The British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) has organised an export mission to Ljubljana in Slovenia for members on October 8-9, to include a networking conference.
The conference will bring together retailers and distributors from across the Baltic States to meet UK suppliers from the home improvement, utility housewares (storage, laundry, and cleaning) and garden markets.
The event is being run by the British – Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and it will throw new light on doing business in Slovenia, a country increasingly seen as the gateway to the burgeoning opportunities that exist in the twenty million population Baltic States region.
The area is serviced by home improvement retailers including Merkur, Topdom, OBI and Bauhaus among others.
BHETA’s Home Improvement Sector Director, Paul Grinsell explained, “The conference will bring together relevant industry speakers plus buyers / representatives all the major home improvement, utility housewares and gardening retailers in the area. Individual meetings with these retailers and distributors can be arranged on request as part of the BHETA mission and a full list of the retailers and distributors can be obtained from the BHETA Member Services Team.”
BHETA members who would like to join the mission and take advantage of its face to face meeting opportunities are entitled to an early bird discount price of £550 + VAT for all bookings made before 7th August. The package includes:
- Two nights standard accommodation 8/9 October (single room) at the 4* Lev Hotel including breakfast
- Transfers from Ljubljana airport
- Tickets for the World Cup Qualifiers Scotland v Slovenia game on Sunday 8th October
- Beer tasting tour/dinner
- Attendance at the conference including lunch/refreshments – Monday 8th October
- Three to five individual meetings with Slovenian retailers
- Attendance / support of a BHETA Director
Subject to the level of interest, there is also an option of an exclusive retail store tour for BHETA members only. This would take place on the 10th October and would require an extra night’s hotel accommodation. BHETA members are responsible for arranging their own flights and any additional accommodation/subsistence requirements outside of the standard package.
BHETA members who wish to register for the event need to do so using the following link: http://www.bscc.si/program/. It is very important that all those registeringalso confirm their registration to Nicola Adams Brown at BHETA - nab@bheta.co.uk.
The Slovenia mission follows on from the recent creation of the BHETA Export Committee which has been set up to drive initiatives in support of the export opportunities throughout the BHETA membership, supporting members either to start exporting or to build their existing export business. It is working with the DIT and the international Chambers of Commerce to explore opportunities for overseas missions such as this one, international shows, and grant availability.
Commenting on the Slovenia initiative, Will Jones, Housewares Sector Director of BHETA and a member of the Export Committee said, “The market is very tough at the moment and given the fall in the pound’s value, export is an important form of response. The Slovenia mission is a really exciting opportunity and we are delighted we can offer it to members with so much added value and at such an achievable price.”
For more information about the BHETA Slovenia mission, BHETA membership and the BHETA Export Committee, contact the Member Services Team on 0121 237 1130 or visit the BHETA website www.bheta.co.uk.
