Women's Business Magazine Summer 2015

Summer 2015 £2.00

Feature Interview

Safia Minney Founder of People Tree FEATURED ARTICLES Meet the Woman Behind The Business

Being a Woman in a Man’s World Peek into a Business Woman’s Office

FASHION Jada Sezer

Plus size model shares her story.

Jane Dare: DO YOU LOVE FASHION ?

DOES FASHION LOVE YOU?

Inspiring, Equipping & Empowering UK Business Women

Women’s Business Magazine Editor-in-Chief

Copy

Editor

angela@womensbusiness.club

Eric De Souza magazine@womensbusiness.club

Angela is guilty of squashing as much as possible into her diary and lately eating too much cake!

Eric is passionate about getting apostrophes in the correct place as well as playing his guitar as fast as humanly possible!

Creative Director

Advert Editor

Angela De Souza

Lorah-Kelly

Beard

lorah@womensbusiness.club

Samuel Beard magazine@womensbusiness.club

Lorah is a very talented photographer but when she was little she wanted to be a wedding dress designer.

Samuel finds joy in making sure everything is perfectly in line and symmetrical! Including the tv remotes...

Women’s Business Magazine - Print and Online FOUR EDITIONS DELIVERED TO: Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Forest of Dean, Malmesbury, Monmouth, Newport, Swindon, Tewkesbury, Wimbledon. www.womensbusiness.club (c) 2015 Women’s Business Club All images and text subject to copyright.

You may NOT reproduce, in whole or in part, any of the pages from this magazine or quotes of no more than two or three sentences with full credit attached to quote. If you wish to reproduce more than this, please contact the editor-in-chief. While endeavouring to make sure that all published information is accurate, the publishers cannot be held responsible for mistakes or omissions.

Photography by Lorah Kelly Creative Photography www.lorahkelly.co.uk | 07580249809

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Unique and Creative Product Photography

Welcome I am so excited, this may sound silly, but having our magazine in this new binding makes it feel like a real magazine now! It’s been an amazing journey and to see how far we have come in just three issues is absolutely incredible. We have introduced quite a few new sections in this edition, I will not tell you about them but allow you to discover all that is new and inspiring.

So much is packed into this issue now and we will keep on growing and improving so please do email me your feedback so that we can create a magazine that you will love!

Angela De Souza

Managing Director

hello@womensbusiness.club twitter.com/wombizclub facebook.com/wombizclub www.womensbusiness.club The Womens Business Club cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions or endorse companies, products or services that appear in this magazine.

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I Did It In My Pyjamas There is no recipe for business success.

Too often I get asked about the rules …. but I honestly believe that there aren’t any rules. If we all followed the rules there would be no creativity, no innovation and no fun! So this book doesn’t tell you how to do it but simply my story of how I did it. Enjoy!

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Table of

Contents

Safia Minney Founder and CEO of People Tree ...Page 06

Peek into a Business Woman’s Office... Page 10

Business Fashion ... Page 14

Woman in a Man’s World ... Page 18

Woman Behind the Business... Page 20

MEMBER ARTICLES

Is Your Business Set Up For Sales Success?... Page 39

Stop Comparing Yourself to Others!... Page 43

Delectable Planning for Inspired Events... Page 47

A Taste of Africa in Westgate Street... Page 51

Wize Ladies Sharing the Love ... Page 55

Twitter – why bother? ... Page 59

Is Your Coaching Business Getting You Down?... Page 63

More About Women’s Business Club... Page 28

NEWS & DATES Bath..............................................Page 38 Monmouthshire...........................Page 54 Cheltenham.................................Page 42 Swindon........................................Page 58 Forest of Dean.............................Page 46 Wimbledon...................................Page 62 Gloucester....................................Page 50 5

Safia Minney an exclusive interview

MBE Founder, CEO & Creative Director of Pioneering Fair Trade fashion label People Tree.

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Safia Minney

is a British social entrepreneur and campaigner who has pioneered a sustainable and Fair Trade fashion label, People Tree. Her passion is to provide customers with beautiful, ethical clothing. In 1999, she initiated the World Fair Trade Day which is celebrated on the second Saturday of May each year.

In 2009 Safia Minney was awarded an MBE in The Queen’s Birthday Honours.

In 2013, Safia launched the Rag Rage Campaign to clean up the fashion industry.

So why did you start People That provided me with some fantastic opportunities.

Tree?

The biggest priorities for People Tree was that these Fair Trade groups were women centric - that they were absolutely focused on delivering social benefit and empowerment to women and that they were open minded to work with new environmental practice, by pioneering production methods. Twenty five years ago was very new! So that was the starting At the age of twenty five I moved to Japan point. for what I thought would be a short time, but I found myself in a new country wanting What was your first hurdle? to find organic food like I had done in London but found very little of it. There Fair Trade finance is one of the biggest were some amazing social businesses in hurdles. Running a Fair Trade business is the area so I started buying from them as like running an ethical bank. Apart from a consumer but also helping them with offering fair prices, training and capacity their marketing and promotion. We started building we also have to pre-finance the listings on organic food, on how to recycle. orders nine months in advance with fifty When we started publishing these organic percent advance payment to producers. and ethical listings we found that so many That creates a huge financial burden to people were really keen to be a part of the the company. We run pattern cutting change but didn’t have the information or workshops, dyeing and quality management didn’t know how to. So we started Global workshops to name a few which cost a Village, which became People Tree. I huge amount. We also bring producers to started visiting groups, I did my research the cities where we are working whether it and found out which producer group and be Tokyo or London as part of the Market which Fair Trade groups were making what. Exposure Program so that they really Soon enough designers who were working understand who is buying their products. for Oxfam and Traidcraft found out I was It’s a very long term partnering approach doing a good job of product development and that requires huge investment of and retail in Japan and started contacting money. I think that is one reason why it me and getting me in touch with other took us as long as ten years to break even.

7 groups they recommended I worked with.

As a green consumer I wanted to spend my disposable income on products that would bring about social change. That’s why right from the age of seventeen I have been buying second hand or recycled products and organic food even while earning a tiny salary working for a publishing company at the time.

So what made you stick at it then, most people would give up if they haven’t made a profit after one year?

I definitely don’t think people should expect a profit after one year, three to five years perhaps would be more realistic.

With People Tree, we have really close relationships with producers and the whole ethos of the business is to work in partnership with other businesses that are passionate about how Fair Trade can What would you say is your change the world. And we see that when biggest failure? producers come here or when we visit producers and create films looking at the I remember meeting Anita Roddick while social impact that is incredibly exciting. working at the Body Shop in Japan when it That is what spurs us to keep going. started twenty five years ago, she said to me, “Just trust your intuition”. But when you are I do remember being pregnant with my young in your mid-twenties you don’t trust daughter who is now eighteen years old it enough. I think that is really important. and just lying there going “Oh my God we Starting in Japan was very difficult as I had have run out of money, what are we going to learn the language first. As women we to do!” And so there have been points can sometimes allow chauvinistic, dogmatic when we have wondered how we would thinking to get in the way of what you know get through it. can be changed!

Thinking back to your early days, what tips would you give to women starting out?

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Definitely having experience in the field that you are starting a company in and applying it. I was very lucky, even though I haven’t come from a traditional design background I had a lot of passion for crafts and textiles that came from my mum and grandmother but I also had worked in publishing, advertising and communications for about eight years before I started People Tree. I think that was really, really useful.

Sometimes there is the temptation to think that you can start a business right away by getting an MBA in business. Sometimes it is actually useful to work in a business first, even if it’s in a conventional sector and then start applying that experience afterwards.

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Take a Peek into...

Women’s Business Club HQ

Angela De Souza is the managing director of the Women’s Business Club and is a passionate entrepreneur, speaker, author and song writer. She is an activator and strategic thinker specialising in startup or turnarounds, maximising business growth and efficiency.

Nature keeps me grounded, all I need to

make sense of things is a moment looking at the delicate intricacies of a plant or butterfly. So I like to keep plants and pets in my office, my cats are often sitting on top of my laptop or my filing tray keeping me company.

I am very visual and although I am obsessed with tidiness I do like to stick things up on my wall to keep me focused.

Writing is is one of my hobbies, I have written about 27 books and am currently finishing of a new one. Mostly I write to process my thoughts but figure I may as well share them with others too!

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My husband is my hero and my greatest champion in the business. I don’t know what I would do without him, I also love our wedding photo on my desk because I was so thin! I would love to be that size again and spending hours sitting at my desk isn’t helping!

Business Q&A I run a sports therapy business and am struggling to figure out how to word my adverts and marketing material. Do you have any suggestions?

To start off with it would be good to write down every word that you associate with your business in a mind map format. This will help you to visualise your business and it will also trigger the creative side of the brain. Write down how your products and services link to each other and try to find the connection between them.

There is no right and wrong way of doing it, the main point is to get what it’s in your brain down on paper so you can see it and think more clearly about it.

The next step is to put yourself in your customer’s shoes and ask yourself how they would see all these words.

Try and formulate your advertising and marketing in a way that it solves a problem for them, answers a question or meets their need. You could create a second map where you try and get what you perceive your customers need to be and see how the two maps connect. Take time to speak to your ideal customer, ask them questions about what they need and write down all the words that come from them.

Play around with this as much as you need to until you find the words that will work best to communicate with your target audience.

Is it better to have the prices on our website or not?

I came across a post from a fellow business owner saying that they tried taking their prices off the website for a while to see if it made a difference.

And it did! They found that they got several more enquiries, but all price seeking and not necessarily ‘I love your work can I book you’ and surprisingly a lot less bookings!

This could mean a number of things, but what really stood out to me is that he took the time (and the risk!) to *test and measure*. We can debate all day, listen to plenty of seminars (all saying different things!) but the only way we can really know what works for us in our business is to experiment, test and measure.

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Fashion DO YOU LOVE FASHION ? DOES FASHION LOVE YOU?

How often have you heard friends or colleagues say they love the trends and styles this season but they don’t suit them?

Most women would like to be a curvaceous, There are 5 basic body shapes: balanced size 10 which is just not going to APPLE Top and bottom heavy. Don’t wear happen. But by being objective about your oversized or without shape. Try to introduce shape, understanding your proportions and waist, empire waist, single button jacket, belt using clothes and colour in the correct style at waist. Avoid high necklines. and design everyone can create the illusion of a shapely well balanced figure. This PEAR Bottom heavy, brighter colours or positive image generates self confidence details up top. Darker colours , plainer at bottom. Consider necklaces, interest at and says you care about yourself!

What is a balanced figure? Shoulders and hips should be the same width and the distance from the top of your head to your groin and from your groin to your ankle should be equal. So first determine what part of the body shape needs to be influenced by colour or style to create the balance.

neckline. Bare arms/strapless acceptable.

Avoid side pockets or detail at thighs/hips.

INVERTED TRIANGLE Top heavy, broad shoulders. Avoid ruffles . and bright coloured tops. Avoid no sleeves or spaghetti straps. Consider bottom with more shape (vs skinny jeans). Flared skirts, skirt with movement (but not too short).

COLUMN OR RECTANGLE Slim with no curves. Shirts with belt or waist defining element. Consider patterns that give illusion of shape.

Consider pleats or fabric with shape.

Comfortable, not too tight or baggy.

Recognising and accepting your body shape is the first step in creating a positive image that says you care about yourself and in turn this makes you feel confident. Having taken this first step, there are a few more simple actions that will help in your journey to always looking and feeling your best!

Jane Dare will reveal these actions in the next issue of the Women’s Business Magazine!

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Written by Jane Dare | www.JaneDare.co.uk

JADA SEZER model. blogger. activist.

Jada Sezer completed her BSc in Counselling Psychology and specialised with an MA in Child Psychotherapy. Her dedication to inspire women and change our skewed perception of beauty led her to direct and model in her own fashion editorials which portrayed women the way she perceived beauty could and should be. Jada later signed to the world’s renowned modelling agency, Models1 and took the industry by storm.

She runs her own fashion, lifestyle and inspiration blog which continues to demonstrate that beauty is confidence and not size specific. From key speaking at empowerment events, to wearing figure hugging contemporary styles, Jada has always said: “I don’t want to be a model, I want to be a role model” She doesn’t shy away from disturbing the status quo, she’s refining beauty.

What made you interested modelling in the first place?

in What are your top tips for curvy business women?

As I was flipping through a magazine with some girl friends we got chatting about why all the girls had to look the way they did. So I had an outfit custom made, got a photographer to take some photos and put it on Tumbler.

It went viral!

Shop around and make it work. Treggings are more comfortable but still smart, you can wear them with a viscose formal top. Elvi has nice large size smart clothes and Dea London specialises in business clothes.

I feel like I need to keep pushing to do more to find the next thing. At the moment I feel a bit underwhelmed as I haven’t yet broken ground and changed the perception and mindset of what is beautiful.

I am developing my own brand at the moment - a contemporary, cool, luxury line of clothing with some denim pieces and sportswear.

Basically it’s cool but comfortable. My aim is to be the first plus size range to get into Selfridges.

So what’s next in your exciting Twenty two years since that day, journey? what keeps you going?

What advice would you give to our With a brand new business, what business women about what to scares you and excites you most? wear?

I fear that I don’t have the strength and Dress to the occasion! Women tend to take a courage to keep pushing, to keep breaking safe route and dress down, but don’t. boundaries and take risks. What excites me the most is that I have the potential to help Follow Jada’s exciting news at people feel better about themselves. www.jadasezer.com or at www.facebook.com/jadasezer 15

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Being a Woman in a Man’s World with Katy Newman-Miller | GGM Luxury Surfaces

When did you know that you wanted to be in engineering/ construction?

Honestly?! Well, I never wanted to be in construction. This part of my life was a complete accident. I wanted to be a professional sports woman! My Gran was in the 1948 Olympic swimming squad so I spent my youth ploughing up and down a swimming pool. When I didn’t make the grade for national qualifying, I played other sports like Tennis and Rugby. I decided not to go to Loughborough College of Sport at age 19 but study business to keep my options open if I didn’t make it as a professional sports woman! My other passion was designing and making things. Anything mechanical. So when I was offered a graduate job in the Engineering section that designed and made the Pendolino Virgin Train, I jumped to the opportunity. When I moved to the midlands I started playing for a new rugby team and a much heavier player landed on me awkwardly one Sunday afternoon. I was in and out of bed for six months with a horrific back injury and metaphorically climbing the walls with boredom! So I designed a business where I could buy and sell from my bedside. Once recovered I knew that Network Rail would not let me carry on in the role as National Signalling Manager with the medication I was taking so I continued with my own business concept and built a business 18 slowly over the years.

What pressures as a woman do you face working with predominately men and on construction sites?

Well, I am still hugely disappointed with the lack of women whilst the heavy construction phase is happening but it was important to be on the ground for the first few years of my business. So for me there was no choice. I found it easier than most having been on and off factory floors in my engineering capacity but I still felt compelled to push my business on and didn’t feel pressure as such. The way how I see it is, we must do what we have to do and the building industry has to move on and create a welcoming environment for everyone.

A good start would be good Site Managers. They set the culture for each site. A high number are still stuck in the 1980s. The rude calendars have come off site office walls but that was mainly due to the end clients visiting sites and being more involved than they once were. I would always encourage women who are good hard workers and can do the job well to work in construction at site level. They need good banter and the ability to shrug off the odd sarcastic remark! The more of us women, the more normal it becomes.

Most sites I visit now seem to have a Give us your best tip for women 10 second stare and get on with the in the same situation as you? work. Five years ago, they would follow me around with their mouth open as Don’t be phased by anything. If you though I had just landed from outer believe in your heart you can do something, don’t question if it’s been space! done before by women or whether it is What is the best lesson you possible for a woman to do it. Just do it have learned from being a and see what happens. I don’t believe there are glass ceilings anymore; just woman in a man’s world? sticky floors. In other words, sometimes That is a tough question. I can’t put my your restriction to what you can achieve finger on a single answer other than is your own mindset or other people’s what springs to mind which is to know mindsets around you. your technical side well so you are never seen as just a woman giving it a What dreams/goals do you go and doing it badly! have for the future?

What is the biggest mistake I would like to keep running my business you have made being a woman and focus on dealing with high end clientele. Pretty much what I do now but in a man’s world?

Definitely being too friendly. It is my nature but it is far better to be pleasant but create a bit of distance so you are always able to be professional. It is a tough balance but you get better at it the older you get and for me now, I know my business inside out and the people I need to deal with and how to deal with them.

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be even fussier with selecting clients and work packages. Working long hours this past 16 years has left little time for ‘me’ so a bit more travelling initially. Then I would like to set up a national mentoring service specifically for women between ages 18 and 35 in Engineering and Construction. We are still losing our top female graduates to Asia and other parts of the world because there is still this perception that they will be overlooked in senior jobs from their late 20’s onwards. I am passionate about seeing women in the UK achieve what they want to achieve and not be put off. A bit like the work Professor Robert Winston is currently doing; supporting Women in Science, facilitating opportunities and mentoring. It is starting to make a positive breakthrough with more women making the higher grades to Doctor and Professor roles.

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Miraculous is the only word that I can use to describe Helen Tweddle’s story of the explosion of her business. The Malt House Emporium, located on the A46 near Stroud, was built in 1822 on the Manor of Painswick, owned by William Bliss since 1439. Back then it was used as a malt house but today, nearly 200 years later, Helen turned it into the majestic emporium that it has become.

The sheer size of the building is impressive but as you walk inside you are blown away by how many beautiful vintage things are available to feast the eyes on. A superb collection of Antiques, Retro, Vintage large and small pieces all available under one roof. I had already picked up a gorgeous little Fortnum & Mason basket on my way up the steps before I even entered the building and I knew that I could easily furnish my entire home with the lovely pieces big and small in the Malt House Emporium.

Helen’s story started less than a year ago when she had come from the corporate world in the big city to retire and enjoy country life. After three weeks she got bored and began trading in antiques just for fun. She very quickly took on a little bay in Gloucester but still wasn’t satisfied.

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Malt House Miracle

So on 19th November 2014 after a quick turn around with estate agents, she opened the doors to the Malt House with 9 dealers. Within four months she has sold out all of the available space in the two story 14,500 square foot building and will have turned over in the region of £1,000,000 by the end of her first year of trading.

Trying to find the catch I dug a little deeper to find out how Helen did it. Helen simply replied that she did some Facebook promotion and got in touch with some traders that she met along the way. That’s it!

So I tried to dig because this still didn’t make sense, so I asked about her struggles to which Helen replied, “There haven’t been any, everything has gone smoothly.”

The next steps for this amazing business woman is to open a grand, fully licensed restaurant by the end of the year. Workshop space is also available for £100 per day so that people can teach their trade to others. Events, fayres, live Jazz and much more is in the pipeline and if you really want to spend some money, Helen will even open the Malt House Emporium for private shopping in the evening by arrangement.

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Preparing for ISO9001 Know how your organization works.

When thinking about gaining an accreditation such as ISO9001 there are important issues to consider.

My advice is to be sure that the focus is for the right reason. It will often open up new market sectors or be a new customer requirement, but ensure that this is not the only reason.

If you are new to the ISO 9001 standard you may require some guidance before you start. There are useful articles and training available.

“You are unique, and the way you operate is unique; ensure that any system approach is designed with you in mind.”

ISO9001 is a great tool but it needs leadership and the right culture in its adoption.

Maintaining a Quality led philosophy is what counts and why customers have greater confidence in working with accredited companies. ISO9001 is designed to make a more disciplined working environment and to ensure that everyone has the same goal and understands their part in achieving that goal. If you want excellent customer service, predictability on your delivery and costs, and consistency in the way your operations run then you have made the right decision. The many benefits that a formal Quality management system provide is why so many have opted for accreditation.

These include: · Reducing costs and rework · Gaining & retaining customers · Improved performance & efficiency · Increased profitability Companies that seek accreditation just as a customer requirement will generally seek out the quickest route and do just enough for compliance. This will be a less effective system and not end up adding value to the business; in fact it will continue to cost the company. Putting the badge on the wall may make them appear and feel superior in terms of Quality when in effect nothing has changed.

I always recommend my clients do an evaluation of the current working practices.

Mapping out your process in a simple flowchart will help you understand the steps, responsibilities and resources required to satisfy the customer need.

“With a unified focus everyone will work together to measure and improve performance which will provide evidence of its effectiveness and drive improvement through the company.”

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Once you know how your organization works you can look at a check list of the requirements needed for compliance. If you choose to seek advice then use a consultant with the right approach. You are unique, and the way you operate is unique; ensure that any system approach is designed with your business in mind.

Think about the simplest ways of communicating and documenting what you do, there is no right or wrong answer as long as it meets the goal.

I always think in terms of risk which is also in line with the new ISO9001 coming out later in 2015. What is the risk of not meeting your customers’ needs? What are your processes? What are the appropriate process controls to ensure customer needs are

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Struggling to read, write, spell and simply concentrate?

We all know that dyslexics can make the best entrepreneurs, however there is no need to hang on to the painful symptoms that it brings. Keep your skills and lose the pain at the Alison Lawson Centre.

“Ever since I can remember,” says Isla, “My mum Amy seemed almost crippled with a condition known as dyslexia. To simply see her struggling to read, write, spell and simply CONCENTRATE was quite upsetting for all of our family, especially when we were young children and could read stories to her quicker and easier than she could read them to us.”

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“The frustration must have been immense when after reading a couple of lines she would fall into a deep sleep – almost a stupor. There was no question about her helping with our homework – as much as she may have wanted to – because she simply wouldn’t have been able to do it.

As it was, before she started baking, a recipe had to be read to her a couple of times before the method sunk in and she was able to concentrate on it. Numerous ‘trial runs’ for writing in cards took place before the pen touched the paper: not only would she have made spelling mistakes but her train of thought would have been lost and the sentence – or phrase – would have appeared nonsensical.

Not that she used to write in many cards – her handwriting was nearly illegible, and the more she tried to neaten it up the worse it seemed to get!”

“The thing was, underneath it was obvious that she was very switched on. Very few would have guessed she suffered from dyslexia, but I knew personally that the condition forced her levels of confidence to be shallow and she was often too scared to speak out in fear she had ‘got the wrong end of the stick’, or what she said wouldn’t even make sense.”

“Her mind somehow needed disentangling.”

some of the exercises that would be executed during the 10 days of treatment. It was visible, even after this short hour, how much “We first heard about the Alison this would help Mum in the long Lawson Centre, through friends and run, as even then she seemed to be Mum was all for it from the start. At somehow more relaxed.” first, I was somewhat reticent about “Throughout these 10 days, Mum the effect it had, but when we looked was very tired physically and the it up on the internet it seemed like homework given seemed to me nothing in its field could better it. to take a long time. At the time it Children with the condition were didn’t seem real – but as the days clearly reaping its benefits, sailing went on it was visibly easier for through homework and overall Mum to write neater and straighter, enjoying their new lease of life and she seemed more proficient in at school. But would it work on spelling, just to mention a few areas. someone older, someone over 50? Through the eye exercises, we…”

And would it be worth it?”

“From the moment Mum enrolled to go to the Alison Lawson Dyslexic Centre, we have never, ever looked back. Firstly she was given an Initial Assessment – to verify what the course would entail and to present

Scan to read the rest of Amy’s Story

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Contact Jessie Shedden

Visual Dyslexia Therapist The Alison Lawson Centre 01935 403260 www.alisonlawson.com

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Introducing the AMERICAN TOUR GUIDE IN LONDON.

Motivated By Passion

Growing up in Texas, Amber Raney-Kincade didn’t anticipate becoming a tour guide in London. “I was going to be vice president of marketing for a big corporation,” says the outgoing woman who has been professionally guiding for four years now.

“But I became a flight attendant instead, then 9/11 happened, and I ended up living in London.” With a Bachelor’s degree in marketing and free flights from her airline, she moved to London in October 2001 and earned her MBA in international marketing.

For extra money, she worked as a Big Bus tour guide until her fiancé was transferred back to Houston in 2003. Two years later, the couple each received job offers to return to London in the same week. “It was fate!”

Handling big budget clients such as Ford, O2, Blackberry, Jack Daniels and L’Oreal kept her busy for several years until the recession hit. “Marketing can be tough, and usually the first budget to get cut. I love marketing, and I’m good at it, but agency work left me empty when a client doesn’t say thank you or I’ve put in too many hours and then find myself fighting off a cold.” Amber worked freelance for a while, then found renewed inspiration while teaching seminars on social media and providing consulting services. With London calling, she decided to develop her passion for tour guiding.

Amber earned a guiding qualification with the City of London, a Westminster badge at the University of Westminster, and she is a founder member of the Camden Tour Guides Association.

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Making the decision to focus on tour guiding over marketing was a hard choice. “My American DNA includes a work ethic that makes me believe that I have to work crazy hours to earn a living,” Amber explains.

“But I read successful stories of how people give up the grind and do what they love.

This March, I ended a marketing project and declared ‘That’s it. I never give 100% to guiding, now is the time!’ It’s exhilarating to focus on just guiding, using my marketing skills to promote my passion. Juggling a portfolio lifestyle is a skill, and while I know I’ll pick up marketing projects in winter, for now, it’s all guns blazing on the guiding front.”

As a marketing consultant, she worked with many clients who wanted to start their own businesses. She saw a pattern emerge as clients often created mental or physical roadblocks to stop themselves from succeeding or taking action to achieve their goals. “I’ve seen it all: unfinished website, unwritten business plan, or just waiting for time to dedicate to the idea. In the end, you just have to bite the bullet and make things happen. You never have time for anything, because time isn’t a gift. No one will hand you empty time to fill. You have to make time.”

Amber says she combats any fears with the reassurance that she is doing what she loves. “For me, motivation comes from client feedback. The satisfaction I get from someone telling me that the tour was fantastic is so rewarding. Plus, now I have total freedom to create my tours, total control on where the business goes, and total happiness when clients write a review.

And my office is London!”

COMPETITION WIN!

Kayleigh Purser Therapies will be giving away a gift voucher for her brand new signature treatment worth ÂŁ95.

All you need to do is tweet us a picture of yourself with your copy of the Women’s Business Magazine and #competition at @wombizclub and @KayleighPurser with for a chance to win.

Beautiful Balance

A bespoke and hugely indulgeant treatment, originally designed as a bridal package and now on offer to all clients. This two hour long experience begins with a back, neck and shoulder massage and continues with a massage over the backs of the legs to destress, balance and work out all those knots, aches and pains. The treatment then continues with a cleansing facial massage with aloe based products to cleanse your skin all the way down to the dermis layer and finishes with Reflexology points to suit your needs, giving you a full body, mind and spirit treatment designed to leave you feeling Beautifully Balanced.

Terms & Conditions Treatments take place at The Gym Cheltenham 292 High Street, Cheltenham, GL50 3HQ. Opening hours 9am-9pm Monday-Thursday, 9am-8pm Friday and 9am-2pm Saturday closed Sunday

Closing Date 9th September 2015

Must be redeemed by 1st December 2015 Contact: kayleigh.purser@gmail.com T: 07940 476 016

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Hi, my name is Soondri Slathia and I joined Utility Warehouse as a Distributor in 2014.

I love working with them to save my customers lots of money and have fun at the same time We joined up in January, and at once saved ÂŁ700/ year!

Changing from BT for our landline, and Scottish Power for our gas and electric saved most.

Then we began using the generous Cashback card we saved a further ÂŁ50 every month when we did our usual shop!

Over 2000 stores in Britain have signed up to offer from 3-7% of what you spend in their stores back as straight cash, which is deducted from your monthly Utility bill!

Here’s what our customers have to say!

Hello, I have been a customer of Utility Warehouse for over 18 months... They are an amazing company and their customer service team are by far the best I’ve dealt with.

I am also a distributor but I have not signed anybody up yet as I have been busy with other things so I am only going to comment on how I find them as a customer.

The cashback card is brilliant. I have just had £85.00 off my last bill. I top the card up with £200 a week and use it to buy shopping and bits and bobs.

It is brilliant for budgeting as you cannot spend what isn’t on there. It gets a hammering at christmas as you get cashback in places like Argos, new look, Sainsbury etc The gas and electric are not always lower as the market fluctuates so often but the standing charge which is the killer with the likes of swalec, British Gas and the other 4 main suppliers.

The mobile is brilliant, if you don’t upgrade your phone they reduce you down to a low tariff automatically so they don’t charge for something you do not have.

They are very customer friendly and allow you to earn money and receive cashback instead of paying for huge marketing campaigns... The distributor you mention should not be hounding you and if utility warehouse were aware of this behaviour they would not be happy. They have very strict guidelines on how distributors should behave and frown upon people spamming, cold calling etc...

I don’t think I would ever leave them and go back to o2, BT, swalec, b.gas or the others!

I am also a bookkeeper/ accountant so the fact that all services come in on one bill makes life much easier for me.

One file now and not 8 different lever arch files!

Debi (Mums Net, 2014)

I am Sofia from Increaseyoursocialreach.com and I am your “No-limits” Social Media Strategist. I help businesses leverage social media marketing and integrate it into their business goals and objectives. I have a simple path for your needs: 1 - How to plan your social media needs.

2 - How to implement the tactics.

3 - How to review your results for maximum impact.

My role is to represent the Women’s Business Club here in Southampton and to build our social media presence.

Soon we hope to have our own club up and running so watch this space. www.increaseyoursocialreach.com /grp/home?gid=8276861 /groups/southamptonwombizclub

Sofia Pacifico Reis Ambassador

Sofia’s Top Tips for using Social Media: I get often asked one question over and over again about social media marketing. Where do I start?

Social Media can be very overwhelming and time consuming and there is definitely a lot of white “noise” in that arena but, you can take control of it if you adopt a disciplined and strategic approach about it. My advice over and over again is to start small.

You do not need to be on every single social platform but, you will need to master those where your customers are hanging out.

Know your social media goals and objectives before you start planning in an environment which is very different from marketing offline.

Having a clear idea of who your target audience is, will help you not only to craft the most needed marketing message but also drill down into a specific target for advertising purposes.

Find out where your customers are active online so that you can reach them quicker and respond to their needs.

As a final point, manage your time effectively to be more efficient and create a calendar to schedule all your content posts and respective social activities. By planning ahead, you are giving your business and yourself time and space to concentrate on tasks that matter the most to your current and potential customers.

36

37

Our Bath Women’s Business Club is buzzing!

The member offer time before our events has really taken off and we are all enjoying an extra hour of networking and some retail therapy before we get down to business. I however am itching to launch Bristol, Edinburgh and Southampton so will very reluctantly be handing over the Bath club soon - if you are interested in taking over the reins from me please get in touch: angela@womensbusiness.club

Angela De Souza Managing Director

Members The Spirit Sanctuary Zest Bootcamp White Tiger Quality Management Systems Wellness4Life Tricia Designs Strategenic Ltd

Events

01 July - Connect Business Lunch 17 July - VIP Club 22 July - Sell: Sales Without Selling 05 Aug - Connect Business Lunch 21 Aug - VIP Club 26 Aug - Clarify: Business Planning Workshop 02 Sept - Connect Business Lunch 18 Sept - VIP Club 23 Sept - Connect: Contact Database Workshop

Captain Tortue Costco Bristol Intelligent Parenting

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Find out more at www.bath.womensbusiness.club

Quick test: How well is your business set up for sales success now?

Maybe your business sales are doing well at the moment . . . or not. Either way, do you know how well positioned are you for ongoing growth?

A few companies consistently do well. They outperform their industry, increasing sales year after year and leave their competition standing. They all use similar strategies to power their growth.

Spend 5 minutes answering the questions below to see how your business compares to those amazing organizations: Sales and Marketing

Agree Not Sure Disagree

Over 30% of our sales leads come from inbound enquiries?

How did you score?

14 – 20/ 20 Congratulations. Your business is well set up for ongoing success.

Our customers find us so easy and enjoyable to work with that over 20% of clients come from referrals Agree

Not Sure Disagree

The business direction is so clear that everyone in the company is inspired and committed.

Agree

Not Sure Disagree

We have a clear plan for how to support the increased number of clients – while delivering excellent service.

Energy levels are high. Staff see working here as an exciting step in their career.

8-12/20 You have some strong areas. You are getting there.

0- 6/ 20 At least you know where you stand. It is time to rethink your approach. Take heart.

The business focuses on a few well thought out strategies so staff confidence and engagement is high.

Staff Engagement

Not Sure Disagree

Your score Each time you answered “Agree” allocate yourself 2 points. If you checked “Not sure” or “Disagree”, give yourself 0 points. As a business leader, knowing where your business stands on these important issues is essential to your success.

Our customers find our products/ services so useful that they return time after time

Operations

Agree

We increase profit and sales by 15% or more year after year We watch cash flow like hawks - tracking it monthly

Our “marketing engines” are designed to deliver top quality leads and exceed targets every single time

Business leadership

Results

Next Steps Whatever your score, pinpoint the areas where you could not Agree and create a plan to close the gaps, your business will soon achieve the success you crave.

The questions above are a small subset of our full Growth Arrows Evaluation©.

Agree

Not Sure Disagree

If you would like business coaching to fast track your success, simply call Jane Bromley on 01672 861767 or email jane@strategenic.co.uk

39

The Cheltenham club has been going steady this quarter with our fabulous group of committed members as well as a steady stream of visitors!

We are now very excited to be looking for a brand new host for our club! So if you would like to build strong relationships with some inspirational business women as well as raise your profile in the Cheltenham area, why not give it a go?

I would love to chat to you about it, just drop me a line at lorah@womensbusiness.club x

Lorah Kelly Beard Local Director

Members Cheltenham I.T. Training

Move Estate Agents

Expectations Recruitment

Muffin & Poppy

GGM Luxury Surfaces

Nuts About Style

Hold My Hand Manicures

Sunago Unique Creations

iWork4UGlos

The Children’s Society

Lexus Cheltenham

The Juice Plus Experience

The Thistle Hotel Cheltenham

Lorah Kelly Creative Photography

Travel Counsellors

We Are Cheltenham

Events 01 July - Connect Business Lunch 17 July - VIP Club 22 July - Clarify: Business Planning Workshop 05 Aug - Connect Business Lunch 21 Aug - VIP Club 26 Aug - Connect: Contact Database Workshop 02 Sept - Connect Business Lunch 18 Sept - VIP Club 23 Sept - Shout: Social Media Workshop

42 Find out more at www.cheltenham.womensbusiness.club

Stop Comparing Yourself to Others!

I cannot tell you how many times I get myself down or beat myself up after comparing myself to other people! Other business women, other photographers or just other women in general. For some reason we have this natural tendency as women (or just human beings) to be continually measuring ourselves against the other people in our lives or even our role models or mentors. But today I would just like to tell you (and me) to STOP! :) And instead, I would like to start embracing our differences! We were not all created from the same mould, we were all born to be different and unique and we all have our own special reason for being on this earth :) So why spoil that by trying to be like someone else?

Here are some fantastic reasons not to compare ourselves to others:

Don’t compare your insides to someone else’s outside.

Most of the time, when we look at ourselves we see the worst version of ourselves, how we feel inside and all our faults and shortages. But when we look at other people, we only see the parts of them that they let us see! They are of course trying to project the best version of themselves whilst keeping all the real stuff inside. Which means it doesn’t quite match up! Maybe if we all compared ‘insides’ it would be a more accurate comparison. But the main thing is, we just shouldn’t be comparing ourselves.

Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.

We are all in different stages of this journey called life! Sometimes we forget that everyone is at different stages, walked a different road and are on a different journey! So it wouldn’t make sense to compare where we start to where someone has already established themselves would it? There is also the point that we are all on different journeys!

We have all had different experiences which will affect decisions and the way we handle some situations.

Successful people never worry about what others are doing.

And finally there’s this point! Do I need to say more? If we find the need to continually compare ourselves to others, it probably means that we are a bit insecure! Which is very understandable, but probably something that we all need to work on over coming. A challenge for me this year is to become secure in who I am. I believe this will significantly affect my business and allow me to be great at what I do and even be an innovator in the business world!

by Lorah-Kelly Beard www.womensbusiness.club/author/lorah

#52weekcreativebusinesschallenge

43

Natalie Bell, who has built the Forest of Dean and Monmouthshire clubs from nothing to what it is today, is sadly moving on. She has served her clubs exceptionally well and many business women went from almost closing down to flourishing because of her support. Other’s have gone from strength to strength and openly honour Natalie for her valuable contribution to their businesses. We wish Natalie well and hope that the next season in her life will be a great joy and success. The new club director will be announced soon through social media and by email, so keep your eye on your inbox for our exciting announcement but for now let’s give Natalie the excellent send off that she deserves.

Angela De Souza Managing Director

Members The Computer Cookie

Drop the Weasel

My Calm Room

Casa Interiors

MCG Electrical Contractors Ltd

Balance – Pilates & Wellbeing

Karosa Jewellery

Boost You

Inspire2Adventure

AOB – Any Other Business

Hart’s Barn Cookery School

2&6 Therapy Rooms

Flaxen Hare

Charlotte Poole-Graham – Wealth Manager

Edge of Heaven

Forest Hills Golf Club

KIH Products Ltd

Paws a While with Me

46

Events 22 July - Connect Business Lunch 17 July - VIP Club 26 Aug - Connect Business Lunch 21 Aug - VIP Club 23 Sept - Connect Business Lunch 18 Sept - VIP Club

Find out more at www.forestofdean.womensbusiness.club

Delectable Planning for Inspired Events Planning a wedding or any event should be an eclectic mix of feelgood factor, creativity, focus and organisation, says Sarah SuttonDodd and after 25 years of organising all manner of fabulous events, she should know.

Sarah lives with her husband and son in Boughspring, in the Forest of Dean, having relocated to the area last Summer, for her son to start at Monmouth Boys School last September.

Sarah began her hospitality career organising events for local caterers, venues, marquee companies and F1 racing teams at Silverstone.

She then took on the fledgling development of a private country estate, which over the following years grew into a highly successful and much sought after venue, for bespoke weddings, high profile corporate events, shooting weekends and glamourous celebrations.

Growing this and then further similar venues for private owners, Sarah gained exceptional experience in matters as diverse as contracts, agreements and licensing, to supplier partnerships and project managing, sales and marketing, business and venue development, strategy and finance, together with the meticulous customer liaison and first class care (she is renowned for), inspiring creativity and theming and organising the diversity of requests made by clients.

‘From vintage, shabby chic marquee Summer lunch parties to glamping boho music events in the country, from elegant, decadent dinner parties in stately home venue splendour to striking launch events for corporate clients, I am enthused by each and every event I have organised’ said Sarah.

‘I remember one wonderful Indian wedding we organised for clients, who were based in London and New York, but wanted a rambling Irish country estate. We had a few planning meetings on site, but the adorable couple were more than happy to allow us to organise everything, for their 700 guests, including worldwide transport, all accommodation, all helicopter coordination to bring guests staying farther afield in, the various pre-wedding events, many of the outfits for those less used to wearing the magnificent ceremonial outfits, the religious aspects, the entire theming, all suppliers both from Ireland and around the world... together with an ‘elephant’ to bring the groom to his bride... this was just a tease, but word got out around the tiny village the estate was located near and the entire village turned up on the wedding day, along with local press, to witness the ‘elephant’, which was in fact, a helicopter!

The entire village was then invited to the evening celebrations and a fabulous time was had by all.’

The majority of the weddings and events Peppermint Dreams organises are not as excessive as this, in fact Sarah is happy to arrange aspects of an event or the complete wonderful event, whatever the budget and clients ideas. ‘One day I am knee deep in fairytale theming at a child’s party, the next it is a bespoke country wedding decorated with jugs of flowers and a scrumptious barbecue’.

Peppermint Dreams offers the perfect blend of expertise, creative flair, professionalism, empathy and commitment to ensure each event is everything the client hopes for and much more besides.

Sarah looks forward to hearing from you!

47

The Gloucester Women’s Business Club has been meeting at the Hatton Court Hotel for over a year now and we love it there! Our women have commented on how it is a welcomed break from their usual routine and that they love the luxury of meeting at such a fine hotel.

We also host our VIP Club at the same venue, if you are a business owner with staff or a team, why not come along and try out our exclusive VIP Club.

More info at www.vip.womensbusiness.club or if you just want to meet me for a glass of champagne and a chat on the deck, get in touch angela@womensbusiness. club I would love to meet you and see how I can support you in your business.

Angela De Souza Managing Director

Members

Events

GMT Solutions Ltd

15 July - Connect Business Lunch 17 July - VIP Club 22 July - Clarify: Business Planning Workshop

Marson Wealth Management The Body Shop Photography by Valerie CMJ Business Solutions Ltd Chase Hotel

19 Aug - Connect Business Lunch 21 Aug - VIP Club 26 Aug - Connect: Contact Database Workshop 16 Sept - Connect Business Lunch 18 Sept - VIP Club 23 Sept - Shout: Social Media Workshop

Forever Living Products Expectations! Recruitment Muffin and Poppy

50 Find out more at www.gloucester.womensbusiness.club

A Taste of Africa in Westgate Street From humble beginnings in rural Africa to number #1 of 264 Places to Eat in Gloucester and a Certificate of Excellence awarded

by Trip Advisor. Charlie and Wanja Odhiambo have fought all odds including homelessness, poverty and all the usual struggles of life and running a business. Along with their three daughters, they have settled in Gloucester and decided to live the dream of running their own restaurant. Where many would have feinted or given up, Charlie and Wanja kept the dream alive and succeeded despite all odds.

The month of June saw their humble little restaurant take another significant leap forward to a city centre location in Westgate Street of Gloucester and it is here where the Women’s Business Club joins their story as we will be holding our monthly events at C&W’s African Experience.

Come over and enjoy some authentic African cuisine while connecting with business women. Enjoy an inspiration business talk as well as a break away from the usual humdrum of every day.

51

About African Cuisine

African cuisine is a generalised term collectively referring to the cuisines of Africa. The continent of Africa is the second largest landmass on Earth, and is home to hundreds of different cultural and ethnic groups. This diversity is also reflected in the many local culinary traditions in terms of choice of ingredients, as well as in the style of preparation and cooking techniques.

In a continent that includes coast land, desert and rainforest, you would expect the cuisine to reflect the varied terrain. The foods at C&W African Experience do just that. Explore the varieties of grains and rice, the stews & curries of Africa and catch the French influence in the names of dishes. Discover why it is said that in Africa, a day without peppers is a sad day. And, like any good meal, you wouldn’t dare leave out our specialty desserts and African brews.

52

Forget knives and forks, eating with your fingers is the way forward at C&W. Encouraging a truly hands-on approach, the food in this African eatery is designed to be enjoyed.

The menu is divided between vegetarian, meat and fish dishes, but we advise you to order a combination of different dishes from around the menu and to tuck in and taste them all.

tic n e h t u Enjoy A sine i u C n a Afric

59 - 61 Westgate Street Gloucester Call us on 07403997532 Or visit our website at

www.afr

k

cester.co.u

rant-glou ican-restau

Opening Hours: Tue & Wed : 6pm - 9pm Fri & Sat : 6pm - 11pm info@african-restaurant-gloucester.co.uk

Natalie Bell, who has built the Forest of Dean and Monmouthshire clubs from nothing to what it is today, is sadly moving on. She has served her clubs exceptionally well and many business women went from almost closing down to flourishing because of her support. Other’s have gone from strength to strength and openly honour Natalie for her valuable contribution to their businesses. We wish Natalie well and hope that the next season in her life will be a great joy and success.

The new club director will be announced soon through social media and by email, so keep your eye on your inbox for our exciting announcement but for now let’s give Natalie the excellent send off that she deserves.

Angela De Souza

Managing Director

Members Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls (HMSG) Charlotte Poole-Graham – Wealth Manager

Events 22 July - Connect Business Lunch 26 Aug - Connect Business Lunch 23 Sept - Connect Business Lunch

Bluebell Media Basepoint Business Centre Awaken Wye Media Shires Chiropractic Clinic 54

Find out more at www.monmouthshire.womensbusiness.club

Wize Ladies Sharing the Love :)

3. Increased brand recognition.

Wize are very proud of the way our business is steadily growing, who would have thought three years ago when Mandy and Cariann started this business that we would be employing 5 people and providing a wide range of virtual administration services to clients throughout the UK and even internationally.

Brands that engage on social media channels enjoy higher loyalty from their customers than ones that do not. Every opportunity you have to strengthen your business image should be taken. This makes your business more accessible to new customers and makes you more familiar and recognisable to your existing customers.

We credit our new business growth to the newest member of the team Rachel and her knowledge and experience on marketing though social media. She not only provides us with a great service but also many of our clients. As we love to share our knowledge with fellow entrepreneurs we thought we would share the following with readers of the lovely Women’s Business Club Magazine!

4. Research.

So five reasons why you should use social media for your business:-

5. Marketing.

1. Your customers are already using it.

A recent study found that one quarter of the world’s population uses social media. That means that 1,730,000,000 people are posting, pinning, tweeting, vining and instragraming. …So the chances are that the majority of your target market already uses social media.

What better way to reach your prospective customers than to be where they are. In the digital age, this doesn’t have to mean face to face anymore, you have a direct connection to your customers through the internet.

2. Your competitors are using it too.

It’s probably the cheapest, most direct research you can do. Want to know what your customers are saying they need and possibly what they say about you? Just read tweets and comments on Facebook. You’ll soon learn what your customers want and what they don’t and can use this feedback to shape future activity and product development.

The biggie- What better way to market your products and services than by sending a tweet or posting a link that pops up on your target customers newsfeed? Try and remember, you’ll engage more customers through telling, not selling. You can monitor what works and what does and does not then cater your campaigns accordingly.

Remember, every customer interaction you have on social media is an opportunity to publically demonstrate your customer service level and enrich your relationship with your customer. If a customer compliments you, you can thank them and similarly if you see a complaint, you can apologise publically and take action to make it right. It’s a personal experience that lets customers know that you care and ultimately makes your business more visible to other customers.

We’re not saying you should always copy what your competitors are doing, but even if you’re not on social media – your competition probably is. This means you’re going to risk To find out more about this and our other falling behind in a big way when new customers services please go to are browsing online. If your competitors www.wizevirtualadmin.co.uk aren’t on social media then it’s a great opportunity to get one step ahead of them.

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Thanks to all the lovely ladies of the Swindon Women’s Business Club, our lunches have been fantastic and we are growing every month. We have also had amazing speakers this quarter, including Alison Edgar from Sales Coaching Solutions and Claire Barker from Hive Originals, with a practical talk on yoga and relaxation for business women from Maria Looker still to come.

Join us on the second Wednesday of every month at the Pig on the Hill in Swindon to meet other successful businesswomen. Find out how to solve your business issues and celebrate your triumphs in a supportive environment. We have more brilliant talks coming up including Twitter for Twits from Fiona Scott Media Consultancy – don’t miss it!

Alison Dunevein Gordon Local Director

Members

Events

Infinity Financial Solutions Ltd

08 July - Connect Business Lunch

HEALS of Malmesbury

12 Aug - Connect Business Lunch

Fiona Scott Media Consultancy Bevirs Solicitors Utility Warehouse

PPS Chartered Accountants Driving Miss Daisy

58

09 Sept - Connect Business Lunch

Contact Alison directly to book your one on one Achieve Success Mapping session alison@womensbusiness.club

Find out more at www.swindon.womensbusiness.club

Twitter

– why bother?

By Fiona Scott

WWW.FIONASCOTTMEDIACONSULTANCY.COM

I shared something every day and I always thanked anyone who shared anything I tweeted.

I also looked at my audience and started to build my followers by following people of interest to me. Note that word – people – it’s not about brands, it’s about people and brands.

Last year I listened to a young social media Then one day I answered a single tweet with specialist talk at a business event about Twitter.

During the evening, he listened to comments I’ve heard many, many times from both businessmen and women such as: “I don’t understand it” “It’s rubbish and has no relevance to my business” What was amazing about this young man was his answer to every person who made such a remark. He said: “I don’t care.”

a short tweet which earned me £3,000. This tweet took a couple of seconds and within the hour it led to an email, to a telephone conversation, to a booking, to another booking to another booking. All from a single solitary tweet. I was sold on Twitter from that moment and I still am. I’m also sold in Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube & Pinterest.

Now I set you a challenge when it comes to social media. Ask yourself this question – do I want to be running a healthy business in five years’ time?

If the answer is no – go and make yourself a rude cuppa.

If the answer is yes – do try this completely “I don’t care if you don’t get it, you don’t want it, unscientific but useful test. you can’t be bothered – your future customers, people like me and younger, do get it and they Ask a teenager you know well to play a game. will expect you to be engaged. If you are not, That game is ‘Imagine You Run My Business’ – they will simply connect with another person ask them how they would find new customers and give them time to think about it. Then ask offering your service or selling your product.” them to choose their top three tips with you.

You may think this is an aggressive position to take but I think it applies to all social media. I would be staggered if these words are not on I firmly believe it doesn’t matter whether or somewhere on their lips: not you like social media – if you want your Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, business to thrive beyond the next couple of LinkedIn years you have to take it seriously.

To prove it, I asked my own teenage girls and However, if you are going to pack up and ship here are their lists: out of business – feel free to stop reading now.

15-year-old: Twitter, LinkedIn , Facebook When it comes to Twitter, I believe in its value for business because I’ve tested it myself. I 13-year-old: went self-employed in 2009 but had started Newspapers – write a good story. my Twitter account some time before. I started Shop windows – advertising notice. and left it, thought it was rather tedious, The internet – GoogleAds. ridiculous and couldn’t be bothered. So it I’m sure from this little experiment you can see didn’t work - unsurprisingly. where our future customers will be interacting.

However people starting talking about Twitter Especially if you consider how we might have (now the talk is more often of Facebook and answered in our teenage years.

Pinterest) and I thought I ought to make more effort. So I set myself a challenge. I decided I Top Tip – Look for a mix of the old and the new would work on Twitter for a year to see what when considering your marketing and PR. happened.

Qualifying that seemingly rather response, he later went on to say:

Putting it in basic terms I employed some basic techniques, I tweeted something every day,

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Dementia touches the lives of millions of people across the country. Founded through the Alzheimers Society's initiative, Dementia Friends was launched to tackle the stigma and lack of understanding that means many people with the condition experience loneliness and social exclusion. By attending a free Dementia Friends Information Session we can each learn more about dementia and the small ways you can help those affected.

In Wiltshire and Dorset, Driving Miss Daisy Wessex are pleased to be sponsoring a series of sessions to help communities and employers to become more Dementia Friendly. Anyone wanting to attend one of our free Dementia Friends sessions should contact Emma Wilkin on: 07525 873 017 or calne@drivingmissdaisyuk.co.uk Our first FREE Dementia Friends information session is on June 23rd at Marden House in Calne

Our Wimbledon Women’s Business Club has settled nicely into our new venue at Warren House. The best part is that there is plenty of free parking!

We are also delighted to be hosting our London VIP Club at Warren House so there is lots going on for Wimbledon ladies at our lovely luxury new venue.

Come along and visit us!

Angela De Souza Managing Director

Members Bombshell Consultancy The Underdogs Meetup Hub Dot

Events 08 July - Connect Business Lunch 10 July - VIP Club 12 Aug - Connect Business Lunch 24 Aug - VIP Club 09 Sept - Connect Business Lunch 11 Sept - VIP Club

62 Find out more at www.wimbledon.womensbusiness.club

Is Your Coaching Business Getting You Down?

She was feeling inspired and invigorated.

She was finally following her passion of coaching and was enjoying running her own business, until she read her bank statement and realised that she wasn’t going to meet the bills again this month.

Sally sat down and started to think about what the problem might be. ‘My coaching is really good. I know I get fantastic transformation with my clients. Nobody told me it would be this hard. If I’d have known I wouldn’t have signed up. I definitely didn’t sign up for this’. She hissed the word, ‘this’ and felt contempt for all of the stories they’d told her at coaching school about how running your own coaching business was so amazing.

She knew deep down that something needed to change. She was coaching anyone with a pulse and had no idea who her ideal clients were, what to offer them or where to find them. Working every hour under the sun just to keep on top of things wasn’t working. Things were slipping, she was forgetting things, the house was being taken over by washing and she had no family time. ‘Not what I’ve signed up for at all’, she muttered again.

Are you like Sally?

I can help you to get really clear on who your ideal clients are, pulling together a plan of what to offer and where to market to those people. You can still attract clients that are outside of your niche, but you will save so Her demeanour softened slightly as she much time, energy and money focusing on reminded herself that actually it was the right people; people that want what you offer. amazing, it just wasn’t paying the bills right now. She’d been online and heard all about Getting that clarity will build your business. how she needed to niche. That was all well You become the expert, the go-to person and good but how was that going to pay in your field. Result = clearer marketing the bills? Each time someone mentioned messages - blog posts, newsletters, articles, they needed coaching she simply said ‘yes’ social media posts and conversations, and because she needed the money. She then most importantly more clients. resented working with them where they didn’t take action or responsibility for their If you’re feeling like Sally then let’s work together to turn that around. You can have lives. They weren’t the right fit. a business that you love that also brings in She started questioning herself, ‘Am I really money. You just need to do it differently! going to be any good at this or should I just go back and get a ‘proper job’? My friends Find out more about how Ruby McGuire can support you on the next page! all think I’m mad anyway and John isn’t that pleased he’s having to help out with my 63 bills.’

Want tailored support? Let’s work together for 2 half days solely focused on your business so you will have clarity and focus, plus a fabulous plan to change the direction of your coaching business. www.rubymcguire.com/vip-intensive-days.

As a special offer to subscribers I’m also throwing in a bonus 60 minute follow up coaching call worth £150.

This offer expires on 30 June 2015.

Book a discovery call and I’ll send you a copy of my ‘Find Your Ideal Client’ freebie.

Book here… www.rubymcguire.com/can-book www.rubymcguire.com - Facebook – Be The Coach You Dream To Be Ruby McGuire works with coaches, and some small business owners. She helps them to take that next step, whether it’s finding paying clients or taking the next step up in business. She helps them to build their skills, confidence and fabulous businesses, while having fun. She thinks life is too short to be too serious! A self-confessed chocoholic and vanilla coffee addict. Married to her soul-mate, she’s a mum of a teenage daughter and two grown up stepdaughters, plus a very clever little dog, Lulu. www.rubymcguire.com

Listen to Ruby McGuire’s Podcast: iTunes http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/rock-your-fabulous-biz-podcast/id992518319

Stitcher http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=65627&refid=stpr

Join us for a brighter future.

Are you looking for a more flexible way of working, that can give you the lifestyle you have always dreamed of?

40 minutes of your time is all that is needed to change your life! Talk to me to find out more.

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