Happy birthday to «Mall Expo»!

At last it has happened! The "Mall Expo" Exhibition in Ukraine celebrated its birth. Contrary to traditional expectations and forecasts of unfriendly structures there was no spoil before spin. Certainly it did not beat the Moscow exhibition of the same name but even the comparison of these twin export shows was evidently complimentary to the organizers. Having broken all records in minimal terms for organizing and having met the deadline of 4 months the organizing committee attained the major strategic goal: the first exhibition took place and the absolute majority of its participants were satisfied.

The risk of participation in the first exhibition connected with multiple nuances was fully awarded by the number of potentially interesting contacts and arrangements, by the possibility of attending the international conference "Retailtainment in Ukraine" held within the frames of the exhibition, by warm relation of the organizers. Each company that became the exponent of "Mall Expo" 2008 felt their involvement in what was going around and was an active live particle thereof. The organizers attracted 48 companies as direct exponents having occupied the planned 1000 sq. m.; 170 companies took part in the conference with a very interesting geographic origin of the guests: Russia, Byelorussia, Moldova, Poland, Italy, Great Britain, Sweden, Austria, and Belgium.

It is well known that similar attracts similar. Young dynamic and moderately ambitious organizing committee attracted the companies capable of making quick decisions and implementing them in life. The "Megaline" Building Company from Odessa has won an absolute record in taking quick constructive decisions. Though the Company got to know about the "Mall Expo" exhibition with some delay, their team managed to create the original art conception of the stand and to prepare the report for the conference during only a week having surprised even optimistic organizers with their tempos.

The decision of the participating in the exhibition by the Ukrainian office of "Cushman &Wakefield" was taken within the period not much longer. Konstantin Sakharov, the representative of the Moscow office, was the moderator of the "Commercial realty" section at the conference. Russia was presented at the exhibition by the "Ross Group" company, one of the leading companies in the commercial realty market. Illya Afraimovich addressed the conference as a speaker. Ukrainian Mall was also supported by Russian retail operators - "Eldorado", "Moss Mart", "Vester" and "Child's World". At this stage of development the market of Ukraine is very interesting to Russian retailers. This was the subject of speeches of Igor Tsybenko, the President of "Vester Ukraine", and Vladimir Aleksandrovskiy, commercial realty direct of the "Child's World" network.

"Larry Smith International", the Italian company and "KCC Entertainment Design", the Belgian company, became the pioneers from far abroad among the participants. The stylish stand of the "Larry Smith International" company beautified the exposition as one of the brightest and faultless from the point of view of the latest display fashion. The reports of the representatives of these companies at the conference were also interesting.

Certainly, the major part of the exposition consisted of the objects of commercial-entertainment centers presentation: DEOL Partners from Kiev presented the largest nowadays project of Ukraine in the new format - Mall of Ukraine; "Panorama group" presented the CEC "Dneprovskaya Pristan'" in Kiev and the CEC "Sun gallery" in Krivoy Rog; Donetsk was presented by the "Domus" company with the projects of the commercial center ‘Continent", commercial-office center "Green Plaza" and the 2nd stage of the commercial entertainment center "Donetsk city"; Odessa was presented by the "Megaline" Company (CEC "Riviera") and by the PE "Glavbytprom" (MFC "Luxemburg"); Mariupol presented the CEC "Bravo" and the CEC "Mariupol-city"; Kramatorsk presented the "City park" of the Construction Alliance of Donetsk Basin. DEPOT development group presented all Ukrainian network of commercial entertainment centers DEPOT including the projects in Chernovtsy, Krivoy Rog, Zaporozhye, Donetsk and Yalta. Probably, from the point of view of visitors the number of projects could have been larger but the companies that decided to participate in the 3rd Mall Expo were awarded for vigor. Their stands enjoyed high attention of potential lessees, which was the main goal of attending. The organizers made several strategically interesting steps, one of them being a program of loyalty to the exponents.

The "Retailtainment in Ukraine" conference was undoubtedly the major event of Mall expo Ukraine and it informational core. The three topical sections dedicated to key problems of projecting and functioning commercial entertainment centers enjoyed striking success both with the speakers and listeners. 24 speakers from Europe, Russia and Ukraine, including the representatives of such companies as Colliers, Jones Lang LaSalle, sds-I Ltd, Centrumutveckling Mall branding, ASTERA, World Franchise Centre & World Franchise Associates Ltd, Stuff ID took the advantage of passing to the audience their experience, achievements and problems. It can be said with assurance that the pool of speakers was presented by the elite of commercial realty of Europe at least Among the most Charismatic speakers capable of inflaming the audience was Andrey Kupriyanov, Development Director of the GLANCE trade mark, and Andrey Kalmykov, the manager of the Trade Help company. Many companies and mass media supported the organizers in their initiatives. "Liter navigation" has supported the exhibition by providing technical equipment. "Espresso Philosophy" and "L'Kafa" helped to keep the participants in tonus by offering coffee and cakes. The companies "Liga-Nova" and "Son-tse" also made their contributions. A large role was imposed by the organizers on media partners. They became real co-organizers of the exhibition having provided advertising and PR company to the event thus allowing significant minimization of the budget.

The start of the Mall Expo was more than successful and timely. The "Alaska" company showed its extraordinary capabilities to effective strategies and a good vital potential. It is evident that all compromises to which the organizers were forced became justified by positive results. The exhibition took place and became the beginning of the new stage of history of commercial realty in Ukraine. The organizers' efforts were returned hundredfold by thankful references of the participants, by the contracts concluded for 2009, by reliable partners found and by fascinating prospects of development. Source: Best Entertainment