OPINION
PIECE FROM NIGEL WALKER,
MD of Complete Exhibitions and EXSA's Treasurer
RIDING
THE WAVE': STIMULATING GROWTH
Exhibition organisers are
particularly buoyant in this regard with 86% indicating
an increase in turn-over in the first six months
this year. Yet this positive outlook is balanced
with 75% indicating that the impact of the ‘economic
crisis’ on the exhibition business is not yet over.
With only 25% of South African respondents believing
that it is over, it is not surprising to see that
a significant 34% identified the state of the national/regional
economy as the single most important issue to be
addressed.
Complete
Exhibitions has mirrored these trends. Nigel Walker,
Director, says “At the end of June we were working
simultaneously in East London, Durban, Bloemfontein
and Johannesburg, whilst in July we were working
on concurrent projects in Pretoria, Soweto, Durban,
Johannesburg and Sun City. This exponential growth
that we have experienced determines that we have
staff on-site in several regions at the same time,
which places significant challenges on our logistical
and operational structures”.
According
to the Pastel SME Business Survey (December 2010),
nearly a third (28%) of local SMMEs reported labour
related issues as the main barrier to business
growth in the past year. So whereas our current
business environment is highly indicative of entering
a growth phase, labour issues are an impediment
to the ability of SMME’s being able to take advantage
of this to the fullest. While small business owners
acknowledge that they need more staff in order
to grow their business, they report that they
either can’t find the right people or are too
nervous to employ because of the country’s rigorous
labour laws. A practical example is that according
to the Basic Conditions of Employment Act any
person employed for more than 24 hours a month
is entitled to paid leave, paid sick leave and
paid family responsibility time.
There
is thus a balance to be strived for between growth
as a result of being able to take advantage of
opportunities as they arise, and managing administrative
and overhead costs. It is therefore not surprising
that nearly a quarter (23%) of the Southern African
respondents to the UFI survey highlighted internal
management challenges (i.e. finance, human resources,
staff, training) as a major issue.
Labour
laws are not the only challenge that SMME’s in
this sector are faced with; indeed they may not
actually be the biggest challenge.
The
implementation of the relatively new event (including
safety) regulations are also a growing challenge
to SMMEs in this industry being able to take full
advantage of the growth opportunities. Obviously
safety is, or should be, paramount in all operations,
but challenges arrive when the same regulations
and laws, coupled with local (municipal) and venue
specific regulations, are interpreted and enforced
differently by consultants and from event to event.
For any SMME striving to comply with the different
interpretations of ‘the law(s)’, the result is
in significant resources, both financial as well
as time, being focused upon safety. Our experience
is that for the majority of projects our safety
procedures and documentation meet requirements,
that the goal posts are constantly moving. As
an ‘extreme’ example, earlier this month all our
employees and sub-contractors had to undertake
a medical prior to the completion of the build-up
as a compulsory requirement, in order to prove
that everyone was fit for work. We were, on a
positive note, allowed to forego the required
‘end of contract’ medical, that would have proved
no-one had been injured during the project’s implementation!
As
in anything there is surely a balance to be strived
for, so that SMMEs in the exhibition sector can
generate the job opportunities that the country,
and its people need.
FROM
REGAL RENTALS TO EXPOVENT EVOLUTIONS!
Founded
off the back of natural progression and a passion
to support struggling industry counterparts,Expovent
Evolutions South Africa was launched early in
2011. A complete event production solution, the
Expovent group is the brainchild of Adrian McKnight,
who is known to many in the exhibitions and events
industry as the guru of furniture hire and the
founder of Regal Rentals Southern Africa, a long-standing
EXSA member.
After
welcoming on board the services of the Damm Fine
group of companies and Just Events, while simultaneously
expanding beyond the realm of furniture hire to
incorporate freightage, custom-made furniture
and venue ownership etc., McKnight soon saw that
it didn’t make good business sense to try and
drive nine different brands. So he pulled all
nine into the now singular brand – Expovent Evolutions
South Africa – to provide clients and industry
with a complete event production solution.
Expovent
Evolutions brings together full catering and bar
services via DammFine Events, DammFine Cuisine
and DammFine Liquids; upmarket flooring solutions
by way of DammFine Flooring; full service furniture
hire with Regal Rentals Southern Africa; Surrey
Common, a versatile and unique venue located in
Midrand; complete transport and logistics offerings
via Expovent Freightage; world-class decor specialists
CME Decor and Just Events; and Majestic Expressions
for custom-designed event and expo furniture ranges.
While
many may say such radical changes in recessionary
times are unwise, McKnight explains, “Instead
of diversifying funds across nine different companies,
the downturn and an even slower than expected
recovery process are reason enough to focus on
the singular exclusivity of one full-service brand.”
By doing so, branding costs have been lowered
for the company while its revenue continues to
grow steadily given the full-service offering
now presented.
When
asked what makes him so passionate about the exhibition
and events industry, McKnight responds: “My business
makes me passionate. My passion is driven by my
business and job creation. I love seeing people
uplifted to succeed and working to their full
potential. Seeing people want to develop themselves
really drives me, as does wanting my business
to be the best in its field. There’s nothing better
than closing off the account of an extremely satisfied
client, which is why we put in the extra long
hours and intense levels of service delivery into
jobs like the Durban July, AAD Expo, and Indaba
to name but a few.”
McKnight’s
visionary way of thinking does not stop with Expovent
however, as he has great plans to contribute to
uplifting the exhibitions and events industry
in South Africa. These include ways of doing business
better, streamlining the exhibiting process for
exhibitors, eliminating undercutting and elevating
service levels to beyond the exceptional.
OASYS'
NEW CEO - MARK STRYDOM
"Every
business needs to make a profit and I am looking
at the various Oasys business units. We want to
strengthen the hiring division and the AV division.
We want to look at internal training and up-skilling
our people. And we want to look at stronger procurement
and innovative ways of doing things. Our core
business is exhibitions but a big focus will be
on eventing. We can double our business in events.
I want to grow our internal divisions and offer
a full turn-key solution. It’s a very exciting
time for Oasys.
EXSA
wishes Mark all the best and welcomes him to the
exhibition industry.
ICC
DURBAN VOTED BEST IN AFRICA FOR THE 10TH TIME
The
ICC Durban has again been awarded the celebrated
title of Africa's Leading Meetings and Conference
Centre. “We are thrilled and gratified to receive
this award for the 10th time. It is an accolade
we will carry proudly when hosting the many international
and local events at this centre.” said Julie-May
Ellingson, acting chief executive officer.
Ellingson continued, “This award is one of the
highest commendations in the travel industry and
testament to the hard work and endeavours of the
ICC Durban team. Winning this award reaffirms
ICCD’s world-class facilities and service excellence.
The survey is global in scale and benchmarks the
ICCD amongst other convention centers in Africa
and the World”
.
The World Travel Awards, dubbed as the ‘Oscars
of the tourism industry’, acknowledges and celebrates
organizations that have made the greatest contribution
to the global tourism and travel trade. The Awards
also recognize those who are driving the industry
to greater heights and innovation.
The official presentation of the World Travel
Awards Africa was held at a Gala Ceremony on 16th
September in the Great Hall of Egypt at Soho Square,
Sharm El Sheikh. Other categories included; Africa’s
Leading Airline, Africa’s Leading Car Rental Company,
Africa’s Leading Destination, Africa’s Leading
Hotel.
WHAT'SHAPPENING
THREE
CARS TO BE WON AT THE JOBURG MOTOR SHOW
There
is also an opportunity to drive a new Volkswagen
Passat for three months. This is the prize in the
daily motoring-related quiz on the website www.jhbmotorshow.co.za.
In addition, the two runners-up will qualify for
a high performance driving course at the Volkswagen
Academy at Kyalami.
The
Johannesburg Motor Show is open until Sunday 16
October and is one of the biggest expos on the
exhibition industry’s calendar.
“We
are judging 12 stands at the Motor Show” reports
EXSA’s GM Sue Gannon “and they will go forward
together with the other finalists for our Best
Stand Awards at this year’s EXSA Awards Ceremony
to be held on 3 November.” www.jhbmotorshow.co.za
EXPO
SOLUTIONS RUNS YET ANOTHER TOP-FLIGHT MEGA-EVENT
"While
the magnificent aircraft that performed on the
day were undoubtedly the heroes of the event,
we were thrilled at how our team and our carefully
selected service providers worked closely together
to make the day a success,” says Craig McDonald,
Expo Solutions’ Managing Director. With a crowd
far exceeding expectations, Expo Solutions ensured
that the security on the day was tight. “We took
the nature of the event into account and had guards
patrolling among the thousands of visitors to
monitor activities and prevent any criminal activity,
ensuring that visitors were well looked after
in terms of safety,” says McDonald.
"This
is the first time that an Airshow has included
a Lifestyle Expo, and we were thrilled with the
reception that this element of the day’s events
received,” he added. “It added variety to the
day, and made sure that there was something for
everyone – moms, dads and the children – over
and above the impressive aviation displays and
activities.
Expo
Solutions has been appointed the Official Service
Provider for the 2012 Africa Aerospace Defence
(AAD) show to take place at the Waterkloof Air
Force Base in September 2012.
COP
17 COMING TO SOUTH AFRICA
Everyone in the industry is abuzz with the planning
and infrastructure of the whole event. The United
Nations will take “ownership” of the ICC and the
DEC area; and there will be a lot of other activities
in and around the Durban beachfront, in the Botanical
Gardens, and adjacent to the ICC will be the COP
17 Climate Change and Response Expo. This Expo
will be open to the public. The Event Greening
Forum will have a stand on this Expo.
Event
Greening Forum
Membership is now open for industry members, both
corporate and individuals, to show their support
and pledge their commitment to “greening” by joining
the EGF. Go to the website www.eventgreening.co.za
to complete your application form.
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