Ford Motor Company of New Zealand Limited has cemented its commitment to Kiwi businesses with a two-year partnership that will see six new Fords given away to visitors at NZ’s largest and longest running sector specific exhibitions and events.

XPO Exhibitions Ltd, leading business-to-business (B2B) event organiser, has partnered with Ford to give trade visitors to the country’s leading food technology, packaging technology, engineering, manufacturing,  gift & homewares, build, design, architecture and business services sector specific exhibitions. It’s an opportunity for our business visitors to add a brand new Ford to the company asset register, says XPO Director Brent Spillane.

“It’s great that one of the country’s oldest and most-respected motor companies with a passion for this country has recognised the same in our DNA. XPO has the country’s longest-running successful trade exhibition portfolio. We’ve been successful because we focus on sector specific businesses. We work hard to make our trade events the place that businesses can come to compare, research and buy world leading products and services face to face. It’s about ensuring ongoing value for exhibitors as well as visitors.

“Ford has the same values in supporting New Zealand business. Ford dipped its toe in the water at our biennial ‘buildNZ designex’ event earlier this year by giving away a new Ford Ranger Utility to one lucky trade visitor. The response from the trade was brilliant. Ford saw genuine value from the captive market and an intimate way to market its’ leading vehicles to Kiwi businesses,” says Brent Spillane.

The XPO/Ford partnership gives the motor company exclusive access as our preferred vehicle partner at the country’s premiere business and trade events.

“XPO events attract more than 35,000 genuine trade only visitors every year, and the majority of them are return visitors proving the enduring value of these events. Visitor numbers have been on the increase too. The agreement will allow Ford to capture its own rich business profile data of those attending and entering the prize draws or simply interacting with Ford on their prime exhibition space.”

The business events that Ford will be supporting and providing a vehicle prize giveaway include the New Zealand Gift & Homewares Fairs; the EMEX engineering, manufacturing and electronics sectors event; FoodTech PackTech which is for the food, packaging and technology sector; buildNZ designex which supports the building, construction, design and architecture sectors; and MyBiz Expo which helps small and medium enterprises source competitive business services for their companies.

Ford will run a number of show-only promotions before and after the events, giving visitors a genuine reason to buy. Chris Masterson, national marketing manager at Ford says, “It’s an exclusive business target audience and one that we just had to jump at – and we are the first major vehicle brand to partner with XPO in this B2B exhibition space. Our vehicles are a great value match for specific business sectors looking at fleet or even personal needs. This is a fantastic new marketing launch pad.”

There is more detail on each of these business sector events at www.xpo.co.nz
ENDS
Further information: Brent Spillane, 09-976 8378 or 021 906 111

Christchurch retailers affected by the massive February earthquake in the region are getting help to get their businesses re-stocked with the latest and greatest gift and homeware items. Thanks to a new fund established by the New Zealand Gift Trade Association and XPO Exhibitions, retailers in Christchurch and affected surrounding areas can apply for a subsidy to attend the Spring Gift Fair in Auckland.

Bill Spillane, chair of the NZ Gift Trade Association and XPO’s managing director, says that both organisations are right behind the initiative.

“The South Island retail environment has always been an active and vibrant one, and it was doing well despite the global economic problems. But the two big earthquakes in Christchurch changed things for businesses there. This fund has been set-up to help retailers, who would have visited Christchurch’s now-cancelled Winter Gift Fair, to get to Auckland for Spring Gift Fair 2011 in August.”

Christchurch retailers who had registered to attend their local Gift Fair, or who normally attend one of the other New Zealand Gift Fairs, can apply for subsidised accommodation in Auckland, says Bill Spillane.

“Through the fund, eligible retailers could pay as little as $23 a night at Auckland’s renowned Rendezvous Hotel. XPO is also putting on extra shuttles between all our hotel partners and the ASB Showgrounds, so the only large costs for visitors are airfares and travel from and to the airport.

“Every year for decades the Winter Gift Fair has been a vital part of the South Island retail scene. We’re devastated that it can’t happen in 2011, and many retailers have expressed their disappointment too. Thousands of South Island retailers do the bulk of their buying at the Christchurch Fair. The products seen and bought there, and the deals done, can make the difference between a retailer having a good year and one they’d rather forget. Modern gift retailing is not a simple business, and successful businesses need to consider market and product trends, customer needs, and be able to negotiate good deals. The Gift Fairs are the premier business tools for these retailers to network and to meet the manufacturers, wholesalers and importers driving some of those trends. Not being able to attend a Gift Fair is a huge blow.

“That’s why we’re committing a substantial amount to the fund, and we’re pleased that our hotel partners have come on board as well, dropping room rates to very low levels. We’re aiming to help at least 500 ‘quake affected businesses get to Auckland so they can buy the stock they need to trade through this tragic event. If they can continue to trade, they can continue to help Christchurch recover, keeping people in employment and contributing to the local economy.”

Retailers who believe they are eligible for a subsidy from the fund but haven’t received the email from XPO Exhibitions about the offer are encouraged to contact XPO for more information.  Retailers can call 0800 367 976 or email

ENDS
For more information contact:
Irene Smith – Group Marketing Manager
Phone: 09 976 8352 or 021 378 202
email:

FAIR Guide

In the past few years we have become aware that an online directory called Fairguide have been contacting our exhibitors asking them to "update their free listing details" on our shows.

Please be aware that the fine print of the contract includes a charge of approx US$1531 per year for a period of 3 years.

Please note that we are not associated with and do not endorse those proprietors or others, or that website. We suggest that you make your own decisions and, if appropriate, obtain independent legal advice, before you respond to or deal with those proprietors or others, or that website. 

You may also find further information about Fairguide at www.ufi.org/pages/thetradefairsector/fairguide.aspx

StopECG has now published basic advice, primarily be to help those who
have already signed these forms in error - please go to
www.stopecg.org/expo-guide.htm to find out more.

Read what the NZ Herald had to say ...

 

EXPO Guide

Now it seems another 'directory service', based in Mexico under the name of EXPO-GUIDE is approaching exhibitors with the request to check the accuracy of their listing details and proceed with its update.

Please be aware that the fine print of the contract includes a charge of US$1676 per year for a period of 3 years.

Again, please note that we are not associated with and do not endorse those proprietors or others, or their websites. We suggest that you make your own decisions and, if appropriate, obtain independent legal advice, before you respond to or deal with those proprietors or others, or their websites.

XPO are not affiliated with, nor endorse, either of these websites.