A word from our sponsors: Jana Korpova, Head of Business Development, Smart Currency Exchange
With only 8 weeks until the opening of the overseas property industry’s biggest and best trade event, OPPLive, we speak with official co-sponsor, Smart Currency Exchange.
One of the fastest growing currency exchange specialists in the UK founded in 2004, the Smart Team focus on helping clients to effectively and efficiently send and receive payments internationally – an essential part of the international property buying process.
Striving to save their clients substantial amounts of money – especially when compared to banks – Smart also help clients to manage their risk associated to foreign currency movements. Now in their second year of sponsorship of OPPLive and the Awards of Excellence we hear from Jana Korpova, Head of Business Development, a well-known personality in the overseas property arena, about what being an official sponsor means to her and the Smart Team:
Smart Currency is a lead sponsor of OPPLive, when and how did you first hear about the show?
I first visited the show when I joined Smart Currency Exchange in 2007. Since then I’ve never missed an opportunity to either visit, exhibit or be a panellist at one of the many seminars. OPPLive really is more than an exhibition – it is a hub where professional, likeminded people working in overseas property can meet, do business and compare experiences. I would recommend attending to anyone who is looking for partners or is interested in what industry leaders have to say about the industry’s latest trends.
You’ve sponsored a number of other industry events in the past, so what made you choose to support OPPLive?
Smart sponsored OPPLive and its Awards last year and found it well worth it. As well as it being our way of giving something back to the industry and the OPP media platform, we see it as a great flag-waving exercise. Business to business partnerships and understanding what making our industry tick are crucial to the on-going success of Smart, so we want people to see our brand and name, and know we’re open for business. I think most people reading this will understand how valuable good partnerships have become over the last few years, given how tough the economic environment has been.
Why do you feel that it’s important for Smart to be a sponsor?
Personally, I believe that our partnerships with the industry leaders such as Rightmove, A Place in the Sun and indeed OPP are key to us achieving our vision, namely to become the UK’s number one foreign exchange provider for private individuals buying property or moving abroad. Sponsorship of the industry’s most recognised awards plays a key role in the message that Smart wishes to send out to everyone: We are proud to talk property before currency.
What do you hope to gain from sponsorship / exhibiting at the show?
In terms of business opportunities, I would like to see our business development team speaking with as many trade partners as possible. Our approach to potential partnerships is about much more than just gaining access to new clients’ databases, it is more consultative and long-term. It is important for us to understand how successful the industry professionals are, what their problems are and how we can help them. I hope my team will gain a lot of industry insight at the show and that conversely, other exhibitors, as well as visitors, will find our own information and talking to us both useful and interesting.
Do you think that sponsorships still have a place in property marketing today?
Previous to sponsoring OPPLive, I was sceptical about its long-term value and how it would assist us in marketing Smart and our partnership programme. But following the success we have had, I believe that sponsorship does have a place in property marketing. However, there is a fine balance between just paying for your brand to be displayed and being a true sponsor that believes and supports the industry on a day to day basis.
As a sponsor, how else will Smart be involved in the event?
Smart will have a stand at OPPLive, where we will be offering the chance to speak to potential partners about how they currently work with currency firms, what they ultimately would like to be achieving and how we could assist them. We all know that there are many FX companies operating in the overseas property industry, but only a few actually make extra effort to support their partners in achieving their goals, which are typically linked to selling more properties, getting more clients and adding value to the service they offer. At Smart we do our best to understand each individual partner’s needs and support them as best we can.
Why do you think international property professionals should attend OPPLive?
It’s a great place to network, meet like-minded companies and explore new opportunities for growing your business – or even set up a business – in the overseas property industry. It’s also fun and insightful bringing together visitors and exhibitors from all over the world.
Do you have any top tips for your fellow exhibitors?
The most important thing is to be enthusiastic and open minded to any propositions or ideas coming from either fellow exhibitors or visitors. The industry has suffered in the past few years, but there are reasons why this show is going to be a great place to share ideas and enter into great partnerships.
And here’s a practical tip from me, one I forget time and time again – ladies, wear flat shoes. It is going to be a long day followed by a great night at the awards, so bring flat shoes for the day and heels for the night!
OPPLive will be held on 27th and 28th November 2013 at Central Hall, Westminster, London with delegate passes are now available to purchases online at http://www.opp-live.com/buy-delegatepasses/.