Media Expo is growing because the market is growing

Raj Manek, managing director, Messe Frankfrut Trade Fairs India, credits this to the growing market demands. With spending powers of the population increasing, there is a growth in retail and this has led to the growth of the outdoor and signage and allied industries.

Manek is, however, quick to add that since Messe Frankfurt took over, it has added its own standards to the show, making it more structured, thereby giving the exhibitors more opportunities to do business; in short a more professional way to showcase the products and attract customers.     

This is evident in how the Mumbai edition of the show, once an offshoot of the Delhi edition, has now become a full-fledged event. Now, Media Expo is all set to conquer the south with the first Media Expo in Chennai opening its doors from 18 to 20 November 2016. “The exhibitors asked for a show in Chennai especially for the printers in the southern states,” Manek said.

Messe Frankfurt will organise the Chennai edition of the show every two years and it will alternate with the Kolkata edition of the show, which is also organised every two years. On the other hand, Delhi and Mumbai are annual shows, in September and February respectively.   

“We are organising three editions of the same show because of demand from the industry. The south and the east (including Bangladesh) are two different markets and need different attention,” Manek said.

So the market is doing well. Manek said India was never in a better position than it is now. The European market is in doldrums, and the BRICK countries, apart from India, are not doing well. With China in the back foot with the recent market collapse, India is the only country with great economic stability and it is the moment for India to take on the world. However, Manek cautioned that Indian businesses have to act on it faster, as it is short window of opportunity lasting for 18 months to two years before China and other countries bounce back.

Talking about what Messe Frankfurt brings to the table Manek said it is trying to inspire the exhibitors to take a more professional approach in reaching out to customers. It is a matter of perception, Manek said. Indian manufacturers have the same quality, competitive prices and robust machines; what they lack is attracting customers.

Finally, it boils down to business. The agenda is clear. The exhibitors need to do well during the exhibition, sell machines or generate leads. Manek said Messe Frankfurt is working towards facilitating this, finding the right customers for the exhibitors. It has worked well for the organiser as well, as it is growing 25% annually. When it took over, the size of the exhibition was 2,500 sq/m; in this edition, the size is 6.000 sq/m.

Messe Frankfurt has 115 employees in its two offices located in Delhi and Mumbai and organises 22 exhibitions 35 conferences every year catering to different industry verticals.