Experience Builders Chris Griffin
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- Business
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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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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 -
026 - I Want to Love Your Invoices!
Billing shouldn't be a headache! Learn why invoicing is more than just a payment request and how you can use it to foster great relationships with your customers and partners. Tune in now!
Time Stamps
00:49 - Episode Intro01:20 - The Shocking Reality of Unbilled Work03:12 - Improving the Invoicing Process04:55 - The Importance of Regular and Accurate Invoicing06:19 - Building Relationships Through Billing07:27 - The Impact of Small Invoices and Proper Billing09:48 - Streamlining Accounts Receivable for Better Cash Flow14:54 - Episode Outro
Snippets From The Show
"An invoice is not a demand for payment. It is a piece of information that you should have, if you are a company that runs efficiently in an organized way.” - Chris Griffin“I want people to love getting our invoices, right? Nobody loves getting invoices, but I want it to be regularly scheduled. It shouldn't be a surprise when we're working for you regularly.” - Chris Griffin
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 -
025 - Harmonizing Sales and Production Teams in Exhibit Agencies with Mark Taylor
Sales and Production teams often have different priorities, which can potentially create a disconnect. In this episode with Mark Taylor, we share strategies for aligning these two teams for optimum results. Tune in!
Time Stamps
01:58 - Intro to Mark Taylor06:32 - Understanding the Sales & Production Divide14:59 - Strategies for Sales & Production Collaboration21:37 - The Impact of Sales & Production Divide24:46 - Impact of Acquisitions on Sales Confidence and Production Identity30:00 - Tips & Best Practices for Staying Aligned37:00 - Managing Diverse Personalities and Roles in Teams42:17 - Leveraging Technology for Team Alignment and Efficiency45:45 - Communication and Meeting Strategies48:05 - Learning from Past Challenges54:44 - Episode Takeaways
Snippets From The Show
"Getting everybody to read from the same piece of music sometimes is tough because everybody has an agenda, and everybody has the baggage." -Mark Taylor"I think having that wrong person in the wrong role makes that gap. We're talking about a little wider too. So you have to kind of coach and manage that accordingly." -Mark Taylor"As business leaders, we're trying to close this gap between sales and production. You're trying to create the harmonic sound of that band." -Chris Griffin
Resources
Need Help With An Event? Get in touch with CrewXP Watch On YouTubeFollow Us On Social: LinkedIn, FacebookHave Questions? Email us
More from Mark Taylor
Apogee ExhibitsEmail Mark Taylor Mark on LinkedIn
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.