INDEPENDENT ORGANISERS |
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Growth Driven by chairman Lee Newton , Media 10 is one of very few organisers to straddle consumer and trade events . Organising both B2B and B2C exhibitions has practical advantages and gives them unrivalled expertise in their marketplace , Newton says . Their best performing brands are in markets that continue to grow worldwide . “ The majority of our shows are some way attached to the home market , the housing market , infrastructure market ,” Newton explains . “ In every country , on every continent in the world , there were more houses , more people , more construction , more development , and more design last year , than there was the year before . As the population grows , so does the housing and home construction market . “ We seem to have the perfect recipe in the markets we are in - the home market will only ever grow and we have consumer and trade events that would help you design it , build it , furnish it and even live in it . “ Almost all of what we do complements each other – I ’ m surprised that we are one of the only organisers that successfully combines B2B with B2C . We cover the market from every angle .”
Freedom For 20 years Media 10 has tackled everything at their own risk – with no external investors , no private equity , no other shareholders . For Newton their
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“ It ’ s been 20 years of shame , pain , fame and fun .”
independence gives them the freedom to keep coming up with new ideas . “ My mind goes everywhere . I find it hard to concentrate on stuff and I ’ m all over the place but I ’ m having 1,000 ideas at once ,” he says . Proof in point , Newton breaks off our conversation to jot down his latest idea . Along with some very successful ideas , he is happy to admit there have been a fair few bad ones . “[ Being independent ] gives you freedom to reverse any idea . When I worked for one of the big corporates many years ago , there was a strict plan and even if that wasn ’ t working , they continued down the same road . “ I ’ m quite happy to say ‘ It hasn ’ t worked , ‘ fess up . Let ’ s turn around and take a different route ’. That freedom only comes through being independent .” Pausing to deliberate over some of his biggest mistakes Newton settles on Design Shanghai ( main picture , left ). As mistakes go , it was not a total catastrophe .
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The lucrative sale of the show to Clarion after relationships with Chinese partners soured , resulted in a healthy profit that helped the company survive the pandemic . It is the only show Media 10 has sold in its 20 year history , but the sale “ opened our eyes to the value of our brands ,” Newton says . The strategy has never been to build shows for sale – rather to build strong brands in growing markets- Newton says .
Future Moving forward into the next 20 years , Newton says there is no grand plan . They are currently in talks about potentially geographic expansions of their existing brands . Newton would never discount an entire sector - although he confesses he did once turn down a sex show , but mainly because of a date clash with The Coronation Festival ( the only exhibition ever held in the grounds of Buckingham Palace , put on by Media 10 to great acclaim in honour of the Queen ’ s Jubilee in 2013 . Pictured above ).
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“ We don ’ t actually have a five or 10 year plan . I know we should . There ’ s so many great things about being independent , but that ’ s probably one of the things about being independent that you just don ’ t have the time to do .” Newton ’ s investments are now spread beyond just exhibitions , with a UK and oversees property business , AI software business , separate digital newsletter company and two restaurants . “ There is always something new and exciting to get out of bed for every day ,” Newton says . “ I take immense pride in building a B2B division that is now delivering some of the best trade shows in the sector . “ Our digital growth since 2020 has been remarkable and driven by our incredible workforce – 20 years of success has been a team effort and I believe that I have assembled the best team in the business , we live and breathe the industry .” Summing up the journey so far he concludes : “ It ’ s been 20 years of shame , pain , fame and fun .” EN |
Spring — 27 |