Category: Blog

A comprehensive economic report conducted by Oxford Economics reveals the substantial value of the exhibitions industry to the UK economy.  The findings reveal that exhibitions attracted 13 million visitors in 2010 and generated £11 billion in spending.  This is equivalent to 0.4% of the UK’s GDP.

In addition, the UK exhibitions industry contributed £5.6 billion in added value to the UK economy.  Of this £5.6 billion; £2.6 billion was directly contributed from events, and a further £3 billion was trickled into the wider economy and supply chains.

This activity supported 148,500 jobs in the UK, equivalent to total employment in the city of Milton Keynes and 0.5% of total employment in the UK.

The story is the same globally, with a UFI international survey confirming growth in the exhibition industry in 2013, despite a far reaching economic crisis.  The survey concludes that the majority of companies reported an increase in turnover since 2011, proving the effect of the industry and the value it continues to generate.  Individual businesses benefit too, with visitors spending an impressive £2.7 billion on goods and services at exhibitions in 2010 alone.

Commenting on the research findings, Tim Cronin, 200m2’s Managing Director said “There is still no substitute for physical interaction.  Sooner or later it’s crucial to physically meet the people you are doing business with if you want to build long-term rapport. That’s why the exhibitions sector continues to grow in the UK year-on-year.”

“As one of the UK’s leading exhibition stand companies, 200m2 is proud to play its part in this growth. Exhibitors want maximum flexibility when it comes to their exhibition stands.  The stand itself must scale to fit virtually any floor space and the solution needs to be simple and fast to build/break down. That’s why modular exhibition stands are becoming so important. Our own CROSSwire and TECHwire systems are extremely easy to assemble, requiring no tools, and they can be used both inside and outdoors.”

“Flexibility means different things to different people however.  Owning a modular exhibition stand which is scaleable is often not enough.  Some organisations’ exhibition programmes are so demanding that they need enough modules to exhibit at multiple shows at the same time.  Quite often, organisations are purchasing core modules and then leasing in additional structures when the need arises.  Exhibition stand rental further extends the flexibility of the modular concept.”

Find out our more about 200m2’s complete range of exhibition services or call 020 333 200 92 to find out how 200m2 could help you boost the results of your own exhibition programme.

Once you have confirmed your exhibition schedule for the year and booked your floor space, the next logical step is look at your exhibition stand.  Finding the right exhibition stand supplier is not straightforward however.

Google ‘exhibition stand suppliers’ and hundreds of companies will crop up, all of whom are trying to get your attention.  Don’t just click on the company at the top of the listings, shop around a bit to make sure each company has the competencies you really need.

Although most companies will supply the exhibition stand itself, very few will offer services around ‘build’ and ‘break down’.  Even fewer suppliers will offer a fully outsourced managed service.  Exhibition management is a complex task!  Exhibition stand design, exhibition logistics, stand insurance, PR, printing, data capture, WIFI and ongoing storage are just some of the things you need to think about.

Set your expectations…

The principal thing you need to do before actually searching for an exhibition stand supplier is to outline what you expect and need from them.  This will help you put together a briefing document that you can provide to your chosen companies.

Make sure you give as much detail as possible including budget guidelines to ensure you receive back plausible designs.  Remember not all suppliers will offer the same service and warranties so make sure you check this out early on in your search.

It’s also worth thinking about whether you want your stand design to offer flexibility and scalability for future exhibitions and events.  Modular exhibition stands will save you lots of time and effort if your stand design is likely to change on a show by show basis.

So now you have proposals from several different suppliers, how do you choose which company to partner with? Which exhibition company took the time to really understand your requirements?  Which supplier addressed all of the items in your brief?

Focus on the long-term…

Think about the services each company offers and how they will help you have a stress free show.  Think about future exhibitions and how they may be able to help you re-purpose your display keeping future costs down.

Lastly, don’t always choose a solution based purely on price!  The age old adage ‘you get what you pay for’ is always worth remembering!  Try to look at total ownership costs over time and if they are too high, consider exhibition stand rental to test the services of the supplier before you invest. A case of ‘try before you buy’ if you like!

The first Women in Business Expo has been declared a great success, paving the way for an annual event. Around 400  people attended the event  at Walsall FC’s Banks Stadium.

The Women in Business Expo event was organised by Walsall-based Headz Up Business, which delivers business training, business networking events and conferences.  In addition to a fashion show, award were handed out to inspirational individuals and businesses that have helped to support local women over the past twelve months.  Funds were also raised for the educational charity, Women Acting in Today’s Society.

The highlight of the Expo was the ‘Dress for Success’ fashion show which looked like a professional catwalk show and the sort of thing you’d expect to see at London fashion week!  Image consultants gave tips to attendees about how to maximise their look and boost confidence.

There were also lots of exhibition stands from local businesses and societies. Although most exhibitors used the shell schemes provided or simply brought along pop-up roller style banners, some organisations really went to town.

If you’re thinking of exhibiting next year and need advice for your own exhibition stand, give us a call on 020 333 200 92!

As a leading supplier of stage trussing, we were particularly interested in the catwalk solution. Our own TECHwire (X-25) solution is particularly suited to catwalk installations. Who knows, we may be even be involved next year!

 

Imagine sending visitors an engaging email the instant they leave your exhibition stand? That’s exactly what qbit does!

Designed by Quatreus in conjunction with BT, qbit is a new exhibition lead capture software package which converts event footfall into solid leads.

Here at 200m2, we’ve been very impressed by qbit and how it has helped our clients to quickly capture delegate details and initiate an electronic dialogue while that person is still on the stand. We’ve been so impressed; we thought we’d add a qbit review to our website!

Importantly, qbit makes collecting business cards on exhibitions stands redundant. Consequently, the need to scribble down notes of conversations and match business cards to mental portraits of each visitor is now negated. Gone too are the days when most email follow ups were conducted after the show or conference was finished.

qbit changes all that. Driven by an engaging and easy-to-use electronic questionnaire, qbit quickly captures the contact information you need. It’s perfect for exhibition competitions for example! What’s more, it can be used across multiple platforms: tablets, smartphones and computers. The emphasis is on starting a relationship however, not just extracting raw data.

Alternatively, you can ping your prospect an email, a case study, a portfolio or a website link while they’re still on your stand; even mid conversation if you so choose! This means you can make contact ahead of your competitors. First impressions count!

What’s more qbit only requires very basic connectivity to upload new leads to your central database; a low level GPRS will suffice. Consequently, your new leads can be segregated and targeted with strategic sales activity in real-time.

Far more than just a piece of exhibition data capture software, qbit is the perfect resource for your sales team, helping them focus their time and energy on leads that are already warm. If you’d like an impartial view of qbit, feel free to give 200m2 a call on +44 20 333 200 92.

Aside from your exhibition data capture needs, we can help with all your exhibition needs from modular exhibition stands and wider exhibition services. Put us to the test!

The car manufacturer Ford is using a playful, experiential and family-friendly exhibition stand to showcase the brand and its products at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, one of of Britain’s largest motoring events.

The interactive exhibition stands are modelled on a multi-storey children’s toy garage, complete with a giant slide for visitors to race down.  There is also the opportunity for visitors to share pictures of their experiences across social media platforms.

The interactive exhibition stand is situated on the front row of the motoring village with the open upper deck of the stand providing visitors panoramic views of the festival and track. Ford will use the festival to showcase its latest products and innovations, including the world premiere of the New Focus ST diesel.  The show will also be the first opportunity for British residents to get up-close and personal with the new Mustang and Vignale collection.

Visitors will also discover the full range of Ford vehicles, displayed across the exhibition stand’s different storeys.  Vehicles on display will even include the new Ford Fiesta ‘Red Edition’. There will be an area dedicated to the 1.0 litre EcoBoost engine, which has won the International Engine of the Year award for the third year running.

The exhibition stand design will also raise awareness of Ford’s position as official automotive partner of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.  With a dedicated gymnastics area, members of the public will be encouraged to test their upper body strength on the rings!

After the Goodwood Festival of Speed (26-29 June), the modular exhibition stand will be transported to Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games festival on Glasgow Green.