Marie – Claire Andrews is a multi talented 31 year old entrepreneurial who immigrated to New Zealand from England in 2001 to seek the kiwi lifestyle, and to join the “world leaders” in innovation and creative enterprise. After working numerous jobs including working as a PA, Project Manager and Sales Manager, in Brand Awareness, Capital Raising, Business Development and Investment, Marie – Claire is now the Vice President of the ExpoNZ business venture.

Expo NZ is the world’s first online National Expo promising to market the best of New Zealand to the international market in a simple, cost effective way that is great for the planet. Visitors and exhibitors are able to come together online to show case and get a taste of what New Zealand is all about from the comfort of their own homes. Just like a real expo, ExpoNZ  host’s a full range of virtual exhibition halls, trade booths, a conference centre where live conference-style presentations and online seminars are held, places to network and a library where archived resources are available for review.

So, after hearing about all of this we thought we would “come in and discover the new way of doing business” with Marie –Claire Andrews from Expo NZ.

 Online expo’s are a great idea! How and when did you come up with the idea?

 Thanks!  We researched the idea late 2008 and came to the conclusion that the timing was just right to bring the idea to New Zealand – broadband is getting better, the technology is so much better AND of course the recession is making people think more about their marketing dollar and their travel plans, their use of time, their productivity levels…

It’s a wonder they haven’t been done before?

Unfortunately I have to admit that they have.  There are about six or seven other platforms around the world that provide their technology to companies to run virtual conferences, tradeshows and expos.  But here in NZ there’s nothing like it, nothing that doesn’t require gaming abilities or the patience to download a system and create an avatar, or that’s not just another web portal.

How many of you are involved in Expo NZ?

We’re a team of four onshore, with a supporting cast in the US and in India.  

What is the shared vision for the company?

To harness cutting edge virtual technology to support New Zealand’s business and organisations to become more competitive, more productive, more sustainable and more connected.  In other words, be more successful nationally and internationally.

Tell us about your background and working history so far that that has
lead you to this point?

I’ve had a pretty varied work history so far which has always pointed to entrepreneuralism – 7 permanent jobs in as many years prompted me to start my own business in 2008! I’ve worked as an EA, a project manager, a sales manager, in brand awareness, capital raising, business development and investment! Right now I’m the Vice President of Virtual Expos NZ, and I am the manager of Angel HQ, Wellington’s angel investment club.

I immigrated to New Zealand in 2001, disillusioned with England’s weather, economic outlook, culture, overcrowding, taxes, class system, weather…!

The website has a lot of interesting applications and features, who have
you been working with to develop these?

We’re partners with Expos2 who are based in the US – they originally invented and built the platform and are now shareholders in our company, with their CEO a Director of our business too.  We have a team of awesome Flash developers in India who are responsible for the new look and feel that we’ve just launched.

For all the other online entrepreneurs out there may I ask how long this business venture has taken to develop and launch and as to what was involved?

We began researching the market, sourcing partners and planning in November 2008, formed the team and incorporated in December, began selling the platform in February and went live with our own show in July 2009.  So that’s nearly seven months of planning, researching, designing, building, researching, selling, selling, selling, talking, promoting, selling, selling, re-designing, changing our plans, selling, selling…..!!!  The technology is just a tiny part of the business – the challenge for us is that it’s a new market and our clients need time to become comfortable with a new way of working.  Virtual technology is not common place down under and we’ve spent a lot of time and energy on PR around the concept, as much as around our show and services.

What state do you think the New Zealand export market is in at the moment?

We’re working with clients who have genuine prospects internationally but need cost-effective ways to open conversations and close deals.  So I’d say cautiously optimistic and also determined.

I have heard that its quiet difficult to export small amounts of goods
into larger international markets such as Australia and Europe, what is
your opinion on this?

In my experience it’s hard as a sole operator – not just the cost of finding a distributor and paying for the logistics – but that the markets there expect a commitment to volume.  They’ve got a lot of consumers wanting product, and are nervous to commit to companies that they’re not sure can deliver.  From a software point of view I’ve come across reticence to purchase, even SaaS, as we’re perceived as so little by international purchasers, who worry about the support mechanisms if something goes wrong and what happens if we go out of business tomorrow.

Do you think ExpoNZ will make a significant change to these issues?

ExpoNZ is about portraying the elusive NZInc concept: that is, its all about critical mass and credibility through context.  Seeing the wider eco-system displayed around the company that you’re dealing with makes international trading partners more comfortable that the company has an infrastructure and value chain to support it.  So yes we hope it will make a big difference.

So you have launched the new website which is very exciting, what’s next?

The launch is just the first event – expect to see regular events running through ExpoNZ giving different industries and organisations the opportunity to take a booth and interact with an international audience.  We have events themed around education, innovation & entrepreneurship, investment, wine, film, sustainability and technology in the pipeline.  We’re also talking with potential partners for a more regular Job Fair as part of the Expo.

In regards to supporting other companies to run their own shows, we’re creating a toolkit of valuable IP that will position us as Virtual Event Producers Extraordinaire (!) making it easy and painless for others to give virtual events a go.

And ultimately, well, ExpoNZ is the first virtual national expo ever.  We’re building a product as well as a show around this concept, so within eighteen months we hope to be launching other virtual national expos around the world.  

Vist ExpoNZ at www.exponz.co.nz