Marketplace Resounding Success
Sourcing City Marketplace took place at FIVE in Farnborough on the 27th & 28th September 2011. The Marketplace was an exclusive ‘by invitation only’ event for large promotional merchandise distributors. The concept of the event was to focus on professional conversations by appointment, where the hosts explained in-depth all of the additional services & support they could offer major players to benefit their business.
To have received an invitation on Day One the distributor company must turnover in excess of £1m. On Day Two companies over £500,000 were invited to join the event.
James Biggin, CEO of Steel City Marketing said: "I have had some of the most exciting conversations with suppliers that I can remember... This event proves that spending quality time with suppliers that have put time and effort into not just focusing on product and price, means that so many more opportunities can be discussed".
Sourcing City Marketplace was completely different to a product exhibition. Instead, all of the Hosts presented their ‘Top Ten Reasons to do Business With Us’. The VIP Guests on Day One had collectively pre-booked over 750 appointments prior to the event, and over 1500 effective meetings actually took place during the first day of the event.
The difference of the event was evident as soon as you entered the hall. Normal expectations would be to see traditional exhibition stands, however the low level conversation pods created a completely different atmosphere, the casual seating pod layouts also provided an ideal environment for relaxed and in-depth conversations.
Mark Glanville, Managing Director of Pod Packaging commented: “I met so many quality people that normally I do not get the chance to spend time with. To have time to explain everything we can do to support them was excellent. The event was worth every penny.”
The view of Chris Lee, CEO of Brand Addition was: “With our Suppliers focussing on the services and value-added elements of their businesses, together with the discipline of the booked appointments, it was a great use of our time and theirs.”
The Network Evening Dinner was sponsored by the Host Suppliers, with over 100 of the top executives from distributor companies with over £3m turnover attending. There was also an equal number of Hosts, which ensured that quality conversation could take place throughout the evening. The evening included well received talks from Timothy Andrews, CEO & President of ASI, and Philip Hesketh an internationally renowned business speaker. To ensure that everyone had a great opportunity to mix and meet new people, the changing of tables after each course of the dinner was as effective as it was amusing for all concerned.
Phil Roberts, Sales Director of Fanela reflected: “The networking dinner was an event in itself, with great opportunity to network, two very interesting speakers, a lot of fun, and a free bar - what more can anyone ask!”
On Day Two further guests arrived from distributor companies with a turnover above £500k, plus more members of the teams from the £1m+ distributors. This second day involved un-appointed meetings with the Hosts, and the Guests also enjoyed insightful business presentations from Timothy Andrews, plus three other well-known & insightful business management speakers.
Charles Booth, Owner of Booth Brothers kept his comment succinct: “I have been in the industry for over twenty two years, and that was by far the best industry event I have ever been to.”
As this was the first event of this kind in the industry, many were understandably unsure how the concept would work. There is no longer any doubt, as the feedback from all concerned was extremely positive and many were excited about experiencing something new in the industry. Most importantly, to learn the other services and support Hosts could offer, rather than the normal focus on product & price, really created an understanding how each could work together for genuine mutual benefit.
The whole event really worked because of the professional attitude of the attending Guest distributors, plus the obvious detailed preparation of the conversation presentations by the Hosts.
Neil Cleere, owner of Pen Warehouse said “We like to support Sourcing City’s initiatives, as their ideas and concepts are leading the industry, and always creative and so professionally done. This time we wondered if even they could get this complex new concept off the ground. Our doubts quickly proved to be completely unfounded, and we firmly believe that this event has done more for our business than any other event we attend.”
Sourcing City want to send their thanks to all of the suppliers who took ‘a leap of faith’ to join Marketplace, and of course a big thank you to every distributor who took the time and trouble to attend. It is your support that makes everything work.
For many there was a question mark over holding an event in a southern location, this however proved to be of no concern. The event venue at FIVE, Farnborough provided facilities in keeping with the best known exhibition halls across the UK. Sourcing City’s own recently published research revealed that distributors based in the South of England have a combined turnover of almost £340 million. This equates to around 50% of the entire UK & Ireland market spend.
Interestingly, the average distributors size in Greater London is over double that of their counterparts in Central England. It is also interesting to note that over 50% of all distributors with a turnover in excess of £1m are based in Southern England.
Attending Marketplace from further afield also proved positive. Mike Smith, Owner of Orb International in Glasgow said: “Flying from Scotland the venue location made no difference to me. If an event is of benefit to my business I will be there, and this unique event most definitely was.” Chris Spooner, Owner of CPI travelled from Leeds and thought: “We are based a long way from Farnborough, but it proved easy to get to and worth the trip, I had meaningful meetings and enjoyed a very well planned and professional event. It was definitely two days well spent.” Other important distributors also attended Marketplace from the North and Midlands, with more flying in from Scotland and Ireland.
To further highlight the success of the event, over 70% of the attending Hosts rebooked for next year on the last day of this year’s event. Richard Wood of High Profile said: “The organisation was first class, needless to say we immediately re-booked for next year!”
Alistair Mylchreest, CEO at Sourcing City said: “We are delighted that so many effective professional conversations took place, it also feels good to help people to learn more, and to help both distributors and suppliers to build their business opportunities and relationships. It was essential to limit the number of distributors attending Sourcing City Marketplace to ensure the concept worked and that everyone was given time to have effective conversations. However, we are committed to supporting the entire distributor channel in the industry, so we now want to create another new event to include all professional distributors.”
The final word goes to Paul Beirne of BTC Group who said: “Brilliant concept, professionally presented, and superbly hosted. It was also refreshing to have an event in the South as this enabled our entire senior team to attend.”
Sourcing City will be holding Sourcing City Marketplace again next year at FIVE, Farnborough on the 26th & 27th September 2012.
Having successfully launched Sourcing City Marketplace, a unique networking & learning event for industry VIP’s & important industry players, Sourcing City believe that there is also a place for an event to involve all professional distributors, an announcement is expected soon for another new industry trade event.
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