New Zealand Small Business Set To Shine At Expo
Small Business Expo Opens On 10 May at ASB Showgrounds
Organisers of the Small Business Expo, Sarah Trotman and Associates, say that excitement is building quickly as the
start of the largest event ever held for business in New Zealand is less than one week away.
This year, there is over one third more space as the Small Business Expo covers three halls at the ASB Showgrounds, with
over 190 exhibitors across 270 sites showcasing a broad range of products designed specifically for business owners.
Sarah Trotman, Small Business Sector Specialist says that in 2005 over 7,000 business owners and managers attended the
three-day event, and with 3,000 tickets online pre-registrations already, the expo is on track for another highly
successful event.
“The Small Business Expo is the one-stop-shop for anything and everything for the business owner, from getting free
business planning advice at the Vodafone Business Mentoring through to hearing a range of inspirational speakers give
practical business tips at the Microsoft Seminar Series.”
Hon. Lianne Dalziel, Minister of Small Business says that the Small Business Expo is a major annual highlight for the
sector and demonstrates the contribution that SME’s and businesses that support them make to the economy.
“We sometimes forget that many of New Zealand’s innovators and entrepreneurs can be found in our SMEs, and most of our
leading-edge products were created by small business owners,” says Dalziel.
Trotman also says that while SMEs often have fewer resources and in-house specialist skills they can also be more
versatile and responsive.
“We set out to specifically design the Small Business Expo to make it easy for small business owners to find solutions
to the resourcing and reduced capacity issues that they often have to deal with. Time is one of the many things the
business owner is short of, which is why we have over 190 quality exhibitors with key services and products under one
roof,” says Trotman.
At the Small Business Expo, business owners will also find inspiration and a host of other features including:
• Microsoft Seminar Series with four keynotes and over 35 inspirational speakers. There is a special technology
focus on Friday 12 May, opened by the Minister for Technology, Hon. David Cunliffe
• Keynote speakers Annah Stretton, Ross Harvey, Peter Bassett and Alasdair Thompson
• The yourbiz cyber cafe©, so attendees can work remotely while at the expo,
• The Vero Business Support Zone
• Te Puni Kokiri’s Maori Business Development Zone
• Business mentoring, provided courtesy of Vodafone with mentors supplied by EMA (Employers and Manufacturers
Association)
• Extensive networking and new business opportunities, and
• Exclusive expo-only prices on the very best of products and services offered to the SME sector.
The Microsoft Seminar Series features a wide range of speakers from website designers, business school lecturers,
accountants and marketers through to government ministers and senior executives.
Key sponsors of the Small Business Expo are Vero, Microsoft, Vodafone, the Employers and Manufacturers Association
(EMA), the New Zealand Herald, and Newstalk ZB.
The Small Business Expo commences on 10 May at the ASB Showgrounds and runs until 12 May. It is open everyday from 9am
till 4pm with a late night on Thursday till 8pm. Tickets cost $20 and include all three days of the Expo as well as free
access to the Microsoft Seminar Series. Register at www.businessexpo.co.nz to purchase a ticket and also to secure a
place at one of over 40 inspirational seminars.
ENDS