I decided to write this to help some exhibitors understand the vocabulary of the trade show industry. In order to get what you want done on the trade show floor you must first understand the terminology. I remember years ago when I first entered the trade show industry, I simple did not know most of the terminology. In that I decided to see if I can help a little by putting some terms together to see if I can help others. There are certainly a great deal more but these are some more widespread ones used

Blueprint
Blueprint drawings is the drawing of a particular booth either for set up of for building

Bill of Lading (B/L)
The Bill of Lading paperwork sets the fees and terms between transportation companies and shippers regarding transporting goods.

Back-light
To back-light means setting a light source from behind to light up frontal area

Cam lock
This is usually a locking device used mainly to attach panels; it can also be a tumbler type lock

CWT (Certified Weight Ticket)
the CWT unit of measurement used to measure the weight by th hundred pound weight. example 4 hundred pounds in CWT is 4cwt

Drayage
The practice of drayage involves moving show materials from the convention dock area to your booth space for set up and then back to the dock again at the end of a trade show.

Foul Bill of Lading
a transportation carrier issues a Foul Bill of Lading which is a document showing that material received was damaged

Grid System
A grid system includes a structural arrangement of support systems and electrical conduits.

Hard Card
A hard card is a work order requesting services or labor. .This is a document that time will be recorded on

Junction Box
Junction boxes of “J” box is a point where a electrical cords will meet in one metal box.

Labor Call
Labor call is when you set up a specific time for you to receive your laborer for your booth. Example you have a labor call for 4 men on Friday at 8:00am. Your labor will be there waiting at 8:00am on Friday ready to work

Less Than Truckload (LTL)
Less than truckload, or LTL, is the set rate charged for freight that weighs less than the minimum weight specified.

Light Box
Light boxes are boxes containing light fixtures, usually to light up graphics from the rear

Linear Display
a linear or in-line display is a display which is set up straight in-line with the Aisle. This space can only be approached from aisle unless this is at the end of an aisle

Marshaling Yard
the marshaling yard is the area where trucks wait for dispatch. Truck drivers check-in with a trade show facility and then proceed to the marshaling yard to wait for loading and unloading instructions.

Masking Drape
masking drapes are cloths that cover storage areas. Usually in rear of booth space or covering columns etc .

Union
A union is an organized group of workers who protect the rights of workers and increase the bargaining power with employers on the issues of hours, benefits, and wages.

Modular Exhibit
A modular exhibit is built with interchangeable components able to be set up in different sizes and arrangements.

O.T. Labor
O.T. labor, or overtime labor, is worked performed outside of regular work hours.

Rear Illumination
Rear illumination, also called back-lighting, involves lighting a translucent image from behind.

Rigger
Workers who handle and assemble machinery hanging signs etc .

rental trade show booth
Rental components that make up your trade show booth, you do not own these components your are mealy borrowing them for a few to use at the show or event

Runner
This is the person who goes out to get anything for your booth, may it be carpet tape or light bulbs etc

Trade Show Displays
This is the actual component that make up your booth space. These structures display your product or service

S.T. Labor
S.T. labor, Straight time this is usually between the agreed 8 hour time frame, any thing after this is either Overtime or Double time

Scissors Lift
a scissors lift is a motorized platform that can lift people to a certain height. Usually used to do high or above the floor work

Set-up Drawing
Set-up drawings are installation instructions to set up the booth in question.

Shipping Crate
shipping crates is used to transport the product to and from trade show. Basically it is a container for transporting items

Show Manager
Show managers organize and manage the trade show and or event.

Subcontractor
Subcontractors are individuals or companies hired by a general contractor to provide services for a trade show. This person or company usually have to file a EAC form , Exhibitors appointed contractor.

Turnkey Packages
Turnkey packages all inclusive trade show booth and components, labor to set up and dismantle booth .

Velcro
Velcro is the trade name for hook and loop fabric that joins when pressed together and separate when pulled apart.

exhibit fabricator
The exhibit designer/producer is the individual or company responsible for the design and construction of exhibit booths.

As workers move ever closer to their retirement years, they have a lot to prepare for, including considerations of estate planning, wills, Roth IRAs, where to live, and so on. The companies for whom they work should make their very last day on the job even more special with a thoughtful, creative goodbye gift.

Gone are the days when long-serving employees look forward to getting their retirement plaques and handshakes, then walking away. Today, people want a retirement gift that’s practical, usable and represents their decades of service.

So, get out of the rut of handing out boring, old retirement plaques and serving trays. Instead, choose gifts that will not only be memorable, but also used for years to come. For some great retirement gift ideas, keep reading.

The Traditional Retirement Watch

Admittedly, the classic retirement watch isn’t the most creative idea, but it is a gift that you know your employee will use. By giving a long-serving employee a high-quality watch, you’re extending to them a great thank you gift for their years of loyal service.

That said, do not hand out cheap watches as retirement presents. Little sends the wrong message to a loyal former employee than a cheap watch that breaks after a few months of use.

The “Experience” Gift

These days, retirees are mobile. They’re traveling, moving or exploring, and the last thing they want is more “junk.” Instead, give the gift of an unforgettable experience.

An Alaskan cruise, a weekend spent learning how to drive a race car, an all-inclusive vacation down south, a week touring the foothills of Italy, a night out at an incredible restaurant, a weekend spa retreat, a series of flight lessons – these are all great retirement gifts for the retiree on the go.

A Golf Club Membership

A one-year membership at a local golf club can be a great gift for the retiree who loves to golf – it gives them a place to play that first year away from work and shows you care about the person’s personal interests outside of work.

the Gifts You Should Avoid

As you search for a retirement present, remember that there are a few gifts that should be avoided at all costs. These include anything and everything that is branded with the company logo. They may love working for you, but staring at a wall clock emblazoned with their former work logo isn’t everyone’s idea of an ideal retirement present.

Next, you should avoid giving any gift that’s tied to the work environment. That means desk clocks are out, fancy pens are out, pocket protectors are out and really anything related to work at all should be rejected as an idea. You’re celebrating this person’s next chapter in life, not chaining their memories to their current one.

Last but not least, avoid high cost gifts or discuss them with the employee beforehand. The IRS has restrictions in place that will actually tax certain presents above a certain monetary value, counting them as “bonuses” rather than gifts. And though retirement plaques may be awful, at least they’ll never be taxed.

Why should you use a promotional USB drive as part of your promotional activities? What returns are you possibly going to gain from such activities? What exposure can they give to your company and brand?

To start with, your customers are walking around with a very useful item printed with your brand name on it. For activities that are completed as joint ventures, you can even have two logos imprinted onto the USB flash drives – one on the front and the other on the reverse. This sort of service does really reinforce you as a friendly, helping organisation and if you are a technical operation, it’s really great to associate your brand or company’s name with a modern, high tech device that many people will use.

Students, consultants and many others will be able to carry around with them their vital files wherever they go. There’s no need for huge piles of CDs, one small USB flash drive can store many files, with some having the capacity of several CDs. They are also quick and easy to write to, unlike CDs. You just plug them into the computer and access them as you would a hard drive. This makes them brilliant for transferring files between computers or just having those essential files, reports or whatever ready whenever and wherever you require them.

If you use USB flash driveds to hand out conference slides and agenda, those with their laptops to near by can access the slides immediately and copy them to their machines. They can then add their annotations to these files as and when they wish. When it’s their turn to hold a presentation, they can also take backups of their slides on the USB flash drive – and never need to be stuck again when the machine with the well prepared slides fails to boot up after being knocked in transit.

There’s loads of uses of these wonderful little USB flash drives – get yours on the scene before everyone else does.

Logo USB flash drives are ideal for many people as marketing products. Their large appeal, ease of use and the fact that they are genuinely useful combined with their relatively low cost makes them a promotional tool that can be widely accepted and used in many places. But all too many companies are ignoring their use and missing out on a great opportunity.

So just who are these tools useful for and in what locations may promotional flash drives be of use to customers? The answer is that many occupations can make use of these little items and by having USB flash drives imprinted with your logo, your logo is being carried around by customers, sales force and other company representatives for customers to see. Not only is your logo being shown to various people every time the items are picked up and used, your company is being associated with high tech devices, which in some areas can be a very warming and beneficial connection.

Technical engineers can carry around latest manuals, instructions and useful software tools on their USB flash drive. Sales forces can have the current product categories and specifications compactly held on the little sticks. Web designers, graphic designers and the such like can have with them copies of their latest portfolios on a USB flash drive. Not only are these easy to carry around because of the small, compact size, but because they are instantly rewritable, they are very quick and easy to maintain.

If you have a salesforce visiting prospective customers, because of the low cost of the USB flash drives, it is easily affordable to be leaving a copy of the catalogue, specification or portfolio on a USB flash drive with the prospective customer. Not only does this make sure they have ready access to the details, they are also going to see your logo on a regular basis and be reminded of you, rather than your competition.

Read how to get a grant – this can help you to get money for your business.

Setting a garage sale can be quite tedious but enjoyable if you learn how to follow the right steps. I have been involved in garage sales ever since I was a kid. Even now, when I have kids of my own, we still regularly hold such events to earn a few bucks as well as experience the fun and excitement of generatingsales. You will realize that knowing the basics and keeping everything simple can bring in more cashflow.

Visibility Matters

Location is a very important factor when I’m planning a garage sale. There was a time when our house was located in a secluded alley at the back region of the neighborhood. I decided to ask another friend who liked collectible mantel clocks to open the event with me, using their garage since it was in the middle of everything. Manycars would pass by every minute and foot traffic was also good since their home was conveniently located near the community library and park.

If I would get the least visible place in the area, I still made it a point to make people aware constantly about my presence by placing ads in the newspapers, community bulletin boards and flyers. I recommend thatyou to include all necessary details such as the exact location plus a map to drive people into your place, some hot items to sell like collectible mantel clocks and the exact time and dates of the garage sale.

Doing Business

Always have a pleasing attitude when dealing with your customers. For me, I make it a point to spend a few hours nights before the opening to study the product and price so that I can represent and sell these well. I constantlyattend to my customers so that navigating for items becomes so much easier. The goal is to make transactions convenient and affordablefor everyone.

I urge you to be ready to providediscounts and coupons to better market your garage sale. unique wall clocks are greatly valued in a number of areas so you may want to feature this specially when advertising or even give them out as a freebie each time a minimum purchase is met. Place signs, tags and labels to indicate the specific item and corresponding price. You will save more effort talking to your buyers.
More Marketing Schemes

I like preparing raffle tickets and coupons to encouragerepeat customers. I may also put out a big ad using free web sites or invest in a single-page web site. You can utilizethe site each time you are holding garage sales in different areas with varying themes. Provide special items for repeat customers.

You may even hold a surprise “Everything Must Go!” supersale during the final day to get rid of all the items and generate the biggest profits possible. Do nothesitate to decorate and make the garage sale very presentable. You may even have a “Special Feature” table where you can displaygreat and interesting items.