Staying Connected With Staging Connections

In the ever-growing presentation industry, the older, stand-by, "classic" companies are still so young that if they were lads, they would not yet be of legal drinking age. Yet there are still the classic long-term providers that we all know and love (and you can't say that of every budding youth about to enter into drinking age). The company most known in Australia is certainly Staging Connections. Facing a series of changes in the coming year, Staging Connections remains focused on providing even bigger and better venues. We had time to meet with Gary Hackett, the managing director and Ray German, southern region general manager to learn what makes Staging Connections tick and what the future may hold for them.

As we all know, no one is really born into the AV industry. We have all started out on a variety of different paths and somehow end up here. Gary Hackett is no different. Hackett started out in, of all things… accounting. And he didn't like it (neither do I). Having a more artistic inclination, he moved into photography and from there, progressed into audio visual productions. Working as the manager of a small AV company, he grew to like it so well that he ended up buying them. Staging Connections officially started in 1986 with Hackett and partners, and has grown into the largest AV rental company in Australia. "When we fist started," said Hackett, "our goal was to be number one. The market at the time was very fragmented and being conducted by a series of small suppliers. We realized early on that to deal effectively with a large corporation [when producing an event] that we needed to think like a large corporation. We saw the opportunity to be a premium supplier."

The 'think method' worked. Staging Connections now (modestly) boasts over 600 full time employees, about 200 casuals and an office in every major city in Australia. Staging Connections uses a variety of resources to keep both the clients and the employees happy. "When we were looking into building this facility," says Hackett of the Sydney Staging Connections offices, "we wanted to know what people needed to be happy at a business location." The offices were then built to specifications that include on-site wood and metal shops, a variety of staging areas for client meetings, a huge storage area and a catering service on site offering snacks and cold drinks for employees to enjoy. The company also offers a variety of training courses, all on site. "Many people think that to have great AV literate staff, you need to only hire people who have 15 years of experience." He continues, "What we do is to train people from within, so we grow along with the industry."

Growing along with the industry is an area that Staging Connections does well. The products, services and sales approach are all branded to run smoothly from whatever Staging Connections branch may be employed for the job. "We are all one big happy family, " said Ray German, "we do a lot of touring and road-show work, so having locations across the country works out well for the client. They get the same service no matter what city they are in. This makes it easier for the client, so they know they are working with one person continually."

Answering the clients' needs is one way that Staging Connections was able to get a firm grasp on the hotel staging Industry. "We recognised a gap in the service levels provided by venues at in-house facilities." After establishing a model for in-house venues, Staging Connections has been able to move in-house to 55 convention-ready hotels across the country and are the preferred provider for a variety of other in-house venues as well. "We really try to provide what the client needs," continues German, "The equipment we have is purchased to fit the client. We do not purchase equipment based on price or what it does for us, but what it can do for our client."

With such a success record, people like to keep their eye on Staging Connections. So… here comes the big question… what will the next step for them be? With talk of some shareholders being bought out and some selling out as well as a variety of internal management changes, all eyes are on Staging Connections and where it will next head. The changes being faced by Staging Connections will be apparent soon, but seem small in comparison to the excitement and anticipation for the company's growth potential. Both Hackett and German indicated growth potential expanding into South East Asia and other international markets, as well as potential participation at INFOCOMM (being held in Las Vegas this June).

"This is a stimulating industry, " said Hackett, "It is always on the move, so we always have to be on the move."

Sherrie Morreall is a free-lance writer who specializes in current and future Presentation Technologies. She is a regular contributer for both national and international publications. Email: smorreall@hotmail.com

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