Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: RO-Sheen on November 09, 2007, 08:52:02 am
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There is one advertised in a local magazine where local business's meet up every Thurs morning between 7:30-9:00am for breakfast. It is basically a networking meeting where you introduce yourself to other members and help each other to get more business. There are also guest speakers that discuss marketing, lemployment aws or other business issues.
My brother runs a E-procurement company in Ireland and goes to these on a weekly basis and he swears by them.
The members in my local area are all Solicitors, Estate Agents, Accountants etc.
Has anyone here ever tried them?
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There is one advertised in a local magazine where local business's meet up every Thurs morning between 7:30-9:00am for breakfast. It is basically a networking meeting where you introduce yourself to other members and help each other to get more business. There are also guest speakers that discuss marketing, lemployment aws or other business issues.
My brother runs a E-procurement company in Ireland and goes to these on a weekly basis and he swears by them.
The members in my local area are all Solicitors, Estate Agents, Accountants etc.
Has anyone here ever tried them?
good for networking if you can get in on one do it ;)
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Cheers WW,
Forgot to mention, It costs £12 to attend each meeting so even if I only get one regular customer I'm quids in!
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Cheers WW,
Forgot to mention, It costs £12 to attend each meeting so even if I only get one regular customer I'm quids in!
thing with these meetings is they all refer each other, as long as there is only you as the window cleaner you will have many business owners talking about your business for you and that has to be a good thing, and you get coffee ;D
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RO-Sheen,
I've attended a few of these and they are definately good for networking.
The old saying "it's not what you know but who you know", certainly rings true.
I've picked up several quotes, one commercial and three residential jobs from these, as well as meeting the guy who now does my books for me.
Though there's normally a lot of salespeople there trying to sell you products you don't really need - a few of the MD types who attend don't bother speaking or acknowleging when they know you are a W/C...... :-\ I recommend you attend one as a taster, if there's no business to be done, leave it a few months before going back.
Breakfast is normally pretty good too - But with the dark nights coming in I prefer to make an early start on the windows - no time for breakfast meetings..... ;D
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We are part of our local BNI chapter, i belive is that you are talking about and yes it thus work we joined in Feb and so far just in 1off's we have already recovered our fees plus we have got contract work worth £10,462.00 :)
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As a w/c you should be the easiest referal in the meeting and if this is BNI then you will do ok because you are supposed to give at l;east one referal each week. I have gone to some of them and find that they are good value for a period of time but run their course. I now try to go to a different one each week so I am in about 5 now but only works if they do not have joining fees. I don't do the w/c myself anymore I just try to keep it coming in so I have the time to devote to it, may not be as useful if you are going to breakfast meetings instead of cleaning windows.
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MMMMM Seems quite Masonic! Luke
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i have been invited to quite a few of these over the years , but never been !
it just doesnt appeal to me !
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Ive just joined the cannock branch of BNI, hopefully it is as good as it looks, i,ve already had interest on qoutes for prop. developer to do hand over clean.
gary
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MMMMM Seems quite Masonic! Luke
Although I didn't stick around, it did have the feel of being a cross between the Masons and Amway to me.
It was a bit embarrassing really. I was invited by someone and turned up OK. Although I was told that there was a joining fee (no need to pay that until my third meeting), no-one told me that there was a cost to get into each meeting as well. Of course I had very little money on me so I made some excuse and left as it was too embarrassing to own up to that. I really think that the guy who invited me should have warned me. Mind you, I felt very uncomfortable with it the moment I walked in there anyway.
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If its BNI it will cost £400 per year + vat to be a member, £12 seems alot for brekkie i was paying £30 a month.
It works if you can devote time to it because you have to go every week, and then you have to attend courses, then getting referals.
You will be the only window cleaner in the group and you will get work.
I just could'nt devote my time to it
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for those interested here's the site
http://www.bni-europe.com/
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This is the uk site http://www.bni-europe.com/uk/
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I go to one called the BOB club, they are cheaper than the BNI and less formal that the BNI (IMO) www.bobclubs.com. It only runs every other week so not as time consuming. Not been going long but received some good information and help so far.
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Same as BNI they only let one of each catorgory Join?
Your a member of my Local BOB group CWC
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Yes, I am a member of the Coventry club joined about 2 months ago.
Yes only one per group but if the member is happy there are no over lapping issues they will allow another member from the business to join.
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No worries, there's one starting up by the NEC, that's actually closer, i'll have a look at that
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i was offered the chance obout 2 yr ago turned itdown as i cudent c the point in sittin on my arse when i cud av been out earning.
but the lad who got asked after me seems to get loads of work from it
as someone said its who you know not wot u know,
get ur foot in the door
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i'm going to my 1st breakfast meeting on weds,
will let you all know how i get on
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Well I had my first breakfast meeting this morning, it started with me being introduced to all the other members present followed by a cooked breakfast.
After breakfast each person in turn discusses what there business is about for 1 minute and explain to the others what kind of leads you are after, in my case I stated that I have so much domestic work (but would be prepared to take on more) I am really after more commercial work.
Each member then hands out referrals to the other members that they have gained for them in the past week and I was very impressed as to how many were handed out, I myself received 3 at my first meeting one of which was shop front cleaning for Staples on a monthly basis I called in to the store on my way home and got the contract there and then. The job is worth £35-00 for 10 mins work on the fronts, times this by 12 = £420 per year so by just that 1 referral I have covered the joining fee (£400) should I proceed to join up.
I also have the other 2 referrals which I need to follow up, on top of this, one of the members ask me if I would be prepared to travel as far away as Basingstoke (about 30 miles from me) I replied “only if the job was worth the drive” to which he replied
“I have to see a guy this week who runs an industrial unit and has 2 others besides and is looking for someone like you” so next week could be even better.
A couple of things I noted:
it was very informal
everyone was friendly and willing to help each other
1 guy turned up very scruffily dressed as he was a tree surgeon/gardener and he told me that since joining he has had 75 referrals all of which has landed him good jobs
another guy told me that he was a member of another chapter before moving and they had a window cleaner in their group, after a while he gained so much work from it that he stopped going to the meetings because he could not take anymore work on.
we all know that as window cleaners one part of the market place which is the hardest to get into is industrial, so as the saying goes
“it not what you know…….. it’s who you know”
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hi are these all over the country?
how do i find out where my local one is?
???
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try www.bobclubs.com they have a list of all their meetings all over the country
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cheers central ;)
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hi are these all over the country?
how do i find out where my local one is?
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hi jampot
go to this lnk http://www.bni-europe.co.uk/uk/
and type in the search for your local area
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thanx Grafters
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Congratulations Grafters on picking up work from first intro meeting.
I went today also, gained one office £17.50 pm + quick ext on prop dev,s house £20.00. If this happened every week, we,d be well in it, asked about taking on 2 domestics, we are currently commercial only but am considering.
I can fully recommend, especially people in our business, its very quick & easy to gain your initial investment back.
Gary
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Congratulations Grafters on picking up work from first intro meeting.
I went today also, gained one office £17.50 pm + quick ext on prop dev,s house £20.00. If this happened every week, we,d be well in it, asked about taking on 2 domestics, we are currently commercial only but am considering.
I can fully recommend, especially people in our business, its very quick & easy to gain your initial investment back.
Gary
hi gary, well done to you aswell, was this your 1st meet too?
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what chapters did you joined?
:)
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Jay
Can you let me know which one you joined so I can join a different one?
Thanks
Tony
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Jay
Can you let me know which one you joined so I can join a different one?
Thanks
Tony
tony, i joined the southampton one meeting in town, there is one in romsey i believe that has'nt got a w/c or maybe wincherster, if you have trouble let me know and i will find out for you.
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what chapters did you joined?
:)
southampton
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Welcome "givers gain" :)
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You have to be carefull though as all will not be as fruitfull as Grafters one, you will have good ones and bad ones. I went on one and it was a waste on time, you know it as soon as you step in. They wanted £1000 to join, glad I did not a year on at it has folded. That was BNI but there is a new one which is free in Scotland and North England, Bacon and Eggs.
You have to sell yourself at these meetings but beware many life coaches will be trying to sell to you how to improve your business ;D
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I have viewed the websiter but cant find meeting info! Maybe just my limited pc skills.
If you could find me relevant info that would be great.
Thanks Jay
Tony
07917 623633
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I have viewed the websiter but cant find meeting info! Maybe just my limited pc skills.
If you could find me relevant info that would be great.
Thanks Jay
Tony
07917 623633
tony, go to this page
http://www.bni-europe.com/regional-contact-us.php?region=10
fill out the details and they will contact you
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Thanks Grafters, i have just joined, that was my third week. I think this is a good mixed bag & theres no anomosity to different or lower trades as some people like to be.
Theres the usual mixed bag of mortgage/bank/solicitors/Management training etc, but, also other working trades, electrician, property developer, laundry & many others.
3 of the members deal with schools & are going to give out our cards
Gary
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Dont forget the money and time invested in attending these meetings , in my case 1 hour a week is a lot of money, would i ever reap that back, you never know.
I read in Duncan Bananntyne's book , he joined the masons with high expectations of getting referels, instead he ended up getting ripped off by a painter and decorator.
dave
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Dave, i,ve got to go to get a van like yours.
Gary
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lol
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I think I will look into this. Thank You
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went to my second meeting today and got 2 more jobs, it's looking good at the moment
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Jay
I filled in the online form last week and have heard absolutely nothing!
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Jay
I filled in the online form last week and have heard absolutely nothing!
Jay, email me your details together with the chapter you are interested in joinning and i will forward them to the area director if you want. :)
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Hugo
email wizzing its way to you.
Thanks
Tony
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Hi Tony, just been on the phone with the area director and passed your details to him, i belive that he is going to give you a call now ;)
PS To Jay 4 refferals on your second meeting nice1 Jay :)
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Hi Tony, any news yet? :)
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Hi Hugo
Yes I had a call last night but didnt pick it up until late. That was from the guy you must have called.
I am going to call him in a short while.
Thank you very much for your assistance. vERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
Tony
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NP you welcome, i'm sure you would have done the same if was the other way around ;).
Out of curiosity would you like to exchange website links since we are in any way of direct competicion. :)
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Yes I have no problems with doing that. Just dont know how to do it. Mine is www.clearvision-services.co.uk
Ignore the state of the site as it is about to be completely revamped. Once the guy contacts me.
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good luck tony, let me know how you get on (romsey?)
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Hi Tony, have you had your first meeting yet?
:)
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I also have the other 2 referrals which I need to follow up, on top of this, one of the members ask me if I would be prepared to travel as far away as Basingstoke (about 30 miles from me) I replied “only if the job was worth the drive”
Is this for Staples, or another chain entirely?
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Thanks for all the comments guys. I went to my first breakfast meeting and found it very good. Basically, we all met for coffee and mingled. sat down for a fried breakfast and afterwards everyone introduced themselves.
When it was my turn to talk 5 of the 20 attendee asked me for a leaflet as they needed a wc for their homes and 1 guy owns a contract cleaning company and wants a reliable window cleaning and asked me to quote tomorrow on a site.
So although I have nothing in writing (yet!) from any of the leads it was still worth the £12 breakfast!
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I also have the other 2 referrals which I need to follow up, on top of this, one of the members ask me if I would be prepared to travel as far away as Basingstoke (about 30 miles from me) I replied “only if the job was worth the drive”
Is this for Staples, or another chain entirely?
not for staples, another contract
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Does anybody else use any other clubs that havent been mentioned here?