United we scribe: IFVP Conference 2016, Washington DC
Oops, we did it again! It was IFVP conference time once more, this time in Washington DC, and of course, we at Neuland were there again. This time with a proper Neuland store, which was open from July 30th to August 2nd.
Neuland Store, Washington DC
On the eve of Precon – the pre-conference – we began setting up our Neuland store. Tables had to be arranged and the numerous new products properly lit. Among the conference's new products was the GraphicWall V3, which was presented to an interested professional audience for the first time at the IFVP conference.
In the Neuland shop, the new special board immediately took on the task of providing a visual product overview, after Verena, equipped with outliners and BigOnes, had professionally put it on paper.
Verena Hanke is creating the visual product overview for the Neuland store on the new GraphicWall V3.
Highlight 1: GraphicWall V3
A real highlight at the Neuland Store was the premiere of the new GraphicWall V3. With its 4x8 foot work surface and lightweight design, it perfectly meets the demands of the North American market. The ingenious folding mechanism delighted store visitors. And we were able to make one customer especially happy with this GraphicWall: Mike Schlegel from the WhiteboardAcademy. He was the lucky one who got to buy the only GraphicWall V3 available on-site and take it home immediately. "Muddy," as he's known, shared his joy about his purchase shortly afterward in a YouTube video. The V3 will soon go into production and is expected to be available from the end of 2016.
Highlight 2: New Neuland markers
Naturally, the core range of the sought-after Neuland markers (BigOne, No.One and ArtMarker) was also included.
The new AcrylicOne refillable acrylic markers in three different sizes and 19 different colors celebrated a true premiere.
Here at the IFVP conference, they were able to be thoroughly tested for the first time by the professionals of the visualizer scene.
Sophia Liang ( graphicfootprints.com ) tests the new AcrylicOne here on the black flipchart pad from Neuland, the so-called BlackPad.
The 5 new shades of grey, our S'more tones of grey, were also presented for the first time on American soil at the conference.
Highlight 3: Hand-Lettering LearningPad
Moderation-appropriate writing has long been a familiar concept to Neuland customers. This rather "uniform" style of writing is now often enhanced with calligraphic flourishes, provided one has mastered the art of beautiful handwriting on a flipchart. Of course, as with many things, one thing is essential: practice, practice, practice. And the right materials.
And besides the right markers, this also includes the ideal "practice sheet." Neuland has now developed just that, and customers were able to test it live for the first time in Heather Martinez's lettering workshop.
From left to right: Verena Hanke, Heather Martinez, Guido Neuland
We were able to determine that customers enthusiastically embraced the new product – some suggestions for improvement, which were brought forward by participants of the workshop and hand-lettering expert Heather Martinez, will now be taken into account for the final version of the “Hand Lettering Learning Pads”.
Highlight 4: Supporting program IFVP's got talent
Basically, we at Neuland had nothing to do with the evening's gala program. And yet, it turned out that Neuland played a not insignificant role. This became clear at the latest when Trent Wakenight came on stage dressed as "Really BigOne" and told "dirty marker jokes".
Trent Wakenight – in BigOne costume
We'd also like to mention the other IFVP talents of the evening: Avril Orloff, who got the whole room singing a round and gave us goosebumps. Dean Meyers then provided the next thrill with his truly moving vocal performance, Johnny Goldstein coolly snapped his fingers during the American national anthem, and Jill Greenbaum and her husband Steve kept the mood upbeat with more sing-alongs. Things really heated up when Sophia Liang and Rosanna von Sacken led the entire IFVP community in a dance. Thank you for this wonderful evening – and perhaps see you next year!