FloodFlash BIBA 2022 Blog: 5 exhibition offenders to avoid

Authored by FloodFlash

Exhibiting at events is amongst the toughest and most rewarding part of our jobs in the Broker Success Team at FloodFlash. Conferences can open doors, reveal new ways or working and create lasting friendships. We couldn’t be more excited for the rapidly approaching BIBA conference. There is no better or more cost-effective way of meeting the brokers that make our business tick.

That being said, it’s not all sunshine and lollipops. Exhibiting at a lot of conferences we’ve come to learn that there’s a subset of conference attendees who are the bane of any keen exhibitor’s life. These conference curmudgeons can make minutes seem like hours, breakouts seem like breakdowns, and exhibition stands seem like prisons. Here’s our tongue-in-cheek rundown of the worst offenders.

Oh, before we get started. We can’t stress enough that we’re excited to see you at BIBA. It’s been three years in lockdown. So are we complaining about our opportunity to spend time in a place with the most brokers per square inch on the planet? Hell no. We’re guilty of these foibles too. For each persona, we’ve included a member of the FloodFlash family that fits the bill.

The perpetual pitcher

Conferences are a great chance to collaborate. Sharing challenges, experiences and opportunities to arrive at a mutually beneficial destination. The perpetual pitcher doesn’t understand this fundamental fact. Instead they are intent on pitching their wares to you.

Constantly on transmit mode, no one told them that we have two ears and one mouth. They reveal themselves within a few sentences of conversation, often launching into a pre-rehearsed pitch on their innovation, service or self-importance.

Watch out for people that don’t ask questions or engage with what you have to say, they are probably a perpetual pitcher. It’s difficult to stop them talking, so having a sacrifical colleague nearby can be helpful. “You need to talk to Christian, he’ll be really interested in what you have to say.” Harsh on poor Christian, who now gives the pitcher a chance to rollout their spiel to another unsuspecting victim, but we didn’t say these tips would be fair did we! FloodFlash Perpetual pitcher: Joe Patton, Broker Success Exec

The silent shopper

Almost the complete opposite to the perpetual pitcher, these elusive attendees could go for a three-day conference without making a single sound. The silent shopper drifts through events carefully looking at each stand, watching the keynotes, but never (ever) engages with anyone other than their closest confidant.

It’s hard to tap into the psyche of a silent shopper. It’s said that some believe exhibitors can’t see them. Slowly walking past the stand with an intent gaze, they take in everything around them at surface level, but refuse to make eye contact with anyone. As a result, they miss opportunities to network and dig deeper than the surface level insight of the stand design of video screen.

Silent shoppers may come across as introverted, but coax them into a conversation and they are often the most valuable contact you make that day. A simple “where are you from”, or “can I ask you a question” is enough, but don’t push too hard. The silent shopper is particularly anxious around perpetual pitchers. FloodFlash silent shopper: Ben, our Broker Success Exec

The inveterate veteran

They’ve seen it all. Hard markets and soft. Financial crashes and booms. The inveterate veteran has worked in insurance for more than 25 years and refuses to be impressed by your innovation. It’s worth noting that this is a specific subset of market veteran. Many long-standing servants to the industry are very open to new ideas. This inveterate veteran is not.

With supreme confidence, they will declare that their “clients will never go for it”, “insurance doesn’t work like that”, or if your product is parametric “that’s not insurance”. The first statement may well be true, but the latter two rarely are. After all, why would new entrants to the market bother with their shiny stands if the product didn’t have any traction. FloodFlash inveterate veteran: Brent Jackson, Commercial Director

The supermarket sweeper

Remember the TV show with Dale Winton where people tried to clear out a supermarket against the clock? (The inveterate veteran does). That’s the supermarket sweeper. Insights and partnerships are all well and good, but they know the truth. Conferences are all about one thing. The loot.

They are the often easy to spot because they walk through the aisles burdened with multiple bags, each of which is filled with notebooks, water bottles and stress toys. It’s common to hear phrases like “can I take an extra for the drive home”, or “got to pick up something for the kids” from the more nervous supermarket sweepers. We look forward to the day that a child who has used a FloodFlash pen throughout school ends up buying some parametric insurance from us. Might be a while mind you… FloodFlash supermarket sweeper: Head of Marketing Chris Hall

The last stander

Working an exhibition stand is hard work. Your feet are tired and you sit in the uncomfortable limbo of needing the toilet and not having had enough to eat or drink that day. All they want to do is kick off for the day and maybe go to those free drinks that wholesaler is putting on. Then they arrive. The last stander.

The last stander is the most normal person of our list. They are engaged, a good listener and interesting to learn from. Rather than visit their target partner in between talks or throughout the day, they wait until the moment everyone is packing away to make their move, often on the last day of the conference. Their unforgiveable flaw is bad timing. FloodFlash last stander: Broker Success Exec Ollie Fielding

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Oof. Going through that brought back some memories. If you see Chris with armfuls of swag or Ollie at the end of the day, maybe give them a nudge. Better still, come and meet the team at stand F25. Know someone that falls into any of the above categories? Perhaps you have a category of your own (“annoying exhibitor” am I right?!) Sound off in the comments and let us know.