In early October, Office Friendly hosted its annual conference at the DeVere Cotswold Water Park Hotel in Cirencester, marking its 30th anniversary. The 2024 theme of ‘community’ was fitting for the gathering, which welcomed nine new members celebrating their first year. The event was the group’s biggest-ever annual conference get-together.
The agenda was packed from the start, kicking off with the AGM and a Pioneer Sales Training session led by Patrick Joiner from the Institute of Sales Professionals. He delivered a two-hour interactive workshop providing valuable skills, tactics and sales takeaways.
VOW Wholesale hosted a one-hour Q&A for dealers, rounding off the morning before the official welcome from Managing Director Jeanette Caswell. She shared several sage pieces of advice, including the importance of investing in team members to drive growth, embracing change and using the Office Friendly community for support. Caswell briefly mentioned the proposed merger with Integra Business Solutions, noting the strength the two groups would bring (read Dealer groups enter merger discussions).
Creating success
Next up was the keynote speaker Sir Clive Woodward. He captivated the audience with his ‘DNA of a Champion’ strategy, drawing parallels between success in sports and business. Giving attendees plenty of food for thought, Woodward boiled it down to “great teams are made of great individuals”. To achieve this, every individual must be working at their optimal level. He also revealed his ‘TCUP’ (thinking correctly under pressure) method, which he advised dealers would help in predicting and coping with future challenges.
The afternoon was dedicated to a buzzing supplier exhibition featuring a diverse range of vendors. Around 50 exhibitors showcased new services and products, offering dealers ample opportunity to explore and network. The conference concluded with a 30th Anniversary Celebratory Dinner and the Office Friendly Awards.
