The Barclaycard Arena was the setting for the annual Chambers of Commerce Autumn Expo last Friday and two members of the ESA team Lisa and Ben went along to take a look at the exhibitors and do some networking with local businesses. Our Marketing Manager Lisa gives us the lowdown on the popular event below.
What is the Autumn Expo all about?
The Autumn Expo is an eventful day full of opportunity; there is a real strength in attending either as a delegate or an exhibitor, because under one roof you’ll find pretty much every business that matters across the Birmingham region. The event was attended by over 500 SMEs and there were over 75 exhibitors from lots of business sectors; so with Birmingham being at the centre of ESA Group’s locational remit, it was fundamental to attend. It’s an ideal occasion to meet potential customers and engage with the wider business community. In a nutshell, the Autumn Expo was a great way for us to:
- Network
- Promote our company
- Increase our service profile
- Find new suppliers for marketing needs
- Generate sales leads
- Make new business contacts
What aspect did you enjoy most about the event?
The free tea and coffee…..haha joke!
On a serious note, these business events are about much more than just showing up, grabbing free snacks and passing out business cards. They are about meeting people and what this can lead to for your business. The BCOC Autumn Expo was a great way for myself and Ben, one of our Marketing Consultants, to raise ESA Group’s profile with others in the Birmingham business community. For me personally, as Marketing Manager, it was great to meet potential suppliers to support our marketing needs, for example website and printing services. Also great for developing existing business relationships, because this was the first time I met Paula, our Account Manager at Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. It was good to finally meet someone face-to-face and get to know them better, and understand more about how our partnership with BCOC can benefit ESA Group.
Why do you think networking is important?
- Networking is a great way to stay current on trends in your industry and those of your target market - particularly relevant if the event is given by your industry field
- Attending events allows you to learn from and be motivated by powerful speakers or businesses
- It gives you the opportunity to share ideas and experiences with other like minded professionals
To read more information on the benefits of networking take a look at our blog post here.
Did you go to any of the seminars?
Unfortunately, we missed the one which would have been great to attend – Connect your Business to New Opportunities through Social Media. We were too busy talking to some of the exhibitors to realise the time and they were unable to let us in (understandably) once it has started.
If you would like to find out more about the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce then head over to their website here.