Kimberley Wood

For British Marine’s Event Production Manager, Kimberley Wood, the busiest time of the year is just about to commence. Southampton International Boat Show is just weeks away, and it’s her role to ensure that Britain’s largest boating and watersports festival runs smoothly. 

This year taking place from 13 to 22 September, the 10-day extravaganza provides a dazzling showcase of the diversity of the British leisure marine industry; from paddleboards to sailing boats, powerboats to superyachts. With over 350 exhibitors, 600 brands and hundreds of boats on display; Europe’s largest purpose-built show marina, plenty of opportunities to get on the water and give it a go for free including the huge watersports lake, live music and DJ sets, stunt shows and a whole host of other attractions, over 100,000 visitors are expected. 

Kimberley plays an instrumental role in planning and delivering a spectacular show that not only entertains and informs, but also provides vital sales and networking opportunities for the industry. The challenge comes in balancing the varied needs and interests of exhibitors and visitors alike while striving to exceed the expectations of all. 

Regardless of what particular interest draws each visitor to the show, Kimberley has this year ensured that arriving at the venue is as straightforward yet stand-out an experience as possible, with significant improvements to signage and an exciting re-vamp to the entrance exhibits. This, she says, “ensures visitors arrive in a positive frame of mind, feeling ready to embrace the buzz of the show and get the most from their day out”. Additional seating, a fresh take on catering and late-night entertainment experiences at The Shipyard have also been added.

Streamlining the arrival process for exhibitors too has also been a key focus; all pre-show information and forms are now available digitally under one log-in, and the accreditation app trialled last year has been further refined, allowing exhibitors to pre-book a time slot for set-up to eliminate admin on arrival. This leaves exhibitors to dedicate their time to building their stand and maximising sales opportunities. 

With around 600 exhibitors attending of all sizes, Kimberley says: “For all exhibitors, big or small, we recognise the importance of the show to them, and the importance of their part in our industry. Whether they have a 3x3m stand or a 200sqm stand, all exhibitors have access to the same level of support. For me, that may mean I’m liaising with a dedicated in-house events team for an established exhibitor one minute; the next I may be helping an individual who is attending the show for the first time to provide guidance on their infrastructure requirements; by offering all the necessary information in advance, we can help them to feel confident about coming to the show.”

“These busy final few weeks are the culmination of 12 months of thorough preparation that will have begun the moment last year’s show concluded – although I am often asked what I do for the rest of the year! Even before the show closes, we will already have started to collate feedback through surveys and social media. We also look to other shows throughout the year – both marine and non-marine – for ideas on segmentation, flow, catering, structures and so on, which are all important considerations in enhancing the visitor and exhibitor experience.