B-to-B Events

Long before the recession forced businesses to slash travel budgets and ground their globetrotting workforces ABB was bringing the trade show to the people. Since 2006 the company’s Automation Products Division has been diligently traveling the country with its road show program and bringing all the bells and whistles of a traditional trade show experience right to their customers’ doorsteps.

Since the economic downturn internal events of all stripes are still under fire. From the lavish incentive programs held at posh resorts to the company picnic shareholders and cfos are questioning every expense. Yet despite this shift smart corporations realize business isn’t all about the money. They know profits result from employees who work hard function as a team and understand the meaning of their toil. To that end many are switching up their experiences now hosting more philanthropic team-building events that benefit others and give their corporate persona a boost too.

Think “teambuilding exercise” and usually the first word that comes to mind is “corny.” But there’s a new service that might get your ho-hum internal programs singing a happy tune. It’s called Song Division and not only does it bring co-workers together in a spontaneous and musical way it can also provide the platform for a rockin’ b-to-b marketing program.

Data is king. Every marketer knows it but too often valuable hours are wasted compiling hundreds of data points into a useful format when the time could be used to analyze the metrics and show real results faster and more efficiently. How you ask can I analyze without having first compiled? Welcome to the 21st century event peeps and meet your new best friend: the dashboard. It lets your event management software do the counting so you can do what you do best.

Inflatable structures are more than a lot of hot air. At fairs festivals even on the trade show floor these gigantic colorful creations can help sponsors advertisers and exhibitors stand out from the crowd. State Farm places inflatable billboards on golf course lakes at its LPGA-sponsored events (BBI Inflatable Display Systems handles). Nokia Studio a mobile entertainment experience last summer traveled to music festivals with a cube-shaped structure made out of an inflatable wall system and shipping containers (Landmark Creations handles).