globe and I hope they continue to grow and expand. It's a great format, good flowing agenda, and focus. The locations could be a bit better (we were not near downtown and in an industrial park area with not much around) and logistics could be stronger, but that takes time.

If you or someone you know is need of any event or tradeshow onsite support as did in Calgary, please contact us. We want to help you run a smooth and effective event, anywhere in the world.

Coking.com - Day 1

2009-09-14T21:53:00.000-07:00

We are in Calgary, Alberta, Canada to support the Coking.com conference, exhibition, and training this week. This is a small exhibition that has as a strong focus on technical training, seminars, and conferences. We are in a small venue that is attached to a hotel and the exhibition floor is comprised of pipe and drape areas for mainly portable displays.

The day started off early with deliveries of freight to the show floor and booths. But, our morning ran into a hitch, as one of the exhibitors brought in some rather large equpiment that nobody was aware of. Long story short, this rather large piece of equipment would not be able to get into the exhibition space given the smaller confines of the hotel conference center and needless to say, the weight of the item would have caused some damage to the flooring. Let's just say, over 8,000 lbs. not including the lift that was starting to tip, onto carpet and over a dance floor. It wasn't going to happen. In the end, the item was moved into a position that was suitable for everyone involved but also caused some changes. Changes that required changing the whole floor plan and layout of the exhibition and presentation space, after it had been set.

What is Coking you might say? Well, it pertains to the petroleum and oil industry and here is a Wikipedia entry about Coking. Calgary is known for it's large petroleum refining and hence, why this event is here. In the midst of getting this event going, an article titled "Oil Sands Under Attack" was the front page headline of the business section of the local paper. The article shows how this particular industry is being looked at closely by opposition, journalists, and others and bringing this area into the spotlight, but in a negative way. Interesting timing to run a story of this nature when an event as such is happening.

So continue to read our blog here for daily updates and follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/inlineonline for show floor updates and photos.

Where In The World Is The Global Exhibition Industry?

2009-09-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

For those of us who have been in the exhibition industry for many years, we have seen the good and the bad times. No matter what part of the exhibition industry you are involved in, you in some way, feel the ripples and effects of these ups and downs.

For those who are new to the industry or maybe have not yet experienced the rollercoaster, don't worry, your time will come. As we approach the 8 year anniversary of one of the most horrific events in history, we do reflect on the global impact that day had on not only personal lives, but how that day influenced business and how it is conducted now. Sept. 11th was huge, in so many ways, but let's look at how it changed the exhibition industry.

With 9/11 came stricter airline rules and regulations. Not only was the TSA formed and Homeland Security to enforce passenger screening, security, and safety to air travelers, but did you know how it effected your cargo? That's right, you think having to take off your shoes and scanning all your bags was bad, how about your million dollar machine that needed to fly from Atlanta to Singapore? Airlines tightened down on everything from what you listed on your documents, to things such as if your crate was heat treated and fumigated for bugs, or even if you have locks on your case. More airlines declined to take exhibition materials and some even stopped freight service to some countries. It used to be fairly easy to send smaller cargo on passenger planes, that all changed too as restrictions prevented many from making the trip. How did this make ripples in the exhibition industry you say? Well, plain and simple; new regulations made it harder and more expensive which meant less shipping to tradeshows and events.

Less people traveled after 9/11 as budgets were slashed across the board too. It was a huge blow to the exhibits industry. There was one industry that did not see a huge decline though: the aerospace and defense industry. More on that later. But, along came 2003 and the world was hit with SARS. The disease that swept through Asia and had a huge impact on global business, travel, and the world economy. Just as we were getting back on track after 9/11, this hit and caused problems for a while. This too caused crack downs from governments, transportation providers, and even vendors and suppliers. The exhibits industry quickly saw shows and events being canceled due to lack of participation and health concerns.

So then that takes us to now. Where in the US we are still officially in a recession, being hit hard by unemployment, a weak dollar, and not much spending to stimulate the economy. The exhibit industry started to see a decline towards the end of 2008 as less custom builds were being placed, rental numbers were stronger, and marketing budgets were slashed left and right. In March of 2009, the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) published a report regarding the decline of the exhibit industry and how it was it's first, since 2002. The report can be seen here. The end of 2008 was not good for many within the industry as it resulted in less participation for organizers and show producers, less booths and graphics for exhibit houses, which translates to less labor for I&D companies, which also meant less work for Union Labor, and less freight for transportation and logitics companies. I think you follow me here now. This all trickled into 2009 too as we saw companies closing their doors, cuting back, and consolidating. Just as things came back up, it went back down.

But, in July, the UFI published their 5th annual report on Asia. This report showed that in 2008, the trade fair and exhibition industry had expanded by 8.7% despite a weak global economy. Great news, for a region of the world, where was once hit hard with SARS, had a huge increase in exhibition participation and sizes. Asia and especially China has been the hot spot and in the smaller regions within China; the up and coming places to be. While the US and other regions such as Europe find it hard to attract exhibitions and participants, China seems to be drawing them in.

Which takes us to today, right at the start of the 4th quarter of the year and when exhibitions traditionally slow down. So now we look back and ahead at the same time, using data from earlier in the year to forecast and also plan for next year. Yet, another report comes via the UFI stating (via TSW) that 3 out of 4 of the world's tradeshow organizers state that revenue had declined in the first half of the year compared to last year. In addition, 4 out of 5 anticipate revenue declines for the second half of the year. Some believe we will see a recovery in 2011 or later.

The exhibition industry is not going to fade away. It is going to evolve and adapt to change with the global economy and times. Are we ever going to see the "good old days" of easy and free spending, huge expense accounts, and no quesetions asked? Most likely not, but it does mean that business is going to continue but will be conducted differently. Smaller shows perhaps, different locations, virtual events, private events, and more. Participating at exhibitions are still beneficial and key to conducting business and gaining new business, but it's just a matter of doing smarter and better.

Direct Events - Do They Work? - Nokia World 09

2009-09-03T08:36:00.000-07:00

Many companies and organizations still attend and participate in tradeshows around the world on an annual basis and it is still an integral part of sales and marketing. But, more companies today are producing their own events that are targeted specifically at a cetain demographic, decision maker, and/or consumer. Some may say though that this is not a smart thing to do, yet others say this is the better way than a traditional tradeshow and yes, it is debateable. You have to look at it from different angles though and for some, it is the smartest thing to do with your marketing budget.

This week in Stuttgart, Germany, Nokia held the Nokia World 09 in the Messe Stuttgart ICS. The event was a conference with an area referred to as the experience lounge, various forms of entertainment, and numerous product launches and announcements. Nokia themselves refer to this as an event on their website and not a tradeshow or summit. Like many private events, this was an open invite to all with a fee for attendance. If you view the various video highlights, presentations, and keynotes posted on the site, you will find new products, partnerships, services, and announcements. Nokia has some great examples of how a great event should work. A simple, easy to understand agenda is posted for public viewing to garner attention and excitement, profiles of speakers and participants, videos from the week and keynotes, new product previews and write ups, social marketing links and options, and information that is easy to get to.

Nokia may have hit a grand slam with certain elements of the event, but not all. If you have ever been to Stuttgart and the Messe specifically, you know that this is not the ideal location for an event. Location is a key element in a direct event and it can sometimes be a deal breaker. Stuttgart is hard to get to; you have to connect in from another major airport. The Messe is not close to the city center and there is not much in the immediate area. Although, the Messe is right next to the airport which makes that convenient. To bring a large group into a small city is great for industry and tourism, but makes it tough sometimes for attendees. Perhaps Nokia could have chosen a location with ammenities and services closer to the Messe? In a conversation with a Nokia representative yesterday, the question was asked, "why was this in Stuttgart and not in Barcelona?" The short answer related to the economy and perception. Perhaps that is correct, that doing an event in Stuttgar is less expensive than Spain, but does in the long run does it make it cheaper for the attendee?

What can we take away from this event though? Does it work? When produced effectively, a private and direct event can work. Key elements to a successful event include location, timing, advertising and marketing, messaging, pricing, draw and attraction, and support. Nokia still participates at industry tradeshows throughout the year, but by holding their own event, they targeted specific people, to come and have a more intimate experience. There are many great keys to a successfule event and Nokia did utilize some of them. If you too are trying to determine if a tradeshow or direct event is the right course for you and your company, let us know. Our experiences and knowledge can help you in this determination and perhaps, create an event like Nokia's to help grow your business.

A Refresher For The Summer Perhaps?

2009-08-19T19:59:00.001-07:00

How was your summer so far? Was it filled with BBQ's and cold drinks by the pool? Did you have time for a nice getaway or at least time off? Or, did you spend your summer months planning and participating in events and tradeshows?

The summer season is typically linked to hot dogs, hamburgers and cold beverages with outdoor parties and hanging out with good friends; but not for all. For some, it means still being inside a convention center for setups, electrical orders, and making sure the freight was delivered. It means hanging out with your other friends that are on the show floor with you. The summer is also a great time to think about a refresh. Yes, a refresh of your graphics perhaps. Or maybe a refresh of your table top display showing some new services or products. You might also need to refresh your collateral and get new material for the latest release done. Or you might have been thinking of doing a refresh of your brand and image, to give it a different appeal to your target market.

Why not take advantage of the less busy summer season to start planning and getting a jump start on your refresh? Now is the perfect time to prepare for any events and shows you may have on the horizon so you are not in a mad rush later on. Contact us for more information and details on how we can help you refresh for the summer!

Social Media, Spreading The Word

2009-08-07T12:35:00.000-07:00

Social media has become one quick and easy way to reach people and inform the world. Never has it been easier to write on a daily or even hourly basis about your day, thoughts, observations, and more. For Inline Connection, social media and the various tools available are a way for us to share about projects we are working on, observations from the show floor, breaking industry news and trends, and much more.

You can follow us on Twitter (@inlineonline) for live updates from show floors, events, and other bits of information. We can also be found on Facebook and you can become a fan by clicking here or join our network on LinkedIn as well. Join our network and help share information, ideas, and expand connections to Enhance Results.

Conference vs. Expo

2009-07-29T11:08:00.000-07:00

The Design Automation Conference (DAC) is in San Francisco this week at the Moscone Center and this event/show brings up a very good point of the Conference vs. the Expo. More observations at the end of the show as well.

Monday was Free Mondays for the expo hall for visitors. Free days for attendees is always a good thing and I am glad to see the organizers of this event continuing that. In the tough times the world is in, it is hard to justify the costs of conference and expo badge prices. If you look at various tradeshows and events around the globe, some are free and some can cost upwards of $1,000. For those who are on tight budgets, no budgets, or just want to check out the expo, a free pass is great. More organizers of events and shows should consider a free option if they do not have it already.

Tuesday was Management Day. I was graciously offered the Management Day package to be added to my already free pass for this event. Again, kudos to the organizer for scubbing their registration and actually qualifying attendees and exhibitors. A great way to know who is at your shows and events, is to actually look at the data. Unlike other organizers who do not look at the date, only to pad their headcount numbers, this is a great way to attract more people to site. Granted, the package was listed as $99 on their site and it can make you wonder; was it low pre-registration for this program and it needed to be filled or organizers trying to reach out? Management day was good, very focused and structured. The one thing that caught my attention was very little foot traffic in the lobby areas. The conferences and sessions were filled enough, but, not many people were milling around, trying to register, or get information. The expo floor was not all that packed either. Could this be a sign of the times and economy?

The organizers put together a BlogFest by inviting various blog contributors to the event which is a great idea. These are not just media outlets and professional writers, but everyday people and people who blog about industry happenings and other areas. It is a great concept and way to spread the word via social media. Very innovative and informative at the same time and a great way to reach more in a shorter time.

So we come to the question. What attracts more; the expo or the conference. It is tough to produce both events at the same time and run them. It's even harder to get exhibitors to say yes, I am going to make the investment on the show floor and be there for 4 days knowing how trade shows are down. There are some events out there that have had their issues with having a conference and expo area at the same time and drawing people to both. ITC, is a prime example of how the conference overtook the expo. For years, ITC had a huge draw to the show floor for exhibtors and attendees alike. As time went on, the conference area and keynotes were in a separate area and the show floor suffered. A change had to be made of course to draw more people to the floor and the organizers put the keynote area in the back of the show floor, forcing the flow of traffic to go through the show floor. It worked for traffic, but unfortunately, many exhibitors decided not to attend anymore. The same can be said for DISCON that has struggled in the past couple of years to attract more exhibitors and attendees to the show floor. There is one group that has done well over the years in producing a conference and expo and that is SPIE. This association/organizer puts on great events around the world in conjunction with great sessions and keynotes. Granted, attendance has been down for all events globally, but this organizer knows how to balance and make it work.

We will be at Moscone again tomorrow as the event wraps up to see how traffic is. It is not a great sign when the registration area is empty and the staff are sitting behind the tables, looking bored and eager to assist in printing out your badge. Follow #46DAC on Twitter for updates from the show floor as well.

TSEA HONORS 2009 EXHIBITORS’ CHOICE WINNERS

2009-07-23T10:49:00.000-07:00

Posted by the TSEA today:

Chicago, IL - July 23, 2009 – A record number visitors flooded the Trade Show Exhibitors Association (TSEA) website this year to vote for the First Annual Exhibitors’ Choice Awards. The winners were announced last night at the TSEA Foundation Gala in conjunction with the TS2 show in Chicago, IL. Over 400 exhibit industry professionals came out to the Chicago Illuminating Company to celebrate and cheer on the winners and nominees of the awards.

TSEA congratulates:

Favorite Exhibit House

Winner: Exhibitgroup/Giltspur

Honorable Mention: 3D Exhibits, Skyline

Favorite General Contractor

Winner: Freeman

Honorable Mention: GES

Favorite Installation and Dismantling Company

Winner: Nth Degree

Honorable Mention: Czarnowski

Favorite Transportation/ Freight Company

Winner: TWI

Honorable Mention: Barrett

Favorite of the Rest (all other types of suppliers)

Winner: Exhibit Surveys

Honorable Mention: NMR Staging & Events, United Service Companies

Favorite Show Manager

Winner: Mary Pat Heftman, National Restaurant Association & Karen Chupka, Consumer Electronics Show

Honorable Mentions: Bob Hughes, National Association of Convenience Stores Show & Mary Upton, The ASI Show!

Favorite Show of 2009

Winner: Consumer Electronics Show

Honorable Mention: National Restaurant Association

Favorite Convention City

Winner: Las Vegas

Honorable Mention: Chicago

Best Convention Center

Winner: McCormick Place

Honorable Mention: Las Vegas Convention Center

The TSEA Foundation thanks all the attendees of the Gala and its generous sponsors and participating restaurants for helping make the evening a rousing success. Sponsors of the event include: The Rebedeau Group; 3D Exhibits; Agile Trade Show & Event Furnishings, Inc.; Broan-Nutone, LLC.; Catch the Moment; Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau; EA Logistics; Exhibit Surveys; Freeman AV; Kehoe Designs; Lynn Renee Photography; Morial Convention Center and Metropolitan Limousine. Participating Restaurants included Ari; Carnivale; Fulton Lounge; Tsuki; Tizi Melloul; Lettuce Entertain You Parties & Special Events; Petterino’s; Crepes a Lattee; Wildfire and Scoozi.
About The TSEA Foundation
The Exhibit Industry Education Foundation (also known as the TSEA Foundation), a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, is the research, information and fund-raising foundation for the Trade Show Exhibitors Association (TSEA) benefiting the members of the $124 billion exhibit and event industry comprised of businesses, non-profit associations and for-profit entities that participate in, exhibit at and produce trade shows. It funds specialized research on the exhibit and event industry, provides a variety of workshops, seminars and professional development opportunities and access to specialized research and reference assistance. The Foundation plays a key leadership and advocacy role for the exhibit and event industry and acts as a voice for the sector, articulating the data, reach, impact and contributions made possible through exhibit and event marketing.
The mission of the Exhibit Industry Education Foundation is to support cutting-edge research into the value and efficacy of face-to-face marketing, specifically trade shows, experiential marketing and events. Knowledge gained from this research then provides methodologies and metrics to improve the industry. It includes support of education and awareness by publishing the results of research projects and maximizes the utilization of research results. It also teams with other industry foundations to broaden the scope of research projects.

Summer = Busy Event Season

2009-07-23T09:43:00.000-07:00

It can be said that we are in the middle of the summer for the year and with that, comes many events and shows. Some are geared towards the fans and fanatics, some are more towards the industry insiders and supporters, others are for the engineers, and yet some are decision makers and planners themselves.

This week brings us TS2 in Chicago at the great McCormick Place. If you have not heard or been to this show/event, it might be something to look into. Similar to the Exhibitor Show in Las Vegas, TS2 is the who's who of the exhibit and show industry. You will find vendors and suppliers for graphic output like fabric, shipping and logistic companies, AV companies and suppliers, labor and riggin suppliers, Green Intiative companies, industry associations, Lead development and retrieval companies and so much more. There are also many speakers during the week that share their knowledge, insights, stories, and in the worst instances, pitching their business. This event is a great resource for the up and coming tradeshow/event manager or even person who handles these types of programs. You could learn alot here, meet tons of new people, and extend your network. One thing to be careful of though, is quality of information and details. In the past few years, this event has become more of a hang out than educational and informative venue. Yes, there are many of us within the industry that have been around for a while and someone knows someone which can translate to certain groups set ways. Don't be turned off though, like any industry, it takes time to get acclimated and it is stil a great source of information. One person that attended did note though, the halls were a bit empty this year; perhaps a sign of the economic times. I did like how a Tweetup (@ts2show) was coordinated as well and the attraction; a free drink ticket coupon that kept circulating the Twittersphere. Great way to utilize Social Media and communication.

Another huge event that kicks off today, is Comic Con San Diego (@comiccon09). About 6 or more years ago, this tradeshow was quietly dying. It has always had a strong following with the fanboys and true comic junkies and enthusiats. It was a traditional tradeshow and now, it's blown up into something much larger. Ask people who have seen this show grow over the past few years and they will tell you, this is not just a tradeshow anymore, it's a full scale production. Since the movie studios started jumping into creating live action movies based on comic book characters on large scales, Comic Con has become THE place to launch a new movie. Press junkits are put on, screenings, actor/director/producer press panels, trailers are revealed, autograph signings, new toys are shown, posters, the list goes on! The event now attracts A List Hollywood types, photogs and paps, gossip columnists, and an even larger world wide audience. Yes, you still have people dressing up as C3PO or Wonder Woman, but now you have Pokemon running around and a new video game being debuted in their booth. You have Marvel, who used to just have a comic book showing and toys now has everything from merchandise to new movies coming along like Iron Man 2 which is going to be huge. No longer is this a niche and small event, it's a beast. The movie industry truely brought this event back to life. A funny blurb was in last month's issue of Entertainment Weekly Magazine, they had to explain what Comic Con was and why it is important to the movie industry. Mainstream, yup, they are now there.

This week was also the gathering of another group of industry suppliers, vendors, managers, and decision makers; CEMA Summit. The annual event is produced by CEMA (Coporate Event Marketing Association). CEMA (@cemaonline) was originally founded as a group of Computer Electronics Marketing Associates in the heyday of Silicon Valley and it's glory. Of course, we know how semicondutors and that industry is and CEMA realized this. In order to grow and not limit itself, it rebranded and became open to all event and industry related folks. CEMA is a great source of information for many event needs. Exhibit houses, consultants, lead retrieval, software, lighting, pretty much everything is represented here. The great thing about CEMA is, the organization tries to keep a balance of exhibit/event managers and planners and industry suppliers/vendors. They feel in order to be a great resource and organization, more event managers and such should join to utilize the services of the supporting vendor/supplier members. You will find decision makeres from Microsoft, Symantec, HP, Intel, Cisco, and other many more at this event. The venue changes every year as well and is typically in top notch locations (think about it, putting on an event for event planners so it has to be great) with great programs. There are classes, presentations, and more. All inclusive too, which is nice for the price. One thing that can be a turn off, is the clicks that seem to form. There are many that have known each other or worked with each other for years here and tend to mingle with themselves. If you are new, it can be difficult at first but, after day 1you are right in the mix.

Beginning next week in San Francisco is DAC, the Design Automation Conference. DAC is a conference and show at Moscone Center that typically draws in engineers, electronic designers, enthusiats, and more. The show has been at a decent size in the past years and we shall see if the economy has effected the show or not. The conference is the major part of this event/show and is the main draw; not the exhibition floor. The organizers are live blogging as well via Twitter and be followed @46DAC or on Facebook. We will Tweet live from the show Monday as well with show floor observations and buzzes.

Other events/show to note are Cosmoprof North America in Las Vegas, Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, WSA Show, and many more. Check out Tradeshow Week for listings and a great directory and keep checking back here as we highlight various shows and events from around the globe.

SEMICON West & InterSolar NA 09 Recap

2009-07-20T09:21:00.000-07:00

As the end of the week came for SEMICON West and InterSolar North America 2009, there are probably many issues, news, standards, products, and more to discuss and debate. There were announcements of new products, introductions of new companies, grumblings from exhibitors and attendees, praises, good days, and bad days. Every circumstance is different and not everyone had a great or bad show this week, but we can say this; the global economy has hit this industry very hard.

From what was a very small show last year and being only part of the West hall at Moscone, InterSolar was the talk of the town. Now 3 levels, a career fair/expo area, classes, presentations, many new products, and a buzz that is sure to roll into PVSEC coming up on September in Hamburg, this show is going to grow yet again in the next 12 months. It was very interesting to see a handful of companies that once were exhibitors on the SEMICON side of the show and now were in the Solar side. Most of these companies decided to pull out of the SEMICON side completely and just participate in InterSolar; which was a shocker at first. But, if you stood back and looked at the situtations, it might have been the smartest moves they made. The SEMICON side is not dying, but it sure is slowing down and if you have technologies or applications that can be utilized in the solar market, why not focus on it? The change of marketing and sales stategy for some such as Obducat, Fraunhofer, MRL Industries, Hitachi, and of course Applied Materials is a great move. Of course, Applied is trying to lead the way and it seems some are following. One main thing about this industry is that it is still in it's infancy stages. There is a lot of standardization, analyzing, and ramp up needed in this sector, but that seems like it will take a few years to get there. In speaking with someone from Intertek, they brought up a good point. It is unknown and testing is not documented; let's go and figure out a way then.

On the SEMICON side, it seems that moral is low. There are some out there who are optimistic and keeping their chins up, but the common theme amongsts many is being in survival mode. If you look at some of the larger companies, more established, leaders in their sector; they have doubts of how the industry is going to be for the rest of the year. I read an analyst report that stated the upturn is going to happen in 2010; I think I read that same report two years ago but with just the dates changed. No one really knows right now when the semiconductor market is going to swing back up, but it is for sure never going to get back to where it was. This is an industry that has changed from once the strong and mighty to the limping and surviving. Maybe we can say the industry is in a tough place right now but will bounce back eventually; it will never go away either. In the next 12 months, it's going to be interesting to see who is going to be around or absorbed. Time will tell.

As a final note of the show logistics, size, and changes, let's look at some comparisions from this year and last. Friday is the first full day of move out and this year, all empty crates were back to exhibitors by the morning. No empties were being brought in that morning and most booths were torn down by end of day. Last year, some booths did not even come down until Sunday. I spoke with a shipping company who finished loading all their freight off the show floor in West hall by 8pm Friday night. Saturday, there was very little freight left on the show floors. In fact, it was mostly Freeman decorating freight. As previous years have shown, freight is still on the floor on Sunday and awaiting pickup. This was a show that once took 3.5 days to move out and now can move out in 2 days. Downsized, you bet. Perhaps the drayage contractor is working faster with the Local 510, maybe it is just less freight, maybe this is how it will be next year.

As SEMICON Taiwan comes up, one must wonder about the future of the global shows on this circuit and what is in store. Another SEMICON is now concluded.

It All Comes To An End, Day Three

2009-07-16T23:02:00.000-07:00

As day 3, the final day of SEMICON West and InterSolar NA 2009 started, there were a few questions as to how the day would go. Typically, day 3 of the show is busy in the morning and after lunch, slower but not that bad. Here are a few observations from day 3.

In the North hall, it seemed as if the foot traffic and attendees never made it over there. I spoke with one exhibitor who said they had a great show. They typically have a pop up booth, 10' x 10' stand and they continued with that. One reason why they had a successful show, was that they did pre-show reach out and let customers know where they were going to be. At 2pm today, they still had people in their booth engaged in conversations. Many others in the hall were sitting reading the newspaper, looking at their laptop, or on their mobile. As I walked the aisles, not one person made the effort to jump into my path or try to stop me and get me to speak to them. Not a single person tried to bring me into their booth to even ask me what I was doing at the show or how I was doing. It was that bad today in there. But at the same time, this seemed like the mood in this hall all week. If it were not for the SEMI TechXPOT section in this hall, it would have been a ghost town.

In the breezeway between North and South were a few people taking breaks and relaxing, but not many meetings going on. Sometimes, people have impromtu gatherings at the tables and either talk business or catch up. Not the case this afternoon.

The South hall was not as bad as it could have been. The morning had good foot traffic but once lunch hit, it got quiet. Typically, on the second or third day of the show, many companies in the Bay Area allow their employees who might work in the factory, or in the office, or is an engineer, or someone that typically is not on the tradeshow floor come up for the afternoon. These people usually are noticed by their jeans, t-shirts, company badge still on, and sometimes a backpack or something. But, the sure fire way to tell if someone is up for the day to walk the show; is the free bag from XYZ company, filled with free pens, giveaways, collateral, any free thing that they can get their hands on. But you know what? There were not many of these people around. You usually walk the aisle and run into a person with a large bag filled with these items, taking their time, very slow and looking at everything but you trying to get past them. To my surprise, I saw more analysts still on the floor than these attendees.

The West hall was booming all day. Non stop movement in there, booths are packed still, people are still going up and down the escalators, meetings are still ocurring, it was great. I am really interested to see how the show turns out for next year and how much growth it will take on. There seemed to be a buzz going on in this hall all week and I must say, I was impressed. One person I spoke with today did note something to me though that was a great point. The booths in the InterSolar show seemed to be large and colorful in some places, but they seemed less polished and elegant compared to the SEMICON side. She felt that the Solar booths were not as refined, but that could change. I do believe that the Solar industry itself is very young and still evolving; trying to find it's identity. That will all change in time, just as the SEMICON world did too. (More on that later)

At 3pm, people started packing. Booths were being torn down, equipment was being packed up, people were getting ready for the loudspeaker announcement that the show was over. Empties started coming back qickly and aisle carpet was going up fast as well. But, at 8pm, not many empties were back yet. There were still exhibitors, waiting for crates and boxes for equipment and it did not look like they were getting them anytime soon. With all the onsite space, why did Freeman store the empties in trailers and offsite? Is that a cost, logistical, or space issue? It makes you wonder though, with so much empty space, why waste the OT hours to bring crates off a truck?

I have had numerous discussions this week about what I think is going to happen to SEMICON West, how Taiwan is going to be, and where this show is headed. Along with, how large Solar can get, and who is coming back next year. I do not want to speculate just yet on next year's show, or how this will effect the Taiwan show or just how large InterSolar will be. But, we have to look at when the semiconductor world started exhibiting. SEMICON was a small show once, at a small fairgrounds (San Mateo to be exact) and part of it outdoors. The show then moved into two sites; San Jose and San Francisco and grew to something bigger. It even spanned 5 whole days in two cities then. But when everything came together and was held in San Francisco in all 3 halls, it was at it's max. The point is, it grew over time and now, due to all circumstances, it has gotten to a low point. The show will never go away, it will just change and adapt to the times. SEMICON is like an institution, once great, but now, simple. Solar could possibly eclipse it (no pun intended) but only time will tell. The show is now over, and it will be discussed, analyzed, disected, and criticized, but it is still a show.

More tomorrow from site on the dismantle and activities there. Follow us on Twitter (@inlineonline) as well for live updates and observations.

More Foot Traffic? Day Two

2009-07-15T23:03:00.000-07:00

Typically, the second day of the show is the busiest day for attendees and foot traffic in the halls. By lunch, the aisles are getting to be crowded with people carrying large bags full of material and giveaways. Sometimes, they are so packed, you can not even walk in the aisle without getting hit with a bag or backpack. But that was not the case today.

I started in the North hall, heading past a very packed SEMI Theater in the lobby. I have to say, it is a pretty cool theater and good use of space, but it is too small. Who would have thought that the theater, which in the past was a large structure would be that much of a draw. Kudos to SEMI and Freeman for coming up with that one. As I roamed the North hall in search of an elusive former client, I noticed many people in their booths with blank stares on their faces. Some were either surfing the internet or checking their inbox while others were texting or engrossed in their mobile phone/device. Still, there were some who were hopeful and greeted anyone that passed by to try and draw them in. At the same time, there were some booths that did have conversations and demos going. Not everyone in this hall seemd as if they wanted to take a nap, or at least end the show early today.

As I walked over to the South hall, I had forgot to mention that there were some booths in the corridor as well. These were mostly other show organizers and promoters for other events that could be considered crossover or related shows. But, one thing to also note; less benches in the corridor this year and no massage people. The South hall was not too bad today. A decent amount of people in the aisles, some booths were busy and packed while others had the same situations as in the North hall. One person said to me today, "I walked over to South hall and noticed all these smaller guys now, since all the big guys are gone." A very fitting comment for a hall that is filled with many smaller sized booths. I have not seen this many pop up and modular booths in a while at this show.

The main event this year seems to be the InterSolar North America show. This show has grown 3 times in size in 12 months, is drawing large crowds to all floors and corners of the hall, and seems to be buzzing even after the 5pm announcement saying the show is over for the day. The show is now being called "The Largest Solar show in North America." Whether that is true or not, it is a large and good show. Much better than last year in terms of quality exhibitors and focus and the structure and flow is improved. I am curious to see how the show floor is going to look tomorrow and if the traffic is going to be as heavy as it has been. If you get a chance to visit the show; there are some great looking booths and very cool technology being presented.

And last but not least, the parties. What has happened to the large parties that are put on beginning Tuesday night and onto Wednesday night? No more Loomis party; they did away with it last year. How about Applied? Did anyone rent out Jillians this year? Nextest (now owned by Teradyne) had it there and didn't return. I did stroll over to the W Hotel to catch up with Entegris and they had a private event in conjunction with their meeting space and hospitality rooms. Praxair was holding their annual meetings in the hotel and not sure if they had their party as they have been for a few years on the terrace. Honeywell decided not to attend this year and in turn, canceled their party at The Thirsty Bear. But, there are still some that put on an event during the show and keep the party going. Will they did it again next year?

Check back tomorrow for our recap and last day of show report. As always, you can follow our live Tweets and impressions from the show floor in addition to things overheard.

Showtime, Day One

2009-07-14T21:08:00.000-07:00

It was the first day of SEMICON West and InterSolar NA 09 and we've got a report all the halls. As normal practice for some, 9am is the time when people start trickling in to setup, clean up, prepare, and get the last minute things done. And of course, there are some that come in at 9am and just start setting up their whole booth. I did notice a decent amount of people on the show floor at 9am gettings things ready in the South hall which was a positive sign.

As I walked the South hall, I did notice less equipment from exhibitors and more virtual displays and graphics. A huge size change for Disco was evident; once a 30' x 40' double deck structure to a 20' x 20' booth. Semitool who once brought two large machines, did not bring any and did not have a custom booth; they rented a modular system. The space that was once occupied by ASML, is now a TechXPot area and seating. Verigy has a decent sized booth that looks pretty good and is a rental booth; great space and design.

In the North hall, traffic was light, aisles were not that crowded, and the same scene; not much equipment on the show floor. Honeywell who once had a 20' x 30' double deck structure is not there either. A few other companies to note that are not in attendance are Oerlikon, K&S, and Rudolph Technologies. It's also good to see that ASML is still supporting the show by doing promotions and advertising in various locations throughout the halls.

West hall and the InterSolar NA show is huge! 3 times the growth from last year, more and larger exhibits, tons of foot traffic and buzz. The hall is packed on all levels and it looks like quality attendees. It even seems like there is more interest and traffic in the West hall than in North and South combined.

I also attended booth assigning with my client this morning and got to see the antcipated floor plans for next year. I was also told that last year, booth assigning was 80% full during the show and over the course of the year, 40% canceled their reservations for one reason or another. That is a staggering number of cancelations and lost revenue. Some exhibitors have even said that they will not come back next year as it is too expensive to be there and others just have not decided yet. The industry is changing again and no longer is it cyclical. It seems the downturn has lasted for years now and everyone is looking for the end of it. More tomorrow from showsite.

I did hear a funny comment from an exhibitor today, "next year, all the semiconductor guys will be over in the West hall at InterSolar since that seems to be the future." Follow us on Twitter as well to see other comments as heard on the show floor.

Final Day Of Move In = Large Aisles

2009-07-13T21:37:00.000-07:00

As the final day of move in for SEMICON West and InterSolar North America 2009 started today, a few things of interest are of note. Not many exhibitors were on the floor bright and early at 8am and at the same time, there were still some booths that were not quite finished. We finished setting up our booth (Electroglas, South Hall, 721) in a few hours so I walked to the floor.

You will notice large open spaces in the back corners and sides. In the covered areas closer to the front of the hall, are storage and staging; once packed with exhibitors. The aisles are large, way larger than last year. Normal freight aisles that used to be thin and packed with crates, had plenty of room for forklifts and carts to go back and forth without causing a traffic jam. By 10am, I had noticed Freeman laying out aisle carpet in some areas. Empties were going out fast, very fast. By noon, main aisle carpet was being laid out as well in the back and front of the hall. That was just the South hall and in the North hall, it's not much different. Very wide aisles, lots of empty space on the sides and back which are filled with lounges, seating areas, tables for eating, etc. In the area just between North hall and the Gateway, is empty storage. This used to be packed as well and now, nothing. Also of note, not many companies utilized the stairs or walls for advertising opportunities. Usually, the stairs, sides of the escalators, and other main traffic areas have something, but not this year.

In the West hall, which is dedicated to the hugely popular and growing InterSolar NA show, thigns are much different than North and South. This show used to be one level; it is now three. Huge stands, large areas, equipment, machines, lighting and rigging, and more. I must say, this looks like this will be a great show this year and should keep growing.

Tomorrow is the first day of the show and we will discuss the attendance and participation. It is going to be interesting to see how many will come to the show floor and who did not make the trek this year to the show as an exhibitor. Follow us on Twitter (@inlineonline) as well to get our daily updates from the show floor.

Where Is Everyone?

2009-07-10T22:17:00.000-07:00

It is day two of move in for SEMICON West 2009 and there is already many booth structures up and nearly complete. There are a few things of interest to note as well. SEMICON itself is back to where it used to be, just in North and South halls. Intersolar North America is in West hall and none of the SEMICON exhibitors are there this year. With some of the bigger players from previous years not attending this year, there is plenty of open space on the show floor. In the back left corner of the South hall, where ASML usually is, is a wide open space that looks like it will become some meeting area. There are noticeably wider aisles, more space on the sides and back, and less machines. It is a good sign though that some exhibitors did bring their equipment and machines to the show though.

We had some freight being delivered to site today that had to be checked into the marshalling yard before 3pm as it was closing. The truck arrived in the yard at about 1:30pm and by 2pm, the freight was in the booth. This does mean that there are not many trucks delivering sitting in the marshalling yard today; the second full day of move in on straight time. In addition, the marshalling yard closed at 3pm today; not enough trucks to dictate the yard to be open all day. Emtpy docks in the halls as well and not many crates moving around. Granted, much freight had already been delivered and booths were up, but, it's not like how it used to be. With the way things are, it clearly means that participation is down, people are cutting costs on shipping, drayage, labor, and more. The second day of move in used to be busy, hectic even, but not today.

With a quiet second day and the halls calm as well, one must wonder how the attendance will be this year. We'll see how the halls are over the weekend and how many booths will be still going up. We are also curious to see how many more exhibitors arrive today versus Sunday; cost cutting measures? Just a few more days until the show starts!

SEMICON West 09 Is Here

2009-07-09T10:36:00.000-07:00

For me personally, SEMICON West is THE show every year. Having been involved within the semiconductor industry for just about 10 years now, this show has always been a highlight of the year for me. It always was the largest show on the SEMI circuit and always brought in the who's who of the industry to San Francisco for a week. This year though, it appears that exhibitor attendance is down on the show floor. The booths are now consolidated into the North and South halls and the Intersolar North America show is now in the West hall on it's own.

Is this a sign of the economic times and has it hit the semiconductor industry that hard? If you look at the floor plan for this year, you will notice some of the usual players aren't participating. ASML who typically has a large booth is not there, ATMI is not exhibiting, Praxair is not on the show floor, and Kulicke and Soffa are not present either. Whether it is the global economy or other strategic reasons, participation at the once huge show is down. At the same time, there are plenty of other companies that feel it is still important and worth the financial expenditure to participate at the show this year.

This year, we will write about our experiences during the week and what we observe on the show floor from setup all the way through dismantle. We want to give a first hand account of what is going on behind the scenes, how installations are going, what exhibitors and vendors are saying, and the moods and demeanors of the show this year. Follow us on Twitter as well at http://twitter.com/inlineonline as we will post throughout the day on what is going on.

EE Times - 10 Semiconductor Companies In Trouble

2009-06-10T10:02:00.000-07:00

There was a very interesting article written and published on EE Times.com the other day regarding some semiconductor companies that are heading if not already in trouble. Having worked and been associated with the semiconductor industry for about 10 years now, this was great reading and yet, not a total shock. The article can be found here and is 3 parts.

I have worked with some of the companies listed and worked for one of them as well. It is tough times for semiconductor companies and especially those in the capitol equipment segment. But, if these companies can prevail through these tough economic times, they should be able to flourish again when things turn around.

JavaOne Pavilion 2009

2009-06-09T15:16:00.000-07:00

The JavaOne Conference and Pavilion was held last week in San Francisco at the Moscone Center and we were in attendance. This event is mainly a conference filled with programs, seminars, training sessions, releases, and more. It does incorporate a Pavilion that includes exhibitors and partners within the technology community. In the past this event has drawn many attendees and participants for both the conference section and the Pavilion sections but this year seemed to be short on one end. The Pavilion was by far, much smaller than in previous years with less participation and smaller sized booths on the show floor. Most of the area was designated for open seating, large demo and other attractions, and lounges rather than participants.

In seeing this type of participation level this year and in addition to other trade shows and events, it is obvious that things are down. Yes, budgets have and still continue to be cut all over and this translates to less participation at trade shows globally. At the same time, companies and organizations are shifting their tactics and plans to better spend those dollars in other ways such as private events, direct marketing, and other forms of promotion. There are many ways to still be successful in the marketplace without being on a trade show floor; it just means being a bit more creative. If you are considering pulling out of your trade show schedule and want to find alternatives, we can help. The trade show floor is part of the puzzle, but can be replaced by another that fits just as well.

Social Networking - Will It Work For You?

2009-04-17T16:13:00.001-07:00

As we finish up our first full week online, the questions of social networking come to mind. As a marketing centric company, we feel that social networking is a key element to a great strategic marketing plan. But, how do you gauge and measure your efforts of social networking? What are the best ways to be in the social networking environment and is there a specific way to do it?

For many businesses and individuals out there, social networking is a key element to a sales and marketing strategy. Granted, some companies feel that utilizing social networking tools might not be the best program or tactic to reach potential business, but you have to admit, it is a different way of doing business, period.

As Inline Connection goes forward, we feel that social networking is a key element to expanding not only our business, but a way to communicate to the world. It is not the only way of course to get the word out or further communicate with people, but, it is one more avenue for individuals and companies to reach that person. Of coure, nothing beats a good face to face meeting or phone call, but you have to consider that a Blog like this, or a Tweet, can help you reach a larger audience a lot quicker, than a phone call or face to face meeting.

As you are moving your business along and looking ahead, are you asking yourself these same or similar typed questions? You are not alone as many are now beginning to see the advantages of how social networking tools can better your business. To see how social networking can be of use to you, contact us to help you explore and implement solutions for your programs.

Let's Connect!

2009-04-13T18:27:00.001-07:00

With the world economy in a constant up and down in all corners of the globe, many are watching expenditures. Whether it is cutting back on supplies or advertising to limiting travel, everyone is being smarter in what they do. Being smarter is one of the keys to being successful in these difficult times and Inline Connection, Inc. is here to help you those keys.

Today, we launched our new website, http://www.inline-connection.com/. Here you will find information and details on how our programs, solutions, and expertise can help you be effective in this economy. I encourage you to visit our site, poke around a bit and see how we can fit into your plans and programs. You can easily navigate to our site via the menu under the title on this page.

As we move forward, this site will be updated with various news and information, tips, strategies, and more, to further communications around the world. It is our goal, to make sure you connect with the correct tool or solution to get the job done. Please feel free to subscribe to our posts by clicking on the link at the right and also join our Twitter updates as well. And of course, always feel free to contact us directly via phone or email.

Have a great one and let's Connect!