The largest show for diversification has closed its doors for another year. Event director Reece Morris shares some staggering facts and figures.
Before we officially say goodbye to the Farm Business Innovation Show 2019 and its sister hospitality and tourism shows, we thought it was only right that we emphasise our fantastic achievements. We are so proud to have pulled this event off and are looking forward to making the show even better for next year.
Facts and figures
We have been blown away with the feedback we received from our show and have put together some stats from the questionnaires and emails we sent out. Firstly, our shows welcomed 17,890 visitors, which was a massive 27 per cent increase from last year!
Within the Farm Business Innovation Show alone, our visitors held job titles which could be best described as:
● Holiday Parks, Camping and Glamping: 18%
● Rural Businesses: 17%
● Retail: 14%
● Land/Country House Owners: 22%
● Land Agents: 8%
● Equestrian Businesses: 5%
● Farm Attractions: 16%
Out of these attendees, 90 per cent are looking to attend the 2020 show. This comes as no surprise when we consider that 70 per cent of visitors said meeting exhibitors was the most beneficial element of the event. When it comes to our exhibitors, over 96 per cent have said they are happy with the diversity of the visitors, bringing new business opportunities and leads. In fact, 78 per cent of visitors purchased from our exhibitors at the show, and many of our exhibitors confirmed they’d be doing further business with potential buyers post show.
Due to this, 90 per cent of exhibitors re-booked for 2020 on the days of the show!
Plans for next year
We strive to make each year’s show better than the last, to ensure that our visitors get the necessary tools they require to diversify their land. For next year’s show, we are capping the size, so that we can focus on the exhibitors we have, and on making the whole experience as useful as possible.
With this in mind, we have a couple of new ideas up our sleeves, which we hope will make the day even more beneficial for our visitors and exhibitors. These include an awards ceremony stage, where we can showcase our amazing nominees, and their products and services, in front of a live audience. We would also like to put an emphasis on our Panel Debates, which proved to be a very popular fixture, by expanding the range of topics across each show.
OAB’s Top Picks
Logspan
Logspan is a family owned business that is dedicated to selling affordable, quality timber products, from BBQ huts to log cabin houses. Custom builds are a speciality and the team can design to your specification at no extra cost.
The Finman range offers great value for money, with a BBQ hut expecting to return a profit within two years and the glamping range in just one year (based on £75 rental per night of a 17m2 Finman Sleeper Cabin at 25 per cent occupancy). www.logspan.com
Scrub Shack
The Scrub Shack is a fully functioning ‘off-grid’ washroom. Without the need for mains electricity, it can be transported easily to remote locations. Scrub Shack incorporates a generous shower cubicle, sink, toilet and a wood-fired water boiler.
The oak frame is clad with either locally sourced oak or beech boards and the boiler will produce up to 80 litres of hot water in just 20 minutes. The alfresco kitchen area features an oak work-top, ceramic sink, log store and fire hose. www.scrubshack.co.uk
Meerkat Marquees
Offering traditional marquee and colourful big top hire, Meerkat Marquees’ versatile range caters for any event need. With 30 years’ experience, the company is well respected and enthusiastic about making large scale events and private parties happen without a hitch. Check out The Big Red, a real circus tent with standing capacity of 1,600 or around 500 seated at round tables. It has 13 foot side walls and a four king pole truss with 20 foot cupola. www.meerkatmarquees.com
VRC Modular
The SleepNeat from VRC Modular offers landowners a franchise opportunity for a luxury self-contained hotel room. Modules measure 8.8m x 3.4m and contain everything a guest would require, except the sheets and towels! Developed for lifestyle and farm business diversification, as well as opening up opportunities for wedding venues, rentals are managed from a dedicated booking portal.
The SleepNeat brand offers uniform luxury from site to site and offers a way to build a premium business with a one-off investment for a multi decade income. www.vrcmodular.co.uk
GigLoo
Revealed at the show, GigLoo’s Insuite pod is the newest innovation to be added to its range. Inspired by a growing demand for high end and private facilities in the flourishing glamping market, the Insuite offers customers the chance to indulge themselves in a contemporary styled hotel standard en-suite shower room while also fully immersing themselves in the countryside outside.
The co-polymer construction offers great eco-credibility, being entirely recyclable. GigLoo also offers 10 year body warranties on all new builds. www.gigloo.co.uk
Date for the Diary
The Farm Business Innovation Show 2020 will take place at the NEC, Birmingham, on 11-12 November.
