Top Tips for Making the Most of Riviera Business Expo 2025

26/02/2025
Uncategorised

Your time is precious, so if you are thinking of attending the Riviera Business Expo 2025 I have no doubt you are (understandably!) hoping to get something in return for that investment. Some new customers perhaps?

What if I told you the value of attending the Expo will be so much more than that?

The Expo brings together exceptional businesses from across Devon which creates amazing opportunities not only for potentially gaining new customers, but also for:

Networking
Collaborating
Referrals
Joint Ventures
Raising the profile of your brand

How do I know this? Because I attended the Expo in 2023 and 2024 and not only did I gain new clients as a direct result of attending the event, but I was also invited onto a podcast as a guest speaker, asked to speak at two business events, invited to co-host a brand new business awards ceremony and asked to collaborate on a new business venture with someone in a complimentary industry to me. Not only that but I made some amazing, genuine connections that I am still good friends with today and who have, over the past two years, referred clients to me and I have done the same for them.

Attending the Riviera Business Expo 2025 really does provide an amazing opportunity to get an incredible return on investment – if you are intentional and approach the day in the right way. Here are my top tips to help you do just this so you can get the most from attending this incredible business event:

1. Start with the Right Intent

Before engaging with others, consider your approach. Are you being transactional or relational? People work with people that they know, like, and trust and for people to know, like, and trust us, we need to build a genuine connection with them. A transactional connection is not a genuine, meaningful connection. It is a surface level connection based on what each party can get from it and it will be forgotten as soon as each of you walks away. A relational connection, on the other hand, is deeper than this. It is a genuine, human connection that starts to build the “know, like, and trust” between you both and which will not be forgotten. To start building a relational connection, adopt the mindset of genuinely wanting to be of value to the other person rather than simply focusing on what you can get from the connection. Building strong relationships is fundamental to the success of any business and this starts with genuine, authentic interactions that create value for both parties, not simply swapping business cards.

2. Plan Ahead for Success

Before you step foot into the Expo, take time to research the exhibitors, speakers, and key attendees. Identify what “success” would look like for you if you attended the Expo. What would you need to get from attending that would make it worth your time? Would it be having conversations with some interesting attendees? Connecting with the keynote speaker? Collaborating with a potential referral partner? A well thought out plan will help you be focused and strategic and make the most of your time so you don’t miss out on the valuable opportunities that are there.

3. Be Curious

Genuine curiosity is a powerful networking tool. Approach each conversation as if it were a fact finding mission, ask thoughtful questions and carefully listen to the responses. Typically, in our daily conversations we only listen at surface level. We listen to respond and are already predicting what the person is going to say and planning our response before they have even finished speaking. Instead of listening to respond, try listening to understand. Ask follow up clarifying questions if you need to. Make the aim of the game to find out as much as you can about the other person. In doing so, not only will you make that person feel truly heard and understood, which builds connection, but you will also gain really useful insights into that person’s needs, wants, challenges and goals that you might just be able to help them with!

4. Ask Questions That Build Positive Energy

Neuroscience has shown that our brains switch between two domains: the analytical domain (focused on logic and problem-solving) and the empathic domain (focused on human connection and emotions). When networking, we want to ask questions that engage the empathic domain to build positive energy in conversations as this positive energy will make the connection more impactful. People won’t remember what you wore, what you said, or your business strapline. They will remember how you made them feel though. So, how do you want to make them feel? Things you could ask people about to engage the empathic domain could include asking about their passion projects, their proudest achievements, or their vision for the future.

5. Be Human

Don’t present a perfect, polished, cardboard cutout version of yourself. People don’t connect with this as they can’t resonate with it. They don’t see themselves as a perfect, polished, cardboard cutout, they see themselves as a real human with quirks, messiness and imperfections. This is what you need to share if you want to build a genuine connection with them. Share your real experiences, your challenges, and your insights rather than just your rehearsed professional highlights. Vulnerability and authenticity create deeper relationships and will make you more relatable – and crucially more memorable!

Final Thoughts

The Riviera Business Expo 2025 is more than just a networking opportunity. It’s a chance to establish meaningful connections with clients, suppliers and collaborators, to gain industry insights, to elevate your business brand and to increase the visibility of your business in Devon. By planning strategically and engaging authentically, you’ll leave a lasting impact on the people you meet which will create something amazing.

A ripple effect.

Not only will the person you connected with have had a really great experience with you and be more likely to become a customer, but they will also speak positively about you to the people they know.

They will become the most incredible free marketing for your business.

Referrals are the gold standard in marketing because they come from people we trust and, as we know, people buy from people they know, like & trust.

All you have to do is be yourself. Be real, engage authentically and make genuine connections. If you do this, I have no doubt attending the Expo will be an incredibly valuable investment of your time.

Jess Wiggins
Impact Coaching International
Email [email protected]