The Apostle
Paul Colston talks to Doug Emslie, Group
and SISO Chair, about exhibi
ad there been no
coronavirus outbreak,
Doug Emslie would
have been out running
the Boston and Tokyo Marathons,
with one in South Africa in June for
good measure.
Instead, he has been overseeing
a sprint to ensure his global
exhibition company copes in the
fast unfolding situation.
So, what were the immediate
measures taken at Tarsus to protect
the business as the Covid-19
outbreak first flared?
“The process began on Sunday
12 January when I got my first call
about one of our big shows in China.
That was the first indication that
there was a problem. We learned we
would be subject to postponement
and things moved quickly.
“We have since postponed 49
events and cancelled one.”
Like any good event organiser
Emslie breaks down the task at hand:
In terms of show schedules and the
operational side there was the small
matter of moving a large amount of
shows. “We have a big biennial swing
and it is also the quieter six months of
the quieter year,” he notes.
Emslie thinks the industry is going
to be at 140% capacity in that last
four months of 2020, which would
surely put an inevitable squeeze on
the calendar?
“There is a big issue in terms of
venue slots,” he admits. “There will be
problems with contractors in terms
of labour and equipment. It is a big
challenge. We are in constant dialogue
with venues and contractors.”
Emslie says he is hopeful that
China will see more events in June
(following the Hunan Auto Show,
which opened 30 April – ed).
The easing did not come in
for the Canton Fair, which we
online, however. “That is mai
about local manufacturers sel
to international buyers, so it w
no surprise they stopped that
‘live’ as buyers couldn’t get in
country,” Emslie points out.
But China is opening up aga
all Tarsus offices were operati
there apart from Wuhan befo
end of April.
Emslie says his big China te
was kept busy, initially from h
rescheduling events, while ma
the smaller teams – particular
sales and marketing roles - in
and US - were furloughed.
“In April and May Tarsus w
much in the phase of managin
business’s cash flow. “There h
very little coming in, although
beginning to see cash move in
now,” says Emslie.
“We are managing our cash
carefully and keeping all our
employees.
“In the US there was somew
of a wait for clarity on the var
government schemes of supp
notes, emphasising that Tarsu
played a big part in lobbying f
industry to US government.
“When things do come back
need to invest in promoting th
industry again,” he says.
M&A
After operational issues and d
day management of cash and
the third pillar of the Tarsus r
surrounds the question of the
opportunities Covid-19 will pr
In terms of M&A, the proble
Emslie believes, will be expec
management between buyer
seller.
www.exhibitionworld.co.uk