We recently spoke to Sam Toole, Rates & Commercial Pricing Manager, and Michael Jackson, Move Manager, from the Icon Move team. They both attended the IAM conference in October this year as their first experience of an international conference with Icon. We spoke with them to look back on their time at the conference and what the experience meant to them.
Can you briefly introduce yourself?
ST: I’m Sam Toole, Rates & Commercial Pricing Manager in the Move team at Icon. I’ve been with Icon for 3.5 years now.
MJ: Hello, my name is Michael Jackson. I have been with Icon for just over six months with the Move team as a Move Manager. The IAM conference was my first full exposure to the moving industry firsthand which was a very exciting experience.
What did you learn at the IAM conference?
MJ: Overall, the IAM conference provided me with a comprehensive overview of the latest trends and developments in the moving industry. I am more confident that the knowledge and insights acquired during the event will greatly contribute to my professional growth and enable me to contribute more effectively to Icon.
ST: It gave us a great insight into the current state of the industry and the trends we can expect for 2024 based on our trusted partners experience and forecasts. It was great to see we had performed very well compared to some other UK bookers who had seen a reduced number of export shipments, while our numbers had been very positive.
How do you think attending the conference might influence the way you work in future?
ST: Attending the conference has allowed us to form stronger bonds with our existing partners as well as strike up new relationships with companies that we will work hard to support in the future. The follow up calls and meetings we have had already have been very positive, with a new stream of work already starting in some cases.
MJ: I am certain that attending the IAM conference will have positive effects on the way I work. The enhanced knowledge of the moving industry will helps me to stay ahead of industry trends, while the closer relationships will leave to future collaborations and a stronger network for Icon. Learning from others’ experiences is helping me develop innovative solutions to common problems in the industry.
Why do you think it is important for Icon to attend conferences?
ST: Although remote working as come such a long way in recent years, I feel that face to face meetings are crucial for building connections with overseas agents to strengthen our global network. You can build a relationship on a more personal level than is possible over the phone which is vital for this industry.
MJ: Conferences offer a great platform for networking with industry peers, potential clients, partners, and service providers. Building relationships at conferences can lead to collaboration opportunities, access to new market insights, and potential business partnerships that can benefit Icon’s growth and expansion.
