Online B2B platform Product Guru has hailed its inaugural hybrid event for pet retailers as a success.
The event, held on March 31 at the Edgbaston Park Hotel, Birmingham, saw 50 challenger brands pitch their products to a variety of retailers, including Pets at Home, Jollyes, Sainsbury’s, John Lewis, Wilko, Costco, and Abel & Cole.
Product Guru’s Huddles combine in-person meetings in speed-dating style, with virtual pitching, product sampling, and integrated technology. The platform allows challenger brands to engage face to face for eight minutes with each buyer.
Zoe Pandeli, buyer at Jollyes, gave a positive response to the event: “It was really good and really well organised. Eight minutes was perfect timing to get the points across, all very valuable. We were pleasantly surprised by quite a few of the brands.”
Suppliers also shared their feedback. Robbie Allen, from Paw Planet, said: “Blown every expectation I had out of the water. The whole experience – the interactions with buyers – has been excellent.”
Andrew Bucher, Co-Founder of Rocketo, added: “It’s a nice way to work out if you click, and whether a follow-up meeting is required. I enjoyed it, and you’re talking to the right decision makers.”
Product Guru has two more Pet Huddles planned for next year: an event in Amsterdam on March 2, 2023; and another event in Manchester on May 11, 2023.
