Southern Shows Inc. announces sale of six shows

December 22, 2016 On Wednesday, Southern Shows Inc. announced that it has sold six of the eighteen shows it currently produces to Marketplace Events LLC, the largest producer of home and garden events in North America. 

The six events are:
* The Southern Christmas Show, Charlotte
* The Southern Spring Home & Garden Show, Charlotte
*The Southern Ideal Home Shows in Charlotte, Greensboro, and the spring and fall editions in Raleigh.
 
Southern Shows Inc. will continue to own and produce the 11-show Women's Show Series, and the Southern Farm Show.
 
To help with the transition to new ownership, Southern Shows Inc. will continue to manage, on behalf of Marketplace Events, the next three purchased events.  Those events are:
* The Southern Spring Home and Garden Show, February 24-26 and March 3-5, 2017,  Charlotte
* The Southern Ideal Home Show, March 24-26, 2017, Greensboro
* The Southern Ideal Home Show, April 7-9, 2017, Raleigh.

For the official announcement of the transaction, you may visit this link News Release.  If you currently exhibit in any of the shows that were purchased, you should have already received details.

We are pleased that Marketplace Events LLC, a company with excellent leadership, experience, and resources, has committed to continue the events in the quality manner that Southern Shows Inc. has established over many years.  To find out more about Marketplace Events visit www.marketplaceevents.com. 
 
David J Zimmerman
President
Southern Shows Inc.

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In the Mood

October 18, 2016 The first glance at any exhibit immediately tells the show guest what the company is like.  Not who they are.  Not what they do.  What they are like.  Serious. Fun. Modern. Stylish. Plain.  Every exhibit has a mood.  Here are two examples of exhibit mood.  What's yours?
David J Zimmerman
Southern Shows Inc.

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And Don't Come Back

October 4, 2016 Mary Buffa does what I do - she writes about exhibiting as part of her job with Skyline Displays.  An article she wrote recently is worth sharing.  It lists the top seven ways your exhibit staff can turn-off whoever walks into your exhibit.  They are
1. Don't understand your business.
2. Be aggressive
3. Don't make eye contact
4. Ignore them.
5. Just talk about your company.
6. Don't get to the point.
7. Don't tell them if or how you're going to follow up.
For the full article, I encourage you to go to this link: 7 Pet Peeves
David Zimmerman
Southern Shows Inc.

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Get In the Spirit

September 20, 2016 Get In the Spirit
People attend events because they like what the event is about.  While that's pretty obvious, it's amazing how many exhibitors don't seem to consider this basic truth when designing their exhibit. 
This exhibitor in the Chelsea Flower Show gets it.  They sell women's clothing, but know the folks come there to see the flowers.  So - pretty easy - they put some flowers in their display.  Then they went a step further and did it in a way that made people stop and admire.
The next time you prepare for a show, think about who attends and why.  Then think about what you can do to appeal to that person.
David J Zimmerman
Southern Shows Inc.

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Make the Most of What You Have

September 6, 2016 This exhibit by Bedrosians got my attention. It's in a 10'x10' space, and manages to use every square inch of it.  Yes, it's a little tight.  Yes, they probably would have been better off with a 10'x20' space. And yes, in a show we produce, they would need permission to exceed standard height restrictions.
But what this exhibit demonstrates is that with the right design and planning, you can effectively get a lot in to a small space.
David J Zimmerman
Southern Shows Inc.

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One Piece at a Time

August 23, 2016 Here's a neat idea for a backdrop from the recent Dwell on Design show in Los Angeles. It's a interlocking display using Falcon Board.  It's easy to put up and down, store, and add to as needed.
David J Zimmerman
Southern Shows Inc.

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