Member Article

Face to face is still best says Joe Manby Limited

The iPhone 6 may have created a storm among technology lovers but face to face contact is still the way to win business, according to a Yorkshire events business.

As he prepares for another busy exhibition season providing event services throughout the country, Andrew Manby of Harrogate-based Joe Manby Limited, says: “There is still huge demand for the ability to look customers in the eye while doing business with them.”

Comments Andrew Manby: “Although businesses across the board are experiencing tighter margins, people still want to exhibit. There are some canny decisions being made about the size of stands and everyone wants value for money, but it is clear that face to face communication is still best.”

Figures released by the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry in its latest report* support this assertion, showing that despite factors such as the economy and developments in online communication and video conferencing, people are exhibiting and attending conferences because face to face is still best.

Says Andrew: “Joe Manby Limited has already provided services for the 2014 Trade Union Congress, Conservative Party Conference, The Harrogate Bridal Show, The Flooring Show and Brityrex International in recent weeks and we are now in the middle of a busy Autumn period. We’re supplying full event services on shows, some we’ve worked with for many years – plus new launches, such as the Homebuilding & Renovating Show at RHS Ingliston, Edinburgh and MIPIM UK at Olympia, London.”

The exhibition industry in Europe has seen an increase in turnover of around 10% since 2013 and the estimated annual income from exhibitions and trade shows in the UK in 2015 will be £10.8 billion and £21.8 billion for conferences and meetings**.

There are approximately 31,000 exhibitions per year world-wide with 4.4 million exhibiting companies welcoming 260 million visitors*.

For further information, visit: www.joemanby.co.uk

Sources: *Global Exhibition Industry Statistics March 2014 http://www.ufi.org/Medias/pdf/thetradefairsector/surveys/2014_exhibiton_industry_statistics_b.pdf

**The events industry forum and the Business Visits and Events Partnership http://www.hbaa.org.uk/sites/default/files/Opportunities%20for%20Growth%20in%20the%20UK%20Events%20Industry.pdf

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