Local News
Related Photos
-
HOLLY WEBER/STAFF
Discussion
Power Of Networking
Group works to improve contacts and provide referrals to other county businesses
It started out as a couple of friends referring customers to other friends and turned into a group of business owners and employees working to increase networking around the county. Now, they’re looking for more people to join the circle.
“It started in my front office, hanging out and talking,” said Cindy Eibl, a Mary Kay independent sales director and advisor for the network. “We thought, let’s open it up to other people.”
From there the group brainstormed and discovered they had friends in real estate, car sales, fitness, travel, photography and more, Eibl said. Instead of working independently from each other, they decided to work as a team.
“The main purpose of the Orleans County Business Network is to exchange referrals,” Regina Schunk said.
Schunk, the wellness consultant for XanGo and president of the network, said only one member from each profession, such as hair styling or realty, can belong to the group.
“If you had a referral for someone looking for a gym membership and you had two people, who would you give it to?” Schunk said. “It causes problems.”
The referrals come in several different ways. Each person has business cards for the other members to give out to
potential customers, and monthly meetings update everyone on specials and promotions taking place at the various businesses in the network. When a member makes a referral, they fill out a card with the information. Likewise, when someone gains a customer that was referred by another member, they fill out a card. The referrals are then tracked at the monthly meetings.
“If someone came up to me and said, ‘I’m looking for a hairstylist,’ the first thing I would say is, ‘Here, let me give you Edee (Hoffmeister)’s card,” Schunk said.
The group alternates each month between Medina and Albion for meetings, where they share marketing strategies, give an “infomercial” on upcoming events, pass out business cards, exchange referrals and discuss other business.
“It’s a chance for us to mix and mingle and share stories,” Schunk said.
Eibl said they are always looking for new members to join.
“Definitely,” she said. “We don’t have a mechanic, we don’t have a plumber ... We are looking for new members because we want to grow.”
Eibl said it is important for local businesses to work together.
“In a small community like this, we need to share our customers,” Eibl said. “You need to market amongst yourselves because no one’s going to do it for you.”
As far as the effect the networking has on business, Edee Hoffmeister, a hair stylist at Celebrity Day Spa, said it helps bring in customers.
“Every month we’ll track our leads we get,” Hoffmeister said. “It’s a great way to track business. I know where referrals are coming from.”
The group also tries to make a difference in the community by donating portions of their dues to charitable organizations. In the past year, they have given to the Knights-Kaderli Memorial Fund and Community Partners programs.
The next meeting of the network will be July 13 at Wiggly & Jiggly’s English Pub in Albion.
Contact Holly Weber at (585) 798-1400, Ext. 2225.
- Local News
-
-
Teens accused of harassing mosque parishioners
Members of the World Sufi Foundation Mosque have experienced harassment in the past, but nothing like what happened earlier this week. The disruption resulted in the arrest of five teens — one of whom is facing criminal charges for allegedly firing a weapon.
-
Dad gets 6 months in child's death
An Orleans County man who pleaded guilty in June to criminally negligent homicide in his daughter’s death was sentenced Monday to serve six months in jail.
-
Teens accused of harassing Carlton mosque
Members of the World Sufi Foundation Mosque have experienced harassment in the past, but nothing like what happened earlier this week. The disruption resulted in the arrest of five teens — one of whom is facing criminal charges for allegedly firing a weapon.
-
Community Action helps children prepare for school
Community Action of Orleans and Genesee completed its annual back to school drive Thursday, helping more than 200 children get supplies.
-
Remembering 9/11
Each year a group gathers in Albion to remember those who lost their lives that September day nine years ago. Holding tributes and candlelight vigils, the Orleans County American Legion has hosted the event to pay tribute to those involved in 9/11.
-
Special gift pushes trust campaign over the top
The Sandstone Trust of Medina has exceeded its 2010 summer campaign goal on the strength of a very special memorial gift which was made public this week. The immediate family of the late Fern J. Blackburn (widow of Paul R. Blackburn) presented a major contribution to the Trust committee in an amount equaling 20 percent of the entire summer campaign goal of $25,000. With this support, the total of summer gifts stands today at approx. $27,000, leaders said.
-
District confirms leave of absence
The Genesee County Sheriff’s Department issued an appearance ticket Aug. 21, requiring a district administrator to appear in Batavia Town Court next month to answer a charge of driving while intoxicated. The Holley Central School District can confirm that the administrator has been on leave since Aug. 3, which includes the alleged time of the incident.
-
Village improves skateboard agreement
The Village of Albion board had good news for skateboarders and Santa Clauses on Wednesday, approving the Town of Albion’s offer to help pay for skate park equipment and offering to assist with the upcoming celebration of legendary Santa Claus Charles Howard.
-
Fifty-six years strong for Camp Rainbow Fund
The Camp Rainbow Fund, which inherited its new name six months ago from the former Journal-Register Camp Fund, continued this summer to do good work on behalf of children in Orleans County. A total of $5,074 was raised from the public to send boys and girls “into the sunshine of Camp Rainbow,” located on Town Line Road in the northern part of Ridgeway.
-
Natale introduces book about spirituality, sexuality
Maintaining a relationship with God can be difficult for anyone who is tempted by the distractions of everyday life — money, sex, addictions. But faith goes deeper than the labels affixed to these indulgences and the churches people go to seeking guidance.
- More Local News Headlines
-
