Brentwood Business Networking Meeting Review 24/7

Chairman’s Business Networking Blog, Thursday 24th July 2014.

24/7, as it was christened, produced a good turnout 22 members and 3 guests. Darryl Oung, who advises the construction industry on Sub Contracts and Sub Contractors, Kudzai Sibanda from Recruitment Health Care and for the second time Alex Pink who produces online video/film. With 1 or 2 on holiday and Graham Wright emailing us that he was approaching recovery we continued with good attendance as last week.

Guest presenter of the Ed Slot was Brian Painter, who compared the various ways of getting new business and in particular emphasised the value of person recommendation, particularly through networking.

Scott Griffiths produced a Bingo Game with frequently used words by members during the meeting which gave us something else to do other than digest our breakfast and listen to the 60 second round. Allan Moller was the first to shout “Bingo”, lots of members looked bemused.

As to the 60 second round itself:

Marcelle Saad started with a warning of the cost of coloured diamond and suggested that if colour was wanted coloured stones should be; but for those who were listening, nitrogen produces yellow hydrogen pink. Can anybody remember any of the other colours created by gases in diamonds?

Michael Adelizzi had to borrow Kim’s glasses and pen to deliver his 60 seconds, as he described a current job that he was doing. The fact that Kim followed him involved some slick interchange of glasses and pen that would have put to shame the English relay team who will no doubt demonstrate less dexterity when they perform at the Commonwealth Games.

Continued good weather continued to encourage the short wearers amongst us. Scott and Howard were into combat shorts but pride of the day once again went to Kevin Brooks for his yellow and blue ensemble and the story about how he was once paid in cake. Someone had the audacity to suggest that his flip flops did not match the yellow and blue. Fortunately this was an accurate statement. Matching flip flops would have been one fashion statement too far.

As a reward for keeping me awake at the Business to Consumer Synergy Team meeting I feel I should give Richard Reed a plug. One of the best type of referrals in relation to travel and accommodation arrangements is for weddings, and whilst we are on the subject of weddings, may I on behalf of all the members extend best wishes to Kim and Les in relation to the forthcoming nuptials on Saturday.

Janice Bentley-Pearson is now a fully fledged member and was duly inducted. She gave her first 60 seconds as a member, something about supporting businesses. May she produce many more?

Allan Moller told this strange tale of the electric shower that did not work and a customer who said that she rarely used it. If I understand the situation correctly, he suggested that she had a bath instead. His 60 seconds was probably less about electricity than Kevin Radford’s as he described how the RMK Empire was struck by lightning. The day was saved by David Plumley and the incident was inspirational in providing the Bard of Hadleigh with a rhyming couplet to end his presentation.

Brian Painter told of a lady with the fear of flying but more importantly explained how bumble bees theoretically cannot fly given their size and the frequency in which they flap their wings but they believe they can and so do we.

So who won the Oscar, Tina was awarding it and selected the Bard of Hadleigh’s shocking offering, a just reward for a turbulent week.

We were rewarded with a good 10 minute presentation from Neal Lewer. Many of his finished products were displayed by him on the television screen thus demonstrating his skills with IT as well as his carpentry and joinery craftsmanship. His craftsmanship was evident thus also demonstrating why we can all refer him with the utmost confidence. He stayed on his feet long enough to “run” during the referrals and testimonials round. A healthy number of referrals, particularly from the Bard of Hadleigh who I think we can safely name man of the meeting. For those of you who like statistics, just under £9,000 of business recorded and 13 referrals.

May I offer congratulations to all members for their superb attendance over the last 2 weeks? With holidays approaching let’s try and make sure, if we are not on holiday, we do turn up and keep the numbers up. This certainly leads to a lively meeting and good advertisement to our visitors. On the topic of visitors, it is worthwhile noting that Vivienne’s arrival in our midst has certainly increased the numbers of visitors attending. Let’s all try and emulate her enthusiasm.

Until next week…