With more than 4,000 attendees expected, Balkan eCommerce Summit 2025 is shaping up to be the region’s most important gathering for digital commerce professionals. Whether you're a merchant, technology provider, logistics partner, agency, or investor, this event offers a unique opportunity to build meaningful connections and explore regional collaborations.
At Power Commerce, we’ve participated in dozens of international ecommerce events. Over time, we’ve learned that the real value of these events doesn’t come just from the stage — it comes from conversations. In this article, we’re sharing our approach to networking at BES 2025, covering what to do before, during, and after the summit to turn conversations into opportunities.
Why Networking at BES 2025 Matters
This summit is not just about listening to keynotes. It’s about connecting with people who are actively shaping the future of ecommerce in the Balkans and beyond. BES 2025 is designed to encourage interaction through:
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A dedicated 1:1 networking zone for scheduled or informal meetings
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A mobile event app to explore attendees and message them directly
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Social meetups and dinners that create space for informal discussions
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Exhibitor booths and topic-specific zones where you can meet others with shared interests
For participants across sectors — from tech startups to established retailers — this is a chance to exchange ideas, explore partnerships, and expand your network within and beyond the Balkan region.
Our Networking Strategy: Step-by-Step
1. Pre-Summit Preparation
Effective networking starts long before the event opens.
a. Optimize Your Profile in the Event App
We make sure our team’s profiles include:
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A clear and concise company description
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Updated contact details and a professional photo
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Specific points about who we want to meet — such as merchants, service providers, or potential collaborators
b. Schedule Meetings Ahead of Time
Using the app’s meeting booking feature, we’re already:
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Sending messages to relevant attendees
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Arranging short, focused meetings to be held in the networking zone
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Prioritizing people and companies we've interacted with online but never met in person
c. Research Key Participants
We identify companies and individuals who are:
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Active in the region and looking to scale
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Offering services or solutions that complement ours
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Open to partnership, collaboration, or knowledge exchange
2. On-Site Networking Tactics
Once the summit begins, staying intentional is key.
a. Divide Responsibilities Across the Team
If attending with multiple team members, we assign focus areas:
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Each person covers a different session track (logistics, marketing, CX, technology)
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We ensure Power Commerce is present in different discussions across the summit
b. Focus on Conversations, Not Sales
Networking isn’t about pushing services — it’s about listening, understanding, and finding real alignment. We focus on:
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Asking others about their goals, challenges, and what they’re looking for
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Offering relevant insights from our experience, if there’s a fit
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Suggesting a follow-up conversation only when appropriate
c. Bring Smart Contact Tools
We use:
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Clean business cards with scannable QR links to our website or audit request form
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Clear signage and materials at our booth, if applicable, to help visitors quickly understand what we do
d. Stay Flexible and Curious
Some of the best connections happen unexpectedly — at lunch tables, during breaks, or between sessions. We aim to stay approachable, curious, and open to organic conversation.
3. Post-Summit Follow-Up
The days following the summit are crucial for turning networking into real value.
a. Send Personalized Follow-Ups
We follow up with everyone we spoke to by:
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Sending thank-you notes that mention something specific from our conversation
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Sharing resources relevant to their interests — whether it’s a guide, case study, or link to a service we discussed
b. Offer Value-First Invitations
If someone showed interest in working with us, we offer:
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A free consultation or audit session, scheduled on their terms
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A potential next step — such as exploring a partnership or integration
c. Keep the Momentum Going
For more strategic conversations, we propose a concrete next step — whether that’s co-marketing, a pilot program, or just a follow-up call in a few weeks.
First-Time Attendees: Tips to Make the Most of It
If this is your first time attending, here are a few suggestions that we’ve found helpful over the years:
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Define your goal: Are you here to find clients, learn from others, or explore the market?
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Prepare your introduction: Have a 20–30 second summary of who you are and what you do
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Step out of your comfort zone: Don’t stick only with your team — talk to new people
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Take quick notes: After each conversation, jot down a few lines to remember who you spoke with and what was discussed
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Follow up quickly: Within a few days of the event, while the conversation is still fresh
Who You Should Consider Networking With
Here are some attendee types we believe offer high networking potential:
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Merchants expanding into new markets or modernizing their online experience
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Logistics and delivery partners looking to streamline fulfillment across borders
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eCommerce platforms and SaaS tools seeking partnerships and local integrations
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Agencies with specialized services in marketing, design, or tech
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Investors and incubators scouting for scalable solutions and early partnerships
Let’s Meet in Sofia
We invite all attendees to:
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Schedule a 1:1 meeting with us via the official summit app
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Visit our booth — Booth #21, located near Coffee Zone 1 and directly in front of Stage #4 – Delta Cloud
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Book a free audit via our Balkan Summit landing page
Whether you’re just starting your digital journey or preparing to scale into new markets, we’re here to share insights, audit your current setup, and explore what’s next — over a coffee, just a few steps from the stage.
Featured Talk: Power Commerce on Stage
We’re proud to announce that our Managing Director, Adin Mulaahmetovic, will be a featured speaker at the summit.
🗓️ Tuesday, April 29, 2025
🕛 12:00 – 12:20
📍 Stage #4 – Delta Cloud
🎯 Track: Payments & Financial Technology
Session Title:
"Navigating Payment Gateways and Shopify in the Balkans: Overcoming Great Market Challenges"
This session will explore payment infrastructure challenges across the region, Shopify’s unique positioning for Balkan merchants, and practical strategies to overcome operational and financial hurdles in scaling ecommerce businesses.
Final Thoughts
The Balkan eCommerce Summit 2025 is more than an event — it’s a platform for growth. The conversations you have, the people you meet, and the ideas you exchange could shape your business path for the next year and beyond.
For us at Power Commerce, it’s not about collecting business cards — it’s about building trust and planting the seeds of long-term relationships. We look forward to meeting fellow professionals who share that mindset.
Let’s make BES 2025 count — together.
