Mica DIY members joined some of the industry's leading suppliers for a day and evening of 'slow dating' style networking, awards and entertainment last weekend.
The evening event included a raffle draw for the Rainy Day Trust, which raised more than £500.

The Mica DIY Exchange show saw a number of suppliers including Crown, Henkel, FPS, Stax and Deanston Electrical, travelling from as far as Scotland to attend the Bristol event. In what was the second year of using the 'slow-dating' format, whereby Mica members had 13 minutes by appointment to spend with suppliers on their stands before moving on, the show saw plenty of positive feedback from both the suppliers and Mica retailers.

"It's an intense set up," Stax operations director Nigel Wright told DIY Week at the event. "But it makes things logistically easier. It's an exercise in customer feedback more than anything."

Mica retailer Tom Euhelshen, who owns The Flying Dutchman Stores, said: "It's a great chance to catch-up with people from the industry and improve relationships with suppliers.

"That's how Mica will grow, and that's the message we need to get out to encourage new members."

Mica ceo Steve Ball said: "It's very important to demonstrate the strong relationship between MICA and its suppliers to both retailers and members."

The day of trading, deals and customer feedback was followed by a black tie gala dinner during which delegates took part in a raffle for the Rainy Day Trust, a charity for former DIY retailers who have fallen on hard times. The evening culminated in a performance from mind-reading entertainer Kennedy.

Read the full account of the Mica Exchange in the March 9 issue of DIY Week.