Chocolate and champagne to be won at free Bishop's Stortford Means Business event at Rhodes

Business owners, retailers, traders and entrepreneurs will be coming together for Bishop's Stortford's largest and longest-running business exhibition, which takes place on Wednesday (Oct 17).

Now in its 18th year, Bishop’s Stortford Means Business has been creating unrivalled opportunities for the town’s business community since 2001.

This year it boasts almost 50 exhibitors plus two seminars and plenty of networking all under one roof at Rhodes Arts Complex in South Road. Admission to the event, which runs from 10am to 4pm, is free.

Bob Lee, of Marketing Kinetics, who has organised this year’s event with his daughter Gina Thomas, said: “There will be things to interest all – those in business as well as those who live here.

“This year we’ve set out to have a few fresh ideas; for example, for the first time Stort Physio will be offering free consultations in a private consulting area throughout the day, so come and have that ache examined free of charge.

“Several exhibitors will be having prize draws – champagne or chocolates are popular prizes, but Mantles will be going one better by doing both.

“If that’s not your thing, Bishop’s Stortford Golf Club will be holding a business card prize draw for a round of golf for four. There will be many other items on other stands on the day.

“The Bishop’s Stortford Independent team will also be there to meet with loyal readers who have made the first year since it launched such a success.”

Bishop’s Stortford Means Business has been enthusiastically supported by Mark Prisk, the town’s MP and former Minister of State for Business and Enterprise, for many years.

“The 2018 Bishop’s Stortford Means Business exhibition looks like being another real success story,” he said.

“It’s great to think that all these different businesses will be in one place and I wish everyone involved all the best.”

Entrance to the exhibition, which runs from 10am to 4pm, is free. Find full details at www.bsmb.co.uk.

SEMINAR SPEAKERS AT BSMB

Seminar 1: Social media success – social selling and lead generation.

Speaker: Justine Perry, founder and managing director of multi award-winning digital marketing agency Cariad Marketing.

Time: 10.30am-11.15am.

With more than 25 years’ marketing experience, Justine is skilled at delivering inbound marketing programmes with specialist knowledge in social media, SEO (search engine optimisation) and content marketing.

She will be sharing information and advice on how effective social media can help boost your business.

Seminar 2: What they don’t teach you at business school.

Speakers: Ian Hudson and Jim Tatchell, directors of business support network Go2Ex.

Time: 11.30am-12.15pm.

Business mentors Jim and Ian are two of the five directors of Go2Ex, a group of experienced business professionals who offer mentoring and consultancy services to business across sectors. They will be sharing their top tips for starting and running a small business based on their own experiences in finance, IT and sales.