THE Heritage Coast Market Towns Initiative has hosted a networking evening to help firms make the most of its forthcoming Suffolk Coast Business Exhibition.

Exhibitors planning to take part in the event, to be held at the Athlone Hall in the grounds of Framlingham College on Tuesday, March 26 from 1pm to 6pm, were given tips on how to set strategies and targets and how to attract visitors to their stands.

Roger Barcham of BMS Imaging spoke about exhibition ethics and how to attract visitors, based on his experience as an organiser of the Ipswich & Suffolk Small Business Association’s Suffolk Business Exhibition, and Julia Payn from SalePath encouraged exhibitors to set measurable targets and strategies to make a positive difference to their sales.

Demand for stands at the exhibition has exceeded expectations , fulfilling the HCMTI’s aim to attract a wide range of businesses in terms of both size and the variety of products and services represented.

The Suffolk Coast Business Exhibition 2013 is being sponsored by Suffolk Coastal District Council, East of England Co-Operative, Ensors Chartered Accountants, Leiston Press and Suffolk Chamber of Commerce who, together with HCMTI and partners East Anglian Daily Times, are keen to provide a platform for visitors to experience the depth, strength and expertise of business on the Suffolk Coast.

Visitors are invited to register free for the exhibition and a series of workshops running in parallel with the exhibition at www.suffolkcoastbusiness.co.uk .

The pre-exhibition networking evening was hosted by Framlingham Technology Centre, with canapes and wine being sponsored by the Waitrose store in Saxmundham.