exhibitor express

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So there you are manning your exhibition stand...handing out promotional literature and business cards to all interested parties. A week later you receive a call from one of the exhibition visitors "can we meet to arrange the organising of a conference?". What a question ! They are en route to their southern African country so meeting in a public place would assist as its on their way back. They are however very interested in where your offices are located according to your business card. You meet and swiftly discover that there may not be a conference to organise but the enthusiasm for their African curio shop (containing different animal skins and various tusks) in Johannesburg and the potential for your involvement - could make you very wealthy indeed. All that is required is accompanying them the next day to the warehouse where the 'goods' and senior partner would fully explain and close the deal. You start to feel distinctly uncomfortable. Their professionalism cannot be faulted but their manner provides the impression that if you learn too much, and do not agree to assist their across-border 'imports'- you may prove to be expendable as your office address is now known. Extricating yourself from the warehouse arrangement takes some persuasion after repeated telephone contact to your office. MC comment : If this scam sounds familiar, the Club would be interested in your in-put - email miceclub@mweb.co.za. This scam has been attempted on two known MICE exhibitors at a recent exhibition. What's to be done in future ? (1) Ask a lot of questions before deciding to meet (2) Avoid meeting at your offices (2) Consider leaving your physical address off your business card. As we all know, scams abound - and fortunately the Club is able to bring the latest MICE scam to your attention. Perhaps the worst scenario in this instance is that you may be imported back into SA......in a jar - as rare Mozambique or Malawi MICE muti.....now there's a thought !

Exhibitor qualifications - featured in the last Exhibitor Express, elicitied various comments, notable was this one from Tony Stiglingh :

SAQA/outcomes based education has an unfortunate knack of making even the simplist thing, sound complicated. To be assessed competent against this exhibitor qualification, individuals must be able to:

5. write an exhibition brief, get quotations, appoint and work with a stand contractor

Please let me have your comments and opinions on these outcomes: send to joy@donovan.co.za

"We are specialised in supporting exhibitors and visitors attending international German exhibitions, conferences and fairs with main focus on Cities such as Frankfurt, Cologne,Duesseldorf and Hanover.

We offer our experience and support as your local "agent" for almost any needs your clients may have. Such as accommodation, interpreters, booth building/storage, personnel, events, dining etc. Hope we can be of help.
with kind regards
C-J Spies
www.apartment-world.de
www.fairservice.net

Tel: +49-511-348-1615
Fax: +49-511-348-1612"

Exhibitions for Africa (formerly Reed Exhibitions) will be hosting a 1-hour exhibitor workshop on 31st July, with another on 6th August at Sandton Convention Centre, aimed at improving the return on the exhibition investment. Price R199.00 plus VAT, per delegate. Please contact Tracey Coleman at Exhibitions for Africa to reserve your place, e-mail traceyc@reedexpo.co.za or phone 886-3734.

If you would like to find out how to maximise your exhibition results then diarise to attend the 3-hour exhibitor workshops that EXSA Exhibition Association of Southern Africa will be hosting in Johannesburg on :

for more information on attending these workshops, please click on the date of interest. EXSA is in the process of being accredited as a training provider, therefore the cost of the workshop can be reclaimed from Skills Levies paid. To see what delegates to previous workshops thought, please click here. Visit EXSA for complete exhibition calendar at www.exsa.co.za

The purpose of this newsletter is to help you achieve maximum results from trade exhibitions. There will be regular free tips and advice that will pep up your performance and help you gain the best return on your exhibition investment. If you have specific questions on exhibiting, please e-mail them to: joy@donovan.co.za or phone 011-326-0900. More free help and advice is available at www.exhibitor.co.za Please feel free to pass this newsletter onto friends and colleagues, who can arrange their own free subscription at joy@donovan.co.za

The workshops and this e-mail is presented by Joy Donovan M.D. of South Africa’s first Trade Show Training company. Joy’s 30 + years in the exhibition industry, mainly as an exhition organiser, well equipped her to identify the need in the exhibition market and produce training that significantly improves results. If you require information on in-house exhibitor training, coaching or mentoring, please e-mail joy@donovan.co.za phone 011-326-0900 or fax 011-787-4254..