Changes come
Business and Exhibitions magazine № 6 (72) 2014
It has been a long time now that Sokolniki Museum and Educational Centre has been bringing a lot of surprises and joy to visitors by organizing efficient sectorial events and delivering unique and outstanding projects. Read on for the thoughts of Alexey Shaburov, President of Sokolniki Museum and Educational Centre on this year’s constituents and what to expect from Sokolniki in the future.
2014 is still on, but we can start summing it up. What are the biggest results?
— The results are actually very positive. We held 120 exhibitions in 2013 and over 170 in 2014 besides such events there were presentations, test drives, conferences and so on. I reckon all the events held at our venue are successful enough. Despite the change in market conditions, there is a steady growth in space constructions and in extra service orders. Among our new projects, I would single out the following exhibitions: Fashion pre-collection, 3D print expo, Robotics expo, EveryCon, ChimExpo, WellnessExpo, Make it Show, and Autodesk University Russia. We believe these projects have great potential.
What is your opinion on the economic climate changes in the country? Will it affect the exhibition business?
— Nothing serious has happened. We have gone through the 90s and survived the crisis of 2008. We will make it through the events of 2014. At the beginning of the 21st century sanctions could affect the exhibition business as the large-scale projects on furniture, machinery and others consisted of foreign participants by 70, 80, or even 90%.
Today the situation is quite different: the majority of furniture, packaging, welding equipment and other exhibitions is already compiled of 60-70 % Russian companies, members from the CIS countries, China, Asia, or those countries not participating in sanctions. In general, there is always light at the end of the tunnel and I see no reason for despair; just keep on doing what you are doing.
If we talk about the global exhibition market, then there is nothing new as well. Crises occur, crises pass. It is a normal trend of developments. Therefore, the task of the exhibition industry is to adapt to the slightly changed conditions. Firstly the conditions changed regarding such segments as the oil industry, machine manufacturing, financial sector, and so on.
In general, the development of our industry goes global and I believe it is developing within the framework of the economy dynamics as a whole.
What to expect from Sokolniki Museum and Educational Centre in the upcoming year?
— Expansion. The expansion in the number of events, exhibitors, conferences; the expansion of themes. Adaptation of the venue for large and unusual events, such as circus shows, short term museums, world cultural events and other entertainment events. The plans also include continuing the venue’s modernization with technical equipment and to follow market needs.
