048: Get Ready For Tech (And Other Live Event Tips)

Live events can be a vital source of insight, ideas, suppliers and relationships. But, to make the most of attending live events, it’s critical to be more strategic in your actions before the event, during the event and after the event. In the build up to Ascential’s Tech event in October, Oliver Banks talks to Event Director, Poppie Mickleburgh and Content Manager, Rebecca Morrison.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why live events are so important if you’re involved in retail transformation.
• Tips and advice for how to best prepare for attending a live event.
• What you can do to really make the most of the invested time and money at an event.
• Suggestions for making sure you properly harness the energy from the day.

Plus – find out some very specific advice throughout the episode to make the most of attending Tech.

 

 

Introducing Poppie Mickleburgh

This is Poppie Mickleburgh’s third outing on the Retail Transformation Show. You can also listen to her on episode 22 and in episode 47. She’s Events Director for Retail Week – by Ascential – and is responsible for a series of great events, including Retail Week Live, Be Inpsired and Tech.

You can find Poppie on LinkedIn or reach out by email:

• Poppie Mickleburgh: poppie.mickleburgh@retail-week.com

Introducing Rebecca Morrison

Rebecca Morrison is Content Manager for Tech and has lined up a series of amazing speakers and panelists that you don’t often have access to.

Find Rebecca on LinkedIn or reach out by email:

• Rebecca Morrison: Rebecca.Morrison@retail-week.com

About Tech: the event

Tech is a 2 day event focused on transforming retail and retail technology. It is Europe’s largest festival of digital commerce and, in this episode, you’ll get to hear more of the innovative solutions that are being put in place for this year’s event.

1. Tips to do before attending a live event

• Lay out some goals and objectives before the event. Set out 2 or 3 things that you want to achieve. This will help you be focused before, during and after the event.
• Spend some time planning ahead of the event. Even if it’s only 30 mins on the train whilst you’re travelling to the event.
• If there is an event app, make sure that you download it and see what you can do with it. Look out for Tech’s app which includes a number of innovative features to help you make the most of the event.

2. Tips for attending a live event (whilst you’re there)

Look around at the exhibitors

• Tour the floor of exhibitors and sponsors – especially look out for curated tours of different exhibitors which will help give you a broad overview quickly.
• Try setting up short meetings for only 5-10 mins. This will avoid you getting bogged down on the day. But, you might find someone with an amazing solution that is exactly what you’re looking for.
• Talk to companies that you’ve not heard of. If they’re in your space then they could be the diamond in the rough to help solve your problems. Don’t think that only the big companies hold the answers and solutions that are right for you.

Take advantage of the content programme

• Make the most of the content programme. You have the chance to hear exclusive insight and ideas from speakers that you might not get the chance to see, ever again.
• Pay attention to speakers that you might not have heard of. Don’t just pass them by as a “nobody”. If the topic is something that you’re interested in then they can be a real hidden gem of the event.
• Look for getting external inspiration from sources that you might not expect. Feeding your brain with new stimulus will help conjurer up new ideas and solutions.
• Ask questions to the speakers. You don’t often have the chance to access these people – so be sure to ask what you want to know.

Network with other attendees

• Attend “speed dating” type events where you can meet lots of people, quickly. This could be an excellent lead in to a more in depth conversation.
• Know how to introduce yourself in a short way. And think about how you’ll wrap up a conversation too if it’s a dead end. Remember that if you get bogged down in a useless conversation, you’ll be wasting time that could otherwise be used to pursue your main aims and goals.
• Tech also has a feature of AI suggested meetings – make the most of this to help meet potential partners, suppliers or even peers in other retailers and other categories.
• Make connections, meet more people to find the right people.
• The other delegates are probably people that you just won’t come across in your normal day to day life. Make the most of that opportunity.

Plus even more tips

• But if you are going as a group, remember to split up which means you can cover more ground and get more insight. If you’re continually walking around as a group, that will not invite people to talk to you.
• If you’re a sponsor, or exhibitor, then don’t just sit on your stand and not making the most of the event. It’s important to engage and the content can provide conversation starters and even the opportunity to sit next to interesting people.
• Avoid emails and phone calls. Try to extract yourself from the standard day to day life and immerse yourself into the event.

3. Tips for after a live event

• If you’re coming as a team, make sure that you set time to have a team debrief. Share learnings. Discuss who you met and what interested you.
• Plan some reflection time shortly after the event to take stock. Be sure to make notes from the speaker sessions. Capture ideas and opportunities that sprung into your mind during the course of the event.
• Follow up with connections quickly – before too much time passes and it becomes awkward to get in contact.
• And finally…. Hold yourself to account after 3-6 months. Schedule that time into your diary now and make sure that you follow through with the actions and inspiration that you gained from the event.

I’d love to know – which is your best tip? Which tips do you recognise but also know that you need to improve on?  

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