NZ’s business highlight coming to you

NZ’s business highlight coming to you

Thousands of business owners will be taking time out between 25-27 June to attend the Small Business Expo.

With 97% of businesses now classed as small or medium businesses, the expo is expected to be the business highlight of the year, as well as the largest event held for business in New Zealand

The Small Business Expo provides a wealth of opportunities for owners and managers of small businesses to check out the latest services and products available to them,” Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast says. “It’s also a great networking opportunity. “

“We intend the Small Business Expo to be a ‘must go’ event for business owners,” organiser Sarah Trotman says. “But while we are big, the best part of the Small Business Expo is what we offer small business. We provide real information that is useful to people in business. That’s why we are the considered the best expo for business as well as the biggest and why the crowds flock to visit the Small Business Expo throughout the country.”

Research from the last expos found nearly 90 percent of who attend the Small Business Expo conduct business there (according to a Touchpoll independent survey).

A major attraction of the Small Business Expo is The National Bank Seminar Series which offers free seminars non-stop all three days of each expo with speakers hand-picked to offer advice to help business owners be more successful in their business.

Seminar speakers this year will be from a variety of industries and their brief is to give practical advice that business owners can use to grow their business. This year’s theme is ‘sustainability’ and keynote speakers will be giving tips on how sustainability has helped their businesses.

Nearly 90% of business owners who attended the last expo told researchers they would return for the 2008 event.

With expo space sold out well in advance, this year’s Small Business Expo is expected to be a unique showcase for new products and ideas for owners of small to medium-size businesses.

As Trotman explains, most business owners frequently think about growth, retaining customers and improving their business but many are so caught up in the day-to-day running of their business that they can’t find the time to do it. The Small Business Expo fills this gap.

Trotman adds, “With the support of our sponsors OGGI, Vodafone, Genesis Energy and NewstalkZB, the event will be bigger and better this year and we urge all business owners in the greater Wellington area to put aside time to get to the most useful business event they’re likely to attend this year.”

Claire Drake from Limited Editions found the last Wellington Expo excellent for her interior design business. “The business area was very useful with everyone handing out really good information, especially Statistics NZ. I also found a great option for a computer back-up system.”

People will also find it easier to get around the expo this year because information zones for business have been set up – they include the Statistics New Zealand Business Information Zone, the Ministry of Economic Development Online with Business Zone and the new Genesis Energy Sustainability Zone.

The event is being held at Wellington’s TSB Arena, Queens Wharf, from 25-27 June. Tickets are $20, available at the door or online and include attendance to all three days of the expo, all the exhibition halls and The National Bank Seminar Series.

The Small Business Expo 2008 website has full details of the speakers and topics being covered in The National Bank Seminar Series. From the website, www.businessexpo.co.nz prospective attendees can:

- book exhibition space;
- purchase tickets online;
- pre-register for specific sessions of The National Bank Seminar Series;

ENDS

© Scoop Media