Constructionshows
The 7th annual Executive Hire Show ‘Kick-Off Meeting’ took place yesterday at the Ricoh Arena Coventry, which has been dubbed the ‘Home of Hire’ by the industry. A record 85 loyal exhibitors and guests took time out of their busy schedules to attend the event, hosted by the EHS, Director, Robert Aplin and his team.
The 2013 annual Executive Hire Show is taking place on the 6th and 7th February, at its established home at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry – this show will be celebrating 40-years of ‘Hire Shows’ , since the very first Hirex event, which was held at Syon Park, Middlesex in February 1973!
To further develop the show the EHS has two new team members, Emma Sandy, who joined as an Intern for a short period leading up to the 2012 show, and is now on-board as Events and Publishing Assistant. Also, Craig Donovan, who takes on the role as Group Commercial Manager and picks up the baton from, Steve McKenzie, who has since moved on to a full time position with another team.
During the morning’s proceedings exhibitors and guests were invited to vote on a number of key issues surrounding the show and each exhibitor was given a ‘Key-Pad’. In a ‘Count Down’ scenario, which added a touch of humour to the morning, exhibitors made their choice ‘for or against’ the questions posed and the results were immediately visible to all.
One of the questions asked was “Should the show continue to open at 8am or should it open an hour later at 9am?” A resounding 71.62% of the audience voted for a 9am opening time – this will now be put in place. Another question was “Do we continue with the strict non-exhibiting supplier policy which only allows these suppliers to attend the Show after 12 noon on the second day?” 74.1% of the audience, said ‘yes’, they wanted to keep this policy.
The 2012 Executive Hire Show attracted a total of 1752 visitors and of those, 91% of the event’s attendees were independent hirers. Next year the EHS team is hoping to increase this number and also to encourage more European visitors. To date the show has 110 confirmed exhibitors and the main hall is all but sold out, with only two stands remaining.
Of the 110 exhibitors, 32 will be returning for the 7th time, and many of the leading brands including Bomag, Duro, Metabo, SDMO, Thwaites and Volvo have increased their stand space. Ammann is amongst the EHS stalwart’s, Robert Brown Ammann’s Managing Director attended the ‘Kick Off Meeting’ he said, “We really like this show and one of the reasons for that is the event has retained the ‘Hirex’ ethos – it’s difficult to create the feel of that show in the ‘modern world’ but the EHS team has managed it – the hustle and bustle of busy and ‘buzzing’ event.”
Mr Brown concluded, “It’s also excellent that 91% of visitors are independents hirers, these visitors are crucial to the show as they come with their own budget and spend! We need the nationals but it’s the independents that keep local businesses going.”
Thwaites is also a keen supporter of the show, Ian Brown, sales director Thwaites said, “We are always delighted with the attendance levels to the show and to our stand. The breadth of customers is superb from the smaller hirers to the larger nationals – we are looking forward to the 2013 event!”
The show also has some brand new exhibitors including E P Barrus, Dual Pumps and Manitou. Paul Bidwell, Manitou’s Marketing Manager UK said, “We are delighted to be exhibiting for the first time and looking forward to the show. Our biggest decision now is what products we exhibit as we have a large portfolio! Perhaps we should have booked a larger stand!? We are also looking at outside space.”
The main exhibition hall will once again be home to the leading brands, that visitors to the show most wanted to see, including Wacker Neuson, Hilti, Makita, Milwaukee, Husqvarna and Volvo JCB has also confirmed its stand and will be showing the very latest products from its range. Mark Gunns, Volvo’s Marketing Services Manager is a big fan of the EHS, he said “We have considerably increased the size of our stand for the 2013 show. This event is about the quality of the visitor and not the quantity – we always have a good show.”
The ‘Top-Tier’ of the show, for light equipment and products, is back by popular demand, launched last year to expand the show and meet the demand for more space, bookings are now being taken. Already four companies have secured their stand space including Atlantic Coast Studios, Geko Engineering, Kroll and Lifestyle Appliances.
In a survey conducted amongst visitors to the 2012 event – 90% visited the ‘Top-Tier’ of the show. Visitor feedback included, “The best thing about this year’s show was to see the new exhibitors in the Top-Tier offering a wide range of products. As a result the show had more creativity.”
Another visitor comment, “We spent a whole day at the show and the additional Top-Tier was great – from our point of view the more to see the better. The show’s value is in bringing everyone in our industry together!”
The EHS team is soon to begin its campaign to ‘mobilise and excite passionate hirers’ to visit the show, Craig Donovan will be leading this campaign to personally visit hire companies around the country, many of which have expanded their depot networks.
That’s all the news from The Executive Hire Show camp for now – but more will follow as the show develops. In the meantime put the 6th and 7th February 2013 in your diary and we’ll see you at the Ricoh Arena next year! Visit www.executivehireshow.co.uk for news as it happens!
Source: The Executive Hire Show News Room
