There are others that do what you do… there always will be!

This is a club that encourages business owners to team up, to work together.
Connection and collaboration over competition… hug the cactus.

 

What makes it different?

The combination of networking, collaborating, making business buddies AND brand photography, is what makes it different and it is the first club of it’s kind in the area!

 

What’s the format?

Each month we meet up in different venues in and around Edinburgh and Fife, chosen to suit the theme and/or season! There are two different dates to choose from each month, you can choose one of these.  We start with connections – informal networking over tea, coffee and tasty nibbles.  Then there will either be a short talk from our guest expert – Past speakers have been; an email marketing expert, time management coach, a social media expert, and a web designer! OR we will discuss a business related topic. Always something that will be super helpful in your business.

I will be taking photos throughout – so guest speakers will get some shots of them talking (great to have if you do it regularly) and there will be shots of you chatting with the other members.  Each meet up we spend 40mins to an hour on brand photos – headshots, chatting with ‘clients’, a new product… anything!  As a member you will get a 10min micro shoot… meanwhile everyone else continues to chat, think up content ideas for the month ahead and connect with each other.

 

How Much?

There are two options –

The Micro Shoot Subscription – £55* per month with three digital downloads each month.

 

What’s included?

monthly meet up with tea, coffee and nibbles
guest expert speakers
content creation tips and ideas
networking
10min micro brand photoshoot
3 high res downloads.

 

* minimum 3month sign up – image credits roll over if you can’t make it one month.

 

JOIN THE CLUB

 

The One Off – £20 per meet up with no minimum sign up and no photos included.

 

BOOK NETWORKING ONLY

 

What’s On

 

JULY

Date:  Wednesday 8th, 10am til 12.30pm

content creation workshop

Location: Woodlea Bistro, Crossgates – Fife

 

Date:  Thursday 16th, 10am til 12.30pm

content creation workshop

Location: TBC, Edinburgh

 

Date:  Monday 27th, 10am til 12.30pm

Speaker:  Caroline Bremner – business strategy

Location: Brewhemia, Market St

 

AUGUST

Date:  Wednesday 12th, 10am til 12.30pm

Speaker:  Elaine from Mission Profitable – Pricing Made Simple

Location: The Granary, Dunfermline.

 

Date:  Thursday 20th, 10am til 12.30pm

content creation workshop

Location: Traade, Portobello

 

Date:  Monday 31st, 10am til 12.30pm

Speaker:  Stephanie Moyes – introduction to commercial finance

Location: Azets Offices, Fountainbridge

 

SEPTEMBER

Date:  Wednesday 9th, 10am til 12.30pm

Location: Firestation Creative, Dunfermline.

 

Date:  Thursday 17th, 10am til 12.30pm

content creation workshop

Location: Coffee Saints, Edinburgh

 

Date:  Monday 28th, 10am til 12.30pm

Speaker:  TBC

Location: Arienas Collective, Dublin Meuse, Edinburgh

 

 

JOIN THE CLUB

 

BOOK NETWORKING ONLY

 

Previous Meet ups

 

Hug The Cactus is a networking membership founded by Edinburgh based brand photographer, Susan Heaton.

Monthly friendly relaxed networking across Edinburgh, the Lothians and Fife.

“Hug The Cactus is a real breath of fresh air. Not only do you get to get your picture taken in a new and great setting every time, but you do it with a fantastic group of women that you get to connect with. I always enjoy the monthly talks as well, which add a lot of value and always leaves me with more idea and inspiration. Last but not least, thanks to Susan’s creative eye and great personality, I got some brand pictures I am very proud of. For someone very camera shy, the result seems effortless, natural and still very me. So a big thank you Susan, for building up my confidence in front of the camera!”

 

“Susan was really great at making everyone feel welcome and the photos that came out later were the icing on the cake. Awesome!”

 

“I absolutely love Hug the Cactus meet ups, having it in different venues each time really mixes up the vibe and experience each time, plus makes photos varied, interesting and fun. Susan is awesome and puts you at ease for the photos too”

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