Making waves in Blackpool

National Market Traders Federation Conference 2023, Blackpool

The tower of Blackpool came into view and my stomach lurched, what on earth was I thinking, saying yes to this gig! It took all my resolve to walk onto the stage and deliver my first ever presentation! Oh boy, it wasn’t a small audience either, it was THE audience, NMTF’s annual conference no less.

The High Street Experts, Ophelia & Wendy arrive at the Imperial Hotel, Blackpool for the National Market Traders Federation Conference

Let’s rewind to the night before. 

The team at NMTF hosted a welcome dinner for attendees and speakers to mingle, break the ice and partake in a glass of wine or two. I managed to reserve myself and Wendy a seat on a table with the most supportive town clerk of Welshpool, Anne and her colleagues at NABMA (Chair and Vice Chair, I hasten to add!) Anne coached and encouraged me to just be myself and enjoy it. This was music to my ears, I could just be me, no fancy pants just me! 

Here goes! I couldn’t sleep of course….

As I got ready I thought it was time I joined the bathroom video crew to start to step into the zone of presenting, this really was a distraction tool, I can recommend it as I did have fun messing around with silly photos too for my socials. Heading down to breakfast I felt sick. A run through was needed, my slides rocked. I knew they would,  Wendy had created my deck and inserted some of my wonderful traders so I didn't feel alone up there. The run through went well, it was my story after all of my last 3 years spent as the Toby on Bingham General Market, Nottingham. Wendy was my cheerleader as was the cleaner in the corridor too, who was all ears!

Right, off we go… I was the first speaker after lunch and I need to add here that this is the best slot ever! You can adapt your introduction to the topics of the morning speakers and comment on the lunch. This made me feel like I was chatting to friends. Lots of inspiring success stories had been shared including the trials and tribulations along the way too. My only worry at this point was, ‘is my presentation too much, am I too much?’  No time to worry about it now, I’m up…

With a dry mouth, a clicker and a mic, I began to tell my story, our story. I took them from ‘Who the hell is Ophelia?’ to snippets of traders in action! 34 mins later, with a few laughs and lots of note taking in the audience I had done it! The applause was amazing and I had raised the roof! Wow!!! I was feeling a mix of thank goodness for that and wowsers did I just do that and are they really clapping? Joe the chairman even said every Council needs an Ophelia! (Yes they do and a Wendy!) 

It honestly took the whole room to get me to this point and I am so grateful to them all. I could now enjoy preparing for the evening gala. It's sequin and spangles time, well it would be rude not to in Blackpool, home of the ballroom! Now, what happens in Blackpool has to stay in Blackpool from this point on, however you can watch a short snippet of my presentation below.

We made some excellent networks and hope to nurture lifelong working partnerships and friendships, more than that, we found ourselves in the company of inspiring, passionate, kindred market heroes from all around the UK. 2023 certainly is the new age of the market!

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