Grow with the Show winners continue to thrive 05 Jul

Contributed by Sophie Bulgin, Mantle.

After being lucky enough to win the ‘Grow with the Show’ competition arranged by the Lincolnshire Showground and the University of Lincoln, Mantle – Box Clever Structures had their very own pitch to showcase one of their Shipping Container Conversions in front of up to 60,000 people.

For any new business with a start-up budget, being seen is one of the biggest challenges, generating interest and getting your product out there. ‘Grow with the Show’ offers just that, exposure across a broad range of markets and the perfect opportunity to conduct market research whilst potentially securing a few sales during the crucial early stages of any new business.

We spoke to all kinds of people about shipping container conversions, from the general public visualising extra space at the bottom of the garden to professionals looking to lose the commute and create office space, not to mention meeting businesses considering large scale retail projects. We met people that had lived in shipping containers in the past to others that had never heard of the concept and thought it was great.

Overall the feedback on shipping container conversions was really positive… We often get told that the first year of starting a new business is one of the hardest, we are now 9 months in and the Lincolnshire Show has given us a new burst of energy and positivity, we’re ready to dig our heels in and continue with what we love… Cargotecture.

It is the whole package that ‘Grow with the Show’ offers to new businesses that is so valuable. Not only did it put us in the limelight at the Lincolnshire Show, but it created networking and advertising opportunities and something to really shout about, other than our shipping container conversions of course. We couldn’t have asked for anything more from our time at the Show, we look forward to returning in the future with another year under our belt and meeting other ‘Grow with the Show’ winners.

If you are starting your own business no matter how quirky, we'd definitely recommend trying your luck at next year's ‘Grow with the Show’!

Mantle will have a showroom at Pennells Garden Centre until 1 August 2016, feel free to pop in and say hello! Or for more information, please visit www.wearemantle.co.uk.