This innovative half-day forum, aimed at individuals and small businesses in the interior design, décor, architecture, product and craft sectors, is set to stimulate creative thinking.

This activity carries two IID CPD credits or 0.6 SACAP CPD credits for members of the national Interior Design and Architecture associations.

Presented by Caesarstone, the workshop will be led by creative brand visionary Nadia van der Mescht, who will give attendees a practical overview on marketing and promotion of a creative business.

Van der Mescht, best known of her creative business development consulting, will offer guidance on various key strategies with an ingenuous ‘how to’ approach by supplying vital tools needed to build a brand and drive creative businesses forward.

By encouraging a focus on the basics and creating actionable to-do lists, attendees will gain insight into these key areas:

  • Planning for businesses: Including creative goal setting, planning ahead to achieve more than just daily tasks and implementing key marketing aspects to form part of a bigger strategy;
  • Branding: How to make branding work for one's business, along with creating a brand experience that will set one's brand apart from the others;
  • Build an online presence: How to use online tools, blogs and social media with a plan and purpose; and
  • Approaching the media: Prepare one's business for press interaction as well as getting in touch with bloggers and influencers who can assist with creative marketing.
In addition to learning the practical know-how from Van der Mescht, attendees can draw inspiration and learn more from real-life local design champions who will share their secrets of success.

Heather Moore of Skinny laMinx will share key insight into her successful textile business. Moore has achieved acclaim for building a great South African brand and effectively marketing her business to gain recognition from Cape Town to New York. She also holds an impressive list of international collaborative projects.

Furniture and interior designer Haldane Martin, has won multiple awards for his uniquely African furniture designs. His keen understanding of how things are built has led to a higher level of innovation and has contributed to his success as an interior designer. This has enabled him to create interiors that capture and express his client’s unique identity. Martin will share his passion for furniture and interior design and how he has created a successful business by marrying the two.

Creative Business Exchange will provide professional insight with digestible knowledge and ideas on how to take one's business to the next level.

Event details:

Date: Friday, 24 April
Time: 09:00 to 13:00
Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre
Cost: R600

Bookings for the workshop can be made via Quicket.

The ticket includes refreshments and complimentary trade access to Decorex Cape Town.

Event details:

Event: Decorex Cape Town
Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre
Dates: Friday, 24 to Monday, 27 April
Time: 10:00 to 19:00 daily (18:00 on Monday)

Tickets cost R80 for adults; R70 for trade, pensioners and scholars; and R15 for kids under 12-years-old.

For more information, email [email protected] or visit www.decorex.co.za. Alternatively, join the conversation on the Decorex SA Facebook page and follow them on Twitter.