Paul Hull, owner of The Commercia Group is a stalwart of InstallerSHOW, having attended for several years. With the move to the NEC making InstallerSHOW bigger than ever, we checked in to see if after all these years he could still learn something new and what advice he has for budding entrepreneurs.
Were you able to network at the SHOW? Including building new relationships from your time at InstallerSHOW whether it be manufacturers or the tradespeople themselves?
Due to COVID, meeting people in person has been difficult. InstallerSHOW offered an opportunity to reinvigorate some old relationships with manufacturers and fellow tradespeople alike. I was also able to make some new connections, thanks to the show being so much bigger and with a more varied selection of manufacturers on site.
Are there any tips you learnt from InstallerSHOW that you will apply to your own business or take back to your employer?
Firstly, I will definitely pre-plan my visit next year, due to the sheer size of the SHOW! This will just make sure I’m able to see all the people I want to see and hear more on the topics I’m interested in.
In terms of learning I took for my own business; I had a good chat with the people at simPRO. They develop automated computer systems, which can be used for job creations, adding photos to jobs, and managing controls to name a few applications. I’ve already started to use this in my own company.
I also learnt a lot from the heat pump manufacturers there and even applied to be on one of their courses.
Do you have any tips or tricks you would suggest to budding entrepreneurs out there, who are thinking about taking their first steps in launching their own business?
Believe in what you’re worth and don’t undersell yourself. Always have direct goals in everything you set out to do.
Also be patient, it is a long game to start a business and support its growth, there will be ups and downs but you need to ride that wave to come out at the other end.
InstallerSHOW returns to the NEC, Birmingham on 27-29 June 2023. Keep an eye on our social media channels for show updates.
For exhibiting enquiries, contact aredmayne@lyricalcomms.com
