Business to Business Exhibition Press...
PRESS RELEASE 2nd April 2012
THANKS A MILLION
Bristol firms have generated over £1million worth of new business after taking part in the city's biggest business exhibition and networking event, organisers announced yesterday.
Despite the UK's ongoing economic woes, the latest Best of Bristol Business Exhibition was the most successful one to date — with “unprecedented” levels of interest leading to exhibition space selling out in record time.
More than 140 companies and organisations from across the region took part in the event at Ashton Gate, which was backed by Bristol City Council and designed to promote trading between regional businesses.
During the day they met with more than 1,000 delegates looking to source local suppliers of goods and services, and benefited from a number of expert-led business seminars.
Neil Kinnerly, managing director of online marketing company BusinessSorted.com and organiser of the Best of Bristol exhibition, says that feedback from exhibitors suggests over £1m in orders and potential new business has been created as a result.
He said: “Given the country's overall economic troubles this is a fantastic antidote to all the doom and gloom.
“The event was our most popular business exhibition so far, with exhibitor spaces selling out six weeks before and a record number of delegates in attendance.
“We've received nothing but glowing reports from the companies that took part and overall it seems upwards of £1million worth of new contracts and leads has come from it, which is wonderful news.”
The 10th Best of Bristol Business Exhibition took place at the Ashton Gate Conference Centre on February 28, where it was officially opened by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Geoff Gollop.
In total, there were 144 exhibitors in attendance including AMC Communications, Vodafone, Destination Bristol, COSTCO, At-Bristol, BUPA, Hills Waste Solutions, City of Bristol College and Oceana nightclub.
Key partners included Bristol City Council, public relations agency Palamedes PR, Bristol City Football Club, Destination Bristol and N3 Display Graphics.
The event itself was sponsored by AMC Communications.
As well as connecting suppliers with buyers, the event also offered a variety of free business seminars with topics including mobile marketing and social media, sales training, and Health and Safety legislation.
Among the companies to benefit from the exhibition was Bristol printing firm Chase Devonport.
Managing director Steve Croker said: “I chose to use The Best of Bristol as my launch pad. I was right to do so and was overwhelmed with the response we received on the day.
“We gained orders in excess of £3,000 and requests from 41 other delegates to contact them over the following weeks to arrange appointments.”
The next Best of Bristol Exhibition was scheduled to take place in September this year, but due to “overwhelming demand” Mr Kinnerly has announced that an additional event will now take place in June.
He added: “I've been organising these events for four years, and each one has proved more successful then the last.
“Times are tough, there's no denying it, but Bristol businesses are getting on with finding new opportunities despite everything.”
The Best of Bristol Business Exhibition takes place on Tuesday, June 19, from 10am–3pm, at Bristol City Football Club Exhibition Centre, Ashton Gate.
For more information contact Neil Kinnerly at bristol@thebestof.co.uk. Alternatively call 0117 911 4223 or visit www.bristolbusinessexhibition.co.uk.
PRESS (by the Editor of Bristol 24-7) 29th February 2012
BEST of BRISTOL EXHIBITION: Firms desperate to learn about mobile and social media
Firms in Bristol are desperate to find out more about using social media and mobile communications to help grow their business, according to the organiser of Bristol’s biggest business exhibition.
Neil Kinnerly, managing director online marketing outfit BusinessSorted.com and organiser of the Best of Bristol exhibition, said yesterday at the event that digital marketing was the key growing area of interest.
At Ashton Gate yesterday, more than 1,000 delegates met with more than 140 businesses at the event designed to promote trading between regional businesses.
AMC Communications, Vodafone, Destination Bristol, COSTCO, At-Bristol, BUPA, Hills Waste Solutions, City of Bristol College and Oceana nightclub were among the 144 local companies and organisations that signed up for exhibition space in record time.
Mr Kinnerly, who has been organising the event for the last four years said the increased interest showed there was still a recognition of the tough trading conditions in the region, and the need to proactively grow businesses. But he added that it also reflected that firms recognised the opportunities available.
“We got involved in organising this event by accident, really,” he told Bristol24-7 at the event. “We were advertising hundreds of businesses through our online directory, but we wanted to find new ways to promote them.
“Essentially it started as a networking event, but we found some people are better at networking than others. So we thought about creating an opportunity for those who are not so good at networking to meet new clients.
“What you see now four years on, we have more than 100 stands and 1,000 delegates. We sold out six weeks ago which allowed us to focus on getting more people through the door.
“Businesses recognise that times are tough and need to attend events such as this, but they do feel at the same time there are opportunities out there.”
Describing the event as a “business jumble sale”, Mr Kinnerly added that business services made up the majority of the business stand holders and that new media was the key interest of most delegates.
“Interest in mobile communications has grown more than any other industry without a doubt – such as mobile phone apps and how to use that technology,” he said.
“Social media has also been of great interest. Businesses want to know how to use use those mediums.”
Three more events have been scheduled for this year. A seminar in April will look at how to sell and market a business to the NHS, a ‘meet the buyer event at the Council House will take place in June’ and a similar exhibition will be on June 19.
PRESS RELEASE 13th January 2012
BUSINESSES COME OUT IN FORCE FOR RECORD-BREAKING EXPO
Businesses from across the region will descend on Bristol later this month for the city's biggest business exhibition and networking event — with exhibition space selling out in record time.
AMC Communications, Vodafone, Destination Bristol, COSTCO, At-Bristol, BUPA, Hills Waste Solutions, City of Bristol College and Oceana nightclub are among the 144 local companies and organisations that have “snapped up” stands at the forthcoming Best of Bristol Business Exhibition on February 28.
The event at Ashton Gate is designed to promote trading between regional businesses. Up to 1,500 people are expected to attend — a rise of 25 per cent on the previous year.
The Lord Mayor, Councillor Geoff Gollop, will officially open the exhibition at 10am at the Ashton Gate Conference Centre.
Organiser Neil Kinnerly said the exhibition — the 10th event of its kind to date — has received “unprecedented” levels of interest from businesses in the South West wishing to take part...Read full press release here
PRESS RELEASE 25th January 2012
BRISTOL BUSINESS EXPO SET TO SMASH RECORDS
Bristol's biggest business networking event takes place again next month - and looks to smash previous visitor records.
Up to 1,500 people are expected to attend The Best of Bristol Business Exhibition at Ashton Gate, a rise of 25 per cent on the previous year.
The event on February 28th is designed to promote trading between regional businesses, and more than 100 local companies have already 'snapped up' stands
The Lord Mayor, Councilor Geoffory Gallop, will officially open the exhibition at 10am at the Ashton Gate Conference Centre...Read full press release here
PRESS RELEASE 22nd September 2011
BRISTOL BUSINESS GUIDE LAUNCHED
Bristol’s attractiveness as a good place to set up and run a business is highlighted in the new edition of the Bristol Business Guide.
The guide features over 5,000 Bristol companies and promotes the goods and services they provide. It also sets out the advantages Bristol has to offer to prospective national and international companies wishing to do business or invest in the city.
The Guide will be launched next Tuesday (27th) by Bristol City Council Leader Barbara Janke at a major business to business exhibition in the city.
The Federation of Small Businesses Best of Bristol Business Exhibition at Ashton Gate has over 140 companies from a diverse range of business sectors taking part. It is the fourth event where the city council has joined forces with the FSB and Best of Bristol to showcase Bristol businesses.
Cllr Janke said: “The guide is a popular and practical way that the City Council can support business in the city by showcasing the depth of expertise and capabilities across a wide range of sectors. It also makes the case very strongly that Bristol is a great place to set up and run a business for prospective investors both in the UK and abroad.”
Guy Kingston, Chair of the Bristol branch of the FSB, said: “Collaborations such as the FSB’s with Bristol City Council really do make a difference to the local small business economy. The new directory is an excellent initiative and along with the business to business trade show is testament to the difference organisations such as ours can make when we work together.”
Neil Kinnerly Managing Director of The Best of Bristol said: "At the Best of Bristol we work very hard to promote everything that is great about Bristol and its business community. We support any new enterprise that helps deliver local business growth and welcome the Bristol Business Guide as another fantastic opportunity to show case local business. We are delighted that Bristol City Council has chosen the exhibition to launch this initiative."
The Bristol Business Guide features a CD Rom directory of companies.
There is also a website version of the guide - www.bristolbusinessguide.co.uk - this version will be updated regularly so eligible businesses should continue to register to be featured on the web version by contacting Steve Gay, email:
steve.gay@bristol.gov.uk, tel: 0117 352 5161.
Notes to editors
The FSB Best of Bristol Business Exhibition is taking place at Bristol City Football Club Exhibition Centre, Ashton Gate, Ashton Road, Bristol, BS3 2EJ on Tuesday 27th September between 10am to 3pm.
For more information please contact Bristol City Council press office on 0117 922 3332