Two fantastic days at ELEX Coventry have wrapped up, and Channel's presence at CBS Arena was exactly what we hoped for. With emergency lighting and fire safety at the forefront, our stand was a hub of technical discussions and genuine contractor engagement.
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CPD Training and Smart Test Demonstrations Take Center Stage
The real highlights of our two days were the CPD training conversations and smart test demonstrations that dominated our stand. Gary Tomlin, our CPD training expert and former electrician, was in his element connecting with contractors about our fire systems and emergency lighting training opportunities.
Gary's background as a former electrician gave him an authentic connection with visitors – he understands exactly what contractors face on-site because he's been there himself. The conversations weren't just about products, but about skills development, confidence building, and helping contractors expand into fire safety work with proper training backing them up.
Meanwhile, Gary Mason, Mark and Emily were busy demonstrating our smart test solutions - a remote control system that allows contractors to easily test their emergency lighting is working and is compatible with multiple Channel fittings. The hands-on demonstrations were incredibly effective, with contractors getting to see the technology in action and understand the real benefits for their emergency lighting projects.
The response was brilliant, with loads of contractors genuinely interested in what we could offer. It's always encouraging to see people wanting to expand their expertise and take on more specialised work with confidence.
New Solent II Emergency Bulkhead Gets Its Launch
Alongside the training focus, we also launched the new Solent II emergency bulkhead, which drew good interest from visitors wanting to get hands-on with this latest addition to our emergency lighting range. Gary Mason, Mark and Emily were able to walk contractors through the features and technical details, with many spending time discussing potential applications for their projects.
Technical Expertise on Display
Throughout the event, the two Garys, Mark and Emily demonstrated exactly why Channel has built such a strong reputation in emergency lighting and fire safety. Every conversation was technical, detailed, and focused on real-world solutions for contractors' specific challenges.
Whether it was explaining installation procedures, discussing compatibility with existing systems, or walking through maintenance requirements, our team showed the depth of knowledge that contractors rely on. The engagement was exactly what you want at a trade show – contractors asking the right questions and our team providing the expertise they needed.
Behind-the-Scenes Heroes
While the focus is naturally on the stand and the sales conversations, we can't forget the team that makes events like this possible. Kim, our graphic designer, created all the stunning visuals that helped draw people in, while Malcolm and Harry from our technical team spent days in the warehouse carefully wiring up the display boards that made our live demonstrations possible.
And we definitely can't forget Mark, Dylan and Jake from the warehouse team who loaded the vans, helped build everything at the venue, and then worked late Friday night breaking it all down again. Not glamorous work, but absolutely essential – and they did it all with good humor.
Building Relationships for the Future
The conversations at our stand went well beyond immediate product interest. Contractors were engaging with Gary Tomlin about training pathways, discussing upcoming projects with Gary Mason, Mark and Emily, and building the kind of relationships that lead to long-term partnerships.
Fire safety and emergency lighting require expertise and trust – contractors need to know they're working with suppliers who understand the regulations, the installations, and the ongoing requirements. The quality of conversations we had suggests we're hitting that mark.
Looking Ahead
We're heading back with plenty of follow-up conversations scheduled, particularly around CPD training opportunities that Gary Tomlin discussed with contractors. The interest in skills development was genuinely encouraging and gives us loads to work with in the coming weeks.
Channel will be back at ELEX Sandown Racecourse in November, this time joined by Timeguard, Brackenheath and Briticent for a full Deta Electrical showcase. We're already looking forward to building on the momentum from Coventry.
Most importantly, it was a reminder of why face-to-face events matter so much in our industry. When you can demonstrate products, share expertise, and build genuine relationships, good things happen. Gary Tomlin, Gary Mason, Mark and Emily represented Channel brilliantly, and the response from contractors showed exactly why our approach works.
Roll on Sandown!
