General feedback from exhibitors reveals that, although footfall was not as high as was hoped, the quality of attendees was commonly felt to be excellent, and generated a large number of business leads over the three-day period. Stephen Keyes, Useful Structures’ managing director, told Show House: “This is the second year the firm has exhibited, and I’m delighted with the outcome. Strategically, the show is the number one event in our calendar, as I find it an invaluable forum in which to gain new business leads, and to meet new people to gain feedback on our products. The industry certainly needs a forum like this, which is focused on marketing and sales. For me, the exhibition has provided the best feedback, enquiries and results without a doubt. I will be back again year after year.”
Beam Central Vacuums was similarly impressed with the show’s layout and professionalism: “We do lots of exhibitions, but this was our first time at Show House. Again, we really liked the location, and were very impressed with the show’s comprehensive pre-marketing strategy.”
Colin Riches of site presentation specialists 4Site Implementation Ltd. said his firm made some very useful contacts at the show: “We’re hopeful that this will increase our business opportunities in the future.”
Johnson Tiles, said that he felt the quality of the stands had improved from last year. “Our aim to lift the
firm’s profile in the housebuilding industry worked well, and we felt the quality of visitors was at a good level.”
Richard Talor, financial director of open space management firm had found the show “very interesting. We chose to exhibit as part of our long-term goal to become a more customer facing business. It wasn’t difficult to heighten awareness of our firm here as the show caters for a very specialist audience, where the people who attend know exactly what they’re looking for.” Similarly, Picture House, Manufacturers of plasma TV, fireplaces and cabinets, said it decided to launch the firm’s new plasma and fireplace designs at the show to target a wide range of housebuilders, with the hope that the exhibited products would be considered as suitable for high-quality show homes. The firm generated a number of good leads.
Larry Radiven, Merlyn’s sales manager, reflected on the event as a whole: “We were delighted to come away with a number of significant leads and new contacts. The visitors were an excellent mix of well-known housebuilders, architects and specifiers, which meant we were able to target a niche audience and showcase our products to all the right people.”
Gary Anderson of Helvar added: “The show lived up to our expectations in providing the visitors and leads of the highest quality. Helvar will exhibit again next year
safe in the knowledge that only serious individuals and companies with genuine interest in the products on display will visit.”
Flooring specialist Amtico International said it was very impressed with the amount of business leads generated from the show, added that it found ExCel a great location for the exhibition.
Modular Garden, fronted by Joe Swift, presenter of BBC 2 show Gardeners’ World, also reported a range of good leads generated by the event, which was set in an ideal location for the trade industry.
Aiming to lighten the mood of the exhibition was Dean Taylor, hired by Useful Structures to roam around the exhibition hall in Austin Powers’ getup for the three-day period. Taylor was hit with exhibitors and visitors alike – Sarah Speight, editor of property website www.whathouse.co.uk certainly thought he was one of the highlights of her visit: “I was accosted by a man who bore a uncanny resemblance to Harry Enfield’s Tim Nice But Dim character. I believe he was Austin Powers during the latter two days of the show. Well done Useful Structures for giving the exhibition this highly comical edge.”
