Digital Summit: Sticky Walnut owner on crowdfunding success

Sticky Walnut owner Gary Usher is to explain how he raised over £100,000 through crowdfunding at next month's Digital Summit.

The restaurateur, winner of the Catey Menu of the Year award in 2013, harnessed his social media skills to promote the investment opportunity in an intensive funding drive. He will explain to the Digital Summit audience how he engaged his Twitter followers to back his second site, Burnt Truffle.

"We've got a site and it's all going through but there are the last few legalities to iron out," Usher said. "We did it all on Twitter. The support that we get on Twitter is the reason it worked."

Through donations of £10-£5,000 made within a 28-day period, Usher raised over £100,000 towards the new site.

At the Digital Summit he will reveal how he kept the momentum past the promising first days to ensure that the campaign was a success and he was able to realise his vision of expanding his business beyond Sticky Walnut.

Usher will also talk delegates through his distinct Twitter style and explain how he has built such a proactive online following.

Taking place at Kings Place in London on 12 May, the Digital Summit will also address the practicalities of delivering mobile payment, the new practices that are set to shake up revenue management, and explore how to develop a modern digital strategy.

Meanwhile, Waitrose retail director Rob Collins will explore what hospitality can learn from supermarkets in terms of data mining and marketing, and will address how to engage with guests to deliver exactly what they want.

The Caterer deputy editor James Stagg said: "Through a series of lively, engaging and educational sessions, this year's Digital Summit will showcase all the technology and innovative thinking that's shaking up hospitality.

"We're bringing together an unrivalled collection of experts, both from within hospitality and from other sectors setting the pace, to provide a digital blueprint for a modern hospitality business."

Digital Summit highlights include:

• What hospitality can learn from the supermarket giants when it comes to data mining and marketing

• Mobile booking and payment: How to develop a coherent technology strategy for service

• New routes to market: Joining up revenue management with digital marketing departments

• The essential social media platforms that will deliver return on investment

• How to sell your products online and reach previously untapped markets

For the full agenda and to secure your place visit http://www.catererdigitalsummit.com/