The experiences of a Supply Nation Connect first time Speaker and Trade show exhibitor
Tagai Management Consultants invested in attending this years Supply Nation Connect Trade Show and Gala dinner event which brought together Indigenous businesses, corporate members and supplier diversity enablers from various sectors together to network and celebrate Indigenous supplier diversity over the last 12 months.
Our Managing Director, Murray Saylor who is also the inaugural Chairperson of the Supply Nation Indigenous Business Advisory Group had the first time opportunity to co-facilitate one of the Knowledge Forum Workshops, and be a Finalist of the Supplier Diversity Advocate of the year award.
There were many Trade show lessons and areas we will focus on to continuously improve for next year. But for a humble and driven business that continues to value empowering relationships, innovative solutions and achieving results we are not doing too bad.
The Tagai Management Consultants family would like to thank everyone who came by our booth at the Supply Nation Connect Trade show. We were humbled to be able to connect and reconnect with fellow business owners and supplier diversity enablers during the event. We look forward to progressing conversations and inquiries in the coming weeks with potential customers.
Workshop: Successful tendering why you're missing out
Our Managing Director, Murray Saylor had the opportunity to co-facilitate for the first time the Workshop with First Food Co Director, Karen Perks which was a interactive session on writing and preparing tender responses. There was great robust discussions from the 68 workshop participants who consisted of representatives from Government, Indigenous business, Supply Nation corporate members, and commercial sector.
The opportunity was a welcome opportunity share who Tagai Management Consultants is and share some of your industry procurement insights and learnings working with our valued customers.
Key Workshop takeaways
- Have a bid, no bid decision point
- Understand your potential clients
- Read all the tender documents
- Develop a tender submission plan
- Identify a tender submission team to assist and if possible a tender writer to coordinate
- Approach tender contact person with any questions you have
- Use appropriate language and document formatting
- Seek feedback
The key learnings and observations from the Workshop will be the subject of a separate blog titled "Diversity cannot be your only business value proposition".
Workshop participants preparing for the session to start
2018 Supply Nation Connect Trade Show
This years trade show was the first time Tagai Management Consultants exhibited our business and share our journey at this significant business networking event. If you are existing or new Trade show business exhibitor some of the following ideas may add some value to your trade show investment:
Set a trade show budget and plan of attack (e.g. what are looking to achieve, who do you want to meet, etc)
Conduct lead up marketing campaign
Seek advice and assistance from event organisers to conduct introductions and how best to market your business
Practice your pitch and approach
Explore opportunities to advertise your business at the event
Hit the ground at full pace as you may not come back next year and you have invested $$$ to attend
Connect or reconnect with fellow businesses and colleagues
Seek feedback post event
Follow up on all leads whether they are cold or hot
Tagai Management Consultants 2018 Supply Nation Connect Trade show booth
We spoke and had great conversations with a wide variety of potential customers, fellow Indigenous businesses, valued existing and previous customers we have had the humbling opportunity to work with.
Our Managing Director Murray Saylor catching up with Marcus Lee of Marcus Lee Design who designed the new Supply Nation logo.
Tagai Management Consultants spoke to approximately 53 representatives and we will be following up with all connections in the coming weeks. On behalf of the Tagai Management Consultants family thank you to everyone who came by our booth at the Supply Nation Connect Trade show. We were humbled to be able to connect and reconnect with fellow business owners and supplier diversity enablers during the event.
Supply Nation Gala Dinner and Awards
Our Managing Director, Murray Saylor was a selected a Finalist for the Supplier Diversity Advocate of the year award. Even though Murray did not win the award the overall support and feedback by fellow Indigenous businesses and Award attendees was overwhelming about the social and commercial achievements we continue to impact at all levels of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Congratulations to Peter Critchley of Broadspectrum.
Finalists for Supplier Diversity Advocate of the year award which was awarded to Peter Critchley
In conclusion
Tagai Management Consultants had a focused marketing strategy into the 2018 Supply Nation Connect event and we came out of the event with very humbling and positive results. We gained further insights to the marketplace and connected with many people and businesses who continue to strive for opportunity, revenue, resources and most importantly continued growth in the Indigenous business sector. We look forward to attending next years event as active participants and contributors.
Tagai Management Consultants is a dynamic management consultancy specialising in procurement, business development and community development services focused on empowering relationships and achieving results that meet and exceed our clients requirements in Australia and the Asia/Pacific region. Get in contact with us today.