Seven Tips to Make Your Presence Count in the Networking Season. (Episode 1)

For the ones in the retail and hospitality industry, how many events are you hosting, or being invited to attend over the holiday season? Are you excited about the opportunities to meet new faces and try different experiences, or a little nervous to mingle with strangers and unsure about what to expect? If you are more inclined to the latter, here are seven tips from my personal experience of hosting and attending events.

𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Are you there to get creative inspiration for your work, to meet potential new clients or to show gratitude to your partnership network? How would you define "job well done" by end of the event? Having a clear purpose of presence sets the tone for a satisfying outcome.
 
𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁: Get some tips from Google about the event organiser, the story of the venue, and the potential guests attending. Who are the ones you would like to make an introduction to or get to know more about? What is the latest news or business plans of this organiser that would be good to be aware of? What is your potential value-add to the other attendees? Preparation builds the context and confidence to start a meaningful conversation with anyone you meet.

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗳𝗶𝘁: What you wear gives the first impression of who you are. Always go for something a little more elevated than what the event attire requires. Choose clothes that make you feel confident yet are comfortable to be in, as that’s your best companion for rest of the day. A cherry on the cake - Select an accessory that carries a story to tell. This could be a watch you inherited, a vintage coat from Notting Hill or a special pair of made-to-order shoes from a boutique you visited in Ibiza, just to name a few examples.