Promotional Marketing Exhibition Goes From Strength To Strength

A 10% increase in attendance has cemented the Promotional Marketing Exhibition’s place as the UK’s most important exhibition for the promotional sector.
The continued support of the promotional industry’s organisations (*BPMA, ISP and VA) plus, for the first time, the presence of the *DMA, POPAI and IPIA has also elevated this established event to a position of importance to the wider marketing community and this was reflected in the diverse nature of the visitors who ranged from promotional buyers and brand managers to marketing directors, financial directors, CEOs and account managers/directors of sales promotion agencies.

Visitor, Carol Deane, Marine Events Co-ordinator, Lloyd’s Register, London, said, “A very well presented exhibition at which I’ve picked up lots of useful ideas. I am particularly interested in eco-friendly incentives and very impressed at the level of companies exhibiting here which have eco products.”

Anthony Deshand, Account Executive, Harrods Corporate Service, London, was also satisfied with his visit. He said, “I came to the show last year and this year I’m very impressed. I’ve made some very useful contacts amongst a very good choice of exhibitors and I’ve found what I came to look for!”

In it’s third year the show attracted 2,341(pre-audited) visitors who travelled from as far as Australia, New Zealand, China, Kenya, Russia and USA. This enthusiasm to travel to visit the exhibition was mirrored by exhibitors who hailed from USA, Australia, Holland, Philippines, Turkey and Italy.

Exhibitors included major names such as Debenhams, Filofax Corporate Sales, Marks & Spencer, Marriott Individual Incentives, Russ Berrie, Prodir, P&MM and Wing Lee Sourcing as well as established suppliers such as Print Run, Storm Graphics, Oldeani. The event also acted as the debut promotions event for several exhibitors including ASDA, One4all (gift vouchers), Cowdray Park, Tomato Source, RC Brady, Promo2u and Clippykit.

Clive Mishon, Chairman of the ISP said, “With its central location, the Promotional Marketing Exhibition was an excellent opportunity for brands, agencies and suppliers to meet and find out about what the promotions industry can offer. We were particularly pleased with the success of the ISP Chairman’s Lunch that we hosted at the exhibition, which brought together some of the UK’s leading agencies and marketers to discuss industry issues. As the exhibition is based in London, where a large number of our member agencies are based, it carries added gravitas and has become the number-one exhibition of its kind.”

INDUSTRY AWARDS
As the Promotional Marketing Exhibition is one of the key industry events of the year, it seemed a suitable occasion to acknowledge all that’s best in the industry, and the show organisers made a number of awards.

The Promotional Marketing Exhibition Awards for the:
Most Innovative Product was won by BPMA member Print Run for the Phone Buddy

Most Innovative Service was taken by BPMA member Tomato Source for the company’s on-stand one-to-one Sourcing Surgery

Best Pre-Show Promotion was awarded to Filofax for their co-ordinated pre-show advertising and e-shot.

EDUCATIONAL ELEMENT
The Industry Forum was a successful and integral element of the Promotional Marketing Exhibition. This arena enabled seasoned practitioners and industry gurus to debate matters of the day and allowed the audience to add their views or ask questions and receive expert advice.

Panellists included industry experts such as Hugh Robertson – Managing Director, RPM, Philip Circus – Lawmark Marketing Services and ISP Director of Legal Services, Sue Eustace – Director of Public Affairs, The Advertising Association, John Boham – Marks and Spencer and Craig Donavan, Strategic Sourcing Manager, Coors.

The Show also benefited from on-stand seminars conducted by the Marketing Association Alliance, which made its debut at the exhibition (see archive news or e-mail carole@carolebull.com).

Gordon Glenister – Director General of the BPMA, “The 2008 Promotional Marketing Show was a great success providing panel-led seminars and with a great number of our members exhibiting and using the event as a vehicle to promote their products. It also gave us an opportunity to launch the Marketing Association Alliance of which the BPMA is a founder member.”

INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY
Communications technology was widely used to promote the show, with e-mail campaigns to both exhibitors and visitors and extensive use of web media, alongside traditional printed media. The latest digital technology was also employed to record the show and media casts and podcasts of the Exhibition and Industry Forum will soon be available at www.promotionalmarketingexhibition.co.uk.

Simon Tilley, Managing Director of the Promotional Marketing Exhibition, concluded, “The show’s undoubted ability to attract major brand named exhibitors and draw serious buyers at a time of economic downturn underlines the fact that when budgets are tightened, the cost effective nature of below the line promotion is a recognised asset.

“Our sales campaign for 2009 is about to be launched and we already have many bookings.”

DATES FOR 2009
The Promotional Marketing Exhibition 2009 will take place at Olympia 2 on 21, 22 & 23 April. Visit www.promotionalmarketingexhibiton.co.uk for further information.

*BPMA (British Promotional Merchandise Association),
ISP (Institute of Sales Promotion)
The Va (Voucher Association)
DMA (Direct Marketing Association),
POPAI (Point of Purchase Advertising International)
IPIA (Independent Print Industries Association)

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