Times Creme

[swilliams]

I agree with Susie46. I've been to Creme almost every year out of general interest. I think it's important to have a trade show just for us and I make a point of letting my boss know why I'm out of the office for the day. Last year I worked for a new company and went to Creme with a specific shopping list. I wanted information on recruitment firms, blackberries (and mobile phones in general), corporate hospitality and charter jets. Although I did make some good contacts, I came away feeling that I probably could have found more information if I had stayed at work and looked it up on the Internet. This year I thought the layout of the hall was better, although it got very hot and I just had to leave after an hour or so. It was very quiet when I was there (Thursday around 1pm), which I didn't particularly mind as this gave me an opportunity to have an unrushed conversation with some of the exhibitors. But it's still very difficult to work out the difference between recruitment firms etc from a show like Creme. Space between the stands seemed much narrower too, but perhaps that was just me. All in all I didn't really think it was inspiring. I do feel that when I'm back in the office I have to justify leaving my desk for a day. In other years I had useful information, flyers, websites etc to pass on to my boss and other departments, but this year I didn't really have anything (apart from freebies, that is!). It's a shame really, since I do feel it could be so much better. Fewer but more senior visitors and a better quality exhibitors could still make it really worthwhile, I think.