Networking is Key: Crave Chicago Networking Event

I attended the Crave Chicago Event on September 27. If you’re not familiar with Crave, well their tagline is: “Celebrating Stylish Entrepreneurs.” That got my attention. Crave publishes a book that features local businesses owned by women. The books are in 29 different cities in the US, as well as a few other countries and they all have a unique, local vibe. It serves as a great directory of businesses you want to know about whether you live in that city or just visiting. Each woman featured in the book has a unique quality that attracts the Crave publishers. I like how Crave doesn’t segment any particular industry or experience level. There are women who just started a business, been in business for years, home-based, storefront, manages employees, has no employees, etc. It really is a plethora of interesting women business owners. I was familiar the book, but Crave is so much more. And that’s exactly what I found when I attended my first event. I met the Chicago Crave Organizer, Saya Hillman, a few days prior at another event. She’s also the founder of Mac ‘n Cheese Productions. We chatted and she told about the great event that Crave was having which I was all too familiar since I received an email about it. It sounded great! Except I had been… Waitlisted! (I’m the worst RSVP person since I always wait til the last minute). But I had waited too long and spaces filled up FAST! So I was pleasantly surprised when I received an email that said a spot had opened up.

So on a rainy Tuesday night I had arrived (early, even!) ready to check out what Crave was all about. I have to say it was probably the most unique networking event I’ve been to. First, the ultimate hostess, Saya Hillman, led the event and hosted at HER House! But this wasn’t an ordinary domicile, it was an old converted toy factory. The place was amazingly spacious and perfect for the event. There an array of  food and drinks, but some of the best food I’ve had in a looong time! And it was only appetizers and desserts. Actually, that was purposeful, since the chef recently launched her business, “There’s an App for that!”, a great take on food catering. It’s appetizers and desserts that you can order and take home to your party and “pretend” like you made them. No seriously. That’s how owner, Amy Kalas, describes her business model. And the smores cheesecake was A-Mazing!

So everyone starts piling in and start eating and drinking and soon it’s time to start the event. I noticed a projector and screen and I’m thinking great here comes a PowerPoint presentation! (Sorry. PowerPoint tends to bore me.) Well, Saya quickly eased my fears (it’s like she knew!) and actually introduced us all to a cool presentation software called, prezi. “The cool way to presenting,” she called it. And of course she was right. She held our attention with interesting visuals about her life, The Crave Company, and how she got involved. Wow, this chick is interesting, I thought. So interesting that I later found out she 1 0f 5 finalist being considered by Chicago Crain’s Business, A Day in the Life of an Entrepreneur Video Contest. Very cool.

The evening continued with the featured speaker, Jill Salzman, founder of foundingmoms.com. I had been speaking with her prior and had no idea she was the guest speaker. So down to earth. She was spitball of energy and sass as she gave her story about her entrepreneurial endeavors of starting 3 businesses, including recently SELLING her last business. She spoke about how she found her own community for continued growth and support.

Everyone was also given the chance  to get up & introduce themselves and their business. To my surprise, no one was long winded with their elevator pitch aka Here’s what I’m selling/doing-Buy it pitch. And when the presentation was over, the night ended with open networking that was simply getting to know each other and not trying to “sell” anything. The most important theme of the night addressed the importance of “finding your own community.” Well, I have to say, Crave Chicago is definitely not just a book, but absolutely a community! For more on Crave: www.thecravecompany.com

Photo Credits by: Emily Prender