One thing we’ve learned from running networking events for nearly 14 years is that you really don’t need a traditional “event venue” to bring people together. In fact, some of our best Huddles have been in places you’d probably never think of for networking.
We’ve Huddled at shooting grounds, including Ian Coley Shooting School and Prescott Shooting. We went to Lapstone Barn back when it was a shop, long before it became the beautiful wedding venue it is today. We’ve been to Vinotopia wine shop in Nailsworth three times, Bibury Trout Farm, Cotswold Wildlife Park, Heath Farm, Poulton Hill Estate vineyard, Brian Sinfield Gallery, Ritual Coffee Roasters, Cotswold Grey, Daylesford… and plenty more.
There’s something really lovely about networking somewhere that isn’t set up specifically for networking and yesterday’s Huddle was a perfect example. We Huddled at HUDSON’S Home & Antiques in Stratford-upon-Avon, surrounded by antiques, vintage finds, furniture, art, and beautiful homewares.
People chatted, wandered around, had a mooch, found things they wanted to buy, drank coffee, and made connections. It was completely different to Huddling in a hotel or wedding venue, and we loved it. Even before the Huddle started, we’d already held our monthly Roundtable tucked into a corner of the HUDSON’S café.
Are you setting up your own networking event?
The other reason cafés, shops, galleries, and other slightly unconventional spaces are worth considering, particularly if you’re just starting out with your own networking event. They can make it much more affordable.
Rather than hiring a private room and committing to a venue fee, you may be able to find somewhere happy to give you a corner or an area in return for everyone buying their own coffees, lunches, cakes, or whatever else is on offer. The venue gets people through the door, your guests discover somewhere they might not have visited before, and you don’t start your networking group with a big venue bill hanging over it.
Obviously, you need to have that conversation with the venue first, and make sure the arrangement works for them too, but it can be such a simple way to get something started.
The place you meet matters far less than the people you bring together… and sometimes networking amongst antiques, coffee sacks, wine bottles, paintings, animals, vines, or even shotguns is much more fun anyway!
