Personal connections, strong networks: Our visit to the trade fair in Croatia

For many companies, international trade fairs are a must-attend event. For us at Serverando / quattroM, they are far more than that: they are a central component of our global trading network and thus a key factor in ensuring that our shop is constantly stocked with interesting, affordable and high-quality products. At the end of April, our CEO Rainer and junior manager Ben attended this year’s Brokerbin Community meeting in Split, Croatia – an event that has been a fixture in our calendar for many years.

Why such meetings are so important to us

As a remarketing company that has been consistently committed to greater sustainability, resource conservation and an efficient circular economy for many years, we deliberately conduct the majority of our communications with partners and suppliers digitally. This saves time, reduces emissions and is in line with our aim to keep processes as streamlined as possible.

Nevertheless, there are a few, but particularly important, dates each year where we deliberately make an exception. Because in international trade, personal contact is crucial. IT remarketing thrives on trust, speed and reliability. Prices can change in the blink of an eye, supply chains must remain stable yet flexible – and that is precisely why we need relationships that have grown over the years. They often determine whether a deal goes through or whether we can consistently offer high quality. Digital conversations cannot always achieve this depth. That is why events such as the Brokerbin industry gathering are indispensable for us.

It is through direct interaction that what really matters in international trade is fostered: mutual understanding, goodwill, transparency, and the realisation that behind every company there are people – not just numbers.

Through these meetings, we not only strengthen our existing business relationships but also expand our network with new and exciting contacts. As our customers, you feel the benefits immediately: a wide range of products, consistent availability and attractive prices – even in times when the market is volatile.

A peek behind the scenes: our impressions of Split

Early in the morning, we headed to the airport and, after checking in, on to Split – more specifically, to ‘Le Méridien Lav’. As down-to-earth Regensburg locals, we certainly wouldn’t have needed a 5-star hotel, but we certainly weren’t averse to the modern design, the spacious event area and the inviting lounge area where we could relax after a hard’s day’s work 😉.

We’ve been attending these industry gatherings for many years now. So it came as no surprise that the event in Croatia was – as always – superbly organised. The atmosphere was relaxed, almost family-like, yet professional. We’ve known many of the participants for a long time, which makes the conversations particularly pleasant and efficient. At the same time, the event offered plenty of opportunity to meet new partners who complement our network perfectly.

After our ‘early check-in’ and the welcome reception with hors d’œuvres at the Grand Dalmatia, the large event space at Le Méridien Lav, we headed to the after-party at the Underside Pub, which is also located right next to the hotel.

There isn’t much time for partying, though, as things get underway again at 8 am on Thursday with the first discussions over breakfast or in the lobby. The one-to-one meetings – a sort of ‘speed dating’ for networking – run from 10 am to 5 pm. You really need to stay fully focused here so as not to lose track of things.

But even though focused technical discussions predominate, there are always moments in between that provide a bit of relaxation and lighten the atmosphere. Whether over coffee, at lunch or during short breaks between programme items: opportunities arose everywhere to exchange ideas, discuss market trends or initiate specific projects. And it is often precisely these conversations in a “relaxed get-together” that later lead to particularly interesting changes in product ranges or long-term supply relationships.

Between the one-to-one meetings and the evening reception, there was an hour to swap the tie and shirt for something more casual, freshen up briefly and reflect on the day’s discussions. Afterwards, we headed to the Tramonto Bar on the jetty right next to the hotel. For the night owls, a bus ran from there to the Riva, Split’s bustling pedestrian zone lined with cafés, bars and restaurants.

On the final day of the meeting, we kicked off at 09:00 with a reception in the hotel lobby, before the one-to-one meetings took place from 10:00 to 16:00 this time. This was followed by the ‘farewell happy hour’ at Jim’s Bar from 16:00 to 17:00.

After a final drink, however, it was time for us to say goodbye, as our flight home was already due – in our luggage we had not only plenty of business cards, but also some promising new contacts.

How networking influences product quality in our shop

Our aim is clear: we want to offer our customers not only good prices, but also reliable quality. We can only achieve this if we really know our partners – not just as company names, but as people we meet regularly, talk to, and whose working methods we can assess.

Through our international network, we can:

• consistently secure high-quality goods — because we know who we can trust
• achieve attractive purchase prices — thanks to direct, long-standing relationships
• mitigate supply bottlenecks at an early stage — through rapid communication and flexible partners
• react swiftly to market movements — because we experience trends first-hand
• offer a procurement service for specialist hardware — particularly for rare or hard-to-find parts

This stability is no coincidence, but the result of years of nurturing relationships – and that is precisely why face-to-face meetings like this one are indispensable.

Our conclusion

The event in Split was a resounding success for us: well organised, packed with valuable content, and characterised by an atmosphere that demonstrated just how closely the international remarketing community works together. We were able to make new contacts, meet long-standing partners, and take away plenty of inspiration that will guide us in 2026.

Meetings like this constantly remind us that behind every product that eventually ends up in our shop there is a network of people – and that, even in a digital industry, nothing can replace personal contact.

You can find further in-depth insights into our company here: