Here's some specific examples of how EXPOexpert’s solutions-based approach helped our clients.

Challenge: While working with Creative Group on the McDonald’s Peak Restaurant Managers special event, EXPOexpert was tasked with helping design and create custom exhibit booths to facilitate experiential learning for the McDonald’s franchise owners attending the event…within budget.

Solution: Working collaboratively with various McDonald’s divisional directors in Oak Brook, IL, and a team of super creative individuals from Freeman, EXPOexpert assisted in designing, creating and producing several custom exhibit booths based on popular TV shows. All of the booths utilized custom graphics, lighting and/or props, and an experiential “hands-on” approach for attendees. One of the larger booths for McDonald’s human resources/employee training division incorporated a “Survivor” theme. The 110’ x 80’ Survivor booth had a thatched roof, tiki décor and several areas with sand floors. Franchise owners (attendees) went through the various areas, and learned the latest training initiatives for their restaurant employees. Other examples included:

• McDonald’s planned maintenance division’s 80’ x 120’ “Crime Scene Investigation-CSI” themed booth
• McDonald’s shift management division’s 40’ x 40’ “NASCAR race track” themed booth, showcasing a hands on trial of the latest employee timesheet software along with a crowd pleasing and fun cup-stacking competition using McDonald’s restaurant drink cups.

EXPOexpert’s six-months of advance work were creatively on-target, and within budget. The project culminated with EXPOexpert taking part in the management and production of the McDonald’s Peak Restaurant Managers special event for 29 days on-site at the Mandalay Bay Resort, Las Vegas.

Challenge: The majority of exhibitors participating in H.H. Backer’s Pet Industry Spring Tradeshow are small companies. In fact, over 90% of the exhibit booths are either 10’ x 10’, or 10’ x 20’ size booths. Many of the smaller exhibitors were unhappy about the cost of exhibiting, particularly the costs of material handling and furniture rental.

Solution: Working with the general service contractor, EXPOexpert negotiated a specially priced booth package for 10’ x 10’ and 10’ x 20’ booths. This package, available if ordered in advance, included booth carpeting, tables, chairs, wastebasket, material handling (400lbs for 10’ x 10’ booths, and 800lbs for a 10’ x 20’ booths), and saved the smaller exhibitors approximately 20% off the general service contractor’s standard ala carte pricing. This was a win-win for everyone as the general service contractor was also able to save money, as advance exhibitor orders allow the general service contractor to accurately plan and schedule labor.

Challenge: Because the Modern Language Association’s (MLA) bylaws mandate that the annual convention be held between December 27th and December 30th, the association’s exhibitor move-in and/or move-out invariably occurred on a weekend, resulting in exhibitors incurring overtime material handling surcharges for their freight.

Solution: Knowing that this is a slow time of year, EXPOexpert suggested contacting the facilities to inquire if it would be possible to arrange for the exhibit service contractor to move-in the exhibitor freight on a weekday prior to Christmas, for example December 23rd in 2009, so that exhibitors could avoid being charged material handling overtime surcharges. The end result was a win-win for everyone concerned. The exhibitors advance warehouse freight was moved in on straight time, and did not incur material handling overtime surcharges, saving a considerable amount of money. Additionally, the general service contractor was also able to set-up on straight time. Last, but not least, the early set-up and move-in alleviated a lot of on-site stress, so when MLA staff arrived at the convention site on December 26th, everything was already set-up and in place.