End of summer
2011
Welcome to this week's
Business Banter blog
I think it would be fair to say that the summer of 2011 won't go down as one of the world's better summer periods. What with telephone and computer hacking, famine in Africa, the state of the economy with another recession potentially just around the corner and finally last week's riots, it's been really hard to remember any good news that's survived more than a few hours of 24/7 media analysis.
Interesting to read that the price of oil has fallen about 18% over the past few months. Not that you would know it from the forecourt prices. If anyone can tell me where to get diesel for less than £1.35 a litre then please let me know and I'll spread the word.
You would think the government might want to do something about the drop in price and force the companies to give the rest of the country some sort of price relief. But just think of all the duty the government would lose if they did something as popular as that.
Instead Georgie boy has decided to take a leaf out of Norman Tebbit's social cohesion book and prepare us for the next transport revolution. When the Banter contacted the Treasury they were unwilling to comment on fears that there will be VAT placed on air for the tyres.
It was however, good to see Alan Cross make a welcome return to the Business Banter following his protracted transfer to LV= for an undisclosed fee though rumours abound that a crate of Irn Bru and a box of Ready Salted were polished off during negotiations. In addition, Kirstin Smith made it along for the second week in a row and has been promised a new contract if she can make it a hat-trick of Banters next week.
So on the positive side this summer, the Business Banter can claim that we're fast approaching 500 people who have attended the events over the past year and hopefully that landmark will be passed by the time we celebrate our first birthday in a few weeks time.
I've also managed to find, what I hope will be, a great venue for us at the Corinthian Club Casino to celebrate one year on.
And here is your personal invitation to join with us at our Birthday celebration.
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Birthday Bash
Friday 2 September 2011
Corinthian Club Casino
191 Ingram Street
Exclusive use
between
16:00 and 19:00
Please RSVP here
Background to Business Banter
The Business Banter has now been running for almost a year and in that time we've met every week in Glasgow, almost every week in Edinburgh and, for a few months at the end of 2010 and start of 2011 weekly in Ayr. It's getting to the stage where I'll have to count them all up to see when we pass the 100 mark.
What started off as an idea to engage with people who I had LinkedIn with has steadily grown to be a major part of a lot of people's weekly diet of networking activity. At the heart of the Business Banter has always been the notion that we want people to meet in a relaxed fashion with no pressure to either sell or be sold to. The vast majority of those who have came along and agreed with that principle and the Banter itself is better for it.
That's not to say that business is not being done between those who come along and a couple of recent examples have been noted in previous blog posts.
To celebrate one year of the Business Banter we're inviting all who have came along, and others who keep meaning to come along, to attend our Birthday Bash on Friday 2 September. To help us manage the arrangements for this, especially selecting an appropriate Glasgow City Centre venue, I'd be grateful if you could RSVP here.
Banterer News
Liam Bonthron has asked me to update regular Banterers on the date of his next social event in a few weeks time.
The Edinburgh Networking Extravaganza
The date has been changed to the event and LinkedIn has no easy way of sending a message to people who have registered for an event. Therefore to help Liam organise the event please RSVP here.
Other Events
A couple of events to report on in this week's blog post.
Building Banter
The Building Banter was launched on 5 August and the next event is on Friday 19 August with Charles Bell of sasanbell the guest speaker.
Like the Business Banter Social Media Week versions (see below), the Building Banter is slightly more structured, centered around a few speakers talking about relevant issues within the construction sector and aimed primarily at businesses working within or as direct suppliers to the industry.
Edinburgh Business Banter
The Edinburgh Business Banter - Lite version continues to take place and invites others from across the country who may be in Edinburgh of a Tuesday morning and fancy joining them in Lothian Road's Caffe Nero between 0800 and 1000.
A quick visit to the Business Banter home page will allow everyone to RSVP to each Edinburgh Banter so that they can gauge who's coming along.
Once of these days someone will drop me a line from Edinburgh to tell us all how things are progressing. Hope to make a re-appearance myself in the coming weeks too.
Social Media Week
This is a key series of events across Glasgow during the week 19-23 September and glad that Tim and Daniella have such a pivotal role in pulling it all together. The schedule that's available throughout the week is really impressive and can be accessed here.
We are delighted to announce that we now have 5 Business Banters, one each morning, in the approved schedule and are currently in discussions to pull the programme together.
Each event will have 5 speakers giving a micro-presentation of approximately 5 or 6 minutes about their, or their clients, successful use of Social Media, and both Colin Abercrombie and myself are working on some web pages to showcase each speaker, sponsor and supporter of the events. As ever when ready we'll let you know.
Request for help
To help us stage and record these Business Banter Specials for Social Media Week would welcome some help in the areas below. As ever we'll promote any company or individual who is able to help us with any of the items. I'll also send out individual requests to Banterers I think may be able to help directly.
- Mobile air conditioning system - you might just have one in your office doing nothing.
- Mobile PA system - microphone, speakers and amplifier or similar
- Small stage/step - Looking for a 6 foot x 3 foot x 6 inch raised step for the presenters to stand on during their talk
- Photographer / Video cameraman
- 5 appropriate prizes, one for each day. We'll ask for business cards at each event and draw the prize after the last speaker.
The Business Golf Association
Before we go on to talk about the Business Banter newbies last week just a further reminder that the Business Golf Association event is taking place on 25 August and I'd really appreciate any help in getting this event into people's mindset for that date.
We still have space left and with only a few weeks to go would love to have you or your colleagues join us.
Click on the image below to find out more about the event and how to get involved.
The Business Banter this week
This week's forthcoming Business Banters are at the usual times and places.
Edinburgh, Tuesday, Caffe Nero, Lothian Road 0800-1000
Glasgow, Thursday, Esquires, Hope Street 0800-1000
Newbie Corner
This is the area where we introduce the newbies to the Business Banter Community. We've also created pages for the newbies in the Who's Who section of the Business Banter website, so if you want to find out more visit their pages here. If you have a Banter Cup or your company logo beside your name it means I couldn't find a photo of you.
While I have LinkedIn with many of you, I'd be delighted to accept an invitation from any I haven't connected with to date. All you have to do is click on the icon to the left here - I hope!!
Martin Layton, Business Services Manager, Intellectual Assets Centre
Ambitious to grow your business? The Intellectual Assets Centre can help! We are here to help Scottish companies grow and succeed - whatever your sector and wherever you are based in Scotland ... and we do this in several ways. We offer free consultancy sessions to help you achieve your business goals, as well as a range of sector-specific workshop programmes - bringing you expert assistance and in-company support. And for those who require long term in-depth IA Management development, we can help you scope your plans ... and even help you source potential funding for them. So, if you are ambitious for your company, then why not get in touch and find out what we can do for you?
Elsi Duncan, Managing Director, Dsigns
DSigns offers Marketing Advice before we create your... full colour Printed Vinyl and contour-cut Vinyl Lettering; Posters and Banners, Illuminated Signs, fret-cut and 3D letters from Acrylic, Brass and Stainless Steel; original traditional Hand Painted Signs and Gilding.
Douglas King, Filmmaker, 14c
14c is a creative studio based in Glasgow, Scotland. A close team of skilled professionals with youthful energy, passion and creativity. Our love for our work is matched only by our love of football, films and
fine-dining.
Ken Symon, Managing Director, symonmedia
Your reputation is your business's greatest asset. Symon Media will help you protect, develop and enhance your reputation. By providing the means to reaching the audiences you want to reach, Symon Media will ensure that your messages are heard where they need to be heard. Symon Media has the expertise to meet your needs in Public Relations, Public Affairs, Media Training and Writing for Business.
Felix Gibson, Concero
Everything you would expect from a carrier grade business telephony system, but without the expected high capital expenditure. We recognise and understand the challenges you face today; reducing budget, increasing pace of technological changes, supporting a mobile workforce and the need to always be in touch and available.
Bill Crawford, soup2nuts
We can actively find you new customers - lots of them - we can also take care of the hassle factor:storing your product, collecting, processing, picking and packing your orders - and managing your deliveries.
Alan Cross, Key account Executive, LV=
At LV=, we're all about helping people protect and provide for the things they love. This is something we care passionately about and we hope it shows in the way we work with you.
Geoff Harris, Associate, Xelplex
Xelplex FastGrow Consultants use the Xelplex brand of business tools and knowledge built on experience to nurture, mature and develop a business rapidly through all its stages of growth.
Musical Interlude
Remember the sugar sweet stickiness that was the Carpenters and how the world fell for Karen? Remember how sad it was that middle aged mums and youngsters who should have known better kept then in the charts month after month after bleeding month? Well here's one version of one of their hits which is worth hearing again from Sonic Youth.
Twits of the week
Forget about FFs or Friendly Fridays as they're called. This is the 'A' list of Twits this week from the Business Banter Community. So thanks for all the mentions using the #TDBB hash tag this week
Lochlan O'Sullivan - @balanceresource
Diane Holden - @fwDiane
Adrian Murphy - @Adrian_MurphyF
Social Media Week - @SMWGlasgow
Esquires Coffee House - @PeekayPenguin
In the Spotlight
Think Different Business Banter is all about building business relationships and the Spotlight pages provide an opportunity for Banterers to tell us all a little bit more about themselves and what services or products they offer their clients. Providing this information online also gives Banterers an opportunity to update us all on changes to their company's services, special promotions, links to other media stories and the like. Find out more about how you can Get in the Spotlight.
This week the Spotlight falls on myself, Ruth Webber Click on Find out more to read the whole interview. Click on the photos below to see who has been put in the Spotlight so far:
Hot Desk Office Space
As some of you who have visited our offices in St Enoch Square will know we have ample space to work in. To maximise the usage of this working space we are offering opportunities for Banterers and others within their network of contacts to share this space on a flexible footing. Details of the offer can be found by clicking on one of the images below. Colin Abercrombie, Clare McLeod, Norma Corlette and Jennifer Sutherland are already using space on a part-time basis. Come join us!! ;-)
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Until later this week
TUESDAY - EDINBURGH
THURSDAY - GLASGOW
Take care and keep busy
Jacky
Previous Blog posts can be found here
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