What’s your plan B?

A recent article in Exhibitor Online illustrates the importance of having a backup plan when lost equipment and flight delays threaten to jeopardize months of planning and hard work just days before a show.

Every exhibitor, event planner, or tradeshow coordinator shares the common fear of something going wrong last minute before a major show or convention. Months of hard work spent planning every single aspect of a show often hinge on a variety of factors that all need to come together successfully to ensure things work out as planned. While it is inevitable that certain issues will arise that have to be dealt with last-minute, what happens when you need a backup plan for your backup plan? This is the exact situation that Marketing Manager Amanda Dawson of Morrow Technologies Corp. recently found herself in at the 2009 Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition & Conference (HITEC) in Anaheim, CA.

As detailed in a recent article in Exhibitor Online Magazine, just days before the show was scheduled to begin some custom built frames and monitors were lost by an airfreight company. The rep was unable to explain what happened and the prospect of the items being located in time for the show looked grim. Acting quickly, Amanda reached out to the vendor who created the custom frames and arranged for some new frames to be built that could be brought to the show by employees scheduled to fly out just before the show opened. Plan B was in place.

Adding to the stress, there was also some complications with connecting all the cables, inputs and components correctly to the 42-inch monitor onsite– which it turns out needed replacing. The official AV supplier had run out of resources to replace the monitor, and things were starting to go from bad to worse. When the news came that airport delays were going to prevent the second set of custom frames from arriving in time, it looked like the 30 x 40 booth risked being incomplete by show opening!

Fortunately, SmartSource Rentals was the provider of Lead Retrieval at the show and after hearing that the official AV provider could not supply a replacement monitor – they immediately stepped in to try and offer a solution. The morning the show was scheduled to begin, SmartSource reps from the Anaheim office had replacement monitors at the booth and were working alongside the labor crew to get them hooked up and installed correctly in time for the show. With minutes to spare, the monitors were complete and configured properly so that show attendees were able to see the full line of products displayed just as intended. The frames wouldn’t show up until later in the evening to complete the whole setup, but things had somehow managed to come together at the end due to Amanda’s quick action and the support offered by the onsite SmartSource Rentals crew.

This situation exemplifies why SmartSource Rentals is a National Leader in Computer & Audio Visual Rentals for Tradeshows, Conventions & Events. The focus on providing every client with a full service technology solution in any situation, even at the last minute, is a core value that has been in place since the company was founded in 1984. Combining this level of service with 24 Nationwide Locations, a company owned fleet of vehicles and a Multi-Million dollar inventory of AV & Computer equipment is the reason SmartSource stands alone in what it can provide to clients. This is proven time and time again when companies like Morrow Technologies Corp. turn to SmartSource Rentals for solutions that work, where other companies have failed.

Popularity: 1% [?]

SmartSource named Top Industry Supplier

The Top Industry Supplier Award honors the most distinguished and innovative suppliers within the Trade Show, Meetings, and Hospitality industry. SmartSource Rentals is proud to receive the Conventions.net Top Industry Supplier Award for the second year in a row.

With 24 locations, a multi-million dollar inventory, and over 25 years in business, it should come as no surprise that SmartSource was selected to receive this award. Throughout the years SmartSource has continually strived to provide the highest level of technology rental products and services to a wide range of clients with diverse needs.

Larger clients with a variety of events throughout the nation know that they can depend on one company, and one point of contact to coordinate all of their technology rental needs. In addition to meeting these needs, SmartSource has worked along side companies to identify exactly what is required to create a truly successful Meeting, Trade Show, or Event. Many situations require different solutions to ensure that things work out, and SmartSource has always been willing to go the extra mile to make sure the client is taken care of. In a lot of cases we have been working with clients for so long that we are able to see potential issues before they arise and plan around them. This is why clients continually come back when looking for their technology rental solutions and services. This is also why we have received the Top Industry Supplier Award for 2010.

Size does matter in the Meetings, Trade Show and Events Industry when it comes to renting technology and services. The physical size of our product inventory combined with the diversity of products and services is a natural advantage when it comes to renting equipment for large scale events or venues. Renting a projector and some microphones for a breakout room might not seem hard to accommodate, but what happens when you need 150 laptop rentals for everyone in those meetings, a few copy machines where people can print and lead retrieval devices to monitor where people are going. And that isn’t mentioning the huge keynote panel at the end where some custom lighting, staging and sound will be required. This type of service is all possible from one company, with one point of contact - SmartSource Rentals.

SmartSource is happy to receive the Conventions.net Top Industry Supplier Award for 2010 and adds this award to long history of outstanding customer service, innovation and top notch technology rentals and services.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Keep America Meeting

Some of the best ideas in business have been born out of face to face dialogue & discussion at a meeting, event or conference. When business professionals from similar industries meet in person to discuss ideas, the environment is a lot different than communicating via newsgroups, phone calls or email. Often times ideas are formed that literally would not have come about from an email exchange or conference call.

While we can almost all agree that there is value in holding meetings, there is also a cost associated with having them. Small costs like driving to and from an event or having to buy lunch is not too big a concern for most business professionals, but most of the time there are larger costs such as airfare, hotel and travel expenses. Major conferences and conventions can also have high ticket prices in addition to these travel expenses.

These costs might be an easy target when times get tight, but don’t forget that well planned and well executed meetings should be designed to meet goals that have a direct impact on the bottom line and company profit. Choosing to forgo a meeting or cancel a trip to save money on budget may also impact the bottom line as well.

KeepAmericaMeeting.org launched in February 2009 as a call to action for the meetings, events and incentive travel industry. Their message is as true today as it was when launched, and SmartSource Rentals encourages you to visit their website, sign a short petition and show your support for the value and importance that meetings contribute to both industry professionals and the economy. Please visit the Keep America Meeting website to learn more, including some facts that support the five points below, case studies and other valuable information.

Meeting Benefits Include:

1. Development of engaged employees
2. Improved company culture
3. More satisfied employees
4. Increased employee retention
5. Compensation more cost-effective than bonuses

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Ken Edwards nominated MPIGNY President-Elect

For over 28 years, Ken Edwards has been actively involved with Meeting Professionals International. Since becoming a member in 1982, he has held a variety of leadership positions within the organization, leading up to his recent nomination as President-Elect of Meeting Professionals International of Greater New York (MPIGNY). MPIGNY is one of the largest MPI chapters in the world, with a vision to build a global meetings industry community of meeting and event professionals in New York City & Long Island. Edwards will be assuming the position of President-Elect on July 1, 2010 and will then become President the following year.

“I have been involved in the meeting and convention industry since 1978,” said Edwards. “One of the best professional decisions I made was to become a member of the Meeting Professionals International. The organization has been key in helping me develop my skill set, build my brand and build the brand of my company, SmartSource Computer & Audio Visual Rentals.” He continued, “MPI members are a close-knit group of professionals who share common values of continuing education and professional development so that we can provide the highest quality of service to our clients.”

Outside of MPIGNY Edwards has proven himself to be top achiever in other areas as well. For the last five years he has been recognized as the top sales executive at SmartSource Computer & Audio Visual Rentals, where he is currently a National Account Executive. He has completed multiple marathons and is a competitive runner and cyclist.

For more information on Meeting Professionals International, visit www.mpiweb.org and www.mpigny.org

Popularity: 2% [?]