34 episodes
Experience Builders Chris Griffin
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- Business
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5.0 • 5 Ratings
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Exhibitors and experiential design agencies just want to put on amazing events for their clients. We know that events always present challenges, but one many of us didn’t see coming was the pandemic.
We started this podcast to share processes and systems to help you bounce back and future-proof your business against storms we may face down the road. We cover topics like how to access capital and funding, why and how to outsource, why and how to build a brand, creating a strong company culture, and much more.
With more knowledge at your fingertips, you’ll be able to put on powerful events and build a strong business that can weather any storm.
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032 - Building a Startup in the Trade Show Industry with Hunter McKinley & Jordan Walker
From college buddies to startup founders! Listen to Jordan Walker & Hunter McKinley share their entrepreneurial journey from bootstrapping to securing venture capital. Don't miss their inspiring story!
Time Stamps
01:14 - Welcome Back Jordan and Hunter!03:18 - The Origin Story of Backtrack07:24 - The Product Hunt Breakthrough10:58 - Venture Capital Journey13:56 - Challenges and Lessons Learned20:11 - Current Status and Future PlansSnippets from the Episode
“It was like the market loved our product that we built just for solving our own problems. So when the market said, "Hey, we like that too." It turns out investors wanted to invest in that product and technology as well. - Hunter McKinleyThe biggest thing that makes backtrack so unique is that we record backwards - like a car dash cam, not forwards - like some of the legacy recording tools that we all know and maybe use today." - Jordan Walker
Watch the full episode of Experience Builders Episode 031, “AI in the Business Event Space with Jordan Walker & Hunter McKinley”
Resources
Need Help With An Event? Get in touch with CrewXP Watch On YouTubeFollow Us On Social: LinkedIn, FacebookHave Questions? Email us
More from Our Guests
BacktrackHunter McKinley on LinkedInJordan Walker on LinkedIn
More from Chris
CrewXP Email ChrisChris on LinkedIn
More from Khalil
benali.com Email KhalilMeet With KhalilLinkedInFacebookInstagram -
031 - A.I. in the Business Event Space with Hunter McKinley & Jordan Walker
Dive into the future of business events! Discover how A.I. is transforming the tradeshow game as Hunter McKinley & Jordan Walker reveal the magic of Backtrack and other A.I. tools in this episode. Don't miss it!
Time Stamps
01:03 - Episode & Guest Intro03:32 - The Birth of Backtrack04:31 - Backtrack's Impact on the Events Industry04:58 - How Backtrack Works17:13 - Recording and Privacy Concerns22:39 - AI in the Events Space30:29 - Future of Backtrack and AI33:55 - Practical AI Tools for the Event Space38:40 - Episode OutroSnippets from the Episode
"A.I., it's really becoming a necessary tool and resource for all of us in business." - Chris Griffin"People don't realize the workflows that you can put together with AI. It's like having three extra employees on the team. It's that powerful. It's crazy." - Jordan Walker"The biggest issue in the event industry with A.I., everybody knows that they should use it. They just don't necessarily know how or what tools to use." - Hunter McKinley
Resources
ClayZapierNeed Help With An Event? Get in touch with CrewXP Watch On YouTubeFollow Us On Social: LinkedIn, FacebookHave Questions? Email us
More from Our Guests
BacktrackHunter McKinley on LinkedInJordan Walker on LinkedIn
More from Chris
CrewXP Email ChrisChris on LinkedIn
More from Khalil
benali.com Email KhalilMeet With KhalilLinkedInFacebookInstagram -
030 - The Crime of Leniency: Maintaining Standards With Objectivity
Cutting corners might feel easy, but it’s a crime in business! Check out our latest episode where Chris and Khalil discuss the pitfalls of leniency.
Time Stamps
00:49 - Episode Intro02:21 - The Concept of Leniency in Business03:44 - Objectivity vs. Subjectivity07:43 - The Impact of Leniency on Hiring15:05 - Leniency in Client Selection25:12 - Leniency in Quality Control and Production Standards30:01 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Resources
Need Help With An Event? Get in touch with CrewXP Watch On YouTubeFollow Us On Social: LinkedIn, FacebookHave Questions? Email us
More from Chris
CrewXP Email ChrisChris on LinkedIn
More from Khalil
benali.com Email KhalilMeet With KhalilLinkedInFacebookInstagram -
029 - Better Together: The Power of a Collective
Join us as we explore how leveraging strategic partnerships can be a game-changer in the trade show industry. From strategic outsourcing to building a collective, we cover it all!
Time Stamps
00:58 - Episode Intro02:13 - Trade Show Season and NPE Event03:18 - The Value of a Collective11:13 - Real-World Examples of Successful Collaboration13:48 - Evaluating and Choosing the Right Collective of Partners21:35 - Setting Standards for Outsourcing22:02 - Strategic Partner Selection & Vendor Management25:24 - Client Communication and Transparency28:36 - Project Management Challenges30:31 - Case Study: Sammy's Island Project35:45 - The Effort Behind the Ask38:13 - Importance of Clear Expectations41:24 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Snippets From The Show
"A wise man once told me, anything in writing is an agreement, and agreements prevent disagreements." "What do I look for in a sender partner? I'm looking for somebody that obviously cares about their customer base to the degree that they just want to make sure they're delivering a great, successful, hassle-free experience, as much the experience as the desired outcome of whatever the deliverable is."
Resources
Need Help With An Event? Get in touch with CrewXP Watch On YouTubeFollow Us On Social: LinkedIn, FacebookHave Questions? Email us
More from Chris
CrewXP Email ChrisChris on LinkedIn
More from Khalil
benali.com Email KhalilMeet With KhalilLinkedInFacebookInstagram -
028 - You Need to Start Making Great Content
Ever thought about the real influencer behind customer decisions? It's not just your product or service; it's your content. If you're ready to transform how you communicate your value, this is a must-listen!
Time Stamps
00:54 - Reflecting on Q1 and Looking Ahead to Q201:32 - The Power and Importance of Content Creation05:31 - The Shift in Power to the Informed Buyer13:28 - Content Strategy: Authenticity vs. Perfection18:10 - Where to Share Your Content22:44 - The Importance of Right Delivery28:09 - Redefining Success Metrics for Content Impact30:33 - Content Resources33:18 - Crafting the Ultimate Buyer's Guide36:49 - Leveraging Content for Efficient Customer Engagement42:07 - Content Production Value48:43 - Harnessing Dark Social & The Value of Content51:52 - Episode Takeaways
Snippets From The Show
"Content isn't just the copy in your brochure anymore, or on your website. I think it's become the number one influencer that your customers are making spend decisions with you about." -Chris Griffin"If you're not creating content, then you are not giving the knowledge necessary for the buyer to make the decision that they're trying to make. And so you're missing out on the opportunity to educate buyers before they even have a conversation with you." - Khalil Benalioulhaj"I promise you, it's probably not the physical stuff you're building as an exhibit. It is you. It's the integrity of you. It's the way you've communicated. It's the content you've put before them." -Chris Griffin
Resources
Michael GirdleyJohn MatznerChris WalkerSimon SinekSeth GodinDonald Miller Need Help With An Event? Get in touch with CrewXP Watch On YouTubeFollow Us On Social: LinkedIn, FacebookHave Questions? Email us
More from Chris
CrewXP Email ChrisChris on LinkedIn
More from Khalil
benali.com Email KhalilMeet With KhalilLinkedInFacebookInstagram -
027 - Understanding the Marshaling Yard with Martin Laurel
Behind every smooth-running trade show, there's a meticulously planned marshaling yard operation. Dive into the world of event logistics with Chris Griffin and special guest Martin Laurel!
Time Stamps
01:00 - Episode Intro01:56 - Intro to Martin Laurel05:45 - The Essence of Marshaling Yards in Trade Shows07:47 - What is a Marshaling Yard?09:00 - The Six Phases of Marshaling Yard Operations13:09 - The "Free For All" Stage19:21 - Weighing In and Dispatch Number Allocation22:06 - The Waiting Game24:20 - The Complexities of Move-Outs25:50 - The Critical Role of Communication26:48 - The Hunt for Missing Freight28:20 - Empathy and Experience in Problem Solving32:56 - The Importance of Advanced Planning35:14 - Advanced Warehouse vs. Direct Shipping41:50 - Final Thoughts and Takeaways
Snippets From The Show
"Having an offsite location helps with the movement of traffic. Most importantly, it's to capture the shipments and the weight coming into that venue and or that event." - Martin Laurel"Choosing a company that understands conventions and the process is number one. Number two, understanding your target date so you're not there too early or too late, because that'll cost you money." - Martin Laurel
Resources
Need Help With An Event? Get in touch with CrewXP Watch On YouTubeFollow Us On Social: LinkedIn, FacebookHave Questions? Email us
More from Martin Laurel
Martin on CrewXP
More from Chris
CrewXP Email ChrisChris on LinkedIn
Customer Reviews
Experience Builder
Chris Griffin and his guests bring the information and perspective needed to help think about and make decisions relative to those executing live events and trade shows. It is an inside the industry viewpoint of important subjects for us all to be thinking about. the partnership will ECN will add even more relevant content.