Dec 2026 Buzz Rotterdam w/ Michael Jones: A Cheesy Business Tale

Business Networking. Hear how “The Cheese Lover” built a cheese business in a year with no paid ads, and learn to sell without selling. Please note: if you require a travel visa we don't provide a letter of invitation for this or any events. Small business owner? Freelancer? Sole trader? Do you like to get to know people, build relationships, connections, and collaborations? Then #JoinTheHive with Queen Bee Julie Taylor for this in-person networking event and join this supportive community, Buzz Business Networking. No matter how big or small your company is or where you are in your business journey, building relationships with other business owners can provide you with support and much more. December Networking: A Cheesy Business Tale What if you could grow a business without trying to sell? Our guest speaker, Michael, opened a British cheese shop in Switzerland 19 years ago and learnt how to sell without selling. Now based in the Netherlands, he’ll share how he started his new cheese business here and became successful in one year, without any paid advertising or marketing. And he doesn’t have a cheese shop here; he just talks about it! Yes, he’ll be bringing some amazing cheese to enjoy too. 🧀 You’ll walk away with: ➔ A fresh view on how to sell without feeling like you’re selling. ➔ Real-life lessons from building a business in two countries. ➔ Ideas for growing through conversation and word of mouth, without paid advertising. About the Speaker Our guest expert speaker is Michael, “The Cheese Lover”. Michael is from the north of England, and his early career was in photography, graphics and exhibition display. He always had a dream of working with food, so when he moved to Switzerland and couldn’t find enough work in his fields, he followed that dream and opened a cheese shop. His business in the Netherlands now hosts workshops and tastings for clubs, families and corporate team-building events. After three years, his “Cheese Discovery” walks in Amsterdam have taken over his life, and he averages about 25 walks and workshops a month. Most guests are tourists, but he has also introduced many Dutch people to Dutch cheeses they’ve never heard of, his “World Beyond Gouda”. He’s also working on a book. It’s about cheese, but with a very human twist, and he’ll tell you all about it! Included in this session is: *Talk from an expert speaker *Cheese to enjoy *A sounding board to spark new ideas *Get referrals *Increase sales Business networking for small business owners It can be lonely running a small business so let’s take you away from your desk so you can meet some like-minded business owners to grow your connections. You need resilience as a business owner, there are so many spinning plates to manage; time, money, resources, and of course finding customers. Our community is here to listen, help and support. About your host From starting a business in The Netherlands as an expat back in 2019 it was hard to get the right answers and find other business owners that were going through the same challenges. Where do you find information, support, and recommendations without a network? Over time, from attending events, asking questions, requesting help, and reaching out to people, I started to build a network of people who have provided invaluable support and has opened up many opportunities. I love getting to know people, their stories, and their challenges, helping them by ‘connecting the dots’ through connections and collaborations. What people said about these events "Thanks for the meeting this week and it was lovely to meet you and hear your very inspirational story. It was a really lovely group, a nice day, fun event, and great presentations 😃" Networking, support & collaboration Take some time for yourself to meet this local group of professional entrepreneurs. During the session, we will cover: Introduction round: Everyone gets 60 seconds so we can find out about you and your business, and what you need help with. Speakers: We will have guest speakers join us to share business expertise, practical tips, and advice. Networking: Get to know your fellow entrepreneurs, make some connections, and support each other. Want to know when tickets go live and what's coming up next? Then follow here on Eventbrite. I look forward to welcoming you to #TheHive.