DIRECTOROFTHEMONTH
The Perfect FIT
From Ab Fab to obsessing over the floor plan, FIT Show event director Nickie West gives Clearview an insight into what it takes to deliver the award-winning NEC show...
NAME / JOB TITLE: Nickie West, Event Director FIT Show
WHEN DID YOU JOIN( OR START) THE COMPANY? 2011
I was originally contracted by Matthew Glover and Paul Godwin in an operations capacity when the idea for FIT Show was conceived in 2011. We worked together on the inaugural show, which took place at Telford’ s International Exhibition Centre in 2013. The glass and glazing industry was screaming out for a dedicated UK event, and FIT Show filled that gap in the market.
DESCRIBE YOUR WORKING DAY( FROM THE TIME YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE, ETC.)
I work from home, in Walton-on-Thames, so my commute is easy. However, I’ m out and about a lot meeting our exhibitors and suppliers across the country so my day often starts with setting the Sat Nav and hitting the road or waking up in a hotel and preparing for a day of meetings. I’ ll be responding to emails in between appointments and then debriefing the wider FIT Show team on anything important from the meetings I’ ve had that day.
WHAT IS YOUR WORKSPACE LIKE?( TIDY / ORGANISED ETC.)
My home work space moves from relatively tidy to extremely chaotic as we get closer to the show.
FIRST THING YOU DO WHEN YOU GET TO YOUR DESK?
I arrive at my desk with a coffee to fuel the brain and then will most likely start off by opening my emails. When you’ re on the road and in back-to-back meetings, the emails can often pile up so I like to keep an organised inbox which is then easy to sort through and action.
WHAT WEBSITES HELP YOU? Key sites for me include the event industry trade body; Association of Event Organisers- https:// www. aeo. org. uk /, BBC News, LiveBuzz who manage our online registration and the fIT Show website, howtostaycalmwhenpeopleareidiots. com and of course the FIT Show website which is updated weekly with fresh content from our exhibitors and that rapidly expanding exhibitor list / floor plan.
MOST USEFUL BUSINESS TOOL?( SAT NAV / APPS ETC.)
I absolutely rely on my car’ s inbuilt Sat Nav, I don’ t know what I’ d do without it. I’ m also an avid user of LinkedIn and Twitter which are both key channels for this industry. Finally, I’ d have to say Salesforce. The whole FIT Show team is linked up with Salesforce and it’ s vital for managing and nurturing leads throughout the campaign.
BEST BUSINESS DECISION IN YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
I’ d say that the decision to move FIT Show to the NEC, taking it from what many perceived to be its natural home in Telford, was a big and brave one. Not only did we have more stand space to sell and visitors to drive, people inherently don’ t like change so we were also met with all the challenges that came with convincing some of our original supporters that this was the best move all-round. The move to Birmingham has made the show more accessible, which has been reflected in the floor plan with more exhibitors joining the show from oversees, and reflected in the visitor data which saw more footfall from the South East and North West. It’ s also allowed us to expand our offering and appeal to new and wider audiences, such as the addition of Visit Glass for the flat glass sector.
‘ The whole FIT Show team is linked up with Salesforce and it’ s vital for managing and nurturing leads throughout the campaign’
FAVOURITE ROLE MODELS AND WHY?
From a personality perspective, I love Joanna Lumley. She’ s beautiful, clever and a great ambassador for good causes( and I can certainly relate to her as Patsy in Ab Fab!) From the world of business, I respect any woman who is achieving success in their chosen career. I’ ve raised twin girls and have always instilled in them that gender should not be a barrier to success in any profession.
HOW DO YOU UNWIND?
I love spending time with my beautiful girlies. I also love holidays. I’ ve made a conscious effort this year to try and find the balance between work and home life, taking time out to enjoy time with my family. I’ ve spent many a holiday in front of the laptop or tied to my phone, but you just don’ t come back to work refreshed and revitalised. And I’ d be lying if I said that I didn’ t find some satisfaction in sitting back and looking at the FIT Show floor plan filling up or the mounting registrations on the Livebuzz website.
34 » SEP 2018 » CLEARVIEW-UK. COM