When powerhouse global brands like GE, Ocean Spray, Plug Power, and others need creative and memorable interactive experiences for industry events and trade shows, they turn to the team at e3 Corporate Solutions. This woman-owned business specializes in the design, production, and execution of exhibits and events, and when they need to ship displays and booths for clients to critical events, they turn to the team at Shaker Logistics.
We connected with Colleen McClaine and Linda O’Connor, managing partners at e3 Corporate Solutions, to talk about the complex logistics ecosystem of the trade show and events business.
From the basement to the big time
“We never could have guessed that we’d be where we are today,” Colleen said about e3’s growth over the years. “Part of what got us here was our dedication. There’s no limit to what we’d do for our customers, and that includes traveling across the country to an exhibition to make sure everything is seamless.”
A far cry from the company’s humble beginnings at a folding table in Colleen’s basement, the partners have serviced over 1,000 events for major companies in over 50 countries – including the renowned K-Show in Dusseldorf, Germany. Some of their most prized creations include a booth that doubled as a test kitchen for a client’s culinary experts, and a massive two-story display complete with private meeting spaces.
The logistics behind transporting these beautifully branded booths to events must be as creative and precise as the booths themselves.
Small business, big transportation needs
e3’s designs are a culmination of months of dedicated work and detailed planning, ready to make the client’s brand pop at the trade show they’ve been building up to all year. A late truck or damaged crate could jeopardize it all.
“We spend all our time making sure our clients’ displays are perfect, so we expect the booths to arrive in perfect condition and perfectly on time,” said Colleen.
That’s why having an experienced partner for trade show transportation is essential. Unfortunately, inexperienced carriers too often accept these specialized loads without the necessary equipment or expertise to get the job done well.
“When we trust a carrier to pick up our booth and they show up to our dock completely unprepared for the job, it’s a disappointment,” said Linda. “We’re back to the drawing board, with less time to find a carrier than before.”
Even the smallest scratch on a booth component could bring down the luster of a client’s exhibit, so protective gear is essential. The right carrier will come prepared with the proper straps, blankets, and load bars to protect the cargo from bumping and sliding during transit.
Finding experienced carriers you trust takes time and research; something e3’s team doesn’t always have time for, so Shaker handles that for them.
Shaker’s network of experienced trade show and event carriers has been built up over 30+ years, so event shippers like e3 can have reliable capacity on deck for their needs, no matter what challenge comes their way.
Avoiding forced freight
The trade show and event industries move quickly, so most show venues set strict move-out times to clear the show floor for the next event. The trade show pickup process itself can be extensive: drivers are shuffled between the check-in location, marshalling yard, and venue docks, where they have to wait to get loaded by on-site labor.
Carriers without trade shoe experience are often uninformed about the strict pickup procedures and extensive detention times that are part and parcel of trade show logistics. They often arrive late, at the wrong location, or refuse to wait in line, resulting in “forced freight.”
When freight is forced, the trade show’s contracted carrier reroutes exhibit materials on their own trucks or transports it to their warehouse for storage until the exhibitor’s carrier recovers it. The exhibitor or exhibit house is on the hook for these costs, which are stacked with fees for storage, delinquent pickup, handling, and transportation. The increased handling can often damage the freight, creating further costs and complications.
An experienced logistics partner who understands the ins and outs of trade show shipping can successfully navigate the pickup process, helping exhibit houses and their clients avoid exorbitant recovery and repair costs.
Experience and communication matter
After a successful show in Houston, e3’s client requested an additional pickup from a show venue. e3 contacted Shaker, who was on it within an hour.
Shaker dispatched an experienced trade show carrier from our pool of vetted partners, connecting the driver directly with e3 for streamlined communication during the time-sensitive move.
The team at e3 said, “Having a direct line of communication with the driver is rare. Most 3PLs don’t understand how beneficial it is for making the process more efficient, providing peace of mind for the driver and especially us.” e3 went on to say, “The driver arrived at the pickup early, and even went the extra mile by sending photos of the loaded and strapped cargo before safely delivering to our client.”
Partnership based on reliability and results
Shaker has been working with Linda and Colleen since 2011, when they were working at other exhibit houses before they founded e3.
“The best thing about working with Shaker is their reliability,” said Colleen. “We’re constantly busy with serving clients and managing the daily ins-and-outs of running a business. When we use Shaker, transportation is one less thing we have to worry about.”
Over the years, e3 Corporate Solutions has built a reputation for creative excellence and seamless execution. Behind the scenes, Shaker is proud to help make that possible by ensuring every booth, banner, and branded space arrives safely and on time.
Whether it’s a last-minute rescue shipment or a planned move, reach out to Shaker’s team today to keep your creative visions moving ahead.