FACTORY CASHBACK

Running AWISA 2018 from a reconstructed Darling Harbour complex with more floor space and six levels must have been a challenge. What were they?

Let’s concentrate on the two levels of exhibits. People generally don’t like changing levels – for example if a shopping centre is not designed very cleverly retailers on a upper level can suffer. Even a perception of ‘suffering’ can be a problem, even if it is not the reality. So the challenge was to make sure everyone had clear direction and opportunity to get to both levels. We invested heavily in signage and directional barriers, but in my view the best investment was in what I’ll call human signage. Lots of staff in AWISA T shirts at lots of locations, especially operating the elevators to ensure they had full loads. To put it simply – it all worked.

We can’t forget COVID 19 of course and the cancellation of AWISA 2020. What has that meant for you and your team?

This is, of course, a very surreal year. AWISA will be back from 6-9 July 2022 and the space sales process will start in the second quarter of 2021. So we have to start planning for that and AWISA publishes a well-received quarterly trade magazine. So starvation is not imminent. Much of the woodworking and furniture industry services the new house and home renovation market. Thankfully for this industry but not for others there is a lot of evidence that family travel budgets are being spent on home renovations. The people that I know that I feel for the most are the exhibition industry contractors. Many have other sides to their businesses such as marquee, temporary building hire, and grandstand hire. They have zero business.

You have been the face of AWISA for some 32 years now, if you had your time again would you have got involved in the trade show business or done something else?

Yes, I’d do it again. I don’t know another industry that has such variety. Different industries have different personalities. I deal with floor cleaners through to CEOs. Venues, trucking companies, electrical contractors, display designers, caterers etc, etc. Then there’s the huge range of humanity that visits the range of various trade shows. And starting with an empty venue and few days later having a complex trade show up and running and humming is immensely satisfying.