Nicholas Craig column
Oct 17 2003 By Nicholas Craig, The Journal
I have heard about an intriguing exhibition to be held at Newcastle's Biscuit Factory from the evening of October 23 running through to October 25.
Made in Northumberland is literally full of life, with local cottage industries and rurally based small manufacturers working and displaying the products of their extraordinary skills in booths throughout the gallery.
It's a great idea. We all know of talented local people who do not get the profile they deserve because their priority is in creating and manufacturing their products, rather than marketing them. The costs of advertising and exhibiting their work are frighteningly prohibitive.
Made in Northumberland brings a diverse range of people together and showcases their work in a popular, accessible spot. There will be everything from Northumbrian soaps to socks and the real bonus is that you can meet the people who create the original goods.
It's interesting that in business as in art "seeing is believing".
Made in Northumberland begins one week after a much larger event, Intertech, was staged in Durham. The idea behind Intertech was to build contacts between the North-East's technology industry and international companies. It was specifically geared to help companies who may lack the time to seek out the kind of contacts an event like this can provide.
Over 1,300 one-to-one meetings between businesses from 20 countries were organised during the two-day event.
Linking up is pivotal to healthy business, whether you are working with jewellery or genes. I'm sure there are still too many companies unaware of suppliers and distributors on their doorstep.
There have been many worthy attempts by universities, agencies and authorities to list like-minded companies with the aim of creating cross-regional supply chains. None of them has really fitted the bill.
It takes face-to-face meetings to establish real interest. That is why I am such a fan of networking, and of events such as Made in Northumberland. They bring business to life.
Intertech succeeded because it emphasised the real benefit of business events - meeting people - not reading static display stands.
Creative networking will keep business buzzing. The way in which companies interact needs to regularly reinvent itself to keep interest high. Getting it right demands personal time and energy, but can pay huge dividends. It can also create client relationships, which last for years because they are based on personality as well as paper credentials.
I hope Made in Northumberland stamps its mark on the Newcastle business community. It is a rare chance for us to discover the exceptional quality its products.
* Nicholas Craig is a partner at Watson Burton law firm
