Plans seems to be in place to repeat the event at Doncaster racecourse next year.

Obviously, exhibiting at the event is expensive and talking to Indizine, we kicked around (very briefly) the idea of a shared stand. 2/3/4 complimentary but not competing businesses could share costs & headaches under 1 banner.

This would obviously be a serious undertaking but I wondered if anyone was interested in talking about it some more?

(This is a suggestion for discussion and debate - please be constructive & don't shout me or any other suggestions down :suspect:)

Also, an afterthought is what the event organisaers would think to this? If it sells space I dont see why not.

Yes, I had thought about that but I know that they hadn't sold out a couple of weeks before. So I dont think they will mind too much...

Good pr mileage in "small microbusiness co-operative punch above their weight & get in the ring with the big boys (& girls)

I think that Business Link is great for starting up business's, that need to network and for some good free training. The web site optimisation course they ran at Doncaster racecourse, helped me tremendously.

By next year I think I will have moved on a lot from this year and will have created other channels for networking and promoting my business.

I will be there next year, if I get a chance to do one of their talks or work shops.

Cheers

Tim

What sort of charges are you talking? and what sort of businesses did you have in mind.

PS I think it is a cracking idea!

well I think sharpend said it was about £3k a stand - is that right??

anyway, he does online training, I do web design and related services, so it would be businesses services (as opposed to domestic services etc). almost like a one-stop shop co-operative. If internet-based even better, as its more relative, but perhaps an accountant to highlight ecommerce trading finance issues, a lawyer for contract law or IP, you get the gist. If we were too unrelated in terms of srvices it would look disjointed. Thnat is not to say another co-operative couldnt do likewise with another different set of similar services.

As said, its just an idea to kick around. They might not even allow it.

Personally I don't think they will allow it - if you do it then everyone will do it, they sell less stands etc.

To be honest the cost is silly. I was in London last week attending a trade fair for which I was going to take a stall but didn't in the end - they wanted around £500 for the 2 day event.

Take the £3000 and throw a massive party. Get together with other businesses and invite loads of people along. Get to know 10-15 contacts really well, instead of briefly talking to 10,000 people who will get spoken to by many other companies exactly the same.

Personally I don't think they will allow it

Its always strange when people start off working out what CAN'T be done

Take the £3000 and throw a massive party - You won't get much of a party for £3k ...

Get together with other businesses and invite loads of people along

Thats why you pay your £3k - for someone else to do all that...

Get to know 10-15 contacts really well

Already done that :)

many other companies exactly the same With respect, the Universities, colleges, Business link/quangos etc aren't really the same as my business.

Diablo, If this hasn't put you off - pm me

£3k is not much at all. I used to spend that amount regularly on smaller events. The room hire and food alone will take most of that, then your speaker cost swallow the rest. Forget about any advertising in there, it just aint enough.

Anyway all I can do is ask the organisers and see what they say.

I'm just being realistic - the event is a business itself, it makes money from the stands. The only way round it is probably to form a new joint company - IT B2B UK or something - and book the stand in that name.

nobody in their right minds would form a company just to get a stand at an event!

nobody in their right minds would form a company just to get a stand at an event!

I have told you before about sharing your hard earned knowledge in public forums... :nono:

shudder the thought....but I do n eed to offload some to make room for all the new stuff :hihi: