Move-in Day 1 – the realities of set-up!

Here we are at the Javits Center, moving in for the National Stationery Show. I love watching the set-up of a Show take place. Just think of it, we start with the big empty hall, and in just 4 days of move-in, voila! we have a Show. The gang’s all here, and we’re in the midst of setting up the Show Office. Here’s Laura Susi, of our Operations department (at the desk) and Arque, checking out the floorplan. Our Show Office overlooks the Show floor.


As I write this, I am looking down from the Show Office onto the Show floor, and right below is the Crane & Co. booth at the beginning stages of installation. All I can show you is the space they will inhabit, and this is through the window – it’s a big open space, right now, ringed by their boxes, waiting for the carpet to go down. After that’s installed, the walls can go up. So this is the very beginning….


Just wait until it’s finished! Crane always has a beautiful display (as well as product!)


Lots of other exhibitors, both large and small, are already here, too. I’ve seen Randy from InScribe, Brian from Design Design, the set-up folks from Designer Greetings/CardSmart, Andy from Corners of the World, Michelle and Martin from Bob’s Your Uncle, Lesley and Adrian and the crew from Acme Studios, and more. I also got to meet two new exhibitors today - Rupa from Bring It In A Bag – she’s nearly done with her booth, and it just so happens that her across the aisle neighbor Jennifer, from Owen Says is here. How great to get to meet some of our new exhibitors on the first day of set-up.

Exhibitor freight has been arriving all day, and the truckers, and anyone arriving using the loading dock will stop at the Freeman Check-In Trailer first. Here it is…


And here are the trucks at the loading dock:



Some exhibitors send their freight by way of FedEx. In fact, many exhibitors choose this option, and it does mean that there is some extra sorting for Freeman to do once the truck is unloaded. And believe it or not, the FedEx truck drives onto the Show Floor at the back of the hall! Here it is:


And here’s just a portion of the boxes that have come off the truck, and are being sorted:


And that’s not the half of it! Not even close.


We’re also working on setting up the Lobby, and SOME of us have really gotten into the spirit! Look at Patti, here with Mike Ruberry our VP of Operations, in orange, and Bill Martin of Freeman, in blue. Is it just a coincidence that they are wearing the colors of the Show décor?



Despite the freight, the unpacking, the noise, the hectic nature of it all, set-up is an exciting time for the Show, and those of us who work on it all year. We can’t wait for you to get here, and for a great Show! More tomorrow!

Kelly