Free gifts, special offers and visitors from far and wide

We welcomed a healthy number of guests to this month’s breakfast, which kept the numbers up as some of the regulars were unable to be there. Some even ventured over the border (from Cambridge) to attend.

Those who did were entertained by the month’s 60-second challenge, to deliver as many song titles in their presentation as possible.  Bridget Keevil, of Travel Stop, won the prize hands down for her efforts.  It is astonishing how many songs have travel-related titles, so many they were impossible to count, but there must have been at least 20.  That’s no mean achievement in just 60 seconds.

Tim Meadows-Smith, of New Media Group, came bearing gifts, not only a very useful guide to understanding social media and the latest website “must-have” , the video, but also an offer to members of a free video of their own to be filmed after August’s breakfast.

There were plenty of tips for people to help them improve their sales conversions and marketing. Alison Withers, of multimediareputations.com, emphasised the importance of good spelling and grammar on websites and had the stats to prove that spelling mistakes can cost millions in lost sales.

They came from a report on the BBC Business website and anyone who would like to read the full article can click here

Business plumbers? Safer driving? A relaxing meal on a cruise from Orford? IT support? Printing? Website content management and writing? Merchandising materials printed on fabric? Stress Relief? Cleaners? Photography? Office support and credit control? Accountants? Legal advice? Surveying?  Natural pet foods? There is no end to the list of businesses represented at the breakfasts.

Two announcements providing food for thought were Menta’s forthcoming annual trade fair in September at Ickworth House, for which stands are being snapped up very quickly, and a scheme now on offer from West Suffolk College that would allow small businesses to offer apprenticeship work experience without incurring the expenses that would otherwise make it difficult for smaller companies to participate.

Ten top sales tips from business development expert Christine Guy-Clarke

Business development advisor Christine Guy-Clarke, of www.156days.com, was the five minute guest speaker and she also came bearing gifts in the form of ten top tips for improving sales techniques.  Here they are:

• Be confident
• Target industries you are familiar with
• Prepare well and know your objectives
• Know your products and the problems they solve
• Ask good open questions to establish the customer’s needs and priorities
• Tell stories (about your successes)
• Understand the benefits of what you are selling
• Sell on value, not price
• Learn how to ask for business
• Always follow up

All very useful for the many small businesses in the room whose owners perhaps have had little or no experience of selling.

For more contact Christine at:

christine@156days.com

Peter’s Bees

Despite the Queen Bee having disappeared, presumably on her Summer Holiday, Chairman Peter had several announcements:

Stowmarket Chamber’s quarterly committee meeting will be at Igneous, Needham Market, on July 27, starting at 6pm and will be open to all members.

The Chamber contributed to the cost of the new free Stowmarket town guide and its activities have been included. It is available from the town council offices and the tourist office in the museum.

There are now 10 Town Members of the group, a good result given that the two tier scheme was only launched in June.

Peter and our secretary, Keely, attended an army presentation and report that it was both entertaining and informative. There is an option to book it for those in “the big green bit in the middle” of Suffolk if there are enough people interested. Anyone interested please contact Peter.

peter.avoca@talktalk.net

Babergh and Mid-Suffolk District Councils have formed a business forum that will meet regularly to ensure they are aware of business concerns for those trading within that same “big green bit in the middle”.

And finally ….

The committee is to consider whether to set up our own Stowmarket Chamber website, which Tim Meadows-Smith’s company New Media Group has offered to sponsor.

Dates for your diary

August’s breakfast meeting is again at the Golf Club and, for this month only, will be on the FOURTH Friday

Next Meeting:

August 26 Golf Club

phone: 01449 770965
e-mail: secretary@stowmarketchamber.org.uk
website:
www.suffolkchamber.co.uk/stowmarket_district_chamber_of_commerce