manchester nov 2014

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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 you get you excited about using networking in your business growth.

People Buy People First

There are pwlenty 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 times 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 or, 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!

Ann

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The People Behind the Businesses

Our New Achievers Club

Dates foryour DiaryPg.2 Pg.3 Pg.7

KEEP CALMAND

CARRY ON NETWORKING

TheVoiceOfManchesterNov 2014 Bringing trusted businesses

and the community together

2 | The Voice of Manchester - Nov 2014 | thebestof.co.uk/manchester

The People Behind the Business Faz Page, Osteopath, in conversation with Ann Prax

ThePeople

Behind theBusiness

Faz, tell me about your career path to become an Osteopath:It all started 20 years ago….. I had just finished a Sports Massage course, and my wife was pregnant with our first child, Myles. It was a difficult birth, resulting in a misaligned pelvis for Mum. She left hospital on crutches! Naturally wishing to help, I discussed her case with my Course Tutor. He advised me to massage her legs, as her muscles had gone into spasm – within three weeks she had discarded her crutches. This gave me my burning desire to learn more about the manipulation of the human body.I was working with Bolton Wanderers FC at the time, having progressed from Kit Man to First Team Therapist, but in 2004 I relinquished my duties at the

‘Trotters’ to study to become a qualified Osteopath. Whilst I still am actively involved with numerous sporting institutes, I now operate out of a private practice in Chorlton.Faz, what do you consider your Career highlight?No doubts… After all the hard work studying and qualifying as a mature student (involving travelling from Manchester to London every week), finally gaining my Degree at Oxford Brookes University and attaining my formal qualifications as an Osteopath is the highlight of my career.Could we have one piece of advice on the long term care of our bodies?In the UK, we don’t seem to have the same mind set as many other developed countries, who like to work, REST, and play. We just want to work and play. It is so important that we take time to look after our bodies, so I always advise regular exercise, a balanced diet and a good night’s sleep.Who is the most influential person in your career, and why?Jorge Estevez, my University

Tutor – he has such knowledge in our field, he gifted me a position on his Osteopath Degree Course, and became my mentor during my tenure.Manchester doesn’t seem short of advertised Osteopaths – why are you thebestof Manchester?I have a burning passion for the service I provide and the treatment that I deliver. I will never stop asking “Why has this problem occurred, and what can I do to resolve it?”Faz, what are your long term goals?I hope I’ll never stop learning, searching and asking questions – in time, I would wish to pass on my knowledge to other Osteopaths, and create new job opportunities to any aspiring student Osteopaths.Thank you, Faz, we are proud to have you as a member of thebestof Manchester family.

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

thebestof.co.uk/manchester | The Voice of Manchester - Nov 2014 | 3

of the monthA FREE month on us!

We are soooo excited with the launch of the new FREE thebestof APP that we want more local businesses to benefit and we need your help! Would you recommend us? Who do you know that wants to grow their business locally? If you recommend a business to us that decides to join us before the end of January 2015, we will give YOU a FREE month’s membership to say thank you. So what are you waiting for?

Get recommending today!

OfferSpecial

OF THE MONTH

Call us now! 0161 933 7807 or visit [email protected]

Our New Achievers ClubAwarding outstanding businesses locally…

ACHIEVERS

Mohamed Hacene from Jasmine Restaurant – ChorltonWe love it when a business joins us and throws themselves into collecting reviews

and showcasing just how good their business is. Jasmine has collected over 80 reviews in just six weeks! Mind you, they are one of thebest in Manchester.

Mohamed can be contacted on 0161 956 2045

Tony Turner from SmarterHome4URecognising that in the home improvements game your reputation is everything, Tony Turner of SmarterHome4U is the first tradesman in the North West to be accepted onto the Home Improvements Guarantee Scheme. The nature of the scheme ensures that only tradesmen who are 100% confident in the quality of their work and levels of service are going to apply to be members. So no cowboy builders here.

Tony can be contacted on 0161 956 3612

Darren Gibbons from SistenaBy demonstrating their ability to meet their customer’s needs in the evolving marketplace and demonstrating their expertise through rigorous assessments and customer testimonials, Sistena have been awarded membership of the

Microsoft Cloud Accelerate partner programme. This further validates Sistena’s expertise in assisting your business with purchasing and deploying Office 365 and online Exchange.

Darren can be contacted on 0161 956 2296


Working Well

We are looking for...

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

Everybody likes to receive good feedback on the service they provide, and we at thebestof Manchester are no exception - so we were delighted when we received this review from FLEXiSPACE.COM

At thebestof Manchester 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:

0161 933 7807 | [email protected]

• Solicitors • Vets • Accountants • Dentists

FLEXiSPACE“FLEXiSPACE was formed in 2013, a new business with an ambitious growth plan built on the desire to serve local businesses and home users with a modern, fit for purpose Self Storage & Workspace solution.

Like any new business our first operating need was to find and win new customers, shouting our message from the roof tops to build awareness and at least capture interest. Entering a new market or launching a new business is tricky at the best of times and certainly identifying partners that could contribute to this goal harder still.

However we then found thebestof Manchester and quickly realised we had a trusted partner that wasn’t paying lip service to our needs, but would join us in the trenches and “get stuck in” Indeed our selection of Ann was matched in the meticulous assessment she made of FLEXiSPACE in terms of us being a suitable thebestof partner – we remember the grilling well!

Since partnering thebestof Manchester we have found they are as keen as we are to see success. They measure success in terms of satisfied partners, so regular contact and reviews have allowed us to start at a higher level than expected providing us with reviews, blogs, offers and frequently asked questions that support our online strategies. But it doesn’t end there, Ann is part of our offline sales strategy. Ann spends time positioning our business in the minds of all she meets (and that’s a lot of people) whether this be in one to one contact or within the networking events she attends, generating interest that we follow up with high levels of success.

We have already recalibrated our expectation around thebestof Manchester membership and look forward to enhancing our relationship over the next 12 months and for many years to come.”


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 Won Tons & A Coke’ with every main meal On Wednesdays. The cost of the won tons 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 Won Tons 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 over 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

We know it isn’t always easy to come up with killer offers, but don’t despair, 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 0161 933 7807 and let us know!

Atlas Survey & Building ServicesFrom providing damp and timber reports to home condition and maintenance reporting Atlas don’t just do the survey but carry out the work in a timely and cost effective manner.

Contact Brandon on 0161 210 5195

Bizspace f you are looking for affordable office space near the city centre, then consider Bizspace at the Empress Business Centre. Serviced offices available on short term leases set in an old Victorian brewery.

Contact Ian on 0161 877 5579

BizWizUKSpecialising in social media training and support for businesses throughout Manchester and the North West, Bizwizuk offer LinkedIn and other social media training together with social media management.

Contact Ann on 0161 956 3835

Buckland HarvesterProviding business and personal insurance, Buckland Harvester offer a tailored service providing clients with the most comprehensive cover at the most cost effective price.

Contact David on 0161 956 8690

Chorlton FireworksOne of our newest members, Saj is passionate about everthing relating to fireworks. Open all year round, Saj has tried every firework in the shop. From sparklers for the kids up to fully managed displays Saj advises on what is suitable for the space and display required.

Contact Saj on 0161 452 0316

Épicerie LudoÉpicerie Ludo is a modern day grocery supplying the local community with the finest of wines, spirits and beers, freshly baked bread, a great range of delicatessen products and groceries. Open 7 days a week from 9am to 10pm.

Contact Ludo on 0161 452 0316

Excel-A-Rate Business Cash LtdExcel-A-Rate Business Cash Ltd offer unsecured cash advances of up to £100,000 to companies using merchant card systems, based on card transactions. The decision making process is quick and simple and the money can be in your account within days.

Contact Colin on 0161 956 3825

Flock of Pigs ManchesterFlock of Pigs Manchester Ltd (FoPM) is an award-winning Manchester based strategic creative graphic design and marketing consultancy. Founded by registered Growth Coach Phil Ainley.

Contact Phil on 0161 930 8055


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!

Challenge 4 ChangeChallenge4Change is an award winning registered charity offering team building courses, training groups to work together and encourage others, whilst developing their own communication skills.

C4C is based at the only indoor urban activity centre of its kind in Europe, comprising of a ground level assault course and high ropes activities, designed specifically to help individuals learn plenty about themselves and others.

See the events section for details of their fund raising activities in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust and Children in Need.

For further information call Sabeeya on 0300 1231401

Challenge 4 Change – Knockout CancerAn event in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust and Children in Need and a Guinness World Record Attempt – a 24 hour Aerial Marathon – are you up for it?

t: 0300 1231401

Enterprise Day Event 2014 A celebration of the Achievement of Local Businesses. A full day event celebrating local businesses, including an exhibition and ‘Dragons Den’ competition. Interested?

t: Richard on 07590 25544

Thebestof Manchester ‘LunchBox’ Easy networking to grow your business. A chance to meet other members of thebestof Manchester and introduce your company to lots of new businesses. If you’ve not booked, give us a call.

t: 0161 933 7807

59 Minutes to Save ChristmasOne for the kids (and the children amongst you). An interactive headphone journey around Z-Arts. Things are very, very, wrong – Christmas trees are behaving strangely, there are rumours of grumpy fairies and elves throwing baubles at shoppers! Someone is out to spoil the fun, the clock is ticking and no one can stop it but you!

t: 0161 232 6089

15th

Nov29th

Nov

19th

Nov20th

to

24th Dec

The Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention CharityWhilst there are many charities within the UK and Manchester supporting the victims of breast cancer, The Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention charity, based at Wythenshawe Hospital, is the only charity in the UK which focuses on the prediction and prevention of breast cancer.

Throughout the year, Genesis organise a huge array of fundraising events, from the BUPA Manchester Run in May to their Ladies’ Lunch in October, and watch out for details of their Christmas Concert at Manchester Cathedral on Friday 19th December.

For further information call Suzanna on 0161 291 4404

Did you know...Thebestof Manchester insists on two reviews from each business before they can become a member?

Reviews are an extremely powerful tool in generating new business. To capitalise on this we have a reviews widget that allows your customers to leave reviews both on your website and ours. What’s a reviews widget, I hear you ask? In short, it’s a small application that sits on your website and allows your customers to leave great reviews!

It couldn’t be easier to add to your site, just give us a call, and together we can ensure you’re generating the new business you deserve.

thebestof Manchester is run by Ann.

Hi, I am Ann, and the team and I are passionate about promoting local businesses with great reputations. Every business we feature has been checked out by us and recommended by other local people or businesses. Call me for a chat if you are interested in joining thebestof Manchester business community.

We are here to help, please get in touch! Call us on 0161 933 7807Ann Prax [email protected]

Bringing trusted businesses and the community together

/thebestofManchester

Call 0161 933 7807www.thebestof.co.uk/manchester

@TBoManchester

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

manchester nov 2014

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