Expo Centric WA is a joint venture between two existing companies – Expo Centric, which already has bases in Sydney and Melbourne – and Perth-founded hire and event management outfit Event Mill.
The new WA exhibition company will offer custom exhibition stands and event environments, with manufacturing of custom requirements at a 2,200m2 facility in the Perth suburb of Jandakot, exhibition show builds, retail displays and brand installations.
“This is much bigger than opening another office,” said Expo Centric CEO, Stan Kruss.
“We are building genuine large-scale exhibition and event production capability in Western Australia.
“I have personally been travelling to Perth to deliver exhibition stands since 2008, and the cost of transporting major builds from the east coast has continued to climb.
“In many cases, a client can spend around $50,000 more simply because their event is in Perth rather than Sydney.
“That money should be invested in creating a more impressive experience, not moving trucks and teams across the country.
“Expo Centric WA allows us to put that investment back into the stand, the activation and the audience experience.
“We have worked in the Western Australian market for many years, and we see enormous opportunity here.
“The market is continuing to grow, brands are becoming more ambitious in what they want to create, and we believe the time is right to make a substantial long-term investment in local capability.
“If you want to materially change what can be delivered in a market, you need the infrastructure behind it,” said Kruss.
“That means having the space to manufacture and pre-build major projects, the equipment and technology required to produce them and importantly, the people on the ground who can deliver them.
“We are investing in all of those areas because this is not a short-term expansion for Expo Centric. We see Western Australia as an important part of our national business for the long term.”
Expo Centric WA joins other WA-based exhibition builders and manufacturers, including the likes of PERTHEXPO, which has a sizeable manufacturing facility.
The partnership with Event Mill gives Expo Centric WA established local knowledge and connections right from the get-go.
“Expo Centric brings an enormous amount of specialist exhibition experience, design capability and national knowledge to the partnership, while Event Mill brings an established WA operation, local relationships, event production experience and a detailed understanding of this market,” said Event Mill director Jesse Wilson.
“The important part for us is that this is not simply an east coast business opening a sales office in Perth.
“We are investing in the people, equipment, manufacturing capability and infrastructure required to deliver these projects properly here in Western Australia.
“That means more work can be designed, manufactured, pre-built and delivered locally, giving clients greater flexibility, certainty and access to the production process while also supporting local employment and suppliers.”
Adds fellow director at Event Mill, Nick Spencer: “The opportunity extends well beyond individual exhibition stands.
“From complete exhibition and show builds through to major brand activations, event environments, retail displays and permanent installations, we now have the space, equipment, technology and team required to deliver significant projects locally.
“We have made a substantial investment from day one because we want Expo Centric WA to become one of the leading exhibition and event production businesses in Western Australia.”
