Happy 15th Birthday to Expo Centric! 🎉🎈
Turning 15 in March this year means Expo Centric has hit yet another milestone, moving through infancy and childhood and through the growth spurt that we all remember from our teenage years.
The past fifteen years have been an incredible journey for us, filled with growth, development, and moments of uncertainty as we’ve navigated our path. But we wouldn’t trade it for anything. Today, we are proud to be leaders in our industry, having weathered both highs and lows. As we look ahead, we are eager to consolidate our position over the next fifteen years and become even better at what we already do so well.
But before we forge ahead, let’s take a moment to revisit how it all began and reflect on the journey that has shaped us into the dynamic company we are today. So, here we go!
Humble Beginnings in 2009
Cast your mind back to the heady days of 2009: Barack Obama’s inauguration as the 44th US President, the passing of Michael Jackson, fondly known as the King of Pop, and the mourning following Australia’s deadliest bushfires in history, Black Saturday. It was amidst this backdrop that Expo Centric was registered as a company after landing its first job.
The first significant milestone arrived in September 2009, with $400K worth of work across four shows, all managed by just two of us working out of a tiny bedroom in Stan Kruss’ our founder and CEO’s home. It was a thrilling adrenaline rush and the start of something amazing as we embarked on our journey to become the best exhibition stand builders in the country.
A special thanks goes out to Simplot, our very first client, who trusted us and took the plunge to work with us well before our track record was established.
Turning one
A year later, we were well and truly up and running, finding our stride and expanding the team from two to eight members. The bold decision was made to move out of the bedroom and into an office in Manly Vale, which became our home for the next twelve months.
A Groundbreaking Decision
With new clients coming on board steadily, Expo Centric signed an exclusive agreement with Aluvision to bring their LED offerings to Australia. An industry first.
Eco-Friendly Stands: A Market First
In 2010, with awareness of climate change increasing globally, and the urgent need to act now, Stan made the bold decision to transition from timber to more eco-friendly materials. This market-leading decision, which has since become the benchmark for all competitors, was groundbreaking and innovative at the time.
Amongst our incredible and growing client base, MLC and NAB were standouts in that first year.
The Terrible Twos
In another industry first Expo Centric where the first exhibition company to use hologram technology, first with HoloCube and then with Hypervsn. And Novartis became a cornerstone client.
A Proud Moment
Expo Centric was incredibly honoured and delighted to be chosen by a number of international companies to manage their Australian launches.
Four Years In… 40 Staff and Growing!
By 2013, with four years under our belt, the growth continued. To cope with the mounting workload, and now forty or so staff on board, the decision was made to move to a larger facility that accommodated fabrication and machinery automation. We made the move to Lane Cove, in Sydney’s leafy north.
Some of our favourite work that year included…
Five Years in and Award Ceremonies galore…
As Expo Centric consolidated its position as a future-driven exhibition company, we were proud winners of numerous awards:
- BWR Fast 100, BRW Magazine
- Display of Excellence, Sydney International Boat Show
- 2014’s Hot 30 under 30, www.smartcompany.com.au
- 2014 Anthill Smart 100, anthillonline.com
And the journey continued…
2016: A Powerhouse Client Comes On Board
With yet another location move because of our incredible growth, this time to our current premises in Rydalmere, Sydney, Expo Centric was privileged to be appointed by the NSW Government to support small businesses in food, defense, and technology industries at major trade shows.
The relationship has lasted, with Expo Centric having a solid partnership with the NSW Government. A testament to our relentless focus on customer service and great work.
2019: Double Digits!
As we turned 10, we continued leading the industry in innovative ways, pushing the envelope with integrated technology via LED screens and delivering great work.
The Biggest Challenge Was Yet to Come!
In 2020, COVID-19 saw 96% of events canceled and staffing reduced from 60 to 10.
Read our blog to see how we survived COVID.
In 2021, as we started to emerge from COVID, Expo Centric were honoured to be appointed by a new client Petbarn to execute a brand activation across 157 stores . Despite the extraordinary circumstances COVID posed, in terms of limitations in transport, materials supply and logistics, our team worked tirelessly to execute an incredible nationwide activation.
Read More; Petbarn’s The Nosh Project in the link below.
2021: Back on Our Feet!
Fast forward through these challenging years, we regrouped in 2021, put put the past behind us and set about leading the rebuilding of the exhibition industry in Australia. With resilience and determination, we designed, created, and built for our loyal and new clients as trade shows began to reemerge nationally.
We were back in our groove! Here’s some of our favourite client displays from a bumper year in 2023.
2024 and now the big 15!
Today, with over 70 staff and a sprawling 3,000 sqm of manufacturing facilities and storage space, we’re poised to take the Exhibition Industry to the next level.
Most importantly, what has made our business so strong, grown so fast, and survived the devastation of a global pandemic is our loyal, hardworking team here at Expo Centric.
Many of our team members have been with us since the early days. Their dedication and commitment to ensuring our clients are delighted with the stunning displays we create is unparalleled. Our team continues to push boundaries in design, technology, and finishes, ensuring seamless execution from start to finish. More recently Stan has made the bold move to open an office and expand our support team in the Philippines. A huge shout out to all our wonderful growing team based in the Philippines.
A huge thanks to the incredible team!
“Through it all, one thing has remained constant: the passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment of every member of the Expo Centric family. It’s the people who have made this journey so incredible, and it’s their hard work, creativity, and camaraderie that continue to drive us forward.
I would like to especially thank and acknowledge Ben, Tony, Rob, Arlly, Wenjie, Jess, Jordan, Tracy & Ronnie, who have spent a combined 71 years by my side helping to build Expo Centric.
And thanks to our wonderful clients!
So, here’s to 15 years of dreams realised, challenges overcome, and memories made. Here’s to the next 15 years of pushing boundaries, exceeding expectations, and creating experiences that leave our clients speechless.
Happy birthday, Expo Centric! Let’s raise a toast to the past, the present, and the exciting future ahead. 🥳🎂