Helping Students: Lokmat Exhibitions

Newly dedicated arm of Lokmat Media, Lokmat Exhibitions recently held a series of Aspire Education Fair across 12 cities of Maharashtra- Navi Mumbai, Pune, Nasik, Aurangabad, Ahmednagar, Kolhapur, Sholapur, Jalgaon, Nanded, Akola, Nagpur and Amravati, between May 17 to June 23, 2013. In its fourth edition now, these fairs have become the biggest platform for institutes and potential students of the state of Maharashtra. Lokmat Aspire Education Fair 2013 is an effort of Lokmat Group to bridge the gap between institutes providing best education and talented students in the State of Maharashtra and Goa looking for the same.

Lokmat Media is a leading multi platform media company with interests in a diversified portfolio of publishing, broadcast, digital, entertainment, community and sports verticals. It has employee strength of more than 3,000 and has a pan-India network of offices. ‘Lokmat’ is the largest read regional language newspaper in India with 23.8 million readers (Source: Total Readership, IRS ’12 Q2) and the No. 1 Marathi newspaper in Maharashtra & Goa states with 11 editions and a circulation of 1.5 million copies(Source: Audit Bureau of Circulation, Jan - Jun ’12). ‘Lokmat Samachar’, with 6 editions is one of the largest read Hindi daily in the state of Maharashtra with over 1.4 million readers (Source: Total Readership, IRS ’12 Q2). ‘Lokmat Times’ has 3 editions.

Speaking to Adgully on the exhibitions, Suhas Shahane, Lokmat Group Exhibitions Head said, “Students-parents of present generation are curious and choosy in seeking the perfect education for a bright career in life. This potential TG is always looking out for good quality educational opportunities and is quite prepared for migrating to places for institutes offering better education. As the same time, in this season of education, Lokmat Group is pleased to offer a platform to all renowned institutes from all over to showcase their courses, facilities and infrastructure to their tomorrow’s students.”

This being the largest education platform in the season, many institutes looked at it as single entry point in state’s market. This fact resulted into huge cross location selling and the response from exhibitors exceeded all expectations. There was huge response from students and parents, on average 5000+ visitors were witnessed at every location. Students got to know that there are many possibilities to do new and traditional courses which are easily available. Institutes too were satisfied to look at the ROI.

On methods of promoting the platform, Shahane said, “Daily Lokmat, the largest read Marathi newspaper in Maharashtra leveraged its strength of large readership and strong clients’ base in education segment. The brand Aspire Education Fair was taken to every potential visitor not only via print being its in-house media but also by FM Radio, huge outdoor publicity, digital media and effective below the line activities.”

On plans going forward, Shahane says, “In the coming years we will have big names across country participating at Aspire, there is a huge potential in northern and eastern institutes of India to participate at Aspire as it being the only platform to showcase their courses, facilities and quality to the most potential economy” Further exhibitions being a cheap medium of experiential marketing, Lokmat Exhibitions aims at filling up the vacuum by creating such large scale exhibition platforms for industries like travel, auto, real estate and agriculture; where stake holders intend to explore new markets at cheaper cost. “We are looking at ​growing Lokmat Exhibitions and making it a vital profit center after print advertisement sales,” Shahane concluded.