Feb. 26, 2009
Having spent a morning last week learning the art of advanced note-taking with Smartwisdom, I was ready with my special pad and multicoloured pen to take notes for the weekly BRX blog. I’d had plenty of practice on the course taking notes at “conversational speed”, so was keen to put my new technique to the test. As instructed, I set my page up with my “spacers”, “organisers” and “switch backs” (cue lots of people wondering that on earth I was doing) and pen poised, was ready to start taking notes. So here is what I have.
Des Sutton from Man Bites Dog (MBD) kicked off the 60 second round and started talking way too fast for my note taking ability. I’d say it was conversational speed to the power of 10. Therefore, I have to admit, that I struggled to get everything, but he did mention MBD provides quality IT support! He also brought to our attention that we need to be aware of implications with regard to ownership of content on sites such as facebook. Des is looking for Office Managers in small to medium sized businesses that are looking to find cost savings on their IT spend.
Next up was Gavin Morton-Holmes from Destiny Plc. Gavin is looking for vehicle leasing companies that are looking to save both time and money by utilising his digital pen and paper. Gavin probably told a joke during his 60 seconds, but it either wasn’t that funny so I can’t remember it, or my note-taking was a little behind. I’m sure it was the latter!
George Emsden, our resident Money Doctor is looking for people in mixed dominational marriages, where one of the couple is British, to give financial advice to as the rules in this area are very complicated.
Mike Nightingale from Green Park Insurance told us of one if his many happy clients. Mike has managed to combine coverage for lots of very expensive cars which are located all over the world into one policy. Mike would like to meet other “complicated” clients with a large motor portfolio.
Richard Houldsworth from Splatt Print is looking for Training companies this week. Splatt can produce small and large, bespoke print runs in-house. They have recently purchased some new machinery and are expanding their services.
Jamie Denham from Sliced Bread Animation is looking for contacts within Internal Communications teams. They have recently worked on internal newsletters for clients with over 350k people.
Caroline Hampstead, our fabulous copywriter, taught us a new word this morning – Pleonasm – the use of more words than necessary to express an idea. Judging by the length of this blog, I think I need Caroline’s services! Caroline is seeking Ad Agencies.
Lewis Malka from Joseph Sterling, our very own Diamond Geezer, told us a story of a client who had a specific idea for an engagement ring in mind. His idea wasn’t such a good one when it came down to it, and as Lewis is a member of the Diamond Bourse, he was able source and offer other types of diamonds to provide a piece of bespoke jewellery, rather than just offer a standard ring from stock in a shop. A happy client, and more importantly, a happy fiancée!
Christian Ingerslev from Danesoft can provide any size of survey for any organisation, for example, employee or customer satisfaction surveys. This week Christian is looking for contacts within HR departments.
David Coburn paid us a visit this week and told us the great news that BRX India has now been launched. He also reminded us that we can always look to the broader BRX group when we need specific contacts in the London area.
Fiona Gale from Only Connect Solutions, a marketing and communications agency, with a strong slant on corporate responsibility, reminded us that “SME’s need to succeed, not just survive”. Fiona is looking for a sponsor for a televised competition where teams of 5 people compete against each other in an SAS style, providing great media coverage for the sponsor.
Our esteemed Vice Chairman, George Metcalfe wowed us with his lightbulb cufflinks and explained the fun of coaching was in the “A-ha” moments – when the lightbulb goes off in someone’s head and they get clarity. George is looking for people who are confused and not sure what do to next.
Roy Duncan from RG Duncan Associates wants to meet people who have had DIY recruitment disasters. Many people are trying to recruit finance staff without having the right expertise, often resulting in getting the wrong person. Using Roy’s services will avoid that problem.
Laura from HSBC is looking for people who are currently unhappy with their existing bank.
Michael Sinclair from China One Call has had a busy few weeks at the Business Travel Show and Travelex Exhibition. Michael is looking for travel companies, Tour operators and hotel groups, to help with visitors from China.
Alexis Garnaut-Miller from The Happiness Centre can help clients with “stress” by identifying the specific cause of those feelings and providing appropriate solutions. Alexis is looking for HR Managers in councils in London.
Zoe Antin from Opus Telecom is offering companies a free cost audit of their phone bills to identify where savings can be made. Zoe is looking for companies that are moving premises.
Mab from Olive Communications gave us the best tip of the day. We learnt how to secretly skive off work with the use of laptops in pubs, blackberrys from bed and video conferencing with a 3G phone and a clip-on tie. Inspired!
Our ten minutes this week was a very interesting presentation from Louise Hassett from Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, on her favourite theatre, The Novello. She walked us through the refurbishment of the theatre and it was clear to see the thought and care that went into making the theatre the beautiful venue it is today and why it makes such a great place for corporate hospitality.
Louise would like to meet companies that organise rugby and football events for clients so she can introduce the idea of theatre events to them. A trip to the theatre is much more cost effective in the current economic client.
Louise reminded us that both Twelfth Night and The Taming of The Shrew finish on 7 March – so get your tickets quickly.
Oh yes, and me, Kirsty Joly from Perfectly Tempered. I was so busy taking notes that I hadn’t given a thought about what to say, so frantically tried to think of the next event in the chocolate calendar. Mother’s Day is the 22nd March this year – so buy your mum chocolates, she’ll love them. And don’t forget stepmothers…..
Posted by kjoly in General | 1 Comment
Feb. 20, 2009
Thanks to Caroline for reminding us that “you learn something every day”
Pleonasm is the use of an excessive number of words to say something, including unnecessary repetition, especially when this is done through ignorance rather than for effect:
Could you repeat that again? (Again is unnecessary)
short version? pleonasms = verbal diarorhea
Posted by Jamie Denham in General | No Comments
Feb. 20, 2009
Afternoon,
Hope you all enjoyed the meeting today
Apologies I have been a bit delayed in getting last weeks figures out so I will do both figures last week and this week together.
Also I did not say anything about Alexis Garnaut-Miller from The Happiness Centre last week. All I will say is that I have worked for years in corporate life and Alexis’s 10 minutes brought back how work can seem so stressful, but in reality its a few specific issues that affects your state of mind and performance. As her team understand that, they can help companies identify what the issues are then incorporate stress managing techniques to minimize absence or low employee morale, which is what all businesses want. Please have a think about any business that either has high absence or low morale then recommend Alexis’s company through a referral.
Referrals – 19, Recommendations – 7, Leads – 6, Tips – 6
This week it was the turn of the lovely Louise Hasset from Delfont Mackintosh Theatres to SHOW us what BUSINESS is like in theatre land. I have had first hand experience of two shows (Twelfth Night & Avenue Q) and the corporate hospitality which is second to none (as is the service from Louise). Just make sure that when you are speaking to Marketing Managers + Corporate Hospitality Managers you recommend Louise and DM.
Referrals – 20, Recommendations – 10, Leads – 8, Tips – 5
Regards,
Richard
Posted by Richard Houldsworth in Weekly Stats Update | No Comments
Feb. 14, 2009
http://www.georgeemsden.co.uk/
George’s latest blog
Posted by Jamie Denham in General | No Comments
Feb. 10, 2009
Gordon Brown wants rate cuts passed on.
David Beckham wants to end his career with AC Milan.
And (according to the Village People) the navy want you as a new recruit.
But the million dollar question is what do the members of London’s foremost networking group, BRX Bond Street, want? Because as every good networker (and Ginger Spice knows) “tell me what you want, what you really really want,” means you’re much more likely to get a good referral.
So what did Friday’s meeting reveal?
Mab Ayyub of Olive Communications wants people who live on boats (Tip:I think Roman Abramovich and Mohamed Al Fayed spend quite a bit of time on their yachts) and building companies. His new product, for which Olive have exclusive rights in the UK, is a mobile phone that isn’t – ideal for people who don’t have landlines, you can insert a SIM card and use it on your desk.
Zoe Antin of Opus Telecom would like to be connected with companies who are moving and companies who have their budgets in place for the year. But being the telephony good fairy that she is, would also like to help struggling companies by doing a telephone audit for them and saving them ££££££s with a magic wave of one of her leading edge business telephone systems.
If you want to get your business up and running or simply keep it running, there are other gallant Bond Street members ready to leap to the aid of companies in distress. Martin Dunne of Sayers Butterworth is also looking to help struggling businesses (with fiendishly good accountancy solutions that go beyond mere number crunching). While Des Sutton of Man Bites Dog IT solutions, currently in Alicante – and missing out on the delightful sheets of snow-sleet-rain falling outside –, is offering companies a free review of their IT. And guest Mark Day of Quadtronix, who supply printers and copiers, wants companies for whom he can carry out a free print audit.
Foreigner wanted to know what love is….unfortunately they wouldn’t have been very enlightened at BRX Bond Street. Our group offers a glorious abundance of top networkers, foremost experts in their subject, dynamic movers and shakers in their respective fields and – most important of all – very nice people. But if you’re want luuuuurrrrrve it’s a bleak and barren wasteland……
Kirsty Joly of Perfectly Tempered, maker of sublime hand-made artisan chocolates is on a hiding to nothing when she polls the room for people who are organising a gift for Valentine’s day – a paltry two people put their hands up (bad news if your special ‘other’ is a Bond Street member). But if you do have romance in your soul, Kirsty would like to speak to you: she can arrange a bespoke gift for your inamorata/inamorato, from something blatantly slushy and sentimental to a manly and minimal black box. And if you’re a disorganised romantic she can get something out of the door up to Thursday afternoon.
Another lady in the futile search (at least in the Presidents room of the RAF Club) for those pierced by Cupid’s arrow is Louise Hassett of Delfont Mackintosh theatres. She deals with seven of the West End’s top theatres and can access exclusive tickets to plays and musicals dripping with top flight acting and star thesps…Jude, Judi, Rowan, Derek….whoever you’re yearning to see, Louise can sort it. To anyone with the slightest hint of romance in their make-up (not a Bond Street member then) her VIP champagne reception to a show at any of her theatres (£65-120 pp) would make an ideal Valentine gift.
The Pussycat Dolls “wanna be in movies” when they grow up but Karelia Scott Daniels of Manse & Garret, our property finding guru, has already done that and is looking at fresh horizons – the music industry. After packing her black book with film contacts, she now wants your music contacts. Currently benefiting from sweeping up business from rivals who aren’t quite in her league, she’s having a good start to 2009.
“I dream of Africa” said Meryl Streep, and so does David Coburn, BRX Regional Partner. He tells us that BRX groups will be setting up in Nigeria in 2/3 months and he’d like to know if we know anyone in Nigeria or want to know anyone in Nigeria. (Is that the sound of the contents of hundreds of junk email boxes being forwarded that I can hear?)
Next stop China. Michael Sinclair of China One Call (being subbed by the lovely Rie Ote Mba) wants businesses contemplating trade with China but nervous about making that initial call or email and who could benefit from his innovative translation services.
Michael’s sub, Rie Ota Mba, takes us even further afield. Rie is a cross-culture specialist who wants to help businesses who are expanding into countries such as Japan, China, Taiwan and Thailand. When it comes to cultural mores, small things can have a big impact – don’t show the soles of your feet if you want to make a good impression on a Thai business contact.
The international focus continues with Justin Beavis, who runs a management consultancy and is one of the brains behind World Dive Centres, pioneering indoor tropical waterworlds. To help raise the necessary finance he would like introductions to people who can provide access to finance houses and partners in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar.
Justin has also brought a guest, Clyde Wijnhard of LedNed , a Dutch company who produce energy efficient LED lights that are set to replace traditional light bulbs. Installing 200,000 lightbulbs in Rotterdam at a cost of 20 million Euros has resulted in an annual saving of 10 million Euros. (And never say BRX Bond Street is short on glamour – Clyde used to play for Leeds United.)
And talking of glamour, long haired lovely Jonny Mindlin assures us in his rich, dulcet tones that he is Gavin Morton Holmes of Destiny PLC, “No, really I am!” (we weren’t fooled) and would like to meet anyone in the public sector who has a mandate to reduce spending or environmental impact so that he can introduce them to the delights of his vibrating digital data pen thingies.
Bond Street are also an unusually well read, literary lot. Richard Houldsworth of Splatt Print has been reading ‘Print Weekly’ and this scintillating (according to Richard) publication says a lot of printers are struggling. Richard would like to talk to you if your printer has gone under or you’d like a ‘back up’ printer just in case.
George Metcalfe, our resident coach, is also a voracious reader, although in his case it’s authors like Mark Twain who said “Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the truly great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” George wants to meet people who need to be sorted out (and I have sneaky feeling that our wild elder coach is one of the people Twain alludes to who can make you realise your potential for greatness).
Continuing the literary theme, Alexis Garnaut-Miller of The Happiness Centre, a health and stress management centre in West London, knows her stuff back to front and is writing a book: “Twenty habits of high profit practices” (we only have top experts in their field here at Bond Street). Alexis wants to meet successful health practitioners or business owners in the health industry for research for her book.
Sanjeev Shah of HSBC …. unfortunately I was a bit behind with my note taking at this point, but I highly recommend that you have a meeting with Sanjeev because 1. you’ll get advice from someone who works for one of the UK’s more stable banks, 2.plus I hear his Oxford Street branch has been completely refitted and is rather plush, 3. and it has won prizes for its customer service.
Roy Duncan of RG Duncan Associates accountancy recruitment wants to meet your accountant. He is taking advantage of the current climate to expand his reservoir of candidates with high quality people.
Mike Nightingale of Green Park Insurance is a private client insurance broker, who offers a free inventory service to all his clients – and today he’s looking for people who don’t have adequate coverage – not a good idea in this weather. He’ll tour your house and work out your correct contents cover, and should the worse happen, ensure that you’re not under insured. He excels at helping high net worth individuals with complex insurance needs, so if you are burdened with priceless antiques, a vintage wine collection, second, third and fourth homes, a fleet of high performance cars or a private jet, it might be worth giving him a call.
As well as being superbly represented in all the traditional networking disciplines Bond Street is also extremely well endowed when it comes to creative talent.
John, Paul, George and Ringo “want to hold your haaaaaand” …. and so does Jamie Denham of Sliced Bread – at least if you’re a traditional advertising agency. Our animation virtuoso tells us the bad news for ad agencies is that ad revenues are projected to go down by 5% this year, but then sweetens this with a generous dollop of good news – interactive ad revenues are projected to increase by 5% this year. So if you’re an ad agency watching your TV revenues collapse, talk to Jamie, he’ll hold your hand and gently introduce you to the delights of the online sector and that whizzy new fangled thing called the internet.
Hiten Thaker of Revolution Creative Agency has been busy with clients like Choice FM and Mobo who can’t get enough of his design and branding nous, but being greedy he wants more – more clients…bigger projects – so please get in touch with him if you can help him out.
Back to Jonny Mindlin of Green Shoot audio productions, who specialise in all things aural, such as podcasts and voiceovers. Today he wants someone who is involved in the software side of setting up an internet radio station. And showing that the more specific your wants the better, Jamie of Sliced Bread knows someone who can help.
The 10 minutes was presented by Fiona Gale of Only Connect Solutions, a marketing and communications agency with a strong slant on corporate social responsibility. Her company advises businesses across a whole range of industry sectors on how to set themselves apart and effectively communicate their offering. Only Connect work with strategic partners and bring in industry experts appropriate to each project; they are also very well connected with government and the press (The Sunday Times and The Telegraph to mention just two). Does their approach work? Fiona’s agency literally got the London Vision Clinic, the UK’s leading eye laser clinic, into the Houses of Parliament by offering the lords and MPs free eye testing sessions on-site, and has also aligned the clinic with the UK Olympic team – this year they will be treating our Olympic hopefuls who have vision problems free of charge. Her agency also raised the profile of Emunah, a Jewish charity: landing 23 articles in the Jewish press, 8 articles in the national press and raising £400,000. How? By taking fifteen pampered Jewish princesses to live in the desert for ten days, adding some extra-tough challenges, and filming the result. Fiona would like to work with all kinds of businesses but has a soft spot for charities and the medical sector.
And as for me? Haha you’ll see...Yo, I’ll tell you what I want, what I really really want: advertising agencies, design agencies and marketing managers.
Caroline Hampstead (copywriter and Spice Girls fan)
Posted by London Freelance Copywriter in General | 1 Comment
Feb. 9, 2009
Morning,
Hope you all had a great weekend
I went for an Italian meal in Islington with a small crowd to celebrate my sister in-law’s birthday party, which was good fun. We ended up in “Club de Fromage” (80’s music par excellence), where I felt slightly out of place being approximately twice as old as everyone else (were did all the years go I ask!).
Fiona’s company Only Connect Solutions is one of the best kept secrets – a company that helps deliver corporate responsibility. What is corporate responsibility? I hear you ask (I know I did, before speaking to Fiona). Fiona regaled how her company takes a step back from their clients’ businesses to help deliver a communication package that enhances their brand meaning – from charity work to social projects Only Connect Solutions strike a great balance between social and employee responsibility and bottom line profits. Make sure you are looking out for good referrals for her this week.
Referrals – 21, Recommendations – 9, Leads – 11, Tips – 6
Regards,
Richard
Posted by Richard Houldsworth in Weekly Stats Update | No Comments
Feb. 4, 2009
Warning to all members, as I know there are quite a few of you who use the site. There was alert this morning that there is a virus threat on the Ecademy site. It has apparently been removed, but I would still act with caution when using it.
Posted by Jamie Denham in General | No Comments
Feb. 2, 2009
Morning All,
I’m sure you’re aware Jack frost has nipped in and ground everything to a halt on this fine but chilly Monday – don’t you just love the english weather!
Do you know how to make your company sound and look the best it can?………… something we all need to know to succeed in business. Caroline Hampstead eloquently and succulently gave us a speed dating version of how to write and market yourself differently from the competition. From Tilda rice to Danish bacon, Caroline showed us the impact of design and wording on public perception of products. Please do make sure you pass on any referrals to Caroline when you talk to any clients that you know would could use her services.
Referrals – 14, Recommendations – 8, Leads – 10, Tips – 5
Have a good week
Regards,
Richard
