On March 31 – April 1, 2010, Aaron Rents held their annual Trade Show and  Meeting for their vendors and Store Managers at The Gaylord Texan Hotel in Washington, DC.  Approximately 2000 Aarons store and staff members attended the two day trade show event and convention.  The program allows the manufacturers reps of Aarons Rents’ product lines to present the features, benefits and technical information of their new products to assist the store managers and staff in the sales promotions process.

The Trade Show is held in the Exhibit Hall with 11 individual display areas.  Each area if piped and draped to provide visual separation, but the challenge that Aaron Rents had faced in the past was the constant ambient noise from 11 loud P.A. Speakers blaring at the same time.  As the groups rotated through each exhibit, no one could hear the presenter in their assigned area.  The shows had become completely counter-productive and unsuccessful.

Aarons came to PlantTours to solve the problem.  Our experience with tradeshows and this type of exhibit venue equipped us to present a detailed plan to provide each exhibitor and attendee/participant with the ideal solution.   Our crew of 8 uniformed Service Reps arrived at the exhibit hall the morning of the first day of the event to set up.  We placed all the equipment in the vendor booths in the Exhibit Hall, placed a receiver and headphone on each chair in each exhibit area and tested each unit programmed to match the hands-free and hand-held microphone placed on the table at the front of each display for the product reps to use for their presentations.  Over the next two trade show days, 11 groups of 80 Aaron Rents Managers and staff were assigned 17 minute time slots to rotate through the exhibits.  Our Service Reps were on hand to neaten the areas and replace the headphones and receivers during the rotation intervals of the schedule.

Instead of a constant noisy cacophony of sound, the client tells us how beneficial our service and product is to deliver a successful show on schedule.  With our system in place, even among over 1000 people in one large area, all that could be heard during the presentations was the low murmur of the presenters speaking in normal voice tones into their microphones.  So according to the client’s comments, not only could all the attendees easily and clearly hear and learn the material presented, they were not fatigued and annoyed by constant loud ambient noise.  In addition, the speakers were refreshed and comfortable and the schedule was precise, on time and a total success.

Following the conclusion of the Day #2 of the show, our Service Reps handled the process of packing and removing all the equipment from the Exhibition Hall.  Our client and the Manufacturer’s reps told us that the service was hassle-free, turn-key and that they looked forward to having us handle their Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL in 2011.

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Ingersoll Rand-Athens manufactures power and pneumatic hand tools for the consumer and commercial markets for automotive and heavy industrial uses.  The site is approx 100,000 square feet.

Ingersoll Rand invited 60 Distributors from Canada, the U.S. and overseas to the Southern Pines Operation for the Distributor Fluid Forum meetings and a tour of the plant.  The group arrived on buses on Monday afternoon at 1 PM for an opening meeting.  We arrived at 11 am to set up all the PlantTours equipment for the 2:00pm tour.

I-R staff ordered receivers and headphones for 5 groups of 12 distributors in each tour.  We pre-programmed and labeled the groups A-E.  One guide led each group through 6 stops on the tour of the plant.  At most stops, one-two presenters were stationed with visual aids, posters, samples, etc. to present the technical information regarding that product, process stage and give a description of any updates with products and manufacturing  methods.

PlantTours handled the tour guide equipment logistics for the plant staff and groups and set up all the equipment in the employee cafeteria.  We separated the equipment by group (A-E) for quick and easy distribution.  Ingersoll-Rand chose the Moderate Noise/Behind-Head headphones for light noise reduction for each guest;  some areas of the shop are somewhat noisy.  After their opening comments by the Plant Manager ended at 1:45pm, each distributor was equipped with safety shoes and glasses.   They were then led to the equipment distibution tables and the uniformed PlantTours Reps issued them their receiver and headphone and they were then gathered by group by each assigned guide. It took about 15 minutes to issue all the receivers and headphones to the distributors.

Each guide did a quick sound check and each group was assigned a tour route that began on a Shotgun Start, so they rotated every 5-10 minutes.

Ingersoll Rand used this tour to update their distributors on product enhancements and new time-saving processes and changes.  They used Hand-Held microphones so each guide could pass the Mic to the Presenter at each station for their portion of the tour.

All tours were completed by 3:45pm.  No additional service or assistance was needed.

A wrap-up summary meeting closed the event at the plant and the PlantTours Reps packed up all the equipment and removed it from the facility to conclude our service to Ingersoll Rand in Southern Pines.

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MAPEX USA held their annual Trade display at the NAMM show for their dealers and Reps at Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA.  Approximately 60 of Mapex Drums dealers and sales reps attended the pre-show review of new products and programs for 2010 prior to the opening of the show event.  The program allows the officials of Mapex to present product lines to showcase the features, benefits and technical information to assist the reps and dealers in the sales promotions process for 2010.

The challenge that Mapex has faced in the past is the constant ambient noise from a large Convention Center with high ceilings and no accoustics.  As the Reps and Dealers rotate through the display area, no one could hear the speaker present the information.  The pre-show meetings had become completely counter-productive and unsuccessful.  None of the participants could hear, so they wandered and did not absorb any crucial information regarding the products they were preparing to spend the next year selling.

Mapex came to PlantTours to solve the problem.  Our experience with tradeshows and this type of exhibit venue equipped us to present a detailed service for the ideal solution.   Our Service Rep arrived at the exhibit hall the night prior to the first day of the event to set up.  We arranged all the receivers and headphones in their display and tested each unit that was programmed to match the hands-free microphone that the product reps used for their presentations.  Over the next two days, 2 groups of up to 50 Mapex Reps and Dealers clearly heard all the information regarding new products and sales programs.  Our Service Rep was in place to handle any service needs throughout the display area.

Client comment as session was underway-“Magnificent!” and several of the Reps told us after the event what a huge difference the system made in the experience, education and benefit for all participants.  In addition, the speakers were refreshed and comfortable and the schedule was precise, on time and a total success.

Following the conclusion of the Day #2 of the show, our Service Rep handled the process of packing and removing all the equipment from the Exhibition Hall.  The client told us that the system was a great success and that they looked forward to having us handle their show again in 2011.

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Ranger Boats has been manufacturing premium custom fishing boats since 1968.  The site includes several  buildings on a multi-acre site.

Ranger Boats invited 600 boat dealers to Flippin for their annual Advantage Tour which includes meetings, sales seminars, on-the-water tests and tours of the plant and operations.  The dealers arrived on Wednesday and Friday mornings for the split schedule.  4 PlantTours Service Reps arrived on Tuesday at 5:00pm to set up all the PlantTours equipment for the next morning’s tour.

They ordered receivers and headphones for 4 groups of 75 dealers in each tour.  We pre-programmed and labeled the groups 1, 2,3, and 4.  One guide led each group through 6  stops on the tour of the plant.  At most stops, a presenter was stationed with visual aids, posters, samples, etc. to present the technical information regarding the stage of each boat’s production, process stage.  The presenters and guides provided a description of all updates of  products and manufacturing  methods.  The president and founder of the company were also present to deliver remarks.

PlantTours handled the tour guide equipment logistics for the plant staff and groups and set up all the equipment a separate display and seminar building.  Ranger Boats chose the Moderate Noise/Behind-Head headphones for light noise reduction for each guest; few areas of the manufacturing area are high noise.  After their opening comments by the Vice President of Sales ended at 7:30am and each participant was equipped with safety glasses they were issued the receiver and headphone and were gathered by group by each assigned guide. It took about 20 minutes to issue all the radios and headphones to the dealers.

Each guide did a quick sound check and each group was assigned a tour route that began on a Spaced Start, so they rotated through each tour stop every 5 minutes.

Ranger Boats use this annual meeting and tour to update their dealers on new boat enhancements and competitive features.  The guides used Hand-Held microphones so each guide could pass the Microphone to the Presenter at each station for their portion of the tour.

All tours were completed by 11;45am.  No service or assistance was needed.

A wrap-up summary meeting and comments from management concluded the event at the plant.

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Flowserve produces flow control and pump products for oil, gas, chemical, water resources and other Commercial uses under the multiple brands.  The plant is approx 500,000 square feet and handles almost all production and assembly functions in-house, including assembly, electrical components, testing, warehousing and shipping.

The Resid Upgrading Conference was held to review manufacturing processes and update customer user groups during a weeklong event.  110 guests arrived on  buses at 12:30pm after meetings and lunch at their hotel in Long Beach.  The PlantTours equipment was set up for the tour that morning to conduct our tests and separate the units by group.

Flowserve split each busload into two groups.  We pre-programmed and labeled the groups A, B, C, and D.  One guide (plant engineers) and several other staff members walked each group through the 6 stops on the tour.  At each stop, a presenter delivered the message on their area/process.

PlantTours assigned 3 Service Reps to handle the tour guide equipment logistics for the plant staff and groups and set up all the equipment under a hospitality tent set up directly adjacent to the entrance to the plant.  We separated it by group (4) for quick and easy distribution.  The Flowserve contact chose the Moderate Noise/Behind-Head headphones for light noise protection and high comfort for each guest; few areas in the plant are high noise.  Each guide gathered his/her group after the welcome for the Plant Manager one group at a time and sent them the PlantTours Distribution table.  We issued the receivers, and headphones and accompanied each group into the plant. It took about 10 minutes to issue all the receivers and headphones to the 110 group participants.

Hand-Held microphones were used by each guide in addition to their head-worn mics to allow Q&A from the visitors.

We monitored the tours throughout the plant by rotating from group to group.  No service or assistance was needed.

At about 2:30pm, the first group arrived to return their receivers/headphones and by 3:00pm, all groups were in the training room, having lunch and were ready to board their buses for the return trip to the hotel.

We look forward to serving Flowserve for their next event opportunity.

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