Posted March 21st, 2009 by richard
Many companies worry about making sure their design, build and install of exhibits in Europe go flawlessly. But of what use is all that work if your exhibit never makes it to the exhibition floor. Exhibitslist recently had the pleasure of talking with Paul Van Zijl the managing director of Fairexx a leading logistics company in Europe who work in the exhibits logistics business in Europe. They have offices in the Netherlands and Germany. Paul is well known to Exhibitslist and has a great sense of humor and his team are service oriented and professional.
[more after the break]
Paul has seen the size of exhibits shift down as a result of the economic downturn but had some interesting thoughts on where the business is going. They are currently finishing up the Logistics on a large Urology Congress in Stockholm and just finished up Heart Fair in Lyon, France. Next stop is Barcelona for the ESC, a cardiology congress. Paul and his team are road warriors but they always have a neat easy to find office on the exhibition grounds and are easy to spot on the show floor dressed in their usual fairexx jackets. Paul and his team can be found at shows in central Europe along with Shows in Russia, Abu Dhabi and all the way to the United States.
We asked Paul what he liked the most about the exhibition business and he gave what is a common response: He loves the "multi-functionality" of his job, 'no one day is the same as the other.' That is actually what a lot of us enjoy about our jobs. Otherwise we would be working at toll booths (No offense to our hard working toll booth operators). What does Paul hate about his job? No surprise again: "Shouting stand builders." Who doesn't hate installers when they shout at you. Paul seems to bear the brunt of the shouting when an installer tells him that he needs a truck in the loading area at 17:00h and then gets his booth done at 14:00h. He then wants his truck in immediately. Yikes! All you installers give Paul and his team a break and realize that only so many trucks fit in the loading zone.
Paul had some interesting thoughts on the benefits of using a full service logistics company rather than an ala carte' approach. Many companies think of logistics as simply getting some crates from A to B. Paul and his team take a more full service approach including, shipping, material handling and customs paperwork. This approach has made Fairexx a logistics provider not only for Exhibition stand builders but as well the exhibition company and the exhibitors themselves in handling their equipment and collateral materials.
Back to Paul's thoughts on the economy. From his vantage point the money Exhibitors are saving this year will put them in a position to ramp up their budgets going into 2010. Lets hope that Paul is right!
What services to Logistics companies offer that put them ahead of their competition? Is price the only issue or is the service provided important as well?
