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.

[View with PicLens]

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.

[View with PicLens]

Sanmina-SCI produces computer desktop enclosures for computer manufacturers.  The site is approx 700,000 square feet and accommodates all aspects of production and warehousing.

Sanmina-SCI invited 230 guests to the Fremont facility to host an open house of their new and expanded production facility.  Visitors arrived at 10:00am to register prior to the tour.  PlantTours arrived at 8am to set up all the equipment for the first10:30 tour.

They ordered receivers and headphones for 8 groups of guests in each tour.  We pre-programmed and labeled the groups A-H.  If the groups passed each other or ended up at the same stop at the same time, there would be no channel conflict and each visitor would hear only their guide.  One guide and one assistant would lead their group through 13 stops on the tour of the plant.  At each stop, one presenter was stationed to present the technical information regarding that product, process stage and give a description of any changes in the production process.  Sanmina-SCI also had executives and corporate staff from their San Jose headquarters on site.

PlantTours assigned 3 Service Reps to handle the tour guide equipment logistics for the plant staff and groups and set up all the equipment at the entrance to the offices of the plant.  We separated it by group (A-H) for quick and easy distribution.  Sanmina-SCI chose the Moderate Noise/Behind-Head headphones for moderate noise protection for each guest while allowing comfort at the same time.  A hospitality tent in front of the main entrance was set up to host continental breakfast for the visitors.  Beginning at 10:30am, each guide brought his/her group into the PlantTours distribution table, spaced in 5-10 minute time blocks, one group at a time.  We issued the receivers and headphones and they gathered by group for a sound check. It took about 45 minutes to issue all the radios and headphones to the visitors’ groups.

Everything went smoothly.  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.

Since they were serving a buffet lunch immediately after the tour in another hospitality tent, we moved the tables we used for distribution to the “Clean Room” at the back of the plant which was the last stop on the tour and prepared for collection at 11:30am.  A PlantTours Rep monitored the groups throughout the plant by constantly moving from group to group.  No service or assistance was needed.

At about 11:15am the first group arrived to return their receivers/headphones and by 12:15pm, all groups had turned in the equipment and were on their way to the lunch program.