Apple Rock is Proud to Present the NCRVDA Annual RV Show!

Posted on January 20, 2012 by applerock

North Carolina RV Dealers AssociationAmong the many things that Apple Rock does, we are also the proud creator and promoter of the North Carolina RV Dealers Association (NCRVDA) Annual RV Show. I guess you could say we get to practice what we preach.  This weekend we kick off the first show of the season at the Raleigh Convention Center, January 20th -22nd; then we will travel to Charlotte and Greensboro in February and March.  The NCRVDA Annual RV Show is the largest RV Show in NC, and it is the only show fully supported by the NCRVDA. Each show will feature 13 RV Dealers, OVER 100 brands of RVs, campgrounds, accessories and more – all under one roof.

We invite you to come out to the show, and DISCOVER the RV Camping lifestyle. RV Camping is a great American pass time that can bring your family closer together, and reinvent your family vacations. According to recent studies by the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), even though the cost of gas prices have fluctuated over the last couple of years, RV vacations still remain the least expensive vacation option. PKF Consulting, an internationally recognized consulting firm with expertise in travel and tourism, found that “typical RV family vacations are on average 26 to 74 percent less expensive than other types of vacations studied.” Even factoring in RV ownership and fuel costs, the study reveals that RV vacations are more economical than those taken by personal car, commercial airline or cruise ship.

There’s never been a better time to shop for an RV. Come see the latest and greatest in RV and RV equipment. 2012 Models will be debuted at all three shows; and you will find better, more fuel efficient models…even some are GREEN! Participating RV dealers will display everything from tent campers, travel trailers, 5th wheels, motorhomes, hi-line motor coaches, to park models and conversion vans in a variety of floor plans-all affordably priced to meet every budget and camping lifestyle.  As a bonus, all Attendees (25 years old and older) will also have an opportunity to register to win a brand new 2012 Chevy Silverado, sponsored by Carolina Chevy Dealers. (Please visit www.northcarolinarvda.com for official contest rules and information.)

Click here to learn more about how you can embark on a new adventure with your family this summer, and GO RVing!

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General Contractor vs. Exhibit Appointed Contractors

Posted on January 11, 2012 by applerock

I’ve heard the question asked many times, “Why would we hire an outside company to install and dismantle our trade show booth, rather than the general contractor?”  Let me explain the differences to help your decision easier:

The General Contractor (GC) is the standard union labor worker offered at the show for you to hire.  They are usually hired as temporary employees on a show-to-show basis.  The GC has literally no ties to the company they are installing for and most of the time you will never meet the person who is handling your $40,000.00+ booth.  They are handed instructions when they arrive at your booth space on how to assemble it, where the graphics go, what literature you have, how many crates were supposed to be dropped off, et cetera.  As soon as they are done installing your booth, no matter how long it takes…they are off the next booth space and most likely never to be found again. I am not saying that these workers are not good at what they do; I just know that accountability is a hard thing to ensure when they are expected to install numerous booths from 8:00 am till 4:30 pm each day, with little to no knowledge prior to showing up. 

Exhibitor Appointed Contractors (EACs) are a team of experts that you hire in lieu of the GC, to install and dismantle your display.  EACs are most often full-time employees that are event and trade show skilled workers.  They tend to have more knowledge of your display – they have access to instructions and photos of your booth prior to the event.  They review the installation and create a team to work together prior to your move in date of the show.  They have full contact with you during the install and after to be sure everything is meeting or exceeding your expectations.  If questions arise, as they likely do, they are able to contact you and clarify your needs and expectations.  Most EACs are reachable thru-out the show and will likely be the same people taking the booth down, packing it up, and shipping it back to you.  Being that the EACs are hired individually by you the client there is more accountability. An EAC works for YOU – they represent you interests and want to make sure the process goes as seamlessly as possible. They make every effort to complete the job in the allotted time that was quoted to you.  If something unforeseen occurs they will notify you of the delay and any extra hours if needed.  With an EAC, you will not be blind-sided at the close of the show with overage expenses that you were not made aware of.

Tradeshows are an investment. You have already invested good money into the design of your display and products, so I hope that you also invest in the way your booth is handled.  The mishaps and damages that can occur from someone installing your booth incorrectly, or carelessly unpacking and packing it can really take a toll on your marketing budget, not to mention, your stress levels!  So, take care of your investment – shop around for the best EAC that will take care of you and your display. Look for a company you can partner with for all your shows.  You will likely find some very creditable companies who are competitively priced with the labor cost of the GC’s out there, and you will be able to rest easy knowing that your investment is taken care.

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Increase Your Traffic with Hanging Signs

Posted on January 9, 2012 by applerock

How do you identify yourself as a must-see exhibitor? How you tell attendees who you are, where to find you, and that you can’t be missed? Have you thought about using a hanging sign to be the first to catch a prospect’s eye? An impactful hanging sign may be the additional signage you need to increase your traffic.

By rigging a sign from the ceiling of the trade show hall, you are increasing your display area exponentially and encouraging those across the hall to find you and visit your booth. The benefits of a hanging sign include:

  • A new sign can really make you stand out. Hanging signs come in all different shapes and sizes that you can select to mimic your look and brand. You can even create a custom shape to match your logo shape, include your corporate/brand message, or even a dynamic image or picture.
  • In addition to the impact from the height of your sign, you can also creatively add light and motion, both of which increase the attention to you booth.
  • Hanging signs are now light weight, making them easy to ship, assemble & hang!

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    Although rigging a hanging sign does require the expense of having the show rig it, the guaranteed impact, surge in traffic and the resulting rise in sales opportunities make it worth the additional expense!

    Posted in Branded Spaces, Product Innovations & Offerings, Trade Show Displays | Leave a comment

    Tradeshow Swag Bag Black Hole

    Posted on January 6, 2012 by applerock

    With the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2012 at our feet, I’m really looking forward to walking the show floor and seeing all the new technology. Especially the QR codes (quick response codes) technology to see what’s new and how they’re applicable with Face-to-Face marketing. If you’ve attended a tradeshow, you probably packed a bag full of promotional products, business cards and marketing material. (QR) codes can help avoid the tradeshow swag bag black hole.

    QR code technology acts like a hyperlink for print and multimedia when scanned by a smart phone. When a QR code is scanned by a Smartphone, it leads to different type’s content, Webpage, Marketing Collateral or a Video.

    QR Codes are becoming a trademark of the social medial marketing world and are growing in popularity. The International CES event is the world’s largest technology tradeshow. This year’s show takes place at the Las Vegas Convention Center and other venues from Jan 10 to 13. This year’s show should be just shy of the 1.8 million square feet exhibits. Looking forward to seeing how exhibitors are integrating QR Codes into face-to-face trade show exhibits environments.

    Posted in Communicate Your Event, Event Planning, Face to Face Marketing, Technology Shows, Technology for Event Marketing, What's Going On in Advertising | Leave a comment

    Out With The Old, In With The New

    Posted on January 4, 2012 by applerock

    This is the time of year when everyone begins to clean out closets, plan new budgets and decide what to do differently in the New Year. As the old saying goes, “Out with the old and in with the new.”

    So what about your tradeshow or lobby displays? Refreshing your branded environments every year can bring new life to your brand and your image. Refurbishment is a wonderful way to accomplish this while still being kind to the environment. Consider reusing what you can and should. Relieve yourself of the burden of carrying over what weighs you down from season to season or year to year, figuratively and literally.

    Lighten the load for shipping – and drayage of course – and incorporate fabric graphics. Look for opportunities to replace old, especially large, graphics with lighter weight fabric graphics. Fabric can help lighten your display both physically and visually. You could take it a step further and retrofit your display with fabric graphic light-boxes!

    While you are considering what to do for 2012, or how to economically create a fresh new face for your event branded environments, refurbishing may be the place to start. Recycle, reuse and refurbish!

    Posted in Branded Spaces, Event Planning, Green & Sustainable Displays, Trade Show Displays | Leave a comment

    Make a Lasting Impression

    Posted on December 21, 2011 by applerock

    The SEMA 2011 Trade Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world. It draws the industry’s brightest minds and hottest products to one place: The Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas. One of the most exciting things about the SEMA Show is the custom and collector vehicles on display each year. 

    This year, as I walked the 2011 trade show floor, I was instantly transported back to my childhood when I saw the General Motors exhibit.  Chevrolet and Hot Wheels teamed up to create a life-size orange Hot Wheel’s track with the new Camaro Hot Wheels Concept Car.  I imagined myself back in time feeling the need to build my own Hot Wheels track.  All I could think about was the time spent as a kid playing with the orange track making different designs.  Thinking back now, I realize my love of cars started at the very moment the wheels started down The Orange Hot Wheel’s Track……

    Chevrolet and Hot Wheels make a lasting impression at SEMA 2011.

    The core of good marketing is appealing to the emotions of your audience, and successful branding that leaves a lasting impression with us all. Who does not relate to this image, regardless of your age? Tradeshow marketing is no different. Where else do you have the opportunity to create a life size Hot Wheels track? Creating the “WOW Factor” is easier than you think: This design was accomplished with a custom, yet simple, light weight fabric structure and hanging sign. Add the lime green car and voila!

    Make a lasting impression at YOUR next show by incorporating unique design elements to make your booth and company stand out.

    Posted in Branded Spaces, Trade Show Displays, Trade Show Strategy | Leave a comment

    Sustainability in the Trade Show Industry

    Posted on December 15, 2011 by applerock

    As most of us know, the last several years have most certainly put sustainability on the back burner, making room for what most of us consider green… a profit. Nonetheless, many companies have continued a commitment to their sustainability missions and efforts and have been able to provide clients with the kind of environmentally friendly solutions they need. In fact, recently Apple Rock was proud to work with Modernizing Medicine who needed to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability. We produced a display with bamboo, recycled content graphics and upcycled extrusion. For those that have heard this term for the first time, Upcycling is “the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value.”*

    As the year comes to a close, Apple Rock’s own commitment to being environmentally responsible has been shown with our Year to Date metrics calculating that we mitigated 26.04 cubic feet from being sent to a landfill, saved over 174 trees from being cut down and recycled more than 228 tons of build material. Small steps, maybe, but putting one foot in front of the other moves us forward.

    We’re proud of that, of course. But can we do better? More importantly, where is the industry going with regards to sustainability? As trade shows are looking up and our clients are reengaging us for more environmentally responsible solutions we have to ask ourselves, how we can go from fad to fact? We know there is nothing that replaces a face to face meeting and certainly nothing more important than being able to market directly to your audience. Recognizing that, the question comes back to how we can do that with as little impact as possible to the environment?

    There are many ways we can cut down on waste. Consider the amount of marketing materials you print to take to a show that most people throw out before they leave the building. Trade show technology is ever evolving. Comparable to bar code technology on merchandise, QR Code Technology serves a similar purpose but takes it a step further providing a great deal of information about your company and/or product(s). Apple Rock is tapping into this technology with the innovative Apple Rock Event Shopper Program (ARES). Through the use of Smart Phones, a quick scan of a company’s QR code brings up a bevy of information for a buyer, ranging from the products name, price, detailed description, and even video. This gives many of our clients the perfect solution to direct market meaningfully on a show floor with absolutely no printed materials and no waste (plus… adios drayage!). We see the Apple Rock Event Shopper as the future and our mad scientists are creating even more waste eliminating solutions for our clients and the industry. Stay tuned!!

    *Wikipedia November 2011.

    Posted in Green & Sustainable Displays | Tagged , | Leave a comment

    Electrical Information for Powering Your Show

    Posted on December 13, 2011 by applerock

    Lights and audio visual in a tradeshow exhibit are like exclamation points at the end of a sentence.  You have created a beautifully designed display that incorporates strategically creative graphics, and the lighting and a/v are the icing on the cake.  If designed and positioned properly, it allows you to put special focus on and highlight your company and brand.

    Before those lights and electronics are turned on, however, you must order electricity.  When you order your booth space at a tradeshow, most likely the only thing included in the cost is the concrete floor.  To order your electricity, you will need to pull your electrical order form from your event’s services kit. 

    Step 1: Identify your electrical needs.  Consider everything in your space that will require power such as lights, monitors, DVD players, laptops, and lead retrieval.

    Step 2: Determine the number of drops you need.  For example, if you have a 10′ x 20′ space, you may want two drops – one on the left side to power your exhibit lights and lead retrieval, and one on the right side to power your monitor and laptop.  You will need to add up the wattage to determine the amount of power to order for each drop.  This is typically available in 500 watts, 1,000 watts, and 2,000 watts, but it can vary by show and sometimes sold by the amps (1 amp = 100 watts).

    Step 3: When you order the electrical, you will need to include a scaled diagram indicating exact location of the drops and wattage, the booth dimensions, and neighboring booth numbers so the electricians can understand the orientation.

    Before your exhibit is installed, your booth space may look something like this:

    Once the flooring is laid down and the booth is erected, your booth will come alive!

    Posted in Event Planning, Lighting, Technology for Event Marketing | Leave a comment

    Twitter on the Tradeshow Floor

    Posted on December 6, 2011 by applerock

    Twitter has become a popular place to let potential customers know about an upcoming show.  It offers the ability to send teasers about the event and provide logistical information in regards to location and show hours.  We have found, however, that the tweets don’t end come show time.  In fact, this is one of the best places to send tweets!

    Twitter is helpful because it is immediate.  You can share what is going on right now, at this very moment.  It provides a platform that is engaging and exciting, all in 140 words or less!  You can engage your followers in many ways.  

    • Ask questions and re-tweet your follower’s answers.  
    • Incentivize them to stop by your booth by offering a percentage off their purchase if they mention the tweet. 
    • Communicate the exciting events going on in your booth, such as a live demonstration taking place at 1pm. 
    • Share pictures and videos straight from the show floor, enticing them to stop by to see more.
    live tweets on the tradeshow floor

    Twitter on the Tradeshow Floor

    Want to see more return on your tweets?  Many tradeshow organizers have joined the Twitter bandwagon by providing strategically placed monitors and projectors that display live tweets using the show’s hash tag. Not only are your tweets being seen by your followers, but also by anyone who is walking the show floor!

    Your bits of information, pictures, and quick communication are sure to draw in a crowd!

    Posted in Communicate Your Event, Networking and Sales, Technology for Event Marketing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

    Recap: The 2011 Sound Light Motion Event, hosted by Apple Rock

    Posted on December 5, 2011 by applerock

    Thank you to everyone who attended our 2nd Annual Sound, Light, Motion Event. This year we had over 100 people attend and DISCOVER the most advanced & cutting-edge trade show technology available today.

    If you missed the event, it is not too late to realize new ways to interact with your audience and maximize your trade show success. Although many companies can build a structure or print pretty graphics, Apple Rock is an industry pioneer in interactive trade show displays, using advanced lighting, interactive touch screen technology, and the latest in LCD/LED/HD technology. If that is not advanced enough for you, we can introduce you to the new world of Virtual Tradeshows!

    Start planning for 2012 NOW – contact an experienced representative at Apple Rock today!

    Posted in Apple Rock Announcements, Apple Rock Events, Communicate Your Event, Event Planning, Product Innovations & Offerings, Technology Shows, Technology for Event Marketing, Trade Show Displays, Trade Show Events, Trade Show Strategy | Tagged , | Leave a comment