Expo Consulting

What Expo Consulting does

Expo Consulting S.R.L. is a privately held Italian professional-services firm founded in 1997 and headquartered in Bologna (Viale Masini, operating from a Regus Business Centre). The company specializes in trade-show marketing and internationalization consulting for Italian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) seeking to enter foreign markets, primarily through international exhibition participation. Its core service offering is organized around three pillars: Marketing Fieristico (trade-show marketing strategy and execution), Mercati Esteri (foreign-market opportunity identification and export orientation), and Convegni e Seminari Scientifici (specialized conferences, particularly in livestock). Under these pillars sit six service modules — Studio e Promozione (market analysis and benchmarking), Event Planning, Segreteria Commerciale (commercial secretariat for fair participation), Comunicazione (press office and media), Stand (booth setup), and Accoglienza (hospitality and logistics).

The firm has served as the official Italian representative office for Fira Barcelona for over 20 years, coordinating Italian exhibitor collectives at major European fairs such as Alimentaria & Hostelco (over 200 Italian companies facilitated in the 2026 edition). It also operates two proprietary annual events: the Giornata della Suinicoltura (now in its 8th edition, October 2025) for the swine sector, and the newly launched BoviDay – Giornata della Carne Bovina (first edition June 2026) for the beef cattle supply chain.

Revenue is generated primarily through fee-based consulting engagements (promotional campaigns, strategic consulting, paid training modules and workshops), with basic fair-assistance services offered free of charge as a top-of-funnel acquisition mechanism. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The firm is founder-owned (Managing Director Elisabetta Zagnoli and co-founder Marco Barozzi), has 1-10 employees, no disclosed investors or funding events, and shows no AI/ML technology capabilities — it is fundamentally a relationship- and event-orchestration business rather than a technology company.

Name

Expo Consulting

Legal name

Expo Consulting S.R.L.

Website

https://expoconsulting.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Expo Consulting is a Bologna-based Italian consulting firm, founded in 1997, that helps Italian SMEs participate in international trade shows and enter foreign markets through marketing strategy, event management, and secretariat services. It is the official Italian representative for Fira Barcelona.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Trade Show Consulting

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Marketing Consulting Services (541613)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional & Certification Expos Organizers (THAHABAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Industry Trade Shows & Expos (MPAGAGAA)

Keywords

• Trade show marketing
• International business consulting
• Foreign market development
• Event planning services
• Agricultural event management

Headquarters

HQ city

Bologna, BO

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Trade Show Marketing Consulting: Professional consulting services for companies participating in international trade shows, including strategy development, promotional campaigns, and ROI optimization. Services are charged for promotional campaigns and specialized consulting.
2. Event Planning and Management: Full-service event planning including market analysis, strategic marketing, commercial strategies, budget control, and event execution for conferences, seminars, and exhibitions.
3. Commercial Secretariat Services: Trade fair research, sponsor and patronage management, participation paperwork, supplier contact, and buyer invitation services. Basic assistance for fairs in calendar is provided free of charge.
4. Training and Workshop Services: Digital marketing and exhibition training programs delivered in collaboration with professionals, consisting of modules available for purchase together or separately.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Expo Consulting provides consulting and operational support for companies participating in international trade shows and entering foreign markets. Its offering covers market analysis, promotional strategy, commercial secretariat, communication, booth setup, hospitality and logistics, as well as conferences and scientific seminars for the livestock sector. The firm also organizes the annual Giornata della Suinicoltura (Swine Farming Day) and BoviDay - La Giornata della Carne Bovina events.

Product overview

Expo Consulting is a consulting firm specializing in trade show marketing and internationalization services, operating since 1997. The company offers a comprehensive suite of services organized into six main modules: Studio e Promozione (market analysis and international marketing), Event Planning (comprehensive event management), Segreteria Commerciale (commercial secretariat for trade show participation), Comunicazione (communication and press services), Stand (booth setup and services), and Accoglienza (hospitality and logistics). Three core service areas anchor the offering: Marketing Fieristico (trade show marketing), Mercati Esteri (foreign markets), and Convegni e Seminari Scientifici (conferences and scientific seminars). The company also organizes two proprietary events: Giornata della Suinicoltura (annual swine sector event since multiple years) and the newly launched BoviDay (La Giornata della Carne Bovina, launched in 2026). The firm promotes Barcelona Fair exhibitions and specializes in supporting Italian companies in international markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BoviDay – Giornata della Carne Bovina: Annual event dedicated to the beef cattle supply chain, from farming to transformation, distribution and table.
• Giornata della Suinicoltura

Products and services

• Trade Show Marketing (Marketing Fieristico) Strategic consulting and management for trade-show participation, including planning, ROI optimization, and execution of a company's presence at international exhibitions.
• Foreign Markets (Mercati Esteri) Services to create business opportunities in foreign markets, including event management, conferences, and export orientation.
• Conferences and Scientific Seminars (Convegni e Seminari Scientifici) Organization of specialized conferences on new frontiers of livestock farming, providing current and concrete answers to sector needs.
• Training and Workshop Services Digital marketing and exhibition training programs delivered in collaboration with professionals, consisting of modules available for purchase together or separately.
• Giornata della Suinicoltura (Swine Farming Day) Annual event dedicated to the swine sector offering scientific updates, economic and technological insights, and practical tools for breeders, technicians, veterinarians, and industry representatives.
• BoviDay (La Giornata della Carne Bovina) Annual event dedicated to the bovine sector covering the full supply chain from breeding through transformation, distribution, and the table.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fira BarcelonacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpo Consulting serves as the official Italian representative office for Fira Barcelona, promoting their exhibitions for over 20 years. They coordinate Italian exhibitors, manage collective groups, and provide deep knowledge of the Spanish market and Italian entrepreneur needs.
• ICE (Istituto per il Commercio Estero / ITA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExpo Consulting coordinates with ICE (Italian Trade Agency) for Italian collective participation in international exhibitions, organizing groups of Italian companies under institutional banners.
• Concièrge in BarcelonaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConcierge service partner for Barcelona-based logistics and hospitality support for Italian exhibitors.
• Official Travel AgenciesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExpo Consulting connects clients with official travel agencies of exhibition organizers for hotel bookings and travel arrangements.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Easyfairs: Pan-European exhibition organizer running industry-specific trade shows across multiple verticals. Comparable as a trade show organizer with SME-friendly formats that competes for the same Italian exhibitor internationalization budget.
• BolognaFiere: Bologna-based trade fair organizer and venue operator with deep roots in agri-food (e.g., Cibus, Sana). Directly comparable given shared geography and overlapping exhibitor base, particularly in the food and agriculture sectors Expo Consulting serves.
• Promosalons: French organization promoting French trade shows internationally via country-specific representative offices. Highly comparable business model to Expo Consulting, acting as a national ambassador for foreign trade fair organizers targeting local SMEs.
• Fiera Milano: Italy's leading exhibition center and trade show organizer, hosting major industry events. Comparable as a direct trade show organizer targeting Italian exhibitors, with which Expo Consulting competes and partners for internationalization support.
• Italian Exhibition Group: Major Italian trade show and conference organizer operating venues and events across multiple verticals. Directly comparable as a domestic Italian exhibition services provider that competes for the same SME exhibitor relationships, though at significantly larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• GL Events: French-headquartered global event services and venue management group. Comparable as a broad incumbent providing exhibition organization, booth services, and event logistics that overlap with Expo Consulting's trade show marketing services.
• Messe Frankfurt: Global trade fair organizer with extensive international event portfolio. Comparable as a large incumbent offering overlapping SME internationalization and representation services, though at much broader scale and as part of a global venue network.
• Reed Exhibitions: One of the world's largest trade show organizers with events across dozens of industries. Comparable as a global incumbent offering trade show participation and exhibitor services that overlap with Expo Consulting's core offering.

Others

• Italian Trade Agency (ICE): Italian government agency promoting Italian exports and coordinating Italian collective participation at international trade shows. Comparable as a key institutional partner and partial alternative channel for the SME internationalization services Expo Consulting provides.
• Fira Barcelona: The strategic partner for whom Expo Consulting acts as official Italian representative. Included as a comparable because it is itself a major exhibition organizer; the relationship is symbiotic rather than directly competitive.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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• Facebookfacebook.com/ExpoConsulting
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/expo-consulting
• Instagraminstagram.com/expoconsulting

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Expo Consulting