Each week the members of BNI give a 60 second presentation to the Group. The purpose is to continue to educate the group and to make specific business referral requests.  Today, 23rd June, the following requests were made.  If you are interested in any of the requests or can help in any way please contact the person direct using the contacts from their individual page.

Julie James, Hypnotherapist is seeking HAYFEVER SUFFERS, contact her on 01273 202768

Mel Davis, Back2Balance Chiropractic Clinic is seeking DESK BOUND OFFICE STAFF, MANUAL WORKERS AND PEOPLE WITH SPORTS INJURIES, contact her on 01273 206868

David Costa of Flowers Unlimited, is looking for a contact into the METROPOL HOTEL, BRIGHTON, if you can help call him on 01273 736949

Rhydd Pugh of i-zimbra, is looking for business considering EMAIL MARKETING, he is contactable on 0870 7706989

Oliver Asha of Acumen Business Law is offering a FREE LEGAL MOT for your business, call him on 01273 447067 

Paul James of Cardens Accountants is able to offer a TAX CONSULTATION FOR BUSINESS AND INDIVIDUALS following yesterday’s budget, call him on 01273 739592

Lee Stafford of LWL Heating is looking to help BUSINESSES WITH A HEATING UPGRADE before winter, call him on 01273 325854.

Chris Mansfield is wanting to help you by undertaking a REVIEW OF YOUR PENSIONS AND SAVINGS, call him on 01273 885289

Alan Fawn of Best of Brighton and Hove is looking for RECOMMENDED PET GROOMERS, call him if you know someone on 01273.461222

Kim Hayes, Ocean Pess is looking to provide PRINTING SERVICES FOR COMPANIES OF ALL SIZES BUT would be interested to here from you if you employ 20 or more people, call him for a chat on 01903 755571

Just what early mornings are made for. 

Wednesday is BNI Day at The Courtland Hotel, The Drive, Hove.  Attended by twenty eight locally based businesses, it is pleasing to report that this week’s meeting was lively but still remained focused on aiding each other businesses by the passing of referrals and looking to develop future business for themselves by planning a major networking business breakfast event on 14th July.

As always, BNI is a weekly meeting that is based around Givers Gain - I give you business, so you will want to give me business.  Our thanks and congratulations go to the highest referral givers this week, who were

• Jon Lee, Arbworx Ltd
• Peter Fannon, PJ Palmers
• Keith Russell, KJ Russell Windows
• Martin Augier, Maxmatt Motors Ltd

Hove Albion is one of the largest and best performing network groups in Sussex and we can prove it.  Last month the Group passed 144 referrals which is well above our six monthly average of 118 qualified referrals per month, making a total of 12,496 referrals since the Group was lanuched.  If you need any more convincing that having breakfast is the way to do business, the referrals passed in the last six months have been converted into an amazing £230,910 of completed business.

Joining the Group this week as visitors were:

• Keiran Pearce of BlockBusters Drains
• Andy Whales of Talking Drum
• Des Harvey of Brighton Locksmiths
• Jason Hurwitz of Corporate Currency Exchange Network

Our ten minute speaker today was David King, Assistant Director of BNI, who is working closely with the Group to ensure that their major networking event which is due to take place on 14th July is a great success.  If you are interested in receiving an invite, please let us know.

Our 10 minute speaker next week will be LeeAnn Mallorie who is a Nia Technique trainer. 

All members of the group were represented at the breakfast table today.  Those who were unable to attend in person sent substitutes so that their business still remained represented.  Thanks to Jenny Flood of Whys and Wherefores who subbed for Ursula Shepherd, Findon Legal Service, David Foster of DFA who represented Alan Novis, Prestige Promotional Products and our final thanks go to Rob Blackman, of Blackman Terry who represented Mark Newman of Silverstar Cleaning.  Our thanks for attending also go to colleagues of Oliver Asha and Mark Emrys-Jones.

If you would like to know more about BNI Hove Albion and to see how getting up early can help your business, please contact us and we will be pleased to see you too at the breakfast table.

Maxmatt Ltd of 267 Old Shoreham Road is pleased to announce it is offering half price MOT’s at £27.00 or an MOT and Service for £97.00.  If you wish to take up one of Martin’s excellent offers, please call a member of Martin’s Service Team on 01273 748484.   To ensure you take part in these excellent offers, please mention that you have seen these offers on the BNI Hove Albion website at the time of booking. 

HR Smart Ltd, Human Resources Consultants are pleased to continue to support Sussex based businesses by offer two free introductory HR services.  The first is to undertake a review of your existing contract of employment to check that it remains legally compliant with legislation.  With the second free opportunity being an on site consultation meeting to discuss your HR needs and concerns on a free no obligation basis.  HR Smart also produces a regular HR newsletter, which you can receive by signing up via www.hrsmartuk.com.  If you are interested in learning more about any of these or our other services, please contact them HR Smart Ltd on either 0845 6100 651 or via email to Heidi@hrsmartuk.com.

Adur Computer Centre is pleased to offer 10% off all labour and most items that can be purchased at the shop.  To receive your discount, please mention the Hove BNI website.

Sutton Winson Insurance and Risk Managers offer a FREE audit of your insurance requirements.  At Sutton Winson, we specialise in ensuring your insurance programme reflects your business, your attitude towards risk and protects your business so you may continue to trade with the least possible disruption to your business and you profitability should the worse happen!  To benefit from this FREE audit, please contact Noel Presto on 01444 251 161 or noel.preston@swib.co.uk and check out our website at www.suttonwinson.co for more information about us and by all means call if you want to know more.

In the five years that I have been part BNI Hove Albion, I have heard numerous reasons from non BNI’ers about why BNI is not for them.  So let me dismiss, for those cynics amongst you, the 3 myths I have heard more times than I care to remember.

BNI forces you to bring referrals each week…

The whole point of BNI is built aroundGIVERS GAIN.The theory is simple, word and mouth referrals are the best types of business that we can get. BNI doesn’t force people to bring referrals but what it asks is that where you see an opportunity for business for a fellow group member that you try to turn this into a qualified business opportunity for them.  Each week there is a referral round so that the business passed can be tracked and recorded. 

Whilst some groups may have different approaches, at Hove Albion, we work on the basis of quality not quantity, one referral that converts into good business is what we are each seeking along with a commitment to keep on looking and trying.  To give you an example, in my first year at BNI back in 2004, I was passed a referral which resulted in an annual HR contract of £16,000 followed by a further two years of renewals.  In total, this one referral generated for me over £35,000 of income.

And I have to attend every week…

Put simply - yes.  Each week BNI operates the same format and requests that each member attends.  BNI have been operating for many years; it is tried and tested and the best results come from this frequency of meeting.  By meeting weekly, you get to meet and understand the Group members, how you can help them and how they can assist you.  Each member of the group is trying to get you business referrals, why would they do this, if they could not rely on you to give two hours of your time once a week. It should not be a case of not wanting to attend weekly but questioning whether you can afford not to attend weekly.

My business demands are that I can’t get there every week…

Almost all of the members that come to BNI are from owner run and managed businesses.  We each understand the pressures that our businesses can put upon us.  We also know that from time to time we might want to take a well earned holiday or may be unwell - as we are not super human after all.

BNI has a system which enables you to find a substitute to take your place at the breakfast table so you are still represented and can keep your competition locked out.  If you have real difficulties in finding a substitute, speak to other Group members, as a general rule, they will be able to point you in the direction of a sub who will do a fine job for you.

I would also challenge those of you that attend monthly networking to review the amount of business you receive as a direct result - BNI works - give it a try!

And my final pearl of wisdom, don’t forget, as part of your membership, you to can sub for other people in other groups, thereby getting you more opportunities to promote your business within the annual fee.  The only concern you need to have is how many breakfasts can you eat in one week…

If you have any other questions or concerns, why not ask and judge for yourself based on facts rather than be influenced by others.  Come along to a meeting and see.

Heidi Rush

HR Smart Ltd

01903 754107

BNI is unique as it tracks all of the business passed to the members each week.  Our performance over the last few months speaks for itself.  Why not join us and be part of our campaign against the recession.

This week, 1st July 2009, saw a total of 21 referrals being passed around the table to members of the Group .  The aptly named, Show Me the Money box, which records business secured from passed referrals recorded £19,925 alone, so it looks like another bumper month could be on the cards for July.

Our June 2009 statistics show that the Group is continuing to fight against the recession.  Business passed for the month was recorded as £31,256 and 130 qualified referrals were passed between the businesses at the breakfast table.

And just to prove this is no flash in the pan, over the last six months, as a Group, an average 128 qualified referrals have been passed per month, resulting in business being secured to a total value of £274,093.

Top Tip 1 - Finding Referrals

This can be very daunting so to make it easier invite those people you want to refer to pre-arranged meetings or events with your clients and contacts. - Barry Carden, Cardens Accountants, 10th June 2009

Top Tip 2 - Make an Impact

You only have a short time to make your impact, in your 60 Seconds tell them how clients will benefit once they have taken your service. - David King, BNI Director, 10th June 2009

Top Tip 3 - How to Make an Impact

Use a prop during your 60 second presentation to help get your message across. - Alan Fawn, The Best of Brighton and Hove, 9th July 2009

The Hove Albion Chapter of BNI is having a visitors day at The Courtlands Hotel on The Drive in Hove on Wednesday 14th July 2010, to allow local business owners the chance to see if they would like to join the city’s most vibrant business breakfast networking group.

Some 30 or so guests are expected, which combined with the current members will make for a packed meeting.

Whilst we are happy to meet all business owners, the Group would be particularly keen to meet the following trades and professions.

• Stock Broker
• Stationery
• Dentist
• Graphic Designer
• Marketeer
• Roofer
• Photographer
• Events Manager
• Stock Taker/Inventory expert
• Travel Agent
• Beauty Salon
• Security Company and Locksmith
• Commerical Estate Agent

 If you would like to visit or take part in this meeting, please contact us.