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Erika Sivertson
Founder & Principal, ERKA Interiors
An accomplished and passionate interior designer, Erika Sivertson brings to her business 8 years' senior-level experience in three of Vancouver's leading design firms. She specializes in hospitality and residential design, and her extensive portfolio (visit ERKA's website at http://www.erkainteriordesign.ca/) speaks for itself.
In the course of her presentation, Erika provided an informative hand-out and took us through the design process phases: Initial Consultation, Concept Presentation, Design Development, Documentation. She also shared some facts about the industry in general and her own work in particular. Fact: Throughout her career, Erika's clients have consistently approved the first concepts she's presented. As well, we learned that custom-built fixtures and cabinetry can actually be more affordable - and certainly more effective - than prefab.
Contact Erika today and move your space to the intersection at Beauty and Function. :-)
Cell: 604.728.9780
Email: erika@erkainteriordesign.ca
Website: http://www.erkainteriordesign.ca/
Blog: www.erkainteriordesign.ca/blog
If many of you are like me, you have a love/hate relationship wth social media and one in particular is Facebook. But put quite simply the numbers don't lie, and Facebook is an online tool that just can't be ignored.
Facebook was founded in September 2006 and spread quickly through the ranks. It is an online social untility that connects people with friends, business associates, and others who work,study and play around them.
Facebook has over 400 million users currently (to put that into perspective, if every single person in the United States had a Facebook page, it still wouldn't be enough), and right now facebook has become the driving force behind online news consumption.
On average facebook users spend about 7 hours a month on facebook, are more loyal, and drive about 10 times more traffic then Google to websites.
BNI Connections can't ignore these numbers either. We have our own fan page on Facebook, that connects the members, guests, friends, customers and associates, all on one page. Become a fan of BNI Connections and find out why we never miss a Thursday lunch.
Alana Couch from Alana Couch Photography
Specializes in weddings, baby and children's photography.
Alana charmed us with a slide presentation of her work, featuring images of babies and young children. Because her sessions are laid-back and enjoyable, Alana’s photos capture the essence of each child’s unique beauty -- infinitely preferable to rigid poses and stilted smiles.
Who do you know that has babies or young children? Now is an excellent time to have them photographed because they change so quickly. Sessions with Alana are fun and easy -- she photographs children at playgrounds near her clients’ homes, where the kids can have fun and be themselves. They don't have to sit nicely and pose for the camera, so it feels more like a playdate than a portrait session, and the colourful playgrounds make for a wonderful backdrop. Alana also understands that it’s often difficult for parents of newborns to get out and about, so she’ll do those sessions in the comfort of her clients’ homes.
Two to three weeks after the sessions, Alana visits her clients to show them their photographs. The photos are projected large-format onto a wall, enabling clients to get a clear look at those priceless expressions and choose their favourite images.
Contact Alana today and turn your precious memories into lifelong keepsakes.
Name: Alana Couch
Company Name: Alana Couch Photography
Title: Owner/Principal Photographer
Phone: 604.727.2367
Email: info@alanacouch.com
Website: www.alanacouch.com
Blog: www.alanacouch.com/blog
In these days of super technology, and communciation the small business owner is expected to be online, on, and in touch 100% of the time. Whether you are on the jobsite, with a client, or just hanging out at home, you are expected to be productive to keep the ball rolling in small business.
In many small business there are some must haves to keep the business going. Here is a list of my top 5.
1. Smartphone - ideally this phone will have email, text and telephone communication. it would be even better if it could access the internet. That way you can access all your customers, or team right away in the click of a button.
2. Laptop - something small, light and easy to fire up quickly, so that you can access all of your files, the internet, database, or a customers invoice right away.
3. Mobile Broadband, Internet Speed stick, Internet tethering - a laptop will become the eighth wonder of the world if you can access the internet.
4. Head set or Blue tooth - in the old days people would talk on the phone while driving, or just not answer. Personally I can get alot done in a 20 minute drive, but a head set is a must and is now legislation.
5. A quiet space - a large amount of productivity can be accomplished in a short period of time if you have a quiet space. Whether it be a coffee shop, your car, a park bench, or your bathroom, you can use those extra 5 minutes to get alot done, which will allow you to be able to sit down and enjoy all of the hockey game!
Ian Scott, Executive Director
BNI British Columbia
In an enjoyable and informative presentation, Ian Scott reminded us that BBIs (Business Building Interviews)are one of the most effective ways to cultivate mutually rewarding relationships. One BBI with a new member is not enough to really get to know them, Ian explained, encouraging us to get together more frequently, as situations change for people. We also need to go beyond the obvious questions such as "What are your primary products/services?" and try to get a sense of the big picture with questions like "What are your hopes and dreams? What do you aspire to?" These sorts of dialogues reveal valuable information that might not otherwise have occurred to us, and can generate greater business opportunities than we might have imagined. For example, Ian knows a Victoria-based florist who stated in a BBI that she wanted to be introduced to someone in the cruise ship industry. It's obvious how a connection like that would carry far more potential than merely contacting said florist to buy the occasional bouquet of birthday flowers. As always, it was a pleasure to have Ian with us. We believe him when he says "Remember: Missing a BNI meeting can be hazardous to your wealth." :-)
What with the Advent of Social Media sights like Linked in, Facebook and Twitter, there are more and more people on line these days.
These sights are a great way to form new relationships and cement them with people you might not ever meet, or come across on a day to day basis and do business with.
Invariably there is that one person out there who does spoil it for me as they share too much information - all the time. Here are some quick and easy tips on the etiquette of sharing on social media sites:
Don'ts
1. Don't always talk about yourself. This can get boring fast. Engage other people.
2. Respect other people's privacy. Don't post another person's home address or pictures of their kids without their permission.
3. Avoid politics, religion, and your stance on abortion. Enough said.
4. Don't go into too much detail. No one cares about the last time you used the bathroom.
5. Don't let social media suck you in. Your friends will not find the need to talk to you anymore if you had 47 status updates on what you did just this morning.
Do's
1. Treat social media as a conversation you might have at a dinner party. Keep it light and informative.
2. Be passionate. Share things that you are passionate about and interested in.
3. Humanize yourself. Share some details about yourself with people, that you might also do on your spare time. Some people tend to only talk about their work.
4. Share the latest and greatest news and stories that might pertain to your business.
5. Privacy Rules Remain - stick to the privacy rules garnered by your business and your code of ethics in your profession.
6. Be Real. Be who you are and you will attract the people you will want to know for just that.
Dave Sinnott, Lawyer Hammerberg & Co
Dave is a lawyer with Hammerberg Altman Beaton & Maglio LLP, and his preferred area of practice is personal injury litigation. His passion and dedication are keys to his success in bringing justice to his clients.
Dave's presentation included an informative hand-out addressing some of the typical FAQs that arise in his line of work, such as "Who can make an ICBC claim?" (Answer: Anyone who is injured in a motor vehicle accident as a result of negligence [fault] of another individual. This could be a driver, passenger, pedestrian or cyclist struck by a vehicle.) Dave also informed us that Hammerberg & Co represents only plaintiffsin personal injury cases, whereas some law firms will represent the plaintiff andthe defendant in the same case, giving rise to obvious conflicts of interest. Moreover, Hammerberg & Co has the financial resources to bring in the medical and other experts necessary to build a strong claim - none of these costs are incurred by the client.
Contact Dave for top-notch legal consultation (always free) in cases of personal injury.
T: 604.269.8500
F: 604.269.8511
Email: dsinnott@hammerco.net
www.hammerco.net
The goal of any BNI Chapter is to have more visitors. Visitors serve as the life blood of the group and work to increase the visibility of the chapter. Inevitably there is a visitor out there who would like to do business with someone in the chapter or knows someone who knows someone who needs the services of a member of the chapter.
It doesn't matter if your visitor is a co-worker, a spouse, a neighbour, a client, or someone you met at a friend's BBQ, all visitors are looked upon kindly at BNI and could, potentially do business with someone at BNI.
It's important to remember that you never know if you are talking to a potential visitor to your group, wherever you may be.
Recently I was throwing a ball in the local dog park for my dog. Another dog approached and they started playing. I got chatting with the owner and found out he is a business owner at the Cooperators Group. Immediately my mind skipped to our vice president's report detailing that our group was looking for a vehicle and property insurance person. He took my business card and by the time I got back home he had emailed me a few members of his company who would were movers and shakers and looking for a BNI group to join.
In this case a ball in the hand is worth a visitor at my BNI group this week and a potential new member!
A power team is a team of people within a BNI group that is the heart of each BNI chapter and a bonifide source of referrals for everyone in the group as well as the other power team members.
Each power team group will be doing business with the same type of customer and 70% of your referrals for BNI will come from your power team therefore you should work on nurturing your power team group to sustain and grow.
Top 5 ways to nurture and grow your power team:
1. Meet with every member of your team on a monthly basis for a BBI (Business Building Interview). Possibly combine the meeting and do a mass BBI with all of the members of your power team with a little added social time thrown in. Peronal details of one's life can lead to more trust and comfort as well as an "in" for the referral to connect.
2. Keep their business cards on your desk. You are alwasy looking at them and their pictures are staring back you. As uncomfortable as this may be, it keeps them all top of mind as you are going through your day and chatting to your clients.
3. Connect online to your power team. It never hurts to friend members of your power team on Facebook, and Linked In as well as follow what they have to say on Twitter. You never know what they may say that might stick in your mind.
4. Know their website and give it to your clients. A website can be a great tool to tell clients to check out a member of your power team. It gives the other member credability as well as driving traffic to their website, it can make them look like an expert in their field.
5. Subscribe to their blog. Many people like to keep up to date on industry changes and subscribing to your power teams blog is an easy way to keep up to date on their industry changes, beefs, rants and raves, and successes.
