Partner content whole road can become an exhibition . So , we ’ ve been quite lucky that we ’ ve had a lot of clients that have adapted to the situation as well and made projects for themselves and made their own work almost . We did some retail but because the shops were closed it was mainly notifications and public awareness for when they will be opening again .
MB : The next 12 months is about getting straight back into exhibitions . We ’ ve already started to get a lot of enquiries coming through and a lot of people are looking forward to getting back to doing it – we certainly are . So , we ’ re going to continue with the growth plan that we had before Covid-19 and carry on growing the ExCeL location , as well as the BDC .
LR : I think we have to be very flexible over the next 12 months and maybe take on jobs that we wouldn ’ t usually take on like packaging for example , just because no one knows what the appetite for live events and exhibitions will be . While everyone will eventually be vaccinated and restrictions will be lifted , there still might be trepidation from people . So , I think it might take a little while for the confidence to return to the market and I think while that ’ s happening you might find that exhibitors are turning back on their plans . What we keep getting asked for is reusable graphics , because people don ’ t want to invest too much in graphics that can only be used for one show , whereas that wasn ’ t as much of an issue pre-Covid . I think there will be a big push for retail because there will be pop up shops and then the turnover of graphics will be quick and steady . People will want to make the most of the empty units . I think you ’ ve got to be flexible and ready to adjust to your clients ’ needs .
“ What we keep getting asked for is reusable graphics , because people don ’ t want to invest too much in graphics that can only be used for one show , whereas that wasn ’ t as much of an issue pre-Covid .”
Do you have any events lined up ?
MB : I ’ m just looking forward to all of them . The BDC calendar is looking nice and healthy – particularly September onwards . A lot of them are shows we ’ ve worked on for the last 10 years , so I ’ m looking forward to them coming back and seeing everyone again . There are some new shows on there too , so fingers crossed we sweep them up . But I can certainly see it being a competitive market .
What is your involvement with International Confex , 22-23 June at ExCeL London ?
MB : We ’ ve got a stand there this year and we ’ re going to be advertising all of our locations across London because I don ’ t think everyone knows who we are or where we are . We ’ re certainly going to shout about that because a lot of our competition over Covid have moved out of London and we ’ ve managed to stay strong .
Lastly , what are your thoughts on the future of the exhibitions industry over the next year or two ?
MB : I think it will continue to grow . With retail slowly getting smaller and smaller , people are going to want to exhibit their work even more so I think exhibitions will bounce back stronger than before .
LR : I think one of the things people have realised is virtual is limited in the exhibitions world , because there was always a worry in exhibitions that eventually it would all go virtual and people would all go online . But I think people have missed the travelling and I don ’ t think people realised how important that interaction is with your customer base . I think a lot of people are looking forward to getting back to live : making those deals and sales and just having that human interaction again . I think this will push a lot more people to go to exhibitions as well . One of the benefits to come out of Covid-19 will be a bigger push to events and people getting together again and making things happen .
June — 21