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Display space running out for SA industr... Showtime for quick, cheap and effective ... The perfect place for showing of... DTI takes a stand on trade promotio... Industry's members have nothing to hid... |
Playing the game in a different leagueWHILE most exhibition organisers and service providers are members of Exsa, two of the country's largest organisers, TML Reed and Exhibition Management Services, have chosen to remain outside the body. A bone of contention is the Exsa exhibition calendar, which advises potential exhibitors to make use of only Exsa members on the basis that they satisfy the association's code of ethics and standards. "This could clearly disaffect the businesses of non-members," says Jo Melville, managing director of TML Reed, who concedes that this has little effect on her business. "Exsa is trying to force non-members to join the association. My company has the endorsement of 30 or more trade associations, yet Exsa recommends doing business only with registered members. Between TML Reed and Exhibition Management Services, we sell half the business exhibition space in South Africa. That means we'd pay half of Exsa's annual revenue." Figures supplied by TML Reed show that of the 121 major exhibitions held last year in South Africa, 83 were organised by non-members: "This demonstrates that non-Exsa members are a powerful group within the industry," says Melville. This is disputed by Exsa chairman Sean McCoy. "Apart from TML Reed and EMS, I would suggest that the balance (of non-Exsa members) merely constitute numbers and do not represent the nucleus within the industry. Having said this, Exsa is embarking on a strong membership drive this year to embrace the entire industry, TML Reed and EMS included." Exsa general manager Bernie van Grevenbroek replies that Exsa cannot vouch for the standards and conduct of non-members, but that TML Reed is widely known as a large and reputable operator. "I frequently receive inquiries about TML Reed and I am happy to recommend the company, even though it is not an Exsa member." "The exhibition calender published by Exsa goes out all over the world, and by advising potential exhibitors to deal only with Exsa members, I see this as an intention to erode my business," says John Thompson, managing director of EMS, who says he is in the process - together with TML Reed - of forming an association to look after organisers' interests. This is to be called the Association of African Exhibition Organisers, affiliated to the UK Association of Exhibition Organisers. "This association will be limited to exhibition organisers so that it can better represent their interests, and will include exhibition organisers from all over Africa, not just South Africa. We will be adopting the constitution of the UK affiliate. "Exsa comprises companies from all sectors of the exhibition industry, from organisers through to venue owners and service providers, and each of these categories of business have different cultures and aims. As an exhibition organiser, it is my responsibility to try and get the best possible deal for my exhibitors, which I feel I can best do outside Exsa." McCoy says the calendar is distributed as a service to the entire industry and it would be easy to delist non-members: "I hear no complaints from either TML Reed or EMS about the exposure they enjoy from the calender. They enjoy full publicity from this exercise without any form of contribution to the Association."
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