Driving Traffic at Expo

Jas Sansi visits the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce Expo at Villa Park.

He wonders how Exhibitors steer traffic to their stands. A blog including some great tips on making the most of Exhibiting. 

Business Expos exist to exchange information. They represent the marketing stage of business. They generate leads, ignite conversations and ultimately brings buyers and sellers together in the exchange of goods and services.

Expos make the world go round.

I’ve attended Expos for a number of years. I’ve never left without learning something, making a connection or catching up with a colleague. They’re a valuable tool in the arena of business.

CEO of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, Paul Faulkner explained their purpose ‘….people do business with people. Expos are a great way to take a little time to engage with other members of the business community. Expos provide an opportunity for more detailed conversations.’

As I walked around the Expo, I was intrigued as to how businesses attract delegates to their stands. What strategies are in play to break down barriers between both parties and light the touch paper of trade.

I approached a number of exhibitors and asked them that very question ‘how do you drive traffic to your stand?‘

Macdonald Hotels 

Kirsty Nicholls, Sales Development Manager introduced a putting green to her stand. Delegates who sink three golf balls in a row can win a round of golf.

This is a very clever hook because the Birmingham hotel where Kirsty works does not have any outside space but it allows her to tap into a new market; the Golf Fraternity.

Golf enthusiasts may need a hotel to stay in whilst enjoying their golfing holiday.

For more information email Kirsty on kirsty.nicholls@macdonald-hotels.co.uk

Brum Breathes 

Birmingham will be introducing a Clean Air Zone in Summer 2020.

The team were exhibiting today at Villa Park and shared with me a seasoned technique called Hooker, Helper, Hero; attract a delegate, discuss their needs and solve a problem they may have.

The Birmingham City Council team also use the Expo as an opportunity to inform other Exhibitors about the Clean Air Zone initiative.

I learned public buses in Birmingham are amongst the cheapest 10% in the country to use.

Go to http://www.brumbreathes.co.uk to see if your car is compliant.

Birmingham St Marys Hospice 

This much loved Charity use a bright pink colour and collateral to attract the attention of delegates.

There is also an interactive True or False quiz about the Hospice with a Chocolate reward for taking part.

Lean more about St Marys Hospice at https://www.birminghamhospice.org.uk and follow on Twitter @brumshospice 

Feature Medical Training 

Feature Medical Training (FMT) provide First Aid Training and Mental Health awareness.

The team from FMT use social media to announce their Expo attendance ahead of the event, and again when they have their stand number.

Jo explained ‘…we exchange business cards at Expo and follow up within 24 hours.‘

For more information about Feature Medical Training, Email Jo at jo.davies@featuremedical.co.uk

On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Featuremedicaltraining/

Villa Park, home of Aston Villa 

The hosts were also exhibiting at Expo.

I caught up with Isaak Damico who explained the importance of making the right impression with a strong backdrop and high quality Collateral.

They offered a business card draw with the chance to win a bottle of Champagne.

The business cards are collated and acted upon with specific queries prioritised.

Reach out to Isaak Damico on Linkedin for more information about Villa Park: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaak-d-amico-36a4b7109/

Canal and River Trust 

Expo Sponsors, Canal and River Trust look after 900 km of Rivers and Canals in the West Midlands.

They are in the process of planting fruit trees along the canal network from Birmingham to Wolverhampton. This will create the longest orchard in the world.

Local communities will be able to access and pick free fruit whilst enjoying the canals.

I learned all of this from Terry Hodgetts, Business Engagement Partner at the Trust. He added ‘…with the increase in house building, the canal network may be the last accessible green space available for people to enjoy.‘

Their stand exercises the power of chocolate to attract delegates. There are also accessible stress balls until the opportunity to relax waterside.

For more information email Terry on Terry.hodgetts@canalrivertrust.org.uk

Follow on Twitter @CanalRiverTrust

Edgbaston Park Hotel 

Edgbaston Park Hotel and Conference Centre is located on the University of Birmingham campus.

The team had a Spin the Wheel competition with a range of prizes ranging from Afternoon Tea for two, a notebook, lip balm, chocolate or a set of high lighters.

This was a very powerful tool in attracting delegates. I even tried to blag a second attempt having failed to secure the Afternoon Tea but alas, pleas for teas fell on deaf ears.

Phone 0121 414 8888 to book Mother’s Day Lunch (limited availability) or Easter Sunday lunch (both £27.50)

Birmingham City University

Tips provided by BCU included the power of eye contact and ensuring there is enough space to engage. To engage socially as well as professionally.

The exhibiting team had a Business Card bowl. These are followed up on the next day identifying specific requests and those for general information.

Email bcbsbusiness.services@bcu.ac.uk

Hands on at Work 

Wellbeing in the workplace is a key buzzword. Hands on Work provide seated massages in your office.

This company has a unique offer, whilst exhibiting, they have massage seats which are always a popular draw for visitors who may have been on their feet for hours.

In addition to this, they are also available for hire for other exhibitors. They will wear your corporate colours and provide shoulder and back massages to your stand’s visitors.

Sound good? Contact Kathy Scott on info@handsonatwork.co.uk or 07989 367 669

University of Birmingham

When exhibiting, the University often display a three foot high Wind Turbine made of Lego. This is a powerful draw for Expo visitors and ties in with the University’s Energy Agenda.

It’s eye catching and relevant.

The next University of Birmingham Business Club Event is on 31st March, more information at http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/partners or follow @KatieJatWork

 

So there you are, just a small sample of Exhibitors and the strategies they adopt in attracting delegates to their stands.

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce deliver over 250 events a year including the Spring and Autumn Expo.

Join the Chamber, get involved and grow your businesses.

Link to the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce website for information on membership, events and much more: https://www.greaterbirminghamchambers.com

 

---

Jas Sansi is a freelance photographer based in Birmingham, a Trustee for LoveBrum and contributor to The Asian Today newspaper 

@jassansi 07930 837 505 sansi1@btinternet.com 

 

 

 

 

 

Is Dieting worth the effort?

The countdown to the end of my diet is on.

Was it worth it? 

I have two weeks remaining of my weight loss program. Have I enjoyed the process? Hell no. Do I appreciate the extra energy shedding weight affords? Defo.

Is it worth it? Hmmm.

It’s difficult to lose weight when surrounded by temptation. The very first biblical story was temptation; the temptation to eat from the tree of knowledge.

We have all the facts we need. Poor diet choices lead to weight gain. This has negative consequences in our every day lives.

We have public parks in which to exercise. Private gyms without contracts and more miles of canal path to stroll along than you know where.

Your body is made up of 360 joints, you were designed to move

And yet, as a city region, we struggle with weight. Physical attributes affect our mental health as well as our physical.

I wish I could tell you weight loss is easy. It isn’t. And maintaining weight loss is difficult too.

As human beings, its against our instincts to be hungry. Our bodies may not need constantly feeding but our cravings do.

Try these body hacks over a period of 100 days. They worked for me, they may work for you.

• Drink water. Sometimes, your body demands hydration not food. Its easy to misinterpret signals of thirst for hunger.
• When you feel hungry, sip water. Give yourself 20 minutes. If you’re still hungry, then you may need to eat.
• Distraction. To avoid fantasising about unhealthy food, do something productive. Take a walk, swim, read, watch a film, anything that takes your focus away from food.
• If you’re watching TV and they show a scene with food or alcohol, switch channels.
• Avoid social media when hungry. Food bloggers post great food images that sprinkle a trail of crumbs to the biscuit jar.
• Get rid of the biscuit jar. 
• Check the weather forecast, if the temperature is above 10 degrees, go for a walk. 10,000 steps will take about 1 hour 40 minutes and shed your breakfast calories.
• Treat yourself to an item of clothing as soon as you notice physical change. You’ve earned it.
• Drink Green tea.
• Get 8 hours sleep.
• Take the stairs instead of escalators or lift.
• Switch to wholemeal foods; bread, pasta, noodles etc.
• Snack on mixed nuts such as Almonds or fruit if you get hungry between meals.
• Don’t have cheat days. Keep your eyes on the prize.
• Be as active as possible. Your body is made up of 360 joints, you were designed to move.

This is the toughest one and much easier said than done; accept the harsh reality that you are only shedding weight when hungry. If you are full, you either maintain your existing weight or gain weight.

Language matters; the smoking lobby, after Government decided to campaign against smoking, pressured public health to adopt slogans like ‘Quit Smoking, Stop Smoking and End Smoking.’ Why? Because Quitting, Stopping and Ending are all negative notions.

Humans instinctively don’t want to fail, and stopping, quitting and ending are all associated with failure.

Don’t think of dieting as weight loss but rather gaining lightness, achieving better health, earning more stamina. Keep it positive.

Achieving healthy weight is ironically up hill. You will stumble, you will fall, you will experience failure. We’re all human. We’ve spent thousands of years stumbling, falling and failing.

Don’t let being human stop you achieving what you want to achieve.

Is it worth it? Its’s always worth doing something positive, productive and life changing. 

 

---

Jas Sansi is a freelance photographer based in Birmingham, a trustee for LoveBrum and contributor to The Asian Today newspaper.

@jassansi 07930 837 505 sansi1@btinternet.com

 

 

 

Westside BID #BoostBusiness at The Gin Vault

The second in a series of #BoostBusiness events from Westside BID, Jas Sansi joins an intimate Canal side gathering at The Gin Vault.

An evening of Gin, Tapas and Taxis. 

Birmingham is blessed with an intricate canal network that weaves throughout the city centre. It provides a unique backdrop for the bars and restaurants nestled across the pathways that run alongside the calm waters.

We have a lot to thank the city planners and engineers who gifted this heritage to Brum.

The development of Birmingham continues to this day. Broad Street is being transformed with the extension of the Midland Metro network linking New Street Station to HSBC headquarters and further up to Five Ways.

The transport connectivity investment is very welcome. It has attracted property development to the district. Look down on Broad Street to see recipients of the Walk of Stars, look up to see the towering homes of Brum’s future communities.

The compromise in all of this is the immediate effect development work is having on the venues in Westside BID. Establishments, part of large chains are better shielded against the effects of construction. Smaller independents, less so.

Westside BID’s #BoostBusiness initiative supports local businesses operating under these conditions.

Westside Business Improvement District (BID) exists to create a more attractive, better marketed, brighter, safer and cleaner business environment in Broad Street, Brindleyplace, Five Ways, Centenary Square, Broadway Plaza and all the surrounding areas.

This week, the spotlight falls on The Gin Vault, a Gin bar situated on Canal side between Brindleyplace and The Mailbox. It offers over 420 different Gins and Tapas inside a very cosy waterside bar.

I’ve walked past the Gin Vault hundreds of times and assumed it led upstairs to a bar on Gas Street. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The Gin Vault sits inches above the canal and its fabulous.

I’m going to allow the photographs to do most of the talking in this blog.

Gin has enjoyed a remarkable renaissance in recent years and the popularity of the drink is reflected in the number of Gin Bars in the city. This is one that deserves attention.

As evening progresses, canal side lights provide illumination outside whilst inside, the lighting is magical. The bar is lit with fairy lights throughout and it makes for an incredible ambiance. The attention to detail is second to none, background music allows for conversation without having to raise your voice.

Westside BID Manager Mike Olley spoke passionately about the Gin making process, and the unique offer available at the Gin Vault.

The staff are friendly, welcoming and intrinsically knowledgable about their product. Tell them what you like, and they will suggest an excellent Gin.

I learned the most popular choices include Rhubarb Gin and Pink Gin. The most expensive is Herno at £11 a shot, they suggest drinking this over ice without a mixer.

The menu offers a Gin Experience for £30; a cocktail, tapas and paddle board of three single shot Gins with a mixer.

There is a bottomless brunch available of weekends for £35.

I opted for three tapas for under a tenner; Salmon Bruschetta, Spicy Chicken Skewers and Prawn Tempera. All fabulous. Vegetarian and Gluten Free options are clearly labelled.

The Gin Vault can accommodate up to 60 people. Here’s a tip, book table number 3. It affords the best view of the waterside.

If you’re looking for a great night out in Brum, and want a unique experience, the Gin Vault ticks all the boxes.

Tuesday is Doubles for Singles but as always, drink carefully.

The Gin Vault. All the details can be found at theginvault.com

On Twitter @VaultGin

Westside BID http://westsidebid.co.uk

Full set of images: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jassansi/albums/72157713354129823

---

Jas Sansi is a freelance photographer based in Birmingham, a Trustee for LoveBrum and contributor for The Asian Today newspaper.

@jassansi 07930 837 505 sansi1@btinternet.com