Gold Coast/Tweed Networking

Marketing Guru Jerry Crockford to speak at Business Excellence breakfast Wednesday May 20th 7am Tweed Heads Bowls Club

In these times of economic challenges, marketing your business in the best manner is an essential tool to move forward.

When times are tough, the tough get moving but they proceed with the best information and MARKETING STRATEGY!!  Jerry Crockford of Crockford Carlisle P/L will give relevant and up to date marketing tips at the Business Excellence business breakfast next Wednesday 2oth May at Tweed Heads Bowls Club at 7am. Bookings to john@businessexcellence.net.au or by phone to 0418 269 136 before 12 noon Monday18/5/09.

Jerry is a highly experienced speaker and marketing practitioner and will show you:

• Why customers do/do not buy
• Understand the role in facilitating the buying process
• when to speak and when to shut-up and why!
• How to write good copy for your advertisements and where best to place the adds.
• and much more….

This breakfast will be relevant and you will leave with many new ideas to conquer all!!

For $25.00 (tax deductible) you can not only receive the most up to date and best marketing information from Jerry Crockford- you have a sumptuous breakfast with cereal, fruit salad and the best HOT BREAKFAST on the coast. Make the time to be present at the friendliest business breakfast in the Gold Coast/ Tweed area. We have been running continously for nearly sixteen years!! We must be doing something right!!

So pick up the phone or email John NOW!!

Remember our money-back guarantee if you do not receive what we have promised to deliver.

Stay Positive

 John Hurd

Where the bloody hell were you??

As the famous Australian cricketer’s stunning girl friend said “Where the bloody hell were you?”

There were vacant seats at John Hurd’s Business Excellence breakfast last Wednesday. The business people who “forgot” to attend (even though they were booked) missed one of Australia’s best female presenters KAREN SCHMIDT.  Speak to anyone who was present if you want to check the validity of the writer’s claim

It never ceases to amaze me that so many people complain about the “economic climate” and yet miss out on learning and listening to the very best speakers in Australia at these monthly business breakfasts. You meet positive people and network in the truest sense. We must be doing something right to have run continuously for nearly 16 years!!

Our next speaker/presenter for May 20th is Marketing Dynamo JERRY CROCKFORD- in my opinion on of the best marketing advisors in the business. Bookings can me made to john@businessexcellence.net.au any time. All bookings, excluding Gold Sponsors, must be prepaid on line to reserve your seat. Details for this prepayment should be available on this website here- if not clear a quick email to the above address will foreard all details.

Speakings coming up in the next few months are RON McLEAN- International Presenter and BOB ANSETT  who needs no introduction as one of the best speakers in Australia on “Customer Service”

Scroll through our speakers profilers on this website and you will realise the tremendous opportunities to meet positive people and listen/learn from the best presenters in the business. There is no negativity at these breakfasts.

The articles on business tips and marketing will now be available in the next article.

Have a great week and hope to see you at the business breakfast at Tweed Heads Bowls Club 7am on May the 20th. First time visitors can attend for a discounted $20.00 fee- which is tax deductible.

Keep positive- remember positive business is all about attitude.

 John Hurd

Convenor- Business Excellence Marketing and Promotions

Fighting the recession with positive thinking

 In these difficult times we need to keep a positive focus. Thanks to “The Australian” and Peter Switzer- well respected marketing and financial guru- we have re-printed the recent article below which is well worth reading in these turbulent times.

Fight the recession with positive thinking

by Peter Switzer – The Australian March 30, 2009 12:00am

AS the old saying goes: when the going gets tough, the tough get going. But the smart get thinking, and

that has to be the best response for business owners trying to combat the economic downturn that looks to

be turning into a recession.

A largely unexpected fall in economic growth in the December quarter has dashed the chances of

Australia just dodging an official recession, The Australian reported.

The hope was that the December quarter would be barely positive, the March quarter would be negative

for sure and by the June quarter the combined hit of the $42 billion stimulus package and the 4 per cent

cut in interest rates might turn the economy slightly positive.

The official definition of recession is six months of negative growth. This still has not happened but media

outlets are running hard with recession headlines, which is bound to hinder consumer and business

confidence. That is the main reason I hoped we would have only one quarter of negative growth so we

could leverage off a possible “no recession” headline.

This is not outrageously optimistic thinking as the February National Australia Bank business survey

shows that business confidence, while still negative, improved substantially over the month.

However, if business owners must deal with the added weight of recession talk everywhere we go, the

best response is to fight negativity with realistic positiveness. Every business has to pull out the greatest

marketing effort imaginable and it has to be done at effective cost. Some companies take risks and

actually increase their marketing spend, but that takes courage and great cash flow.

Others recognise that through good times when revenue came flooding through the front door, there was

insufficient lateral thinking or outside-the-square strategising going on.

I have mentioned this before but Edward de Bono says the great business competitors are also great

lateral thinkers. This is the time to get your team together and think about ways to increase sales as well

as drive down costs.

Michael Eisner, the former boss of Disney, used to have weekend brainstorming sessions that included

people from all parts of the business. Marketing executives got together with ticket collectors to see what

innovations were possible.

Eisner believed the guy on the amusement rides often knew stuff about Disney customers that executives,

armed with their folders of marketing research, did not.

Lots of businesses forget that often 80 per cent of business is generated from 20 per cent of their

customer base. These great customers should be targeted in these tough times. Thinking about your

customers’ needs is the best way to come up with moneymaking innovation.

This is also the time to look at your costs, line by line, and see if you have accepted bills from suppliers

that were struck when everyone was busy and revenue flowed freely.

Your staff should be included in your cost reduction drive as they could be the ones that go for high priced,

immediate courier services for packages or documents that possibly don’t need to be sent urgently.

This is the time for innovation and leadership: they go hand in hand. It is the testing material of leaders and

their teams. Creating a oneness in your assault on the recession threat could create a much better

business, which will shift into the fast lane when the economy improves.

Recently, I came across a British restaurant that took on the recession there by creating an all-you-can-eat

deal provided customers paid £5 for alcohol. It has worked a treat and the restaurant has even attracted

television stories, such that a business commentator in Australia is talking about the business.

Sponsorship of Business Excellence is the best way to market you product or services.

Peter Switzer’s article stresses to need to market NOW more than ever. For over 15 years John Hurd’s Business Excellence Marketing and Promotions business has been assisting Tweedand Gold Coast businesses to market sucessfully their products and services. Print out a sponsorship form now (see right side column) or phone/email John as shown in the website.

The benefits obtained from Gold Sponsorship are many and are proven to be very cost effective.

Next Business Breakfast Wednesday 15th April 2009- Dynamic Speaker & Author Karen Schmidt.

We are delighted to have Karen Schmidt present at the Business Excellence Breakfast at Tweed Heads on the 15th April at 7am. No DST for six months – so hope more Queenslanders can take advantage of out return to a sane same time zone.

Karen never fails to deliver the very latest business news and tips as she moves around corporate Australia speaking to businesses both large and small. For the full flyer and details see “next breakfast”- just click on- or email : john@businessexcellence.net.au .

Next week we will return with more business and networking articles for your information.

All the best

John Hurd

How to keep inspired and motivated in tough times

How do we keep going in these tough times. Some of your answers will be found at the next Business Excellence Breakfast at Tweed Heads Bowls- 18 th March 2009-  6-45am for 7am start- 8-25 am finish DST-  An hour earlier for the suffering Queenslanders. (see article later in this bulletin).

Guest presenter at this breakfast is LIBBY SANDER. Libby is a thought leader on the future of people performance and work design and she is passionate about helping organisations create environments that engage, retain and inspire their talent. Libby thinks out of the square. Her presentation is not to be missed. For more detail please email me at john@businessexcellence.net.au . You can also book via this email.

DAYLIGHT SAVING PARTY FOR SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND.

Well finally a group putting themselves forward at the coming Qld. Election with the sole principle of DAYLIGHT SAVING FOR SOUTH EAST QLD.

Their web address is www.ds4seq.org.au  Membership is free. They are standing over 30 candidates- wow if a few get in it will be interesting indeed!!

They are endeavouring to send a message to both parties. I spoke to Mark the Deputy of the LNP who said simply when I asked him about DST- he said “NO WAY”.

Bothsides of the house- both parties have no idea of the inconvenience and cost to our businesses on both sides of the border. If you suport them- please do so.

SPECIAL THANKS TO HY-PROFILE- June and Graham Richards for their great office/showroom opening gig.

Checkout our generous sponsors at www.goldcoasttweednetworking.com. Just click on their name and you will go straight to their website.

Thanks for taking the time in your busy day to read this buletin. Hope you make one of our breakfasts. We offer a money back guarantee if you don’t get at least one top idea to improve your business- see me as you leave the breakfast!  Would you believe we have never had to refund- why?? Our breakfasts only have the best speakers in Australia and we have the friendliest networking opportunities in the world. We have run cotinuously since 1993 or 16 years this August.

Keep positive

John Hurd 0418 269 136

More Free Networking Opportunities for Tweed/Gold Coast Businesses

Business Excellence Networking is the best network available to meet like minded business people at the monthly business breakfasts or the Networking Nights.

Bob and Leah from Coastal Casual Furniture/Pride Furniture/Australian Medical Chairs & Trolleys hosted a fabulous evening attended by businesses from both sides of the border at the end of January.

We now have another opportunity for Business Excellence Gold Sponsors to join with June and Graham Richards of Hy- Profile Promotions to celebrate the opening of the new Tweed showroom office next week.

This night is primarily for Sponsors to meet at another venue besides the very popular business breakfasts held each month at Tweed Heads Bowls Club. These breakfasts have been conducted for over 15 years and attract the very best speakers in Australia.

Joining  Gold Sponsorship is set out in the right hand side of this website by following the prompts or contact with our email as shown in next paragraph.

Our next breakfast is Wednesday 18th February 2009 with Heath Guru Jennifer Jeffries. Jennifer travels the world spreading her brilliant message of health and life balance. If contact is made to john@businessexcellence.net.au more details re the breakfast and about Jennifer Jeffries cna be obtained.

Thanks for taking the time to read our message and look forward to meeting new members at the breakfast and our generous Gold Sponsors at our next Networking Night.

Keep positive.

John and Joan Hurd

Networking night highlights start of 16th year of Business Excellence Events.

John Hurd and his colleague Bob Caldwell from Pride Furniture do not believe in the “doom and gloom ” philosophy that is dominating our current business outlook.
John Hurd, founder of the Business Excellence breakfasts in 1993 stated that this is the time to remain positive and keep strong networking connections with positive people. This also is the time to re-examine your marketing strategy for 2009 and beyond.
Sponsorship of Business Excellence will give you and your business the competive edge. Details for sponsorship can be found “application form” on the side of this website.

Our Gold Sponsors can be found onthe right side also. Just click on their name and this should take you to their website.
SPECIAL WELCOME TO NEW SPONSORS
Welcome to June and Graham Richards from Hy-Profile. Their new office is situated at the Beryl Street end of Tweed Arcade which is opposite Tweed Centro.
They have a large range of quality promotional items such as caps, T-shirts, biros and many marketing items. Visit their showroom/office and you will be amazed with the wide variety of goods that can get “your name” out to your clients.

Happy New Year to all and we look forward to seeing our sponsors and special guests in late January at Pride Furniture corner of Amber and Industry Drive, Tweed Heads South.

NEXT BUSINESS BREAKFAST
Jennifer Jefferies International Health Guru will be speaking at Tweed Heads Bowls Club on Wednesday 18th February 2009.
Bookings to :john@businessexcellence.net.au
Details for this breakfast just click on
“next breakfast”

All the best in business excellence

John Hurd and Bob Caldwell.

We look forward to seeing you at the networking night and/or the February business breakfast. New business people are always welcome.

Beat the downturn and prepare for business success in 2009

Start your preparation for business success NOW by joining the most dynamic business group on the Gold and Tweed Coast. Free membership to the breakfast group -you only pay $25.00 for the BEST breakfast, BEST Speaker/ Presenters and the very BEST Networking Group on the eastern seaboard!

John Hurd established Business Excellence Breakfasts in 1993 and they have run successfully for the past 15 years. Come along and find out the secret of their success. You will mix with the friendliest business group in Australia- Money back if you do not enjoy the event!!

The last breakfast for 2008 will be held at Tweed Heads Bowls Club on Wednesday 17th December 2008 at 7am DST or 6am for the Queenslanders- sorry guys. You will feel so good rising early and hearing the wisdom of NICK BOTTRALL from the Executive Institute of Management.

A highly successful business person who has done the hard yards in business and felt the “highs and the lows” This presentation will leave you inspired to tackle any negativity and will guide you to power through the “doom and gloom” spruikers.

FOR THE FULL FLYER AND DETAILS SIMPLY EMAIL  john@businessexcellence.net.au NOW!! or click on NEXT BREAKFAST at right

Your breakfast cost is fully tax- deductible.

Keep positive

 John Hurd

Face Reading Guru speaking at Business Excellence Breakfast

Face reading provides an immense benefit to the Corporate environment- in particular- Human Resources, team building, sales performance, negotiating, effective management, staff interaction and overall business success.

SHARON CHAPMAN OF “SHIFT HAPPENS’ will reveal the  system that reveals a person’s personality and character…at a glance!! at this dynamic business breakfast presentation.

With Face Reading you can achieve this within a matter of moments of meeting a complete stranger!

Discover the latest techniques of this fascinating process recently highlighted in BRW Magazine.

Check out Sharon’s web site : www.sharonchapman.com.au for more information.

BOOKINGS FOR THIS BUSINESS BREAKFAST AT TWEED HEADS BOWLS CLUB NEXT WEDNESDAY 19TH NOVEMBER TO : john@businessexcellence.net.au or M. 0418 269 136.

Sales, Customer Service and leadership speaker Mia Munro to address Tweed/Gold Coast business breakfast October 15th

International presenter Mia Munro is speaking at Tweed Heads Bowls Club at 7am DST NSW time on the 15th October 2008.

Have you often wondered why some people perform better than others? There are motivators and demotivators for success in life and every day business.

Mia has travelled the world working with large corporate groups and small and medium businesses. She has the knowledge and background to encourage your staff or your self to extraordinary results- still having fun and enjoying the day but with more effective communications skills and the ability to to build more effective relationships.

Her easy to use key performance factors will enable individuals to empower them to realise their potential and perform to a higher level. A happy and positive team creates a workplace that is exceptional!

Invest your time by attending this breakfast on Wednesday 15th October at 7am daylight savings time- have an early coffee/tea and network with Tweed and Gold Coasts leading business people.

Bookings please to john@businessexcellence.net.au or to 0418 269 136 by October 10th.

More top speakers in November and December- keep checking our website.

See you on the 15th October.

John and Joan Hurd

World famous Escapoligist-Magician speaking at Business Excellence Breakfast September 17th 2008

World renowned Escapoligist and Magician Arthur Coghlan will be the guest presenter at Tweed Heads Bowls Club on Wednesday 17th September 2008 at 7am. Bookings can be made by email to john@businessexcellence.net.au .
Arthur Coghlan has many stories to tell. Last year he received in the USA an award for the “Best Escapologist of all Time”. Through his positive thinking he has defied logic and baffled universities, engineers and experts from all walks of life by making the seemingly impossible, possible!
He is the most interesting  and engaging speaker you will ever hear and see. A short DVD of his many escapes will be shown prior to his presentation. This is an event not to be missed.
Check out Arthur’s web site www.arthurcoghlan.com

BUSINESS NETWORKING TIPS CONTINUED
BUILDING BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS
At business breakfasts and other events do not expect instant results or business. People deal with people they like and respect. This relationship may take some time and patience should be exercised to develop strong and lasting networking ties.
FOCUS MORE ON THE OTHER PARTY
At your first meeting try and glean information from the other person about what they do and what does their business do rather than earbash them about you, you, you!  You can prepare a simple two lines of what you do but then ask for their business card. Do read the card in front of the person making some sensible comment that shows you are genuinely interested in them.
VALUE YOUR BUSINESS CARDS
Treat the business cards you receive like gold! if space on back write when and where you met or other relevant comments. There are various computer programs to store the cards but my favourite method is to use the rubber band system. Put all the cards from one function together and write notes on back of one function attended etc. and slip a rubber band around them. Simple method but works for me!!
FOLLOW UP YOUR CONTACTS
Email the persons your receive new cards from within 48 hours to keep in touch or to say “enjoyed meeting you at…….”. Also arrange a face to face meeting for a tea/coffee within a reasonable time frame if you wish to establish a business relationship.
GIVE OUT CARDS TO EVERYONE
Don’t be afraid to give out cards to the garage console operator or the shop assistants you meet. You never know how many people they know. Next newsletter will discuss design of the b/card.

Enjoy the challenges in business and hope to see you at the next breakfast 17th September.
JOHN HURD