On October 17-18, 2011, prominent brand managers, thought leaders, and technology innovators came together at the Pivot Conference in New York City to explore the role the Social Consumer plays in the future of marketing and business. Brian Solis, who produced and hosted the event, did not disappoint with a conference agenda filled with rich, uniqueRead More

In its quest to highlight events that exemplify the very best, Trade Show Executive recognized the International Baking Industry Exposition 2010 campaign with its first Marketing Genius Gold Grand Award. “It’s such an honor for MDG to be recognized for the IBIE campaign. We are so thankful to the American Bakers Association, the Baking Equipment Manufacturers &Read More

All Things Baking, which took place in Schaumburg, Ill., Oct. 2 – Oct. 4, replaced the Retail Bakers of America’s standalone annual event, ARBE, and was designed for a much wider audience than has previously frequented retail baking trade shows. The new show format, association collaboration and MDG’s benefit-focused marketing campaign helped increase attendance to almostRead More

Marketing Design Group (MDG) has garnered 8 first-place awards for marketing and design excellence from the International Association of Exhibitions and Event’s (IAEE) Art of the Show competition. MDG has won consistent recognition since 1994 with a total of 108 awards. The Art of the Show competition is designed to honor outstanding achievement in eventRead More

“By definition, a brand is the sum total of the emotions and perceptions your customers hold as the result of every interaction with your company or organization. If that’s your brand, you have to place everything into the equation,” says Denise Paccione, president of the Marketing Design Group (MDG) of San Diego. Read more here.

Super Zoo, one of the largest national shows for pet retailers, experienced another record-breaking year at its 2011 show, recently hosted by the World Pet Association (WPA) at The Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Currently in its eighth year in Las Vegas, the three-day industry trade show drew 795 exhibiting companies, a 15Read More

Next October in Houston, Texas, a groundbreaking new trade event will assemble the full range of traditional and renewable energy industries for a comprehensive look at the overarching, integrated energy solutions needed to meet today’s energy challenges. Unlike other industry events that have a narrower focus or may be aligned to certain interests, Total EnergyRead More

On January 25, the doors to the Mandalay Bay Convention Center opened for the much anticipated SURFACES and StonExpo Marmomacc Americas. Co-located for the first time, the mega-event offered crossover opportunities for buyers and sellers in one convenient and efficient environment. The co-location proved to be so successful, the event secured more than 60 exhibitorRead More

Q.  You are very well known among many in our industry, especially as former EVP at Ziff Davis and editor of many of the ZD computer magazines during their heydays. For those who aren’t as familiar, highlight your experience in the trade show and conference space. A. It’s been the proverbial long strange trip. I beganRead More

With new products abounding and robust order writing, the first major total home furnishings market of 2011 set new records and contributed to a renewed, positive outlook for the entire industry. Winter ’11 Las Vegas Market yielded a 25% increase in buyer attendance over last Summer Market and up 9% from Winter Market a yearRead More

Trade Show Executive and Expo Magazine both ran feature articles on the successful strategies that contributed to the dramatic growth of the International Baking Industry Exposition. Read them here: Targeted marketing and partnerships drew 30 percent international attendance to the 2010 IBIE.       A Piece of Cake Research uncovers new opportunities for the International Baking IndustryRead More

Despite the challenges facing the commercial construction industry in today’s economic climate, World of Concrete attracted a respectable 48,000 attendees and 1,200 exhibitors in more than a half-million square feet of exhibit space. Quality buyers and solid leads indicate that the market is on the rebound.

On December 19, 2010 MDG’s vp and chief account strategist, Kimberly Hardcastle-Geddes, made the cross-country voyage to Seoul, South Korea to teach her first international CEM course.  Invited by the Association of Korean Exhibition Industries, an organization similar to IAEE, Kimberly taught approximately 20 students the fundamentals of “Selling Exhibit Space.” With Kimberly was AlRead More