You may recall 1992 was the depths of recession and companies were struggling to survive. There was very little help and advice available, particularly for smaller businesses.
So we created The Business Club to help companies with Sales and Marketing advice and support.
It soon became obvious that it was equally (if not more) important for business owners and managers to meet with like minded people who had the same problems and issues.
It was also obvious that many of them had little or no management training. So although winning new business was their biggest issue, they also needed help with areas which resulted from poor sales revenue – areas which were important to survival such as: cost reduction, increasing efficiency, low morale, marketing skills, selling skills, managing people etc. etc. etc. The Club grew rapidly and started attracting larger companies who saw Club members as a market for them. Also they wanted to help and support the local economy.
So that’s a little of where we came from. Today The Club is thriving with over 600 member companies in North Cambridgeshire, South Lincs.
In fact The Club is so successful we are now franchising the model throughout the UK.
Does Business Club work? I am happy to say that YES IT DOES!!
I was asked to organise a networking party at Barn Therapy Centre and was given a rather tight time scale of three weeks. This really focused the mind – not only as it actually allowed me 12 working days to arrange marquees, catering and everything else, but I also had an operation scheduled and an inpatient spell in hospital right in the middle of the three week period. Great timing!
So, what to do...Linda Thursby and I had a chat and instantly thought of who would be able to help us out. We contacted Marie Coles of Business Connections to help with the marketing. Now we were on a roll. Over the next few days, I got down to work and organised all the ‘fixtures and fittings’ whilst Marie rang, e-mailed, texted everyone she knew who may either exhibit, present or attend – or all three.
In the meantime, we decided that we would support Help for Heroes, and I contacted this amazing charity who were more than happy to furnish us with banners and collecting boxes. With all this fantastic work happening, we felt it was important to have a permanent record of the event, so onto the next Business Club member, Ian West Photography, who very generously agreed to give his time to the charity and take photographs of the event.
So, who needs 6 months to organise an event? Not me. Not when I have such fantastic contacts within Business Club to work with – I would not have been able to do it without the help of Marie and Ian.
Wendy Norman
