| Rand Show gets a new northern home |
|
|
| Written by Thabiso Mphelo | |
| Tuesday, 18 November 2008 | |
|
In its 114-year history, the Rand Show has had three homes - and it is about to move for the fourth time. In 2009, it will be held at Gallagher Estate in the north. AFTER more than two decades at the Expo Centre at Nasrec, the Rand Show is moving - right across town. For the past 23 years the 114-year-old show has been held each Easter holiday at Nasrec, in Soweto, in the south; in 2009, it will be held at Gallagher Estate in Midrand, in the north. And along with the new venue, the organisers are promising a more "energised" show. According to Gordon Metz, the chief executive of Kagiso Exhibitions, owners of the show, 2009 will mark a major redirection for the Rand Show. "While many fly-by-nights have tried to emulate the Rand Show model, none have managed to successfully stage a show that delivers on visitor value for money and exhibitor return on investment. "It has evolved from a humble agricultural show since it was founded in 1895 and it has a proud 114-year track record staging South Africa's best loved shopping and entertainment extravaganza. It remains an icon in Joburg's colourful history," Metz says. The Rand Show has developed and smoothly grown into a major consumer exhibition and economic hub, with more than 600 exhibitors each year, many of whom base their entire fiscal performance on the business generated at the show. Metz says that to this day it is still the biggest consumer exhibition in Africa and the second largest in the world, outside the United States, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors - in 2007, a total of 453 574 people passed through the turnstiles. "It has created thousands of direct employment opportunities and put an equal number of entrepreneurial businesses on the map." He says the move to Gallagher Estate is an important strategic change, in line with a major re-alignment and re-assessment of the show's offering to South Africa's multicultural consumer market, presenting thoroughly exciting and fresh opportunities. "The 11-day, power-packed show heralds an entire revamp of the Rand Show, offering more in line with rapidly changing consumer spending patterns, economic climate and social make-up. "Major changes include a shortening of duration of the show and a repositioning in terms of the exhibitor offering to encompass home, lifestyle and leisure products for the South African consumer that delivers a happy medium between affordability and over the top exclusivity," Metz says. "Visitor numbers have been pegged at 300 000 [over the 11 days of next year's show], in line with the capacity of the new venue." In previous years the show was, on average, 17 days long. Metz adds that the move opens an exiting new chapter in the Rand Show's history and will deliver a show that is in touch, relevant, a premium business platform, and a major contributor to Gauteng's economy. The 11-day show will take place from 3 to 13 April 2009, at Gallagher Estate in Midrand.
History Previously known as Milner Park, it was the venue for the Rand Show from 1907 to 1984. The show was organised by the Witwatersrand Agricultural Society, which was established in 1894. The first show was opened by Paul Kruger in that year, when Joburg was just eight years old. It was held again in the next two years, but was not held during the Anglo-Boer War. The show was only re-instated in 1907, and moved from its previous site between the old Fort and Milner Park to Milner Park itself, at that time described as "an old brickfield pockmarked by large holes left by excavations". It was an institution in Johannesburg's early life and, in 1936, it was converted into the Empire Exhibition, which coincided with the city's 50th anniversary. The Rand Show, or the Rand Easter Show as it was previously known, was held at Milner Park until 1985, when it moved to the Expo Centre. Related links: |
