Early every Friday morning a florist, a writer, a window cleaner, a bookkeeper, a web designer and about twelve other entrepreneurs meet for breakfast at the Tiverton Hotel in Blundell’s Road, Tiverton in order to promote their respective businesses and pass referrals to each other.
They are all members of the Lowman Chapter of Business Network International (BNI), the most successful business referral organization in the world, which now has over 500 chapters and 11,800 members in the United Kingdom, and which generated more than £185 million worth of business for its members last year. Worldwide, there are nearly 4,000 chapters and 100,000 members of BNI.
Only one person per profession is allowed to join a chapter, which means that there is no conflict amongst members when passing business between them because competitors cannot take part. However, the Lowman Chapter has several vacancies and members are very keen to recruit, for example, a painter and decorator, a plumber, an accountant, a hairdresser and even a funeral director so that they can pass business to them.
So, if you think that you fit the bill or you think that BNI could help you grow your business, then just turn up for breakfast at the Tiverton Hotel on any Friday morning. The meeting starts promptly at 7 a.m. You will be made very welcome. See you there!
(I wrote this as part of an advertorial promoting the local chapter of BNI that appeared in the Mid Devon Star on Friday 13 July 2007)
