SUPPLIER INTERVIEW
Tell us about your journey into the exhibitions industry I joined Stanco ( pre-So Group / Freeman days ) in 1995 . It was the first time I ’ d ever been to an interview where I ’ d gone home and said to my mum and dad ‘ I want that job !’ I started off as a receptionist for the electrical team based at the NEC . Six shows a year felt busy when all the invoices were written out by hand . As we added more shows , I looked after all the electrical invoicing and being on-site at the NEC . As the team grew , I became the office manager for the electrical team covering both the NEC and the London office , looking after approximately £ 10m of business . I moved to Ryton when Freeman took over , as EMEA exhibitor services manager . I was looking after a team of 16 people , covering electrics , furniture , shell scheme , floorcovering , graphics , and targeting outbound sales and new business for all services . Along came Covid and everything changed . I was made redundant after 25 years working for the same company . I had a couple of temporary jobs before I met Creative Live and now they are saddled with me . Fast forward a year and the team , along with the workload , has just grown and grown . I ’ ve been lucky enough to recruit some of the best people who had all moved on to new avenues due to Covid . I got the A-team back together .
Lisa Barnfield ( centre )
In recent months , the company has had some of the best sales to date . Breaking records is what we do .
How has the industry changed since you began ? When I started , the industry was very manual , invoices were hand-written , credit cards were manually swiped through machines and it was all paper , paper , paper . Although the industry is now very technology-led , our team continues to pride itself on customer service and keeping the personal touch when dealing with exhibitors - building relationships by ensuring we are onsite during the build-up of shows . Exhibitors really appreciate the face-to-face interaction , especially when we ’ ve developed relationships with them during the weeks or sometimes months in the lead-up to a show .
Team Spirit
Creative Live exhibitor services manager Lisa Barnfield reveals her love for the chaos of exhibitions as her company picks up Supplier of the Year ( Furniture ) at the EN Awards
What ’ s been the highlight of your career so far ? The recognition of being nominated for the Unsung Hero Award at the EN Supplier Awards . As someone who works in the back office behind the scenes , it ’ s nice that all the hard work does get noticed . Also , having the opportunity to build my own team from scratch , putting in my own processes and systems .
What is your favourite thing about the exhibitions industry ? That ’ s easy - the chaos ! There ’ s nothing like having 15 shows going into multiple venues all over the UK to get the blood pumping . The fact is that no matter what happens , the show has to open , on time . There ’ s no pushing the schedule back because the computers have gone down or the lorries are late . I love the team spirit on site when you ’ re all in it together to get the job done , regardless of your senority . Also the characters - you wouldn ’ t meet the same people outside of this industry that ’ s for sure .
What is one thing you would change about it ? Nothing , that ’ s why I ’ ve been doing this job for the last 27 years . I guess the only thing is the downtimes – the Christmas and Summer period where everything grinds to a halt with only a few shows . Going from organised chaos to twiddling your thumbs is not an easy transition .
Do you think the industry does enough to attract the next generation of talent ? It ’ s great to see new talent coming into the industry . I think from the outside , the industry seems really glamorous . But day to day it isn ’ t the glamourous stuff - it ’ s long hours , working away from home , endless paperwork , checking , checking and checking again just to make sure everything is correct and ready for the build to go as seamlessly as possible . However , it ’ s worth every minute .
Autumn — 43