Best Practices

 

Last month I attended an Executive Management Seminar presented by the Association for Retail Environments (ARE).  As always, the 2 day conference was very worthwhile and is something I look forward to every year.  This year however, my executive management skills were challenged when we were asked if we had developed “Best Practices” for our businesses.  Of course, no one knows our business better than me and the methods we have in place are tried and proven.  However, we have never documented our “Best Practices” nor do we even know how some of them came to be.  Fortunately, I was not alone and the positive outcome of my oversight has resulted in the key topic for our Strategic Planning meeting next month where our Management team will develop “Best Practices” for OCTANORM® USA.

 

Being in business for a long time can force people to assume that the reason we do things a particular way is because it’s the best way to do them, when in fact, the reason we do things a particular way is because that’s the way we’ve always done them.  As humans we tend to be somewhat “tribal” in our methods without taking into consideration the fact that times are changing and our approach to business needs to adapt.

 

As far as the Exhibition Industry is concerned, times are definitely changing.  The “tribal” model that has been created for the exhibition industry is broken and exhibitors are fighting back by reducing their budgets and limiting their Trade Show participation.  This modern day exhibitor revolt has resulted in the formation of the Exhibit Industry Council (EIC) who incidentally has published a “Best Practices” paper starting with full disclosure and control of exhibitor costs. 

 

At OCTANORM® we can help with some of those costs.  Creating methods for lightweight architectural environments is our specialty.  OCTANORM® Service Partners are experts at designing amazing structures within budget and without compromising on size or quality.  We not only embrace change, we give you change back.  And saving money in today’s economic climate is a “Best Practice” no one can ignore.

 

Sincerely,

OCTANORM® USA, Inc.

 

 

Norm Friedrich

President
 
Calendar

2010 Calendar
EventStart DateEnd Date
IRDC 2010, Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto, Canada 10/13/2010 10/15/2010
A.R.E. 55th Annual Convention, Rancho Mirage, CA 11/10/2010 11/13/2010
EDPA Annual Convention & Supplier''s Showcase, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 12/3/2010 12/5/2010



  * Please note that our Sales Managers attend these shows and may not be able to assist you in a timely manner. 
If you need immediate assistance while they are working the shows, please contact Amy Muldoon at
770-732-1520 or amuldoon@octanormusa.com.
 
 
INVENTORY
 

OCTANORM® USA, Inc. will be closed for annual inventory Thursday, June 24th and Friday, June 25th.  We will reopen for business on Monday, June 28th at 8:30 a.m.

 

Please note these days of closings and allow time for your projects/orders to be completed in accordance with these dates.

 

If you have an emergency during these dates please contact your Regional Sales Manager:

 

Jeff Mitchell- 770-841-0694

Southeastern Regional Sales Manager

 

Paul Bowling- 312-208-2021

Northeast/Midwest Regional Sales Manager


Wayne Laube- 805-286-1050

Western Regional Sales Manager
 
 
 

GlobalShop 2010

 

 

This year’s exhibit featured Magnetic Hardware used in a visual presentation with printed fabric showing that when you create with OCTANORM® you truly have the ‘WORLD OF SYSTEMS’ at your fingertips.  This new magnetic fabric wall concept was the winner of this year’s “Best of GlobalShop” and will be available in July.

 

One of our latest innovations is OCTAframe® where custom slot patterns are machined within our system groove.  It permits the use of standard fixtures or allows us to match existing slot patterns to utilize your existing fixtures.  Designing with OCTAframe® gives you the option of incorporating fabric panels or countless other substrates including Bamboo.

 

Another exciting new product featured at GlobalShop was our OCTAplus merchandising system.  It’s distinctive “Plus” pattern accepts custom fixtures and can be exposed as a visible design element or hidden at the sides or back of the upright standards.

 

We also incorporated large format printed fabric panels into the design of our booth as well as freestanding displays demonstrating how you can achieve the cleanest look of fabric in your designs simply by using new OCTANORM® components and our system groove technology.

 
 
 
 
Exhibitor 2010 
 

This year’s OCTANORM® exhibit featured some of the latest advancements in large format fabric graphic technology.  Our latest additions to the growing trend of lightweight fabric extrusions allow the structure to be completely wrapped in printed fabric for an impressive custom look.  The exhibit also presented our innovative roll down banner extrusion complete with built-in retractable spring enabling the graphic to roll-up inside the extrusion.  While the spring technology is nothing new, the fact that we have engineered this technology into our 80mm extrusion is sure to save a great deal of time and expense during set up and dismantle.

 

In addition, we introduced the fabric wall panel system which utilizes double sided fabric frame panels connected to intermediate uprights using a new hammer head connector.  The frames can be shipped pre-assembled and connected together in minutes right on the show floor.

 

A sample of our new lightweight affordable double deck system (OCTAmax 350) was also shown along with the new OCTApole banner display.  The entire exhibit was constructed on top of our new Doublefloor system which now uses only one lightweight panel for both all weight loads.  Both OCTAmax 350 and Doublefloor are available as rentals; please speak with your Regional Sales Manager for more details.

 

 
 

 

The next OCTANORM® Training Seminar will be held June 14-15, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. This intermediate-level seminar is an excellent opportunity for designers, engineers, detailers, and project managers to learn more about the exciting products OCTANORM® has to offer.

The attendees at the seminar will be able to experience OCTANORM®’s new software program, OCTAquote. Additional seminar topics include the interactive OCTAcatalog, VARIO Kits and New Parts. Attendees will enjoy the hands on experience as well as the informative tour of the OCTANORM® USA, Inc. facilities. The seminar concludes with an opportunity to show off your own creativity with OCTANORM® in our design/assembly challenge competition. It's an exciting adventure into the World of OCTANORM®!

OCTANORM® will provide hotel accommodations for Sunday, June 13th and Monday, June 14th as well as breakfast and lunch both days and dinner on Monday evening. You will only be responsible for the cost of your transportation to and from Atlanta.

Limited space requires that you make a reservation in advance - but hurry, seats for this fantastic experience go fast!

If you are interested in making a reservation or would like additional information please contact amuldoon@octanormusa.com

 

OCTAfabric.  The quick fabric wall solution. 

 
 
        Fast frame to frame connection using M 1478
 
        Allows for 180°, 90° and 135° connections
 
        Frames can be shipped fully assembled
 

        Offers a wide range of panel sizes

 

  
 
           
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

The world of Interior Design will never be the same again! OCTANORM® systems enable designers, planners and architects to successfully realize their ideas.  Turn your visions into reality!  The OCTANORM® World of Systems provides economic solutions that are perfectly suited for the presentation of goods and/or services.  Combine OCTANORM® with traditional and modern materials and you will have a very versatile and effective Point of Sale.  Start designing today!   You can download a copy of our newest Interior Design brochure by selecting the link below or from our Downloads page.

 
Interior Design Brochure 

 

If you would like to request a print copy of the new brochure, please contact Amy Muldoon, amuldoon@octanormusa.com

 

 
 
 
FIT
 

On April 28, the Exhibition Design Graduate Students of FIT were exposed to the wilder side of OCTANORM® during a special class on System Design.  After a quick visual introduction to The World of Systems, the students were divided into teams and given a “box of parts” to play with.  The goal was to design on the fly while creating a structure by using as many components as possible.  The students were then asked to judge each other’s work and the winning team was awarded a prize consisting of gift certificates to a local restaurant.

 

It was a fun class that exposed the students to the mechanical aspects of system design with an emphasis on imagination.  The entire class was summed up by Graduate Exhibition Design Chair, Professor Brenda Cowan who said “my students will never be the same.  They’ve been Octanormized!”

                       
 
                                       
 
DoubleFloor
 

OCTANORM® USA, Inc. has recently taken delivery on one-hundred (100) of our new SP10 raised floor panels.  The panel is being introduced world wide as a replacement for the EPL2 and SPL3 panels. The new SP10 functions both as a standard load panel as well as a heavy load panel with different load ratings being achieved by adding traditional HF1 or HF3 feet in predetermined locations, eliminating the need to stock two different panels.  Being that the new SP10 is dimensionally identical to the EPL2 and SPL3 panels, mating the new with the old for those customers with an existing inventory is a relatively simple task.

 

The panels and adjustable feet are available for purchase as well as rental, contact your Regional Sales Manager for availability and pricing.

 

 
 
Clearance Sale

 

OCTANORM® USA, Inc. is making room for new material and increasing stock on others.  This gives you an excellent opportunity to purchase select items at special pricing.  Review the list and see if any of the items could be helpful to you.  If you would like to purchase any of these items or have questions, please contact your customer service representative and reference “Clearance Inventory”.  Please keep in mind that quantities are limited and sales are final. 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

For the past 40 years, OCTANORM® has focused its efforts on the development of the world’s most widely used construction systems.  However, it is through the creative use of these systems that our products have received their recognition.

 

We feature a different example each month of unique projects.  If you have photos of your OCTANORM® designs or booth shots, please forward them along with a brief write-up to your Regional Sales Manager!!  Make sure and include a link to your website so that end-users can contact you directly.  Each month we will proudly display some of the creative works of our OCTANORM® SERVICE PARTNERS.