The EP Squadron Lands in Chicago

Many - perhaps most - of my tasks the past few weeks have been preparation for the Internet Retailer Conference and Exhibition in Chicago. Well, the materials were created, plans drafted, arrangements arranged and the team sent eastward this past Sunday. Monday was set-up and opening reception and today (Tuesday) is the big day on the trade show floor.

This show is really Elastic Path’s chance to introduce the refined brand to the marketplace. The preparations were thorough (I hope) so I am confident the exhibit is bound for success.

In brief, the 10X20ft booth will be visually anchored by two connected exhibit panels featuring the “bendy girl” (contortionist) images. Two contortionists are along for the ride with 3 shows daily which is bound to draw some attention. The show times were announced on a postcard mailed out last week (a bit too close to the wire) and the booth location is near an show entrance, and close to the Jaguar car giveaway, for fortuitous foot traffic.

More after the break …

After booth is set up, the 3ft high booth cases are then wrapped in branded vinyl sheaths and used as display pedestals to hold the brochure rack (equipped with the stylin’ new brochures) and data sheets (not as stylin’ but packed with useful info), plus the “ballot box” for ecommerce survey/contest entry form to win a trip to Las Vegas to see Cirque du Soleil (reinforcing the flexibility and control message - get it?).

Two silver exercise/sitting balls and a clear table for the contortionists’ performances fill out the space. Clean, inviting, open, branded. Check, check, check, check. Oh yeah, 450 tins of “thinking putty” were shipped to give away which I suspect will garner a lot attention as people play with it in the sessions (careful it bounces!).

With the show underway, the office here in Vancouver is less hectic than last week (for me anyway) when the booth was staged in the lobby surrounded with collateral and accessories as I checked off the list to make sure no item was missing before packing giant hockey bags. My aim was to sort out the details so the squad of 5 could concentrate on networking with the attendees and spreading the Elastic Path message which is dialed in and delivered throughout our new batch of materials.

A video camera was part of the retinue of gear so hopefully some compelling images and loquacious reporting from the floor will be forthcoming.

Besides the variety of trade show materials, a few press releases are heading out to the world announcing partnerships and integrations with tools like Scene7’s dynamic imaging tools, Celebros‘ site search and merchandising technology, and SiteBrand’s personalization platform. A case study is also wrapping up about Aeroplan’s great new site which was a great success by Elastic Path’s Professional Service department.

Perhaps I’ll post some of these materials for hardcore Elastic Path enthusiasts. Interested?