Wait Watchers
Rather than have attendees cool their heels in a queue for a one-on-one demo or some face time with an executive or product specialist – and possibly overcrowd your exhibit or event while violating social-distancing guidelines – opt for Waitwhile, an app that enables users to claim a spot in a virtual line using a kiosk or their own smartphones. After adding their name and contact info, attendees are able to wait anywhere they want and receive email and/or text notifications about their position in the queue. Marketers, meanwhile, can create waitlists for multiple services, prioritize important guests, and see how long each attendee has bided his or her time. Contact: Waitwhile Inc., www.waitwhile.com Mobile Device
Disinfect Group USA's Mobile Disinfecting Units are an all-in-one germ-fighting and health-screening solution that boast touch-free hand-sanitizer dispensers, thermal temperature cameras, and people counters for crowd-capacity management. But what truly sets these wheeled structures apart is the option of adding a disinfecting fog feature. The company's all-natural, EPA- and FDA-approved â?oDry Fogâ? creates a nearly invisible, quick-drying mist of electrolyzed water that has been proven to reduce bacteria and viruses on skin and clothing by up to 91 percent after just 20 seconds. What's more, the units' panels can fully customized with corporate colors and branding. Contact: Disinfect Group USA, www.disinfectgroupusa.com Peddle to the Metal
Consider the Foot Operated Hand Sanitizer Dispenser Stand the cast-iron skillet of COVID-conscious products: It may not have any frills, but it's budget friendly, long lasting, and gets the job done. The rugged steel and aluminum construction supports pump-action bottles of sanitizer up to one gallon in size, meaning refills will be few and far between, and its 100-percent mechanical – and hands-free – operation negates the need for a power source. Contact: Testrite Visual Products Inc., www.testrite.com Razzle Dazzle 'Em
Amp up your staffers' attire or gild your giveaway program with Foxyware Inc.'s shimmering face masks. These attention-grabbing accessories are available in two versions. The all-over sequin model, which offers a two-ply mesh liner and an insert for a disposable filter, comes in a range of colors and can be printed with custom artwork. Meanwhile, the machine-washable, rhinestone-emblazoned option showcases more bling than Elton John and Liberace combined. Contact: Foxyware Inc., www.foxyware.com Wave of the Future
Waveline Wall Partitions are an easy and cost-effective way to divide large, open, and high-traffic spaces into discrete areas to promote social distancing. Comprising lightweight, collapsible frames and pillowcase fabric graphics in lengths spanning 3 feet to 20 feet, Waveline partitions are endlessly modular and can create practically any layout. The line uses Brandstand America Inc.'s One Planet fabric, which is made from 100-percent post-consumer recycled plastic and comes in a variety of stock patterns and colors. Marketers can also request custom graphics, and sanitizer-dispensing stations are also available. Contact: Brandstand America Inc., www.brandstandamerica.com Smart Move
Numerous industry and health associations continue to recommend temperature scans as a means of ensuring safe conditions at gatherings. The SmartXcan's hands-free, thermal-scanning technology can give accurate temperature readings for up to 700 people per hour. When attendees lean over the sensor, the SmartXcan determines their temperature in a fraction of a second. A reading below 100.4 degrees results in a green light signal and audio tone, while higher readings trigger a red flash and separate aural alert. (Units can also be programmed to give discreet, remote feedback.) Scanners can be powered by outlet or battery, and accessories include customizable graphic wraps, die-cut logos, decorative column housings, and more. Contact: Production Resource Group LLC (PRG), www.prg.com Raise a Glass
Looking to add a festive element to your next online event? Consider Mixology Mixer, a virtual cocktail-making class that will delight attendees. Simply select a kit (choices range from rum- and whiskey-based packages to tiki- and holiday-themed options), and Mixology Mixer will mail your attendees a box containing spirits, mixers and garnishes, a bar-tool kit, and recipe cards. At a designated time during your event, one of the company's top mixologists will join the call and lead participants in a fun-filled, step-by-step tutorial on how to make up to three cocktails using the mailed materials. Marketers are also able to add custom items to recipients' packages. Contact: Mixology Mixer, www.mixologymixer.com One-Stop Shop
The Hanz Sanitizing Station from Makitso USA is a cleaning checkpoint and shipping case in one. A 24-by-60-inch banner stand with an automatic sanitizing gel dispenser, along with the Trax Pro shoe sanitizing unit (a 2-inch-tall platform that uses UV-C light to the bottoms of shoes in a mere six seconds), fit inside a study shipping crate. Once the banner stand and Trax Pro are set up on site, the case can be modified into a roughly 42-inch-high counter with black or custom-printed fabric wrap. Shipping your sanitizing solution couldn't be simpler. Contact: Makitso USA, www.makitsodisplays.com Cut From a Different Cloth
Pipe-and-drape exhibits are par for the course at countless trade shows, but exhibitors', attendees', and show organizers' concerns are anything but normal in the COVID era. That's why SMT Expo Systems, a division of Glenmore Industries LLC, sent samples of the leading pipe-and-drape fabric and its proprietary Expoknit fabric, which the company uses exclusively in its soft-wall exhibit system, to an independent lab to see how well each performs in containing the spread of airborne pathogens. After a series of four tests analyzing water resistance, air permeability, and water-vapor transmission, Expoknit outperformed the leading fabric every time and proved effective at reducing the spread of germs through coughs, sneezes, and general air movement. In other words, think of Expoknit as an exhibit-sized face mask. Contact: SMT Expo Systems, a division of Glenmore Industries LLC, www.smtexpo.com Clean Sweep
Boasting color-changing LEDs; a 21.5-inch LCD monitor; Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and 3G/4G connectivity; and an integrated Android media player capable of displaying any combination of marketing images, videos, social-media feeds, and more, it's easy to forget the Digital Advertising Hand Sanitizer Kiosk's core function is health and safety. Available in freestanding and wall-mount configuration, the kiosk accepts liquid, foam, or gel sanitizer, features a touchless dispenser with drip-collecting tray, and even sends a designated contact an alert when it needs to be refilled. Contact: E&E Exhibits Inc., dba E&E Exhibit Solutions, www.exhibitsusa.com Sound Strategy
Anyone who's attended their share of video-conference meetings knows that the quality of the audio during these on-screen sessions can be distractingly problematic â?" a significant challenge when one plans to host an in-depth product demo, keynote address, or remote Q&A session. Enter Iqoya Guest, a web-based, audio platform that works with any video-calling service and internet browser and uses an algorithm to deliver broadcast-quality 20Hz sound. After purchasing a license, hosts simply email participants a link to Iqoya Guest platform. Attendees then turn off the video-conference's sound and enjoy the reliable, high-quality, two-way audio streaming from Iqoya Guest. Contact: Synthax Inc., www.synthax.com In the Clear
Opaque partitions can sometimes feel confining, especially if they're used to create small spaces, e.g., small-group meeting areas, testing stations, etc. Cort Events' line of 6-foot-tall clear dividers foster an airy ambiance regardless of your square footage. Study metal feet and frames support transparent acrylic infills that can be left plain or customized with decal logos, graphics, and more. The freestanding, 39-inch-wide dividers are available as individual partitions, wall units with top-of-frame connectors for bespoke constructs, two- and five-panel wall sets, and corner units. Contact: Cort Events, a subsidiary of Cort Business Services Corp., www.cortevents.com Count on It
While there's no crystal ball that shows what restrictions and regulations regarding upcoming face-to-face marketing gatherings will look like, it's a safe bet that both exhibits and corporate events will have limits on how many people can be in a space at once. One high-tech tracking solution is the Automated Occupancy Counter Kiosk, which monitors attendees' comings and goings and keeps a near-real-time tally that is displayed on the unit's monitor. Administrators set the maximum occupancy for a given space and receive an alert via a web-based dashboard when that limit is reached. A system of external webcams means that a single kiosk can observe multiple entrances and exits simultaneously, and the unit's ultra-high-definition screen is capable of playing a range of marketing content. Contact: SmartSource Computer & Audio Visual Rentals, Hauppauge, NY, 800-888-8686, www.smartsourcerentals.com Band Together
Maintaining social distancing will be top of mind for attendees and staffers alike, and SafeBands from CrowdSync Technology Inc. are a colorful, attention-grabbing way for eventgoers to make their preferences known. Embedded in these stretchy wristbands are a trio of LEDs that emit green, yellow, or red light, respectively indicating that a wearer is comfortable with close interaction, cautious, or prefers strict distancing. (Users can set their preferred LED color by toggling a switch.) SafeBands can be printed with full-color logos and graphics for an additional branding touchpoint, and replaceable batteries power the accessories for approximately 12 hours. Contact: CrowdSync Technology Inc., New York, 929-207-3904, www.crowdsynctechnology.com Until We Meet Again
Crêpes á Latte's #BetterTogether Boxes are the perfect way to incorporate memorable engagement into your next digital event or just let your VIP clients and prospects know you're thinking about them. While a number of preselected box themes are available, such as the Rise & Grind (coffee, granola, nut mix, and snack bites), Good Times (Jiffy Pop, Moon Pies, and other classic treats and toys) and more, clients can also create entirely bespoke care packages that arrive before, during, or after an event. #BetterTogether Boxes can also be customized with corporate colors, marketing collateral, promotional items, and more. Contact: Crêpes á Latte, Vernon Hills, IL, 773-860-3366, www.bettertogetherboxes.net Kidding Around
Not all trade shows and corporate events are exclusively grown-up affairs, which is why the Kid's Multi-Height Sanitizing Unit was specifically designed to help children ages 3 â?" 11 practice good hygiene. The dispenser shelf's height can be adjusted to four different positions ranging from roughly 20 inches to 3 feet off the floor, making it easy for wee ones to keep their paws clean. Marketers have a choice of two kid-friendly magnetic vinyl graphics (custom options are also available), and the stand's glossy, powder-coated finish is easy to wipe down. Contact: Ultima Displays Ltd., Northants, United Kingdom, (44) 153-627-2250, www.ultimadisplays.co.uk