bCards Pro

Enables you to quickly and easily send your contact information via email or to other devices. In conjunction with presets you can choose for every available contact detail, whether to export it or not. This allows you for example to create a preset for business contacts, which does not include your private information and vice versa. With just a tap on a preset you can distribute your contact information via email or Wi-Fi (Bonjour). All data is exported using the vCard standard and hence is readable by all popular contact management tools.

bCards Pro was adapted especially for the iPad and hence can be used on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch devices. In addition to sending your own contact information, bCards Pro allows you to quickly send any contact from your addressbook.

Dropbox

The easiest way to sync and share your files online and across computers.

Whiteboard Capture Pro

Capturing great-looking whiteboard images with Whiteboard Capture is simple. Just take a picture with your iPhone camera and drag the slider to remove artifacts until you get the perfect capture. Keep track of your whiteboard images by creating folders for related images. Moving images from one folder to another could not be easier. Give your images titles to make it easier to locate them later.

Share your whiteboard images quickly and easily via email. Images sent with email are full resolution. You can also save your images to the iPhone photo library for syncing to your computer.

Whiteboard images are saved in full resolution JPG format. Original image is also saved to allow adjustments at a later time if you’re in a hurry.

Ustream Live Broadcaster

Stream live from your iPhone with Ustream Live Broadcaster.

Ustream is the leading live interactive broadcasting platform that enables anyone to quickly broadcast to a global audience of unlimited size. Easily stream live moments from your phone and share with your friends, family, fans, followers and others — and have the recording of your video afterward! This application works on 3G or Wifi, and you can notify your Twitter community when you start broadcasting. Interact with your viewers during your broadcast using chat or Ustream’s Social Stream, which integrates a live feed of Twitter messages.
The Ustream Live Broadcaster enables you to share recorded videos to Ustream, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, and automatically streams and records to your Ustream show page.

Square

Accept payments. Everywhere.

Quickly and securely accept card and cash payments for your business, service, charity – even to sell your couch. A free Square card reader makes payments even faster. Generate email receipts. With Square for iPad, add sales tax and a beautiful list of items sold. Sign on to squareup.com to manage your sales and receipts with an intuitive web-based interface.

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In Japan, for example, it’s taken for granted that the automobile and hi-tech industry hire booth babes, booth bunnies, or booth bimbos, as they’re often known, to draw crowds. It’s regarded as the initiation phase in establishing a working relationship with a prospective customer. It’s what the target audience wants, and companies, seen as savvy marketers, are foolish not to take advantage of this enticing marketing ploy.

But, what about in the U.S? The electronic entertainment industry is the major player that’s going gangbusters using sex to entice its market. “Does it work?” a journalist recently asked me. “It depends on what outcome you’re looking for,” was my response. If you want to attract hoards of men to your booth, then you’ll probably hit the jackpot. Also, chances are extremely high that they’ll walk away with some product information or nifty giveaway, especially if a scantily clad, busty female hands it to them. But, will it sell product? That’s highly questionable and still very much of an unknown.

According to various tradeshow research studies, people have very little trouble remembering the blonde bombshell flaunting her wares at the booth, but the product she represented, that’s a different matter.

Realize too that this type of allure is considered cheap marketing, and any company worth its salt, shouldn’t totally rely on it as their at-show promotional campaign.

Before you go hiring booth babe talent indiscriminately, let’s look at five questions you should be asking and some possible answers for you to consider:

1. What are you trying to achieve?

This question hinges totally on why you’re exhibiting. What are your goals and objectives, and how will the results of this particular show impact your overall corporate marketing strategy? If you’re introducing a new product/service into either a new or existing market, and your goal is to attract attention, draw a crowd, and get information into people’s hands, then going the booth babe route may be a possible solution. However, if you’re trying to have a meaningful conversation and gather quality leads from the show, I’d highly recommend that you rethink your strategy.

2. Who’s your target market?

If your products/services are bought and used primarily by a male audience, then appealing to them at a sexual level will probably draw them to your booth. But realize that for every male you attract, you’re very likely to alienate a potential female customer. With more and more women entering former male-dominated industries and positions, you’re definitely taking a big risk with this form of enticement.

3. What company image do you want to project?

Every company, however big or small, has a certain image in its marketplace. Naturally, the larger the company, the greater its image. That image, whether conservative, hi-tech, innovative, or trendy, is usually portrayed in some way on the show floor. It may be expressed through your booth design, your staff uniforms or a live marketing presentation. The question is, “How does having booth babes reflect the image you want people to have of your company?” To be honest, I’m not sure enough companies think this question through completely before they opt for this type of attraction.

4. What product branding are you attempting to establish?

Image and product branding are usually very closely related. Many marketers spend megabucks on product branding, so everything done to enhance name recognition needs careful consideration. According to Marc Gobé, author of Emotional Branding, “building the right emotion is the most important investment you can make in a brand. It is the promise you make to consumers, giving them permission to enjoy the world of the brand.” Similarly, Daryl Travis, in his book Emotional Branding: How Successful Brands Gain the Irrational Edge, states, “A brand carries an awesome responsibility. A brand bears both the burden and the strength of a serious promise in the mind of all its customers. A brand is a mark of integrity, reputation, and a collection of memories.” So, how will the woman dressed in a black leather, form-fitting, zip-up one-piece impact the branding you’re working so hard to establish?

5. What happens if the competition is using sex to sell? Should you follow suit?

Go back to the first four questions to find out if this is truly the right marketing you should be doing to achieve the results you’re looking for. Over 76 percent of people visiting shows are looking for something new and innovative. And, knowing that they want information, education, help to do their job better, and ways to save time and money, what can you do to help them? Surely you can put together a marketing strategy to entice your target audience without having to resort to the oldest lure known to man. Try to be different. More often than not, people are attracted to something unique and out of the ordinary. Do people want to be entertained at tradeshows? Yes, and since booth babes are usually only viewed as eye candy, there are many different ways to keep visitors amused that can better reflect your goals and objectives.

Consider your company image, your branding, and how you can help your target market to be successful through your products/services. You know, that especially in this tight economy, upper management is fixated on bottom-line thinking, which means producing results from your tradeshow efforts. So, dare to be different, and think of dealing in a different currency from the masses.

Are you ready for your next tradeshow? Give us a call today (888) 646-5657 and let’s discuss!

Written by Susan A. Friedmann, CSP, The Tradeshow Coach, Lake Placid, NY, working with exhibitors and meeting & event planners to improve their event success through coaching, consulting and training.

Website: www.thetradeshowcoach.com

Exhibit producer promotes reusability as easy on the budget AND the environment

NILES, Illinois (March 18, 2009) — While the 2008 mantra of “green exhibiting” may have been replaced by “reduce costs,” Nimlok Company believes it is possible to be Earth friendly and budget smart. The exhibits and display producer is working to ensure ecologically conscious exhibiting isn’t lost in the buzz of recession-time concerns.

For many exhibitors, just finding an affordable way to exhibit at their next show is critical. Nimlok encourages on-the-fence exhibitors to maintain their show presence by offering reduced pricing on rental properties while promoting refreshed graphics to keep their brands and products up to date. This strategy, while financially responsible, is also environmentally conservative.

“Nearly 40-years before “green” was an exhibiting buzzword, Nimlok began developing reusable exhibit solutions,” says Simon Perutz, President of Nimlok Company. “Our reconfigurable custom modular designs and dynamic exhibit rental program support our commitment to waste reduction and create affordable exhibiting alternatives.”

Nimlok distributors are also encouraging long-term reusability in developing exhibits. Their custom modular exhibit designs can reconfigure to adapt to different show dimensions and face-to-face settings. The concept of “many interchangeable exhibits from one” reduces the overall design budget, limits materials and reduces storage.

“A 20-by-20 island exhibit can be scaled down and used as two separate 10-by-10’s, then be further broken down and incorporated permanently to brand a lobby space,” says Nimlok Director of Design Dave Fugiel. “This prolongs the life and usage of our exhibits and stretches the client’s return on investment.”

Nimlok Company is a global leader in delivering face-to-face marketing experiences, including tradeshow exhibits, event environments and permanent solutions for branding spaces. Now in its fourth decade, Nimlok works via a network of 200 partners in 56 countries to provide strategy and execution in custom modular design, construction, installation, dismantle and storage. To learn more, please visit www.nimlok.com.

Focus Displays is proud to join an industry-wide movement to promote the value of tradeshows and their effectiveness.

As your buyers are challenged to increase sales with fewer marketing dollars, tradeshows and events are being cut from their marketing programs. Collectively, we can help influence and educate our clients that tradeshows and events still represent the best and most meaningful way to connect with key customers.

Face-to-face marketing accelerates the sales cycle and still represents the best dollar-for-dollar value versus other competing media/marketing vehicles.

With this movement, the goal is to collectively communicate that TRADESHOWS WORK!

As part of this campaign, we will be placing this logo on our websites, store front windows, marketing collateral and more and we hope you’ll do the same. Together we can start a trend!

Join us in taking an active role in promoting TRADESHOWS WORK!

Get The Facts!

Nimlok NYC’s Paul Conway, and Nimlok Designer Tyler Posey created a stunning 10×20 inline booth that embodies the full scope of Nimlok’s capabilities.

“What makes this exhibit so special is that we truly incorporated everything we do well,” said Posey. “A combination of vivid fabric architecture, sleek new 50 mil custom modular components, custom counters, media integration–this thing has it all!”

Adding attention to detail to the long list, the exhibit’s clean looks are supported by white powder-coated extrusion, clever lighting and floating screens that present Nimlok NYC’s recent projects.

Through an exhibiting partnership with Centricity Group, a healthcare software and information solutions company, Nimlok NYC enters the preeminent health care exhibiting show with a company that offers great experience and strong relationships within the sector.

We wish Nimlok NYC and Centricity Group great success at this year’s HCEA Annual Meeting. And, congrats to Tyler and Paul for a very cool design of the week!

“For four decades, the Nimlok brand has been a leader in the development of innovative trade show exhibits and face-to-face marketing solutions,” said Simon Perutz, President of Nimlok’s Parent company, the P3 Group. “I can think of no better way to celebrate the imagination that has built this business than with a series of new exhibit systems.”

New structural components are already being incorporated into Nimlok designs, resulting in a wave of lighter weight custom exhibits. Meanwhile, these same elements are being integrated into a new line of smaller, dynamic in-line exhibit kits.

These innovations continue Nimlok’s long-standing tradition of meeting evolving exhibiting needs with a combination of product development and strong client support.

“We credit much of our success over the years to a responsive, solutions-driven approach to exhibiting,” said Giles Douglas, CEO of Nimlok. “Our company was founded on working closely with our clients to develop outstanding exhibit and display solutions, through innovative design and outstanding service.”

Innovative Roots
Beginning with a small toolkit of display components, Nimlok developed into a global full-service exhibit house. Its 300,000 square foot U.S. facility supports a nationwide network of face-to-face marketing firms with design and construction of a broad range of exhibit solutions. Through headquarters in the U.S., United Kingdom and Canada, Nimlok’s international reach includes 200 distribution partners in 56 countries.

The company’s story began in 1970, when an English photographer named Neil Nimmo invented a portable backdrop system based on a series of locking clips.

He turned to Gerald Perutz – father of Simon and current Chairman of Nimlok – to help commercialize this idea. Nimlok was named for Mr. Nimmo and his innovative locking clip. Its first office and small production facility opened on Floral Street in London’s Covent Garden, then a low rent area adjacent to the fruit and vegetable market. Covent garden is now one of London most trendy and expensive areas.

Nimlok quickly evolved its tool-less method for connecting display panels, making it perfect for portable exhibits in a developing trade show industry. Forty years later, the system now includes an extensive library of locks, posts, graphics and connections that have led the custom modular exhibit design movement. Combined with a broad range of portable display products, in-house exhibit design and graphics capabilities, and a broad distribution network of exhibit consultants, Nimlok has grown into a one-stop solution for trade show exhibits and event environments.

Continued Growth and Environmental Commitment
An anniversary, new product lines and expansion are among milestones Nimlok plans to celebrate in a series of corporate events beginning this summer on both sides of the Atlantic. The manufacturer will also celebrate the recent ISO 14001:2004 certification of its environmental management system. Nimlok is the first custom modular exhibit manufacturer in North America to achieve this status, recognizing an organization’s high-level commitment to environmental protection.

“In 40 years of developing trade show exhibits, this is by far our proudest achievement,” said Simon Perutz. “Our custom modular exhibit systems offer great flexibility and reusability, creating an outstanding green alternative to custom construction. Environmental protection has always been among our core values as a company, and we hope our certification will pave the way for adoption of these standards across the industry.”

About Nimlok
Nimlok Company is a global leader in delivering face-to-face marketing experiences, including trade show exhibits, event environments and permanent solutions for branding spaces. Nearing its fourth decade, Nimlok works via a network of 200 partners in 56 countries to provide strategy and execution in custom modular design, construction, installation, dismantle and storage. For more information, go to www.nimlok.com.

Our promotional displays feature large, easily changed graphics for maximum impact and targeted messaging. And of course they can be custom designed to meet your specific needs.