GOLD Coast small business owners can get their first crucial insight into how to best prepare for the 2018 Commonwealth Games at the 2017 South Gold Coast Business Expo at Miami on July 7.
Billed as the city’s biggest small business expo, the annual event brings hundreds of home-based, micro and mobile business owners together to socialise, network and collaborate in a festive marketplace-style setting.
Organiser and small business champion Paula Brand said this year’s Expo included the first ‘Get Set for the Games’ workshop, presented by Commonwealth Games organisers, City of Gold Coast, and the State Government.
“It will help small businesses plan for the bounty or the disruption that the Games will inevitably bring with an influx of visitors, road closures and traffic issues,” Ms Brand said.
“We’re thrilled to be the first forum to host this workshop which will give crucial information on how small business can manage the impact the largest event this city has ever hosted.
“It will cover topics like planning your staffing, parking, transport logistics and generally making the most of, or reducing the adverse impacts of, the Games.
“Some people may not be able to do business for 10 days so it’s critical that they prepare for that.”
The South Gold Coast Small Business Expo is expected to draw around 700 small business people who can browse 110 trade tables, attend various workshops and connect with fellow entrepreneurs from across the Gold Coast and beyond.
Ms Brand said the Expo would be staged across three floors of the Inspire Building at Miami State High School and likened it to a “pop-up Westfield shopping centre” with a vast array of business types on show.
She said the Expo was a vital platform for small business exposure and collaboration for the Gold Coast, which has more than 20,000 home-based businesses.
“This is an opportunity for small home-based or mobile businesses without the traditional bricks and mortar presence to have a shopfront at least once a year,” she said.
“It’s fine to have virtual shopfronts these days, but we need to showcase our products and services to grow and better connect our businesses.”
“The Expo is built around conversations and learning rather than how swanky our trade booths are; it is all about grassroots selling by local businesses in the community where they live and work.”
The July 7 Expo will be the fifth organised on the Coast by Ms Brand, who said businesses exhibiting at the event reported an average return on investment of $17,000 for their $300 trade table fee.
“This is a forum that generates leads, new clients and repeat business and also provides some much-needed social contact for home-based business people,” she said.
“It doesn’t have to be a struggle, and small businesses do better business when they band together and collaborate.”
Expert speakers presenting workshops during the Expo include Olympic swimming medallist Duncan Armstrong, global clothing entrepreneur Jason Herald, and Sandra Koschel, of KSN Accounting, who will discuss women in business and their super.
Expo attendees will be in the running for a vast array of prizes, including $20,000 in digital billboard advertising from QMS Media, simply by visiting trade tables.
Adding a festive air to the occasion will be 10 food trucks, offering delicious options from coffee to Asian fare, and live music from local five-piece covers band The Blue Shades.
Registration for your free ticket is essential at www.stickytickets.com.au/53666 and use promo code VIP.
For more information, visit www.goldcoastbusinessexpo.com.au
EVENT – SOUTH GOLD COAST SMALL BUSINESS EXPO:
Date: Friday, July 7
Location: Inspire Building, Miami State High School, Gold Coast Highway, Miami
Time: 10am – 4pm
Cost: Free if you register at www.stickytickets.com.au/53666 and use promo code VIP
About Paula Brand:
Gold Coast-based Paula Brand has more than 25 years of industry development experience and runs her own mobile business, Living With I.T. She is founder of North GC Business Events, South GC Business Events and Spirited Women Business Events and the organiser of the 2017 North GC Business Expo, 2017 South GC Business Expo, 2017 Logan Business Expo and facilitator of Facebook Business Page Marketing Workshops throughout Queensland. Paula won the Empowered Biz Mums Leadership Award in 2016.
For media information, interviews or photos please contact Sophie Vail or Morgan McEniery, Ruby Communications on (07) 5532 3808 or email sophie@weareruby.com.au or morgan@weareruby.com.au
