Last month, we celebrated our 20th anniversary in the display business with a small party at our new showroom in the Clonshaugh area of Dublin. Our company, Applied Signs & Display, is a Nomadic Display distributor based in Dublin, Ireland.

The purpose of the event was three-fold.  Firstly, we welcomed customers, potential customers and suppliers to our new premises. Secondly, we wanted to show off our new Modular Custom Build showroom display, which is totally reusable and customizable. It features fabric, graphic and backlit panels. It also incorporates a lockable room, a canopy, a bar area with seating and plasma screens, as well as other traditional display elements. Finally, we wanted to have a little bit of fun as a ‘thank you’ to our customers, suppliers and staff. 

The run up to the event was extremely busy, with invitations to design, print and send, goody bags to fill, and the showroom display to erect and perfect. On top of these tasks, we also had to complete the painting and decorating of the new showroom, which had been put off since our move in January.

On the day itself, preparations started early, with the caterers and band arriving to set up in the early afternoon. Our PR consultant and photographer arrived around lunchtime, and soon after that, customers, friends, suppliers and other guests started to come through the doors at a fairly hectic pace.

At the party, people were free to relax with a glass of wine, or to take a tour of the building, or to have a giggle at our display of old photos, ranging from staff members in their bell-bottoms to the first ‘button and band’ pop up displays. Company owners, Colette and Larry, were presented with flowers and a John Rocha Waterford crystal vase by the management. Our real ‘hardcore’ customers and staff members continued the party late into the night.

To provide extra entertainment at the event, caricature Artist Mark Heng had people queuing up for a ‘flattering’ caricature drawing to take home.  Last year’s Miss Ireland, Blathnaid McKenna, also joined us at the party.

It was truly a night of fun and celebration. We would like to thank everyone who came and made it such a special day for us!

I have been recently named as one of Albuquerque’s 40 Under Forty for 2008. This is an award given by the New Mexico Business Weekly to forty people under the age of forty for their achievements in business. It is hard to believe that a year ago, I was working in the film and television industry doing everything from acting to stunt work.

Today at age 26, I am a minority owner of EXHIB-IT! Tradeshow Marketing Experts with CEO, DJ Heckes. It didn’t take long. During my year as the Marketing Director, I quickly fell in love with the trade show industry as a whole. Coming from the film industry, I definitely understand the importance of being able to present a great face and fantastic image on demand. Successful companies, just like successful actors, are the ones who do these things consistently and thus, build a following for their unmistakable brand.

I want to thank Nomadic for motivating me to win the 40 Under Forty. I credit Nomadic for my recently praised work performance. The high standard the company sets for its distributors has become a challenge that I eventually embraced.

Because we sell the best products on the market, most of our clients expect to get the best return on their investment when they go to a show with their top-of-the-line display. Of course, we know that they have to do a little more than sit at their booth and wait for attendees to come in waves, begging to do business.

Clients need to be educated on how to make their display materials work for them. To show them how tradeshow marketing can really work, I turned our full service exhibit house into an extra full service exhibit house where we offer training and education. We try to ensure that our clients, who made the wise choice to buy the best, get the best results at their shows.

Let’s face it; we want to make sure they are so successful that they might actually have to use that lifetime warranty on hardware!

The results have been remarkable. Now our clients have all the tools to succeed at trade show marketing, armed with a great display and thorough knowledge about the industry. My 40 Under Forty Award was a result of my effort to mirror the standard of quality and effectiveness that Nomadic sets every day.

Audrey Anderson
Marketing Manager
EXHIB-IT! Tradeshow Marketing Experts

I remember sitting down with my Dad when I was young and watching my first Star Trek episode. I have not missed a single one since. Yes I proudly call myself a Sci-fi Geek and more specifically a Trekkie. I’ve boldly followed the final frontier voyages of Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Janeway and Archer.

When I started here 10 years ago, it was exciting for me to find out that Nomadic had a hand in building the Holodeck on Voyager. Unfortunately we never had any photos of this…until today!

Susan Cassano out of our New York office recently found photos of our Instand displays being used as the backdrop of the Holodeck. So if you are curious as to what was behind all of the fancy off-world virtual adventures, take a look at these.

This clearly shows that Nomadic’s products truly are versatile and can be used for any kind of environments, even ones in outer space! So if the producers of Star Trek Voyager could make Instand work for them, then you should be able to easily use our displays at your next trade show convention.

Kat Shea
Director of Marketing Media

Sunday was a gorgeous day here in Washington with a bright blue sky, warm sunshine and cool, dry air....the first taste of Fall. My husband and I wanted to spend the afternoon outdoors, get a little exercise and reconnect with our inner child. So we decided to pop the top on the Miata and drive down to the National Zoo.

An hour later we were at the Panda pavilion. Tai Shan, the two-year old cub, was snoozing in the sun in a corner spot making it difficult to see him.

Next we headed over to the elephant house. It was undergoing construction.....we wondered where elephants, hippos and giraffes go while their home is being renovated? We walked around to see the gorillas and then the big cats....lions, tigers.

Went down to watch the sea lions show off their superior swimming and sunbathing skills.

The sounds of live entertainment grew louder as we approached the center of the park where a fiesta was in full swing to celebrate Hispanic Heritage month. Vendors were selling crafts and refreshments. Imagine my surprise when we came upon a US Dept of Agriculture tent with an Instand display! The giant graphic was an illustration promoting nutrition. As you can see it certainly did its job attracting youngsters.

In my twenty one years with Nomadic, I have to admit it wasn't my first surprise encounter with a Nomadic display. Instand shows up everywhere...even at the Zoo! No wonder its the most popular portable in the world.

Gwen Parsons
Senior Vice President

It goes almost without saying that when one mentions Nomadic Display in normal business-to-business conversation that our name and products go hand-in-hand with trade shows. Our pop-up displays and hybrid backwalls are often seen at various shows and conventions – both local and international, with industries ranging from consumer retail to medical supplies. However, what many people might not know is that our products are also used outside the realm of these traditional events and retail solutions.

Let’s take the case of American Idol - TV’s most popular, top-rated reality show, which almost every person in the U.S. has seen. Did you know that the audition backdrop behind all those hopeful contestants was made by Nomadic? That’s right - our famous Instand product line has been a star on national television for the past six years. However, that was not Instand’s first national TV appearance. Back in 1999, our Instand C34 frames made their TV debut as the backdrop on Star Trek Voyager’s Holodeck. Aside from the showbiz possibilities of Nomadic’s products, there are other creative and unconventional uses for them as well. For instance, my father who has spent many years as a freelance photographer uses our RollEase case to transport his equipment. Given its sturdy, ready-for-travel design, it has proven to be a great tool for transporting his tripods and delicate lenses. Not to mention, our case is surprisingly priced at a level that's cheaper than most professional camera transport cases - who would have guessed?

While Nomadic’s brand will naturally remain a tradeshow and retail staple for years to come, it's always a pleasant surprise to discover new uses for our products.

Have you discovered a new creative or unconventional use for your Nomadic display or other Nomadic products you own? If so, we’d love to hear about it!

Vlad McNeally
Web Designer