Do's and Don'ts of Exhibiting

There are some rules from Christchurch City Council perspective that need to be followed.  Legally EENZ Ltd is required to enforce these.  Below is an outline of these rules and a few others designed to ensure fairness to all involved.  If you need ANY further explanation don’t hesitate to call Shannon Gallagher on 096 976 8307 or 021 619 902.

Alcohol

• Alcohol is NOT PERMITTED during build-up and breakdown.
• If you intend to supply any alcohol whatsoever (ie. for sale, sample or hospitality) during the show, you require a Special Liquor Licence which needs to be applied for to the council.

• If you have any queries about the liquor licences and the requirements and information for obtaining one please contact:  Martin Ferguson 03 941 8827 or email

Aisles

The aisles are legally required to be a certain width; this can vary in some exhibitions depending on the number of visitor’s etc.  It is imperative, that exhibitors keep within their contracted square metreage and do not encroach into the aisle space, for us to be able to maintain these legal requirements. 

Exits and emergency equipment must not be obstructed.  During build-up please ensure that aisles are cleared of all debris ASAP

Animals

• Animals are not permitted within the grounds of the exhibition venue.

Banners / Hanging signs / Double Height Panels

• It is not permitted to hang banners or signage which backs onto another stand without the permission of that exhibitor prior to the exhibition.  All rope, chain, nylon etc used in hanging signs from walls and trusses must be removed at breakdown. 
• If you are planning to have double–height panels and are not on a perimeter wall, you will need to check with the stands behind and around you to make sure they have no objections.
• Please make sure you obtain written permission / approval from your neighbouring stands and forward copies to Shannon Gallagher by fax on 09 358 1997 or email: If permission from your neighbours is not obtained, EENZ reserve the right to have the panels removed.
  

Children

• Please note that children are not permitted at the venue at all times during build-up and breakdown.  This is an OSH requirement as during build-up and break-down the area becomes a construction zone and unsafe for children.

Cooking

• If using heating or cooking appliances, approval must be obtained from the Council.  When food is cooked for demonstration purposes and provided for visitors to taste, exhibitors must have a supply of clean hot water, soap and a clean hand towel available on their stand.  Bowls for hand washing and utensils are to be provided. You must also have a current / valid fire extinguisher and fire blanket clearly visible on the stand. 

Council Enquiries

• It is the exhibitor’s responsibility to apply for consent so if you are in any doubt please contact:  Julie Hand – Christchurch City Council – Phone 03 941 6212 or email

Fire / Evacuation Process

• At the sound of the fire alarm, please leave immediately at the nearest exit and proceed to an area well clear of buildings.   Remain there until the all clear sign is given.  Please follow the instructions of EENZ personnel and Hall Supervisors.

Fire Places

• If you are having or installing a free standing fireplace (gas or solid fuel) on your stand you must have this done by a registered installer and apply for consent from the council.  If you have any queries about the actual consent please contact Julie Hand – Christchurch City Council – Phone 03 941 6212 or email

Fixing of Stands

• Display stands must be of a free standing nature. You are not permitted to drill into the floor or walls for any reason, any damage of this kind will be charged to the exhibitor.
• If you are using double-sided tape to fix carpet or floor covering to the floor please use a clear double-sided tape (sellotape brand) - it is very easy to remove afterwards.  DO NOT use DANCO tape - it is impossible to remove.

Foodstall Health Certificates

• Exhibitors who are selling food at exhibitions are required to obtain a health certificate. 

• Please visit http://www.ccc.govt.nz/health/forms/GeneralLicenceApplication.pdf  to obtain a form. If you require any further information, please contact Stephen Stout, Environmental Health Officer on 03 941 8486 or email:
• Any person giving away or selling food should have basic facilities available at their stand for good hand hygience, suitable for safe food storage, and if cooking, suitable safety measures in place.

• Note:  If you are giving away food at no charge, you do not need a certificate.
  

Gas Cylinders

• Council restricts the total amount of gas inside an area at a show.  The current limit is 100kg of gas inside the permanent hall and 100kg in the temporary pavilion.  If you are using LPG gas on your stand you MUST let us know.
• Council has the right to close down the show if our gas cylinder limit is over the 100kg.
• If you intend on using LPG Gas cylinders at the show you MUST contact Shannon Gallagher PRIOR to exhibitor build-up and show open.  Please email in the following format to: 

YES we intend to use LPG at the Canterbury Home Show 2011.  We intend to have (number of cylinders)__________(size of bottles eg 45kg) LPG cylinders at the show.

• All LPG fuelled appliances must be installed and tested for leaks by a licensed gas fitter before they are used.  Prior to show open, Gas cylinders, exposed gas pipes and all connections to the cylinder must be protected from damage at all times.  All personnel on the stand must be informed of the requirements for the use and storage of gas bottles.

Height

• If you are planning on building a structure over 2.3 metres in height you will require a building consent from the council.  See Council Enquiries in this section.
• You will also need to make sure you obtain written permission/approval from your neighbouring stands and please forward copies to Shannon Gallagher by fax on 09 358 1997 or email:

Hotwater Cylinders

• Exhibitors who are installing hot water cylinders must first obtain permission from the council.  Please contact Julie Hand – Christchurch City Council – Phone 03 941 6212 or email

Materials / Fabrics

• Flammable materials are not permitted on stands without first being fireproofed.  Below is a list of approved fabrics and of those that need to be proofed.

Approved Fabrics

• Wool Cloth
• Sail Cloth – dacron or small areas of mylar with dacron backing
• Nylon Tafetta
• Polycarbonates
• Thick panel plastic

Fabrics that need to be Fireproofed

• Cottons
• Straw / Hay
• Polystyrene
• Crepe Paper

• Bitmus building paper is not permitted but Flamestop building paper is okay.
• Polystyrene for letterwork is restricted to 40% of wall area in display. Sheets of polystyrene are restricted to 30% of wall area. 

 

Scaffolding and Platforms

• All scaffolding must conform to the Department of Labour heavy scaffolding standards.  Handrails are required on all stairs over 5 risers high.  1 riser approx 180 mm.
• An extra 1-2 rails are required under the handrail on platforms, stepping in planking must be tapered to prevent tripping.

 

Exhibiting Etiquette

Build up

Plan your stand build up time during the quieter times. These tend to be on the first build up day and early in the morning. It works to your benefit i.e

• Reduces stress as your stand is built and ready to go.
• Forklifts and staff are more readily available.

Please be aware from the time that you are onsite at the show that all exhibitors, contractors and show staff are busy just like you and most people will have been stuck in traffic and their day hasn’t gone to plan. We are all in the same boat.
At times the access both inside and outside of the venue can become blocked so please consider your fellow exhibitors, contractors and on site staff when you are at the venue.
Keep in mind the following suggestions:

• Don’t park in the no parking zones (there is a reason that they are no parking zones)
• Try to avoid blocking aisles for long periods of time. Slowly placing one thing on your stand at a time can be very irritating for other exhibitors that are trying to get to their stand.
• When booking the forklift, expect delays, our supervisors work as hard as they can to move stock as quickly as possible.

Show days

All exhibitors are there to gain maximum exposure to the show visitors. As your stand space is valuable to you, and so is your next door neighbour’s, observing the following points may assist in developing a good workable relationship during the show.

• If you need to take a mobile call and don’t want to do this on your stand, please go outside and continue your conversation.
• Stay inside your stand space when talking to visitors or invite them onto your stand. Please do not conduct your business in the aisles or give out pamphlets. Blocked aisles are not only disadvantaging the stands around you they are also a safety risk.
• If you use a microphone as part of your selling tool, please keep the volume down. The people 4 stands away don’t need to hear about your product until they get to your stand.

Breakdown

Our biggest complaint is from those visitors that visit the show towards to the end of the last day thinking that it will be a quieter time and find there are exhibitors that have packed up already and gone home. While it may seem to you that the end of the show is the time that you are not likely to sell as much, please consider that there are still a lot of people looking to purchase and wanting to find out about products. It is unfair for a visitor to come along to see a whole show and only experience a portion of it. So please, don’t breakdown until 10 minutes after the show close announcement has been made.

Lets all work together to make the show as enjoyable an experience as we can. Please feel free to contact Shannon Gallagher on 021 619 902 if you experience any issues.

Have a Great Show!

New Zealand Home Shows Team