Enthusiasm – the Essence of This Industry

No one can deny the enthusiasm of members of the promotions industry and this enthusiasm, along with boundless energy, was much in evidence in many ways at the industry’s Spring showcase, the Promotional Marketing Exhibition at Olympia last week.

200 exhibitors enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to display their promotional products and services before an audience of thousands of visitors to the show (official figures awaited from Audit Bureau of Circulation).

Exhibitors enthusiastically entered for the awards being made at the show, namely the Promotional Marketing Exhibition Awards for:
Most Innovative Product (won by iNameIt for the personalised calendar),
Most Innovative Service (Pace Network’s on-stand one-to-one consultancy service on fulfilment, distribution and global logistics),
Best Pre-Show Promotion, awarded to Procurement International for their co-ordinated pre-show advertising and e-shot, and
Best Exhibitor – Business Baubles who, according to Event Director, Gail Holm,“ …. unfailingly filled in all their exhibition forms, provided pre-show information and pics and were generally very enthusiastic about taking part in the event as a whole.” The company takes part in many industry events, so it’s to their credit that they still do so with such gusto.

Then there were our own awards, the Promotional-Merchandise.org.uk awards for the Gold, Silver and Bronze websites of the year (click here for winners) which received numerous entries.

The energy was not only displayed on the stands by exhibitors who were positively bursting with information about new products, tried and tested classic items and motivation, reward and incentive services, but also on the dance floor at the show’s exhibitor party (Tuesday 17th April).

Undaunted by a late night, exhibitors were back on their stands on Wednesday, ready to do business, and again on Thursday. Even the way they cheerfully packed up and bade each other farewell at the end of the show was inspirational, each keen to get back to the office to follow up the many leads they had collected.

But before they left, exhibitors also enthusiastically called into the show’s sales office and reserved over 40% of the space for the 2008 event, Olympia, 15 – 17 April.

However, the enthusiasm was not all on the part of the exhibitors, visitors too displayed it: Richard Phillips, Communications Manager, Defence Equipment & Support (MOD), Bristol, said, “Good layout and a great venue. The exhibitors have a nice sales approach and not too many aggressive ‘attacks’”. The friendly approach and the professionalism of the exhibitors was remarked upon by many.

A fuller report on the Exhibition will be posted on the Promotional Marketing Exhibition partner page on this website shortly and in a few days, a podcast of the seminar programme and media cast of the event will also be available.

In the meantime, I have to say, industry enthusiasm is not only in evidence at this and other shows, it’s also evident in the news, comments, suggestions and testimonials we receive here on this website. So much so that, having added the quarterly interview slot, in line with your suggestions, we are also hoping to add a ‘debate’ slot and divide the news into sections for ‘product news’, ‘company news’, ‘industry news’ (legislation and association input) and ‘people news’ to make it easier for you to find the stories that appeal to you.

All part of the service!

Carole Bull
Editor

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