• Free UK Delivery
  • Sustainability
  • About us
  • Log in
  • Cart (0)
  • Checkout
  • Mother's Day 
    • Personalised Mother's Day Gifts
    • Mother's Day Gifts for New Mums
    • Mother's Day Gifts from Children
    • Mother's Day Gifts for Wife
    • Luxury Gifts for Mum
    • Alternative Mother's Day Flowers & Cards
    • Mother's Day Gifts for under £25
    • Mother's Day Gifts for Grandma
    • Gifts for Mum at Home
    • Gifts for Mum Out and About
    • Token Gifts for Mum
    • Pet Mum Gifts
  • Shop by Dept 
    • Best Selling Gifts
    • Art 
      • Personalised Prints
      • Quick Delivery Prints
      • Gallery Wall
      • Papercuts
      • Wooden Art
      • Velvet Art
      • Silhouettes
    • Stationery 
      • Notebooks & Journals
      • Planners
      • Greetings Cards
    • Home 
      • Key Holders
      • Cushions
      • Clocks
      • Mugs
      • Decorative Lighting
    • Accessories 
      • Keyrings
      • Travel Accessories
    • Show Me Everything!
  • Gifts by Occasion 
    • Easter
    • Father's Day
    • Mother's Day
    • Birthday 
      • 16th Birthday Gifts
      • 18th Birthday Gifts
      • 21st Birthday Gifts
      • 30th Birthday Gifts
      • 40th Birthday Gifts
      • 50th Birthday Gifts
      • 60th Birthday Gifts
    • Anniversary 
      • 1st Anniversary Gifts
      • 3rd Anniversary Gifts
      • 5th Anniversary Gifts
      • 7th Anniversary Gifts
      • 8th Anniversary Gifts
      • 10th Anniversary Gifts
      • 20th Anniversary Gifts
      • Silver Anniversary Gifts
      • Pearl Anniversary Gifts
      • Ruby Anniversary Gifts
      • Golden Anniversary Gifts
    • Weddings
    • New Baby
    • Christening
    • Graduation
    • New Home
    • Christmas 
      • Print at Home - digital downloads
      • Alternative Christmas Cards
      • Secret Santa Gifts
      • Christmas Tree Decorations
      • Baby's First Christmas
      • Christmas Gifts for Her
      • Christmas Gifts for Him
      • Christmas Gifts for Dog, Cat and Pet Lovers
      • Christmas Gifts for Teachers
      • Stocking Filler Gifts
      • Christmas Decoration Gifts
      • Christmas Gifts for the Home
      • Christmas Gifts for Travellers
      • Christmas Gifts for the Wow Factor
      • Christmas Gifts for the Organiser
      • Advent Calendars
    • Valentine's Day 
      • All Valentine's Gifts
      • Token Gifts
      • Sexy prints
  • Gifts by Person 
    • Gifts for Teachers
    • Gifts for Loved Ones
    • Gifts for Couples
    • Gifts for Pet Lovers
    • Gifts for Mum
    • Gifts for Dad
    • Gifts for Baby
    • Gifts for Children
    • Gifts for Friends
    • Gifts for Grandparents
  • Collections 
    • Botanical Gifts
    • Travel Memories
    • Maps and Coastlines
    • Sexy Prints
    • Letterbox Gifts
    • Music
    • Destination Bus Blind Prints
    • The Moon Collection
    • Photo gifts
    • Feeling Good
    • Travel Accessories
    • Staff Picks
  • Corporate Gifts 
    • Adventure Gift Box - Case Study
    • Literature Cushion Wrap Gift - Case Study
    • Bespoke Bookmark Launch Gift - Case Study
  • The Betsy Benn Home & Gift Blog
  • Mother's Day 
    • Personalised Mother's Day Gifts
    • Mother's Day Gifts for New Mums
    • Mother's Day Gifts from Children
    • Mother's Day Gifts for Wife
    • Luxury Gifts for Mum
    • Alternative Mother's Day Flowers & Cards
    • Mother's Day Gifts for under £25
    • Mother's Day Gifts for Grandma
    • Gifts for Mum at Home
    • Gifts for Mum Out and About
    • Token Gifts for Mum
    • Pet Mum Gifts
  • Shop by Dept 
    • Best Selling Gifts
    • Art 
      • Personalised Prints
      • Quick Delivery Prints
      • Gallery Wall
      • Papercuts
      • Wooden Art
      • Velvet Art
      • Silhouettes
    • Stationery 
      • Notebooks & Journals
      • Planners
      • Greetings Cards
    • Home 
      • Key Holders
      • Cushions
      • Clocks
      • Mugs
      • Decorative Lighting
    • Accessories 
      • Keyrings
      • Travel Accessories
    • Show Me Everything!
  • Gifts by Occasion 
    • Easter
    • Father's Day
    • Mother's Day
    • Birthday 
      • 16th Birthday Gifts
      • 18th Birthday Gifts
      • 21st Birthday Gifts
      • 30th Birthday Gifts
      • 40th Birthday Gifts
      • 50th Birthday Gifts
      • 60th Birthday Gifts
    • Anniversary 
      • 1st Anniversary Gifts
      • 3rd Anniversary Gifts
      • 5th Anniversary Gifts
      • 7th Anniversary Gifts
      • 8th Anniversary Gifts
      • 10th Anniversary Gifts
      • 20th Anniversary Gifts
      • Silver Anniversary Gifts
      • Pearl Anniversary Gifts
      • Ruby Anniversary Gifts
      • Golden Anniversary Gifts
    • Weddings
    • New Baby
    • Christening
    • Graduation
    • New Home
    • Christmas 
      • Print at Home - digital downloads
      • Alternative Christmas Cards
      • Secret Santa Gifts
      • Christmas Tree Decorations
      • Baby's First Christmas
      • Christmas Gifts for Her
      • Christmas Gifts for Him
      • Christmas Gifts for Dog, Cat and Pet Lovers
      • Christmas Gifts for Teachers
      • Stocking Filler Gifts
      • Christmas Decoration Gifts
      • Christmas Gifts for the Home
      • Christmas Gifts for Travellers
      • Christmas Gifts for the Wow Factor
      • Christmas Gifts for the Organiser
      • Advent Calendars
    • Valentine's Day 
      • All Valentine's Gifts
      • Token Gifts
      • Sexy prints
  • Gifts by Person 
    • Gifts for Teachers
    • Gifts for Loved Ones
    • Gifts for Couples
    • Gifts for Pet Lovers
    • Gifts for Mum
    • Gifts for Dad
    • Gifts for Baby
    • Gifts for Children
    • Gifts for Friends
    • Gifts for Grandparents
  • Collections 
    • Botanical Gifts
    • Travel Memories
    • Maps and Coastlines
    • Sexy Prints
    • Letterbox Gifts
    • Music
    • Destination Bus Blind Prints
    • The Moon Collection
    • Photo gifts
    • Feeling Good
    • Travel Accessories
    • Staff Picks
  • Corporate Gifts 
    • Adventure Gift Box - Case Study
    • Literature Cushion Wrap Gift - Case Study
    • Bespoke Bookmark Launch Gift - Case Study
  • The Betsy Benn Home & Gift Blog
Betsy Benn Home and Gift Blog

Make, Do and And Meet with NotOnTheHighStreet.com

May 28, 2013

Make, Do and And Meet with NotOnTheHighStreet.com

Just one of the reasons that I love being a partner on NotOnTheHighStreet.com is the annual Make, Do and Meet partner and company get together. This event has evolved from an evening nibbles and drinks and chat event, into a full day of presentations, workshops and account meetings, thankfully still with nibbles and drinks and chat!

This was the third event that I have attended and they just keep getting better. It started with a talk from founders Holly Tucker and Sophie Cornish about the successes of the company over the past 12 months and the plans for the next 12 months and beyond. Accompanied by some slightly scary projections for exactly how busy we'll all be at Christmas, Holly had some great advice about keeping your turnaround times short and your stock levels high enough to cope with demand. It's great for us to get the opportunity to speak to Holly and Sophie and see just how much passion they still have for their business.

There are always presentations from some fantastic complimentary businesses. The one I found most useful was from Pretty Little Head with their insights into the retail side of the female brain. I will definitely be purchasing their book. A new part to the event was the partner panel, a chance to hear from some established partners about how they do what they do with a Q&A at the end. I was honoured to be asked to be one of the panel along with my pal, Wendy, at Letterfest and Katy from TillieMint.

There was capacity in the room for about 100 people, so it wasn't going to be too intimidating and we got to see the questions that Jenny from NotOnTheHighStreet would ask us in advance (not that I used that opportunity to plan what I would say - oh no, that would have been clever. Instead I rambled on about trolls predicting the future for me and accidentally finding myself in Waitrose instead of Tescos a bit more these days).

When we arrived though there was a virtual sea of people and it was standing room only for a while, until that was also full and they had to turn some people away. I think we were all shocked to see how popular a slot it was - especially as we were on at the same time as lunch! It was actually really fun to take part in and there were some great audience questions at the end, including "Is it worth offering framed prints as well as unframed?" Answer - definitely yes from me and Wendy. Actually I think you should tackle it the other way round and start with offering framed prints and ask whether it would be worth also giving the option of unframed prints. When people purchase a gift (which is what most of our items are) they generally prefer a complete solution. Another question was "Where do you look for your staff?" and all of us had started with friends, Mums, neighbours, friends of friends etc! But we also recommended Gumtree, local universities or colleges, and local jobs boards. Our lovely local resource is GlosJobs which is how the lovely Ellie found us! We will also be looking at internships as well over the coming months. After a quick bit of lunch it was on to the awards ceremony. We were shortlisted for Best New Product for our Personalised Playlist Cassette Print although I didn't think we had a chance of winning. On the one hand we were up against some really good products the  "Kids Rule" wooden height chart by Lovestruck Interiors and the charming Feather Bauble by Button Box Cards. We'd also won an award in each of the previous two years so thought that we would be really pushing our luck with three years in a row. In fact I was so convinced it wouldn't be us that when Holly announced our name it took a good few seconds for it to sink in.

When I spoke to Sophie later on I expressed how certain I was that it wouldn't have been us, especially after our previous successes. It was apparently a very close run thing and they did consider whether they could give us another award! But she said the message to everyone was that if you keep on being great, we will keep on recognising you. I think the grin on my face after that probably blinded several low flying aircraft! But by far the best element of the event is the chance to meet other partners and say hello in person when all you have ever done is tweeted to each other before. We have met some funny (as in ha ha, not odd!), brilliant and talented people and it's fantastic and inspiring to spend a day in their company. A couple of photos later and a glass of champagne in hand I took a few moments to reflect on how positive an experience I have had with NotOnTheHighStreet. It has revolutionised our business in ways I couldn't have imagined and the continued investment we receive in soft skills, advice, product guidelines and just being associated with a beautiful, aspirational brand makes becoming a partner one of the best decisions I have ever made! Roll on Make, Do and Meet 2014. 



Tweet Share Pin It Email

Leave a comment

Comments will be approved before showing up.


Also in Betsy Benn Home and Gift Blog

Hello world, it's me, Betsy.
Hello world, it's me, Betsy.

March 17, 2023

Well, hello! If we haven't met before, I'm Betsy, where have you been hiding? Or possibly, more appropriately, where have I been hiding? Spoiler, neither of us have actually been hiding, but getting seen in this world of online businesses can kind of feel like you're walking around with a Potter-esq cloak of invisibility. 

Continue Reading

Why do we love our travel memory prints so? Read all about it...
Why do we love our travel memory prints so? Read all about it...

February 17, 2023

Our travel memories print is a like a tiny gallery in a single artwork that features iconic images from all your favourite holiday destinations or important cities and towns in the journey of your life. The print can be used as a memory board of a whole lifetime of travels and exploring, or as a record of just one amazing year of travel.

Continue Reading

Making ONE small change
Making ONE small change

December 29, 2022

One of my favourite mini organisation jobs for this time of year is filling out the new wall planner. All the birthdays, anniversaries, and events already booked get written in. Birthdays in ink, and events in pencil - you never know what will come along to knock an event off track, but a person's birthday is their birthday no matter what!

Continue Reading

About us
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
  • FAQ
  • Sustainability
  • Delivery
  • Returns
  • Stories
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy

Sign up to our newsletter get the latest on sales, new releases and more…


Country

© 2023 Betsy Benn. Personalised Prints and Designer Gifts Since 2010 Powered by Shopify

American Express Diners Club Discover Maestro Mastercard PayPal Visa