Understanding your customers is a fundamental first step before taking your business overseas 

Allyson Stewart, Chief Executive at International Marketing Partners Ltd, Anthony Goodwin, CEO and Founder for Antal, Arne Mielken, Managing Director for Customs Manager Ltd, Chris Forbes, Co-founder of The Cheeky Panda, Nohman Ahmed, Co-founder for Crept Protect joined us for the second day of Elite Business on 12 March in the Overseas Expansion panel, discussing the dos and don’ts when it comes to expanding your business overseas, and how to invest in the EU market as businesses face extra red tape in post-Brexit trade. 

What are the cultural challenges when it comes to expanding in the Asia-Pacific? 

Allyson Stewart-Allen, Chief Executive at International Marketing Ltd, joined us on the second day of Elite Business on 12 March as the keynote speaker for the Overseas Expansion talk, speaking about the Asia-Pacific and why businesses should immerse themselves in these lucrative markets. She spoke about the importance of understanding the cultural norms and ways of life in each country, and why building relationships are crucial in making or breaking a business deal.

 – and the most important investments you can make now.

How do you navigate your financial growth journey for the best results? Is it more important to have a structured plan or take action with a vision in mind? 

With uncertainty still lying ahead, how can businesses find the best financial solution that suits both their short-term and long-term needs? Speaking on the second day Elite Business’ live event on March 12 on the Financial Management panel was Ciaran O’Donnell, founder of The Virtual FD, Deri Llewellyn-Davies, Founder of BGI Group, Phil Hobden, Head of Education at Capitalise, Jenny Knighting, CEO & Founder of Nutcracker Agency and Paul Conway, Director of Growth for New Business and Partnerships at Bottomline spoke about the best investments you can make during this uncertain time – and whether it is more important to make a structured plan or take action when it comes to financial solutions.

How do you forecast your finances effectively during a time of economic uncertainty? 

Ciaran O’Donnell, founder of the Virtual FD, joined us on the second day of Elite Business on 12 March as the keynote speaker for the Financial Management talk, teaching business leaders how to manage their finances better. He spoke about why it is important to set ‘alarms’ for your cash flow, and why forecasting is the bread and butter of financial management. He also revealed the importance of understanding the factors that lead up to cash flow problems, and how to combat them before it is too late.

Working remotely: Is it a suitable option for all businesses? Or is it better to have in house staff? 

Charlie Mullins, Chairman & Founder of Pimlico Plumbers, Akshay Rupaerelia, Founder & Managing Director of Doorstep.co.uk, Valerie Mann, Director of People at Elder and Kate Cox, Chief Marketing Officer at MoneyPenny, joined us for the second day of Elite Business on 12 March in the talent and regulations panel, discussing how to attract new talent to your business and how to build a thriving and productive team. They talked about the rise of remote working and why some businesses favour in-house staff, and why they think it could be better for building company culture.

How do you build a team of hardworking and dedicated employees who will drive your business to success? 

Charlie Mullins, Chairman & Founder of Pimlico Plumbers, joined us on the second day of Elite Business on 12 March as the keynote speaker for the Talent and Regulation talk, speaking about how to employ talent and also keep them. He spoke about how to be an effective leader, and how to cultivate a positive work culture that will keep your employees happy and at the same time, increase productivity and boost results.

TikTok, Instagram, Facebook or Clubhouse? Our panel discuss the various social media apps available out there for businesses – and how to utilise them effectively 

Cheiu Cao, the co-founder of Mintago, Victoria Prew, CEO and co-founder of HURR, Gareth Owen, co-founder of ROAST and MD Tipi Group, Jay Richards, Founder of Imagen and Jenni Young, CMO of Tappit, joined us for the second day of Elite Business on 12 March in the digital transformation panel, discussing the importance of social media and how to build your presence online - as well as tricks and tips to gain a wider audience and keep them engaged.

Can SMEs spearhead growth and success while putting the needs of their staff first in a post-lockdown world? 

Chieu Cao, Co-founder of Perkbox and Founder of Mintago, joined us on the second day of Elite Business on 12 March as the keynote speaker for the Digital Transformation panel, speaking about how businesses can expand and grow during this challenging time – and at the same time, putting the needs and wants of their staff at the forefront.

Is it possible to stay true to your vision while meeting your ever-changing customer demands?

Lara Morgan, Founder of Pacific, Abbie Morris, Co-Founder & CEO of Compare Ethics, Eric Partaker, Co-founder of Chilango, James Davidson, Founder of Tails.com and Jas Bagniewski Founder of Eve Sleep, joined us for the second day of Elite Business on 12th March in the Commercial Growth panel, speaking about why it is important to listen to your customer and meeting their rising demands, while at the same time staying true to the core of your business without straying too far from your vision.

Lara Morgan, the founder of Pacific, joined us on the second day of Elite Business on 12 March as the keynote speaker for the Commercial Business Growth talk, speaking about how business owners can develop a forward-thinking mindset during this challenging time – and why it is important to hire people with the right attitude for business.

Lara revealed her top tips for businesses owners to grow their customer base - and it even starts from the moment you wake up in the morning. By adopting positive habits daily long-term, you will be able to achieve your goals one step at a time and make progress with your business. “The first rule is to find a new customer every day,” Lara said. Every single day it is the first thing you do in the morning, you look for a new prospect and by doing that you build a pipeline and now you start getting back in business and then you have momentum. And from that one customer grows. From little acorns grow might oaks.