Anarchy and mayhem – it can only be a Stowmarket Breakfast!

Plainly the shift back to the golf club for the summer has unleashed something. We had a near-record 35 breakfasters, a straw poll, a liberal sprinkling of thank-yous, banter back and forth across the room, much hilarity and one person, who is far from vertically challenged, delivering his one minute standing on a chair!

Somehow, Chairwoman Shelli managed to keep order and though it’s possible the golf club has never quite seen anything like it we haven’t been banned – yet!

As ever a wide range of businesses was represented, from funerals to graphic design, HR guidance to stress management, pain relief to cleaning services.

Andrew Bingham, who organised the funeral of Bob Boxhall-Hunt’s wife, Janet, following her sudden, sad death, paid a fitting tribute in getting us all to recite Bob’s catch phrase “BBH aka ERA”.

Keely Taylor, of KTSS, unveiled plans for a possible new string to her business – organising sales of people’s goods, personal clutter and so on from start to finish on e-bay for a small percentage of the eventual sale price.  A show of hands suggested that a majority would use the service if she goes ahead!

Tim Meadows-Smith, at 6ft 7in hardly in need of additional height, nevertheless decided he needed more. Standing on his chair he delivered a heartfelt plea in his capacity as StartUp Suffolk champion to make three pleas, firstly to go onto the StartUp website and “like” it, secondly to sign up for the forthcoming conference he is organising at the Apex Centre, Bury St Edmunds on May 14, and finally to let him know so that their business details can be included in a press release to the media soon.

Paul Johnstone tried to inject some order by demonstrating the power of the pause when speaking – it worked on the next speaker at least!

Allan Scott, of Newsletter Genie, delivered heartfelt thanks to all those in the room, both those in his team and clients, who had helped keep his business running smoothly while dealing with his recent sad loss and Jonathan Steed also offered thanks to all those who had made him feel welcome when he joined two years ago and was feeling very nervous and also to all those, around 50% of the people in the room, who had done business with Gipping Press.

It all emphasised the point that a number of solid collaborations and power groups have developed among the Chamber membership that can be relied on both in business and in times of personal difficulty.

Peter’s Bees

Peter and Queen Bee had plenty to say:

1 Peter represented the Chamber at Janet Boxhall-Hunt’s funeral and reported that the family had asked for donations to a school for disabled children in Kampala. Kate Kelly is organising a cheque once all donations are in.

2 People are reminded to register their businesses on the new Chamber website.  We now have 32 entries, not all of them from within the Stowmarket and District area. Registration is free to all, and there is also a free enhanced listing available to Stowmarket & District Chamber members.

3 Tim Meadows-Smith will be publicising the StartUp Suffolk initiative at the ISSBA annual business exhibition at Trinity Park.  Peter will be on the stand representing Stowmarket Chamber, which is supporting the new Stowmarket StartUp Support Group being run by Lisa Dickson, and a number of other members will be at the stand in their capacity as partners or volunteers

4 Alison Withers, the group’s website manager and publicity officer, was congratulated on the birth of her first grandchild despite, according to Peter, being “far too young to be a grandmother”.  Flattery!!!

Any comments or suggestions for the future please email Peter on:

peter.avoca@talktalk.net

Anyone who has a story to publicise should contact publicity officer Alison Withers:

info@stowmarketchamber.co.uk

And finally….

Lisa Dickson, of Caseron, used the ten-minute slot to give us ten tips on managing cash flow, from keeping on top of invoicing to when and how to use a credit card and all of it extremely helpful.

Dates for your diary: 

 next chamber breakfast at the Golf Club

 May 18

 Remember the earlier start – 6.45 am!

For more information contact Keely Taylor

phone: 01449 770965

e-mail: secretary@stowmarketchamber.co.uk

or book here

http://bit.ly/nm3QvJ 

 website:

www.stowmarketchamber.co.uk

Register your business using the simple form - It's FREE to all, you don't have to be a member