AT THE
HEART OF HIRE
S H O W ’ S U N B E A T A B L E B U Z Z
The Forum in our January/February Executive Hire Show Preview issue described how the event has gone from strength to strength, and the 2018 Show certainly lived up to expectations. This year’s exhibition attracted a record-breaking 195 exhibitors and attendance was marginally up, with 1,828 relevant hire industry visitors (compared against 1,813 in 2017).
This is a pleasing result, given the severe weather conditions and the impact of the flu outbreak on hire company manning levels. Also worthy of note is that the split between the two days was more even than at any other previous Show, with 53.1% of all hire visitors attending on the Wednesday and 46.9% on the Thursday.
The Show overall attracted senior executives and procurement teams from all leading national hirers. Visitors included 35 executives from each of A-Plant and Hirebase, representing this year’s largest hirer groups to attend. There was also strong representation from the other major UK national hirers, including GAP, Hire Station, HSS and Speedy who continue to support our national event in significant numbers. 87% of all relevant hire industry visitors were from independent operations, which is again consistent with previous years. This re-confirms the pivotal role of local and regional hirers in the on-going success of the Show.
IMMENSELY POSITIVE MOOD
However, looking beyond the statistics, the overwhelming conclusion from this year’s Show was the industry’s immensely positive mood. As one exhibitor quoted in our main Show Review (beginning on page 35) states, “Last year, people were talking about Brexit and surrounding uncertainty. This year, however, no one has even mentioned it. We have been selling off the stand. There was a real buzz and a hustle as soon as the Show opened.”
In a number of interviews, starting on page 13, hirers who visited the exhibition tell us how much they got out of the event, and our Executive News pages overleaf include various deals and developments that took place both at the Show and immediately afterwards. In this way, the Executive Hire Show certainly lived up to its role as the place where Passionate Hirers Meet Innovative Suppliers.
Also significant is the fact that the Show continues to develop. This year saw the introduction of Innovation Trail - Live, an additional dimension to the established Innovation Trail initiative. This enabled hirers to learn about ten particularly outstanding new products in a series of live presentations in Hall 2 which, following its introduction last year, is now well established as a valuable addition to the Ricoh Arena exhibition space.
FULL SPECTRUM OF EQUIPMENT
However, you don’t just have to take our word for it. One hirer who visited the Show summed it up by saying that the exhibition enabled him to see “the full spectrum of equipment within the hire industry. It’s all well and good viewing on-line feeds and glossy brochures, but meeting people, talking face-to-face and seeing products in the flesh (so to speak) cannot be beaten. The potential that comes from the Show is unbeatable.”
And talking of potential, the Show intends to maintain its momentum and its on-going development. Already changes and enhancements are being discussed for the 2019 exhibition, building on its status as the major and unrivalled annual event in our industry’s calendar. So make a note of the 6 and 7 February dates now!
The Executive Hire Show proved to be a positive place to be - and that is also where our industry as a whole finds itself as we look forward to a busy year ahead.
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