Our Firm Resolutions

 A New Year’s resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other.  ~Author Unknown

The concept of a New Year’s resolution is nothing new; it’s actually KEEPING them that is somewhat uncommon.  However, if you take the time to look-up “resolution” in the dictionary, you find that the word “firm” is part of the definition, as in the firm resolution to do something.  There’s no option whether to do it or not.

With each year comes a new opportunity to get it right. It’s a time to reflect on what we’ve learned – either through our successes or our failures – and look ahead to the potential that awaits all of us. 

It’s with this in mind that the following CEI resolutions are presented – and the fact that they are in writing gives our customers, co-workers, suppliers, prospective clients and anyone else with whom we interact, the confidence to know that they are stated with our firm intent to abide by them.

1. Customer service is not optional.  It’s an absolute.  We are here because of our customers and servicing them, their companies, their objectives is what keeps us in business.  We are with you from the beginning of the project to its end – and beyond.  We will provide expertise, input and support, starting with the first design concept until the last bolt is in the last crate.
2. We work together as a team to make sure their needs are met.  We create exhibits and displays that meet your goals and budgets, designed to your specifications, and handle them with care before, during and after use.
3. Build Your Image is not simply a tagline; it’s what we are dedicated to do.  It doesn’t happen by accident, however.  It’s something that we can only provide because of our decades of experience in the industry combined with the expertise of our skilled craftsmen.
4. Kindness will remain part of our culture and we will treat people with respect.  Always. 

Our team knows it’s a privilege to be able to do something that we love every day, and are thankful for the opportunity to share it with you again in this new year.

Meet The Team: Steve Gwinn

When Steve Gwinn completed his five-year tour of duty in the U.S. Army, he might have thought that his days of moving from place-to-place were over.

He would have thought wrong. 

As foreman of the CEI portable display division, Steve has gotten very accustomed to moving.   Steve, who is celebrating his twelfth anniversary with CEI, has seen the portables re-locate three times to different locations within Canal Fulton.

 “We started at our former company headquarters on Canal Street, then to the new headquarters on Milan Street, then to Market Street and now at the Erie Street warehouse,” Steve said.  “We’ve seen tremendous growth in recent years, and we’ve had to relocate just to keep-up with the space requirements.”

Steve’s knowledge of auto repairs, electrical and plumbing has served him well in his job.  “It’s very important that every square inch of each display is inspected before it gets shipped to the show.  If I find something that I can repair myself, I do it right there on the spot,” said Steve.  “It gives me a sense of accomplishment to know that I can save the client a few dollars.” 

“Staying with the same company for 12 years has given me the opportunity to see a lot of changes.  I try to do what I can to support the change and move the company in a positive direction,” he said.  “In the end, making sure the client comes first is what’s most important.”

Congratulations on your anniversary, Steve!

Meet the Team: Jason Robinson

Remember story problems from grade school math class?  Here’s one for you:

A warehouse foreman needs to prepare 150 tires weighing a total 8400 pounds for one client to send 1,100 miles for a three-day trade show.   How many feet of masking tape do you need to make sure the tires look perfect when the painting is done?

Give up?

Don’t worry.  Actually, chances are there’s only one person who knows the answer:  Jason Robinson, CEI’s Goodyear warehouse foreman, who is celebrating his fifth anniversary with the company. 

“Last year, we went through 1100’ of masking tape to prep tires for Goodyear’s dealer conference,” shares Jason.  “We also went through 600 towels, 50 gallons of thinner and 10 gallons of paint.”

And he’s got the paint-stained hands to prove it.

Although getting tires ready for shows is only part of Jason’s job, he knows the importance of making sure they are prepared to the highest standards.  “Tires are what Goodyear sells, so we know how important it is to make them look great for every show and event,” said Jason.  “CEI made the investment in our own tire mounting/dismounting equipment and tire paint booth supplies to make sure we had complete control of the quality.”

At any given moment Jason needs to be ready to locate any one of thousands of items stored in Goodyear’s warehouse, so organization and attention to detail are the keys to success.

“It takes an incredible amount of detail to get ready for a tradeshow,” Jason explains.  “For every tire that’s displayed, there’s usually a tire stand, stand graphics, a tire center or wheel – and that’s just the beginning.  What ends-up as a conference room in the exhibit hall starts in the warehouse as wood panels, bolts, screws, laminate skins… We handle everything from the carpet padding on up.”

 When Jason isn’t at CEI keeping track of the warehouse, he’s busy at home with his new son, Jaden, who was born July 1, 2010.  “He’s our first child,” Jason said.  “It’s been an amazing experience.”

Congratulations on your anniversary, Jason.  (And here’s hoping that Jaden doesn’t mind a little black paint on Daddy’s hands every once in a while!)

A Moment of Thanks

As we near Thanksgiving Day, it seems certainly appropriate for CEI to show its sentimental side and share a few of the things for which we are thankful.

1.  First and foremost, our clients.  Big and small.  Long-term and newcomers.  Local, national, international.   We know there are other exhibit and display designers and producers out there, but our clients’ loyalty, combined with our devotion to them and their objectives, has helped all of us weather this languishing economic storm of uncertainty.  Thank you isn’t enough, but it’s a start.

2.       Our employees.  Dedication, teamwork, creativity, ingenuity, devotion, commitment, honesty… they’re all here under one roof personified by our team.  We challenge anyone to find another company where nearly 75% of the employees have five or more years of service (and half of the total number for over ten!).  We have ties to this area for over 150 years and have tremendous pride in our craftsmanship; our employees are our greatest asset.

3.       Technology.  The advancements in display and trade show-related technology are nothing short of mind-boggling.  We can now “send” thousands of pounds of product to the exhibit floor on a computer monitor, direct-print onto nearly any printable surface, make identical cuts with computer-driven precision, wirelessly transmit video and light an entire exhibit without a single light bulb.  It’s amazing and exciting.

4.       Future opportunities.  We, along with the rest of the nation, are cautiously optimistic about what lies ahead.  It’s no secret that it’s been a rough couple of years for all of us – personally and professionally.  But we’re in this together and we are looking forward to an improving economy which brings with it opportunity for growth.

5.       Our families.  Anyone who is in any way associated with the trade show and exhibit business knows that long hours are part of the job.  Whether it’s the installation supervisor on the show floor on a Saturday afternoon or the master carpenter working late into the night, we all do what is needed to get the job done.  Our clients are afforded the opportunity to see and make use of the final product; our families don’t.  Yet they support us and stand by us because they know it comes with the territory and we need to take every opportunity to thank them.

From everyone at CEI… we wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with friends, family and whatever else you are thankful for.

Trade Shows Are Work. But They WORK!

Those of who are involved in trade shows are in the heat of the battle:  Fall show season is in full swing.  It seems like a good time to remind ourselves why thousands of trade shows attract millions of people each year:

• Captive, targeted audience.  Look into the eyes of customers (potential and existing!) and ask them how we can help them.
• Catch-up with old industry friends and find new ways to work together.
• Network with other professionals who are experiencing the same challenges as we are.
• Learn about the newest trends, cutting-edge technologies and latest services and solutions.
• Attend, sponsor or lead education sessions that don’t include self-promotion and actually serve the industry.
• Learn something new – whether it relates directly to our profession or not.
• Honor, recognize or engage individuals at a live event that can’t be replicated online.

Unfortunately, trade show booth “workers” often focus on everything BUT the opportunities that are available.  You may recognize yourself in some of these reasons NOT to attend:

• Gossip with other company employees in the booth about anything and everything except the task at hand.
• Torture our toes in those new shoes that we thought would be comfortable.
• Fill up on chocolate-chip cookies and truffles and completely over-caffeinate ourselves.
• Stay up way too late trying to catch up on the work we missed by spending the day at the show. Get up way too early the next morning. Repeat three times.   OR…
• Stay up way too late trying to catch-up on drinking and partying we missed by spending the rest of our lives at home.  Get up too late the next morning.  Repeat three times.

Trade shows work.  There are a multitude of resources with mountains of research confirming that fact.  HOWEVER, each trade show needs to be treated as a unique opportunity to get a specific task accomplished.  Always, always, ALWAYS:

•  Learn as much as you can about the show.  Find out who the show attendees are.  Every show presents unique opportunities with a specific audience.  The message to a purchasing agent may be completely different than the message for end-user.
• Really LOOK at where you are in the show hall.  For example, is your layout facing the “best” direction based on the show traffic?  Are you near the food vendors where people may be tempted to eat in your booth?   And being near your biggest competitor may provide different opportunities and/or challenges than being next to one of your contractors or current customers.
• Consider your product.  Let’s say you sell tablecloths.  How many exhibits have tables with rented run-of-the-mill tablecloths?  Providing one of yours at a deep discount (or even free!) creates a HUGE increase in your visibility at the show.
• Find the best hotel options and flights.  An inexpensive hotel that is miles away from the venue might not make any sense if you need to take a taxi to get there or it takes 30 minutes to drive, park and walk from the rental car.  And an early flight out might sound appealing, but consider the real reason you attended in the first place.

Meet The Team: Sherri Anderson

If laughter is the best medicine, Sherri Anderson is CEI’s prescription for what ails you.

Sherri, who is celebrating her tenth anniversary with CEI, is cheerful personified, which makes her a perfect fit for her job as an account manager as she is constantly shuffling numerous jobs for a variety of clients on any given day, while still keeping an upbeat attitude.

But Sherri claims all “happy” bets are off when it comes to equipment.  “Most people don’t know that I’m a very impatient person,” Sherri said.  “Cars, computers, cell phones – any kind of equipment – I reach my frustration limit pretty fast!”

Sherri’s clients and co-workers would certainly be among those who don’t see her as impatient.  She obviously enjoys her job, particularly the variety of clients she is responsible for.

“My clients are in trucking, food, restaurant equipment, toy, retail and smart lighting systems,” said Sherri.  “I enjoy working with so many different industries.  It really keeps my job interesting!”

Sherri earned an associate’s degree from University of Akron and worked 14 years in financial consulting/the banking industry prior to coming to CEI in 2000.

“In just the ten years I have been here, it is interesting to see how the business has changed,” reflected Sherri.  “We moved from wood construction, to metal, to fabric, to a large portable display business; motion graphics became very popular and now we are heavily involved in interactive technology that is constantly evolving and changing.”

Never one to shy away from a challenge, Sherri recently traveled for the first time out of the country and went on a mission trip to Guatemala.  “I don’t speak a lot of Spanish, so it was hard communicating with the children, but we figured it out,” she said proudly.  “They were amazing.  The children and workers were an inspiration and a true blessing to me.”

CEI congratulates Sherri on her decade of service!

Electing To Do The Right Thing

CEI would like to give you some political advice. 

Does that surprise you?  You mean you don’t want a trade show and exhibit display company telling you who you should vote for? 

Maybe you’d be much more comfortable taking advice from “Americans for Job Security” or “60-Plus Association” or “American Action Forum.”  Just by the organizations’ names, you would CERTAINLY think any of these would be qualified to offer non-partisan, honest voting information.

But you’d be wrong.

These are among countless examples of organizations whose roots can be traced back to specific political parties and interests who have a very specific agenda.  They choose ambiguous names and use words like “grassroots” in their advertising funded by anonymous donors.  Yet often they are anything but “grassroots” and the donors are anonymous because the true backers have strategically organized the group using legal loopholes so that donors do not have to be named.

There is a proliferation advertising out there – TV, radio, newspaper, mailers, lawn signs, pre-recorded phone calls, billboards – from a variety of organizations and individuals telling you what to do.  Yet we find it easier to find out what the “other guy” allegedly did or didn’t do, rather than why a candidate deserves our vote.  The amount of negative advertising, misleading statements and “cloudy” information all around us is really out of control.

So, CEI is giving you this political advice:  DO YOUR HOMEWORK.  You are helping to mold your future and that of future generations.   Be sure to take time to get information that is factual and from trusted sources.  

Voting is a right.  Being informed is the right way.

Meet The Team: Jeremy Pipes

The World English Dictionary defines “portable” as follows:

portable  (ˈpɔːtəb ^ə l)

1.  able to be carried or moved easily, especially by hand

2. (of software, files, etc.) able to be transferred from one type of computer system to another

3.  an article designed to be readily carried by hand, such as a television, typewriter, etc.

 Jeremy Pipes would probably add another definition to the list:

4.  any one of over 500 trade show exhibit displays in CEI inventory that require shipping, set-up, inspection (and potentially repair) over 350 times annually – sometimes with less than a day’s notice

Jeremy is CEI’s “portables” team leader and is celebrating his third anniversary with the company.

“This is a fast-paced business,” Jeremy said.  “There are never two days alike and we always have to be ready for changes.  But that’s what I like most about my job.”

With a background in construction, Jeremy started at CEI as a shop employee and was quickly recognized as a person who could handle the responsibilities that come with the portables inventory.   “The biggest surprise for me has been the huge volume of work that is put out the door,” said Jeremy, “and what goes out, comes back.”

“It’s my job to make sure that every portable exhibit that is sent out is exactly as the client expects it,” he continued.  “The beauty of a portable display is the ease with which it is assembled and disassembled.  If we were to send a display that was missing parts or malfunctioning in any way, it defeats the whole purpose.  So we inspect every piece before it is sent, and inspect it again when it returns.  It’s really more work than people think, but I really enjoy it.”

Congratulations to Jeremy on his anniversary!

Need a Facelift?

Northeast Ohio has been blessed with some beautiful autumn days.  It has been a welcome distraction from our sports teams…

With the busy show season upon us, it’s easy to lose track of time in our personal lives and before we know it the front lawn is covered with snow.

No matter which side of the trade show business you are on – whether you are organizing a display for your company’s next trade show or working at getting the properties shipped for your client’s exhibit – we are all in the heat of the battle now.  So it’s hard to imagine that there will be any “downtime” any time soon. 

But by the time the snow flies in the Midwest, many of us find a moment or two to take a breath before the next rush in the spring.  When you have the time to sit, consider pouring yourself a cup of coffee and taking a seat in your company’s front lobby.  It’s something most of us rarely do – other than when you waited for an interview prior to being hired – but certainly should.  After all, it’s the first impression visitors get of you and your business.

What do you see?  Does it reflect your company’s history or youth?  Will visitors see your innovation or dedication to maintaining standards?  Do they see your latest technology or contributions to the industry?

A lobby facelift doesn’t have to cost a lot of money.  Many times, corporations will have samples or historic documents already in storage that can be used to tell the company’s story.  Sometimes it’s just a matter of removing a few old wall hangings and replacing them with the company’s logo.  The possibilities are endless; the opportunity to secure a positive impression is invaluable.

And if you don’t feel like sitting there alone, give CEI a call.   Not only can we offer some great lobby renovation ideas and provide samples of work we’ve done for other major corporations, we’ll even buy your coffee!  (Or, if you feel like taking a quick break now, you can take a look at some of our work at www.ceilink.com.)

Meet The Team: Allyson Race

The job of an accountant is stereotypically thought of as boring – mundane – repetitive.  So it is probably surprising to most people that what CEI’s CFO likes most about her job is the variety.

“Even though I crunch numbers all day, it’s the variety of the work we do that I find most interesting,” said Allyson Race, who is celebrating 20 years at CEI on October 16.  “Every day is different.”

Of course in two decades, Allyson has had the opportunity to institute many changes in the company’s accounting system, but many of the people have remained the same.  “Our employee retention rate is really rather remarkable,” Allyson said.  “Of approximately 60 full- and part-time employees, nearly half have been here ten years or more.  I think most companies would pale in comparison.  That says a lot about our people and our organization.  It’s something we’re very proud of.”

“Since so many of the employees have been here so long, I’ve enjoyed getting to know everyone and working with the same people over the years,” she added.  “I knew in the sixth grade that I wanted to be an accountant; I just never would have guessed that I could have been surrounded by so many creative people and exposed to such high-tech systems.” 

Congratulations, Allyson, on your 20-year anniversary!!