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Welcome to the Tex Visions Blog
A place for our resellers. Talk about what matters most to you. Share your insights. Present us with your challenges. Learn about our team. Connect with us.
Meet the Tex Visions Team: Devon Hoch, Sales
Endurance. It's a necessary trait for any runner. Luckily for Devon Hoch, she's got plenty of it.
During a regular work week, Devon can be found up in Tex Visions customer service and sales offices. But, when not taking orders, she trades business casual for running gear. Where there's a path to run, Devon can probably be found, her feet connecting to the ground in a brisk motion. It's all part of the training necessary for the 2014 Hershey Half Marathon.
"Running is more mental than physical," Devon said. "The only thing stopping you from completing the race or going the distance is you."
How long have you been running? What made you start?
Devon: I've only been running for about a year and a half now. My first race was the Capitol 10-Miler in Harrisburg on April 7, 2013, and I started to train for that in November 2012.
That race was my motivation to start running. I saw an ad for it in a brochure when I went to a concert at the Harrisburg Symphony with my mom during the holidays in 2012. I wanted to find an outlet for getting in shape, so I found the ad intriguing. While we were waiting for the symphony to start, I showed her the ad and she laughed it off, saying I would never complete the race, let alone prepare for it in the first place. That motivated me even more to run.
You're running in the 2014 Hershey Half Marathon in October. Why this race?
Devon: It benefits the Children's Miracle Network and there were a couple of sponsored kids along the way. When the gun went off, the racers high-fived one of the sponsored kids which was cool because you could tell he was so excited to see all these people out there for him. Also, the track took us around the Milton Hershey campus and all of the boys and girls that stay there were cheering us on and handed us Hershey candy.
What kind of training have you been doing?
Devon: My training calls for me to run five days a week. I have gotten better at actually waking up and running before work, but with all the snow we've had this winter, it forces me to run on a treadmill and I don't like doing that unless absolutely necessary. I like sprinting and running in intervals, and I find hill running exciting. You hate running up the hill but when you make it you feel sublime.
Where do you like to run?
Devon: My favorite places to run are places I'm familiar with because I can track the distance in my mind. I like trail running on the Appalachian Trail and running on park trails close to my house. When I go to the beach, I'll run on the sand. I did that before when I was younger, just messing around, and it is challenging.
What do you like most about running?
Devon: I don't really think about anything when I run and I like that a lot. I've heard people say the reason running reduces stress is because they think about their problems when they run and they come up with solutions to their problems. I don't do that. I just keep going and focus on my breathing and the beat of the song that is playing. When I am done, I feel good because I stuck with it.
Devon is a member of sales Team 3, which handles requests from Alaska, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Canada.
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The Trade Show Olympics: Tips to Win the Gold Medal
The Gold Medal. It’s the dream of and goal for every Olympian in Sochi right now. There’s no greater feeling of accomplishment and effort for an Olympian to stand on the platform wearing a gold medal. Sadly, we can’t all be Olympic athletes. We can, however, compete to the best of our ability no matter the industry or venue, like a trade show.
In order to win the gold (i.e. be the biggest draw) at the next trade show or conference, you have to view exhibiting as Olympians view their respective sport. Remember …
It’s a competition.
Olympians have a respect for one another. You see it in the way they shake hands and hug before and after the event. Despite all the respect they may have for one another, they still know it’s a competition, and they want to win.
You want to take this mentality to any trade show or conference. You can meet with other vendors, shake hands and network, but you also have to remember these people want attendees to visit their booths and check out their services. You want attendees to check out your company, your message and your offerings.
It’s a battle for attention. You don’t want to enter into the “Trade Show Olympics” unprepared. What can you do to win the gold? If it were a traditional competition, below are the categories the judges would probably base your score on.
To get some professional perspective, Tex Visions general manager Nicole Wilson, a veteran trade show exhibitor, offers some valuable tips to consider.
Endurance
A trade show is about making connections, whether it’s sales or networking. Exhibiting means a lot of talking, shaking hands and moving about. You need to have endurance in order to properly showcase a trade show display.
Nicole Says …
“Getting a good night’s rest the night before, especially after a long day of travel and booth set up, is key. I recommend eating a nice breakfast and then really engaging visitors at the show. If you just sit around and wait, you tend to get bored easily, which will lead to becoming tired.”
Creativity
Have you ever wondered why the outfits professional ice skaters are so elaborate and colorful? It makes them stand out to the judges. You’ll also want to stand out for the judges, i.e. visitors. Be creative with your design and layout. Successful exhibitors take creative risks. If your creative approach doesn’t pan out, try again at the next one.
Nicole Says …
“Have something in your booth to catch attendees’ eyes. I was once at a show where they had a baby alligator in their booth, which had nothing to do with what they were selling, but you could hold it, which caught people’s attention.
“The Tex Visions booths are very uniform, but are unique because of the Bowflag® Premiums. Our tallest Bowflag (17.1 ft) really makes us stand out.”
Design
Being creative is one thing. It’s another to have a trade show space that’s well designed and laid out. Whether you’re in a large space or small space, you want to make the most out of the space you have. You don’t want to have so many products in your booth that visitors can’t step inside your booth, but you don’t want to have just bare space.
Nicole Says …
“You want to use the space you have. You paid good money for it, so you might as well fill it up as much as possible without making it look too crowded. I see some booths where the booth staff are just sitting at the table provided to them and they look bored, their booth looks boring and I think that definitely affects traffic to a booth.”
Promotions/Freebies
I’m sure you’ve heard the old adage, “If it’s free, it’s for me.” If you want to bring attention to anything, you give away something. The same goes for trade show booths. The best way to attract visitors, as Inc. noted, is to offer an incentive.
Nicole Says …
“I don’t think you can go wrong with freebies, whether it’s pens, food, candy or something else. At PPAI, there are booths that give coffee thermoses and Tupperware containers, which are useful, so that makes it even better.”
Personality of Exhibitors
Whether it’s at the Olympics or exhibiting at a large conference, personality matters. The last thing you want for visitors to take away from your booth is a negative first impression because of a less than positive personality. Yes, trade show exhibiting can be tiring and stressful, but you need to remain in good spirits. If you let the downsides get the best of you, it can impact how visitors look at your booth.
Nicole Says …
“I think you have to be somewhat outgoing but more importantly patient. Since attendees have you right there, they might ask more questions than usual. Or questions that seem obvious to you, but really aren't. You have to remember every visitor is a potential customer and the more you can help them face-to-face will make things easier when you are doing the selling through phone or email.”
Winning the Gold
No athlete goes into a competition unprepared. When it comes to your trade show and conference presence, you should be ready to compete for trade show gold.
Remember:
- Don’t exhibit exhausted or without a good meal
- Be creative in how your booth presentation
- Maximize your available booth space
- Incentives attract visitors
- Have a good personality when you’re exhibiting
What advice do you have for winning trade show gold? Let us know in the comments or on Facebook or @TexVisions. You can also find us on LinkedIn.
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Industry Trends, Insider Knowledge Tags: custom displays, displays, trade show
Posted by Thom Casey on February 11, 2014
Meet the Team: Jeremy Finkenbinder, IT Staff & Developer
In our ongoing series, “Meet the Team,” we profile the people who drive the success of Tex Visions.
Today, we meet Jeremy Finkenbinder, a developer and member of our IT division. Jeremy has been with the company for over three years, and his responsibilities include ensuring our computer systems and networks are operational at all times.
What is your favorite Tex Visions product?
I would have to go with the Advertising Tents. There are so many ways that it can be used to get people's attention, and they can keep you dry.
What do you like to do when not at work?
I enjoy spending time with my family and playing video games.
Are you a coffee or tea person?
Coffee.
Would you rather cook or go to a restaurant?
I would much rather cook. It's a great way to spend some time with my wife, and usually it tastes better.
Do you have or want a pet?
I have a 2-year-old cat named Starfire, and a 12-year-old Husky/German Shepherd named Tipper.
SUV or convertible?
Convertible. It would much more fun to drive.
Mountains or beach?
Definitely the mountains. It's much quieter and you never know what kind of animals you're going to see.
If you could have lunch with anyone, who would you choose and what would you ask?
Leonardo Da Vinci would be an amazing person to get to have lunch with. He was an incredibly brilliant man that excelled in so many fields. I'm not sure if there is one specific thing that I would want to ask him. Maybe some things about his inventions, they have always fascinated me.
What's the last/book move that you read/watched?
"Batman Returns."
Check back soon to meet the rest of the Tex Visions team. Feel free to send us your questions via Facebook or Twitter, so we can incorporate them into future posts.
Enter the Sizzlin' Holiday Contest Today!
Starting today, Dec. 10, we'll be running our Sizzlin' Holiday Contest. All you have to do to enter is to Like our Facebook page. It's that simple!
The three lucky winners will receive either a custom printed:
Good luck, and Happy Holidays!
Meet the Team: Linda J. Wilson, Cutter
In our ongoing series, “Meet the Team,” we profile the people who drive the success of Tex Visions.
Today, we meet Linda J. Wilson, who works in the production department as a cutter. Linda has been with the company for over five years. Her responsibilities include cutting flags and banners to the appropriate sizes and specifications needed to prepare the products for sewing.
What’s your favorite Tex Visions product?
I like the umbrellas and I enjoy cutting Single-Reverse Bowflags®.
What do you like to do when you’re not at work?
I like to walk and play poker, Yahtzee and 500 Rummy with my mom and sisters. I also enjoy listening to music, cooking, sewing and watching TV.
Are you a coffee or tea person?
Coffee. Cream and a lot of sugar.
Would you rather cook or go to a restaurant?
Cook. Then, it’s done to my taste.
Do you have or want a pet?
I have three outside cats, and would like to have a small dog.
SUV or convertible?
If I drove, I’d want an SUV.
Mountains or beach?
I grew up in Blain, Pa., very close to the mountains. I’ve been to the beach a lot. I can’t pick one over the other.
What’s the last book/movie that you read/watched?
I watched “Stonados,” a SyFy movie.
Check back soon to meet the rest of the Tex Visions team. Feel free to send us your questions via Facebook or Twitter, so we can incorporate them into the next interview.