Our Review of the B2B Bournemouth Business Expo 2025

The Bournemouth Business Expo 2025 took place on March 20th at the AFCB Vitality Stadium, bringing together business owners, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals from across Bournemouth and Poole.

As exhibitors, we had a front-row seat to everything the event had to offer, and we’re here to give you an honest, transparent insider look at our experience. Whether you’re considering attending or exhibiting in the future, this review will help you decide if the Expo is the right fit for your business.

The Venue: AFCB Vitality Stadium

The sun was shining for this year’s Expo, and after what felt like months of grey skies, it was a welcome sight. The event was hosted across two floors of the AFCB Vitality Stadium, a venue that has seen significant investment in recent years due to its status as the home ground of AFC Bournemouth’s Premier League team.

As a result, it offers a professional and well-maintained space, making it a solid choice for an event of this scale. We were fortunate enough to be on the second floor, which we felt was the better location. With access to a balcony and plenty of natural light, the space felt open and comfortable.

In contrast, the first-floor exhibitor area was noticeably darker and more cramped. The larger banners used by some exhibitors on the lower level only served to amplify the feeling of confinement, whilst this isn't solely the fault of the organisers, it's something to consider for future events in this location.

While the second floor required attendees to make the effort to come upstairs, we believe the improved atmosphere and spacing made it a more enjoyable experience overall.

Organization and Amenities

The event organizers and stadium staff did a great job on the day. The hosting and bar staff were excellent, ensuring that exhibitors had access to complimentary small snacks, tea, and coffee - a much-appreciated touch for those of us on our feet all day.

In terms of exhibitor setup, the provided tables were of a decent size, and on the second floor, the spacing between stands was generous, allowing for easier engagement with visitors.

However, continuing from our previous point, exhibitors on the first floor were packed in a little more tightly, which might have made networking more challenging, our friends over at Blue Sky Financial Planning who exhibited on Stand 11, who were on the first floor and experienced this first-hand had nothing but positive reviews to share of their experience so we'll take that as the gospel.

Was It Worth It?

From a business perspective, was the Expo worth our time and investment?

In short - yes.

One thing to note is that while the advertised exhibitor price was one thing, we were able to negotiate a lower rate. Without going into specifics, there is definitely room for negotiation if you speak to the right people.

If cost is a concern, it’s worth exploring what flexibility might be available. The footfall was strong, especially between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM, when we were completely swamped with attendees eager to chat. If anything, we wish we had brought an extra team member or two to maximize engagement.

That said, traffic dropped off significantly after lunch, with the final hour of the event seeing very little activity. A potential improvement for future events would be to schedule seminars towards the end of the day, keeping attendees engaged and encouraging them to stay longer.

Shifting the focus of the first two hours entirely towards networking and exhibitor interactions would make better use of peak visitor traffic.

Did We Generate Business?

Without breaching confidentiality, we can say with confidence that the event was a success for us in terms of business generation. We left with a strong pipeline of contacts to follow up on, and based on early projections, we expect an ROI of at least 600%, with potential returns reaching as high as 900%.

That being said, our success was largely due to our proactive approach - engaging with visitors, asking the right questions, and following up quickly. If you’re not naturally inclined to network or lack a strong sales strategy, you might find the event less effective.

This is definitely an environment where engagement is key, and simply setting up a stand without actively interacting won’t yield the same results.

Final Thoughts: Should You Attend?

For businesses in Bournemouth and Poole considering whether to exhibit at a future B2B Bournemouth Business Expo, here are our key takeaways:

Venue Matters: If possible, aim for a second-floor spot. The natural light and better spacing make for a more pleasant exhibitor experience.

Timing is Key: The busiest period was from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. After lunch, footfall declined sharply, so prioritize networking early in the day.

Negotiate Your Stand Price: Don’t take the listed cost at face value - there’s room for negotiation.

Engagement is Everything: Your success at the Expo will largely depend on your ability to interact with visitors. If you’re not comfortable talking to strangers and selling your business, you may not see the same return on investment.

Potential for Strong ROI: If you approach the event strategically, the return can be significant.

For us, it was well worth the investment. Overall, the B2B Bournemouth Business Expo 2025 delivered a solid networking opportunity with a professional setup, and we would recommend it to businesses that thrive in face-to-face engagement environments.

If you’re considering exhibiting next year, plan ahead, bring enough staff to handle peak times, and make the most of your time there.

Would we attend again? Absolutely.