12 minute read
SSQ Design’s Covid-19 service offerings
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19), and the extreme measures that have been implemented by leaders around the world to delay and reduce the spread of the pandemic, has changed the world as we knew it, writes SSQ Design.
Advertisement
This has changed the way we think, feel, interact and behave as people. It has also drastically changed the way we work.
Apart from those businesses and their employees who have been deemed Essential Service Providers, South Africans have been requested to stay at home and work remotely. People who have never used technology for communication purposes, aside from emails, have become proficient users of Zoom, OneDrive, Teams, SharePoint and the like. Those businesses who rely on face-to-face interaction or mass gatherings in order to operate and generate income have had to close, mothball, or completely pivot their businesses in order to survive and remain viable during this time.
SSQ Design operates within the exhibitions and commercial interior design industries, with a specific focus on the design and installation of: exhibition stands; activation sets; mall
displays; pop-up shops; and office, retail and hospitality fit-outs. None of these are deemed essential services nor can they be offered remotely.
Thus, we have been challenged to reinvent ourselves, expand our service offerings and introduce new products in line with the current situation. We have looked at what our clients need now and what they will need after lockdown. We have changed our strategy and our focus in order to continue servicing their needs as they evolve in response to lockdown and the implications of Covid-19. Our new product line consists of: • A range of economic, modular work-fromhome furniture solutions, including: couch desks, wall-mounted and freestanding desks, height adjustable desks, compact desk and shelving units, as well as adjustable laptop trays. These have become very popular not only for personal use but as branded corporate gifts. • Workspace social distancing solutions, including: washable desktop dividers, safety screens and space dividers that can be repurposed as marketing boards. • A range of hand sanitiser units – from industrial stands with foot pumps to beautifully aesthetic hands-free, as well as child-friendly, stands. • A full PPE catalogue including corporate branded masks, microfibre, triple-layer washable masks, KN95 and N95 masks, thermometers and gloves. • Reopening of office cleaning services: full cleaning of your office and complete sanitisation of high-contact areas. • Office layout redesign to ensure social distancing regulations while optimising space and desk utilisation. • Temporary relief infrastructure, including tents, isolation rooms and ablution facilities. Although we have developed a Covid-19 product offering that offers immediate value to our clients, our core service remains that of the design and installation of exhibition stands, in addition to others. We look forward to our first day on-site with face masks, gloves and hand sanitisers at the ready.
Cara Nortman, CEO
+27 (0)79 254 9572
Kim Kitchen, Managing Director
+27 (0)82 330 4996
RESPONDING TO THE GLOBAL HEALTH CRISIS
As part of a major international group, GL events South Africa reveals its response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The world is currently faced with a health crisis that has urged many sectors to come together as one community in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Like many other business sectors, the tourism and events industry has been extensively impacted following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement on a restriction of gatherings of over 100 people.
This was later followed by a complete lockdown that put a ban on all social gatherings and encouraged people to work from home, with the exception of essential workers. Since then, our industry has taken a huge knock, as most planned activities for the year were postponed.
ASSESSING THE IMPACT In the first quarter of 2020, GL events Group’s revenues declined by 37.3% to €213.3 million (R4.27 billion), including a 0.7% decrease of organic growth. Olivier Ginon, chairman of GL events Group, commented: “After the solid performances of the first two months and under normal market conditions for March 2020, revenue in the 2020 first quarter would have reached nearly €320 million (R6.4 billion) – up 12% at a comparable scope and biennial basis. However, in response to the evolving situation of the global health crisis and the administrative closures of event venues destined to receive the public, revenue for the first quarter registered a significant decline.”
THE RESPONSE In response to the pandemic, GL events has taken measures to protect the health and safety of its employees and stakeholders, Olivier says, and adds: “The group has also taken measures to preserve its financial resources, which include a series of cost-saving measures and the cancellation of its dividend payment. These different actions, combined with the group’s solid fundamentals, and the measures that governments are adopting to support the tourism and event industry sectors, will allow GL events to be prepared to rapidly resume its activities once the crisis has passed.”
Following the decline of its revenues, in order to maintain profitability, the group is implementing a cost reduction plan that will generate savings in the period of more than €40 million (R800 million).
As a regional branch of the group, GL events South Africa has remained committed to supporting the South African government in its
DECONTAMINATION UNITS
LEVEL 1
• Interior cladding • Exterior cladding • Access ramps • Branding
fight against Covid-19. We have employed our company's wealth of expertise and experience, and have designed solutions that will help reduce risks of spreading the virus. These solutions include a rapid deployment of our shell scheme, marquees and related infrastructure that can be used as medical checkpoints, an overflow for space management and other uses.
We have also gone into the market with our innovative solution of implementing a dry shower sanitisation system, with decontamination units recommended for corporates, schools, shopping centres, hospitals and other crowded areas.
As an organisation, we strive to be as adaptable to the new normal as possible, until the crisis is over. Our commitment remains the same, and we will continue to take the necessary response measures as a collective and extend our know-how in the fight against the pandemic.
LEVEL 2
• Exterior cladding • Branding
LEVEL 3
• PVC cladding • Branding
CONVERSATION STARTER
John Arvanitakis from Chat’r discusses the shock to the MICE industry in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and how his business is embracing innovation to provide creative and engaging eventing solutions.
With the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic still ongoing, we are all taking a big step back to understand how business can best survive, both financially and operationally.
The moment President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a nationwide lockdown two months ago, we saw business across the board go flat. Every event and project that Chat’r was working on was cancelled, and this has resulted in the
John Arvanitakis, CEO and founder of Chat’r
shutdown of some of our business. Sadly, for many, particularly those within the travel and tourism space, whole shutdowns have been and will be inevitable.
Even with the easing of lockdown measures and a risk adjusted strategy to allow for the phased reopening of the economy, there is likely to still be a limitation on social gatherings for the better part of the year.
Not knowing exactly when the meetings and events industry will recover or how this will take place, Chat’r has been closely exploring the means to ensure there is continuity of our activity within the eventing space.
THE TIME FOR ‘NEW’ IS NOW At Chat’r, we are committed to contributing to an industry that delivers rich experiences that
get people talking. With the increased usage of digital in general that is driving the current engagement we are seeing taking place online, embracing the ‘new’ is going to be a means to keeping businesses ticking over and weathering the storm as comfortably as possible.
The demand for digital solutions has been the inspiration for two new Chat’r offerings, which have already led to several successfully executed projects, all online.
Chat’r TV is our recently launched production house that conceptualises and hosts digital events of all shapes and sizes, including exhibitions, confexes, product launches and webinars. This particular offering is aimed at supporting our clients’ messaging and – with customisable and brandable elements – we can provide them with a space they can make their own. We will then identify the best platform to run each event, which can either be broadcast live or made available on demand, or both. In addition, we are able to design our own platforms to support more bespoke solutions where there is a demand for it.
Chat’r has also launched its own in-house series of webinars called Chat’r Box, which helps us communicate a range of issues that we believe can assist industry. We have already launched our first series that is especially aimed at the tourism and hospitality sectors; we realise that these sectors, together with events, have been among the hardest hit, not just in South Africa but globally.
The hidden benefits of using these types of platforms is that our clients can be exceptionally precise in targeting audiences and, because everything is online, attendance and engagement metrics are much easier to obtain, which helps us benchmark the performance of each of our events and keep improving on what we do.
RIDING THE DIGITAL WAVE It has been much easier for some to adapt to the sudden shift that was ushered in by the Covid-19 pandemic. A large portion of us are doing business in a way that now seems so far removed from where this virus and the numerous changes that have come with it first began. It has also meant that, for many, they are having to do a crash course in all things digital.
With stats indicating that 90% of the world has spent nearly 77% more of their time online in the last two months, it is more important than ever before to be established in the online space and at the forefront of digital growth trends, and to remain connected.
Prior to the pandemic, there was already a growing demand for live, or analogue, events to be hybridised with a digital stream running alongside this. What most do agree on is that,
There has been a massive trend towards upskilling – from webinars to online courses, there are so many digital resources available to us that we can utilise to develop new and hone existing skill sets, all from the comfort of our homes. With these resources available to us at the click of the button, there is a huge opportunity to take advantage of what is currently available so shop around for what’s on offer.
even when restrictions on social gatherings ease to a point where we can hold events such as large conferences and exhibitions again, digital will still be a key feature. Due to its agility and reach, the world of digital is a marketer’s dream, and the pandemic has only thrust the need for engagement to take place in the digital world further into the spotlight.
Come what may from the virus, we at Chat’r believe that we will emerge from this with a much clearer idea of where we should be focusing our attention and that, invariably, it will point to us needing a kinder, more collaborative approach to ensure true sustainability of our business and industry.
DURING CRISIS CREATIVITY
As creative strategists and design thinking facilitators, the Conceptual Eyes team has been designing the delegate experience for the past 10 years, and creativity is now more important than ever.
The team at Conceptual Eyes (CE) has supported large sector expos, corporate conferences as well as off-site innovation/brainstorming sessions and now virtual events.
Lindy Scott, creative director at CE, suggests that, based on her experience, the three common factors that determine event success are creative content, knowledge and relationships. Lindy believes this remains true in the virtual space – and perhaps more critical than ever during the Covid-19 crisis.
Allow delegates to navigate content, knowledge and relationships as easily as possible by creating a clear, simple message. The use of metaphors and concepts should be unambiguous and relatable to the audience.
Design your virtual conference or meeting with the user in mind, being aware of eye strain and colour palette. Use visuals and storytelling tactics to keep your audience engaged. Contact us for creative strategy, remote graphic recording, innovation services and creative tactics.
Event type Expo
Corporate conference
+27 (0)82 415 2771 conceptualeyes.co.za
Innovation sessions
New world of virtual events
CONCEPTUAL EYES EVENT INSIGHTS
Creative content Knowledge Building relationships
Social media press releases and trending hashtags are key for any expo agenda. The more shareable content given to the delegate, the better. Expos deliver high-level information/knowledge. Expos attract the best speakers, companies and delegates. Expos pride themselves on facilitating thought leadership. Expos offer quality lead generation and networking. Most expos host large afterparties or exclusive events, giving delegates and exhibitors the opportunity to build relationships. Clear, high-energy content that will inspire delegates but also have longevity to be used as visual reminders post event. These events bring together key individuals to discuss business, share critical information and strategy. Keynote speakers and leadership are vital. These events are designed to create camaraderie, break down barriers and build trust.
For these types of events, cocreated content is vital. Providing a framework or creative resources is a good tactic and ensures delegates have an active role in creating the content. Content needs to be clear and simple. Have a bold message and low-saturation colour palette. Virtual content requires high-speed internet and well-thought-out curation of content. Video or audio recording of sessions is important. Low-resolution content is key – be mindful of file sizes and data usage.
Information for innovation sessions needs to have clear governance. Innovation sessions require guidelines and outcomes.
Information needs to be in the hands of the delegate. Allow for different time zones and formats of information to be available. Shorter events with fewer speakers are the common trend. Innovation calls for leveraging diverse thinking and bringing together different perspectives. The relationships formed should inspire new ways of thinking and partnerships. Building meaningful relationships online can be difficult. Design time and tactics into your events to allow for networking. The comment sections are popular but can be distracting. The use of video is not always possible. Ensure your session is secure, and data is protected.
