trade show shipping Archives | Transit Air Cargo

5 Dangers of Trade Show Shipping

Companies from all different types of industries exhibit at trade shows. Trade shows offer businesses a platform to market to customers and forge business relationships. Planning for a trade show requires a lot of preparation to ensure things run smoothly. In the planning process it’s important to not think of shipping as an afterthought.

Trade show shipping requires customized solutions and not taking that into account can result in pitfalls that cost you time and money. Being trade show logistics experts, we’ve come up with 5 dangers of trade show shipping and how to avoid them:

Danger No. 1: Not Knowing Deadlines

It’s important to know your deadlines for shipping out. Not knowing shipping deadlines can result in potentially paying double the amount. Planning in advance and according to deadlines will help ensure time for set-up at the show venue and help avoid last minute surcharges for expedited transportation. Also, choosing a trade show shipping specialist, like Transit Air Cargo, over a common carrier will help you to stay on track with deadlines because unlike common carriers, trade show shipping specialists know the ins and outs and are equipped to walk you through the process.

Danger No. 2: Not Knowing Show Details Given in the Exhibitor Kit

Exhibitor kits provide you with important show-related information like rules & regulations and deadlines. Exhibitor kits are also known to be a daunting read. Sometimes they’re anywhere from 30 to 100 pages long. Not knowing what’s in those 30 to 100 pages can be detrimental to your booth and budget.

When you hire a trade show shipping specialist like Transit Air Cargo, you avoid the risk of not upholding the rules and regulations and not meeting deadlines listed in the exhibitor kit, because trade show shipping experts know those kits and what’s required of exhibitors.

Danger No. 3: Not Knowing when to Utilize Advance Warehouses

You can either have your booth and marketing collateral shipped direct to show site or to an advance warehouse. When shipping direct to show you can wait till last minute to get your booth and marketing material ready and potentially save on handling charges. However, when you ship using this method, your shipment could be arriving at the show at the same time as everyone else. Even if your shipment arrives first, you may have to sit around all day waiting for your materials to reach your booth. Also, if your shipment arrives earlier or later than your designated move-in time, you could incur additional charges.

If you decide to ship to an advance warehouse first, on the day of move-in, your freight will get delivered to your booth first and you don’t have to sit around waiting all day for it. This is especially important if you have a particularly large booth because it requires more set up time. On the contrary, if your booth contains tiny and/or fragile pieces, advance warehouse may not be the best option for your freight as it may be more susceptible to loss or damage.

There are pros and cons to opting for an advance warehouse. A trade show logistics specialist like Transit Air Cargo can help you decide whether or not opting for shipment to the advance warehouse beforehand makes the most sense for your freight.

Danger No. 4: Black Booth

What is ‘black booth’ you ask? Black booth is what happens when your shipment doesn’t arrive and you’re left exhibiting an empty booth. This could happen because your preferred shipping company failed to notify you of any changes in delivery time (such as delays caused by bad weather). If they would have notified you, you could have figured out other arrangements to get your freight to your booth on time.

When you choose to ship with Transit Air Cargo, trade show shipping specialists are in contact with you every step of the way, that way if there are unforeseeable hiccups (like bad weather), TAC reps are on it working on a solution.

Danger No. 5: Not Shipping with a Trade Show Specialist

Yes, common carriers are less expensive and provide convenient tracking for your shipment, however there are disadvantages to choosing common carriers for your trade show shipments. First off, the risk of loss and damage increases because common carriers make several transfers before delivering your freight. If you’re shipping sensitive equipment, the load might not be able to tolerate normal road shock with a common carrier.

Trade show shipping requires customized solutions, something that common carriers just cannot provide. At Transit Air Cargo, trade show logistics experts serve every aspect of the trade show exhibitor’s logistical needs domestically and internationally. The coordination that trade shows require involves a lot of preparation time and countless resources.

Bottom line is, you can easily avoid experiencing the 5 dangers of trade show shipping by going with a trades show logistics specialist for all your shipping needs.

Happy Thanksgiving from Transit Air Cargo

Thanksgiving tablescape with pumpkin pie and the Transit Air Cargo logo

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We hope you have an amazing day celebrating with friends and family.

Now is the perfect time to take a moment and remember what you’re thankful for this year. All year long, but especially during this season, we’re grateful for our wonderful customers and our amazing TAC family.

The Unspoken Rule of Holiday Gift Giving in the Workplace

‘Tis the season for holiday gifting. With that said, do you give gifts at work? Gift giving at the workplace is not mandatory, however, if you do feel so inclined to spread holiday cheer and purchase gifts for your coworkers, picking out the right one can be tricky. If you do decide to give gifts at work this holiday season there are some things to consider…

1. Does your company have a gift giving policy? If you’re new to the company, definitely ask around. Find out the company culture. Do people exchange gifts or is it against policy? If people do exchange gifts, you don’t want to be the holiday Scrooge.

2. Are you wondering if you need to give a gift to your boss? The answer is: no. You are not obligated to give a present to your boss. In fact, it could be seen has trying to buy your way to your boss’ good side. However, gifts from bosses to employees are fine. According to proper gift giving etiquette, gifts in the workplace should flow downward, not upward.

3. Another thing you should definitely consider is if the gift you want to give is ‘workplace appropriate’. If you even have to question whether or not your gift of choice is appropriate, don’t get it!

4. Consider how much you’re spending. Too pricey of a gift can make others feel uncomfortable. A good price range to stick to is $10 to $20. But before you spend ask around (especially if you are new) to get an idea what people are planning on doing for gifts.

5. If you only have one or two work friends that you plan on giving gifts to, make sure you don’t do it in front of everyone else. You don’t want to risk making others feel uncomfortable. Either exchange gifts outside the workplace or find a spot in the office where others won’t see and potentially feel left out.

Follow these unspoken rules and hopefully you’ll avoid any awkwardness this holiday season.

Getting Around Las Vegas and its Convention Centers

A quick reference guide to Las Vegas & more!

Las Vegas houses some of the largest convention centers in the world along with numerous 4-star restaurants, fun and exciting activities, and not to mention is the number one popular night life destination. We have compiled a list of the top restaurants, places, and things to do below to guide you on your visit to the “Entertainment Capital of The World.”

Convention Center

Las Vegas Convention Center

The Las Vegas Convention Center, one of the busiest centers in the world, encompasses approximately 3.2 million square feet with exhibit space of 2 million square feet and meeting space of nearly 250,000 square feet. The center is well known for its versatility, size, and amenities that also houses a grand lobby and registration area which allows for simultaneous set-up, break-down, and exhibiting of multiple events. Not to mention, it’ located right on the Las Vegas Strip!

Sands Expo Convention Center

Sands Expo and Venetian Meetings are housed inside of the Venetian hotel and are the perfect destination for trade shows with meetings large and small. The expo center houses 1.8 million square feet of combined meeting and event space with the largest room space of 380,000. This convention center is a perfect fit for those who want the convenience of being only 3 miles away from the nearest airport and attractions.

Westgate Convention Center

The Westgate Convention Center is an award-winning world-class resort that offers the finest convention facilities in Las Vegas. They are located right off the Las Vegas Strip and includes 225,000 square feet of flexible, renovated space, 40 separate meeting rooms, and more. You can be sure to have a comfortable, relaxing stay when you book your next convention with the Westgate Convention Center.

Restaurants

Chica

The Strip’s first Latina chef, Latina Garcia leads this spectacular spot in the Venetian. Her restaurant draws its inspiration from all corners of Central and South America with items such as Arepas, Peruvian inspired tuna ceviche, and Brazilian tenderloin. It’s a perfect place for trade show attendees to grab dinner after a long day!

Dessert

Bacchanal Buffet – Caesars Palace

Every dream of eating every possible dessert you can think of? Well your dreams can come true at Bacchanal Buffet located in the Caesars Palace! There are more than 80 mind-blowing desserts to choose from and it includes made-to-order desserts such as crepes, cinnamon buns, cake pops, and more.

Things to do

Madame Tussauds – Las Vegas

Your favorite celebrities are all in one place at Madame Tussauds. With millions of visitors flocking through the doors of this museum it’s a must see when you’re in Vegas.

The High Roller

A 30-minute ride at more than 550 feet tall, the High Roller in Las Vegas is the right attraction for those who aren’t afraid of heights!

Breaking It Down: Trade Show Planning Checklist 60 Day Countdown

Experience Matters| TAC’s Exhibitors Guide to Planning for a Trade Show.

May 31, 2017

We know preparing for a trade show can be stressful, especially as you get closer to that 60 day mark. That’s when your countdown begins, and everything feels real! Its time to start executing your plan. We are breaking it down to provide you with a checklist to stay organized and remain stress-free! Two months away from your show is plenty of time, so don’t panic. Transit Air has got your back!

Here are the four key actions you need to be focused on at this stage of your shipping and planning process: |Continue Reading…