Interview
10 YEARS ON THE WAY TO SUCCESS
- Alexei, Media Globe issues “Construction Equipment and Technologies” and “ComTrans” specialized magazines. It also arranges “Construction Equipment and Technologies” and “ComTrans” exhibitions. How and why did the idea of doing business in commercial vehicles and construction equipment emerge?
- First I’d like to stress that it really started 10 years ago. Our company was officially registered on May, 23, 1999. but the staff only launched into the project by April, 1. Actually, today we are celebrating two dates at once - the official and the unofficial anniversaries. Our friends noted: “Your joke was felicitous”, hinting at April Fool’s day. Now about commercial vehicles and construction equipment. Maybe it is serendipity. The thing is that some of our employees and I used to work for a company organizing construction equipment exhibitions and advertising. We had some experience in this sphere. The idea of “ComTrans” is fully mine. It was a period that followed the 1998 crisis, the industry only started developing and we had some ideas of setting up a specialized show and edition about commercial vehicles, especially since there was nothing of that kind in the market.
– What was Media Globe like at that time?
– We were a staff of 5-6 people. Eventually we employed more, but I’d like to emphasize we are not a big but very efficient company today. We are able to cope with tasks that require more employees in other companies.
– What was the most serious challenge facing your company at the beginning?
– They are mainly connected with issuing a magazine. It was an absolutely new activity for us. We had to learn and gain experience. Russian economy was brittle after the slump and we had difficulties in collecting commercials. But we survived in 1999 and there was a considerable growth in both directions after exhibitions in 2000.
– As far as I remember, the first “Construction Equipment and Technologies” and “ComTrans” exhibitions were held separately in Moscow. They were conducted jointly in 2001. What was the reason?
– Our customers, partners and we ourselves were interested in joining the two exhibitions. A number of construction and commercial machinery manufacturers proposed to integrate these lines and cut down the participation expenses. It was a mutually beneficial idea. We could attract new visitors. It would be convenient for regional specialists to arrive in Moscow and discuss the option of acquiring both commercial and construction vehicles with vendors.
– Anyway both exhibitions moved to Crocus Expo in 2005 and have been held separately since then.
– To tell the truth, it was more convenient for us to hold them at Khodynskoe field as we enjoyed, so to say, ultimate strategical freedom there. Media Globe rented exhibition malls and hired other companies that organized shows according to tender results. Thus we were independent of enormous numbers of suppliers and services pressed on you in any mall. With the growth of integrated exhibitions we exhausted the area of Khodynskoe field. Besides, Moscow authorities announced Khodynka reconstruction and development plans. The space is not the only reason, exhibitions required higher standards which only state-of-the-art exhibition malls, like Crocus Expo, can provide. Frankly speaking, I have always dreamt of opening a real truck showroom in Russia similar to those in Amsterdam and Hannover. I am happy to have received support from the manufacturers.
- Judging by COMTRANS’2008 European luster, you have realized your ambition to a great extent. Speaking of “Construction Equipment and Technologies”, it has been recognized the largest international annual construction show.
– In fact, we can boast high results. Media Globe’s exhibition “Construction Equipment and Technologies” is the greatest annual event in construction machinery and technologies. “ComTrans” has achieved a European standard and as a result received the backing of The Union Of Russian Automotive Producers. It is also included in the official calendar of the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles (OICA).
Our publishing activity is as successful. Our “Construction Equipment and Technologies” and “ComTrans” magazines have won recognition in their spheres. “ComTrans” is a recipient of many a distinguished award: when there was “The auto journalist of the year”, our magazine won in the nomination “The best transport edition” six years in a row. There were no such contests in construction though, but according to professionals, “Construction Equipment and Technologies” is by right the most authoritative magazine. Today it is globally known, so we had to introduce some changes in covering the material, as you noticed in the first issue of this year.
Unlike other editions we did not exceed our circulation and today we feel confident and despite depression in advertising market we keep on releasing our edition. As soon as the market is stabilized, things will improve quite quickly, I imagine.
– So the crisis is no hindrance to Media Globe. If I get it right, it is not going to intermit its exhibition activity.
– Absolutely. This year exhibition “Construction Equipment and Technologies” will take place anyway and we will celebrate our official anniversary. We are still working on COMTRANS’2010. Our partners and I hope Russian economy will recover by the end of the year.
Taking the opportunity, I would like to express gratitude to all our partners for cooperation and wish them to overcome this complicated period with minimal loss and even benefit from it. The Media Globe staff deserve profound gratitude for their 10 year loyalty. Thanks to these people our company is a leader in the market. The fact that most of our employees have worked here for more than 7 years is the highest achievement of our career.
Factfile
Striganov Alexei Andreyevich.
Date of birth: October, 20, 1973.
A degree in marketing of the economics department at Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO-UNIVERSITY), Russian Foreign Ministry
Married, with two children.
