The NEC Birmingham has mandated organisers use a single floor tape supplier in a move that could cost a customer with an exhibition spanning 100,000 sqm an extra £5,000-£10,000 to build their show.
Hyve’s 120,000 sqm Spring Fair (2-5 February), Clarion’s 90,000 sqm Furniture Show (19-22 January), Immediate Live, which takes 100,000 sqm for The Good Food Show Summer alongside BBC Gardners’ World Live (12-15 June), and NCC Events, currently preparing for the 90,000 sqm Motorhome & Caravan Show (18-23 October), are among those organisers potentially facing significant outlay to use the more expensive, NEC-branded tape.
One contractor told EN it could no longer use the surplus floor tape stored in its warehouse for NEC-based shows. To factor in the venue-approved tape, it needed to charge an additional five pence per square metre, compared with show builds at other venues. Another contractor admitted having to add an extra 10 pence per square metre.
Organisers were notified of the NEC’s decision to only allow the venue-approved floor tape from one supplier in an email from NEC general manager, Linda Ritchie at the end of May. It followed a 2023 review into the different types of carpet tape used at the NEC.
The email said: “Following a review into the use of venue floor tape, the decision has been made that from 1 September, we will be moving to a sole floor tape supplier. This will ensure the correct tape is used, minimising damage and keeping our halls in good condition for our clients. Please share this information with your contractors. “
UK Industrial Tapes supplies the mandated NEC-branded floor tape. It is on sale at Expo Supplies, the Taylex Group-owned shop at the NEC Birmingham, at £11.92 for a 50-metre roll.
A venue statement in response to industry concerns raised to EN about rising costs and the ‘anti-competitiveness’ of using one tied supplier for floor tape confirmed the aforementioned facts:
“With carpet tape causing significant damage to hall floors, we moved to a sole supplier of carpet tape from the 1st September 2024 to reduce the amount of damage….”
It concluded:
“If any of our customers have any questions or concerns about this, we ask them to get in touch with us directly.”
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