No fear...

The worries as to the economic slowdown markedly affecting the results recorded by Targi Kielce, with its exhibition halls increasingly becoming empty, did not materialize. What did increase, as compared with the first half of last year as well as with the corresponding period at least three years ago, is not only the number of exhibitors and visitors but also the size of rented exhibition space.

Most of the indicators again proved to be higher. In comparison with the first half of 2008, the size of rented exhibition space, among other things, was larger. In the first months of last year’s spring season, the exhibition company rented out 105,000 square metres. In this year’s season, exhibitors booked over 109,000 square metres, a 4% increase. The breakdown of the space as rented by domestic exhibitors and those from abroad clearly indicates that the economic slump was much harder abroad, while in Poland it was hardly noticeable. In fact, the size of space rented by foreign exhibitors decreased by 11,78% as compared with the previous year. Moreover, the size of covered space rented by Polish companies was larger by almost 6%. The same pattern applies to open air exhibits. In this respect foreign companies also tightened the belt, with an almost 13% lower value of rented exhibition area, while the area rented by domestic exhibitors rose by 8,54%. In spite of that half of the year being apparently more difficult, Targi Kielce can again boast a rise in the number of exhibitors. In the spring season of 2008, the capital city of the Świętokrzyskie province attracted 3,762 exhibitors, while the corresponding number for this year is 3,805, an increase of 43.

In defiance of the expectation that, theoretically, Poles should buy and consume less, the Kielce exhibitions attracted crowds of them. In the first half of 2008, the number of visitors amounted to slightly over 116,000. In the first half of 2009, there were as many as 131,000. The increase reached a level of over 12%, a very impressive value indeed. “This result makes us very happy, as it shows that even in the time of hardship trade fairs and exhibitions continue to be perceived by entrepreneurs as excellent means of conducting marketing activities and entering new markets”, says Vice President of Targi Kielce, Bożena Staniak.

It was in the first half of this year when president Andrzej Mochoń openly said that he was mostly concerned about the smaller number of exhibitors at the International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO), as companies, especially those from abroad, were making budget cuts, economizing, among other things, on trade fair presentations. Eventually, however, the flagship event of Targi Kielce gained the upper hand over the difficult situation on the market. None of the major players in this industry missed the exhibition which once again turned out to be a success.