|
        
|
|
CROSSHIRE: WORTH BEING SENT TO COVENTRY Some say change is bad and should be resisted or, at best, accepted grudgingly. Others argue that it offers new opportunities and should be embraced. For more than 25 years, most of the movers and shakers in our industry trudged happily through bad weather, the odd rail strike and other discomforts to attend Hirex at Wembley. However, over the past few years many of you have lost faith in the relevance of exhibitions. Hirex moved to the NEC and then had its identity effectively buried by being attached to a larger exhibition. Its eventual demise was seized on by the Hire Show to offer a new event, first at Wembley and latterly at ExCel in London’s Docklands. The early success of Hirex was due to the total and enthusiastic involvement of ALL sectors of the hire industry. Indeed, for many years there was a close link between this magazine, the leading industry association and the exhibition. It is regrettable that, for commercial reasons this magazine and Hirex were separated, and for political reasons, the strong bond between Hirex and the HAE became weakened. Many hiremen and suppliers considered that ExCel offered a way back to the more dynamic earlier days, although many in the north still considered a London venue too far to travel to in these days of limited time and scarce human resources. Crosshire holds the rather dubious (some might say sad!) honour of having attended every Hirex and Hire Show since the very first Hirex at Syon Park. I have done this always as a hireman but also, at various times, as an exhibitor, an HAE elected representative, a journalist and as a willing helper, keen to promote an industry showcase and meeting point for our industry. After the last Hire Show, I became aware that there were serious rumblings of discontent by a not insignificant proportion of those who had attended. I can truly say that I am not party to any arguments or commercial matters that have gone on, but after the last issue of this magazine none of you can be in any doubt that an iron curtain has descended between the ExCel Hire Show and our industry’s only serious journal. Also, after reading this issue, you will know that, In a bold initiative to place the annual showcase for the hire industry back into the hands of all its stakeholders, EHN has decided to promote a brand new event, the Executive Hire Show, at the new and very convenient central location of the Ricoh Arena in Coventry. At a meeting of well over 100 potential exhibitors and other stakeholders in our industry on 12 July at the Ricoh, there was no doubting everyone’s agreement that the Executive Hire Show offered the way back to the more exciting days in our industry when suppliers, buyers, media and trade associations all had an integral and important part to play in shaping our future. The new event represents a great challenge and responsibility to all of us to provide a meaningful forum that no-one can afford to miss. The organisers have to convince our suppliers that they can return to a winning formula along the lines of the earlier Hirex events, but with new content relevant to the challenges we will all be facing in the coming years. By a strange coincidence, the first exhibitions were held at a time of serious conflict in the Middle East and rapidly rising oil prices. Our industry rose to, and prospered from, the challenges of the early seventies because we were informed, united and dynamic. The Executive Hire Show has a major opportunity to facilitate our needs today because, in the era of the internet and all the other sleight of hand that exists today, there is still no substitute for a magazine you can read, a machine you can examine and a knowledgeable person you can discuss your future requirements with. I am sure they will all be at the Executive Hire Show in force next year. Executive Hire News › Archives › August 2006 › Crosshire › Worth being sent to Coventry
|
