30 years ago, Creaplan started out as a traditional stand builder. It quickly caught on to the sustainability trend with customer-oriented designs, production and installation of modular, reusable stands. Meanwhile, the growing company is active in premium stand construction, commercial interiors and corporate and sport events, all under the umbrella of experiential marketing. Creaplan has grown particularly strongly over the last five years, both organically and via acquisition (buy and build). Michael Debaveye, CEO: “We want to make our mark in experiential marketing on a European scale through new, local hubs to make our services even better and more efficient, close to the client.” Just last year, for instance, it acquired Skyline Whitespace, the UK market leader in premium stand construction.

Fira de Barcelona

Besides its parent company in Nazareth (BE), Creaplan has hubs in Amersfoort (NL), London (UK), and recently in Barcelona (ES) – Creaplan Iberia. Spain is clearly emerging as a magnet for the trade fair sector, thanks in part to the popularity of the modern flagship venue Fira de Barcelona, which brings highly regarded international B2B trade fairs to Spain. Madrid and Lisbon are also very popular. Debaveye: “While the European exhibition market is showing slight growth overall, the sector in Spain is growing at double-digit rates. We are now responding to this with our own sales office near the Fira as well as a production unit a stone’s throw from this location.”

Creaplan built a team of 15 to 20 local people there, together with a commercial director with years of experience in the trade fair sector. “Our extensive expertise in sustainable and modular stand construction with aluminium frames, combined with premium quality and design, gives us a competitive advantage in bringing innovation and sustainability to the big shows in a traditional wood construction country like Spain. Trade fair stands in wood now often end up in a container after the show. Fira de Barcelona and the big companies exhibiting there, on the other hand, are looking for sustainable builders. Even the decoration of a stand is sustainable with us, from circular fabrics over recyclable carpets to reusable or recyclable panels.” With the various hubs, Creaplan Group is well on its way to achieving its ambition of being a European full-service specialist. Clients are guaranteed the same quality and service, from local hubs and serviced by local people. The local aspect is also an essential part of their sustainable objectives, as it significantly reduces transport costs, among other things.

Fifth acquisition in as many years

At home, Creaplan acquired Rebooth, a creative and premium stand builder from Ghent with a nice portfolio of international projects (3 million euro turnover, 13FTEs). Debaveye: “Next year, we will open our new building in Nazareth. We want the best people with the right expertise, because people make the difference in our sector; from designers to carpenters to project leaders. Rebooth’s employees, together with our team, will be able to further develop themselves and enjoy the group’s vast opportunities and investments: including new materials, state-of-the-art technologies and sustainable, modular solutions that we integrate nonstop into our stands and interiors.”

The 13 employees will fall under the wings of Creaplan. The current managing director and founder, Pieter Van Speybroeck, will also stay on board. “Thanks to Creaplan, our employees can continue to grow through beautiful, international projects. Our existing clients will keep their regular contacts, in addition, while this integration also opens up numerous new opportunities for them,” Van Speybroeck says. “As a trained designer, I want to continue to develop both commercially and creatively. That is also where my strengths lie. I like to guide customers in an authentic and transparent way, to “feel” people. I don’t just want to sell a stand, but to increase a client’s turnover by creating a beautiful stand,” he concludes.