The Balkan eCommerce Summit took place during two days: April 4th and 5th, 2023, at Sofia Tech Park. The conference gathered 500 attendees from various Balkan markets, representing more than 17 countries. The event was organized by eCommerce Academy, and as per tradition, Stenik stood alongside them, actively participating in this significant gathering.
Stenik - partner and speaker at the event
At Stenik, we are committed to assisting all our clients in expanding their online businesses and achieving successful sales abroad. That's why we actively participate in various events that facilitate transnational business for online merchants. In recent years, we have participated in events like "Sell successfully in Romania," "Sell successfully in romania and greece" and others. Below, you will find details on our involvement in this first-of-its-kind Balkan forum.
Overview of the Balkan eCommerce Summit
The event was fantastic and exciting. Participants at the conference had the opportunity to enjoy a rich two-day program, featuring diverse and essential topics related to cross-border eCommerce. International speakers and experts in various markets got on the stage, sharing valuable know-how, interesting content, experiences, and ideas useful in finding ways and techniques for even better trade between Balkan countries.
The expo area hosted over 30 international exhibitors, allowing visitors to create numerous new cross-border contacts and establish fruitful business partnerships
Day 1: Inspiring program and balkan networking
On the first day, we enjoyed an engaging program featuring significant eCommerce topics presented by international experts who have proven themselves in their respective fields.
Some of the topics in the program included: Modern technological solutions for sales and communication, Introduction and specifics of the Romanian and Serbian markets, Opportunities for trade in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Domestic and international logistics etc. The content was valuable and practical for the audience, fostering productive networking during breaks. The program focused on the key methods and challenges of entering markets in different countries, serving as a guide for new eCommerce players looking to expand.
Stenik as an #expo sponsor
Stenik was among the first to set up its corporate booth in the designated expo area. All visitors had the opportunity to meet with a significant number of Stenik's eCommerce specialists. Our consultants were available to answer all questions and provide specific technological solutions and valuable advice related to individual cases of the booth's visitors.
We are happy that on the very first day, we managed to establish new useful contacts and discuss potential future business partnerships. Of course, we didn't miss the chance to invite visitors to our booth for a unique photo with our fun photo props.
The first day of the conference ended with a great mood and a Balkan party, during which we enjoyed a light dance show, a pleasant atmosphere and musical greetings. The organizers took care of the guests' comfort with delicious catering and drinks.
Certainly, we have noticed a strong female presence and confirmed that talented women are thriving in the company, and Stenik not only provides them with the opportunity to grow in their professions but also in the eCommerce community. Starting from this year, the number of women in the team is increasing steadily, and this fact can only make us happy.
Day 2: Stenik on the Balkan Stage
On the second day of the forum - April 5th, Stenik participated in the panel "Grow smart your D2C brand on the competitive EU market starting from the Balkans".
Dimitar Dimitrov, Partner at Stenik, along with our partners - Biser Krastev, CCO at Prim.bg, and Dimitar Yorgov, Manager at Pirin Hill, presented a detailed case study on the successful partnership and synergy between a technology company, an ERP integrator, and an online merchant.
The presentation of the three partners generated significant interest among the audience and sparked various thought-provoking topics for many attendees. The presence of the three speakers on stage solidified the successful symbiosis between the three companies. The story of Pirin Hill, narrated by one of its founders, evoked admiration and respect.
In an engaging and understandable manner, the partners shared more details from the stage about what lies at the core of building a successful D2C brand, product marketing, company growth strategy, as well as all the technical aspects of the business that contribute to scaling Pirin Hill in foreign markets.
It was a pleasure for us to elaborate on the role of Stenik as a trusted technology partner for our client and to highlight key moments in the development of the project - pirinhill.com. Dimitar shared the main technical prerequisites implemented in the e-commerce platform that would lead to the desired online growth and make the merchant more competitive not only locally but also beyond borders.
The presentation concluded with a thought-provoking question to the audience, which sparked an open discussion. The interest continued during the break in the expo zone, and the three presenters received congratulations for their participation, as well as a series of questions related to the content presented.
Before the conference concluded, the highly anticipated raffle took place, where all attendees who fulfilled the condition of collecting stamps from the exhibitors in the expo zone had the opportunity to participate and win attractive prizes. Congratulations to the winners!
During the official closing of the Balkan forum, Nikola Ilchev, the chief organizer of the conference, shared a few final and motivating words and expressed gratitude to the audience for their contribution in making the event unique and valuable.
Strengthening partnerships
We are delighted to have met many of our partners among the visitors of the Balkan eCommerce Summit. Together, we discussed how we can be even more beneficial to our shared clients and add additional value by collaborating in favor of their businesses.
It was more than a pleasure for us to meet many of our current customers, for whose projects we actively work and provide technical support. We strengthened our excellent relationship even more, had a lot of fun and were able to talk beyond the work that connects us.
Stenik with new Balkan friends
We believe that with joint efforts, all of us who are part of the online trade in Bulgaria can contribute to its development abroad! We thank all the participants, speakers, attendees and of course the organizers for the opportunity to participate in the Balkan Forum.
During the conference, we met many inspiring and interesting people and international companies that recharged and motivated us even more to continue developing the eCommerce ecosystem. We aim to provide high-quality technological solutions for every online merchant looking to expand beyond the borders of their homeland. The atmosphere and purpose of the event gave us a lot of new energy to encourage those who wish to build and execute a successful international expansion strategy.
We are inspired!
The event certainly had a positive impact on us, generating new ideas on how to be even more helpful to all our current and future partners and clients. It's always delightful to expand our network with like-minded individuals and active participants in the development of online commerce worldwide. We won't stop supporting such events so that together, we can become stronger, more capable, successful, and establish Bulgaria's position in international eCommerce. Because...
We are eCommerce!
eCommerce Academy promises that the next edition of the Balkan eCommerce Summit will be even more successful and grand, and we can't wait to participate.
We remain available to all those we met at the conference and those who couldn't attend. Feel free contact us now to discuss the possibilities for your online business and its expansion to foreign markets.
You can explore more photos and a video overview of our presence and participation during the Balkan eCommerce Summit on our Facebook page and Instagram profile.
