When the Cat Pack met the Red Socks

Not only was it dark when I set off from home; I also had to scrape ice from the windscreen.  I was not alone among the 23 Members and one Visitor who were in attendance this week.  It was little consolation that it would be sunny and bright when we left the meeting at 8.30.

The Performance League

The results are now finalised for last month and Kevin Radford ran out the winner with a total of 268 points; the chasing pack of 3 led by Terry Maylin all scored over 200 points.  A great effort.

Education Presentation

It was David Plumley himself, whose theme was “value added”.  Not the value as in VAT but as businesses the benefits of supplying added value to the services that we provide.  Principally through good service and going the “extra mile”.  Thanks David

The 60 Second Round

Jill Willis was awarding the Oscar this week so was up first talking about “drag and drop”. This was immediately followed by Holly standing in for Anna Marie.  Her buzz words were “shoot and reveal”.  After drag and drop and shoot and reveal I was hoping for a theme to run throughout the 60 second round but unfortunately it stopped there.

Kieran Peaty’s business turned one year on Sunday.  Talking about Sundays, Nick Cooke went to church but this was not on a Sunday and was to look at structural damage to a conversion….so its not just steel beams!

Matt Barry showed a brochure that he had produced for LG Networks.  He said the client was happy with it and Stuart Smallcombe could be observed nodding in agreement.  When he stood up he prostrated himself before members apologising for a breakdown in his new billing system which  he assured would be up a running correctly next month.

Richard Reed mentioned the Hotel Paris in Prague and a special offer for November.  Tina Walker took it one stage further and went into December or rather CHRISTMAS. She can arrange lunches and dinners for staff or clients in the upcoming Christmas period.

Although Stuart Smallcombe was totally open in his apology for his crashing billing system he could have used the services of Saj Sreedharan to apologise with flowers… maybe next time.

Scott Griffiths emphasised the importance of Google reviews. He suggested a “happy customer page” on the Website or a “happy customer email” to help generate such reviews.

John Freeman is getting exasperated with having to “polish turds.”  A particular job involving sash windows was the focus of his irritation and for the need to polish.

Brian Painter told of a lady with spider phobia who was so bad that every time she saw a spider she left the room and didn’t go back in until her husband had checked.  She also insisted on her husband looking under the bed, on the mantlepiece and all over the house on his return from work to make sure spiders were not everywhere.  The husband was at the end of his tether and Brian’s treatment amounted in some ways to marriage counselling.

David Plumley mentioned VAT in his Ed Slot.  Paul Booth definitely mentioned it in his 60 seconds.  Apparently when it was first introduced it was 10%.  It is now 20%.  For more information about whether a business should be charging VAT or not, see Paul Booth.

The Oscar this week was given to Mason Edwards who explained how he was looking to sell other services, to wit waste removal as an add on.  What’s not to like!

Matters Sartorial

It is nice to have an opportunity to talk dress.  As they stood together in the pre meeting networking and as they stood up to deliver their 60 seconds, Kieran Peaty, Jill Willis and Simon Essex could be clearly identified as the “cat pack”.  In the case of Kieran and Simon it was their jumpers; in the case of Jill it was an extended top, all of which had leopard/tiger/cheetah motifs.

I also thought that Saj Sreedharan’s red socks were a response to the cold weather.  Apparently however they were donned because he was wearing red cuff links…… Talk about the tail wagging the dog.

This weeks statistics and points of note

• 23 Members present

• 1 Visitor

• 25 referrals

• £8,000 worth of business recorded.

• Mason Edwards won the Oscar.

10-minute presentation by Saj Sreedharan

Today was Saj Sreedharan’s turn.  He filled it with a quiz about Humble Violets and it proved an interestingly diversionary way of presenting a business.

He must be commended on having the good grace to produce a bottle of wine for the winner of the quiz and another bottle as his speakers prize.

Well done Saj.