After the initial success of the Connecting International Women in Business Event, the second event, Connect Expo 2005, was held on Saturday 15 October at The Golden Tulip Hotel in Paterswolde to encourage and promote international women in business. The Expo utilized three of the hotel’s conference rooms in order to house the growing numbers of women participants and the variety of wares and services on offer at this event, as well as a stage for the fashion shows and demonstrations.
A concerted effort had been made before the day to distribute flyers and encourage presales of tickets before the event in order to attract as many visitors as possible from Groningen and the surrounding provinces. This effort was rewarded by double the amount of visitors in comparison to the last event. The very reasonably priced tickets also included participation in a prize draw after the event, with prizes donated by the stand holders. A portion of the proceeds was also donated to a charity, Stichting Giving Back. Two representatives of which, Diederik and Claudina, were on hand to give a presentation on the excellent work Giving Back does with underprivileged young people.
Set up time was bright and early with doors opening to the first visitors at 10.00 hrs. Throughout the day demonstrations of services and products of the stand holders could be seen, either on the stage or at the stands themselves. The fashion shows at 11.00 and 13.00 featured the expatriate women members, and a few of their willing teenage children as models. Outfits had been chosen from Kostuumverhuur Groningen, a costume hire shop located on Oosterstraat 25/A, Groningen, and each model sported three differently themed creations during the show: the first with international flavour, the second a funky outfit and the third an elegant evening gown. Later in the day, it was the kids turn. The Northern Angels Demo Team, a street dance troop choreographed and trained by Kim Darcey, gave a terrific demonstration of their dancing skills, sporting Connect baseball caps. Following the demo, kids clothing from Kiekeboe, a children’s boutique located at Oude Kijk in ‘t Jatstraat 63, Groningen, was expertly modeled also by the Demo Team.
As usual there was much talk and exchange of ideas, buying and selling and great interest by the public. Five o’clock saw the end of this particular event and after the bustle of the day the rooms were still again, filled only with tables sporting their blue covers.
For all those who volunteered or helped in any way, Thank You! For those of you who could not come, there is always the next one, so watch this space…
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