Unexpected Item in the Bagging Area

If you ask me, grocery store chains and some big box retailers are messing up big time. Yep, messing up by relying on self-service checkouts. We've all used them.... 

  Don't Drive Thru Please!

Hamburgers are all the rage in our town. In the last two years, four new restaurants opened specializing in various types of custom (higher end than fast food) burgers. This - if we add the seven fast food restaurants and a dozen or so sit-down places where you can order a burger - brings the options for raising my cholesterol and body fat to an all time high. ...

  Again and Again, Then One More Time 

Leo Olson taught advertising in the Journalism Department at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois during the 1970s and 80s. Although Leo passed away in 1989, he left behind a lasting legacy to thousands of J-students who passed through the doors of Cole and Reavis Halls....

  Winter Blues and Convertibles

Every February in Chicago, when the winter doldrums start to really take hold and everyone is sick and tired of cloudy, gray days, the Chicago Auto Show moves into McCormick Place for a 10-day stay. The Chicago show is billed as the largest in the world and has been going on for over 100 years.... 

  My Trade Show with Marilyn

I recently watched the 2011 movie "My Week with Marilyn". The movie is about a young intern on a movie set in England. Marilyn Monroe is one of the actors and the intern is assigned to keep Marilyn company and get her to the set on time. Marilyn is difficult to work with...

  A Must-Read for All Trade Show Exhibitors

The Exhibit and Event Marketers Association (E2MA) recently posted their 2012 Advocacy Study Presentation titled "Enhancing Exhibitor Value Enables Show Growth" on their website.  I urge everyone to click on this link...

  It Wasn't Raining When Noah Built the Ark

I recently met with a new client who was just hired by her company, and one of her job functions is to handle their modest trade show program. ...

  An Open Letter

Dear Marketing Managers, Vice Presidents, CFOs and anyone associated with hiring personnel to manage trade shows and marketing events...

 First Blog: Baby Steps

About 10 years ago, a close associate urged me to start writing a book based on my experiences in sales and the trade show and event industries. I tried....