Edible Selfies
People love selfies, and people love food – especially decadent macarons. 3D Exhibits Inc. decided to wed these two darlings into one tasty giveaway at EXHIBITORLIVE. Attendees had their headshots taken at the exhibit's "Sweet Selfie" station, and the images were then transferred onto macarons via a laser engraver that caramelized the crisp, tender shells into detailed portraits. The resulting toasted marshmallow aroma wafting from the engraver made one almost want to devour the treat before taking time to savor the delicious depiction. Nevertheless, staffers had plenty of time to comfortably engage and qualify drooling attendees while they waited for their sweets, letting them know how 3D Exhibits could help them meet their face-to-face marketing goals. The clever pairing of food and photo seemed like a match made in promotional heaven. Slip, Slide, Sell
To demonstrate how its underfoot traction devices can help wearers stay upright on slippery surfaces, YakTrax, a brand of Implus LLC, recreated a slick environment in its exhibit at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market. The company fabricated a 2-by-6-foot ice rink in one corner of its stand. A brand ambassador wearing YakTrax walked back and forth on the five frozen slabs, telling passersby how the product's coils and spikes helped her gain traction on the glassy expanse. Displayed on a railing in front of the rink were all five YakTrax models, accompanied by placards explaining their uses and benefits. Spot-On Strategy
Branded bags are a staple on the trade show floor, but the strategy behind their distribution typically begins and ends with the handoff. However, Spot Display GmbH, which manufactures corrugated retail and point-of-sale displays, used a branded bag to reinforce its key message and turn roving attendees into mobile billboards at EuroShop 2017. After visiting the company's booth, which was made entirely from corrugated materials, qualified prospects were given a branded messenger bag made of, you guessed it, cardboard. The unique item turned each recipient into a traffic-building tool. And since the item was printed with Spot Display's booth number in big, black letters, envious aisle walkers didn't have to stop and ask where they could get their own bag, but rather noted the exhibitor's location and then visited the booth for themselves. Crafty Closet
While Generon LLC offers rather complex solutions, including custom process air and gas separation and compression products, it employed an utterly simple yet eye-catching tactic at the Offshore Technology Conference. The company needed a storage closet to house exhibit-marketing necessities, e.g., office supplies, electronics, product brochures, etc. But rather than tack a boring box-like structure onto the booth, marketers added a freestanding, roughly 3-by-6-foot closet. What made this seemingly mundane element extraordinary were the brilliant graphics attached to each side, which depicted the inner workings of Generon's elaborate wares. In effect, by simply applying some vinyl graphics, Generon turned a functional structure into a head-turning display and an effective conversation starter.


Tasty Trivia
Convincing attendees to stop and listen to your sales spiel can be tricky. So rather than plead with passersby at the International Consumer Electronics Show, American Express Open, the small-business division of American Express Co., incentivized participation with the promise of edible parting gifts. A branded food truck stood center stage in the company's booth space, flanked by banner stands that read "Learn. Play. Eat!" Arriving attendees first met with staffers to learn about what Amex Open had to offer. Next, they participated in a trivia game featuring key messages from staffers' pitches. After completing the trivia challenge (and providing their contact information), guests were invited to step up to the truck and claim their digestible prize, which, in a brilliant move, was sourced from two of Amex Open's clients. Drop a Hint
To tout the water-shedding effects of its hydrophobic glass at Integrated Systems Europe, AGC Glass Europe SA crafted a kiosk topped with two glass slides. A pair of rotating knobs enabled guests to tilt the top of the kiosk similar to a 1980s wooden labyrinth game. When attendees placed a drop of blue-colored water on the slides, they quickly discovered that the one with the hydrophobic treatment turned the H2O into an easily maneuverable ball – while water on the untreated surface spread out into a thin film. The somewhat nostalgic demo immediately proved the water-shedding abilities of AGC's treated glass. On the Ropes
With a blasé company name such as Rope Partner Inc., the average attendee wouldn't expect much in the way of clever exhibit accoutrements. But at the American Wind Energy Association's Windpower Conference and Exhibition, the average attendee would have been dead wrong. Instead of ho-hum exhibitry, the provider of wind-turbine maintenance, inspection, and performance-enhancement services filled its exhibit space with a one-of-a-kind, stop-'em-in-their-tracks circular conference room. Designers suspended a 5-foot-diameter fabric header bearing the company logo over the conference area and positioned a slightly larger metal ring immediately beneath it. They then ran neon-green ropes between the overhead and ground-based rings, creating the suggestion of conference room walls – and communicating the company's name in a single glance. The creative yet literal design flourish no doubt succeeded in roping in a few curious prospects.