Thebestofhitchin Newsletter - Nov 2014

TheVoiceOfHitchinNov 2014 Bringing trusted businesses

and the community together

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Small business is all about relationships. Heck! All business is about relationships so networking is the perfect way to build your business.

Let’s be honest here, at 6.00am or 7.00pm, probably all you want to do is sink back gratefully into bed or the sofa. So what’s it going to take to get you excited about using networking in your business growth?

People Buy People First

There are plenty of sales people out there who say ‘If I could just get in front of our potential clients, get to know them show them why they can like and trust us, the sales would fly in.’ Guess what, they’re not wrong!

Networking is the perfect solution to this. People have come prepared to do business and prepared to make recommendations. They’re off site so they won’t be disturbed by the day to day running of their business and they are more relaxed. The perfect time to have a meaningful conversation!

It Ain’t What You Do, It’s The Way That You Do It

Networking is about helping people. I go to every meeting thinking about what can I do or say to benefit the people I’m meeting with. It doesn’t have to be something huge or even business related; it could be as simple as pointing out the cheapest town car park or introducing them to the best tasting teabags this side of the Pennines! It seems,

when we are focused on helping other people, all the worry about talking to strangers about business seems to disappear and great conversations are had.

It’s Always the Same People, Talking About the Same things...

So you’ve been networking for some time and actually it’s all getting a bit dull and you’re not picking up any new leads, let alone business. So maybe its time to shake things up a bit and step outside your normal group. In actual fact, any kind of group is a networking opportunity. So whether it’s the Local Sports Club or Rotary Club give it a try. What have you got to lose?

The Fortune Is In The Follow Up

Networking becomes a whole lot more interesting when you get great contacts and new business from it. So are you capitalising on that big pile of business cards you’ve collected? Just a quick call or a short email can be the very thing that turns a nice conversation into a new client. The important thing is that you make contact as early as possible. I can promise you, most of your competitors are not!

With the right conversations, networking is a sure fire way to grow your business and find new customers. So why not take the plunge… I promise you, you won’t regret it!

Keith and Louise

Your FREE Local Newsletter

The People Behind the Business

Our New Achievers Club

Dates foryour DiaryPg.2 Pg.3 Pg.7

KEEP CALMAND

CARRY ON NETWORKING

2 | The Voice of Hitchin - Nov 2014 | thebestof.co.uk/hitchin

ThePeople

Behind theBusiness

The People Behind the Business Meet Leonie Shephard, The Force Behind Aspire School of Dance

Q: What do you love most about your job?A: Seeing the children’s smiling faces as they run into the room ready for their lesson! Whether I am running around with a magic wand being a fairy in Ballet, rolling around on the floor in Gymnastics, stamping around in Tap or having a great time dancing in Modern & Street Dance classes, I love the buzz of the school and the incredibly talented children I teach everyday. Q: Your claim to fame?A: Dancing in the London 2012 Olympics Closing Ceremony! It seems like such a long time ago now, but is definitely a memory I will never forget. I doubt I will perform in front of 80,000 people again any time soon!Q: What sort of training did you have before going into this business?A: I went to the London Studio Centre in Kings Cross for 3 years where I studied all types of dance as well as Dance History,

Music, Anatomy, Dance on Screen, Acting and Singing. There I got my BA(Hons) in Theatre Dance and I then went to The Dance College in Royston for 3 years where I gained my ISTD teaching qualifications in Ballet, Tap, Modern and National Dance. I taught for several years at various dance schools before finally setting up Aspire School of Dance in September 2010.Q: What advice would you give someone who wants to set up their own business?A: Go for it! There’s that saying ‘if you do something you love, you will never work another day in your life’ which I tend to agree with. My job is hard work and very time-consuming at times but I wouldn’t swap it for the world. Q: Hindsight is a wonderful thing – what one thing would you do differently?A: Be more confident in the beginning! I always knew what I wanted to do with the school and how I wanted it to run, however I was always trying to please everyone which is an impossible task! Q: How would you describe your business in three words?A: Buzzing, inspirational, vibrantQ: What were you hoping we’d ask you, but didn’t?A: How people can find out more about Aspire of course! Visit the website www.aspireschoolofdance.com, send me an email to [email protected]

or visit our Facebook and Twitter pages.Q: How have things changed for your business over the past few years?A: In September 2010 when I started the school I had a total of 43 pupils and taught classes 2 evenings a week. We now have 190 pupils and have classes running 6 days a week in Ballet, Tap, Modern, Street Dance and Gymnastics. I can’t believe how quickly it’s grown in such a short space of time!Q: What is the greatest challenge in running a business?A: Finding time to do ‘normal’ things! It’s so easy when you run your own business to spend every waking minute doing things for your business, but it’s so important to take some time out every now and then.Contact Leonie on 07793 966392

Have you made great progress with thebestof? We’d love to hear about your success and share your story here

thebestof.co.uk/hitchin | The Voice of Hitchin - Nov 2014 | 3

of the monthAdd your partner or family member FREE FOR A YEARAlways thought private medical insurance was too expensive? Well don’t miss out on these very special offers with WPA.Add your partner or family member FREE FOR A YEAROR 25% DISCOUNT for single coverThis applies to full health insurance plans only

(Plus 2 months free for NHS top up and dental plans). Offer is valid until 26th November 2014

OfferSpecial

OF THE MONTH

Please call Andy or Sally Greenwood on 07533 363889

Our New Achievers ClubAwarding outstanding businesses locally…

The Car AgentsWell done to Simon Michell from The Car Agents who moved into new premises on Queens Street this year. They started out by helping clients to buy and sell Sports, Prestige and Classic cars, but at the new Dealership they can now offer a one-stop shop for anything to do with cars, from buying, selling and exchanging through to finance, servicing and detailing. They’ve also got a Hand Car Wash, a Car Spa and a funky Car Bar. But the main thing is that they are still all about the personal touch.

Contact The Car Agent on 01462 441460

Copper BeechA new partnership and a move to new premises for Copper Beech and Wisteria Tea Room this year. Now in Churchgate, Val and Fran offer a space for art classes, a gallery to sell and exhibit artwork and a wonderful tea room serving homemade cakes, snacks and lunches.

Contact them on 01462 504052

The Pilates PodMichelle and Ed Smith from The Pilates Pod on Bancroft successfully ran their first Fitness Festival in Hitchin in July in Bancroft Gardens. There was something for the whole family, with loads of demonstrations taking place in the bandstand and the hall as well as traditional races and fun for the family. A big well done to you and the team, we know how much hard work you put into making it a great success.

Contact The Pilates Pod on 01462 338002

ACHIEVERS


Working Well

We are looking for...

Want to shine in our next newsletter? Share your successes and let Keith and Louise know what bits of thebestof are working for you!

At thebestof Hitchin we are on the lookout for other great members. This month we are looking for...

If you know a business that fits the bill, please contact the team:

01462 759700 | [email protected]

• Indian Restaurants • Tattoo Studio • Taxis • Roofers

Tilehouse Dental ClinicDr Nix Shah and his team provide a complete range of dental services from their practice on Tilehouse Street. Customer experience is paramount and the lovely surroundings immediately put you at ease. They have made great use of the ‘As recommended on’ kitemark and the reviews widget which is featured on every page on their website showing their latest customer reviews.

Call 01462 455855

Bradshaw JohnsonAs well as supporting long-standing businesses of all sizes, they also enable entrepreneurs to develop their ideas, growing their business from successful sole trader through to Limited Company. Did you know they are also now qualified to administer probate, inheritance tax and estate administration and they have utilised Direct Marketing via our 17,000 mail drop.

Call 01462 454545

Pebble Beauty SanctuaryHaving recently celebrated their 7th Birthday and being a bestof hitchin client for 7 years, Geraldine and Catriona have amassed a whopping 974 testimonials from their customers over the years. Pebble has won numerous awards including the coveted ‘Most Loved Business in Hitchin’. Well done ladies, your customers really love you.

Call 01462 458885

BrookersBrookers are a great example of a family run local business that has not only embraced the world of social media but all also understands that the best way to reach their target audience is through mixed marketing. They have successfully combined e-marketing, social media and billboard advertising through thebestof hitchin.

Call 01462 434501


Making that offer special!We’ve all heard the horror stories about well known voucher companies. That offer, that seemed like such a brilliant idea at the time, that then turned into a profit drain of epic proportions. You would not be on your own if those stories had put you off special offers for the rest of your life.

But here’s the thing! Offers, when used correctly, can not only find you more customers, but can also increase your profitability dramatically!

So how do you come up with a killer offer without breaking the bank? Here’s how?

1. Give something away that has low monetary cost to you but high value to your target customer.

One of the most successful offers via thebestof was ‘Free Wontons & A Coke’ with every main meal on Wednesdays. The cost of the wontons and coke are negligible, but that’s a starter and a drink in the eyes of the consumer and the average spend per customer went up!

2. Use offers to increase footfall/orders at typically low times

The wontons and coke offer was for Wednesday’s only; a typically quiet time for this Chinese Take Away. However, the kitchen was open and the staff were being paid whether there were any customers or not. This meant that any extra meals bought on a Wednesday put profit straight on the bottom line!

3. Be different

The days of people getting excited at a 10% off offer are gone! If you can give something away for free (again, low cost to you) that will always grab attention. Don’t forget, an offer doesn’t have to be something you normally do. Recently a photographer and cosmetics company got together so they could offer a make over and professional photography session together, just in time for Christmas! The idea behind it is that this offer will be bought for Christmas presents (and has been positioned as such), which will then be claimed in January, typically when both companies’ orders drop off.

4. Test your offers

To make sure your offer is delivering what you hoped, don’t forget to test it. Use either a voucher or code that people give you to claim the offer so that you can see whether it’s working or not. If you can capture your new clients data at the same time, even better!

We know it’s not easy to come up with killer offers, so here’s just a few of the most successful ones featured with thebestof:

Low Fat Meat Pack - Just £35 (Butchers) Extra lean lamb steaks, pork steaks, gammon steaks, frying steaks, chicken breasts, diced chicken, stewing steak, minced steak and Ale and Mushroom Casserole Sauce - Over 250 page views

Buy One Get One Free On All Drinks Including Wine! - Over 235 page views

Free Bottle of Wine for every table of four or more - Over 160 page views

Half Price Back, Neck & Shoulder Massage with every Reflexology treatment - 120 page views

Free Home Wiring Safety Check Over 80 page views

1 months membership of Our Health & Fitness Club for a £1 - Over 70 page views

Don’t despair if you’re struggling to come up with offers, we’re here to help. Give us a call and we can talk you through the ways to use offers to attract new customers without breaking the bank.


Meet The Members We’re consistently uncovering hidden gems. Say a big hello to our local heroes.

Give them a call and say hello!

Want to be featured on our Meet The Members page? Call us on 01462 759700 and let us know!

Ten 2 TwoTen2Two are a recruitment agency specialising in flexible and part-time working

Call Lucinda or Carol-Anne on 01462 659936 www.ten2two.org

Lawn ScienceLawnscience Hitchin provides lawn care and maintenance services, garden maintenance and pest control services for commercial and domestic customers.

Call Tony on 01462 435867 www.lawnscience.co.uk/hitchin

BBW SolicitorsBBW Solicitors’ legal experts provide practical, personal advice to individuals and businesses, covering a wide range of practice areas from wills to commercial disputes.

Call 01438 359311 www.bbwlaw.biz

YoungEducationYoungEducation is a local, family-owned business with education centres in Knebworth and Hitchin, offering high-quality individual or small-group tuition for pupils from primary age to A-level.

Call 01462 450373 www.youngeducation.co.uk

Woodside OsteopathyThe Woodside Osteopathic Clinic in Hitchin has a team of highly skilled osteopaths, who are dedicated to relieving and reducing pain.

Call 01462 452929 www.thewoodsideclinic.co.uk

NPA Insurance BrokingThe NPA Insurance Broking Group is one of the UK’s Top 50 Independent Insurance Brokers providing insurance solutions to businesses and private clients. They can work with you to protect your property, vehicles, businesses, profit, liabilities and people.

Call 01462 440088 www.npainsurancebroking.com

The CroftThe Croft, Hitchin, is a contemporary wine & cocktail bar with a separate grill restaurant, serving fresh food and a diverse range of drinks in a unique, friendly atmosphere.Home to great handcrafted burgers, British steaks & grills, fabulous cocktails & quality wines.

Call 01462 441295 www.thecrofthitchin.co.uk


Community Partners For people who go out of their way for the community.

Dates For Your Diary Some important dates coming up in the calendar!

Garden House Hospice Providing terminally ill patients and their families in Letchworth Garden City, Hitchin, Stevenage, Royston and the surrounding towns and villages with palliative care and support, Garden House Hospice is one of the few hospices serving the local community. Garden House Hospice offers day hospice, out-patient and in-patient care, drop in sessions and ‘Hospice at Home’ services, all free of charge. A huge amount of money needs to be raised to keep this vital resource going and they are always looking for local business support 01462 679540

Dr Hadwen Trust One of the leading and longest serving charities in its field, the Dr Hadwen Trust is at the forefront of funding and promoting medical research conducted without the use animals. As one of the key charitable organisations in Hitchin, the Dr Hadwen Trust awards grants to universities, hospitals and research organisations. They need to raise money to carry on medical research. Did you know you can donate your unwanted clothes and they will come and pick up? 01462 436819

British Schools MuseumThe historic British Schools Museum on Queen Street in Hitchin provides information and entertainment to visitors from around the UK and the world in the heart of the town. The buildings were rescued from possible demolition in 1990 after the original school closed in 1969, more than 150 years after the first school on the site. Now the historic listed buildings house an impressive collection of 47,000 items. The Museum holds all sort of events during the year as a way of fundraising including their recent Dr.Who exhibition which was very well attended! 01462 420144

25th

Novand

27th Jan 2015

2nd

Feb 2015

Door DropOur next special offer Direct Mail Marketing Door Drop leaflet will be delivered by Royal Mail w/c 2nd February 2015, copy deadline is mid December. If you would like to showcase your business to 17000 homes and businesses.Please get in touch 01462 759700

WIBNWomen In Business Networking (www.wibn.co.uk) meets monthly at The Sun Hotel , Hitchin from 11.30-2.00. The nearby groups are in Stevenage, Hitchin, Letchworth, Luton and Sandy.

Cuppa ConnectWe’ve been running our informal drop in networking event Cuppa Connect for over 2 years now. Drop in any time between 9.30am-11.30am and mingle with 30-40 local businesses over a cuppa at The Victoria Pub in Hitchin. It’s £5 on the door which includes a cuppa and cake!

6th

Novand

4th Dec

Did you know...Hitchin Tilehouse Rotary Club organise an annual Wine and Food Festival which raises money for charity.This year it’s on 22nd November with over food 20 stalls in the market square and the wine exhibition and master classes in The Sun Hotel. Tickets for the wine exhibition are £5

For more information on the fantastic work of the Rotary in Hitchin visit www.tilehouserotary.org

thebestof Hitchin is run by Keith and Louise.

We hope you have enjoyed reading our latest newsletter. If you think your business should be showcased as one of thebestof hitchin, please do get in touch. We would love to talk to you about how we can work together to promote you and your business.

Call us on 01462 [email protected]

Bringing trusted businesses and the community together

/thebestofhitchin

Call 01462 759700www.thebestof.co.uk/hitchin

@bestofhitchin

At a glanceAt thebestof we go out of our way to provide our members with all the marketing tools that will help them grow locally.

We pride ourselves on being committed and dedicated in working with only thebest local businesses that are recommended by local people.

Focussing on 4 key areas, thebestof has a proven track record of ensuring our members get;

Local Exposure Connections Marketing support Brand Building

We do this through 17 core elements including our reviews facility, our consumer app, our dedicated feature pages for each member and through social media, not forgetting direct email campaigns to our ever growing local database - plus much much more!

Everything we do is about bespoke, results driven marketing, ensuring that our members get what they need, at the right time for them and the good news is that we can tailor everything we do, to your local budget.

We really do what we say we will do;

Bringing trusted businesses and the community together

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Thebestofhitchin Newsletter - Nov 2014