How much loot did everyone get?

[Midotuji]

I never got my kahoot socks

[DrCheese]

Ah, but you did get a beer...

[mrbios]

I did ok

[Olliedawg]

Mugs, flasks, socks, pens, lanyards, key rings… the list goes on!

[Midotuji]

7 hours ago, mrbios said:

I did ok

I think you won 

[Midotuji]

5 hours ago, Olliedawg said:

Mugs, flasks, socks, pens, lanyards, key rings… the list goes on!

All the essentials :D 

[NegativeKillDeath]

Always be wary when a company thinks that you might need a stress ball when reminded of their brand. 

[Rob_D]

What's the little ICTDirect box supposed to do?

[paulkerton]

I got a notebook. The amount of "swag" available has just plummeted over the years. Barely a pen on stands anymore.

[Midotuji]

5 minutes ago, paulkerton said:

I got a notebook. The amount of "swag" available has just plummeted over the years. Barely a pen on stands anymore.

5000 pens please

[Sephiroth]

Eveyone seems to hide the goodies away now.

 

I know that a lot of stands were complaining that the children that were let loose just took handfulls of sweets that seemed to be abundant this year.

 

@Rob_D the little ICT-Direct box is a screen cleaner spray with cloth

 

Most of what I got this year was bags and sweets. The highlights were a Verkada Yeti mug, an ICT-Direct thermal mug, and a beautiful 43 piece precision toolkit. I neglected to get any photos, so if I remember, I'll get some when I get home tonight (of course it didn't get to the office, thats what the paperwork is for!).

[paulkerton]

51 minutes ago, Sephiroth said:

I know that a lot of stands were complaining that the children that were let loose just took handfulls of sweets that seemed to be abundant this year.

Unless children are presenting at the show to demonstrate things, I have no idea why armies of children are allowed in to Bett. I shouldn't have to fight my way around them to have a discussion with a vendor.

The vendors don't seem to be happy with it, most people walking the floor don't seem to be happy with it.

Is it a B2B Trade Show or a school field trip location?

[Rob_D]

I kind of get taking a small group of kids (especially older kids) to see and maybe get some hands on time with the classroom tech. 

Perhaps the compromise is to have one day where students are allowed and limit it to 10-15 per org.

[Danp]

Hardly anything! A few beers at isams and the odd sweet.

 

Oh, I did get some socks from @VeryPC with @VeryPC_Colin_M's face on!

[DavR]

20 hours ago, mrbios said:

I did ok

 

Who was handing out the toolkits? That's a top draw freebie!

Almost regretting not going this year. Almost. I'll be back next year when I need some new socks 😁

 

[mrbios]

8 hours ago, Rob_D said:

What's the little ICTDirect box supposed to do?

The small rectangular thing? Its a screen cleaner. Microfiber on one side, press top and cleaner sprays out 😁

Edited January 23 by mrbios

[VeryPC]

18 minutes ago, Danp said:

Hardly anything! A few beers at isams and the odd sweet.

 

Oh, I did get some socks from @VeryPC with @VeryPC_Colin_M's face on!

You need to drop a photo of you wearing them!

[mrbios]

10 minutes ago, DavR said:

 

Who was handing out the toolkits? That's a top draw freebie!

Almost regretting not going this year. Almost. I'll be back next year when I need some new socks 😁

 

Switchshop. I was impressed, the switchshop chap spotted my name on my badge and remembered what I had ordered....a year ago! I think I've only ordered from them once too.

[DavR]

2 minutes ago, mrbios said:

The small rectangular thing? I'm a screen cleaner. Microfiber on one side, press top and cleaner sprays out 😁

 

I got one of those from an event a while back, and couldn't figure it out. I was looking the thing over, gave it an experimental press.... yeah, right in the eyes 😂

I'd like to say that taught me, but doubtless I'll do it again one day.

[mrbios]

Just now, DavR said:

 

I got one of those from an event a while back, and couldn't figure it out. I was looking the thing over, gave it an experimental press.... yeah, right in the eyes 😂

I'd like to say that taught me, but doubtless I'll do it again one day.

Haha my colleague did exactly the same thing. In his hands for no more than 5 seconds before spraying it in his face. Fortunately he wears glasses so it helped give them a clean.

 

Two days on, already worn both my pairs of verypc socks 😁

[Rob_D]

3 hours ago, mrbios said:

Switchshop. I was impressed

They've always had great goodie bags. Most of the team's "grab and go" toolkits are switchshop ones now.

[garethEds]

I don't collect much - @ICTDirect_Dave handed me a thermal mug which was nice as we fanboy'ed over the Acorn 3020 and chatted about Acorn computers. 

 

Great to meet Vic at the Edugeek stand and catch up with @GrumbleDook again after losing touch over the years. Thanks for the pizza too. That was really appreciated.

 

A few pens here and there. My Office staff asked me for Bromcom merch - so thanks to @Bromcom_John for sorting that out. Only thing missing there was a Bromcom notepad (I'm sure we had them last year). Have to say - Bromcom staff were excellent on the stand and I managed to work on some issues we had, whilst learning some new stuff.

 

Had a nice pack of mints and a tattoo from the Affinity vending machine.

 

Got another thermal cup from the TES stall.

 

Saw one guy walking up to the Intel/HP stand and picking up 10 boxes of pens before giving them all to the kids he had with him.

 

As for the kids - there did seem to be a lot of them there. I remember many years ago, students were not allowed. They took over the Canva stand - so I didn't bother going there. Agree with a lot of loot being hidden under desks. 

 

Newbie mistake - I made a newbie mistake (again). Got there at 9:30am and bought a coffee outside in the foyer. Then noticed how many stalls had coffee being served. Bromcom offered me one! Argh. Wasted £4.50

 

Still - had a nice day. Stayed again at the Premier Inn on Bath Road. Getting to the Excel Centre was relaxing. Bus to Heathrow T2/T3 and then the Elizabeth line for 50 mins. No hassle.

[fs171]

In my teaching days, I used to take a group of Y12 students (10 maximum, from the IT and Comuter Science classes) for a few reasons:

• To show the students the new technologies as a 'look at what might be at uni in this subject'
• To provide some insparation for the A Level computer science projects (if they were struggling with coming up with their own ideas)
• As an engagement opportunity for recruitement into the subject as a v. cheap trip (used to drive a minibus so covered the milage)
• To be allowed out to go to the event myself, since I used to attend on the saturdays.

Think that age of student and number (and the fact they were going around in smaller groups of 3-4) meant there was a lower impact on vendors without relevance (I wouldnt imagine they would have engaged with the likes of backup solutions, for example) but gave those with a clear opportunity for student engagement (such as the 'esports' or practical equipment) to have a busy stand which actually increases my likelyhood of stopping and engaging myself. 

[Sonic007]

Not bad at all....

 

- An LED Torch

- A water bottle

- A Multi-Tool

- An Edugeek Mug

- Plenty of Pens

- Lanyards

- A Flag

- Pizza and Prosecco

- VeryPC Socks

- Kahoot Socks

- A million more socks from various stands.