Did you connect at the Black Country Chamber Exhibition Trade Show and Networking Event?

This morning we tootled off to Walsall College as this was where the latest Black Country Chamber exhibition trade show and networking event was held.

Off we went with our packed lunches ready to tackle what the event would throw at us; no not really….. we turned up just like everyone else and had a pleasant walk around the exhibition stands talking to anyone who would listen.

There seemed to be a few different stands there today, with different companies being represented.

As you know if you’re one of those networking whores you tend to know and see the same people at many events, which can be a good thing but it can also be a bad thing - it’s just down to your state of mind and how you work the relationship – or to put it another way how you connect?

It’s interesting to watch visitors at events and how they act, there are those who like us who walk around the event first looking at the stands to see who's there, if we know them and the service which they provide.

Once we’ve walked all around, we will target who to speak to, in order to get to know more about them as well as to connect.

There are those visitors who adopt the zig-zag approach starting at the first exhibition stand on the left, moving then to the first exhibition stand on the right and then across again to the second stand on the left and so on.

Some exhibition visitors like to adopt the “I need some stationary” approach, whereby they will walk around the exhibition stands with the sole intention of stocking up on stationery such as pens, pencils, pads, coasters, stress balls.

Then there are the sweet tooth visitors who will stop and talk at an event stand if they like the look of the confectionary on offer – a large open tin of chocolates on the stand usually works quite well, and often you’ll see multiple people standing around having a good old munch.

Much of the above is of course tongue in cheek as although the observations are correct – it’s just down to how comfortable people feel in talking to people they don’t know or have never met, it’s their defence mechanism kicking in with them trying to tie into something which they feel more comfortable with and if collecting stationery is what rocks their boat then so be it….!

Whilst at the Black Country Chamber event we spoke with a variety of people - such as:

Chloe Savage who was a representative on the Charles Design and Marketing stand, Chloe explained to us her role within the business which was to carry out telesales something which she has done for 9 years now but not always at Charles Design and Marketing.

Jeanette Breckles from the Employer Business Unit at Walsall College explained to us the good work which they do in working with local businesses in providing and supplying them with suitable apprentices.

Steve Grice, who for 3 years worked for The Black Country Reinvestment Society, but is now working for Ludgate Finance who have offices in Birmingham and Coventry.

And last by not least Mandy Smith from JML who are based over in Wolverhampton who also provides apprentice placements, but on behalf of South Nottingham College.

As always the Black Country Chamber exhibition trade show was well attended and organised, and people seemed to like what was on offer by the exhibitors at the event.