Convention Insider (Conventions.net)

The whole world is getting into the social networking business.  Yes, even the trade show and convention industry is not immune from being caught up in the idea.  This week we are featuring a company that makes networking for the convention, conference meeting or trade show and event business easy and affordable for organizers.  I had a chance to sit down with the a founder at Eventscope. Eventscope is a UK based company that has taken the networking we normally get when attending an event to the next level and beyond.  With the companies like Facebook, Twitter, NING and all the other social sites all taking off this company is offering up some groundbreaking technology all of us should be looking into for our next event.

I had a chance to talk a bit about this cool new application with one of its founders, Hetty Browne, (pictured right).  I loved that this concept was started while her and Ewan MacLeod were sitting eating pizza.  This is the perfect application to be born out of a situation such as chatting over pizza which is what the ultimate social experience.  After speaking to Hetty, they are working now to move their online application to the next level by offering it here in the United States as well.

In our industry of trade shows and conventions we always talk about the face to face experience and how we can get the most from the networking opportunities.  This new and exciting application let’s you network both prior to the event, during the event, and long after the event is done.  I always talk about how hard it is to handle all of those business cards I get, that messy pile of contacts I have on my office floor right now as a matter of fact, and this company eliminates that problem.  I could go on about how much more that is environmentally better than business cards.

This application can also take your branding to the next level as they have the ability to be flexible with your setup.  Think about your other marketing efforts when using this application and how it can help.  They can assist in that area as well.  You can sell branded spots in the system which will help you pay for their service which I think I told them was not nearly enough of a charge.  They are quick to get you set up and can make life easier for your networking needs.

I suggest that you check out their live online demo for a better understanding of how their system works.  They have a long list of clients and I recommend that you get added to list soon!  Don’t only take my word for it, others also have chimed in.

Tags: Eventscope, Hetty Browne, Ewan MacLeod, Social Netorking, Trade Shows, Convnetions, Events, Meetings, Meeting Planners, Event Organizers

A colleague of mine and a person who I have known for a while and a prolific blogger brings up some very good points about free wifi.  I was just on a very long stint of travel that took me from Oahu to Omaha and it was the same thing in every hotel or place I stayed, "Do you have Wifi?"  It was one of the first questions out of my mouth.  I made sure I was connected which is what more and more business people are doing and relying on these days.  I was impressed by the folks in Boston as they decided that they would go ahead and offer free Internet access in there facilities as I reported in my Friday Feature.  They obviously see the business benefit and actually if I had an event in the area it would sway me to use their conference center.

I specifically look for hotels that offer free in-room Internet when I make travel arrangements.  Unfortunately, there are times like last week when I stayed at the Ramada in JFK (yes that link is broken and says "service unavailable" still – epic fail) that I made the reservations based on free wifi and when I tried to use the service it was broken.  Talk about anger over not being connected.  I was just trying to answer some email!  Take note, we are seeing now the emergence of "tethering" of iPhones and other mobile devices making Internet even more accessible.  Hotels, conference centers, meeting facilities can take a page from the book and offer it for free as a value-add.  It will pay you back ten fold from those that link to you and that talk about you online.

Photo via Repair-PC

Tags: Free Wifi, Travel, Conventions, Trade Shows, Hotels

As I sit here typing away at my computer, I can see about 5 different piles of business cards I have collected over the last few months at a number of conferences I have attended.  I always say to myself I will get around to entering them into my contacts or database or follow up with that note on the back, but for some reason that task always seems to get to the bottom of the "to do" list and I don’t get around to doing it until much later.  Sometimes the contact information itself has even expired it has been so long. Then I think of all the trees that have died to make my little piles and it makes it even worse yet.  I think I have found the answer to that problem with the folks at Mingle360.  I see big things on the horizon for this group.

I had a chance to sit down and talk with co-founder and man in charge of sales and marketing, Bradley Blinn (pictured left).  Bradley is one of three founders of the startup that now has its home in Fairfax, Virginia outside of Washington DC.  I was impressed with the technology and the simplicity of the use of their Mingle Stick.  Anytime someone takes the complex and makes it simple I take notice.  This technology is not only simple (even I can use it), it is practical and has great value for attendees of conventions, conferences, trade shows and events.  It is not just these types of things it can be used for either, as they are doing fun projects like get together’s and family events.  Think also speed dating for a moment.

In our industry of conventions and trade shows, there are thousands of attendees that come to our events and trade shows and each of them have a business card and each of them are someone you might want to connect with and later contact if necessary.  The Mingle360 folks with the Mingle Stick provide this very thing. Think of the number of times you reach out and shake a person’s hand at an event.  In the amount of time you can do that, you can get their email address, their company name, their title, phone number and much more information all by reaching out to them with your Mingle Stick.  Normally when you shake hands all you get is a name and a smile.  This elevator pitch from the company sums it up nicely:

The Mingle360 solution combines a single-purpose device with a powerful software application. The MingleStick is an innovative USB device using wireless technology to create connections between people. The MingleManager application offers total identity management with its privacy features, granular security controls, and address book tools. Our contact management service helps solve common problems and enables people to better manage their daily lives. The combination of the patent pending MingleStick and MingleManager will revolutionize how people exchange and manage identity information.

I again look at the piles of business cards in my office and see nothing but time and money to enter into my own database all of the information contained on the cards.  This company is changing the way we gather and exchange that information.  I no longer have to do the work as it is done for me.  Simple.  Easy.

I am a big fan of the social networking that is involved with conventions and trade shows and this type of application makes it easy to put that information in your profile to be shared later with every single attendee you meet.  You want your Facebook profile and Twitter page and all your other networking sites to be noticed?  Enter it all into your profile info and allow others to join in.  This tool does it all and can make life much easier putting at ease your mind when trying later to remember the face of the person associated with the business card.  Yes, that is something they also offer, the ability to put photos in your profile to be exchanged.  I can always remember a conversation and a face with a picture.

The group at Mingle360 can do onsite assistance with your every need.  They can brand the Mingle Stick with your company logo, and offer advertising on their Mingle Manager space. This nearly guarantees that every attendee will remember your event if you use their technology, and is something that will help you manage your event, trade show or convention.  Don’t forget if you are merely having a small affair with a couple hundred people at a business gathering or a large show with thousands, they can manage. I was also surprised at the affordability and how easy it is to set up.

They most recently did a show with the American Bus Association. Go over and see the video of the testimonials.  More people think it is cool than just me!  I like the comments about how it is great for those looking to be more green at their events and how attendees are saving money by using it instead of doing what I am doing.  Now off to enter in all that data from those piles of business cards. 

The company can be contacted for further information as well at:

Phone: 703-425-0402
Email: connect@mingle360.com

Tags: Mingle 360, Mingle Stcik, Conventions, Trade Shows, Meetings, Events, Social Networking, Business Cards, Lead Retrieval

I had the opportunity to sit down and speak to Renee Jain (pictured left) of ICC Rents to discuss a little about what their company does and what they offer to convention, trade show and event planners.  ICC Rents began as a family owned business as the vision of Ganpat “Jim” Jain, Renee’s father, in Chicago in 1979. The company began as a computer rental company and has exploded into one of the top rental companies in the trade show world.  What was once only servicing the Chicago area and McCormick Place, now is nationwide and services all the major conventions centers from Orlando to Las Vegas to New York and L.A.  Renee can recall the business in her father’s den when they first started and talks about the long hours it took her father, and later her brother  Raj Jain, to build this business to its current state of a 24/7 full on customer service shop servicing the nation with over 100 employees.

ICC Rents is a company that can provide all of your technology needs from a laptop for your tradeshow booth to that 103″ Plasma TV or seamless Video Wall.  They provide all the back end support as well.  Once you rent a component, you can rest assured that it will be at your show, on time, working, and will be backed by support should anything go wrong.  They have touch screen monitors, interactive kiosks and just about anything that will set your tradeshow booth apart from the competition.  They can help get you noticed on the show floor.

I asked the simple question of “why can’t I just buy a television from the local store and use it?”  She was well prepared with a response and raised many questions I had not thought of, like extension chords, cables, set up and delivery, and many other reasons why renting is a smart investment for using a company like ICC Rents to handle your needs.  Technology becomes obsolete, many pieces of equipment break down and many other reason why having a support team is important in renting the proper equipment.  There are many hidden costs that she discussed as well.  They are truly knowledgeable in the industry and have become quite trusted in more areas than just for a tradeshow.  They have corporate clients that use their services as well for onsite training and setting up meeting and events.  I could not begin to cover all the areas where they can help you with your technology needs.

In addition, and because I am serial procrastinator, this statement she said stuck in my mind:

“We are the last minute provider” ~ Renee Jain

What she meant is that many people forget about something like a required hard case for that 50″ plasma TV for their wall, or they forget that they needed a wall mount for that television or of a cable needed to make it work. When this happens they can be there immediately to cure any forgotten item or to make sure your trade show booth comes off without a hitch.  I think am going to put that number in my pocket for my future trip to Vegas in September as chances are I’ll need it.  With 24/7 service such as theirs, I can rest easy because we all know I’ll forget something.  They can help.

ICC Rents handles any type of tradeshow and not just the technical market.  Everyone is needing technology to catch attention of convention attendees and tradeshow attendees.  She mentioned the bridal industry and agricultural industries and many other areas where technology can enhance your tradeshow experience and produce more leads.

Back in March of 2008, ICC Rents was merged with Smart Source Rentals, a powerful partner that has taken their service and their ability to service trade shows and conventions to the next level.  Give ICC Rents a call for your needs, be it a computer laptop to a wall mounted television to an interactive kiosk.  Tell them Convention Insider sent you!

I just recently came home from a convention and like other times, I pull out my suitcase and go through my receipts, my clothes and shoes and other things I need to wash and put away, and finally I go through the giveaways, or the swag I received from the event. I had a pen, a canvas bag, some sticky notes and other small items that had various company logos and branding. I always look through these things and put the pens in that drawer in my desk, use those note pads constantly, and have that cool toy that my kids fight over. Where do these things come from anyway?

I had a chance to sit down and talk with a company that does just that–promotional products for your convention or trade show. A one stop shop called MARCO Promotional Products.

Ken Arch, President of MARCO Promotional Products is a second generation leader in the company started by his father in 1964. Ken is pictured on the right with company CEO Dick Nelson. Nelson also comes from a company that was started by his own father. The company now has 50+ employees and has two locations to serve their customers.

I spoke with Ken Arch about some of the things that his company is doing and how they are providing products and services to convention and trade show planners. It was a simple idea for Ken as he indicated, “We have been in business a long time and we provide the best products, the best prices, and the best service.” After speaking to Ken for a while it was clear that their company could back up that charge. They truly want to make it easy for companies or the individual to come away with the best of the best in a promotional product. They offer free samples to try before you buy, free art preparation which in most other cases is a charge you will incur, and they can offer 24 hour service. Not only that , they provide real people to speak to when you need to hear a friendly voice on the other end of the phone.

As I wandered around their website I noticed that they too are catering to the ever popular “Green Movement” and providing promotional products that are eco-friendly. In fact, they also provide a glossary of terms to help guide people in the right direction.

MARCO Promotional Products has a wide array of clients and customers from the very large non-profit organizations, to the large corporate customer, to the very small individual with a small order. They also offer very competitive prices and back that with what Ken told me was “double the difference lowest guarantee”, which he explained as ” if you find a lower price we will double the refund to you.” They also have a program for those that have orders not needed to be filled for 60-90 days called their Asia Direct program. This allows MARCO to deal direct with the manufacturer for you in getting you the best price, often times Ken indicated as a “25%-30% savings.”

Right now for Convention Insider readers and those that visit the site at Conventions.net, MARCO Promotional Products is offering a great savings, a $100 savings on a purchase of $300 or more. These details can be found on their site as well. If you are a convention planner, meeting or event planner, you can take advantage of this offer and start saving money on your next event. MARCO will guarantee your savings.

The next time you find yourself pouring through the swag after your next trade show or convention, think about where those materials came from and think about the process it took to get you that item, chances are it came from a company like MARCO Promotional Products! Thank you Mr. Arch for taking time to speak with me and keep up the good work.

Companies are using technology in ways that are innovative and beneficial for catering to the online world.  Trade shows and conventions must begin to search for ways to make technology work for them and allow them to also get into the online world.  One of the ways to accomplish this is to look for companies that are thinking ahead of the curve and making it possible to change the way business is conducted.  One such company that is out ahead and innovative is Trade Show News Television.

I had a chance to sit down and speak to the CEO of Trade Show News Television, Mr. Bob Lipp.  Bob has a very good understanding of creating exposure for your company, as he comes from an advertising agency background.  Bob opened his first ad agency long ago before anything digital was ever imagined.

“It seems like a former lifetime,” said Bob, when asked to remember the way it was. “Today, everything is digital, and with streaming video capabilities expanding on the web, more businesses, business magazine publishers, and trade show managers, are looking to video to deliver the message.”

This is a unique opportunity for trade shows and conventions and others in the industry.  Event planners and convention planners must take a look at the service provided by Lipp and his company. 

“More than ever, business customers and prospects access their information online through streaming video,” stated Lipp. “Our concept gives trade show exhibitors a unique sales tool that continues to support sales long after the trade show has ended.”

As a person that is hooked up in the use of new media for advertising, marketing and PR, I must say that I am very impressed with the company and their message.  I’m contacted daily by companies looking for ways to get into the new media space using sites like You Tube, FaceBook and Myspace.  They see the power behind the use of those new forms of media and are trying to find ways to get into the space.  The possibilities for the use of this company’s services are limitless.  I can see that exhibitors, and show managers can use this service to enhance the reach they have and to allow them to show many other people that otherwise are not able to get the experience of their trade show or convention.  It allows people the opportunity to get a feel for the excitement. 

Look into this company and their affordable services.  Trade Show News Television offers three streaming video packages: focus, reach and custom, each based on the need for content, distribution and additional marketing support.  Some of their samples are an excellent look into what they provide as well as the video above. 

I have been spending a lot of time lately speaking to and interviewing some of the leaders in our industry of conventions and trade shows and I will be doing a series of posts to reveal the results of those interviews and discussions.  One of the things that seems to occur to me after speaking to these industry leaders is that there seems to be a shift in what is the norm in trade shows and conventions and how they are being handled.  I have heard tell of new technologies being used, new players in the old world of how things were done and show managers that are seeking new ways to plan events and shows.  One thing is certain, there will be some benefit to the show exhibitors and attendees based on the changes I have seen in little areas.  Stay tuned for more information as I get all my notes together and get my posts completed.

If you would like to be featured as a thought leader in the industry or if you are doing things in the convention or trade show industry that you feel is revolutionizing the way we do business, please feel free to drop us a line or use the contact section to let us know about you.  I’ll be contacting many others to find ways to reveal what is happening in the world we live in.

We have not stopped blogging here at Convention Insider, and we haven’t broken our spell check features, we have been busy making adjustments to the Conventions.net site and making plans on how we can be the most used convention resource guide in the trade show and convention world. 

Part of the changes we have made, is the use of a new search feature here on Convention Insider.  Over on the right side of the page here, you will see a search widget, or as the folks at Lijit like to call it, “a search wijit.”  There goes the spelling alarm in my head.  This feature allows you to search not only the content here on Convention Insider, but it let’s you search the entire Conventions.net site, our network of linked friends, or the entire web, you get to choose.  Your search results will be show you directly to the information you are looking for.  If you wanted to find out about moving people for your convention and search for the folks at The Convention Store, you not only get the Friday Feature article written here, but it also send you right over to their spot on Conventions.net .  Feel free to poke around here and use the search feature and we’ll keep providing you with the results.

I knew after a few minutes into the conversation with Arnie Roberts (pictured right) of Smart-reg International  that I was in way over my head as it related to technology and the issues surrounding convention or event registration, and the associated lead generation and lead retrieval, or what Arnie likes to call “Lead Capture”.  There are so many issues related to how registrations are done and how lead retrieval is acquired, that our supposed brief conversation turned into a marathon phone conference and left me with my head spinning with all of the information available.  Think I’m kidding?  We talked about Russian spy stuff and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), copper coils and chips, world economics, and many other very technical and cool James Bond kind of stuff.  After all, Arnie got his start more than 30 years ago in the technology sector working for the American Broadcasting Company in their corporate data center.  Arnie knows data.

I can only describe Smart-reg International in a single word – INNOVATIVE.  Arnie Roberts is truly the leading expert in the area of convention or tradeshow registration.  He is sought after by companies not only locally but also globally to provide information on how best to handle registrations not only online as is the case with many of his other competitors, but also on site which is a unique offering of Smart-reg International.  Smart-reg International has handled conventions or events from as small as 200 attendees up to 92,000 people. I’m not sure how I would carry around 90,000+ business cards, but Arnie’s company offers a simple solution with their technology and innovation.  He has done this in locations here in the US, and in places like Barcelona, Berlin, Singapore and New Delhi to name a few.

Not only do they have the technology in place for handling registration and lead retrieval, they are also innovating ways for convention planners or event planners to do some very interesting things.  They are using RFID as I mentioned above to track attendees and provide invaluable data to organizers.  In addition they are adding significant value to the way conference planners can generate more exhibitors by giving value added benefits to them through new technologies.  The technology that is awaiting approval for its patent is the trademarked “ALL IN THE BADGE” technology.  A very cool badge indeed, and all of the benefits are difficult to list here, but suffice it to say, if I wanted to track my attendees, and generate leads, allow them to purchase products, or handle transactions using a badge, this would be the first place I would stop.  Other technologies the company is looking to offer for conventions or trade shows are Product Locater, Colleague Tracker, Smart Mat, and Refer-a-Friend.  Like I said, these guys are a one stop shop for getting your event on top with all the possible technology to make it a success.  If you can make it out to Las Vegas next week (December 10-12, 2007) for the IAEE’s Annual Meeting and Exhibition, stop by and speak to the folks at Smart-reg International at booth #1006, I know they can dazzle you with their service through the use of their technology.

It seems that I haven’t posted here in weeks, but it has only been days, but I am still behind in bringing things up to date.  You know what they say about excuses?  Well I don’t have much of an excuse for not posting other than I have been given the Super Bug.  I think it has transmogrified into this super bug after mutating and entering my body.  With the number of children I have and being around even more children for the holidays, I think I have been immersed in a germ infested echo chamber that continues to bombard me with bacteria and virus and all other things bad.

I have been to the doctor and finally been given a big dose of penicillin, and have been on it nearly a week now and as I start the road to recovery I will be able to catch up.  I am going to start with a new Friday Feature this week as I have a few interviews lined up for the next few Fridays.  Thanks for the patience and I’ll be posting much more here in the next few days. 

Now if I can get rid of the cough that is breaking my ribs…