Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

The research conducted under the coordination of Mardin Provinces and Districts Chambers/Commodity Exchanges Academic Supervisor and MAÜ Economy Department Academic Assoc. Prof Dr Mehmet Behzat Ekinci and contribution by students of Economy Department is in nature of joint study by Province and District Chambers/Exchange Commodities and Mardin Artuklu University (MAÜ).

Through this field study which was carried out together with participating firms of 2^nd Mardin Building Group, Construction and Repair Expo held in Mardin on 08-12 November 2017 at Mardin Movapark Expo Ground, basically it was aimed to reveal how the exhibition is being considered by the participating firms and also correspondingly to contribute to improvement of the exhibition furthermore by sharing the outcomes with relevant persons, establishments and public.

Through the study carried out by face to face survey with expo participants 22 firms from Mardin, 12 firms from outside of Mardin in total 34, the answers for following questions were tried to be obtained “How many times you attended this expo? What is the purpose of your participation to this expo? Which products you exhibit in this expo? What are your expectations from this expo, have those expectation been fulfilled? If you have previously participated this expo what kind of benefits did you have? Have you been able to establish any domestic commercial contact during this expo? What type of domestic commercial contacts you established during this expo? Have you been able to establish any abroad commercial contacts during this expo? What type of abroad commercial contacts you established during this expo? Have you ever come across with any type of problem during this expo?

Obtained answers within the scope of survey has been blended and evaluated by determining general situation. Some of the outcome of the study and related suggestions are as follows:

“22 (%65) of the firms that survey conducted with participated from Mardin and 12 (%35) of them from outside of Mardin.  22 (%65) of those firms have participated for the first time and rest participated for second time. From that aspect it appears that there is a certain amount of interest to the expo.

The main purpose of participation to the expo has been stated as “Advertising and publicity, to be able to make sales to a larger audience, giving information about product quality, Granting new franchises/distributorship, exchanging information”

Some of products exhibited at the expo are as follows: Office furniture, domestic furniture, White appliances, Heating Stove, Microclimate, Heating-Cooling Systems, Energy Systems, Electrical hand Tools, Generator, Compressor, Heating Boiler, Central heating Boiler, Lift, Driller, Crusher, Mardin Stone, Interior – Exterior Paint, Software integrated equipment, Natural gas Services,  PVC door - window systems, Laying – Surfacing materials, Construction materials, Accommodation services, Real Estate marketing/renting/sales services.

Firms stated that their expectations from the expo had been satisfied on a certain level. Within this framework there have been comments saying “purpose of publicising their services has been partially fulfilled” and also there have been other comments stating “partial success for granting new franchises has been achieved” Furthermore some stated that “they have achieved the goal for reaching out segments that previously could not reach”. Meanwhile there has been some firms who noted that they established domestic and abroad commercial contacts.

In other respects some firms stated that “There has not been enough interest in the expo whereas they expect more visitors.”

Firms previously participated told that generally the first one of that Expo was more beneficial. Within that scope firms said “We have been successful in giving information about our products. We reached out more distributor and corporation. We increased our brand awareness. We increased our sales. We obtain information about new products in relation with our sector.”

62% of the firms stated that they were able to establish domestic commercial contact. On the other hand the rate of the firms who stated that they were able to establish abroad commercial contacts is 9%. The only country that they achieved a contact has been named as Iraq.

Furthermore, firms stated that during the expo they came a cross with many problems. Hence firms stated that “they had organisational problems, there were infrastructural problems regarding the Expo, also the Expo ground is very far from Mardin city centre and due to the intercity traffic problem they had difficulty with transportation.”

Also firms by saying, “We had difficulties in relation with the Expo venue but we hope that would be temporary problem” and also they stated their expectations as “We hope there will be a pleasant Expo ground.”