Says its director and CEO Sameer Rehmatali Tobaccowala: "Unlike other event management companies who outsource most of the work we will do it internally. Hence, a company will save on cost and get a show which is better synergised."

Showbiz has been in the events industry since 1982. It has moved from sets to stage fabrication, to annex equipment rental, to logical planning and event design to the recently opened Events division. Says Tobaccowala: "It is a logical expansion work. We want to giveadditional service to our clients."

Shobiz has managed high profile events in the past like the Philips Digital Video Group launch, Tata Indica launch, Intel Pentium III launch, ABBY Awards '97 and '98 and Citizen Ecodrive launch. According to Tobaccowala: "It has been functional for the last year and half. But we are formally launching it now."

For the purpose, the company has spent close to Rs 20 lakh on recruiting and training personnel, research and development and strengthening the creative department. Says Tobaccowala: "On a corporate level, we had to strengthen the other divisions to hold on to the events division." All this for a cost of Rs 20 lakh.

As part of the expansion plan, the company is setting up office in Chennai in the next six months. It already has offices in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. Other divisions of Shobiz include the creative outfit - Shobiz Design Studio, Shobiz Stages, Shobiz Production Services, Shobiz Exhibits and Shobiz Cares. The company intends making Shobiz Exhibitsinto a separate division in one year. Adds Tobaccowala: "We see a lot of potential in this market."

Shobiz's turnover in time has grown from Rs 30 lakh in 1991-92 to Rs 7 crore in 1998-99. By March 2000 the company expects to make Rs 10 crore of which about Rs 1.5 crore is expected from the events business.