Kristine Bocchino’s Post

Hey Foodie Fam, I wanted to share some thoughts on a topic close to my heart - exhibitions and their magic in shaping our brand's journey. 🌟 Exhibitions aren't just about setting up a stall and showcasing our goodies; they're about weaving connections, sparking conversations, and cultivating partnerships. Every time we hit an expo, it's like diving into a pool of opportunities. These events are our playground, where we not only display our delicious munchies but also engage with a diverse crowd. From fellow foodies seeking their next guilt-free indulgence to potential partners eyeing collaborations, these gatherings are a melting pot of possibilities. For us, it's more than just a business card exchange. It's about those impromptu chats over a handful of Makhana, connecting with other vendors who share our passion for healthy snacking, and brainstorming ideas that could shape the future of our brand. Exhibitions are where we breathe life into our brand story. We're not just selling snacks; we're sharing our journey, our ethos, and the love we pour into each crunchy bite. It's about letting people taste the authenticity and dedication that goes into every pack we create. But it's not just about showcasing our brand; it's about the art of partnership-building. These expos are where we scout for potential collaborations that can take our brand to new heights. From retailers to distributors, finding the right partners is like finding the missing piece to our snacking puzzle. And let's not forget the vibe! The buzz and energy at these events are infectious. It's like a mini-food festival, where we get to interact with fellow foodpreneurs, exchange ideas, and sometimes even taste-test some fantastic new products (perks of the job, am I right?). Sure, exhibitions are a whirlwind of activity - the setup, the long hours, and the constant engagement. But the payoff is worth every ounce of effort. It's not just about the sales made during the event; it's the seeds of future partnerships we plant, the brand visibility we gain, and the connections we foster. So, here's to exhibitions - our playground for growth, our hub for connections, and our stage for telling our brand's story. Each expo is a stepping stone in our journey towards redefining healthy snacking and building a community that cherishes mindful munching. Have you had any unforgettable expo experiences? Share your stories and let's toast to the power of exhibitions in shaping our brands! On my way to the #IndusFoodExpo in Greater Noida today. Keep crunching, Shanu Goel Founder, NutriMakhana

I've consistently battered on about always trying to find opportunities to learn and develop... Although I'm sorry to say that yesterday evening was my first time attending a Marketing Society of Ireland event, as it was simply excellent and I can't believe I've missed opportunities to witness this standard of expertise and insight in Ireland. This talk on 'Cultural Strategy' was led by Chloe Hanratty, we heard insights from David Byrne from the incredible THINKHOUSE, Jessica L. from Irish Distillers, Ann Claire Nolan founder of Chromatico, and the incredibly insightful Louise McSharry. The discussion was both thought-provoking and insightful, with each of the panellists offering valuable expertise around activating your brand within cultural communities. The key takeaway for me is that if your business or brand feels passionately about supporting a group or cultural movement and it fits with your values/ethos then they should work to support them. It can be an incredibly valuable way to grow your brand awareness while actively supporting a shift in mindset, or contributing to a movement for the betterment of society. A few notes for anyone interested: - Firstly, Chloe Hanratty moderation skills were excellent, given her expertise on the subject matter, and keen ear for interesting angles in the responses, the conversation flowed and allowed for each of the panelists to get their points across and offer insight even if the question wasn't directed to them. Highlights from David: - Brands in the modern age should be aware that they can connect with any cultural groups they want through the digital world. Which could be considered obvious but it was poignant. - When considering a cultural move it won't come from a traditional marketing brief, it will evolve as the needs of the culture change, as a brand you need to be adaptable. Highlights from Jessica: - A sustained commitment to the culture increases buy-in and eventual impact through the campaigns, referencing Absolut Vodka's connection with Pride & the LBTQ+ groups over the past 30+ years. - Sponsorship can be a very effective way to grow your brand, in reference to Mumm champagne sponsoring the Melbourne Cup being the catalyst in it eventually becoming the No.1 champagne in Australia. Highlights from Ann Claire: - People don't think about brands. If you ask anyone what is going through their mind randomly? What they need from the shop, the football at weekend, whats for dinner, not brands. - Talked about finding where you want to play, really listening to the community, not trying to be something you're not, and always considering what you are contributing, are you moving the dial? Highlights from Louise: - Brands should be considered in who they work with, and allow the creator to lead the content, as they will always know what will resonate with their audience. - Minorities are not just for marketing.. you need to actually care for people. All in all, an excellent event.

We invite you to take part in our event "Friday Breakfast 20/9". Join us for Friday Breakfast at Karlstad Innovation Park, where we meet to share knowledge and inspiration as well as just have a good time! This event is the perfect opportunity to network with entrepreneurs, innovators, and like-minded professionals in Värmland. Whether you're looking to share ideas, spark new collaborations, or simply enjoy great company, our Friday Breakfast is the place to be. Lets not forget either that every Friday Breakfast offers a chosen speaker to inspire and share knowledge about different organisations. At this event our chosen organisation is Paper Province. They will give us a presentation of the future of building sustainable high-rise buildings with wood. They will highlight the challenges and innovations in the construction industry and reflect on how wood as a building material can play a decisive role in the green transition. Don't miss out—let's start the weekend with fresh conversations and fresh connections! Date and time: Friday 20/9 08.30-10.00 Location: Karlstad Innovation Park, level 3, Coffice. Price: Participation is free. (Optional fee for sandwich buffé is 55sek.) Breakfast: We offer coffee and tea for free in Coffice at level 3 where the event takes place. There will be a smaller sandwich buffé available for you to purchase (55sek) in the restaurant Nova. It is located at the ground floor to the right after coming trough the main entrance. You can then bring your breakfast to Coffice at level 3. The change from pre made and free sandwiches to a paid sandwich buffé is due to high amount of sandwiches waisted during the spring. We hope that this solution will be well received now that those who wishes to eat breakfast can do so and at the same time, the amount of waste can be minimized. This fall we have planned to change the concept i a few ways and we hope that you will se it as a positive development. One of these changes will for example be to use english as the primary language for the presentations and communication around the events to make them more inclusive. We want to make these events more accessible for our international community members and we hope to do this by using english as the primary language for the events. We want to emphasize that for most of us english is not our first language. This means that we help each other and keep a forgiving attitude to each others comfortability to communicate in english. This can also be a possibility to practice the english language for all of us that can use refresh now and then. Another example of development is that the events will be fewer but longer and our intention is to bring more quality and value for you as a participant. We hope to to see you at our Friday Breakfast 20/9! Book your spot at https://lnkd.in/dHHug8_v

🍻 Is alcohol a necessary part of "work event" culture? 🍻 As a recently sober person, I found this piece in Sprudge particularly insightful. Alcohol has always been present at trade shows and work functions I've attended in the past. I never really took the time, however, to think about it until I started attending these same events sober. I had a great time socialising with people from other brands at various trade show after parties - from Lunch! To Expo West in Los Angeles and London Coffee Festival - but never stopped to think about how I'd be coping without the booze. It seemed a necessary part of networking - which is the whole point of these events. I completely understand the need to let loose after a long day of exhibiting at a trade show, but does this "fun" really need to be centred around alcohol? Are we not past that in today's society? The coffee industry, in particular, surprises me. It's normal for latte art showdowns and cuppings that have alcohol present. A required "pull" to boost attendance, even. Does this not contradict with the nature of specialty coffee itself? For an event based around savouring the particular tastes of various coffees, why would you let your taste buds be affected by booze? I'd love to see brands like Days & Lucky Saint | B Corp™ have more presence in the "work event" space. Potentially collaborating with us at Extract Coffee Roasters for a series of coffee based events & parties... Sober definitely doesn't have to mean boring. https://lnkd.in/eysAwPRf

Great feedback and kind words from Mark McLaughlin about the event this week. A good reminder that it is important for all of us as marketers to meet up, and attend events whenever we can. Get in touch if you ever want to discuss this topic further. #research #insights #strategy #culture #brandstrategy

Excited to officially launch the Built Festival main event registration. We are all super excited about this year's lineup of panel discussions (see below + link to eventbrite page) and can't thank Travel Oregon enough for being the presenting sponsor again. We will also have a marketplace of accelerator and bridges companies to peruse and support. Current Event Lineup: Festival Emcee -  Jocelyn R.- Principal/Founder of Black Earth United What's unique about Oregon's food and beverage ecosystem and what does the future have in store for it: Moderator - Darren Marshall -CEO at Smith Tea. Panelists - Nikki Guerrero - Founder of Hot Mama Salsa, Junea Rocha - Cofounder/CMO at Brazi Bites and Rudy Kellner - Cofounder/CEO at pFriem Family Brewers. The importance of Small Business to Oregon's economy and communities: Moderator - Maribel De León- Senior Program Officer, Our Collective Prosperity at Meyer Memorial Trust. Panelists - Shawn Irvine - Economic Development Director at the City of Independence, Melina Romero - Empresarios Program Manager at Hacienda CDC, and Marcus Hinz - Executive Director at the Oregon Coast Visitors Association. Building Bridges: The importance of creating opportunities for companies through retail partnerships: Moderator - Shauna Noah - Bridges Program Manager Panelists - John Boyle - Chief Merchandising & Marketing Office at Market of Choice, Lori Hunter - Local Finds & Special Events Manager at New Seasons Market, and Joyce Attar, MBA - Director of Operations at World Foods. The Story We Tell: A discussion about Oregon's place and position when it comes to consumer products and community: Moderator - Lindsey Morse - Executive Director at the PSU Center for Retail Leadership Panelists - Ron Khormaei - Founder/CEO at Steelport Knife Co. and Pamela Neferkará - Founder/Prinicpal at Elmira Street Associates, LLC. What's unique about Oregon's apparel, outdoor and footwear ecosystem and what does the future have in store for it: Moderator - Jason Bolt - Founder/CEO at Revant Optics Panelists - Angela Medlin (Groff) - Design Director (Apparel) at Hoka, Wylie Robinson - CEO at Rumpl and Josué Rivas - Founder of Indígena. As a nonprofit, we rely on the Built Festival as one of the primary means of generating operating capital for our organization. Your patronage makes this event and future events like it possible. In addition, we'd like to thank our additional sponsors - Village Family Capital, Market of Choice, New Seasons Market, Craft3, Schwabe , Perkins & Co  ,REVANT OPTICS, CENTRL Office & OnPoint Community Credit Union. Hope to see a lot of you at The Redd on 10/4! https://lnkd.in/gSuV_hN2

Celebrating achievements can make a big difference in your company's culture. Our latest article explores how to recognize your employees at your next company awards event at the link below. https://hubs.li/Q02wwJjb0 #CompanyAwards #Ironmark

Why You Should Partner with State Fair Mini Donuts! 🍩✨ Are you looking to add a sweet touch to your events, business, or venue? Partnering with State Fair Mini Donuts is the perfect way to delight your customers and guests with a beloved treat that everyone loves. Here’s why you should choose us: 1. Unmatched Quality and Taste Our mini donuts are made fresh on-site using premium ingredients, ensuring every bite is warm, fluffy, and delicious. The irresistible aroma alone will draw in crowds and keep them coming back for more. 2. Versatile and Crowd-Pleasing Mini donuts are a hit at any event—from fairs and festivals to corporate gatherings, weddings, and more. They’re a nostalgic treat that appeals to all ages, making them a versatile addition to any menu or event lineup. 3. Attractive Revenue Opportunity Adding State Fair Mini Donuts to your offerings can boost your sales and profits. Our popular product has a high demand, quick turnover, and excellent profit margins, making it a smart business move. 4. Comprehensive Support When you partner with us, you’re not just getting a product; you’re gaining a support system. We provide everything you need to succeed, including equipment, training, marketing materials, and ongoing support to ensure your mini donut venture is a hit. 5. Brand Recognition and Loyalty State Fair Mini Donuts is a name that resonates with quality and tradition. Partnering with us adds value to your brand, attracting loyal customers who recognize and trust our name.

"The rising tide lifts all boats." John F. Kennedy. I firmly believe that good collaboration (the rising tide) only exists when major win-win outcomes occur for the parties (all boats) involved. While planning the first-ever Classic Cookie® festival, I wanted to be sure those we collaborated with had a positive experience with our brand When we selected Historic Downtown Sevierville as the festival's location, I knew we had an opportunity to elevate each downtown business during the event. Here are the highlights from the collaborative efforts between some downtown businesses and our company. 🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪 Collaboration #1: The salon/spa hosted the birthday cake gallery competition in their boutique retail area. Classic Cookie® Results - A comfortable indoor space for guests where the cake entries would not melt. Salon/Spa Results - High foot traffic and most boutique clothes they have ever sold in the store. 🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪 Collaboration #2: A two-month-old soda fountain business contributed prizes for social media and festival giveaways. Classic Cookie® Results: We had a unique marketing opportunity to engage fans before and during the festival. Soda Fountain Results: They had their biggest sales day in company history during the event. 🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪 Collaboration #3: The BBQ restaurant sold the Classic Cookie® Cinnabon cookie warmed up and topped with official Cinnabon frosting. Classic Cookie® Results: We had a vendor who could sell this exclusive item and a place where festival guests could enjoy a savory meal after all the sweets. BBQ Restaurant Results: Packed restaurant during the event with many locals saying they loved the food and would have never tried the place if not for the event. 🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪 I am grateful for all these business owners who worked with our team to make our company's birthday celebration special. Through our collaborative efforts, we created massive win-win outcomes for each other.

On the eve of the Future Brisbane 2023 summit, Mediaweek Australia caught up with Diana Kay, News Corp Australia’s General Manager Events and Experiences who shared about the two sides of events resurgence in a post-pandemic world. Despite challenges faced by the events industry due to the #pandemic, Diana said the organisation’s #events division experienced significant growth, delivering about 90 event programs in the past 12 months. For #brands, one of the things that she is most grateful for was that when facing headwinds, most of the #sponsors of News Corp Australia’s programs did not walk away. “Brands were still striving for a connection with their audience, and they wanted to stick with us as we worked through the reshape of our programs - and we did that successfully. Everything from The Australian’s Global Food Forum, to launching new programs like The Australian’s eCommerce summit, and mature programs like Vogue’s Fashion Night Out.” Looking ahead, Diana said that it was looking to be full steam ahead over the next 12 months, with a "huge" year as the team continued working on #growth strategies. Read the Mediaweek Australia article here: https://lnkd.in/g5_vWJyx #NewsCorpAustralia #FutureSummit2023 Louise Barrett Jason Scott Renee Sycamore Edwina McCann Pippa Leary Jake Millar John Lehmann Joanna Denington Kelly Healy Nicole Ware Danny Lavell Mark Treasure Media Tonic