This week’s Wednesday Wisdom comes from Mark Raines, co-founder of MJR Events, a Norfolk and Suffolk-based events business specialising in wedding fairs, baby and toddler shows, and artisan markets, with nearly 100 events under their belt since launching in 2014.
Mark started MJR Events alongside his wife Meryl while still working full time as a wedding photographer, frustrated by the lack of exhibition space for photographers at local wedding shows. Drawing on his events background, he booked the Forum in Norwich and ran their first wedding fair — and never looked back. The business now operates across Norfolk and Suffolk, running established annual events including the Norfolk Artisan Christmas Fair at Fakenham Racecourse and the Norfolk Bump & Beyond Baby and Toddler Fair, the largest event of its kind in the county.
When it comes to building events that last, Mark is clear that reputation is everything. Some exhibitors have been with MJR Events since their very first show, and the Norfolk Artisan Christmas Fair already has over 100 stalls booked for its upcoming November edition, five years in. For Mark, the secret isn’t really a secret at all: personal relationships, consistent delivery, and making sure exhibitors feel they are in safe hands year after year.
Mark’s advice for anyone thinking about launching an event is honest and hard-won. The events landscape in Norfolk has become increasingly crowded, with many drawn in by the idea of a quick return. The reality, he says, is that it won’t be easy — events must be well advertised, well planned and well attended, and it takes years to build the confidence of both exhibitors and visitors. For MJR Events, that patience and commitment to quality is exactly what has kept people coming back.
Tell us about MJR Events and what made you take the leap to start it whilst still in full time employment?
MJR events started in 2014 with our first wedding fair at the Forum in Norwich, together with my wife Meryl, we operate from our office at our home in Harleston. I am also a wedding photographer and I was frustrated at the lack of wedding shows in the area with a space for a photographer to exhibit so, coming from an events background, I booked the Forum and planned our first wedding show. There are still very few spaces for photographers around but there are considerably more wedding shows now! Working from our home allows us to be flexible with our time and we can fit more around the children’s activities etc.
You’ve now run nearly 100 events across Norfolk and Suffolk – what’s your secret to keeping people coming back year after year?
Events are built on reputation, some say you are only as good as your last event, we like to think that all of our shows work well for the exhibitor and meet the visitor’s expectations.
Some of our exhibitor’s have been with us since our very first show which speaks volumes. Our Norfolk Artisan Christmas Fair at Fakenham Racecourse is now 5 years old and we already have over 100 stalls booked in for November which is amazing, this is down to the reputation the event now has, we aim to put on shows that companies need to exhibit at and put firmly into their diaries each year. Its no secret but we feel the personal relationships you build with your clients is what keeps them coming back, they know you do your best to put on a good event and they know they are in safe hands when it comes to the organisation and marketing of the event.
The Norfolk Bump & Beyond was born from a personal experience. How important is it that events solve a real problem?
People visit events like ours whether it’s a Wedding Show, Baby Fair or Christmas shopping event because they are looking for something special from trusted suppliers. The Norfolk Bump & Beyond Baby and Toddler Fair is the largest event of its kind in Norfolk and the beauty of this fair is the fact that parents visit the fair for a few years, they come during pregnancy to gain advice and meet pregnancy specialists, they can purchase all the newborn supplies they will need. The next year we see the same parents come back looking for toddler items , baby clubs etc.
How do you promote your events and what’s worked best for you?
We promote our events through tried and tested methods, primarily though targeted, online adverts but we also use roadside adverting campaigns in permitted locations for our larger events.
What’s the one thing every event organiser should know before they start?
It won’t be easy!! There seems to be an influx of events popping up across the county as it’s seen to be a quick money maker, everyone’s an event organiser! Companies have limited advertising budgets and they are having to make tough decisions as to where they commit that budget. Events have to be well advertised, well planned and subsequently well attended and it will take a few years to build up confidence with the exhibitors and the visitors alike.
Follow Mark and MJR Events on Instagram and visit https://mjr-events.co.uk/ to see more information and learn more about their amazing events.
