International Trade Shows

Iggy Rosenberg in Singapore

Distinctive Lighting Designer “Iggy” Rosenberg – on the Global Stage

Posted on by Jeff Hannah | In Abu Dhabi, Age, Argentina, Asia, Authority, Brazil, Chile, Communications, Cuba, Culture, Design, Dubai, Ecuador, Europe, Gender, Germany, Japan, Language, Latin America, Lighting, London, Loose Time, Mexico, Middle East, Non-Verbal Communications, North America, Perth, Precise Time, Puerto Rico, Relationships, Saudi Arabia, Time, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Verbal Communications

Ignacio Rosenberg (known as “Iggy” to his friends and clients) is a well-known lighting and visual designer who works for a distinctive global agency called Lightswitch. Iggy grew-up in Buenos Aires, Argentina, but is now based in Salt Lake City. He has spent more than 20 years designing and implementing large touring shows around the world for top rock groups such as Def Leppard, The Rolling Stones, Janet Jackson, Shakira, and many more!

Iggy is a really neat guy – extremely brilliant as a designer, articulate, sophisticated, but really down to earth! He spends time working with people that most of us will never have the privilege to meet. This gives him a very unique perspective as a designer working on large, high-profile projects – while also working across cultures around the world.

Iggy recently spent most of a day with Jeff Hannah and the Creative Team at Exhibit Concepts, at their HQ offices in Dayton, Ohio. Iggy shared his knowledge and inspiration with the creative team and say down with Jeff for this podcast interview.

During this interview, Iggy and Jeff discussed design, culture, lighting, creating experiences and much more.

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NCR @ EuroShop

On-Site with Ulrich Kaiser of NCR Germany at EuroShop

Posted on by Jeff Hannah | In Authority, Best Practices, Branding, Communications, Culture, Design, Dubai, Dusseldorf, Europe, Germany, Graphics, Language, London, Marketing, Munich, Non-Verbal Communications, North America, Podcast, Precise Time, Relationships, Strategy, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States, Verbal Communications

Host Jeff Hannah had the opportunity to interview Ulrich Kaiser of NCR Germany – on the trade show floor at the most recent EuroShop show in Dusseldorf, Germany. Ulrich is based in Munich, Germany – and has been with NCR for more than 25 years.

Jeff and Ulrich had a great conversation around messaging, cultural differences, architecture, design, the importance of hospitality, how to conduct meetings, and establishing spending priorities in the trade show arena.

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Common International Mistakes: Awareness (Part 1 of 4)

Posted on by Jeff Hannah | In Best Practices, Branding, Communications, Culture, Design, Graphics, Language, Marketing, Strategy

You come from a unique background that shapes your view of the world. But what if your approach did more harm than good? What if you really didn’t understand your customers like you thought you did? And, what if your strategy was flawed?

Many companies who exhibit at international trade shows make these AWARENESS MISTAKES every day. The good news: there are ways to avoid these pitfalls! In this four-part series, we will identify these mistakes and help you understand how to avoid them.

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Persian Gulf Marina

Doing Business in Arab Countries – What You Should Know

Posted on by Jeff Hannah | In Abu Dhabi, Age, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Authority, Bahrain, Best Practices, Branding, Brazil, Chile, China, Communications, Culture, Doha, Dubai, Dusseldorf, Ecuador, Europe, Gender, Germany, Graphics, Hong Kong, Japan, Kuwait, Language, Latin America, London, Loose Time, Manama, Marketing, Mexico, Middle East, Munich, Non-Verbal Communications, North America, Precise Time, Qatar, Relationships, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Strategy, Taiwan, Thailand, The Netherlands, Time, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Verbal Communications
If you want to market, exhibit or host events in other countries, you really DO need to understand their mindset, worldview and culture as much as possible. And this goes much deeper than markers such as demographics. Read More

Mexico Auto Show

Leave Your Cultural Assumptions at the Door

Posted on by Gail Rockburne | In Asia, Best Practices, Culture, Design, Europe, Graphics, Language, Latin America, Mexico, Middle East, North America, Strategy

Picture an auto show in Mexico City. You’ve been to several of these fun shows in the U.S. and know what to expect…or so you think. But as you approach the door, you hear music that makes you think of parties. You enter the building and are immediately surrounded by bright colors, loud music and a throng of very attractive women in short, revealing dresses and spike heels, proffering drinks. It’s not unpleasant by any stretch of the imagination, but were you prepared for this? Probably not!

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Etihad Premium Lounge

Business Meal Basics for the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Posted on by Jeff Hannah | In Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Loose Time, Middle East, United Arab Emirates

Here are some basics you MUST KNOW for business meals and entertaining in the Emirates.

When you are enjoying a meal in Abu Dhabi or Dubai, you want it to go smoothly and seamlessly – as if it were just another day in the life! So, I suggest you follow these guidelines to avoid an embarrassing or awkward situation for yourself, clients or business partners. Read More

Tabexpo Trade Show

Tips for Working With PRECISE TIME Cultures

Posted on by Jeff Hannah | In Authority, Best Practices, Communications, Culture, Europe, Germany, London, Loose Time, North America, Precise Time, Time, United Kingdom, United States, Verbal Communications

How do you view time? In a loose, casual way, or in a more precise way? And why does it matter?

 

If you are participating in a trade show or event in a PRECISE TIME CULTURE, the concept of TIME will play an important role – and introduces differences which you should recognize. If you are from a more relaxed, or LOOSE TIME CULTURE, you may be surprised when your colleagues in the precise time culture are not as flexible as you would like them to be, if they seem frustrated if you do not arrive on time for a meeting, or fail to meet a deadline…  Read More

Mexico Trade Show

Tips for Working With LOOSE TIME Cultures

Posted on by Jeff Hannah | In Abu Dhabi, Argentina, Bahrain, Best Practices, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Culture, Doha, Dubai, Ecuador, Kuwait, Latin America, Loose Time, Manama, Mexico, Middle East, North America, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Relationships, Saudi Arabia, Time, United Arab Emirates, United States
Americans and Europeans often experience substantial frustration and anxiety while working in Loose Time Cultures such as Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, India, Nigeria or others. This generally stems from the tremendous contrast between their respective viewpoints surrounding the concept of TIME. Generally speaking, Americans and most Europeans value a more precise view of time when contrasted to those from Loose Time Cultures. Clashes can easily occur as they are working with people who do not reckon time with nearly as much precision.

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