News from BNI Preston, Olympus Chapter
Making Money before anyone else does!
Five years ago a group of local business people started meeting near Preston to share contacts and pass business. The group meets every Tuesday morning at the recently refurbished Farington Lodge Hotel where an average seat is worth around £26,000 to its members. Mike Gelder, one of the long standing members explains “I receive over 50% of my business through members of the group! It’s allowed me to significantly expand my client base with very little marketing spend.”
The group is planning a visitors day on the 27th November where members of the local business community are invited to attend. The group is run by BNI, an international organisation with over 15,000 members in the UK. Meetings are every Tuesday and start at 7am, so members are doing business before the competition is even out of bed!
Several milestones are expected to be reached this month with the passing of the 3,500th business referral and the arrival of the 500th visitor who will be celebrating in style, with the champagne in the picture. Anyone interested in attending the open day should contact Sandra Cobbin, BNI Assistant Director on 07917 126621.
Visitor Day a resounding success...
The Olympus Chapter Vistor Day held on the 5th of December 2006 was a resounding success and opportunity to network with a fascinating cross-section of local businesses - with 22 visiting companies including some of Preston’s biggest names from accountants, signwriters, hire shop, car rental and even a model agency… hosted by Regional Director Mike Holman and our own Chapter Director Martin Toole.
this is what BNI's powerful 'word-of-mouth marketing referral programme' is all about, please contact us for the date of the next Visitor Day.
2500th Referral
One way to really liven up a morning meeting is by setting off fireworks!
and that's what happened recently when the Olympus chapter passed it's 2500th referral, it was kept a secret by the leadership team until the actual referral was passed, and then celebrated in style... at least it woke everyone up, talk about a meeting stimulus.
...two for joy!...
We're all behind the Chorley Guardians Campaign to raise awareness of Chorley FC's 'save the magpies appeal', this is what appeared in the paper recently
"...The latest donor is Leyland-based BNI Olympus Chapter, which has chipped in with £100. BNI Olympus Chapter is a referral networking organisation with one representative from each business sector.They decided to step in after Jackie Williams, of Chorley-based Primary Graphics Limited, heard about the plight of the Magpies. She decided to use her presentation time at her weekly referral network meeting at Farington Lodge, Leyland, to rally support from her fellow members. She said: "Being a supporter of local causes and recognising that every town needs to have its own football team for the sake of future generations, I had little trouble convincing them to dig deep and help save the club..."
Olympian Feat by Olympus Chapter
as featured on BNI's SuccessNet August 2005
Leyland's Olympus Chapter may not be Lancashire's biggest BNI group or even the loudest. But they are definitely the proudest, having been named the county's "Chapter of the Year" at the recent regional awards night. They were rewarded for their quality of referrals and consistently high standards. Jackie Williams who serves on the Membership Committee said: "I think we apply BNI's rules more strictly than some chapters. Prospective new members are interviewed at length by the membership committee to ensure we attract quality, not quantity. We won't tolerate absenteeism nor allow fudged contributions. We run a very tight ship which is probably one reason we won the award." "Bringing in the right new people adds vibrancy and introduces us to new contacts. Visitors are always impressed by the 'buzz' we generate at our meetings, and by the serious amount of business they see changing hands. Receiving this award proves that small can be beautiful!"
Training Events
| Date | Event |
Time |
Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
14th May |
Presenting for Profit |
6pm-8.30pm |
Sparth House Hotel, Accrington |
15th May |
Presenting for Profit |
6pm-8.30pm |
Avant Hotel, Oldham |
19th May |
Members Success Program |
6pm-9pm |
The Rock Inn Hotel, Holywell Green, Halifax |
22nd May |
Members Success Program |
6pm-9pm |
Swallow Hotel, Samlesbury, Preston |
27th May |
Leadership Team Forum |
6pm-8.30pm |
Swallow Hotel/Avant Hotel |
05th Jun |
Referrals Made Easy |
6pm-8.30pm |
Rock Inn, Holywell Green, Halifax |
09th Jun |
Networking Event |
6pm-8.30pm |
The Rock Inn Hotel, Halifax |
11th Jun |
Members Success Program |
6pm-9pm |
Sparth House, Accrington |
18th Jun |
Networking Skills Workshop |
6pm-8.30pm |
Swallow Hotel |
25th Jun |
Members Success Program |
6pm-9pm |
Broadfield - Rochdale |
26th Jun |
Advance Training |
6pm-9pm |
Swallow Hotel, Preston |
30th Jun |
Leadership Team Forum |
6pm-8.30pm |
Swallow Hotel/ The Rock Inn |
01st Jul |
Advanced Training |
6pm-9pm |
Broadfield Rochdale |
03rd Jul |
The Big Social Event - tickets £10 each |
6pm-9pm |
Next Generation Gym - Chorley (J8 M61) - |
08th Jul |
Referrals Made Easy |
6pm-8.30pm |
Alma Lodge Hotel |
10th Jul |
Referrals Made Easy |
6pm - 8.30pm |
Sparth House Hotel, Accrington |
15th Jul |
Members Success Program |
6pm-9pm |
The Rock Inn Hotel, Halifax |
17th Jul |
Members Success Program |
6pm-9pm |
Swallow Hotel, Samlesbury, Preston |
28th Jul |
Leadership Team Forum |
6pm-8.30pm |
Swallow Hotel/Broadfield Hotel |
04th Aug |
Presenting for Profit |
6pm-8.30pm |
The Rock Inn Hotel, Halifax |
12th Aug |
Members Success Program |
6pm-9pm |
Sparth House Hotel, Accrington |
14th Aug |
Members Success Program |
6pm-9pm |
Broadfield Hotel, Rochdale |
19th Aug |
Presenting for Profit |
6pm-8.30pm |
Swallow Hotel, Samlesbury, Preston |
26th Aug |
Leadership Team Forum |
6pm-8.30pm |
Swallow Hotel/Rock Inn |
08th Sep |
Networking Skills Workshop |
6pm-8.30pm |
Swallow Hotel - Preston |
09th Sep |
Leadership Team Training |
12 noon - 5.30pm |
Sparth House Hotel - Accrington |
11th Sep |
Members Success Program |
6pm-9pm |
Swallow Hotel, Samlesbury, Preston |
12th Sep |
Leadership Team Training |
12 noon - 5.30 pm |
The Rock Inn Hotel, Holywell Green, Halifax |
15th Sep |
Leadership Training |
12pm-5.30pm |
Broadfield |
19th Sep |
Leadership Team Training |
12 noon - 5.30pm |
Next Generation Gym- Chorley J8 M61 |
22nd Sep |
Members Success Program |
6pm-9pm |
Alma Lodge Hotel, Stockport |
24th Sep |
Networking Skills Workshop |
6pm-8.30pm |
Broadfield Hotel, Rochdale |
29th Sep |
Leadership Team Forum |
6pm-8.30pm |
Swallow Hotel/Broadfield Hotel |
01st Oct |
Members Success Program |
6pm-9pm |
Sparth House Hotel, Accrington |
08th Oct |
Referrals Made Easy |
6pm-8.30pm |
The Rock Inn, Halifax |
14th Oct |
Referrals Made Easy |
6pm-8.30pm |
Swallow Hotel, Samlesbury, Preston |
15th Oct |
Members Success Program |
6pm-9pm |
Broadfield Hotel, Sparrow Hill, Rochdale |
27th Oct |
Leadership Team Forum |
6pm-8.30pm |
Swallow Hotel/Rock Inn |
03rd Nov |
Members Success Program |
6pm-9pm |
Swallow Hotel, Samlesbury, Preston |
06th Nov |
Members Success Program |
6pm-9pm |
The Rock Inn, Halifax |
24th Nov |
Leadership Team Forum |
6pm-8.30pm |
Swallow Hotel/Broadfield Hotel |
25th Nov |
Presenting for Profit |
6pm-8.30pm |
Broadfield Hotel, Sparrow Hill, Rochdale |
26th Nov |
Presenting for Profit |
6pm-8.30pm |
Sparth House Hotel, Accrington |
27th Nov |
Advanced Training |
6pm-9pm |
Swallow Hotel, Preston |
02nd Dec |
Members Success Program |
6pm-9pm |
Broadfield Hotel, Rochdale |
09th Dec |
Members Success Program |
6pm-9pm |
Sparth House Hotel, Accrington |
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