For the second straight year, visitors to the Trade and Investment Convention (TIC) will have access to a unique, technology driven initiative that will operate throughout the four days of the event.
At the TIC Social Media Centre, operated by USHARE Caribbean, visitors will get custom branded pictures with instant uploads to email and prints promoted throughout social media networks. These are accomplished through the company's unique product offerings–USHARE Social Media Photo Booths, USHARE #hashtag Station and Roaming Photographer, UTAB Interactive Kiosk, U-Vid Video Booth.
The aim, according to USHARE co-founder Brenn Mohammed, is to connect clients to their customers, establishing and maximizing social media presence via photos, videos and data capture. A licensed IOS application developer for Apple and Android devices, the company started off developing high quality of online gaming apps, then shifted into providing custom branded content for social media, as well as data and analytics.
"That is valuable for marketing and promotion. Our strength is in research and development heavily driven by technology," Mohammed explained, adding that USHARE creates platforms for brands to go viral.
The Princes Town-based company, which Mohammed established two years ago in partnership with Kyle Ransome, counts among its clients some of T&T's most successful companies, including Caribbean Airlines (CAL) ACCA, Angostura, Blink-bmobile and Slam 100.5 FM.
"We have worked for big clients who are particular about their brand being represented right," said Mohammed. "We don't compromise on quality."
For TIC 2016, the flagship marketing event of the T&T Manufacturers' Association (TTMA), USHARE's products will be used to obtain real time data based on feedback from exhibitors and buyers. Taking advantage of the fact that 78 per cent of visitors to TIC found out about the event via social media, the company was able to fine tune promotional strategies for the event.
Mohammed, who has almost two decades of experience in business and banking, said with the real time data and surveys provided by the company, clients are able to go in the right directions with marketing, obtaining measurable results so that, where needed, strategies can be adjusted to be more effective.
In addition to the TIC Social Media Centre, this year's event will include the official launch of USHARE's newest product, BranTUB, a facility linked to measurable marketing. The keynote address will be by Kathyan Roach, a T&T writer/blogger for Huffington Post and social media specialist who will deal with understanding viral marketing.
The launch is free but people interested in attending must register for TIC. Sales and marketing people in particular are invited to attend.More details on the company and the launch are available at www.facebook.com/ushare caribbean and the free subscription website www.brantub.win.
While USHARE has already established a niche with its innovative products and programmes, Mohammed and Ransome are always looking for ways to add news and exciting things to the company's range of offering.
"This is a local company and we are continuing to grow, always looking out for the next best idea, expanding our brand and reach," he said.
About TIC 2016
The opening ceremony of TIC 2016 takes place today at 1.30 pm at the Torenia Hall (formerly the Andre Kamperveen Hall), Centre of Excellence, Macoya. This year's theme is Creating Pathways for Business.
Aimed at fostering intra and extra regional trade for regional businesses, the multi-sectoral tradeshow brings together local, regional and international businesses. Exhibitors meet buyers seeking new suppliers, goods and services.
In just 14 years, TIC has facilitated more than US$450 million in trade deals, hosted thousands of international buyers and exhibitors and is considered the Caribbean's biggest business-to-business event.