A Decade of EZ-Guides, International Shows and QR Codes!

What a Whirlwind of a Show! 

What a YEAR!   


What do you mean it is only February?


OK - I am of to hibernate for a while...with the glow of the desert still warming my skin....WHAT? 


I need to write a show wrap up? OK...


It has been an amazing couple of months from working on and gathering the information for a brand new International Edition of the EZ-Guide (did you pick up your copy in Tucson?) - to getting the annual Tucson EZ-Guide out!


Did you notice that the Tucson EZ Guide has gone "high tech"?  QR Codes made it possible to include more info without the EZ-Guide ending up so big you couldn't carry it with you! 


Here is a  quickie guide for those of you who I didn't talk to in Tucson!!!  


A QR (Quick Response) Code  is much like the Bar Codes on the goods you purchase from most stores today.


Here is an easy explanation from the Master of Explanation, Lee LeFever of Common Craft:

"In our online world, everything is linked together. You visit a website, and click a link to visit another site, send a message, view a photo or download a video.  A simple click makes everything possible.On the other hand, our physical world is what you see walking down the street.   The problem is – nothing is clickable. You can’t click a URL on a container to see recipes.  You can’t click a statue to read about it on Wikipedia. So, you end up having to type in a link, take notes or just keep walking. But that’s starting to change.
You may have seen codes like these. They’re called QR or “quick response” codes and they mean
your camera phone can now be a little like a cashier’s scanner.
Once you have an QR reader app on your smartphone, you can point your camera phone at these codes and immediately grab useful information.
Let’s say you’re running errands and walk by a sign that says “New Show Coming Soon” and there’s a QR code.   You can just open your QR reader app, point your camera phone at the code and the app will automatically give you options.
No links to remember, no notes - just point your phone at the QR code and the real world becomes clickable."

So now the question becomes where do you find a QR Scanner for your Smart Phone?

Turns out that today you have a couple options - there are 291 options on Download.com

...or for those of you that are Microsoft users - Mashable recently wrote up the new MS Tag system...check out a couple and find the one that works for you!

OK - wrap up coming in the next day or so...

The Munich Show or Mineralientage München

Thought you might enjoy a preview of what we have envisioned for the International EZ-Guide!  Let us know if something is missing!

Mineralientage Munchen

The Munich Show
World of Minerals, Gems, Jewelry and Fossils

October 26 – 28, 2012
Friday & Saturday 9am – 7pm  

Sunday 9am – 6pm
Friday – Trade Only  

Saturday & Sunday Open To The Public

2012 Theme:  African SecretsFor close to 49 years the Munich Mineral Show has positioned itself as Europe’s most important trade show, attracting the Who’s Who of the International Mineral & Fossil fields. After an extensive restructuring in 2009, the Gem and Jewelry “worlds” have begun to play an increasingly important role. With over 1250 vendors from 56 countries this is the largest show in Europe.  Mineralientage Munchen or The Munich Show handles the size issue by dividing exhibitors into “worlds” in separate halls.The Mineral World Munich – the fantastic world of minerals
The Gem World Munich – the most precious stones of the world
The Fossil World Munich – Witnesses of Earth’s History
The Stone World Munich – Nicest stone for wellness and home accessories

YouTube Video – The Munich Show 2011 Explains this multi faceted event:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G89kSL4P2sg

	online ticket price	price at fair
day ticket(Sa./So.)	EUR 11,-	EUR 12,-
half day ticket (from 3 pm)	EUR 7,-	EUR 8,-
kids (7-14 jears)	EUR 5,-	EUR 6,-

Contact Info:
Email:    info@munichshow.com
Phone:  +49 896134711
New Munich Trade Fair Centre 
Bayern , An der point, 81829 München, Germany
+49 89/94920720
Website for the New Munich Trade Fair Center
The Munich Show – Mineralientage München takes place on the grounds of the Neuen Messe München or the New Munich Trade Fair Centre.Google Map at:  http://g.co/maps/p4sua

Following a day filled with activities at theTrade Show you will find Munich to be very accommodating. One of the most popular European destinations the city of Munich offers visitors everything from a thriving nightlife to beautiful hiking trails and everything between. Fabulous restaurants and a wealth of Hotels – more information is available to visitors through the Munich Tourist Office.

The Hotel Guide of Messe München, with options near the fairgrounds – or centrally located in the nightlife of the trendy district of Munich – or a recreational value close to the mountains – you will find a wide range of accommodation in and around Munich and in the adjacent foothills.
Munich International Trade Fairs’ Hotel Guide

EZ-Guide Goes INTERNATIONAL!!!

Have you heard the news?

Your favorite Gem Show Guides will soon bring you “guides” for most of the larger Gem, Mineral and Jewelry Shows throughout Europe and Asia!

“Xpo Press is Going Global! This year we have expanded our vision to become a world-leader in publishing updated and accurate information for major gem and mineral shows throughout the world.”  Brad Hicks, CEO, Xpo Press

Which Shows you ask?   Check the web page at:  http://xpopress.com/international.html

Individual Show pages will feature the same complete information you have come to expect from Xpo Press EZ-Guides and will post as soon as we collect it!

The Tucson Show in 2012 will mark a decade – 10 Years of service to you!  We work hard to offer you the most complete and current information available…and with our expanded web-based features we are doing just that.

Our most complete information on the Event’s webpage, with click through to individual shows, floor plans, contact info and more, coupled with the downloadable version available online.  

We give you last minute updates and answer your questions on our Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/GemShowEZGuides  

If you are on Twitter our info posts to the @Gemshows feed…and for larger events we set up a Twitter Hub at Twubs – which aggregates tweets from the shows!

“We’ve specialized over these past ten years in providing information for the largest and most important gem, mineral and jewelry shows exclusively in the U.S.A. — among them, Tucson, Denver, Las Vegas, Quartzsite, Franklin, and West Springfield.   In keeping with that vision, premiering at the 2012 Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase, Jan. 25 – Feb. 12, will be Xpo Press’s new International EZ-Guide, which will be distributed on racks side-by-side with the popular Tucson EZ-Guide. 40,000 International EZ-Guides will be printed, with 10,000 being distributed during the 2012 Tucson show; then the remaining 30,000 will be distributed throughout 2012 at many of the gem and mineral shows that will be featured in the premiere issue of the International EZ-Guide” reports Brad.

Do you attend shows in other countries?  Do you exhibit at International Shows?  …let us know if you feel we are missing an important one!