Entrepreneurs in creative fields such as art, design and music will have an opportunity to shine at Small Business Expo 2017; when the international Creative Business Cup challenge is launched in Johannesburg.
The Creative Business Cup, a global challenge for entrepreneurs working in creative fields, will be staged at the Small Business Expo from 31 August to 2 September at the TicketPro dome; giving budding creatives an opportunity to pitch their businesses, network with potential partners and investors, and stand a chance of winning a trip to compete in the international Creative Business Cup finals staged by Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) in Denmark in November this year.
Rick Ed, a co-founder of Creative Mzansi and one of the partners bringing Creative Business Cup to Johannesburg, says the challenge aims both to raise awareness of the value of creatives in business, and to help creatives grow profitable businesses. “We find that creatives are often not respected and taken seriously as business people. As a result, many skilled creatives are forced to do their creative work as a sideline, and cannot make a living from it. The Creative Business Cup programme aims to raise their profile and change mindsets, helping creatives learn strategy, money management and marketing techniques that enable them to grow their businesses.” Noting that creative businesses contribute an estimated R90 billion to the economy each year, Ed says growing a more formalised and flourishing creative sector could reduce unemployment and contribute significantly to the economy.
Entries are now open to creatives working in design, architecture, music, film and video, the performing arts, gastronomy, craft and artisan, advertising, fashion, radio, photography, 3D printing, visual arts and toys and games fields. Entries close on 31 July, after a panel of judges will select ten promising businesses to participate in the challenge finals at the Small Business Expo. Show visitors will be able to attend their pitches and a series of creative business workshops, as well as enjoying networking and business development opportunities with the finalists. An exhibition focusing on local creative businesses will run alongside the event.
The Small Business Expo, focused on empowering South Africa’s small businesses, showcases various products and services across a broad range of sectors – from food and retail to technical and education opportunities. The Small Business Expo and #BuyaBusiness Expo features a number of dedicated business development workshops which are free to attend to all visitors and exhibitors. These will include a Development Den, Dear Businessman Entrepreneurial Boot Camp, Woman in Business, Eskom Powering your World Indaba focusing on procurement and partners’, Nedbank Money Matters workshop, The Business Theatre for business services and trends, and the BuyaBusiness Workshop on franchising and other business opportunities.The Small Business Expo is organized by Reed Exhibitions and presented in partnership with Eskom.
For more information about the Creative Business Cup, or to enter the challenge, go to http://CreativeBusinessCup.co.za
About the Small Business Expo
The Small Business Expo, to be held alongside the #BuyaBusiness expo from 31 August to 2 September 2017 at the TicketPro Dome in Northgate, is devoted to the development of small and medium sized enterprises, providing an invaluable platform for small businesses to market their businesses and interact with prominent business leaders and representatives from a number of corporate companies. It’s the ideal platform to stimulate business growth and motivate both current and aspiring entrepreneurs. The Small Business Expo is organized by Reed Exhibitions and presented in partnership with Eskom.
For more information, please visit www.smallbizexpo.co.za or www.buyabusinessexpo.co.za
About Reed Exhibitions
Reed Exhibitions is the world’s leading eventsorganiser, with over 500 events in 30 countries and serves 43 industry sectors with trade and consumer events. It is part of the RELX Group plc, a world-leading provider of information solutions for professional customers across industries. In South Africa, the group owns major exhibition titles such as Africa Travel Week – International Luxury Travel Market Africa; Incentives, Business Travel & Meetings Africa and World Travel Market Africa, Africa Automation Fair, #Buy a Business Expo, DecorexJoburg, Cape Town and Durban, 100% Design South Africa, Mediatech Africa, Small Business Expo, Sports and Events Tourism Exchange, International Sourcing Fair, Value Added Agriculture in West and East Africa, Pollution and Waste Technology Africa, FIBO and The Fire & Feast Butchers’ Festival. We also offer strategic venue management solutions – managing the award-winning Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg.
