Nose awareness and a rep called Olivia

It was an “ice on the windscreen” morning, a sport relief donation day which involved everyone turning up with Christmas Pullies etc and a day of good turnout with 22 Members and 2 Visitors.

The Performance League

Terry Maylin is starting the month off as he means to go on and is currently in the lead. Closely followed by Ben, Ben Golding and Aidan Squire whose birthday it was today.

Education Presentation

Saj Sreedharan is settling in to his job as Education and Development Officer.  He delivered the Ed Slot himself with a reminder, that is always timely, as to what the 60 Second Presentation should contain.  We would do well to continue reminding ourselves of this.

The 60 Second Round

We had lots of boxes whizzing round the table this week, one for Save the Children Fund, one for Donations for us to show our appreciation for the staff who serve us so well at our meeting and of course the usual box for referrals etc.  In the meantime, whilst these were going round the table we got the 60 second round under way.

Terry Maylin stood in for the absent Ben Golding in dealing with the award of the Oscar and also regaled us with “car crash” law.

Kieron Peaty warned of arranging for a builder to carry out work on your property without a proper contract and the wherewithal to deal with things like builders going bust.  If you have to have drawings and a planning application made through an architect, employ that architect to do the whole job. Doing things can be costly if you do it on the cheap.

Toby Acton was reminding us at this time of year, we should be assessing what we were looking to achieve this year; what we did right, and also what we did wrong.  The reasons why either of the above eventualities occurred should be analysed to formulate a new plan for next year……got that?

Nick Cooke was much afflicted by “nose awareness”.  Ellen Beckenham and Tina Walker were particularly taken with his Santa’s big Red Nose on his jumper, resting well below his navel…. Nick’s that is.

Simon Essex attended a seminar this week which was a bit “rah rah”.  His was a positively animated delivery which was set off nicely by his black and white hooped socks.  In a room full if Christmas pullovers and T shirts his socks were the most outstanding, although Howard Bullock ran him a close second with a pair showing a variety of colours in what seemed rather a large gap between the bottom of his trousers and the beginning of his shoes.  Still, he did have the decency to remind us all to vote.

Matt Barry stood up, vibrant in a highly decorated white shirt which won the best Christmas Garment.  He stood up….. he sat down, nothing in the middle.

As for Rant of the Week, the contenders were Mason Edwards and John Hammond.  Although John Hammond must be regarded as our ranter in chief,  Mason’s put down of a customer who considered herself better than his cleaner employee was a clear winner.

Scott Griffiths  was specific as to his requirements.  Clients with names beginning with J, U, Q, or Z; Jolly Green Giant, Quasimodo  or Zebedee will do.

Ford Astbury’s reason for absence over the last couple of weeks have been at critical times in relation to 4 sites that he is running at the moment. It led him to the subject of acoustic flooring and a company’s rep called Olivia.

Stuart Smallcome boasted a Voice Over IP telephone system at £15.00 per station; the client discovered one apparently priced at £3.00 but when fully costed came to over £20.00. L G Networks can’t be beaten!

Brian Painter was on his favourite subject of kicking the habit of smoking and like Stuart Smallcome, he was costing out his clients smoking habits.  Their combined contribution to the pursuit of lung cancer and other nasties was collectively was to spend £18,000 per annum on the dreaded weed.  Brian, I think, feels that he gets smokers better discounts than Utility Warehouse if they manage to give up smoking.

If Stuart Smallcome was quoting £15.00 for his telephone system installation, Alan Moller was quoting a similar figure for what he told us was a downlighter which he produced as a prop.  He proceeded to take it apart which I think was to show something that downlighters contain.  It was a bit too much for me to take in at the time.  His nifty use of a prop and demonstration. a viable price and just the person who could install if for you, earned him a well-deserved Oscar.

This weeks statistics and points of note

• 22 members present

• 2 visitors

• 23 referrals

• £9,300.00 business recorded

• £135.00 raised for Save the Children Fund

• £105.00 raised as thank you to the staff at Calcott Hall Barnyard cafe

• Alan Moller won the Oscar

10-minute presentation by Mason Edwards

Mason Edwards produced a slightly different approach this week. An email in advance setting out the areas of work that his business operates and an invitation to a Q & A session.  After a brief introduction he dealt with a variety of questions most of which were sensible. It proved a very effective use by him of his 10 minutes in getting over to us what he does and the cost of some of such items.  We done Mason.

Interesting notes for your diary

• Friday 13th December, EBF Dinner at Lo Monaco Restaurant in Billericay High Street – kick off at 6.30
• Monday 16th December, Business to Consumer Synergy Team Meeting at the George & Dragan
• Thursday 19th December, final breakfast meeting of the year with Secret Santa.