How was the year 2015 for your company – the year of business jubilee?
Time is running really fast, and we are already starting to work on our next 25 years of business activity on the market. The year 2015 was very successful for us, we organized 36 fairs in total, in 15 different countries, and sold 2500 square meter of exhibition space. We cannot also forget that for those companies, we also built fair structures.
Which fair events would you consider especially important and prestigious?
To this group I would mainly include fairs like ISM in Cologne, IFE in London, PLMA in Amsterdam and ANGUA in Cologne. Speaking of the fair in Cologne – the biggest world confectionary fair, they have had high reputability for many years, and from year to year they are more crowded. For the companies, producing confectionery, this is the fair in which they have to be. They need to see what new products will be introduced, what is being produced by the best known companies in the world and what new trends are to be taken into consideration the following year. The second most prestigious event is the IFE fair in London, which is organized periodically, every two years, and is the biggest food fair on the British Isles. At the same time, the fair is held in conjunction with the packaging fair for the food industry. Interest in the fair is very high even by virtue of the fact that a large number of compatriots for great Polish products are residing on the British Isles. Of course, events not to be missed include trade shows, such as, private label, PLMA in Amsterdam, which is becoming increasingly crowded every year and the exhibition space has to be booked a year in advance. The biggest event, however, is the food fair ANUGA in Cologne, which takes place every two years, alternately with the SIAL trade fair in Paris. The surface space, is practically sold out on the previous edition. These are such prestigious fairs that there is a queue of companies wanting to take part.
What about the trade fairs in the Middle and Far East?
The company MAXPOL organizes such fairs. These include the fair Yummex Middle East in Dubai, where the 10th anniversary edition will take place this year. Others include the fairs MENOPE Natural & Organic Product Expo, Sial Middle East in Abu Dhabi and the Food, Beverage & Packaging Technology fair in Iran. The market for fairs in the Middle East is growing from year to year. If we talk about the Far East, we cannot forget about China, which is a market that is very receptive and where many Polish companies are finding possibilities to export. In China, I would recommend the fair SIAL China. A large prestigious fair that is enjoying a growing popularity every year. This year Poland will be the patron of this fair.
What fairs have you organized for 2016?
In addition to the events, which I have already mentioned, and are held periodically. We have introduced to our schedule of trade fairs new directions, and they include, ALIMENTEC fair in Colombia – we warmly welcome you there. Many of our exhibitors are looking for new markets, that is the reason we are trying to prepare for such venues where Polish producers will be able to present their products to a wider audience.
Why should Polish exhibitors choose your company Maxpol – as the organizer of foreign trade fairs?
Good question, but I think, it should be directed to the exhibitor and not to us. Our belief since the company started, was and is customer satisfaction. The systematic increase in the number of exhibitors and expansion of the group of regular customers, who are annually participating in several fairs, enabled us to obtain the recognition of professional institutions. The success of our business has been positively assessed and awarded the prestigious title of Trade Fair Service Leader for the years 2006, 2007 and 2014. We also received recommendations from the Polish Chamber of Exhibition Industry in the years 2009, 2012 and 2015. This indicates a high assessment of what we get from our exhibitors who entrust the work of exhibiting to us.
Like everyone, you have your competition, why are Polish exhibitors encouraged to select just your company?
Yes, it is true, the market for organizing fairs is not without competition. But this phenomenon does not occur only in our country but around the world. We are not afraid of competition. While working with us, the exhibitor decides, which services we should perform for them. We oblige them to take the whole package of our services. Our offer is very wide – starting from renting exhibition space, making the accreditation of the company, sending the entry to the fair catalog, the designing of the stand, till procuring services such as electricity or water connection to the stand, ordering tickets, parking cards and invitations for customers. We also book accommodation and plane tickets. We also offer transport services to make deliveries to the exhibitor's stand. We assist in arranging interpreters, hostesses and rental of meeting rooms.
Finally, I want to ask you about building the stands. How do the standards of construction and equipment for stands at the fairs change?
With the growth of the company, we have focused on solid and modern constructions, better and more effective presentation of our exhibitors' products. In addition to the booths built in the Octanorm system, we offer our exhibitors the stands in individual solutions. These are stands with materials such as MDF, glass, Plexiglas, etc. The trend that the stand is transparent and accessible to visitors makes the design even more spacious and inviting for visits. Our exhibitors are frequently asking for such a solution. Customer satisfaction is the motto of our company and we have to adhere to it.
Thank you for the interview and I wish you every success in the coming years for business activities at MAXPOL.
Time is running really fast, and we are already starting to work on our next 25 years of business activity on the market. The year 2015 was very successful for us, we organized 36 fairs in total, in 15 different countries, and sold 2500 square meter of exhibition space. We cannot also forget that for those companies, we also built fair structures.
Which fair events would you consider especially important and prestigious?
To this group I would mainly include fairs like ISM in Cologne, IFE in London, PLMA in Amsterdam and ANGUA in Cologne. Speaking of the fair in Cologne – the biggest world confectionary fair, they have had high reputability for many years, and from year to year they are more crowded. For the companies, producing confectionery, this is the fair in which they have to be. They need to see what new products will be introduced, what is being produced by the best known companies in the world and what new trends are to be taken into consideration the following year. The second most prestigious event is the IFE fair in London, which is organized periodically, every two years, and is the biggest food fair on the British Isles. At the same time, the fair is held in conjunction with the packaging fair for the food industry. Interest in the fair is very high even by virtue of the fact that a large number of compatriots for great Polish products are residing on the British Isles. Of course, events not to be missed include trade shows, such as, private label, PLMA in Amsterdam, which is becoming increasingly crowded every year and the exhibition space has to be booked a year in advance. The biggest event, however, is the food fair ANUGA in Cologne, which takes place every two years, alternately with the SIAL trade fair in Paris. The surface space, is practically sold out on the previous edition. These are such prestigious fairs that there is a queue of companies wanting to take part.
What about the trade fairs in the Middle and Far East?
The company MAXPOL organizes such fairs. These include the fair Yummex Middle East in Dubai, where the 10th anniversary edition will take place this year. Others include the fairs MENOPE Natural & Organic Product Expo, Sial Middle East in Abu Dhabi and the Food, Beverage & Packaging Technology fair in Iran. The market for fairs in the Middle East is growing from year to year. If we talk about the Far East, we cannot forget about China, which is a market that is very receptive and where many Polish companies are finding possibilities to export. In China, I would recommend the fair SIAL China. A large prestigious fair that is enjoying a growing popularity every year. This year Poland will be the patron of this fair.
What fairs have you organized for 2016?
In addition to the events, which I have already mentioned, and are held periodically. We have introduced to our schedule of trade fairs new directions, and they include, ALIMENTEC fair in Colombia – we warmly welcome you there. Many of our exhibitors are looking for new markets, that is the reason we are trying to prepare for such venues where Polish producers will be able to present their products to a wider audience.
Why should Polish exhibitors choose your company Maxpol – as the organizer of foreign trade fairs?
Good question, but I think, it should be directed to the exhibitor and not to us. Our belief since the company started, was and is customer satisfaction. The systematic increase in the number of exhibitors and expansion of the group of regular customers, who are annually participating in several fairs, enabled us to obtain the recognition of professional institutions. The success of our business has been positively assessed and awarded the prestigious title of Trade Fair Service Leader for the years 2006, 2007 and 2014. We also received recommendations from the Polish Chamber of Exhibition Industry in the years 2009, 2012 and 2015. This indicates a high assessment of what we get from our exhibitors who entrust the work of exhibiting to us.
Like everyone, you have your competition, why are Polish exhibitors encouraged to select just your company?
Yes, it is true, the market for organizing fairs is not without competition. But this phenomenon does not occur only in our country but around the world. We are not afraid of competition. While working with us, the exhibitor decides, which services we should perform for them. We oblige them to take the whole package of our services. Our offer is very wide – starting from renting exhibition space, making the accreditation of the company, sending the entry to the fair catalog, the designing of the stand, till procuring services such as electricity or water connection to the stand, ordering tickets, parking cards and invitations for customers. We also book accommodation and plane tickets. We also offer transport services to make deliveries to the exhibitor's stand. We assist in arranging interpreters, hostesses and rental of meeting rooms.
Finally, I want to ask you about building the stands. How do the standards of construction and equipment for stands at the fairs change?
With the growth of the company, we have focused on solid and modern constructions, better and more effective presentation of our exhibitors' products. In addition to the booths built in the Octanorm system, we offer our exhibitors the stands in individual solutions. These are stands with materials such as MDF, glass, Plexiglas, etc. The trend that the stand is transparent and accessible to visitors makes the design even more spacious and inviting for visits. Our exhibitors are frequently asking for such a solution. Customer satisfaction is the motto of our company and we have to adhere to it.
Thank you for the interview and I wish you every success in the coming years for business activities at MAXPOL.
