Our history

Event Owl was created by myself Julie Ellington, not an IT techy, not a multi millionaire, just an ordinary, fell into by accident, now fifty (cough) year old, multiple events organiser with experience behind the trade stand too (making cup cakes or selling beer!). Its not a huge company, with mega budgets and staff, its run very small scale and therefore very personally. Previously I'd gained some useful planning skills in the Army, and provided many small businesses with start up and growth advice for Business Link before it was disbanded.

I became pretty frustrated filling in hundreds of variously formatted, event trade stand application forms and later, for several other trader friends who genuinely did not have the time to fill them in themselves. I was constantly duplicating information. Painful and frustrating. 

As I moved gently into event planning I was also starting to process hundreds of completed event forms and chasing payments, for the events I was now organising. My desk was awash with paper! In 2011 there was no software package on the market to purchase to help reduce this problem, that took into consideration the plight of the exhibitor (mostly small businesses whose time is so valuable to the UK economy) as well as the organiser.

It took a few years of creative thinking and much flow charting on my walls. I taught myself Excel as a needs must exercise, but having done this processing manually I eventually took an idea to Boost Lancashire.  With a small grant, personal savings, some financial help from family (to which I will always be indebted) I created an online system together with Brick Technology, that benefits trader and organiser alike.

Event Owl is a community style platform where event organisers and exhibiting businesses can come together and save time; enabling them to spend more time organising their event or making their products.

All event stand application forms consist of the same information requests, and some old fashioned application forms ask for your name and address eight times or more! Therefore I have designed a standardised application form that still allows event organisers some individuality. The information is entered into a simple dashboard; clear, precise, secure and accurate for both parties.

The portal is a system that can be accessed 24/7/365 on your laptop, desktop or mobile device. Depending on your device, and as long as you have access to Wi-Fi and/or a phone signal, you will be able to access Event Owl.

It has been a long, hard journey so far.  The portal is still pretty much ahead of the curve, so many systems only take in the needs of the organiser and not the needs of the trader.  However, our one on one personal service is recognised by all, with major event organisers switching to us because of this.

At the end of 2019 two major event organisers in the North of England rallied to my plea for more help and both Malton Food Lovers Festival and Food Festivals Ltd came on board. Together we all feel Event Owl has a good future ahead and this is where you come in.

We hope more Exhibitors and Organisers will be encouraged to use the system and stand only to benefit by saving significant time using Event Owl.

We are all looking forward to you joining us as you continue, or embark on, your own event journey.

Julie Ellington,

Founder and MD, Event Owl