Where’s the line?

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These days, it is impossible to log on to Facebook or Twitter without seeing someone’s rant or overly-detailed status update. The rise of social media has led to a widespread culture of what I refer to as “oversharing”. We’re so quick to share our experiences, both positive and negative, with our digital networks through photos and statuses. But what’s the cost?

Some people believe that sharing their experiences, opinions, and family or personal news on social media is brave and courageous.

However, posts that detail your every hour spent, your medical or health complaints, your child’s achievements, injuries or doctor visits, and romantic lives are just over the top. Privacy should still remain intact, regardless of what other people on your news feed are posting.

I think the bigger question is, who is your audience? Are you sharing with your business colleagues, potential clients, or family and friends? Your generation may have a big effect on your digital audience. For instance, someone in Generation X is more likely to have a mix of business contacts and personal friendships on social media than a member of Generation Y. What happens when we blur the fine line between business and personal?

I once heard a brilliant statement, “The Internet is not written in pencil, it’s written in ink.” As we all know, what you post online doesn’t disappear – no matter how hard you may try. What often begins as a brief status update or an album of family photos can quickly cross the line into oversharing. In a culture obsessed with social networks, gossip magazines and reality TV, it leaves us asking, “how detailed is too detailed?”

What are your posting guidelines? How do you determine what updates are acceptable for social media? How do you separate the personal from business – or don’t you? We’d love your feedback in the comments below!

Our top trade show tips

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As someone who has exhibited at trade shows for many years, I can assure you that they are a great way to get your name out there and meet potential clients. They also happen to be a lot of fun! However, trade shows require a significant amount of planning and preparation leading up to the event. There are many small details and decisions involved that will make or break your experience at the show. I thought I’d take this opportunity to share a few of my tips and best practices with you:

  • Pick the right show. This tip may sound obvious, but you’d be surprised to learn how many different shows are out there. Do your research. Make sure that you are attending a trade show that is relevant to your industry with the right kinds of attendees. Just because a certain trade show is widely popular doesn’t mean that it’s right for you!
  • Consider your booth size. Your booth is the key element in your display. Check your options to ensure that you are purchasing or renting a booth that is the correct size and structure for the show layout you selected. If you are planning to do more than one trade show, consider the fact that each trade show has different sized spaces, and you need a booth that is adaptable to different arrangements.
  • Don’t misjudge your Internet and electrical. Are you planning to utilize Wi-Fi or electricity at your booth? Well you should! These features can be ordered prior to the event and will be installed for you the day of the show. Be sure to calculate the exact wattage you will need – you don’t want to be left scrambling for help minutes before the show.
  • Your floor is more important than you think. At any given trade show, you will be standing the majority of the day. On unpadded flooring, this can be extremely painful! My team and I always opt for double padding under our carpet to ensure that we will be comfortable throughout the duration of the show. Trust me, comfort is worth the extra dollars.

There are many other factors that go into preparing for a trade show. However, these are aspects that are often overlooked or missed by new exhibitors.

If you would like additional tips or advice, comment below and we’d be happy to share our knowledge with you! Or reach out to us at info@strategiadesign.com.

The staying power of packaging

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In today’s age, imagery is fleeting. If you don’t check Facebook every 15 minutes you miss a post, article, or funny cat video. With print media, it’s the same way. I know I have stacks of magazines and online subscriptions that I skim or sometimes never even get to. But packaging is a medium that has longevity, staying power.

The other day, while doing my Costco shopping, I strolled down the canned aisle and came across a pallet of Stagg Chili. I smiled and took this funny picture because I became nostalgic. I worked on the Stagg Chili account in 1995. It was at that time that we did the “big redesign”. We transformed a basic straight logo into a 3-dimensional arched gold emblem. In addition, we chose to combine photo realistic illustration of ingredients with a real photo of the chili. The rich black background, gold emblem and textural changes between illustration and photography made for a striking label. Twenty years later, the labels had not changed much. I am sure it has been tweaked over time to make room for nutritional updates, and regulatory changes but all in all the brand, the equity of label, is intact.

I encourage you to look around your own pantry and keep an eye open as you walk the shelves to look for brands and packages that have maintained their overall brand look and feel over the decades. There are many of them and we will definitely share more! For now, I will revel in my nostalgic walk down memory lane with Stagg Chili.

PLMA Trade Show 2014

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The Strategia Team just returned from Chicago! This week, we exhibited at the Private Label Manufacturers Association trade show in Rosemont, IL. This is one of our favorite industry events and this year’s show exceeded our expectations.

Despite snowy weather, more than 1,200 companies from 35 countries exhibited their products and walked the trade show floor. This past show was one of the largest to date, with over 2,400 exhibit booths and 5,000 attendees all gathered in the Rosemont Convention Center.

This year, we unveiled our latest booth design. The booth was created to resemble a design firm lounge with comfortable chairs, colorful accents, and plenty of space to display work samples.

The PLMA opening breakfast ceremony kicked off the week with a bang. We were fortunate to listen and learn from Martha Stewart, Founder of Martha Stewart Living, who was the keynote speaker for the breakfast. Our Founder and CEO, Deborah Ginsburg, serves on the Board of Directors for PLMA and was able to personally meet Martha before her presentation! (Don’t worry, we got pictures).

Our nights were just as busy as our days on the floor. We squeezed in some fun between show receptions, after parties, and dinner reservations. On Monday night, we held a team dinner at Gibson’s restaurant, where we indulged in steak and ice cream cake while toasting to a successful day. It’s always nice spending time as a team and catching up with longtime industry friends and colleagues. We’re already looking forward to next year!

Were you at PLMA? What did you think of the show? We would love to hear from you so please comment below with your thoughts and opinions!

If you’d like to see more pictures from the show, check out our Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/strategiadesign.