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Impressing Conference Attendees, Part 1

September 21st, 2011

Conventions and conferences are tremendous opportunities to reach the right kind of people, the ones that need your product or service (whether they know it or not). Appearing at the right venues will enhance your brand identity and increase your firm’s visibility, while you are simultaneously generating leads and driving new sales. As a leading provider of state-of-the-art event production services, CRE Rentals can not only advise you – we can equip you.

Participating in the right events helps you

• make new business connections,

• keep abreast of industry trends,

• observe your competitors in action and

• hone your marketing and sales strategies.

Naturally, you will want to impress attendees without breaking the bank, and much of the answer lies in the old “4P Method” – Planning Prevents Poor Performance. Remember, too, that most cost overruns are due to excessive revision and redundancy. So (1) do things right the first time and (2) stay on schedule.

Your pre-event checklist

• The first thing that will impress conference attendees is an invitation. You can use e-mail blasts, phone calls, press releases and other approaches in the mix that works best for you. Target existing customers, prospects, business leaders, industry analysts, bloggers and anyone else who may be interested – or should be!

• To ensure you have the right exhibit to fulfill your marketing goals (within your budget, of course) you should check out different booth designs. You will need visual appeal, so CRE plasma rentals should be at the top of your list.

• If you do a little research, you can discover what unique and creative booth ideas generated buzz on the exhibition floor of other conferences. Not everyone you invite will show up, so you must attract visitors to your booth.

• Consider which accessories, lighting setups and audio visual rentals will solidify your brand image. Compelling sights should be used in tandem with compelling sounds – without blasting the neighbors, of course.

• Also: Stock some cost-effective giveaways, make sure your booth staff project a professional image, prepare a talking points one-sheet and be proactive in steering people to your exhibit area.

Two overlooked strategies

Early Bird – Start your pre-conference promotion before the ink dries on your booth contract. If you have sales and field personnel using iPad rentals, make sure they carry PDF versions of your promo pieces, and tell them to spread the news.

Cast a Net – Most industries have numerous conferences and trade shows every year, but many firms cannot afford to go to more than one. If this is your situation, arrange to get your promotional materials to associates in non-competitive industries that are exhibiting at shows scheduled before yours.

Call or e-mail an Account Executive for all your on-site production needs, as well as trade show expertise. Know what you need? Use the Quick Rental Quote form right now!

Don’t forget to check out Part 2 of “Impressing Conference Attendees” on Thursday, September 22nd.

Fall Shows: Oracle OpenWorld 2011, Solar Power Intl 2011

September 13th, 2011

Oracle OpenWorld 2011

Fall is coming, and that means it’s time once again for Oracle OpenWorld 2011, being held October 2-6 at San Francisco’s Moscone Center. Researchers, entrepreneurs, the scions of today’s industries and the innovators of tomorrow’s – representing every imaginable industry – come to OpenWorld from the overwhelming majority of nations on Planet Earth.

If you want to master Oracle technology, this is the place, with literally hundreds of sessions, 450 exhibits, scores of technology demos, numerous breakout sessions and many exciting keynotes from world tech leaders from which to choose. If you want to outfit an exhibit area to reel in interested parties, CRE has the convention rentals expertise to help you there, too.

For 30+ years, CRE has been providing solutions for breakout sessions, presentations and exhibits, and is a veteran of OpenWorld. Our plasma rentals can anchor your booth with dramatic displays and signage, while iPad rentals empower your conference team by putting those same materials (and/or others) right in their hands for “portable presentations.”

As we’ve said of previous OpenWorld events, Oracle delivers “five days of education with insights and connections that will transform your business.” The clincher for 2011? This year’s “Appreciation Event” concert features Sting. How can you afford to miss all this?

Solar Power International 2011

From its previous home in Anaheim, Solar Power International 2011 (SPI) moves to Dallas, TX, for its annual conference, to be held October 27-29. SPI is among the biggest, most wide-ranging solar power exhibits and conferences in the world with some 24,000 professionals from over 125 countries in attendance.

With 1,200+ firms from all of the solar power vertical markets exhibiting across an expanse of nearly a million square feet (gross), SPI is working hard to achieve its goal: to “advance and support the solar power industry and to promote the growth of U.S. solar markets.”

Encounter new products, service providers and prospects while networking with professionals from the broadening horizons of the industry. Draw passers-by into your exhibit area with unique (and fun) LCD touchscreen monitor rentals that engage, educate and entertain. From manufacturers, contractors and engineering firms to utility companies, government representatives, investors and financiers, the connections you need to make will all be there – don’t let ‘em get away!

In addition to Audience Response System rentals and other gear, CRE has tips for a successful breakout session. Want to multiply your presence cost-effectively? Capture information from high-traffic areas with interactive kiosk rentals customized with your message and queries. We are conference and exhibit professionals. We can help! One call or e-mail to an experienced Account Executive, or a few minutes with our Quick Rental Quote form, and your solution is on its way.

Trade Show: Interbike Loves Las Vegas

August 30th, 2011

Interbike International Bicycle Expo (Interbike) is the premier bicycle industry business-to-business (B2B) event, bringing together leading manufacturers, retailers, support industries, cycling advocates and media to tend to the business and technology side of cycling. The event assembles over 1,100 cycling-related brands and draws over 20,000 attendees every year. The 2011 edition of the show will once again be held in Las Vegas from September 12th to 16th.

To move or not to move?

It almost wasn’t so. Last year Interbike announced it was moving its 2011 show from September to the month of August. Almost in passing, the organization mentioned that the location was moving, too, from Las Vegas to Anaheim. The announcement unleashed a flood of feedback, surprising Interbike’s top brass.

It “elicited a very real response,” said Interbike show director Andy Tompkins. After “countless conversations [with] exhibitors and retailers” the group reversed course. “We are hearing loud and clear,” admitted Tompkins, “that [the] industry prefers September dates and the convenience of Las Vegas.” CRE is particularly experienced in serving the great convention centers of the West, even if you just need a dozen tablet PC rentals for your team.

Interbike shifts paradigms

During the scheduling kerfuffle, Interbike execs heard from numerous industry insiders about the show’s importance to the marketplace. It is still “the industry’s show,” said Tompkins, and “the market’s passion and commitment” to it means that the 2011 and 2012 events will be “groundbreaking.” Expect large, milling crowds, and stay connected with iPad rentals – they’re notepads, display devices, phones, e-readers and Internet appliances in one slim, slick package.

If you’re exhibiting in a major way, CRE’s excellent event production services will make your trade show appearance a hit. You can also put together your own booth a la carte, so to speak, and draw passersby into an interactive presentation on a Interbike plasma rental . If you’re attending to gather materials and distribute your own, you can set up a mini branch office with CRE’s vast range of office equipment rentals.

Green is keen!

We can help you make your tradeshow experience greener than ever, too. Save on four-color printing by handing out business cards or flyers with URLs listed, so interested folks can save a few trees while reading your “virtual marketing materials.” Multiply your presence with CRE’s interactive kiosk rentals, which can be configured to your specifications to dispense info (and collect it, too). Very handy, and kiosks don’t take lunch breaks. (But you should!)

If you’re working yourself to a frazzle setting up your exhibit or strategizing a breakout session, let CRE help. We’re seasoned trade show specialists that also happen to have one of the largest inventories of high-tech rentals anywhere. One call or e-mail, or a few minutes with our Quick Rental Quote form, is all it takes to get you on your way to Interbike.

Trade Show: This MAGIC Moment

July 28th, 2011

If you’re involved in any way with the business of fashion, the MAGIC Show 2011 is definitely where you want to be from the 22nd to the 24th of August, 2011. Being held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, the show is Ground Zero for thousands of fashion industry professionals from around the world. The range of people and firms at MAGIC – manufacturers and buyers, fashion leaders and textile designers, marketing mavens and brand builders – is world-class, too.

This year, in fact, the U.S. Department of Commerce and MAGIC will co-host “Sourcing in the Americas” on Sunday, the 21st, the day before MAGIC’s official start. The day-long summit will showcase textile mills, apparel, footwear, component suppliers and service providers throughout Latin America. Attending, exhibiting or both, MAGIC is where you will discover the hot new trends, from design to retailing, while you’re buying, selling and “schmoozing.” This is where it happens.

Display a winning attitude with Plasma Rentals

The popular saying, “Go big or go home,” applies perfectly to the winning attitude you need if you’re heading for the MAGIC event (or any other). At MAGIC, all the companies, big and small, go to great, often expensive lengths to promote themselves with dramatic visual displays, free gifts, breakout sessions and more. CRE can outfit you with big, bold plasma rentals and the other tools you need to get the most from this one-stop-shop event.

If your conference team is small this year, you can multiply your presence with interactive kiosk rentals customized to make your pitch and take contact info from passersby. CRE can help both veteran business owners and new entrepreneurs to “go big” without the “big bucks,” and make things happen at MAGIC. If you host a session, our Audience Response System rentals provide a two-way exchange of information that can be invaluable in helping you focus your branding message and PR.

MAGIC’s Global reach

The seminars conducted at MAGIC are extremely popular because of the top quality presenters and keynote speakers. Outfitted with our iPad rentals, your conference team can take notes (written or voice), snap photos, take videos, stay in touch and access online conference resources. If you work in fashion, you have to be at MAGIC – and if you go, you need to “go big.” There’s no better way to prepare than to get CRE, with its full range of convention rentals, on your side. That’s how MAGIC gets done.

It gets done quickly, too, when you call or e-mail our experienced CRE Account Executives. It doesn’t cost a cent to brainstorm your conference strategy with them, and when you get it nailed down we have the full range of event production services available. One call does it all – but you don’t even need to do that if you know what you need. In that case, use our handy Quick Rental Quote form. Either way, CRE will give you the magic!

Comic-Con 2011 Is No Funny Business

July 14th, 2011

Comic-Con International 2011 is right around the corner. The annual fantasy- and tech-filled event will occupy the San Diego Convention Center from July 21st through the 24th, starting with a special Preview Night on July 20th. Many special events have been put together (so check out the programming info) for those of you lucky enough to have gotten your badges before they sold out!

And, a second, special conference will be held in conjunction with Comic-Con. The ICv2 Comics, Media and Digital Conference will be at the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina, next to the Convention Center on Wednesday afternoon, July 20th. This event brings together leaders in the creation, production and distribution of comics to discuss the powerful new trends shaping the future of entertainment (generally) and comics (specifically). The sorts of folks who use our AJA Io HD rentals and the latest-’n'-greatest Macs (see our recent blog on the newest iMacs) will be all over the place. You’ll feel right at home!

Enhance your presence at Comic Con with plasma rentals

Are you exhibiting and want people to stop in their tracks? CRE has 42” to 65” big-screen plasma rentals or consider renting 3D plasmas to get your booth the attention you want.

Want to cover more territory at lower cost, with 100% dependability (and no coffee breaks)? Use interactive kiosk rentals to “multiply your presence” cost-effectively by giving out your company’s message while “taking names and numbers” from attendees you may have missed otherwise.

iPad rental – the perfect tool for your staff

If your company is attending Comic-Con, make sure your staff is properly outfitted for the right tasks. For those attending sessions where speakers, panelists and attendees consider the state of comics today – how they’re used in everything from TV ads and merchandising to blockbuster movies (or not) – then Apple’s iPad is a good pick. Renting an iPad will help your staff stay in touch, download the conference program, record audio and/or video of sessions, take notes and look “super-cool”.

Everything you need for a successful conference is right here at CRE. A visit to our Quick Rental Quote form is all it takes to get things going. Whether you need to strategize your Comic-Con presence, or get 20+ computer rentals to equip a new customer service department tomorrow (yep, tomorrow), CRE is your one-stop shop. We do it all, we have it all, so look no further – give a call!

Apple Conference (WWDC 2011) Insanely Great

June 14th, 2011

Before this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2011), which took place on June 6, Apple released a bit more information than the company typically provides about upcoming events. It may be that Apple was so busy with the new Mac OS X Lion and iOS5 that it wanted to get a few things out of the way. As it turns out, it meant more stage time for Steve Jobs and his “insanely great” stuff.

The ailing but energized Jobs and a team of Apple executives put on a great show. Jobs, as predicted, unveiled Apple’s new iCloud service. Attendees also got a nice dose of information on the next iteration (iOS 5) of the mobile operating system used in CRE’s iPad rentals, as well as details about the long-awaited OS X 10.7 (Lion).

OS X Lion arrives in July

The subject of a recent blog, Lion OS is being finalized for a July debut. The WWDC presentation confirmed that Lion will feature

• increased Magic Trackpad integration for multi-touch gestures, furthering the Mac’s “iPadification”;

• an upgraded Mail application with threaded messages;

• the new “AirDrop” file transfer utility for simple, short-range exchanges;

• a “Versions” feature whereby apps save “editions” of documents as you work, automatically, letting you to return to any saved version, any time;

• some new capabilities for the FileVault data encryption scheme; and

• an Auto Save feature for everything you do, in every application.

Apple announces iCloud

Wherever you are – at work with CRE’s high-end Mac Pro rentals, at home with your iPod, on location for a commercial shoot with a laptop – Apple wants you to have access to your digital media, hence the new iCloud service. A user can stream media to computers or iOS 5 devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch), as well as through them to wireless networks and devices, via both Wi-Fi and 3G. If you have songs in your library that didn’t come from iTunes, a new service will add it from the online database or let you upload it manually. Called the iTunes Match service, it will cost $25 a year.

As far as the new features coming in iOS 5, there will be a long-overdue overhaul of iOS notifications, “a weak spot in a strong OS.” The new notification system will work like the well-rated third-party “push notification” app, Boxcar, which integrates all message notifications (texts, tweets, IMs, etc.) into one window. Finally, OS X Dashboard-style widgets migrate to iOS, as well as voice-recognition for text-to-speech and speech-to-text functionality.

Speaking of text and speech, you can contact an experienced Account Executive by e-mail or phone, or let us know what you need by filling out the handy Quick Rental Quote form. From audiovisual rentals to the best in post-production gear, CRE is ready to equip you for success!

E3 Expo 2011: Trade Show News

May 12th, 2011

E3 Expo As far as high-tech conferences go, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) is known for putting on one of the best – E3 Expo 2011, a premiere trade show for computer and video games and related products. The trade show is set for June 7-9 at the Los Angeles Convention Center and not only will it be illuminating, it will be lots of fun, too!

Mobile gaming explodes

As the premier international trade show for gaming on all platforms, E3 Expo 2011 gathers in one place all the various artists, engineers, creators, distributors and publishers in all “segments” – from games on smart phones and tablets like CRE’s iPad rentals to the Internet, handheld devices, home computers and dedicated consoles like Xbox and Wii. Mobile gaming is the fastest-growing segment of all and promises to be the hot topic this year.

Over its three days, E3 Expo 2011 will draw tens of thousands of high-tech pros who are working in myriad ways to bring the world a new generation of interactive entertainment. Influential people of all disciplines and from all corporate departments – design, manufacturing, marketing, distribution, etc. – will join representatives of the most innovative companies in the business to discuss new trends and products. If you exhibit at E3 Expo, using one or more of CRE’s touchscreen LCD monitor rentals is an effective way of engaging passers-by and empowering them to learn about your product or service.

Trade Show Booth at E3 Expo

Get your message to the right people

Besides your exhibit booth, a few strategically placed interactive kiosk rentals will go a long way toward getting your message into the right heads – from software developers, distributors, buyers and retailers to venture capitalists, manufacturers, industry analysts and global media pros (print, Web, broadcast). And no matter how “green” you want to go at the convention – read about green conference centers and green practices – we can help.

The ESA also offers member services that include global anti-piracy programs, government and industry relations, business research, 1st Amendment advocacy and protection of intellectual property. Meanwhile, CRE offers you E3 rentals and the know-how to make a good impression. Call or e-mail an Account Executive (or use the Quick Rental Quote form) to get just what you need – before, during and after the show!

Into the Future with NAB Show 2011

March 15th, 2011

It’s time once again for one of the premier annual conferences for content producers, broadcasters, TV/film professionals and assorted tech-lovers – the NAB Show 2011. It is set for April 9-14 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. So well known that the acronym isn’t even spelled out much anymore (it’s the National Association of Broadcasters, of course), the NAB Show is considered by many experts to be the #1 get-together for “video, audio and digital media professionals.”

Experts (and buyers) of all kinds

Hardware, software and service companies of all kinds will be touting their wares to 90,000+ media and entertainment professionals from some 150 countries – executives, producers, writers, content distribution/delivery experts, IT managers and many others. CRE convention rentals are key to an effective exhibit – you are going, right? – and, with a shot at over $35 billion in purchasing power in attendance, missing the NAB Show could cost you. CRE can deliver and set up everything you need to make a powerful impression, starting with attention-getting, big-screen plasma rentals.

Show promoters are not kidding when they say that the NAB Show is “where possibilities become realities,” and to maximize your presence you need to be in multiple places – at once. How? You can use both humans and machines for this nifty trick. Send some of your conference team through the Convention Center with iPad rentals stocked with presentations, marketing materials and video clips. If you’re short on humans, you can place a few of CRE’s interactive kiosk rentals in strategic locations to offer product/service info and capture attendee contact data.

Mapping the future

From custom-designed content management systems to the latest software for creating natural 3D environments, the NAB Show is also where you will get up to speed on where the future’s headed. Whether you’re leading one of the 500+ skill-building sessions or polling a room full of broadcast pros with our Audience Response System rentals, we can set it up right – and pack it up when you’re done. After five or six days of interacting with over 1,500 different companies spread across more than 800,000 square feet of floor space, you might be a little tired!

Conferences are just one way that CRE can help you, but you’re not exhibiting and/or attending one every day. For every other day of the year, we’re here with the solutions that will empower you to plow through production bottlenecks with our render farm rentals or store terabytes of digital media on Xserve RAID rentals. Use the Quick Rental Quote form if you know what you need, or call or e-mail an expert Account Executive for assistance. Whether you’re headed to Vegas next month or not, CRE is the right destination when your digital workflow needs a boost or a breakthrough. That’s what we do!

CONEXPO-CON/AGG Trade Show: Building the Future

February 8th, 2011

The construction industry is one of America’s true engines of growth and productivity, and CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2011 (Construction Expo/Concrete And Aggregates)– in Las Vegas from March 22-26 – is its premier gathering place. CONEXPO, held every three years, brings the latest in services, technologies and equipment. Are you exhibiting? Lets us help you strategize the perfect convention rentals to make your best impression.

Rent plasmas & touchscreens to stand out

With 2,000 exhibitors expected, and an ocean of attendees, you need to stand out. Nothing works quite so well as great video or animated presentations on large-screen plasma rentals. Getting people to stop is one thing – now you want to engage them. Touchscreen LCD monitor rentals, as well as the Sony VAIO L touchscreen computer rentals, offer a simple way to interact with attendees. Consider making the presentations available on your Web site, too, and hand flyers or cards with the URLs to people who walk past your booth.

The CONEXPO focuses quite a bit on education, with 120+ sessions on everything from new industry trends to marketing. The exhibit area will be divided into “product concentration” areas, which will help route interested parties your way – but not everyone will stop at your booth. Counter that by carrying your presentations on iPad rentals, so you can take your multimedia message around with you. You now have multiple ways of communicating your own excitement to attendees.

Get interactive at Green Roads Summit

CONEXPO is holding a Green Roads Summit to cover such crucial topics as sustainability, transportation, climate and competitiveness. Multiply the effectiveness of your conference presence by adding interactive kiosk rentals. These units can be programmed to offer your product presentations on a touchscreen interface, while also collecting contact information on attendees you never see. If you have arranged to lead a breakout session during the summit, combine both information and audience feedback with Audience Response System rentals.

CRE has you covered for any type of trade show rental equipment you need for CONEXPO-CON/AGG. Do you know what you need? Use the handy Quick Rental Quote form, and get just the right gear when and where you need it.

Trade Shows in Feb. 2011: Security and Sedans

January 20th, 2011

The National Automobile Dealers Association will hold its 2011 NADA Convention & Expo at Moscone Center in San Francisco from February 5-7. Thousands of new vehicle dealers – plus retailers, automakers and industry leaders – will be there at the most important event in the automotive industry. Exhibitors need to stand out or be lost in the crowd, so audiovisual rentals and other attention-grabbers should be part of your plan.

Do you have a product or service that targets this industry? Your customers are going to be there as well as your competitors and potential partners. So, it is vital to put on your best show with an interactive presentation displayed on a touchscreen LCD monitor rentals.

Since exhibiting at NADA brings you into personal contact with more auto dealerships than any other venue, you want to make a memorable impression. Letting people “touch their way” through presentations on Sony VAIO L all-in-one computer rental will engage them at your booth, while interactive kiosk rentals placed elsewhere will present your message while capturing information from potential partners and customers. With CRE, you have ‘em covered, coming and going!

RSA Conference USA 2011, coming to San Francisco’s Moscone Center from February 14-18, is the most comprehensive gathering of information security professionals. Attendees will learn about the newest security technologies, get updated on new best practices and gain insight into the security challenges facing businesses today. If you market a product or service to this industry, you can make a big impact with CRE convention rentals tailored to your needs.

The RSA Conference USA 2011 is the ultimate way to connect with security pros from around the globe. They will come from everywhere looking for solutions to the latest security risks, and if you have one of CRE’s plasma rentals you can really wow them. With simple computer programs you can control a multi-monitor setup (even a “wall”), so a few plasma screens or a mix of them and some LCD monitor rentals can make your exhibit the most eye-catching of all.

Consider holding a breakout session with one of CRE’s Audience Response System rentals. You can get immediate input as well as valuable feedback for later use. With CRE’s array of convention rentals you can achieve whatever effect you want.

At CRE Rentals, we are constantly thinking of how we can best serve your needs. We are always ready to equip you to blast through any production bottleneck or put your best foot forward at a convention. Call or e-mail an experienced Account Executive, or fill out the Quick Rental Quote form, and we’ll set you up with the right equipment, at the right place, at the right time and the right price – right away!

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