Coffee Time Minutes - 26.11.08

Minutes from Tuggerah Coffee Time – 26th November 2008

Attendees:

Toni Oliver, Tony Bourke, Dean Brown, Kate Morris, David Norris, Steve Killian, Jan Munro, Bob Thomson, Lynne Harris, Deb Rayner, Tarnia Gurney, Michael Stokes.

Apologises:

Deb Carroll, John Mann, Ted O’Shannessy, Kevin Gregory

Agenda:

Lynne Harris from BEC – Business Enterprise Centre, Zenith Building
Provided some information and handouts/booklets on Advertising and Marketing.
Discussed what BEC offers the Business Community. Set up & running of businesses – new and established. Templates and Mentoring services.
Explained for $20 admin fee, you can go to a solicitor or/& accountant for up to 12 hours – government pays

Tarnia Gurney – From Planningwerx4U & Gurney Financial Services, Woongarrah
o Handed out the minutes from last meeting
o Handed out advertising and marketing questionnaire for SBO to complete to help themselves better their businesses.(they go with the information provided from BEC)

Tony Bourke – AIIB Insurance Brokers, Central Coast & Newcastle
Explained about how a newsletter and Blog works.
Tony and Tarnia will put together a instruction sheet for everyone, aswell as putting on the planningwerx4U website for other small businesses to utilise.
Tony has been working with some other business owners and they have put together a book. The book is about customer service and will be published in January 09. The book is called “in service”.

Dean Brown – Woodview Home Loans, Lisarow
Dean suggested that business owners on the coast might like to donate money to “Central Coast Kids in Need”.

He suggested that instead of buying your clients flowers, wine or a gift, that we tell them we will make a donation to CCKIN. This is a group that donates money to families to help with the costs of a sick child. The money raised helps pay for accommodation, and care for local families.
For more information, check out the website www.cckin.com.au
Dean and Tarnia will contact CCKIN to see what we can do in donations and support.


Kate Morris – Joyful Healing & Wellness, Wyong
Would like to design and create a book on grief for children and donate money to children’s group.

Explained that everyone/business can have a two line advertisement in the Yellow Pages for Free.

Group Discussion of Advertising & Marketing Suggestions
What Works and What Doesn’t???

David:
Ask clients for referrals
Client’s are telling others about their experiences

Steve:
Word of mouth
Asking for a referral
Asking for someone they can help

Dean:
People recommending
Referring others
Offering free services

Michael:
Telemarketing – advertise, pay good rates to them
Offer freebies
Walking talking You, promoting yourself
Radio, newspapers don’t work

Toni:
Word of mouth
Trying a letterbox drop
Newspapers do not work

Bob:
Word by mouth
Getting to know businesses in your area
Looking for trends in the market and then grabbing
Newspapers and Magazines have not worked
Referring others
Offering free services

Kate:
Website – listings everywhere
Ask for referrals – tell someone
Yellow Pages
Deb:
Word of mouth
Internet
Calendars

Jan:
Follow up
Customer Service
Pat your staff on the back – they are happy and tell others

Tarnia:
Word of mouth
Tried a letterbox drop, will do again
Getting your face out there it has taken a year or more, but is paying off now
B2B Book and Networking
Yellow Pages

Close: Tarnia thanked everyone from coming along. Tarnia also mentioned that minutes will be put on to the website for others to see if they can utilise any info.