All for a sticker

Saw See and I found ourselves at the SPICE Setia Convention Centre last Thursday for a full-day event aimed at Penang’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It was just one of three such roadshows organised by CTOS. The big question is how did we even get involved with the SME scene in the first place?

Long story, really. It began when Saw See decided to set up her own small business, offering services to anyone who might need them. By definition, her business fell into the SME category. Then she joined a trade organisation called SAMENTA, and from there, we became part of the wider SME community. That’s how we started getting invited to events like this—programmes designed to benefit small business owners.

Thursday’s event kicked off with a speech by Jagdeep Singh Deo—he's with the Penang state government—followed by a morning of speakers and presentations. I missed all of that completely because I got caught up wandering the exhibition hall, hopping from booth to booth. There was this little gimmick of collecting stickers from all the exhibitors, filling up a card, and getting qualified to spin on the wheel-of-fortune. But there was a catch. To get a sticker, one had to register with each exhibitor which meant giving away your name, email address, mobile number—basically handing over your personal data just for a shot at a freebie. Classic data farming. Looking back, it was a bit of a waste of time. I should’ve just gone into the hall and listened to the talks.

Anyway, that’s exactly what I did after lunch. Finally settling down and pating attention to the speakers. And they were good. Informative, engaging and far more rewarding than chasing down stickers. Lesson has been learnt.