Wedding fair – a power team event
August 15th, 2013
Do you network? Well, of course you do; people have been using networks since we learnt to speak, for exchanging all sorts of useful information, from recipes and knitting patterns to sailors’ knots and how to tie fishing flies, from finding out who to talk to to get on to the golf club committee to getting the name of the chief buyer in the company you want as a customer. If you’re in business, and you haven’t been asleep for the past 20 years or so, you’ll be aware that forming networks with people outside your business opens up, exponentially, opportunities to win new business.
According to Ivan Misner, founder of BNI, the world’s most successful business networking organisation, most of the business referrals you receive as a BNI member are likely to come from other members of your power team. “Power team?” do I hear you ask? That’s a group whose businesses may be different, but who tend to serve the same customers. To put it in the form of a question for a pub quiz, “Why is a florist like a photographer?” Answer: because they both work at weddings (among other events).
In the BNI chapter to which I belong, Sutton BNI, we have an events power team, which has come up with a brilliant collaboration. They call themselves “Inspired” and they have put together an attractive book to showcase their offer in the events market.
“Inspired” as an entity is very much led by florist Vanessa Udall with printer Carolyn Reilly, photographer Sam Dorrington and events organiser Stuart Bell (a several time visitor to BNI) as her co-conspirators.
As well as other BNI members and former members, explains Carolyn Reilly, “Inspired is made up of companies we have met along the way who excel at what they do. We take this book and its contributors to high end venues, companies who organise in-house events, anyone who wants a party or celebration of any kind and we have been met with some fabulous successes so far. The wedding fair at Honeywood is Inspired’s first public airing insofar as organising a public event for people to come along and meet the suppliers in the book and others, with a big focus on local talent.”
Vanessa Udall comments: “All suppliers provide the highest quality and service and have been handpicked to ensure Inspired carries the same ethos of quality and service.”
The full “Inspired” roll-call is: Vanessa Udall, The House Floral Design; Sam Dorrington, photographer; Carolyn Reilly, PrintInc; Stuart Bell Events; Christine Laidlaw, Inspiri Dance and Pilates; Rachelle’s Beautiful Bespoke Cakes; Rob Pearce, toastmaster; F.A.B. Fireworks; Catered by Justin; Countess Marquees; The Happy Wedding Company; Times Creches; i-Pic photo and video booths; Suzy Doyle, make-up artist; and Robert Armstrong Chauffeurs.
Meet them all at Honeywood Museum, Carshalton, on 8 September 2013. Let’s face it: if this lot organise your wedding, it’ll be Inspired.
Categories: BNI, Networking
