Blendsmiths oversea events

Since joining Blendsmiths late last year, I’ve had the opportunity to travel to a few countries across Europe, and the trend has continued this year. Clocking up miles to Dubai, Madrid, Dublin & Tallinn, all in the name of exhibiting at a coffee show. 

It’s quite an exhausting task to fly and exhibit in another country (yes, yes cry me a river), but as International Sales Manager, it’s defined in the job role and honestly, something that I love. There is nothing better than getting face to face with your current and potential new customer base, explaining our products and offering drinks to taste. As good as Teams is, a virtual meeting just doesn’t come close to a personal conversation – sometimes a bit awkward or discussing something entirely random, but this is how relationships are built. That first impression is everything, and it can really set you up for a long-lasting partnership with a new customer. 

The coffee shows have all been uniquely different in their own way. Unbeknownst to me, it’s quite common practise in UAE to treat tasks a little “slowly” and then have a mad rush 24 hrs before any deadline. Well, we got quite a shock when arriving at the stand at 5 pm the night before, with 2 blank white walls. But in every credit to the team on the ground, the stand was looking fantastic the next morning, ready for the first customers to arrive. It was a pretty hectic show and strangely got a lot busier towards the end of the day than the start. Clearly a solid trend in the UAE, where lots of roasters showcased fruit-first co-fermented coffee, with some really wacky flavours! 

Madrid Coffee Fest was the busiest so far, 60,000 attendees crammed into 3 days, in a very cold and windy February. We were flat out at this show, with always being 4 bodies deep around our stand. But the feedback was incredible, and those busy points make you feel proud to be working for a brand that is in such demand. Chai was a big hit for the Spaniards, which was a little unexpected for me, given that they don’t cook with a huge amount of fragrant spices. 

Dublin Coffee Festival was probably my favourite so far. Quite a small, intimate venue, but with quality brands in attendance and a steady stream of customers. We were really able to chat to the customers, get to talk in detail about the individual ingredients and of course, take on loads of leads! 

Finally, last month, we headed to Tallinn to support one of our coffee roasting partners. The brief for this event was slightly different and more to raise the profile of Blendsmiths 

and support our partner, rather than gain leads. For me, exhibiting abroad isn’t just about sales on the day or the number of leads, but it's also about raising our profile. Ensuring we’re continually in the minds of the public and always showing up with a quality stand. I’m a firm believer that whether it’s in 3 months or 12 months' time, you will benefit from it in the end. 

So, in conclusion, it’s been a solid first 5 months for overseas events, and the team has done a cracking job, showcasing the brand and getting stuck in when the going gets tough. But that’s what we love to do. 

Onto the next event, Brussels in June!