CBF Group's blog

It’s that time of the month again when I realised I have taken far too long to do another #TuesdayCatchUp blog post. With an amazingly busy month at the CBF Towers and the wonderful Cheltenham Horse Racing Festival, time has just been taken away from me in the past couple of weeks.

I know a lot of people like reading the previous #TuesdayCatchUp review but I am making this post more about looking towards the future. There is lots going on in the #TuesdayCatchUp camp and there is some really exciting news to come out too (keep reading to find out what it is).

Before I go into all the exciting news I just want to share a very interesting fact with you all. You may not believe it but #TuesdaycatchUp is in fact only 9 events old, but already over the last three events we have consistently hit 50+ attendees. That includes our February event where we believe we had our record attendance we over 60 people turning up.

For those of you that may have not attended a #TuesdayCatchUp event, just think that this is an extra 50+ businesses monthly event that you could be introducing yourself to. Not many other networking groups can offer those kinds of figures and the best thing about it is the event is FREE.

Now, some of you may have noticed that we have been a tad quiet on the Winston’s Wish fundraising front. This is because we have a big sweep stake taking place at the May event so we wanted you to be able to really dig deep in to those pockets and donate to get your chance to win some fantastic prizes.

For those of you that don’t know, my partner & I are expecting our first child on the 6^th June. So the May sweep stake is going to be based on guessing the sex of the baby, date of birth & weight. I shall be going in to more detail with regards to the baby sweep stake in a blog post to follow but to take part you must be at the May 1^st #TuesdaycatchUp event.

Now to the most important news, some people are saying it’s the news of the century, well I have been anyway.

Due to the great success of the Cheltenham #TuesdayCatchUp business networking event, me and the oh so lovely Rachel Davis of the British Heart Foundation (@GlosOx) are pleased to inform you all we are now introducing the Gloucester #ThursdayCatchUp.

Rachel Davis – Co-host of #ThursdayCatchUp

So for those of you lovely business people that were always interested in the idea of #TuesdaycatchUp but couldn’t make it over to Cheltenham, here is your chance to get involved at our Gloucester event. This is not to say if you are from Cheltenham or already go to #TuesdayCatchUp you cannot join us at #ThursdayCatchUp as well. In fact we are encouraging followers of #TuesdayCatchUp to come to the Gloucester event as you are only going to introduce yourself to even more businesses if you do. We would love to see businesses from all over come and support the event.

The Gloucester #ThursdayCatchUp is going to take place on the third Thursday of each month, with the first event taking place on the 19^th April at 18:30.

Keep your eyes peeled for a far more detailed blog post with regards to #ThursdayCatchUp with lots more news and information.

In the meantime if you would like to receive any information on the Gloucester #ThursdayCatchUp then please do not hesitate to contact Rachel Davis or myself on the following:

Rachel Davis – Twitter / @Glosox : Email / davisr@bhf.org.uk

Adam Le Grand – Twitter / @CBFprinters : Email / alegrand@cbfnet.co.uk : Call / 01242 237 652

In house print production & Print Management Solutions

www.bhf.org.uk

Part of heading the #TuesdayCatchUp networking events is making sure I am keeping as many people happy as possible that attend.

This is why I run the #YVH (Your Voice Heard) section of the #TuesdayCatchUp blog so everyone can have their say.

The changes that have already been put in place through #YVH are having #TuesdayCatchUp at 18:30 instead of 18:00 & the introduction of name tags. They may only be small changes but there has been good feedback with regards to these appeasements.

With regards to any of the #YVH’s you come across through speaking to people or seeing them mentioned in Twitter please do not hesitate to throw in your own suggestion using the #YVH hash tag or by dropping me a email to alegrand@cbfnet.co.uk.

Here are some of the latest noises that have been made using the #YVH hash tag on twitter and how and am going to try and deal with them.

Can we go some else for food after the event rather than always going to curry houses?

For those people that like to stick around and carry on the networking after the event has finished know that we do usually visit one of the local curry houses around 21:00. Some people have used #YVH to state that they would love to come for food but do not necessarily like Indian food.

For these people they will be happy to hear that we will be going to Zizzi’s Italian following the March 6^th event. I know one person that will be especially happy about this, no names being mentioned…

Due to the sheer number of people that attend it can sometimes be difficult to tell who is actually part of the #TuesdayCatchUp event. Can anything be done to make it more obvious?

As mentioned earlier I have already introduced name tags so that should go a long way towards helping. Something else that I am going to try and introduce is getting people to congregate more in one area of the pub instead of being all spread out. Obviously we need to be respectful of the other paying customers who are out to enjoy their evening but if we can find an area we can all be together this should help show who is actually part of the networking group.

It can sometimes be difficult to get around speaking to everyone to give them business card of other type of literature. Can there be a focus point for materials such as these?

I am going to speak to the pub managers to see if we can reserve one of the tables so people can leave a small pile of their business cards etc for people to see and pick up at the leisure. This table is also where you will collect your name tag from in future to save me having to pester you all to see if you have one or not. I am hoping this will also help keep people in one area of the pub more as well.

Is the Exmouth Arms Pub as a venue simply becoming too small?

We definitely had a fantastic turn out for the last event but I am going to keep an eye on the situation over the next couple of events. If #TuesdayCatchUp maintains the high attendee figures or even keeps on growing then yes I may need to look into options for the venue. If in the next couple of months I do feel that the venue is becoming too small then I will make sure everybody knows the venue has changed. The reason why I don’t not want to change venue just yet is because I am hoping when the weather warms up a bit we will be about to move the event in to the superb Exmouth Arms Beer Garden. Business networking outside, not many other networking groups can offer that luxury can they, pure bliss.

For now I believe that is everything dealt with but if you have any comments to make or want to make #YVH with regards to anything else then please do not hesitate to contact me. Remember you can always you the hash tag #YHV on twitter.

Adam out!

#TuesdayCatchUp Great #Glosbiz networking!

Miriam Pethania

www.iconoclast-images.co.uk

This week is it time for us to take a #CloserLook at a local business called Iconoclast.

Over to you Miriam…

Hi, I’m Miriam Pethania and I run Iconoclast – a bespoke art printing company, and it is something that I’m very passionate about.

Iconoclast started in 2006 – we specialize in digital imaging and work with designers, photographers and artists across the spectrum. We found our clients were wanting to create something beautiful and unique in print, so Iconoclast spun off from there. Our clients have a particular vision in their minds and come to us to bring it to life.

It can be different every day – from a fresh-faced art graduate who’s just starting out, or someone with a vintage family photograph that they want share with others – to designers and corporate clients looking for fresh design solutions, or something stunning and personal for weddings and parties.

We started off with photographic printing, then took on fine art materials like watercolour papers and pure cotton canvases. Now we’re fully bespoke and source the material that suits the project. We’ve worked with everything from aluminium sheets and vinyl banners, to pure silk drapes and wall clings – as well as the more traditional media – ranging from the size of a postcard, to the size of a house!

A bespoke print from Iconoclast is really a work of art in itself, because it’s hand-crafted, all the way. We look at each drop of colour and make sure it says what you want it to say. Having the privilege of working with some of the finest artists in history, including Turner, Whistler and Van Gogh – was an incredibly humbling experience, to literally get under the skin of a genius.

It’s exciting to work with contemporary artists and photographers – from the more well-established, to up-and-coming newcomers. Our photographic background also comes in handy to restore historic images – a recent highlight was reviving some vintage glass plate photographs and putting them onto silk for a couple’s diamond anniversary – the first time we’ve brought tears to someone’s eyes!

If you would like to be the next person we take a #CloserLook at them please send a short blurb to me (no longer than 350 words) at alegrand@cbfnet.co.uk.

Adam out!

;

Today we are taking a #CloserLook at Suzie Goodman, also known as @KarmaKarsCots.

Over to you Suzie.

Hi, I’m Suzie Goodman from Cheltenham and I’m the very proud owner of Karma Kars Cotswold. We are a wedding car hire company operating across the Cotswolds as far as Oxford, Bristol and Birmingham.  Karma Kars started in London in 2000 with four Ambassadors imported direct from Calcutta. These iconic Indian cars, based on the 1950s British classic the Morris Oxford are classic looking, similar to a Morris Minor only bigger and with a boot! What makes a Karma Kar so special is the painstaking time & attention to detail spent on transforming each car into a veritable work of art. Both bumpers are festooned with exotic flowers and every inch of their interiors are decorated with sequins & beads.

Riding in a Karma Kar is a truly enchanting experience, guaranteed to make every bride’s special day jaw-droppingly stylish.  Karma Kars are practically celebrities in their own right, we’ve been in the music videos of Lily Allen and Keane, booked by Bloombergs and Selfridges and have driven many a celebrity client including Kate Moss, Sienna Miller and the Jaggers.  One of our cars even appeared in a Coronation Street wedding! (Dev & Sunita – fact fans).

After having a Karma Kar at her own wedding in London in 2005, Suzie brought the concept to the Cotswolds in 2010 offering a girly chauffeur experience quite like nothing else. She wanted to buck the trend of a traditional wedding car company so she dresses to impress and certainly doesn’t wear a chauffeur’s cap!  Her first year saw a bumper crop of twelve weddings, this year is already looking busy when you consider that this time last year when she launched she had zero bookings!

Outside of weddings and beautiful cars, Suzie enjoys her 2 gorgeous children, ridiculously high-heeled shoes and cheese of any persuasion.

If you would like to be the Gloucestershire business we are taking a #CloserLook at then please drop me a blurb about yourslef and your business (no more than 350 words to alegrand@cbfnet.co.uk.

Adam out!

As part of the ever growing and demanding force of nature that is the #TuesdayCatchUp I am now adding a section to the blog called ‘Closer Look’.

It is kind of what it says on the tin…

Life seems to move at such a fast pace now that you can be speaking to people constantly on twitter and meeting them at #TuesdayCatchUp but you never really get a chance to find out who they really are.

I am giving people an opportunity to reach out to their fellow Twitter followers and readers of the blog and give them a #CloserLook into who they are and what they do.

To get involved with #CloserLook all I am simply asking you to do is email me @ alegrand@cbfnet.co.uk with a blurb (350 words max) giving people a #CloserLook at you and your business or the role within the business you work in.

Then what I will do is publish one of these #CloserLook articles once every 3-5 days or so. What I am looking to do is ask people to keep updating their #CloserLook every 6 weeks or so. This gives the followers an opportunity to build up a relationship with you and keep track on how you are doing.

The whole idea is personality sells, the more existing and potential customers know and like about you and your business the more they are likely to buy from you.

When I was sound boarding about this idea with my brother he posed the question of what should people write and how will it evolve from article to article?

My answer was simply that #CloserLook is not a chance to give a sales pitch. The person writing the #CloserLook should be informing people about; how they started in the business, work ethic, achievement, Goals, upcoming projects etc. People always say about first impression is all that counts, I don’t believe that is necessarily true but personality does sell a business. If people can connect with your personality then the customers will not only come but will also be loyal.

As part of the #CloserLook article I am also encouraging people to attach a #LookCloser offer code. Like Twitter this will be limited to 140 characters, simply just added to the end of your #CloserLook article stating an offer.

For example: Contact me and state #CloserLook2012/A to receive 10% off your order.

This is all means of free marketing people, jump aboard and make the most of it.

Email me now with your #CloserLook article and I shall inform you to when it will be published on the blog.

Keep up the community out there!

Adam

February 7^th #TuesdayCatchUp Update

To quote a phrase from a wise man “The wisest man has long ears and a short tongue”.

This appears to be extremely true in the case of #TuesdaycatchUp. Using the likes of the new #YVH (Your Voice Heard) hash tag and just generally sitting back and listening to what people are saying I have received some very interested and useful feedback.

Because of the feedback I’ve received I have slightly changed my methods of interacting with people with regards to #TuesdayCatchUp and the response I have got has been phenomenal.

Since the end of 2011 #TuesdayCatchUp has been mentioned in the Cheltonian Magazine, been added to 5 or so online social calendars and had numerous mentions on various networking related blogs. With all this going on #TuesdayCatchUp is having its best invite response since it began.

I would like to say a huge personal thank you to Rachel from @GlosOx who has been really getting behind #TuesdayCatchUp and speaking to me behind the scenes about finding ways to help it grow.

This reminds me; keep your eyes out for future #TuesdayCatchUp blog posts as there is some big news to come out shortly…..

Anyway, back to the 7^th February #TuesdayCatchUp event, as I have already mentioned we are having some fantastic invite feedback so I am expecting a HUGE turnout.

We have 3 or 4 of the regular attendees celebrating their birthdays at the event so we are expecting the usually bubbly, friendly atmosphere times a million (I can confirm there are no exaggerations in this blog what so ever). A little “hint hint” if any of your cakey, bakey people are looking to come along then some birthday tasters would be a great way to showcase your skills.

You should all be please to hear after the success of the last #TuesdayCatchUp ‘The BIG question’ it is making a second appearance. For those of you that were not around for the first questions the game is as follows.

First of all I shall explain why we play the ‘#TuesdayCatchUp BIG question’ in the first place. The #TuesdayCatchUp event are official supporters of the local charity Winston’s Wish, so from time to time I come up with silly little ways to help raise some money for them. You can find out more about Winston’s Wish by visiting http://www.winstonswish.org.uk

I will be posing one question to everyone that attends the 7^th February #TuesdayCatchUp event and even though you do not have to pay to enter a small donation to go towards our Winston’s Wish pot is appreciated.

Then on Wednesday 8^th February I shall reveal the 3 people with the closest answer to the question who will all win a lovely prize. After the last ‘BIG question’ @Lifebooth walked away with a lovely bottle of Champagne, @photoglow enjoyed a box of Luxury Chocolates and @EllaStella will be enjoying a FREE drink on me at this upcoming event.

This time around I have arranged for some even BIGGER and BETTER prizes!

Keep an eye out for a blog post in the next couple of days revealing what the ‘BIG question’ is going to be. Don’t worry if you miss the blog post as I will be telling everyone the question on the night as well.

Apart from the ‘BIG question’ I am just expecting the usual high quality mingling and networking that people have grown to know and love from the #TuesdayCatchUp events, so make sure you all have a handful of business cards on you.

If any would like to join us I am sure we will be paying a visit to one of the local Curry houses after the event which usually takes place around 21:00/21:30. This is always a great way to carry on the work banter and fill those tummies after a night of networking.

If you know anyone that would like to come along to this event then please feel free to bring them along of get them to contact me at @CBFprinters / alegrand@cbfnet.co.uk for more details.

I look forward to seeing some friendly faces and new comers on the 7^th!

Enjoy the rest of your week you beautiful people.

Adam