The FREE party will be a fairly brief affair, so expect to get away to make dinner around 19.30. Before then we’ll present the BBEx/MTA awards – you have only this week to submit your nominations for the various awards.

We have the Scott Deverell Young Businessperson of the Year Award and the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, both for those aged 40 or under.

Then we have Retailer of the Year, the Boating Business Lifetime Achievement Award and the BBEx Innovations Showcase Award. Plus, of course, our two new awards – the Environment Award and the Website Award.

Submit your entries by this Friday, February 1, to awards@bbex.co.uk

One more award for the exhibitors to think about is the daily Champagne and Roses handout each day by the Press Office on the ground floor. This is for the best news story; a new product launch; the first (or highest) sale of the day. Keep them informed of what’s going on and you could get the flowers and bubbley...

As well as being the third BBEx, this year is the Boating Business 25th Anniversary. We’ll be making lots of this little fact throughout the year and we’ll be having a party at Seawork in June.

But to get everyone into the party mood, you’ll find a coupon in the February issue of BB that entitles you to a FREE drink on the BB stand at BBEx.

So we’ll see you there...

As we’re not using the Bourne Lounge, we’ve rearranged the show to get everyone into the two halls downstairs. We’re getting close to last year’s 200 exhibitors, so it’s all a bit of a squeeze...

But that’s better than having people upstairs.

And don’t forget the seminars and workshops programme on both days – check out all the details on our new BBEx website www.bbex.co.uk – or wait until next week’s NewsUpdate where we’ll give you a reminder for your diary.