From Showcase to Success: The Random Stuff’s Journey at the UK Black Business Show
‘Valuable, Welcoming & Insightful.’
The inception of the UK Black Business Show aimed to shine a spotlight on Black-owned enterprises and their significant impact on the economy. Over the course of our shows, spanning across London and Birmingham, we’ve had the privilege of hosting numerous Black businesses. Today, we’re thrilled to offer a firsthand account from one of our esteemed exhibitors, sharing their experience at the UK Black Business Show.
John Akpenyi, founder of The Random Stuff, exhibited at last year’s UK Black Business Show. The Random Stuff is software company committed to creating meaningful digital solutions, emphasising user-friendly designs for smooth experiences.
We spoke with John about his experience as an exhibitor at the UK Black Business Show:
What did you think of the show?
The show was exhilarating! We felt right at home. I was particularly impressed by the diversity of the exhibitors, which showed me that there is a growing market for black-owned businesses.
What was your favourite moment from the show?
My favourite moment from the show was when talking with groups of other black business owners. We shared our stories and experiences, and I was inspired by their passion and determination.
What motivated you to participate in last year’s show?
We were looking to network, form valuable connections with other entrepreneurs and explore where our expertise can add value to their business.
Why do you feel it’s important to be part of the show?
Connections. When we look at all successful businesses and entrepreneurs, having a great network is key – not only that but meaningful and powerful relationships can be formed here.
How was your overall experience as an exhibitor at our show?
Overall, we were very happy with our experience at the UK Black Business Show, it exceeded our expectations. It was a great opportunity for us to get our foot in the door and to start building relationships with other black businesses.
Can you share any success stories or milestones achieved after the show?
Our most notable success story is Our Training Department. We met with Chris Cummins, Joint Managing Director, at the show. This meeting led to the OTD learner pathway app.
You can learn more about the partnership here.
And finally, we asked John what advice he would give to someone debating if they should exhibit at this years show:
Go for it. You never know who you’ll meet and how they could impact your business or how you could benefit theirs.
It was a pleasure speaking with John and learning more about his experience at the UK Black Business Show. We hope you feel encouraged by John’s story and choose to exhibit at this year’s show.
