Meet, Greet, Learn, Connect - Repeat

Nothing can beat a good trade exhibition – this is why I still love them!

There’s something uniquely energising about walking into a trade show. The buzz of conversation, the displays of innovation, the chance encounters in the aisles - it’s an experience that no e-mail, webinar or Zoom call can ever quite replicate. For me, trade shows remain one of the most rewarding parts of our industry calendar.

I’ve been attending and organising exhibitions and conferences for many years, and I still come away from each one with fresh ideas, new contacts, and a renewed sense of perspective. In the last two months, I’ve attended exhibitions in Nuremberg and Barcelona – both were well-attended, memories of Covid lockdowns and social distancing forgotten.

They are one of the few occasions where the entire sector - suppliers, operators, consultants, and customers - gathers under one roof. In the space of a day or two, you can see more, learn more and connect with more people than you could in months of individual meetings.

What makes exhibitions work so well is the efficiency of the format. You can walk up to a stand, shake hands with a supplier, and in five minutes discover a product or service that might completely change how you do business. You can chat with someone over a coffee and find that their experience solves a problem you’ve been wrestling with for months. And beyond the business, there’s the human side - the friendships renewed, the laughter over dinner, the sense that we’re all part of something bigger than our individual companies.

Trade shows are also vital for the health of our industries. They showcase progress, spark collaboration, and give smaller companies a platform to be seen alongside the big players. For exhibitors, it’s a chance to tell their story face-to-face - not just through marketing brochures, but through real conversation. For visitors, it’s an opportunity to take the pulse of the sector and see where the market is heading.

That’s why I’ll always encourage people to make the effort to attend - especially as the Movers and Storage Show approaches. Whether you’re a seasoned operator or new to the business, this event offers a unique chance to network, discover innovations, and reconnect with the community that keeps our industry moving.

So, if you’ve been thinking about going - then go!

Block the diary, book the travel, and spend a day among the people and ideas shaping the future of moving and storage. You’ll come away with more than you expect - new contacts, fresh thinking, and that familiar buzz of inspiration that only a great exhibition can deliver.

Come to The Mover stand at The Movers and Storers Show on 18 & 19 November at the NAEC Stoneleigh (Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG).