Open for business. Open for ideas. Open for introductions. Open for collaboration. Open for opportunity.
A monthly evening in Croydon for business owners to meet, learn something useful and make better connections.
Everyone gets the floor.
Everyone introduces themselves: who you are, what you do, and one thing you'd like help with. It's the part that turns a room of strangers into useful conversations, because it gives everyone a reason to walk up to someone specific.
How the evening runs
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Doors open
Get a drink and a name badge.
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Intros
Everyone gets 30 to 60 seconds to say who they are, what their business does and what they need.
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The talk
Half an hour of something practical you can use on Monday.
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Questions
Ask the room, not just the speaker.
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Open floor
Networking, with nobody timing you. It finishes at 8:30pm.
October's talk
Earl Duncan
Founder, s4digital
Runs a South London film and content studio. Eleven years helping businesses turn their work into stories.
One piece of content, a month of marketing
Most people running a business know they should be posting. The problem isn't ideas, it's staring at a blank screen every Monday with a job to get to.
This session takes one thing that already happened in a business, a job you finished, a question a customer asked, a twenty-minute voice note, and turns it into a month of posts. It's done live with a business from the room, and you'll leave with a filled-in template for your own.
The talk slot rotates every month. If you could teach the room something useful in half an hour, tell us what it is and we'll consider adding you to the rotation.
Wednesday 21 October, 6:30 to 8:30pm
Upper Norwood Library Hub. Early bird tickets £10.
Who it's for
Anyone running their own thing, at any stage. Trades, therapists, shops, consultants, freelancers, creatives, and side businesses that are starting to get serious. Whether you've been in business for fifteen years or started last month, you're welcome. The mix is the point.
- No membership fee.
- No referral quotas.
- No pitching.
Questions
Do I need to be an established business?
No. If you run something, or you're about to, come along.
What's the ticket price for?
The first 30 tickets are £10, then they're £15. It covers the room, and tea and coffee. It's also what makes sure the people who book actually turn up, which makes the evening better for everyone in it.
What if I can't make it?
You can get a refund up to 7 days before the event. After that, tickets aren't refundable, but they are transferable. Pass yours to someone else and let us know who's coming instead.
Do I have to speak?
Only briefly, to say who you are, what you do and what you'd like help with. Nobody's asked to pitch.
Who runs it?
Open Floor was started by Earl Duncan, who runs s4digital in South London and wanted a group like this to exist locally. It's independent. It rents its room like any other hirer and isn't part of any business association or political party.
Will there be photos?
Yes. Each evening is photographed, and the photo gallery goes up after the event. If you'd rather not be in the photos, say so on the night and we'll make sure you aren't.
See you on the 21st?
Doors 6:20pm, Upper Norwood Library Hub, Westow Hill. Early bird tickets £10.