vol. 13, issue 34                                   September 1, 2010

EACA NEWS

Calling all Trade Show Industry professionals….

The organizers of the RSMGC would like to invite all EACA members to join them for the 16th Annual Randy Smith Memorial Golf Classic (RSMGC) on October 4, 2010 at Berkeley Hills Country Club in Duluth GA (just outside Atlanta), presented by the EACA, the EDPA Foundation, and TSEA / TS2.

That’s right RSMGC is back at Berkeley!

To maximize the number of golfers that can play at BHCC, there will be two tee flights of tee times – one at 7:45am and one at 1pm.   Tee and hole assignments will be made available on the RSMGC site so you will have plenty of time to make the appropriate arrangements for the day.

There are 7 deserving recipients this year.

As there has been for the past 15 years, trade show professionals come together at the RSMGC to work for a common cause – to assist fellow trade show professionals during their time of need or hardship.    This tradeshow family reunion, open to golfers and non-golfers alike, is a day filled with activities for all, followed by a banquet complete with awards and prizes.

Early bird deadline extended to September 3, 2010

Register this week, and take advantage of the early bird deadline which has been extended until Friday, by visiting the RSMGC web site (www.rsmgc.org) and completing the RSMGC Registration form.

Complete details on our various sponsor opportunities are also available on the site.

EAC Registration Deadlines!!! The EACA would like to remind all members that are servicing exhibitors at either IBIE or at Pack Expo in Las Vegas that the deadline to be registered as a contractor of record requires your immediate attention.

Deadlines are as follows:

Show                           EAC Registration Deadline

IBIE                           Friday, August 20, 2010         deadline has passed

Pack Expo                  Friday, September 17, 2010

Orange County CC Suspends Contractor Registration Process. The Orange County Convention Center has decided to suspend its registration process for contractors known as the “Contractor Security Agreement” indefinitely.

EACA members, and all other contractors, are thereby relieved of the responsibility to complete the OCCC Contractor Security agreement as well as paying  the annual registration fee.

EACA PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

Will Cottrell, 45, long-time Czarnowski employee, passed away in Orlando on Sunday afternoon, August 29 after succumbing to cancer.

He faced his illness with calmness, bravery and his customary brand of humor.  He will be deeply missed by everyone who knew him as a top-notch I&D Manager, lifetime supporter and participant of the Boy Scouts of America,  and an all around great human being.

He is survived by his wife Tara, two children,  and a community of family and friends who will forever be impacted by the difference Will made in their lives.

DEAR SHOWFLOOR BUZZ

Is there a standard Terms and Conditions that are used by the independent contractors which tells what their responsibilities are to their clients during the install and dismantle?

Diane

Studio etc.com

Diane

I don’t know of any standard terms and conditions that are in place for EACs who service exhibitors at show site.   Those contractual arrangements are usually handled between the individual contractor and their client.

However, I am familiar with contractors that are asked to provide “not to exceed bids” on certain jobs – usually labor.   In those cases, the contractors are very careful to specify what work the bid covers because as you most certainly know things can change once you hit the showfloor.   When changes happen on these not to exceed bid jobs the contractors request the client to sign a change order to substantiate that the work to be performed is outside the original bid specifications.

I hope that helps answer your question

Best regards,
Jim Wurm, Executive Director
EACA

CHAPTER NEWS

Chicago Chapter News

McCormick Place Announcement

All registered companies and contractors operating at McCormick Place or Navy Pier must be in compliance with the new State of Illinois Legislation regarding straight time, overtime, and double time guidelines as follows:

-       a show manager or contractor shall charge an exhibitor only for labor service provided by union employees on MPEA premises based upon the hourly wage plus fringe benefits along with a reasonable mark-up.

Simply put a 3 rate invoice of ST, OT, DT for services rendered at the rates employees were paid with a reasonable mark-up.

If you have any questions regarding this legislation and its application, you may contact Tom Cassell at tcassell@mpea.com, or Luke Karas at lkaras@mpea.com

Tom Cassell

Facility Floor Manager

312-617-0115

Las Vegas Chapter News

IBIE Announcement

IBIE reminds all EACA members that are servicing exhibitors at their show in Las Vegas of the exhibiting rules and regulations at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The complete list of LVCVA exhibit rules are attached.

POSITION AVAILABLE

National Trade & Event Labor Provider seeking Northern California Regional Manager:

Management, leadership experience and 7 years in the trade show arena a must. Requires operational skills: communication with exhibitors/ clients  and ability to recognize timeline management and attention to detail under stressful deadlines. Must be a relationship builder between the jurisdictional labor, General Contractors and Show Management of the region. Position available October, 01 2010.

Qualified applicants should send resumes to jimwurm@eaca.com.

INDUSTRY NEWS

TS² 2011 TO BE HELD IN PHILADELPHIA, JUNE 7-9, 2011 National Trade Productions, Inc. (NTP), owner and producer of TS² announced today that TS² 2011 will take place in Philadelphia, June 7-9, 2011.

Trade Show Strength Gaining Momentum? TSE Dashboard Reveals  Back-to-Back Increases in Exhibit Space and Attendance <Trade Show Executive> The size of the crowd and the show floor at trade shows grew for the second consecutive month in July, a welcome sign that exhibitions were making some steady headway out of the recession. The Trade Show Executive (TSE) Dashboard of Monthly Trade Show Metrics, which will be released September 1, found that trade shows grew 3.8% in net square footage (nsf) and 9.2% in attendance in July when compared to the same time last year. The number of exhibitors remained relatively flat, suffering only a slight decline of (0.3)%, which did not particularly detract from the evidence of growing strength in the market.

SMG to Manage Detroit’s Cobo Center <Trade Show Executive> The new agency overseeing Cobo Center voted August 26 to turn over management of the Detroit landmark to SMG this Fall. The pending deal with SMG is part of a turnaround for the building that will keep the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) as its prime tenant and also bring in new exhibitions to the nation’s 20th largest convention center, located in downtown Detroit.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself.

Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man

– George Bernard Shaw                    Irish playwright (1856 – 1950)

Publisher’s statement. The Showfloor Buzz is a publication of the Exhibitor Appointed Contractor Association (EACA) which is dedicated to “raising the level of service excellence on the showfloor.”

This publication is sent free of charge to all EACA members each Wednesday, and to non-members four weeks later.   Annual subscriptions to current issues of the Buzz are available to non-members for $49.95.    Please send subscription requests to jimwurm@eaca.com.

EACA members are also permitted to submit job postings to the Buzz free of charge for a one time listing.   Member job postings can be extended for additional weeks in the Buzz as well as posted to the EACA web site.    The costs for extending your job posting are one month for $50, 2 months for $85, and 3 months for $125.

If you have news from the tradeshow floor that you feel is important to the success of our members,  or our industry’s customer, the exhibitors, please forward it to the EACA  @ 541-317-8768 or email us @ jimwurm@eaca.com

Thank You.

vol. 13, issue 33                          August 25, 2010

EACA NEWS

Orange County CC Suspends Contractor Registration Process. The Orange County Convention Center has decided to suspend its registration process for contractors known as the “Contractor Security Agreement” indefinitely.

EACA members, and all other contractors, are thereby relieved of the responsibility to complete the OCCC Contractor Security agreement as well as paying  the annual registration fee.

EAC Registration Deadlines!!! The EACA would like to remind all members that are servicing exhibitors at either IBIE or at Pack Expo in Las Vegas that the deadline to be registered as a contractor of record requires your immediate attention.

Deadlines are as follows:

Show                           EAC Registration Deadline

IBIE                           Friday, August 20, 2010         deadline has passed

Pack Expo                  Friday, September 17, 2010

Time to Register for the RSMGC! The 16^th Annual Randy Smith Memorial Golf Classic will take place this year on October 4, 2010 at the Berkeley Hills Country Club in Duluth, GA.   The organizers of the RSMGC are pleased to announce that registration for this year’s event is now open.

To reserve your sponsorship, or golf registration, go to www.rsmgc.org.

We look forward to seeing you there!

EACA PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

Convention Models + Talent Agency Recognized on Inc. 5000 List Three Years In A Row Atlanta-based Convention Models & Talent, Inc. (CMT), has been named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in the country for the third time. CMT is ranked on the prestigious 2010 list that provides the most comprehensive look at America’s independent-minded entrepreneurs.

“We are honored to be included on the Inc. 5000 list for the third year in a row,” CMT president and CEO Shelly Justice, said. “Our unwavering commitment to the highest level of client service has allowed us to establish strong relationships that have resulted in CMT’s sustained year over year growth. It is a tremendous accomplishment for CMT Agency to be recognized with such notable alumni companies.” To mirror what Jane Berentson, the editor of Inc. Magazine said in the congratulatory letter to CMT Agency, “ For more than 30 years, Inc’s list has served as evidence of the significant accomplishments of enterprises such as CMT Agency. And, more than ever, this year’s list is a testament to the creativity , resilience, and tenacity of America’s top entrepreneurs. “We are very excited to be a part of such a distinguished group of companies known as the Inc. 5000 fastest-growing private companies,” says Shelly Justice.

CHAPTER NEWS

Chicago Chapter News

McCormick Place Announcement

All registered companies and contractors operating at McCormick Place or Navy Pier must be in compliance with the new State of Illinois Legislation regarding straight time, overtime, and double time guidelines as follows:

-       a show manager or contractor shall charge an exhibitor only for labor service provided by union employees on MPEA premises based upon the hourly wage plus fringe benefits along with a reasonable mark-up.

Simply put a 3 rate invoice of ST, OT, DT for services rendered at the rates employees were paid with a reasonable mark-up.

If you have any questions regarding this legislation and its application, you may contact Tom Cassell at tcassell@mpea.com, or Luke Karas at lkaras@mpea.com

Tom Cassell

Facility Floor Manager

312-617-0115

Chicago Randy News
The Chicago Randy committee would like to extend our sincere thanks to all our golfer, guests, sponsors, and raffle donators for our success at our 7th annual outing.

We are grateful for your generosity during this tough economy     A special thanks to our volunteers Kathy Bartol, Jennifer Eades and Cathy Kolf, and Czarnowski for their continued support in supplying our graphics.

All of this is possible because of all of you. Thank you we look forward to next year!

POSITION AVAILABLE

National Trade & Event Labor Provider seeking
Northern California Regional Manager:

Management, leadership experience and 7 years in the trade show arena a must. Requires operational skills: communication with exhibitors/ clients  and ability to recognize timeline management and attention to detail under stressful deadlines. Must be a relationship builder between the jurisdictional labor, General Contractors and Show Management of the region. Position available October, 01 2010.

Qualified applicants should send resumes to jimwurm@eaca.com.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Chicago Wins Back Convention Business <Expo Web News> Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley and the city’s convention leadership announced last week that the recent legislation reform has paid off with another big win. The International Manufacturing Technology Show will be coming back to the city in 2012, 2014 and 2016.

According to Daley, that string of shows alone will pull in more than 250,000 attendees and will account for an estimated $600 million in direct expenditures to the city and Illinois.

More Business on the Way

Along with the IMTS win, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, which owns and operates McCormick Place and Navy Pier, has re-signed six current trade shows and three new business events. According to the MPEA, this business collectively represents $1.6 billion in revenues for the city and state.

American Airlines Rolls Out Express Seats Amenity <Meetings & Convention News> American Airlines has introduced the latest in its Your Choice line of unbundled products and services. So-called Express Seats refers to seats in the first few rows of coach, as well as bulkhead seats, and can be purchased only via airport self-service check-in machines. Customers who purchase such a seat are able to board in Group 1 of general boarding. The cost starts at $19 per seat, per flight, based on distance. For instance, Express Seats from St. Louis to Chicago O’Hare are $19 extra, while the New York JFK to Los Angeles route carries a $39 surcharge. Members with AAdvantage elite status or Oneworld elite status, as well as customers who purchase full-fare tickets, will continue to have exclusive access to preferred seating on a complimentary basis.

PCMA, CIC to Co-Locate Events at AIBTM <Meetings & Convention News> Exclusive services offered by convention centers are bad for business and potentially illegal under U.S. antitrust law, the Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO) said in a statement released by the board August 16. The Professional Convention Management Association and the Convention Industry Council will hold events during the inaugural AIBTM, the meeting and incentive exhibition that will take place June 21-23, 2011, in Baltimore. PCMA will hold its biannual education conference during the show, giving members time to visit AIBTM exhibits on the June 23, while CIC will hold its Hall of Leaders Gala during there on June 21.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths.

These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills them with compassions, gentleness, and a deep loving concern.

Beautiful people do not just happen.

– Elisabeth Kubler-Ross                     Psychiatrist and author (1926 – 2004)

Publisher’s statement. The Showfloor Buzz is a publication of the Exhibitor Appointed Contractor Association (EACA) which is dedicated to “raising the level of service excellence on the showfloor.”

This publication is sent free of charge to all EACA members each Wednesday, and to non-members four weeks later.   Annual subscriptions to current issues of the Buzz are available to non-members for $49.95.    Please send subscription requests to jimwurm@eaca.com.

EACA members are also permitted to submit job postings to the Buzz free of charge for a one time listing.   Member job postings can be extended for additional weeks in the Buzz as well as posted to the EACA web site.    The costs for extending your job posting are one month for $50, 2 months for $85, and 3 months for $125.

If you have news from the tradeshow floor that you feel is important to the success of our members,  or our industry’s customer, the exhibitors, please forward it to the EACA  @ 541-317-8768 or email us @ jimwurm@eaca.com

Thank You.

vol. 13, issue 32                              August 18, 2010

EACA NEWS

New Member Welcome. The EACA would like to extend a warm welcome to the new members who have joined our association recently.   We would like all existing members to extend a hearty welcome to:

• Becker Communications            an exhibit house from Schofield, WI

• International Installations         an I&D company from Mississauga, Ontario

• Minnesota Convention Svc.         an I&D company from Eagan, MN

• Positive ID                                      an I&D company from Philadelphia, PA

• YRC                                                  an exhibit freight company from Overland Park, KS

IMTS EAC Registration Deadline Passes / IBIE Approaching!!! The EACA would like to remind all members that are servicing exhibitors at either IMTS in Chicago or at IBIE in Las Vegas that the deadline to be registered as a contractor of record requires your immediate attention.

Deadlines are as follows:

Show                           EAC Registration Deadline

IMTS                           Friday, August 13, 2010

IBIE                           Friday, August 20, 2010

Time to Register for the RSMGC! The 16^th Annual Randy Smith Memorial Golf Classic will take place this year on October 4, 2010 at the Berkeley Hills Country Club in Duluth, GA.   The organizers of the RSMGC are pleased to announce that registration for this year’s event is now open.

To reserve your sponsorship, or golf registration, go to www.rsmgc.org.

We look forward to seeing you there!

CHAPTER NEWS

Boston Chapter News

Rally at the Alley News
Karin Brennan, a Rally at the Alley recipient 4 years ago, received a new kidney this weekend! Karin has been on “the list” for many years for a transplant and receiving dialysis treatments several times a week for over 5 years (maybe more).

Keep her in your prayers!

Chicago Chapter News

McCormick Place Announcement

All registered companies and contractors operating at McCormick Place or Navy Pier must be in compliance with the new State of Illinois Legislation regarding straight time, overtime, and double time guidelines as follows:

-       a show manager or contractor shall charge an exhibitor only for labor service provided by union employees on MPEA premises based upon the hourly wage plus fringe benefits along with a reasonable mark-up.

Simply put a 3 rate invoice of ST, OT, DT for services rendered at the rates employees were paid with a reasonable mark-up.

If you have any questions regarding this legislation and its application, you may contact Tom Cassell at tcassell@mpea.com, or Luke Karas at lkaras@mpea.com

Tom Cassell

Facility Floor Manager

312-617-0115

Chicago Randy News

The Chicago Randy took place last week on Monday, August 9 at Maple Meadows Golf Club.   Full details and results of this year’s event will be available in next week’s issue of the Showfloor Buzz.

INDUSTRY NEWS

SISO Calls Service Exclusives Anticompetitive <Trade Show Executive> – Exclusive services offered by convention centers are bad for business and potentially illegal under U.S. antitrust law, the Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO) said in a statement released by the board August 16. “Requiring organizers to use exclusive services impedes our ability to deliver a competitive return on investment for our exhibiting customers,” said SISO Chair Nancy Hasselback, CEO of Diversified Business Communications.

IMTS Commits to Three More Shows at McCormick Place <Trade Show Executive> – The International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) has committed to holding three more of its massive machinery trade shows inside the now-friendlier confines of Chicago’s McCormick Place. Peter Eelman, vice president of exhibitions and communications for the Association of Manufacturing Technology (AMT), said the agreement covers the 2012, 2014 and 2016 editions of the biennial IMTS, historically one of the largest exhibitions in the U.S.  The three-show contract is estimated to generate an economic impact of $600 million on the local economy, according to Mayor Richard Daley’s office. Daley appeared with Eelman and other IMTS officials at a news conference where the newly implemented labor reforms were given a large share of the credit for AMT’s decision.

New Exhibit Hall Opens at New York’s Javits Center <Expo Web News> As part of its larger expansion and renovation project, New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Center has announced the opening of the Javits North—the site’s new exhibition hall located between 39th and 40th Streets, off 11th Avenue. The hall’s first event was FAME, a Business Journals Inc. show, which ran August 1 to 3.

Javits North is a pre-engineered structure that provides an additional 80,000 gross square feet of exhibition space.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

Life seems to be an educator’s practical joke in which you spent the first half learning and the second half learning that everything you learned in the first half was wrong.

– Russell Baker                                 American writer (1925 – present)

Publisher’s statement. The Showfloor Buzz is a publication of the Exhibitor Appointed Contractor Association (EACA) which is dedicated to “raising the level of service excellence on the showfloor.”

This publication is sent free of charge to all EACA members each Wednesday, and to non-members four weeks later.   Annual subscriptions to current issues of the Buzz are available to non-members for $49.95.    Please send subscription requests to jimwurm@eaca.com.

EACA members are also permitted to submit job postings to the Buzz free of charge for a one time listing.   Member job postings can be extended for additional weeks in the Buzz as well as posted to the EACA web site.    The costs for extending your job posting are one month for $50, 2 months for $85, and 3 months for $125.

If you have news from the tradeshow floor that you feel is important to the success of our members,  or our industry’s customer, the exhibitors, please forward it to the EACA  @ 541-317-8768 or email us @ jimwurm@eaca.com

Thank You.

vol. 13, issue 31                 August 11, 2010

EACA NEWS

EACA to Conduct New Profit & Compensation Survey As part of its effort to support its members’ business decision making abilities, the EACA is planning to conduct a profitability and compensation survey of its members.  This survey will be conducted to assist our members to manage their businesses with relevant marketplace information.

The intention of the survey is to allow each member company to compare its gross profit percentage in the top 10 trade show markets.   In addition, this  survey will  gather relevant data on employee compensation broken down by service category and size of company.

Look for additional details on the EACA Profit & Compensation Survey in a future issue of the Showfloor Buzz.

EAC Registration Deadlines Approaching!!! The EACA would like to remind all members that are servicing exhibitors at either IMTS in Chicago or at IBIE in Las Vegas that the deadline to be registered as a contractor of record is fast approaching.

Deadlines are as follows:

Show                           EAC Registration Deadline

IMTS                           Friday, August 13, 2010

IBIE                           Friday, August 20, 2010

Time to Register for the RSMGC! The 16^th Annual Randy Smith Memorial Golf Classic will take place this year on October 4, 2010 at the Berkeley Hills Country Club in Duluth, GA.   The organizers of the RSMGC are pleased to announce that registration for this year’s event is now open.

To reserve your sponsorship, or golf registration, go to www.rsmgc.org.

We look forward to seeing you there!

EACA RETROSPECTIVE

In an effort for EACA members, and our colleagues in the industry, maintain a perspective on the events which currently affect our industry, the Showfloor Buzz takes a look back at items of interest in previous issues of the Buzz.

DEAR SHOWFLOOR BUZZ (from the Aug. 11, 2004 issue of the Buzz)

Undisclosed Mark-Ups

I am aware that the EACA recently facilitated a discussion at TS2 on mark-ups and I was wondering if the EACA had taken an official position that all exhibitors must deal directly with their suppliers.

As a display manufacturer that offers a one stop shopping opportunity for our customers, I have concern about your organization’s stance on this topic and wondered if you could enlighten me as to what you are trying to accomplish with these kinds of discussions.

A concerned display manufacturer

Dear Concerned

Thanks for your email.

It seems as if the joint session that the EACA produced in conjunction with TS2 has created a lot of discussion in our industry, particularly among display manufacturers.    I would have liked if more people could have participated in the session because,  if so,   I believe any concerns about the intention or the follow through on that discussion would have been alleviated.

Since you weren’t able to make that session, I can let you know while there is no written “position statement” per se, the primary objective of the discussion is (and will continue) to be that our industry will do a lot better once exhibitors have all the information that they need to make fully informed decisions.   I realize that by couching the discussion in terms of “undisclosed mark-ups” that it has led some to think that the EACA is on a crusade against mark ups.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Our aim is to promote the concept of full disclosure in our industry  and to encourage show organizers, facilities, and service suppliers to fully disclose the value proposition of their service offering.        The alternative practice, we believe, in which a show organizer, facility or service supplier intentionally hides fees or service charges (i.e. Undisclosed mark-ups) makes exhibitors leery of participating in our industry for fear of where they will be blindsided next.       We believe that the very fact that these charges are hidden could be an indication that there is something less than honorable about them.

Please be assured the EACA believes in everybody’s right to conduct business in whichever fashion they deem appropriate.   However, just as the EACA takes a stand against show site solicitation (as described in our Code of Conduct) we also plan to take a stand on behalf of all exhibitors that those that do business with them treat them fairly.

It’s in all our best interests when that happens.

CHAPTER NEWS

Chicago Chapter News

McCormick Place Announcement

All registered companies and contractors operating at McCormick Place or Navy Pier must be in compliance with the new State of Illinois Legislation regarding straight time, overtime, and double time guidelines as follows:

-       a show manager or contractor shall charge an exhibitor only for labor service provided by union employees on MPEA premises based upon the hourly wage plus fringe benefits along with a reasonable mark-up.

Simply put a 3 rate invoice of ST, OT, DT for services rendered at the rates employees were paid with a reasonable mark-up.

If you have any questions regarding this legislation and its application, you may contact Tom Cassell at tcassell@mpea.com, or Luke Karas at lkaras@mpea.com

Tom Cassell

Facility Floor Manager

312-617-0115

Chicago Randy News

The Chicago Randy took place this week on Monday, August 9 at Maple Meadows Golf Club.   Full details and results of this year’s event will be available in next week’s issue of the Showfloor Buzz.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Judge Clears Way for Showdown on Convention Center Exclusives in San Diego <Trade Show Executive> The debate over the legal right of convention centers to effectively bar private service contractors from working trade shows moved closer to a trial by jury this month when a Federal judge in San Diego rejected Homeland Security as the justification for such a policy.

U.S. District Court Judge Roger Benitez ruled August 1 that the San Diego Convention Center Corp., Inc. (SDCCC), had produced no evidence to back up its claim that it was necessary to ban employees of Chicago-based United National Maintenance, Inc. from performing booth-cleaning services at the San Diego Convention Center in order to comply with a 2003 executive order from the governor of California directing state and local governments to improve security against a terrorist attack.

Annual Show Revenue Forecasted Lower at Reed Exhibitions <Expo Web News> Reed Exhibitions parent Reed Elsevier released its earnings report through the first half on Thursday, indicating that the events group’s adjusted operating profit grew slightly to more than $191 million through the first six months of 2010, compared to about $185 million during the same period last year. Revenue, meanwhile, jumped 8 percent to roughly $597 million.

For its annual shows, revenues declined 6 percent during the first half—a significantly lower decline than the 17 percent loss realized during the same period last year. Its European market saw revenues slip 2 percent while in the U.S. revenues dropped 10 percent (combined, the U.S. and European markets make up nearly 80 percent of overall revenues).

Shows in China, Russia and Brazil “grew strongly,” the company says, although some of those properties are joint ventures and are not included in Reed’s reported revenues.

Reed says that while attendance is increasing at the majority of its show, the number of overall vendors in 2010 is below last year’s levels and annual show revenues are expected to be lower. This year, however, Reed Exhibitions is expected to see a revenue bump from its biennial shows, which it says should “deliver overall growth.”

Bruce Rauner Named Chairman of Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau <M&C Midweek News> Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley has appointed Bruce Rauner chairman of the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau.   Rauner had been named in March as a member of the interim board of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority.

Chicago has been going through some dramatic changes, brought on by state legislation, that are overhauling the management structure and services of the region’s convention facilities.

“Now that the new board is in place, I want Bruce to continue to play a major role in keeping Chicago at the top of a very competitive business,” said Daley in a statement announcing Rauner’s appointment. “Together, the McPier Board and the Convention and Tourism Bureau are responsible for keeping our momentum going in the convention and tourism industry.”

Rauner is currently principal and chairman of GTCR, a Chicago-based private equity firm that manages more than $8 billion in equity and mezzanine capital.

ESCA Headquarters Moving to New Offices on August 18th
ESCA will be closed for moving its’ headquarters offices on August 16-17, reopening for business at our new location on Wednesday, August 18.  New office information is as follows:
Exhibition Services  Contractors Association
5068 West Plano Parkway
Suite 300
Plano, TX  75093
972.447.8210  main
972.447.8209   FAX

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

If I can get through the day without condemning, criticizing or complaining, it’s been a good day. If I don’t give advice, it’s been perfect.

– Floyd Ashcroft

Publisher’s statement. The Showfloor Buzz is a publication of the Exhibitor Appointed Contractor Association (EACA) which is dedicated to “raising the level of service excellence on the showfloor.”

This publication is sent free of charge to all EACA members each Wednesday, and to non-members four weeks later.   Annual subscriptions to current issues of the Buzz are available to non-members for $49.95.    Please send subscription requests to jimwurm@eaca.com.

EACA members are also permitted to submit job postings to the Buzz free of charge for a one time listing.   Member job postings can be extended for additional weeks in the Buzz as well as posted to the EACA web site.    The costs for extending your job posting are one month for $50, 2 months for $85, and 3 months for $125.

If you have news from the tradeshow floor that you feel is important to the success of our members,  or our industry’s customer, the exhibitors, please forward it to the EACA  @ 541-317-8768 or email us @ jimwurm@eaca.com

Thank You.

vol. 13, issue 30                                      August 4, 2010

EACA NEWS

Time to Register for the RSMGC! The 16^th Annual Randy Smith Memorial Golf Classic will take place this year on October 4, 2010 at the Berkeley Hills Country Club in Duluth, GA.   The organizers of the RSMGC are pleased to announce that registration for this year’s event is now open.

To reserve your sponsorship, or golf registration, go to www.rsmgc.org.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Hiring Carpenters on Craigslist!!! Labor contractors in Chicago recently met with the building management at McCormick Place to discuss the upcoming changes to the work rules in the building there.    While there remain many questions to be answered, the intention is to make McCormick Place a much friendlier place for exhibitors.

Having said that, the changes that are soon to be put in place do not include the ability to post a request on Craigslist for carpenters to set up their booth – as happened recently at the IFT Show.

The exhibitor in question in this case was informed that it was not OK to hire carpenters in this fashion and attempt to pass them off as Full Time employees.

CHAPTER NEWS

Atlanta Chapter News

4^th Annual Bowling Event Wins Again for RSMGC Recipients!

The 4^th Annual “Get Out Of The Gutter…For A Good Cause” charity bowling competition and social event took place on June 17, 2010 at 300 Atlanta in Dunwoody. This year’s event was attended by over 126 EACA and EDPA Members and was generously supported by 17 Corporate Sponsors raising much needed financial support for the families supported by the RSMGC.

The event featured 27 teams of 4 bowlers each all competing for the coveted championship trophy.  The eight teams with the highest team score qualified to bowl in the championship round which was eventually won by Czarnowski who narrowly beat 2^nd place e4 Design.  The ‘Team Spirit’ trophy was awarded to Czarnowski’s five lively teams all clad in matching red shirts who danced, high-fived and cheered triumphantly with every ball thrown.  Special thanks go to Ben Power of Zenith Labor Net who won the 50/50 raffle and donated all of his winnings back to the RSMGC.

Corporate Sponsors and supporters of this year’s event included Nth Degree, Champion Logistics Group, MC², Blue Sky Exhibits, The Inside Track, Xzibits, Momentum Management, Geo Creative, ColorChrome, Laarhoven Design, Design 360, Zenvoid Design, Freeman, Brumark, Foundation Fabricators, DBA and Shepard Decorating.

Chicago Chapter News

Chicago Randy Announcement

The Chicago Randy will take place on Monday, August 9 at Maple Meadows Golf Club.   For more information on how you can sponsor or participate in the Chicago Randy contact Nancy Virene at njvirene@thetermgroup.com.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Economic Seas Calming? TSE Dashboard Reveals Modest Growth in All Three Metrics <Trade Show Executive> The Summer of 2010 headed in a positive direction with all three trade show analytics posting growth of between 2% and 3% in June, according to the Trade Show Executive (TSE) Dashboard of Monthly Trade Show Metrics. The number of exhibitors and attendees participating in exhibitions in June grew 2.8% and 2.4% respectively over last June. Net square footage which had been in the red for seven of the last eight months, increased 2.0%.

MPI Research Shows Business Conditions Improving <M&C Midweek News> Meeting Professionals International’s bimonthly economic report, the Business Barometer, shows continued improvement in the meetings industry.   The largest uptick was seen in employment: In April, 14 percent of the organizations surveyed reported an increase in full-time employees; that number is 27 percent for June. A significant number of meeting professionals are seeing attendance increases, with 39 percent of the sample saying their meetings have grown since this time last year. That’s a big change from April, when only 10 percent of the respondents said their attendance had increased. Looking at trends that will most affect meetings over the next six months, 10 percent said shorter lead times will be most influential, followed by more meetings being booked (7 percent), low budgets (6 percent) and economic uncertainty (5 percent).

Union Authorizes Strike in Chicago <M&C Midweek News> On July 29, union workers from the Chicago-area Hyatt hotels authorized a strike, by a 92 percent majority. The vote comes from members of Unite Here Local 1 and does not necessarily mean a strike will happen, but allows the committee to call a strike if deemed necessary. Citywide contract negotiations have been ongoing since August 2009 and are affecting more than 6,500 workers in downtown Chicago. In May, workers walked off the job at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. In July, Hyatt workers took part in a 15-city demonstration, also at the Hyatt Regency, to protest job cuts, wage cuts and excessive injury rates, according to Unite Here Local 1.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts.

– William Shakespeare                        English playwright  (1564 – 1616)

Publisher’s statement. The Showfloor Buzz is a publication of the Exhibitor Appointed Contractor Association (EACA) which is dedicated to “raising the level of service excellence on the showfloor.”

This publication is sent free of charge to all EACA members each Wednesday, and to non-members four weeks later.   Annual subscriptions to current issues of the Buzz are available to non-members for $49.95.    Please send subscription requests to jimwurm@eaca.com.

EACA members are also permitted to submit job postings to the Buzz free of charge for a one time listing.   Member job postings can be extended for additional weeks in the Buzz as well as posted to the EACA web site.    The costs for extending your job posting are one month for $50, 2 months for $85, and 3 months for $125.

If you have news from the tradeshow floor that you feel is important to the success of our members,  or our industry’s customer, the exhibitors, please forward it to the EACA  @ 541-317-8768 or email us @ jimwurm@eaca.com

Thank You.

vol. 13, issue 29                           July 21, 2010

EACA NEWS

TS2 2011 Location??? One of the major topics of discussion at last week’s TS2 is that the location for next year’s event has yet to be announced.   The word is that there are actually three locations on the table currently, and an announcement is scheduled to be made by the end of August.

Nth Degree, Czarnowski Win TSEA Exhibitors’ Choice Awards Nth Degree, a leading full-service global event marketing and management company, won a TSEA Exhibitors’ Choice Award as the industry’s “Favorite I&D Company”, and Czarnowski, won the as the industry’s “Favorite Exhibit House”.  The awards were presented during the TS2 Gala in Boston, MA in conjunction with the TS2 show last week.

Showfloor Buzz on Hiatus. The Showfloor Buzz will be taking a one week hiatus next week.   The next issue of the Showfloor Buzz will be published on August 4, 2010.

PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

Congratulations to Steve Johnson of Renaissance Management, and his wife Bev, on the birth of their first grandson, Wynn Watson, on July 13.    The new bouncing baby boy is the son of Steve and Bev’s oldest daughter, Kristen Johnson Watson.

CHAPTER NEWS

Chicago Chapter News

Chicago Randy Announcement

The EACA and EDPA Chicago Chapters have announced the date for this year’s “Chicago Randy”.

The Chicago Randy will take place on Monday, August 9 at Maple Meadows Golf Club.   For more information on how you can sponsor or participate in the Chicago Randy contact Nancy Virene at njvirene@thetermgroup.com.

INDUSTRY NEWS

InZone Virtual Event a Hit at TS2. The Expo Group organized a virtual event in connection with TS2 in Boston last week.   The InZone included live interviews on the showfloor and virtual attendees who were plugged into TS2 from their offices.

Higher Numbers Projected for MAGIC and Other Major August Shows <Trade Show Executive> Major trade shows scheduled for the dog days of August promise to be anything but slow moving this year thanks to projections of solid attendance and exhibit sales. Key events with heavy retail-sector influences, including MAGIC, Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2010, ASD Las Vegas 2010 and the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) were bullish about their prospects in the weeks leading up to their respective runs.

Founders Retire From Green Meeting Industry Council Board <M&C Midweek News> As of July 1, Green Meeting Industry Council founders Amy Spatrisano and Nancy Wilson have retired from the board. The organization, which is dedicated to sustainability in the meetings and events industry, now is led by board president Guy Bigwood, group sustainability director of the MCI Group. Paul Salinger, vice president of marketing for Oracle, is the president-elect. The GMIC, which currently has 500 members, has grown by 300 percent in the last two years and has been instrumental in helping the Convention Industry Council develop the APEX Green Meeting Standards that are expected to be published next month.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

Every man is a damn fool for at least five minutes every day; wisdom consists in not exceeding the limit

– Elbert Hubbard                 American writer  (1856 – 1915)

Publisher’s statement. The Showfloor Buzz is a publication of the Exhibitor Appointed Contractor Association (EACA) which is dedicated to “raising the level of service excellence on the showfloor.”

This publication is sent free of charge to all EACA members each Wednesday, and to non-members four weeks later.   Annual subscriptions to current issues of the Buzz are available to non-members for $49.95.    Please send subscription requests to jimwurm@eaca.com.

EACA members are also permitted to submit job postings to the Buzz free of charge for a one time listing.   Member job postings can be extended for additional weeks in the Buzz as well as posted to the EACA web site.    The costs for extending your job posting are one month for $50, 2 months for $85, and 3 months for $125.

If you have news from the tradeshow floor that you feel is important to the success of our members,  or our industry’s customer, the exhibitors, please forward it to the EACA  @ 541-317-8768 or email us @ jimwurm@eaca.com

Thank You.

vol. 13, issue 28                             July 14, 2010

EACA NEWS

Causton Wins 2010 Intrepid Award. David Causton, General Manager of McCormick Place, is the winner of the 2010 EACA Intrepid Award for his singularly exemplary contributions to the cause of customer service in the trade show industry.  David has managed the McCormick Place through one of the most challenging years that any facility has experience in recent memories and has chartered a course that should put the convention center in Chicago back on track to offer world-class customer service to trade shows and events there.

In response to growing concerns from show organizers and exhibitors alike, Mr. Causton helped craft new legislation in Illinois which enables a number of significant cost-saving benefits for trade show exhibitors at McCormick Place.    The cost of electrical service will be significantly reduced for exhibitors which will complement a new set of exhibitor rights as it regard the set up of displays.  These “common sense” changes will allow exhibitors to now plug in their own equipment, change their own light bulbs and have much greater control over the set-up of their own displays with full-time employees.

For additional information on the changes put in place by this new legislation see the related story about the McCormick Place Contractor meeting to take place next Wednesday (July 21) in the Chicago Chapter News.

EACA Hosts 12th Annual Conference! The EACA hosted its 12th Annual Conference in Boston, MA this week, in conjunction with TS2.     EACA members came together to once again to connect with colleagues, develop new skills, and find answers to the business issues that are most critical to your company’s success.

The theme of this year’s conference was the examination of the current trade show business model and the development of Industry Best Practices that will help our exhibitor customers experience greater success at tradeshows.

Jim Wurm, Executive Director of EACA, provided the keynote for this year’s event and detailed the history and development of the Exhibit Industry Council and its intentions to help facilitate Best Practices for the trade show industry.

The EACA would like to give thanks to the 2010 EACA Conference Sponsors who helped make this year’s event a success:

Gold Sponsor

MC2

Silver Sponsors

Spectrum Show Services

UPS Freight

Bronze Sponsor

IUPAT Local 510

Nuvista

On Location

EACA Announces New Board At the EACA Annual Conference in Boston, the EACA announced its new Board for 2010-2011.  The new Officers and Directors are:

Bruce Cantwell, Renaissance Management                  President

John O’Shea, Czarnowski                                             Vice President

Jack Savage, UPS                                                               Treasurer

Amanda Helgemoe, Nuvista                                             Secretary

Bernie Massett, MC2                                                      Immediate Past President

Steve Santos, ExpoServices USA                                    Director

Al Kirschner, Freeman                                                      Director

Michael Mulry, On Location                                             Director

Peter Eelman, IMTS                                                      Director

Anthony Lopez                                                               Director

Glenda Brungardt, Hewlett-Packard                                    Director

BJ Enright, Tradeshow Logistics                                    Director

Ted Hoffman, UBC –Washington DC                           Director

EACA PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

CMT Appoints Farryn Bowles Manager of Client Services. Atlanta-based Convention Models + Talent Agency (CMT) recently appointed Farryn Bowles Manager of Client Services. Bowles will be responsible for managing CMT’s team of Client Service Agents as they successfully locate, book and manage talent for their International Clients. Bowles is a seasoned Client Services Manager with an outstanding track record of ensuring world class customer satisfaction as it relates to the acquisition of talent.

CHAPTER NEWS

Chicago Chapter News

MPEA Meeting Announcement

Based on recent legislation regarding new rules and regulations applicable to all contractors, please find the attached notice (MPEA Notice to Contractors (06-25-2010).

We will be conducting an informational meeting to address these changes on Wednesday, July 21st at 10:00am, in room E350 of the Lakeside Center (East Building). Your management or management representatives are invited to attend.

We would also encourage any advance questions pertaining to these updates, via e-mail to my attention at lkaras@mpea.com no later than July 14th. We will address these questions at the July 21st meeting.

If you should have any questions regarding this process, please do not hesitate to contact me at 312 791-6456.

Thank you,
Luke Karas – Assistant Director of Guest Services

Chicago Randy Announcement

The EACA and EDPA Chicago Chapters have announced the date for this year’s “Chicago Randy”.

The Chicago Randy will take place on Monday, August 9 at Maple Meadows Golf Club.   For more information on how you can sponsor or participate in the Chicago Randy contact Nancy Virene at njvirene@thetermgroup.com.

INDUSTRY NEWS

TSE Adds Three Seasoned Trade Show Professionals to the Team: Dana Myers, Danica Tormohlen and Quentin Chan <Trade Show Executive> Trade Show Executive (TSE) announced the addition of three experienced members of the exhibition-industry media to its editorial and sales staff. Dana Myers, formerly of Tradeshow Week, was named to the newly created position of managing editor of TSE, and former EXPO publisher Danica Tormohlen joined the editorial staff as a contributing editor. Quentin Chan will represent TSE in Asia as head of business development and advertising and sponsorship sales in that region.

Survey: Exhibitiion Industry Recovery Forecasted for Second Half of 2011. <Expo Web News> The Exhibition and Convention Executives Forum (ECEF) held last June in Washington D.C. conducted a survey along with Jacobs Jenner & Kent that, among other issues, examined when exhibition executives think the industry revenues will rebound. The majority of the 130 executives polled felt show revenues will not recover until the second half of 2011.

A further breakdown of that statistic reveals that, between association and independent exhibition organizers, there is slight disagreement in the timing for a recovery. Almost 40 percent of independent organizers feel that a recovery will happen in the second half of 2011, while association organizers are more optimistic and predict a recovery in the first half.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.

—Harry S. Truman                        33^rd US President (1884-1972)

Publisher’s statement. The Showfloor Buzz is a publication of the Exhibitor Appointed Contractor Association (EACA) which is dedicated to “raising the level of service excellence on the showfloor.”

This publication is sent free of charge to all EACA members each Wednesday, and to non-members four weeks later.   Annual subscriptions to current issues of the Buzz are available to non-members for $49.95.

Please send subscription requests to jimwurm@eaca.com.

EACA members are also permitted to submit job postings to the Buzz free of charge for a one time listing.   Member job postings can be extended for additional weeks in the Buzz as well as posted to the EACA web site.    The costs for extending your job posting are one month for $50, 2 months for $85, and 3 months for $125.

If you have news from the tradeshow floor that you feel is important to the success of our members,  or our industry’s customer, the exhibitors, please forward it to the EACA  @ 541-317-8768 or email us @ jimwurm@eaca.com

Thank You.

vol. 13, issue 27                                    July 7, 2010

EACA NEWS

Last Chance to Pre-Register for the EACA Annual Conference This week is your last change to register for the EACA’s 12th Annual Conference in Boston, MA at the Boston Convention Center from July 13-14 2010.

Our theme for this year’s conference program is an examination of our industry’s business model.   We will have a compelling panel discussion on “Is Our Industry Model Obsolete?”      We will not only examine the arguments pro and con, we will also discuss new event models that are in practice that are achieving success.

In addition, we will review the first Exhibit Industry Council Best Practice on “Full Disclosure and the Control of Exhibitor Costs.”    The implementation of this standard, we believe, will go a long way toward relieving exhibitors, as well as all their EAC suppliers, of the issues which get in the way of their ability to achieve more success with their trade show programs.

Once again, one of the best features of registering for your Annual EACA Conference is that your EACA Conference badge provides you with access to the TS2 showfloor, as well as a ticket to the Block Party.

So don’t delay download the Conference registration form and sign up today!

Registrants for this year’s event include:

Paul Matiko                           ACES

Mike McGuckin                  ACES

Peter Panoulias                  ACES

Murray Lapides                  AVFX, Inc.

Alan Cordial                  calan communications

Joel Turunen                  Centerpoint

John O’Shea                  Czarnowski

David Mihalik                  EliteXPO Cargo Systems

Al Kirschner                  Freeman

Herman Dagner                  IATSE

Don Gandolini                  IATSE

Bill Gearns                           IATSE

C. Faye Harper                  IATSE

Mark Kiracofe                  IATSE

Peter Eelman                  IMTS

Mike Hardeman                  IUPAT Local 510

Bernie Masssett                  MC2

Sue Huff                           Medtronic

David Causton                  McCormick Place

Anthony Lopez                  McCormick Place

Amanda Helgemoe         Nuvista

Michael Mulry                  On Location

Randy Pekowski                  The Expo Group

David Sterne                  The Inside Track

Ron Mestichelli                  Spectrum Show Services

Randy Pekowski                  The Expo Group

BJ Enright                           Tradeshow Logistics

Jeff Skillman                  United Brotherhood of Carpenters

Ken Viscovich                  United Brotherhood of Carpenters

Jack Savage                  UPS Freight

Richard Ganch                  YRC

Bill Pratt                           YRC

Mike Metzger                  Zenith LaborNet

And, many thanks to our Conference Sponsors:

Gold Sponsor

MC2

Silver Sponsors

Spectrum Show Services

UPS Freight

Bronze Sponsors

IUPAT Local 510

Nuvista

On Location

CHAPTER NEWS

Chicago Chapter News

MPEA Meeting Announcement

Based on recent legislation regarding new rules and regulations applicable to all contractors, please find the attached notice (MPEA Notice to Contractors (06-25-2010).

We will be conducting an informational meeting to address these changes on Wednesday, July 21st at 10:00am, in room E350 of the Lakeside Center (East Building). Your management or management representatives are invited to attend.

We would also encourage any advance questions pertaining to these updates, via e-mail to my attention at lkaras@mpea.com no later than July 14th. We will address these questions at the July 21st meeting.

If you should have any questions regarding this process, please do not hesitate to contact me at 312 791-6456.

Thank you,
Luke Karas – Assistant Director of Guest Services

Chicago Randy Announcement

The EACA and EDPA Chicago Chapters have announced the date for this year’s “Chicago Randy”.

The Chicago Randy will take place on Monday, August 9 at Maple Meadows Golf Club.   For more information on how you can sponsor or participate in the Chicago Randy contact Nancy Virene at njvirene@thetermgroup.com.

INDUSTRY NEWS

New Board to Oversee Sweeping Changes at McPlace <Expo Web News> Illinois governor Pat Quinn and city mayor Richard M. Daley have appointed a new six-member interim board for the MPEA, the agency that owns and manages the McCormick Place and Navy Pier venues there. The interim board will work with a soon-to-be-appointed trustee and be tasked with overseeing the “sweeping changes” authorized under legislation that was passed by the Illinois General Assembly on May 27.

The new interim board includes: Sarah Nava Garvey, Julian Green, Roger Kiley Jr., Carmen H. Lonstein, Ronald E. Powell and Larry R. Rogers. The six-member board also will be responsible for selecting a seventh member who will serve as chairman.

MPEA says conventions and tradeshows at McCormick Place generate more than 65,000 jobs and $8 billion in “economic impact” for Chicago and Illinois. It says the changes at the agency will be rolled out over the next 18 months.

The IFES meeting in Shanghai was a big success. 125 visitors from 31 countries attended the IFES meeting on June 23-24. Six representative companies from EDPA in the USA.   Various dignitaries from Shanghai shared their statistics and the growth of the exposition industry in Shanghai and China. The growth of the exposition industry in Asia is nearly double of that in the rest of world continents.

The highlight of the visit of course was our visits to the Expo 201 site. What was of particular interest was to visit country pavilions with our fellow IFES members from other countries and to share their views and comments at each Expo site. Our evenings were spent catching up on the World Cup results. The pride of countries through soccer was quite evident. Go Uraguay!

The massive size of the Expo fairground, and the waiting time to enter the major pavilions, did not allow us to see but 1/2 of the Expo in 3-4 days. Chinese people would wait up to 6 hours to get into the China pavilion.    For many Chinese, this was their first visit to Shanghai and the closest they will ever come to seeing another country. Considering that 10 years ago most families in China did not have refrigerators, they have come a long way.

Report filed by Larry Kulchawik, 3D Exhibits

IAEE Urges U.S. Government to Recognize Role of Trade Shows in Driving Exports <Trade Show Executive> Exhibition industry leaders made a successful pitch to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to give trade shows a prominent place in the Obama administration’s strategy of increasing U.S. exports.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

Youth is happy because it has the ability to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.

– Franz Kafka                     German novelist  (1883 – 1924)

Publisher’s statement. The Showfloor Buzz is a publication of the Exhibitor Appointed Contractor Association (EACA) which is dedicated to “raising the level of service excellence on the showfloor.”

This publication is sent free of charge to all EACA members each Wednesday, and to non-members four weeks later.   Annual subscriptions to current issues of the Buzz are available to non-members for $49.95.    Please send subscription requests to jimwurm@eaca.com.

EACA members are also permitted to submit job postings to the Buzz free of charge for a one time listing.   Member job postings can be extended for additional weeks in the Buzz as well as posted to the EACA web site.    The costs for extending your job posting are one month for $50, 2 months for $85, and 3 months for $125.

If you have news from the tradeshow floor that you feel is important to the success of our members,  or our industry’s customer, the exhibitors, please forward it to the EACA  @ 541-317-8768 or email us @ jimwurm@eaca.com

Thank You.

vol. 13, issue 26                        June 30, 2010

EACA NEWS

2010 Intrepid Award Voting Complete! The voting for this year’s Intrepid Award is now closed.    2010 was a banner year for Intrepid voting, as 167 members placed their votes for the candidate of their choice.

Be sure to come to the EACA Annual Conference and attend the Awards Luncheon on July 13 to congratulate this year’s winner!

Register for the EACA Annual Conference It’s time to register for the EACA’s 12th Annual Conference in Boston, MA at the Boston Convention Center from July 13-14 2010.

Our theme for this year’s conference program is an examination of our industry’s business model.   We will have a compelling panel discussion on “Is Our Industry Model Obsolete?”      We will not only examine the arguments pro and con, we will also discuss new event models that are in practice that are achieving success.

In addition, we will review the first Exhibit Industry Council Best Practice on “Full Disclosure and the Control of Exhibitor Costs.”    The implementation of this standard, we believe, will go a long way toward relieving exhibitors, as well as all their EAC suppliers, of the issues which get in the way of their ability to achieve more success with their trade show programs.

Once again, one of the best features of registering for your Annual EACA Conference is that your EACA Conference badge provides you with access to the TS2 showfloor, as well as a ticket to the Block Party.

So don’t delay download the Conference registration form and sign up today!

Registrants for this year’s event include:

Alan Cordial                  calan communications

Joel Turunen                  Centerpoint

John O’Shea                  Czarnowski

David Mihalik                  EliteXPO Cargo Systems

Al Kirschner                  Freeman

Herman Dagner                  IATSE

Don Gandolini                  IATSE

Bill Gearns                           IATSE

C. Faye Harper                  IATSE

Mark Kiracofe                  IATSE

Peter Eelman                  IMTS

Mike Hardeman                  IUPAT Local 510

Bernie Masssett                  MC2

Sue Huff                           Medtronic

David Causton                  McCormick Place

Anthony Lopez                  McCormick Place

Amanda Helgemoe         Nuvista

Michael Mulry                  On Location

Randy Pekowski                  The Expo Group

David Sterne                  The Inside Track

Ron Mestichelli                  Spectrum Show Services

BJ Enright                           Tradeshow Logistics

Jeff Skillman                  United Brotherhood of Carpenters

Ken Viscovich                  United Brotherhood of Carpenters

Jack Savage                  UPS Freight

Richard Ganch                  YRC

Bill Pratt                           YRC

And, many thanks to our Conference Sponsors:

Gold Sponsor

MC2

Silver Sponsors

Spectrum Show Services

UPS Freight

Bronze Sponsor

IUPAT Local 510

Nuvista

On Location

EACA PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

Congratulations to Bruce Cantwell and his new bride, Deb Farina, on their marriage which took place on March 26 of this year.   Bruce and Deb had been dating for 5 years prior to the nuptials

CHAPTER NEWS

Chicago Chapter News

Chicago Randy Announcement

The EACA and EDPA Chicago Chapters have announced the date for this year’s “Chicago Randy”.

The Chicago Randy will take place on Monday, August 9 at Maple Meadows Golf Club.   For more information on how you can sponsor or participate in the Chicago Randy contact Nancy Virene at njvirene@thetermgroup.com.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Marketers Failing to Verify Sponsorship and Event Marketing Results <Expo Web News> The Association of National Advertisers along with market research and consulting firm IEG released the results of a study that shows client-side marketers are generally not following up on the results of their event marketing programs. The results show 65 percent of respondents indicate they are not taking steps to measure the results of these marketing tactics.

Accountability and results-based marketing strategies have secured top priority during a period where every dollar spent needs to perform. Yet the ANA/IEG survey reveals a marketing community that is unorganized and unable to properly measure their activities.

While 8 in 10 respondents recognize that validated results are critical for justifying the spending, especially in the last two years, only 35 percent of them said they “always or almost always” measure their sponsorship or event marketing returns.

TSEA Opens Exhibitor Choice Voting. The nominations are in and voting is now open for the 2nd Annual Trade Show Exhibitors Association Exhibitors Choice Awards. Many leading trade show industry suppliers have been nominated and awards will be presented during the 2nd Annual TSEA Foundation Gala July 14, 2010, during TS2 in Boston, MA.

Exhibition and Conference M&A Down in the First Half. <Expo Web News> While the overall media M&A market is proving to be more active so far this year, deal volume and value are down for events, according to the most recent report from media investment bankers the Jordan, Emiston Group.

The number of deals announced in the exhibitions and conferences sector through the first half of 2010 declined 40 percent to 12, the report says. Combined deal value slipped 25 percent $58 million compared to the same period last year.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.

– Antoine de Saint Exupéry                           French poet  (1900 – 1944)

Publisher’s statement. The Showfloor Buzz is a publication of the Exhibitor Appointed Contractor Association (EACA) which is dedicated to “raising the level of service excellence on the showfloor.”

This publication is sent free of charge to all EACA members each Wednesday, and to non-members four weeks later.   Annual subscriptions to current issues of the Buzz are available to non-members for $49.95.    Please send subscription requests to jimwurm@eaca.com.

EACA members are also permitted to submit job postings to the Buzz free of charge for a one time listing.   Member job postings can be extended for additional weeks in the Buzz as well as posted to the EACA web site.    The costs for extending your job posting are one month for $50, 2 months for $85, and 3 months for $125.

If you have news from the tradeshow floor that you feel is important to the success of our members,  or our industry’s customer, the exhibitors, please forward it to the EACA  @ 541-317-8768 or email us @ jimwurm@eaca.com

Thank You.

vol. 13, issue 25                                    June 23, 2010

EACA NEWS

Hellberg Voted to EACA Hall of Fame! The votes have all been tallied and Mickey Hellberg, formerly of Creative Productions, has been elected to the EACA Hall of Fame.

Induction ceremonies to the EACA Hall of Fame will be held at the Awards Luncheon at the EACA Annual Conference on July 13, 2010 at 12:30pm at the Boston Convention Center in Room 252B.   Be sure to take part in the ceremonies to celebrate the life and accomplishments of our 2010 EACA Hall of Famer – Mickey Hellberg!

Last Chance to Place Your Vote for the 2010 Intrepid Award! Be sure to join the 112 fellow members who have already cast their vote for this year’s Intrepid Award.

The Intrepid Award is awarded to the individual, organization or consortium that has made great contributions to the cause of customer service in the trade show industry.

The Five Finalists for this year’s Intrepid Award are:

David Causton, MPEA.

Amanda Helgemoe, Nuvista.

BJ Enright, Tradeshow Logistics.

Bob Lessin, Business Rep., Local 831

Sue Huff, Medtronic.

All employees of EACA member companies are eligible to vote.     You can fax in your vote on an official Intrepid Award ballot or simply email your vote to jimwurm@eaca.com.

Register for the EACA Annual Conference It’s time to register for the EACA’s 12th Annual Conference in Boston, MA at the Boston Convention Center from July 13-14 2010.

Our theme for this year’s conference program is an examination of our industry’s business model.   We will have a compelling panel discussion on “Is Our Industry Model Obsolete?”      We will not only examine the arguments pro and con, we will also discuss new event models that are in practice that are achieving success.

In addition, we will review the first Exhibit Industry Council Best Practice on “Full Disclosure and the Control of Exhibitor Costs.”    The implementation of this standard, we believe, will go a long way toward relieving exhibitors, as well as all their EAC suppliers, of the issues which get in the way of their ability to achieve more success with their trade show programs.

Once again, one of the best features of registering for your Annual EACA Conference is that your EACA Conference badge provides you with access to the TS2 showfloor, as well as a ticket to the Block Party.

So don’t delay download the Conference registration form and sign up today!

Registrants for this year’s event include:

Alan Cordial                  calan communications

Joel Turunen                 Centerpoint

David Mihalik               EliteXPO Cargo Systems

Al Kirschner                  Freeman

Herman Dagner                  IATSE

Bill Gearns                           IATSE

C. Faye Harper                  IATSE

Mark Kiracofe                  IATSE

Mike Hardeman                  IUPAT Local 510

Bernie Masssett                  MC2

Sue Huff                           Medtronic

Amanda Helgemoe         Nuvista

Michael Mulry                  On Location

Randy Pekowski                  The Expo Group

David Sterne                  The Inside Track

BJ Enright                           Tradeshow Logistics

Jeff Skillman                  United Brotherhood of Carpenters

Ken Viscovich                  United Brotherhood of Carpenters

Jack Savage                  UPS Freight

Richard Ganch                  YRC

Bill Pratt                           YRC

And, many thanks to our Conference Sponsors:

Gold Sponsor

MC2

Silver Sponsor

UPS Freight

Bronze Sponsors

IUPAT Local 510

Nuvista

On Location

CHAPTER NEWS

Atlanta Chapter News

Get Out of the Gutter Sets All Time Records

Get Out of the Gutter, the Atlanta-based bowling event that supports the Randy Smith Memorial Golf Classic, had its best year ever, according to event organizer Sandra Braun of Nth Degree.

“We had a great turnout this year,” Sandra said.    “More sponsors and participants than ever, and we raised more money for the Randy than ever before.”

Congratulations to Sandra, and everyone else who made this year’s event a success!

Chicago Chapter News

Chicago Randy Announcement

The EACA and EDPA Chicago Chapters have announced the date for this year’s “Chicago Randy”.

The Chicago Randy will take place on Monday, August 9 at Maple Meadows Golf Club.   For more information on how you can sponsor or participate in the Chicago Randy contact Nancy Virene at njvirene@thetermgroup.com.

INDUSTRY NEWS

IAEE Urges U.S. Government to Recognize Role of Trade Shows in Driving Exports <Trade Show Executive> Exhibition industry leaders made a successful pitch to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to give trade shows a prominent place in the Obama administration’s strategy of increasing U.S. exports. Among the agreements:  IAEE members will be given assistance in locating potential sources of international attendees and  IAEE will provide input to the U.S. Trade Representative on the individual trade shows most likely to attract overseas buyers.

Nielsen and McKinsey Form Social Media Tracking Service <Expo Web News> Many companies are taking advantage of the customer engagement characteristics of social media, but have yet to develop a complete understanding of the medium’s effect on marketing efforts. To that end, the Nielsen Company and McKinsey announced this week a new joint venture that offers social media tracking services.

Called NM Incite, the group folds together Nielsen’s BuzzMetrics with McKinsey’s experience in working with clients on cross-platform marketing and purchase behavior strategies. According to a statement, BuzzMetrics will become “wholly part of NM Incite.”

Revenue from Air Travel Rises for Fifth Straight Month <M&C Midweek News> The Air Transport Association of America, the trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, reported that passenger revenue rose 21 percent in May 2010 vs. the same month in 2009, the fifth consecutive month of growth.

San Francisco CVB Ousts Union over Hotel Boycott Campaign <Trade Show Executive> The board of directors of the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau voted June 16 to revoke the membership of a union representing hotel workers that had been contacting meeting planners and warning them they could face labor trouble in The City.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done.

–Alan Turing                              British mathematician  (1912 – 1954)

Publisher’s statement. The Showfloor Buzz is a publication of the Exhibitor Appointed Contractor Association (EACA) which is dedicated to “raising the level of service excellence on the showfloor.”

This publication is sent free of charge to all EACA members each Wednesday, and to non-members four weeks later.   Annual subscriptions to current issues of the Buzz are available to non-members for $49.95.    Please send subscription requests to jimwurm@eaca.com.

EACA members are also permitted to submit job postings to the Buzz free of charge for a one time listing.   Member job postings can be extended for additional weeks in the Buzz as well as posted to the EACA web site.    The costs for extending your job posting are one month for $50, 2 months for $85, and 3 months for $125.

If you have news from the tradeshow floor that you feel is important to the success of our members,  or our industry’s customer, the exhibitors, please forward it to the EACA  @ 541-317-8768 or email us @ jimwurm@eaca.com

Thank You.