NOQ
NOQ supports independent festival finances
Created to help major events operators to leverage real-time data to optimise revenue and reduce queues , NOQ has become a preferred supplier to the Association of Independent Festivals ( AIF ), which founder Param Kanabar says will see it help fund the association ’ s battle to support the sector
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self-confessed lover of data , Param Kanabar was inspired to launch NOQ after being left hugely frustrated by the snaking queues around the Rock In Rio site back in 2017 . Since then , the suite of tools he built to help events create a better experience for attendees has been used at numerous major events including Green Man , Joy Concerts ’ Brighton on the Beach and Brighton Pride , Love Trails and Secret Garden Party .
He says that one of the key benefits of NOQ is that it provides a single , centralised , platform for data collection and analysis . It involves a POS system that has proven to be 30 % faster than the market average , and is able to process transactions online and off , meaning
NOQ works to improve experience for event owners and attendees payments can be taken in even the most challenging of locations and under the most difficult conditions .
Kanabar has been on a mission to help the live events industry better gain and utilise data since he gave up his role as a CFO at Kantar Media North America , a subsidiary of marketing data and analytics giant , Kantar Global : “ My background has
“ IT SHOCKED ME THAT THE EVENTS INDUSTRY WAS SO FAR BEHIND .”
all been in data , and it shocked me that the events industry was so far behind , compared to others , in leveraging realtime data about what ’ s happening onsite in order to improve the attendee experience and generate more revenue . So we created a single platform that enables event operators to see when , where , and what people are buying , while also empowering them to encourage engagement and sales .”
With 215 festivals lost since the pandemic hit , Kanabar and his NOQ team , is focused on helping the sector ride the financial storm by reducing costs and growing revenue . He says that while major festival operations have the benefit
Param Kanabar
of scale and major sponsorship deals , independent festivals are more exposed , and it is therefore vital they maximise existing revenue streams .
NOQ ’ s product suite provides realtime cash flow visibility allowing event organisers to adopt percentage-based commission models , moving away from fixed pitch fees , which Kanabar says is particularly beneficial for independent festivals that rely heavily on food and bar revenue . It also enables next-day reconciliation , ensuring traders receive payments immediately instead of waiting months .
Demonstrating its commitment to supporting independent festivals , NOQ has pledged to provide AIF with £ 1,000 every time an independent festival signs up to its service . The funding will help AIF ’ s many projects , including its campaign for the UK ’ s Culture Media & Sport Select Committee to begin a State of Play inquiry into the future of UK festivals .
AIF CEO John Rostron said , “ The MPs on this Committee have the power to lobby the Government for the support we need . We believe a State of Play inquiry into festivals will demonstrate the desperate need for more support for independents .”
“ AIF is doing great work ,” says Kanabar . “ We are keen to do what we can to support those endeavours for the benefit of the entire independent festival ecosystem , while also encouraging event operators to use our platform so we can then do what we are good at : which is help them maximise their current revenue .”
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