Exhibiting at Networking Events

With times getting tougher and businesses looking to save money in most areas, budgets for things such as transport, recruitment and marketing
are being slashed. As a former recruiter who worked her way out of the last recession, I know the immense strain that these industries face.

At the time I recall saying to my boss that I had to go out and show the face of the business to people, to show them our existence and him replying “networking doesn’t work”. It was incredibly frustrating to a person who believes the adage ‘people buy people‘. If you don’t meet people, they cannot ‘buy’ you and you have to rely on other methods of marketing your business – the more costly methods.

So marketing your business in the credit crunch – why you should exhibit at a networking event in Essex or your local area.

1.The opportunity to promote your products and services to one of the largest groups of local business people, in one place.
That’s right when you exhibit, people will gravitate towards you, ask questions and make tentative approaches. What’s more they are local people, so you keep the money in the local economy, and increase your presence locally. AND they are all in one centralised location.

2.The unique opportunity to talk to fellow networkers on a face to face basis.
Face to face is a very powerful thing, you can make the right impression to someone who may not take your call if you ‘phoned them. You can start a conversation with someone, build a rapport and realise you have clients that need this person’s services. They could feel the same way about you. This isn’t about thrusting a business card into someone’s hand, but getting to know them. Don’t worry if you don’t know what to say, ask them a question, and a dialogue will start. When you exhibit people will come over and chat to you.

3.Exhibiting allows you to create a database at low cost.
If you collect business cards in your exhibiting area, you can build up a low cost database of local business people. If you manage this correctly you could build long term relationships with people who could become advocates for your business. Most people don’t bother to follow up when they network or they go for the hard sell, either way you are losing out. Keep in touch, be useful and your contacts will become advocates. Compare that to the price of buying a database full of names you have never heard of, let alone met!

4. Word of mouth marketing
If your product is worth talking about, people will talk about it. What better way of getting the product or services you promote, than exhibiting? Sometimes a free sample is a great way to get people talking, or promoting a new offer. Buy-one-get-one-free doesn’t work for everyone, but it may work for you. How many other ways beyond a leaflet can you get your product under people’s noses and them talking?

5. Take a client with you, on your exhibition stand.
If you have a happy client bring them with you, there’s nothing like a real live person telling someone how they use your business and how it saves money or makes them money. Don’t be tempted to fake this, people can spot insincerity a mile off and you can damage your reputation. A happy client can help promote your business successfully, take advantage of the fact they will get to network too as your guest, they may also meet people for their services.

With Exhibition areas at the Essex event on the 29th January 2009 starting at £149+VAT its a great opportunity to market on a shoestring budget and increase your profits when times are tough. Exhibiting areas are available for just £99+VAT if booked and paid for by the 31st December 2008, enabling you to achieve more, for less.

Call Sarah on 0844 884 3331 to Exhibit.

Better still book in and attend our event in the Regus centre Brentwood, and bring a fellow business person as a guest. You can register here

PS you can insert ‘goodies’ into our much sought after event goodie bags from  just £25+VAT or donate a prize for our charity raffle

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The Story of Christingle Services

We are back going to our regular church, St Catherines in Wickford. And yesterday we were given a leaflet about the Christingle services at St. Catherine’s.

Father Phillip is usually run off of his feet at Christmas time, and on Christmas eve he packs in 3 or 4 Christingle services, which are the family services. He also does midnight mass as well. Church is the place to feel the true magic of Christmas, the candles, the carols and the atmosphere make it a wonderful place to teach children the meaning of Christmas, and what we are celebrating. With the exception of Jessica, my girls are just that bit too young for midnight mass.

So, what is the story of Christingle, and where did it come from? Yesterday I had no idea, but Wikipedia tells the full story…

This is the story of the first Christingle:

One Christmas time back in 1747 at a town in Germany, Pastor John sat at home in front of his fire. He was thinking how he could explain the love of Jesus, and what Christmas really meant to the children in the church. He decided to prepare a simple symbol to help make the message of Christmas fresh and lively for them. Pastor John gave each child a lighted candle wrapped in a red ribbon, with a prayer that said “Lord Jesus, kindle a flame in these dear children’s hearts”. This was the first ever Christingle service.

Many years later, in 1968, Christingle services were introduced to the Anglican Church in Britain by John Pensom of The Children’s Society, and the custom spread quickly; each year there are more and more Christingle services in England and Wales, although today’s Christingles are a little different.

The Christingle consists of:

• an orange representing the world with
• a red ribbon around it representing the blood of Jesus
• fruits and sweets (usually dolly mixtures) are skewered on 4 cocktail sticks which are pushed into the orange representing the fruits of the earth and the four seasons
• a lighted candle is pushed into the centre of the orange representing Christ, the light of the world
• and, in some services, tinfoil around the base of the candle to reflect Christ’s light and goodness

I know in bringing the service to the UK, children here understand the concept of Christmas much better. I didn’t even know where the link to the Childrens Society came in, until I read up on it!

St Catherine’s in Wickford will have services at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm on Christmas Eve. It’s best to get there a little early, as the church will be packed to the rafters. If you are struggling to understand what the true meaning of Christmas is, take a trip to St Catherine’s. There is so much love and warmth, even someone with a heart two sizes too small would melt

Sarah

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