A Typical BNI Thursday!
Larry’s concept of breaking the members down by power team worked well and if it ain’t broke then don’t fix it, so I have used the same format…
Marketing
Much like with Larry’s group, we are the resident web design firm of the group but our power team is called marketing so a good place to start! This week I spoke about the importance of your web presence and what a bad first impression a poor experience can leave, with someone telling me they wouldn’t engage with another business because of the poor quality of their website. Fiona Hope of Checkmate Corporate Gifts spoke about the eco friendly nature of their products and how they reduce the use of plastic which as we all know is hugely important. Peter Richardson of Green Hippo Print talked about the large format banners they’re doing for their school clients for open days, and is keen to talk to more schools!
Rosie Harris from Girl Friday Graphics gave more detail on the breadth of her graphic design work – which includes fabulous, bespoke business cards right through to large display graphics. Siobhan Stirling of Sharp Minds Communications told us about how she has been shortlisted for 2 awards at the Kent Women in Business Awards – and how she had submitted entries for one of her clients who was also nominated for 2 awards (although one in the same category…) – a great achievement! Finally, one of our newer members Will Tschaikowsky of Snelsky Studios shared a story about the video work he has just done for a children’s charity and what a big difference this makes to the children and their families – great work Will!
Trades
We have a very strong trade team in our group who pass lots of work to one another. Karen Smith of Bright Spark Electrical told us of the horrors of DIY electrics – electrics are something I would say it’s always worth getting the professionals in for! Mark Wheeler of MSW Plumbing gave insight into the bathroom he has just finished in Cranbrook, and the happy customer😊. Stuart Gillick of Gillicks Cleaning Services is looking to speak to pubs who need clean carpets and windows whilst Andy Mann of A Mann Building Contractors wants to give advice to those who are looking for any type of building work including loft conversions and extensions. Steven Johnson of Johnson Land Services is keeping very busy at the moment but is looking to anyone who has had a fence blow down in the recent bad weather!
Health & Wellbeing
Our health and wellbeing power team have some great members. Becky Nevin who runs Beaute of Royal Tunbridge Wells has some wonderful vouchers to buy for Valentine’s for massages and facials. Theo Izzard of TFI Reiki is hosting an Aniwell event on 17th May at Bedgebury so is looking to speak to those within animal services. Caroline Peers-Noakes of Not Just Travel wants to give time back to people who spend days trawling the internet for holidays – she will do all that for you and you will get a great deal, it’s a win-win for anyone looking to book a holiday. Finally, Denise Searle of LifeFix introduced us to a new broad spectrum oil and has a certificate that’s a distinction in CBD oil – great work Denise!
Care
We’re the only chapter I have heard of with a care power team who all work very well together as this week’s meeting demonstrated. Debbie Harris from Chosen With Care spoke about respite care and the support they can offer clients in need of either planned or emergency respite care. As she put it, you’re not just checking into a hotel so planning can often be needed! Respite care is something Brenda Boxall and the team at Rusthall Lodge can offer whilst Simon Welham of Welham Jones Funeral Directors talked about a funeral they did for one of the clients of David Barrett from All About Homecare. It sounds like she was a bit of a character!
Finance
The finance power team has 6 excellent members. Amanda Redman of Amanda Redman Financial Planning was subbed this week by Tracey Campbell but we learnt this week she has been shortlisted for 2 Kent Women in Business Awards! Adrian Johnson from 55+ Equity Release is enjoying his new career in equity release, and doing rather well at it by the sounds of it. Ed Walter got us all on our feet for his presentation where he imprinted on us the importance of having a Lasting Power of Attorney in place.
Oliver Burt of Invicta Insurance Services went into detail about a scheme they have to insure unoccupied properties – he really can insure almost anything! Rob Freeman from Hitchell Mortgages was telling us about the 90% mortgage you can get on new builds and is keen to speak to property developers while Steve Bolton from Synergee Accountants spoke about the looming deadline for tax returns and impressed upon us what a great accounts package QuickBooks is.
Business
Our business power team have been a busy bunch… Graham Brown of AffinIT loves to scare us with horror stories about Ransomware viruses, with 5 new viruses coming out a week, apparently he’s going to tell us more next week, we can’t wait! Claire Burroughs of Ansacom has been keeping close tabs on one of her clients who she’s running Live Chat for while Julian Weekes from ActionCoach wants to meet business owners to help them grow profit.
Sandhya Iyer of the HR Department was impressing upon us the importance of Risk Assessments to protect your business and Maddy Bishop from Bishop’s Office Products wants to speak to businesses concerned about their environmental impact as that’s a key reason lots of clients choose to work with Bishop’s.
Events
The events power team currently consists of 3 members – but they are 3 excellent members. Sharon Wood of Colonnade Florist who has been a BNI member since before I was born (well not quite but she has been a member for a long time) has just got back from a trip to Hawaii. She is especially keen to speak to wedding venues, and I know what a great service she gives as she provided the beautiful flowers for my wedding!
James McComas who is the General Manager of Hotel Du Vin read out a recent 100% review on Trip Advisor and Emily Brown from Emily Brown Photography told us about a new wedding booking she has just had last and has also been shortlisted as a finalist for the Kent Women In Business Awards (a bit of a theme here!). Well done both of you, testament to the great service you provide!
Property
Last but by no means least we have the property services power team. Deborah Richards from Maddisons Residential is looking to speak to landlords who want advice about tenants who have dog – as she put it, she has a 3 year old and a dog and she knows which causes more mess and trouble… She works closely with Andrew Marsh from EMP Surveyors who is looking to speak to those who want party wall awards and land surveys.
Vanda Jooganah of Royal Home Services has been busy with deep cleans and Steve Lusted who owns Lusted Design has helped make his clients dreams come true this week with 2 applications going through – great work Steve😊.
Phew, as you can see an awful lot happens at these BNI meetings and hopefully this gives you more of an insight into the group – as you can see we have a great network of trusted partners we work with so if you’re looking for any of the services above then don’t hesitate to get in touch and I will happily refer you on!
