 |
By *obajx OP Man
over a year ago
Cheshire |
My phone rang, it was the office, I answered and it was the company owner. The firm I work for is only a small company of around twenty employees with four sales people (including me) on the road
“We’re attending a garden centre buying group conference and exhibition” he said. “We did it last year and we picked up several new customers so I think it’s worth doing again” “Fine” I replied. It’s always nice to have customers come to you rather than searching for them yourself, so a group of around 200 garden centres, all independent making their own supplier decisions can save a lot of legwork
My boss then explained it was just one day and Chas, the national account manager would be at the show with me. We are allocated a space in one of the exhibition rooms of the hotel, we set up our stand in the morning when the owners are in their conference and then the supplier exhibition is from 2pm – 6pm. An hour to pack away, back to your room, shower, freshen up and then an evening dinner and “networking” That word “networking” what a load of old bollocks that is when you know that almost everyone attending will just want to be on the piss
I suggested I’d drive down the morning of the conference, to which my boss said “no, it’s OK. I’ve booked you both in for two nights so there’s no rush in the morning” So that was that sorted
Leading up to the exhibition, it was arranged Chas would drive down in a transit van with the stands and products in. This happened and and early evening we were allowed to unload the vehicle and store everything in the room where the exhibition was taking place, so again saving time setting up the next morning
We checked into our rooms, arranged a time to meet in the bar for a beer and something to eat, and the evening passed without incident. We agreed to go for breakfast whenever the next morning, but to meet in the exhibition room at 8.30 for set up
Breakfast was taken the next morning. At 8.30 we were well underway setting our stand up which was all completed in a couple of hours so it gave us chance to chill and look around at other exhibitors and see what or if there were any competitors showing. There were two large function rooms with lots of garden ornaments, bird boxes lawn feed and other garden centre key lines on offer but nothing that crossed into what we were offering so we expected to be in demand
After lunch was taken the representatives from the garden centres ( mainly husband and wife teams) made their way into the exhibition rooms and what a total damp squib it turned out to be. Not one sale made, around ten leads to follow up on and I was certain most of these would be a waste of time
We packed up, got the stands and stock into the van and then back to our rooms to freshen up for dinner and “networking”!!! “Waste of a day” I thought to myself “and now a dull evening to follow”
I met Chas in the dinner reception area, fizz was on offer with people gathered and chatting away noisily. We checked out the seat planner and expected to be sat on different tables. We weren’t,Chas and I would be sat next to each other!
Three people from a garden centre which had ten branches were on our table so I thought, “mmm might be interesting if I could strike up conversation” although disappointingly they would be sat on the other side of the round table and next seat but one. A bloke from an exhibitor would be directly to my left. Chas on my right and then a woman from yet another exhibitor on the other side of Chas
Everyone was called through for dinner and we took our seats
|
,
Xx
