10 Things I’ve learned in 10 years of publishing The Business Exchange Bath & Somerset
When we launched The Business Exchange Bath & Somerset 10 years ago, it felt like a long-held ambition finally becoming reality.
After three successful years publishing in Swindon & Wiltshire, I believed Bath deserved its own dedicated business-to-business magazine. This city has always felt special to me. It’s the place I grew up, the place I call home and somewhere I’ve always been proud to champion.
Bath is a diverse, hardworking and vibrant city. We love living and working here, and I think that’s why it’s home to so many successful businesses.
The magazine was a long time in the making, and it was incredibly exciting to finally bring it to life. At the time, some people questioned whether launching a print publication in 2016 was the right move. My view was simple: print wasn’t dead. It just needed to be paired with strong digital and social media platforms.
The Business Exchange got its name because I wanted readers and advertisers to have a reciprocal relationship with us. Too often, media had become a one-way street. I wanted to create something more collaborative. A platform where businesses could raise their profile, build relationships and become part of a wider community.
Just weeks after launch, more than 200 people joined us at the Assembly Rooms to celebrate the arrival of the magazine. Looking back, that support from the local business community gave me confidence that we were building something people genuinely wanted.
Today, TBE spans print, digital, networking, expos, conferences and awards, but the purpose remains the same: bringing people together.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of sharing success stories, supporting charities, hosting events and meeting thousands of people.
What has struck me time and time again is how willing this business community is to support one another. So many conversations have turned into opportunities, partnerships and friendships.
It’s been a privilege to play a small part in that, and I couldn’t have done it without the support of our readers, advertisers, contributors and event attendees.
Here are 10 things I’ve learned along the way.
1. Relationships are everything
One of the best pieces of business advice I can give is never to sever relationships unnecessarily and always treat people the way you’d hope to be treated yourself.
I love the fact that I’m still working with people I met more than 20 years ago during my career journey. I’ve lost count of the number of times someone I’ve worked with has popped up years later in a completely different role or business.
2. Standing still isn’t an option
The world has changed beyond recognition over the past decade. Publishing, networking, events and marketing continue to evolve at pace.
I’ve learned that listening is one of the most valuable skills a business owner can have. Listen to your audience. Listen to your clients. Pay attention to what they need.
Some of the most successful developments we’ve introduced at TBE started as a hunch or a conversation, such as the TBE South West Charity Conference & Expo and our TBE VIP Membership offering.
Quite often, something starts as a gut feeling or a chat with a client. What I’ve found reassuring over the years is that when I later look at what larger publishers and media businesses around the world are doing, they’re often responding to the same opportunities and challenges. It’s nice to know that instinct and experience can be just as valuable as market research.
3. Don’t sell, solve problems
I’ve never been comfortable with hard selling. My approach has always been to listen first. I want to understand what a business is trying to achieve, what challenges they’re facing and what success looks like for them.
I think this is one of the reasons TBE has stood the test of time. We don’t believe in squeezing businesses into packages that don’t fit. We listen, we care and we look for ways to help. Whether that’s through advertising, content, events or introductions. I care deeply about my clients and their reputation. Their success matters to me as much as my own.
4. It’s not all about the numbers
It’s easy to get distracted by numbers. But some of the most valuable things we’ve helped create can’t be measured. I have no way of knowing how many conversations have turned into new business relationships, collaborations or opportunities. What I do know is that I love hearing from people who tell me they’re now working with someone they met through TBE. Over the years, I know we’ve helped circulate thousands of pounds around the local economy simply by bringing the right people together. It’s difficult to quantify and impossible to track every success story, but that’s where I get my job satisfaction.
5. Don’t believe everything you think on a bad day
Every business owner has difficult days. When something doesn’t go to plan, it’s easy to convince yourself that everything is going wrong. One thing I’ve learned is to try and keep perspective. I have an email folder full of thank you notes and reminders of the great feedback I’ve received over the years, it’s a great pick me up on a bad day.
6. When it’s quiet, create
There have been times when I’ve worried about where the next sale is coming from. What I’ve learned is that panic rarely helps. Some of my best ideas have come during quieter periods when there’s been time to stop, think and look at things differently. A walk, a day off or a conversation with someone you trust is often more productive than sitting at your desk worrying.
7. Hard conversations are usually worth having
This one hasn’t come naturally to me. I don’t enjoy confrontation and I never will. Like many people, I’d much rather avoid an awkward conversation than initiate one. But over the years I’ve learned that honesty, handled with kindness, is nearly always the best approach.
If something isn’t working, it’s better to talk about it. I’ve always believed in long-term relationships over quick wins, and sometimes honest conversations are exactly what’s needed.
8. There is no such thing as perfect balance
One of the hardest lessons I’ve learned is that perfect balance doesn’t exist. As a business owner, parent, wife, friend and daughter to older parents, I’m constantly juggling and sometimes something has to give.
As an only child, friendships are hugely important to me. There have been times when family commitments and running a business have meant postponing catch-ups with people I care about. I find that hard, but sometimes priorities have to shift and true friends understand that. I’ve learned to be a little kinder to myself and accept that I can’t do everything, all at once.
9. Community matters more than ever
One of the best things about running TBE is seeing the South West business community at its best. I’ve watched businesses support each other through challenging times, celebrate success, share opportunities and open doors for one another. In a world that often feels increasingly digital, local business communities still matter. People want genuine conversations, trusted recommendations and meaningful relationships. Bath has an incredibly supportive business community. Time and again I’ve seen people make introductions, share advice, champion causes and celebrate each other’s achievements. Long may that continue.
10. There is always another story to tell
After 10 years, you’d think I’d run out of people to interview and stories to share. The opposite is true. Every week I come across a business doing something amazing on our doorstep and that’s the joy of what I do.
As we celebrate 10 years of The Business Exchange Bath & Somerset, I’d like to thank everyone who has played a part in the journey.
I’m incredibly grateful to the advertisers who took a chance on a brand-new publication, the contributors who shared their stories, the sponsors and partners who supported our events, and the readers who continue to pick up the magazine, visit our websites and attend our events.
What began as a quarterly magazine has evolved into a much wider platform spanning print, digital, networking, awards and events.
Yet the purpose remains exactly the same as it was in 2016: championing the people and organisations that make Bath such a fantastic place to live, work and do business.
Thank you for being part of the journey so far.
Here’s to what’s next!
Anita Jaynes
Founder, The Business Exchange South West
