by Danelle Dodds
In 1998, the exhibit world was overflowing. Companies were bringing their products and services to the people through tradeshows, and convention centers were swamped. Thousands of exhibit service providers were saturating the market, some more reputable than others. Customers were on the shoreline, desperate for assistance with their exhibits. But something was blocking the flow of progress.
Aside from leaning on the general contractors, how could exhibitors access suppliers they wanted to work with? And on the flip side, how could general contractors or show managers ensure that outside exhibit companies on their show floor were up to snuff?
Presence in the Industry
In response, the Exhibitor Appointed Contract Association (EACA) was formed. With their presence, the industry had an ally, a voice, and—finally—an extension to the table. And for 25 years, the EACA has been a uniting force, bridging the gap between exhibitors and EACs.
As they prepare to celebrate their silver anniversary, we caught up with Jim Wurm, executive director of the EACA, to reflect on some of the highlights from the last quarter of a century. As a 30-year veteran of tradeshows in all capacities, Jim has a big picture view of the industry. It is clear that advocacy for all players is at the top of his mind.
Bridge the Gap
“I’ve been very fortunate in my career to work at both ends of the tradeshow hierarchy,” says Wurm. “I started in the industry working for an EAC, and some years later was a show organizer with an overall responsibility for more than 30 annual events. What I learned in the process is that there is a significant gulf in understanding between the show organizer world and that of the EACs. Much of my work is an ongoing effort to bridge that gap and, hopefully, create better understanding for both so that tradeshows and events can be produced more efficiently and successfully.”
To that end, for last few decades, the EACA has tackled multiple pain points for everyone involved in the life cycle of a tradeshow. One of the significant hurdles they faced was the issue of fees.
“A compelling issue that confronted EACs at its inception was EAC fees. Some show organizers, who were confounded with administering access to the large number of EACs, indicated they were charging a fee to ‘recover costs’ of that administration,” Wurm shares. “The EACA has established an online system to register EACs that eliminates the need for this concern.” This huge undertaking helped clear the channels of objections in the tides of I&D.
Worthy of Endorsement
But the association isn’t just about giving clients access to their delegates. The EACA is also about ensuring that their members are worthy of endorsement. They maintain high marks when it comes to service and professionalism.
All members are required to adhere to a strict Code of Conduct and Ethics. In addition, the EACA has become a resource for their membership’s continued refinement. As part of their ongoing mission, the board publishes guidelines for best practices, as well as offers business development and education programs. And they leverage their strength of membership to negotiate significant discounts for member-needed products and services, like insurance and payroll. This allows their delegates to sharpen their edge, while meeting the qualification demands required for most shows.
Commitment to Excellence
The EACA’s 25years of commitment to excellence ensures that the exhibitors, show organizers and general contractors receive the best products, service and cooperation in the market. With more than a combined 60,000 full- and part-time tradeshow workers, that’s a lot of peace of mind. And ultimately, their work is for the benefit of the end user.
“Membership in the EACA is much like the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval for exhibitors looking for companies to service their exhibit,” Jim says proudly. “Exhibitors know that EACA members are the cream of the crop.”
