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brainstorm session - 2/20/2008 2:31:44 PM

LadyEllen

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Hi All

I need to find a theme for our stand at a forthcoming B2B exhibition - something which will make visitors notice and want to come to our stand, make our stand (and so us) memorable etc - since I'm all out of ideas and you lot are a creative bunch, I thought I'd try asking for ideas here! No pressure, but I know you wonderful folks wont let me down......

Our company provides road transport between UK and Europe - but the theme doesnt need to be related to that necessarily. Our selling point is "peace of mind" - ie, customers can book their transport with us and not worry about it any more because we'll get it done on time in full; included in that proposition is carbon emission offset contributions, easy e-booking, savings because we're closer to the supply (so no unnecessary margins), vehicle progress updates and 24/7 response, provided by experienced qualified people yadda yadda...... The theme doesnt necessarily have to be related to any of this marketing stuff either.

Themes others have used in the past - celebrity lookalikes, fancy dress for the people on the stand, alluding to famous TV shows etc. I want to do something original and outstanding, but I cant think of anything suitable. The only fancy dress I have is a WWII German uniform, and some other attire not really suitable for the venue (ahem)! I dont look like anyone famous and cant afford a celebrity lookalike and I dont want to get sued for ripping off copyrighted TV formats and so on.

Ideas I had and rejected -
1) a clinic with us dressed as doctors and nurses with the idea being that people need to be diagnosed and cured of their transport stress. (Rejected for being a bit too clever and a bit condescending)
2) A police theme, where we're (yes, dressed as cops) investigating and solving transport crimes. (Rejected as many idiots are likely to think we really are cops).
3) A magic theme where we're pulling better solutions (rather than rabbits) out of hats (just too silly on reflection, and requires a static audience)
4) Me walking round in fetish gear with a whip (OK, not really - though it would attract attention, its not likely to be the right sort of attention)
And so on.....

So over to you - I need ideas people, and in the best tradition of brainstorming sessions "there are no bad ideas" (except for the ones that are awful)

Thanks in advance
E

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RE: brainstorm session - 2/20/2008 3:09:08 PM

Mercnbeth

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Try an 'oil' theme. You provide the 'grease' to make transportation easy, save oil by your efficiency, provide oil, or 'carbon offset' programs. Use a smiling green oil drop as your 'spokesperson'.

Good luck!

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RE: brainstorm session - 2/20/2008 3:14:16 PM

LadyEllen

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Interesting thanks!

Just had an idea - superheroes; me as Wonder Woman, and my colleagues as Superman etc. Then we put the selling points on big banners within the stand, drawn in the style of punches etc in the comics, and instead of "thwack" (and so on) two/three words which summarise selling points. The overall theme being that its our mission to (insert selling point)

too much of a cliche?

?

E

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RE: brainstorm session - 2/20/2008 3:23:56 PM

popeye1250

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LadyE, ..."we provide road service"..does that mean dry freight in trailer trucks, liquids in tanker trucks or bus service carrying passengers?
And what's the co. name, maybe a play on words/names?

< Message edited by popeye1250 -- 2/20/2008 3:26:08 PM >

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RE: brainstorm session - 2/20/2008 3:26:48 PM

Mercnbeth

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Were the concept presented to me, I'd ask the question; "What's the relevance of superheros and my transpiration company?"

You'd have to pay royalties to Marvel Comics. Is that in the budget?

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RE: brainstorm session - 2/20/2008 3:32:58 PM

popeye1250

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Mercnbeth

Were the concept presented to me, I'd ask the question; "What's the relevance of superheros and my transpiration company?"

You'd have to pay royalties to Marvel Comics. Is that in the budget?

Hi Mercnbeth!
Yeah, you don't want to have to pay thousands in royalties for someone elses' super hero.
You could invent your own!
"Dickman!" or something like that.
A guy or girl in a giant penis and balls costume, "We go Balls to the Wall to get your freight there!"

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RE: brainstorm session - 2/20/2008 3:36:44 PM

LadyEllen

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Hi Popeye - its general cargo (dry freight) on pallets that we transport; cant divulge company name here sorry! never know who might look me up......

Hi Mercnbeth - superhero costumes are available all over from fancy dress shops; might be some issue with using them for commercial purposes I suppose......... I'm thinking "superheroes of European road" "defenders of shipping budgets" "guardians of value for money service" etc on our banners/posters Yes - really cheesy, but all we need is for people to notice and remember us and get the message about who we are/what we do.

One thing - we're not giving out literature, freebies or anything like that; experience says that we'd be besieged by collectors who then dump the stuff in the bins - and we want to talk to people and get confirmed leads (names and numbers) to follow up, which we wont if they just pick literature up and walk off

E

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RE: brainstorm session - 2/20/2008 3:38:30 PM

LadyEllen

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Good thinking Popeye!

we could put together costumes which are like Marvel/DC superheroes, but in our colours and with our logo (instead of the S on the front of Superman's tunic, for instance)

still think its a bit cheesy though!

E

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RE: brainstorm session - 2/20/2008 3:47:02 PM

popeye1250

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quote:

ORIGINAL: LadyEllen

Good thinking Popeye!

we could put together costumes which are like Marvel/DC superheroes, but in our colours and with our logo (instead of the S on the front of Superman's tunic, for instance)

still think its a bit cheesy though!

E

Hmm, "pallet to pallate."?
A picture of a long doxon dog with "Long on Service?"
It's all palletized freight? Not lumping?
I'm trying to get an idea of the co. with the limited info you've given us.
Do you transport dry food stuffs?
Do you "specialize" in any particular "type" of freight, foodstuffs etc?

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RE: brainstorm session - 2/20/2008 3:55:56 PM

LadyEllen

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high volume vehicles Popeye - standard trailers here are about 75m3, ours are 100m3-120m3; 1m3 = c. 9 cubic feet I think

mostly automotive parts, plastics, packaging - lightweight bulky stuff

E

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RE: brainstorm session - 2/20/2008 4:01:13 PM

popeye1250

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LadyE, that makes me think; "Any Freight, Any Place, Any Time."
You could have a picture of a clock, the eiffel tower, Big Ben and Brandenburg gate.
I'm just tossing some ideas out here.

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RE: brainstorm session - 2/20/2008 4:13:51 PM

KenDckey

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As an old transporter myself. I would drag out my old horse drawn freight wagon right down to the grease bucket under the rear axle showing the improvements in transport over the years.

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