Day in the Life: Something Different Event Decor
by Thea Engst, Exhibit City News
In a fast-paced, ever-changing landscape, tradeshow producers face the challenge to stand out. Thanks to companies like Something Different Event Décor, they have more options to make lasting impressions on potential clients.
I chatted with Susan Medica, owner, and founder of Something Different—named after her mother’s stores—to hear about her journey and days as the face of this unique company.
Something Different specializes in short-term furniture rental for corporate events and tradeshows.
“We redefine events and tradeshow experiences!” Susan said, “We elevate the ambiance and turn ordinary spaces into masterpieces. We’ve spent a lot of time creating an awesome selection of furniture that enhances the overall atmosphere and makes the event more memorable and impactful.”
Susan founded the company in 2021 with 25 years of experience under her belt. Shortly after, her husband Julio—with another 25 years of his own experience—joined her as the head of operations.
“Julio is outstanding at building a team and empowering them for success,” Susan said. “His expertise ensures streamlined logistics, contributing significantly to the success of our team.” While Julio makes sure the furniture is handled properly and withstands being moved from show after show, Susan heads up sales. “We’re kind of like Lucille Ball and Ricky Ricardo,” she laughed.
“My days are definitely varied!” Susan said with enthusiasm, “but that’s a huge part of what makes it exciting in this industry. One day, I’m meeting with clients discussing their event vision and tailoring the furniture needs to their brand. Another day, I’m at a show site, meeting clients on the show floor. It’s exciting for me to see our furniture transform a space. It’s heartwarming, especially to see clients using something I selected for our line… No matter where the day takes me one thing remains constant: it’s a fast-paced industry and it’s a ton of fun—I’ve enjoyed every minute of my career.”
Beyond Susan’s magnetism, she explained more about why Something Different is, well, different. “We operate differently than most companies, on so many different levels!” She said. “We truly believe our customers are our gold, we treat them like that, we are thankful for every opportunity.”
Susan continued about fostering relationships with clients. “We want to be more than just another vendor. We want to position ourselves as their partner. We take the furniture off their plate. The clients we work with are producing the entire booth, show, lounge area — they have a lot of moving parts. So, there’s enormous value when you’re working with a vendor, and they can take what they’re assigned entirely off your plate. We go the extra mile to make sure the entire experience is a success from inception to completion, down to the very last detail!” She added, “Yes, the furniture is important—style matters—but at the end of the day, I do believe our service is what separates us from everyone else.”
Collaboration and respect are the roots of this company’s success. They grow through their relationship with clients and company culture. “We have a strong team!” Susan said, “Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do, we believe that diverse perspectives lead to strong solutions. Every role is important and plays a significant part in our overall success! We value and appreciate our team and I believe it shows in their performance and attitude. I want this company to be a great place to work—not just a good one.”
I asked Susan if she had any fun anecdotes and she said: “Once, we received a last-minute add on and had 30 minutes before the show opened. Even the client didn’t think we could do it—but our team rallied. We had the product in the booth and show-ready—with 10 minutes to spare!” She laughed, “On the way out, our team ran into the head coach of the Denver Broncos! We always use it as motivation, telling the team, ‘you never know who you might run into!’”
I asked Susan what she’d like readers to walk away with. “I want readers to understand the passion and dedication that drives me, my team, and Something Different,” she said. “Our role isn’t about delivering furniture; it’s about building strong relationships with our clients and crafting immersive experiences that leave a lasting impact. Whether it’s navigating logistics, tough deadlines, or overcoming an obstacle, I’m committed—the team is committed—to ensuring that every show we touch is successful. Yes, I play a significant role but it’s our team that truly makes the magic happen.”
For more information, please visit somethingdifferentdecor.com.
This story originally appeared in the Q3 2024 issue of Exhibit City News, p. 76. For original layout, visit https://issuu.com/exhibitcitynews/docs/ecn_q3_2024/76.
