The SOS exhibition is the UK’s main office products show brought together by wholesalers and distributors Spicers and featuring leading manufactures such as Hewlett Packard, Canon, Epson, Filofax , 3M, Bic, Fellowes, Brother, John Dickinson, ACCO, Pentel and Samsung.

Glasgows has been responsible for the design, manufacture, site plans and full site installation of this trade exhibition. Services provided also include liaison with exhibiting organisations regarding their individual stand requirements and the transport and logistics of exhibitors’ products.

The exhibition has evolved during the seven years it has been held ranging from a five venue schedule (Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, London and Dublin) to a single venue, the NEC, with full catering, presentation theatre and associated exhibition Christmas party.

The latest trade show comprised 78 exhibition stands and each year involves some unusual features such as a Sumo wrestling demonstration area created for Fellowes and a giant inflatable camera into which footballs could be kicked installed for Canon, to promote their sponsorship of the European Champions Football League and a hanging man to demonstrate the strength of Loctite adhesive. The show has also played host to an F1 Ferraris, games simulators and book signings by celebrity chefs Gordon Ramsey and James Martin as well as expeditionist Sir Ranulph Fiennes.

The exhibition has been laid out in a number of formats including the “village” concept with banners suspended above each area e.g. Print & Consumables Village. It has developed to a layout in the round giving equal prominence to all the exhibitors and enabling us to create a central catering hub providing food and refreshments. The show takes up 2650 sq m with the Spicers furniture stand being the largest stand at 152 sq m. The timing of the show in December, provides a focus on new products for the coming year and enables Spicers to launch its latest catalogue and online services.

A seminar area within the exhibition scheme enables presentations to take place throughout both days of the show providing another feature for visitors to learn about the latest in trends and technology.

A WiFi zone is provided within the exhibition area enabling visitors to keep in touch with their offices and customers whilst at the show.

In addition to the exhibition area, we also create a theatre area to host the SOS Business Experience. This theatre is use for pre-show presentations that make up one of the incentives for visitors to attend. Glasgows provides the AV and on the day event management support. Speakers have included Lord Coe and Kevin Connolly from the TV/radio show Deadringers, Sir Trevor Brooking, Karen Brady (Birmingham City FC), Olympic athlete Roger Black, football pundit Rodney Marsh and Simon Woodroffe, founder of YO! Sushi and of Dragon’s Den fame as well as Ruth Badger from the Apprentice, Gordon Ramsey and Sir Ranulph Fiennes.

The exhibition is held in Pavilion 1 at the NEC with the party taking place in both the Salamander Suite at the NEC (2002 – 2004) and the Hilton Hotel (2005 - 2007). We are currently working on this year’s event to take place in December at the NEC.

Services

• System design and manufacture
• Venue planning and layout
• Electrical installation
• Risk assessment
• Service provision:-
• mains electric orders
• water and waste orders
• telephony
• Furniture provision
• Floor coverings
• Catering management
• Registration management
• AV provision including plasmas, PA and projection
• Graphics coordination and production
• Build and de-rig
• Transport and logistics
• Organisation of exhibition party:-
• room dressing
• bar supervision
• courtesy coaches
• promotional staff

This project not only illustrates our ability to organise not just a single stand but a whole show itself.