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Tafadzwa Zimoyo Entertainment Reporter
All is set for the inaugural Zimbabwe’s Best Brands Tour Exhibition to be held at the Long Chen Plaza in Harare where artistes and various organisations will have a chance to exhibit their products tomorrow. The exhibition will see jazz outfit Missing Part performing some of their renditions from artists who include Thomas Mapfumo, Alick Macheso, Eric Clapton, Mannerburg and George Howard among others.

Participants will be entertained with big hits from the local and international stars as Missing Part is known for good renditions.

The entertainment will spice up the business event.

Top artistes have been invited to the exhibition to interact with businesspeople while fashion designers will have an opportunity to showcase their wares on a business platform.

“We have invited some top artistes that will interact with the exhibitors to spice up the event it will be a chance for them to have contacts with the corporate world.

“The musicians are not coming to perform but they are free to join the entertaining band for a song or two. We also saw this as an opportunity for designers to exhibit their designs. We have many talented designers that lack exposure and this will be their platform,” said one of the organisers Blessing Jeke, affectionately known as Jackie in the showbiz industry.

The Best Brands Tour Exhibition will be a springboard for business players to increase their visibility while at the same time using it to market their products and brands in an entertainment way.

“This is the first such exhibition to be held in Zimbabwe and it is set to significantly benefit producers, manufactures and the ultimately our consumers. We have a lined up of entertainment with some top notch designers set to grace the event.

The Best Brands Tour Exhibition is a one day event that will be held annually in other major cities of Zimbabwe,” said Jackie.

“For the exhibitors, some of the benefits will include increased brand visibility, which is going to be powered by face to face interaction with consumers and exposure to thousands of cash shoppers.

“In addition, this will be enhanced by The Best Brands Tour Exhibition Facebook page, twitter, LinkedIn and the official website. It will also offer an opportunity to reach out to the people that can’t be easily accessed or convinced by print and electronic media or sales representatives.”

He said the fair would also open windows of networking as there will be direct interaction among suppliers of good and products with their market.

“There is also going to be live demonstrations to enable the exhibitors to captivate the attention of the visitors and help them to demonstrate the capabilities of their products or services, while at the same time receiving market feedback first hand and establishing if the products and services meet the requirements of the industry or consumers. It will also help the exhibitors to ensure that their current or potential customers are aware of their brands, products or services,” he said.

He said the fair was open to companies who have goods and products that are sold in retail shops and the retail chain groups who operate in the fast moving goods retail chains; producers of beverages; manufacturers of detergents, polishes and cleaning products; cosmetic companies; manufacturers of cigarettes, among others.

“The exhibition costs are $150 (Platinum) and $100 (Gold) while live coverage on radio for 20 minutes in prime time will cost $200. There will be live bands and performances while brand ambassadors will also be unveiled at the event,” she said.

Jackie said the fair can be seen as a big investment, particularly by small businesses, but by investing in the short term, you can reap the benefits in the long term, turning the leads collected at an exhibition into loyal customers.

“To get the most out of your investment, it’s important to pick the right exhibitions and conferences. Exhibitions, conferences and trade shows are the perfect platform for meeting key people in your industry — giving you the opportunity to market your business face to face,” he said.