A reasonable turnout given there was something of a hangover from last week and half term with several members still being on holiday. We still managed to muster 21 and the meeting was very lively and focused.
Education Presentation
Paul Booth set the tone for the meeting and indeed to some extent the 60 second round with an offering of business psychology, in particular pricing psychology.
If your product is going to create savings then indicate what it would be over 20 years not just 1 year.
Ensure that you deliver the invoice at the best possible time, which is normally when you are finishing a job of have just finished it. Don’t let the client/ customer forget all the benefits they have received.
The 60 Second Round
Inspired by Paul Booth, there were several references made to pricing:
Kevin Brooks emphasised the importance to him of giving a properly costed quotation. This can be a double edged sword but it is good practice and it ensures that clients pay their bills promptly and enter into the contract with their eyes open.
Alan Moller took up the theme with the quotations that he gives for electrical work that include website links in relation to products that he is hoping to use on the job.
Scott Griffiths also took up the theme of pricing and made reference to a rather shadowy character known as the “Bedroom Bandit”. I was relieved to find that it was a reference to an inadequatly trained and improperly set up IT businesses that produce bad websites. Watch out for website designers in their jimjams.
The School of Whimsy were on good form this week despite the absence of one of their prinicpals, Brian Painter.
Alan Shaw did not mention this week that he designed buildings. This in itself is something of a descent into Whimsy. He went on to talk about designing a house in its own grounds near a culvert and the impossibility of trying to find someone from the Water Board.
Nick Cooke did declare that he designes steel beams but he produced a new word (to him) “Aggressivity”. This is not what Terry Maylin desribes as “agro work” in relation to his debt collection but it representes a word that describes the extent to which contaminated land has an effect on concrete.
What other themes were there to our 60 second round?
Well, Donna Evans was flaunting her big pelmets. She apparently is going to hire a van specifically to transport them.
Sarina Armond talked about 3 different types of taps. From Rolls Royce down to crap tap. They can be in chrome, burnished steel; they can be gold finished and the can have ceramic washers. She made reference to “hot” taps which certainly made it sound exciting and if any of us were excited by it then it is not bad if she is getting that sort of reaction by referring to a tap.
Question:- What do you do with solicitors who won’t espouse modern IT trends
Answer :- Put them in the Cloud
That at least is David Plumley’s solution.
Jo Eastwood flaunted various strangely named beers from a brewery in Newcastle. My favourite, “ Puffing Billy”……reminicent of our industrial revolution heritage!!
The Bard of Hadleigh was up to to his ususal presentation tricks. He linked RMK Services with oblique references to the main parties in the General Election.
Kim Redwood-Lee did likewise.
I am bound to report that suggesting legal products for the various party leaders won me the Oscar which I was very pleased to receive it. It has been a long time coming…
This weeks statistics and points of note
It is some time since I have commented on the attire of our members but this week was notable.
Scott Griffiths and Paul Booth were both sporting pink and white striped shirts. Nick Cooke and David Plumley sported “safari chic” wearing jacket and trousers that would have graced any settlement at the far reaches of the British Empire.
The award for brightness however had to go to Kim Redwood-Lee who was wearing a canary yellow pully. She lit the room up.
21 Members present this week.
24 referrals passed.
£21,500.00 worth of new business recorded.
£
0
+
Business Passed Between All Members This Week
0
Referral Opportunies Passed Between Members This Week
10 minute presentation by Cathy Neat
The first of our recently joined members was filtered through this week. Cathy Neat gave us a visual presentation of business at the Willow Centre in Chelmsford. It was a good illustration that gave us an insight into her business at an early stage of her membership with us.
It was clear from the questions and comments made afterwards that she is likely to provide interesting and useful services that will be useful to many of the members.
Meeting Summary
Whilst looking forward to next week raising our numbers now the holidays are over, this was another good meeting and our increased membership does mean that our low numbers at times of holiday are still a lot higher than before and the meeting had a good atmosphere and was very effective.
Indeed, it was a good meeting, itemised quotations and qualifications within a quotation is always good practice, also stating if it is a fixed price or budget quote is also imperative, as alterations variations and or additions can be difficult to charge for if not qualified within a quote,
Donna’s big pelmets, hmmm, I think she said she is in need of, or is going to use a lorry!
Kathy’s presentation was very insightful, well done Kathy!
As for the party pundits, I won £25 quid on the hung result 😊
So good meeting as ever
Sorry Cathy, i miss spelt your name, my sincere apologies!
Great presentation from Cathy- its so nice to see such passion for what she wants to achieve and i look forward to seeing and using the facilities, excellent meeting despite the low numbers, it will be good to see all those missing back next week!
And now we all know why elections are held on a Thursday…every days a school day!
A neat presentation by Cathy. Good meeting as always.
No mention of the “Bard of Hadleigh”??? who, in my humble opinion, should have won the Oscar. I repeat my own question of last week…what’s a guy gotta do to get a mention these days?
May I respectfully refer you to the specific reference to The Bard of Hadleigh within the text of the Blog. After Jo Eastwood and before Kim Redwood-Lee.
Get a grip…..
The winner of the Oscar (who I thought deserved it….maybe)
Sorry to have missed the meeting! Looking forward to seeing everyone this week. On Scott’s reference to bedroom bandits…I have certainly worked with a few on them in my time. The web design project always goes one way…badly. With me having to do double the work to make sure the client is happy. Perfect time to use Nick’s new word… “Aggressivity”. I deploy this with the bedrom bandit on many occasions. Work with Scott instead. Simples.
Thanks Jill!