introduction to first friday 2015

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE FIRST FRIDAY NETWORK

HOW TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS BY

RUNNING YOUR OWN NETWORK GROUP

NETWORKING : BUSINESS : LEARNING : MARKETING : SOCIAL MEDIA

Word of mouth introductions lead to huge amounts of profitable business but building longterm and effective relationships through your local business network takes

time, patience and skill before it pays off.

Start running your own First Friday meetings and you’ll soon be reaping all the rewards networking

has to offer.

TM

First Friday Network www.firstfriday-network.co.uk

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When did First Friday Network start?The First Friday Network was started by Steve Wilson of Wilson Design Associates in Chichester, WestSussex in March 2003. After moving his business from London he was doing the rounds of networkmeetings and decided there was a gap in the market for those people who didn’t want an early morningbreakfast meeting or a weekly commitment, or indeed to pay a subscription to a large organisation. First Friday was created to provide the local business community with a venue to network, meet, promote,share and exchange ideas.

The initiative was supported and promoted by the Chamber of Commerce and Economic DevelopmentService at the Council and soon proved to be a very popular event on the networking calendar. So muchso, that people started to approach Steve asking if there were plans to start meetings in other locations!

The success of the format has captured the imagination of local small businesses and support organisations.New groups are constantly starting, expanding the network ever wider. All of the groups belong to thewider network but are run by local business people, with local knowledge and local contacts.

“Steve is excellent at making introductions andconnecting people together. I highly recommendSteve and First Friday.”Graham Constantine, Whole Being

“Steve not only recognises the power of businessnetworking, but has created a powerful, enjoyableand very successful model in First Friday. As anactive participant, I thoroughly recommend bothSteve and the First Friday network.”Paul Dallibar, Gordian Solutions Ltd

“Steve is a very inspirational person. We workedtogether on setting up a successful breakfastnetworking group – TBI. He is very trustworthy,reliable and fun to work with. He has artistic flareand is also full of suggestions and ideas to make thegroup more fun and work more efficiently. He wenton to set up the First Friday group which again hasalso been very successful.”Shirley Barnes, Dinamiks Ltd

To see a year in my life as anetworker take a look atpages 14 to 21 where you cansee in a little more detail allthe things I got up to – inaddition to the normal networkmeetings – in just 12 months!


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What is First Friday Network?It is not a money making business – it is a marketing tool for you and your business. Every business person that runs a First Friday group is a keen networker and understands the benefits ofbeing known locally, reaping the rewards of the extra exposure to the business community.The First Friday Network is a free business networking event held monthly on various Fridays, currentlywith meetings across East Sussex, West Sussex, Surrey, Kent, Hampshire and London. However, thenetwork is looking to expand nationally. The concept is: free entry, no pre-booking, no ‘lock-outs’ – just aninformal gathering in a welcoming environment – where people feel relaxed and under no pressure toperform a ‘60-second elevator pitch’.

Most network companies charge the attendees to meet each other – pressurising members to achievevalue for money against the clock whilst frantically looking to make that elusive contact. At First Fridaythere is no cost to attend, enabling the visitor to relax and be themselves. This is much more productivethan delivering a desperate sales pitch in the hope of getting an immediate response and closing the deal!

Why should you run a First Friday Network meeting?Whether you are a new or established business the exposure of being the organiser of a busy networkevent like First Friday is priceless.

Your company details appear on all marketing material and it is your name that will be mentioned whenpeople refer new guests to visit. The cost of gaining this level of exposure would normally be prohibitive,especially if you had to buy advertising space, but the network acts as your word-of-mouth sales force!Becoming an organiser boosts your image as a trustworthy individual to do business with. My ownexperience is that my name is given to new businesses looking to enter the network arena by the localbusiness support agencies such as The Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Services at theCouncil.

Promoting the network at the Business Network Show 2014 in Wolverhampton (pictured with Brad Burton of 4N).


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Promoting thenetwork at theBusiness NetworkShow inWolverhampton2014, with StefanThomas of 4N(author of theBusinessNetworking forDummies book),and Stefan at theChichester meeting.

Promoting thenetwork at the

Business Showin London.

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How do you get started?Once you have signed the Licence the first thing to do is find a venue that can hold the meetingcomfortably at no cost to you. Generally a pub or hotel will be more than happy to allow you to hold ameeting there – for them you are bringing in regular customers who will not only spend money at the barbut may well start using the venue for business meetings or socialising. Once you have secured a locationyou need to promote it!

How do you promote themeetings?We will promote your meetingsby including the details on thewebsite and monthly eNewsletterand through social media such asLinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook andon the FindNetworkingEvents.comwebsite, but you need topromote it locally as much asyou can.

Contact your Chamber ofCommerce, Council EconomicDevelopment team and othernetwork groups like 4Networking,BNI or BRX. If you already attendnetwork groups take somebusiness cards and promote theFirst Friday Network; keennetworkers are always looking forfresh meetings to attend.

Try to get some press coverageby writing to the business editorof your local paper, or thebusiness newsdesk at the localradio station – they are always onthe lookout for great businessstories.

Promoting charity events like BHFRock up in Red, or Comic Reliefhelps promote your meetings andalso gives an incentive to attend,along with credibility and focus.


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Setting the scene at your meetingsTry to make it obvious where you are and who isat the meeting. The roller banners are a great wayto welcome people and immediately set thescene.

Have a table where people can display theirpromotional literature and cards. It allows peopleto browse at their leisure and pick up details ofpeople they may not have managed to meet.Make sure they take it with them when they go.

This can become cluttered so control how much isput out if you can!


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The websiteThe website and the eNewsletters areour main marketing tools.

Currently the website has over 3000registered users across a wide rangeof business sectors and nearly 2000directory listings.

Your local meeting pageYour own meeting page is your chanceto keep local information fresh andrelevant and promote events that willhelp your network group.

The business directoryThe directory is free to register with and is agreat resource, it currently has nearly 2000businesses registered and we get more everymonth.

We have introduced an enhanced listing tothis section on the site. This is part of the paidfor Premier Membership, this also gives themaccess to the blog, for a fee of just £10 peryear or £24.95 for lifetime membership.


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Social MediaWe actively promote the network, networkingnews and Premier Members blog throughsocial media.

We have a good following on Twitter (over3500), LinkedIn group (over 800) and agrowing following on Facebook.

You could create your own groups as someother Licensees have done to communicatelocally if you want.


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What other Licensees have said over the years

Eastbourne“As an enterprise agency we have always promoted to new businesses the positive aspects of networking, andto look for networking groups that match their individual personality, business needs and pocket! For many newbusinesses, First Friday is a perfect format – non-threatening, informal and free. As we deliver services acrossboth East and West Sussex, we are able to signpost a number of businesses into the various First Friday groupswith first hand knowledge of how well the format works. Our main reason for starting the group in Eastbournewas to introduce businesses to the format and encourage them to expand their horizons and visit groups inother locations.”

Lewes “I heard about Steve's First Friday Network from a colleague who had attended some of the meetings andraved about them. When I approached him in 2007 about setting up a First Friday in Lewes, he was extremelyhelpful and offered all the support and advice I needed to start the group. Other networking groups come andgo but the First Friday concept remains as strong as ever, much of which has to be down to Steve’s selflessdirection and hard work behind the scenes.”


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What will it cost you?The cost of setting up a First Friday Network event is just £180, plus £15 a month.Run on a rolling monthly licence.

We will supply you with everything you need to get started in marketing your event as part of your set up fee:• Roller banner = £99• 500 business cards = £55• 500 leaflets = £110• Your own web page on the First Friday site = £99• Email marketing system = £199• Premier Membership = £24.95

That’s a total of £586.95 worth of material for just £180 !All fees/costs are subject to VAT.

You will also receive 3 bonus gifts when you sign up that will help you to build your businessthrough your networking activity!

It is up to you how much more promotional material you buy in the future to market your event (butyou must use official marketing material and protect the First Friday Network brand image ineverything you do). Current Licensees have stated that the cost of setting up and running a FirstFriday event has been recovered many times over from the contacts they have made at meetings!See what Tony from Worthing had to say:

“I set it up as a good way to gain entry to the local business community as a new business in theprofessional sector. I also wanted to meet businesses that don’t want to go to evening and breakfastnetworking events. I view it as a marketing tool for my business, as I do all types of networking that Iundertake, the only difference is that I am the only person there that has had a direct financial cost forattending, which is offset by the people who actively target you and the promotion that being the eventorganiser gives you. I have seen the benefit of running the events in quickly gaining brand awareness inthe local business area. It has helped me gain business from companies that would have taken melonger to build relationships with had I not set up the First Friday Networking event. It has also helped mybusiness find clients and I can say that the direct cost of setting up a First Friday event has beenrecovered many times over! We had 40 different businesses at the first event from a number of differentindustries and I know that I made connections at that first meeting that have produced business for me.If I did not run the event I would still attend.”

The events have been so successful for Tony he has gone on to open a second group in Crawley!

So what now? Time to make your decision and get in touch!You must remember this is not a revenue stream, it’s a marketing tool!

If you feel you are the right kind of person to run a group and grow your business through networkingmore effectively then give me a ring or send an email and we’ll get you started... it’s that easy!

Steve Wilson: 01243 787100 / [email protected]


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Hi, I am Steve Wilson and I thought I should tell you a little bitabout me and a snapshot of a year in my life as a networker!

I have been recognised for my contribution to the local business scene atthe Chichester Observer Business Awards for three years running, winningBusiness Personality of the Year in 2009 and runner up in 2008 and 2010.

You’ve probably met me, if not networking one Friday lunchtime in Chichester, thenperhaps at some other event along the south coast where I’ve been the one in themiddle of the throng introducing all the newcomers to the old faces! You see I havebecome something of a serial networker. I like people, I buzz about business andwhen the two mix together I’m in my element. Not only am I a regular face at many

business network events, but I am best recognised as the creator, mover and shaker behind the increasinglypopular First Friday Network which currently spans locations across the south coast and is now movingonwards and upwards into the rest of the country!

When I’m not out and about introducing business folk to one another and spotting potential collaborationsbetween them, I’m busy running my design business in the heart of Chichester, where I have been based since2001. The company, Wilson Design Associates (WDA), produces creative design solutions in the corporate,marketing and promotional sectors for both national and local clients. Over the years we have designed for TheNational Gallery, Womens Institute, Serco, Rentokil Initial, Southern Rail, Chichester District Council, ChichesterCathedral and the Health Education Authority. Major publishing companies, such as Dorling Kindersley, ConranOctopus and Walker Childrens Books, have also used our services.

Energy and enthusiasm flows into local activities too: I have been Chairman of the Chichester branch of theSouth Coast Design Forum, board member and guest speaker of the Chichester Education BusinessPartnership, judge and guest speaker for Young Enterprise and an active member and promoter of theChichester Chamber of Commerce.

Here’s what the local business community has to say about me:

“Steve has provided an excellent service in relation to my business branding, print design and website. He has also developed a really good networking model in the form of First Friday which complements perfectlythe more structured, formal and subscription-based networking forums that I attend.”Alan Edmonds, Improbiz

“Steve not only recognises the power of business networking, but has created a powerful, enjoyable and verysuccessful model in First Friday. As an active participant, I thoroughly recommend both Steve and the FirstFriday network.”Paul Dallibar, Gordian Solutions Ltd

“I first met Steve at First Friday Chichester and was impressed with him and his networking event. I spoke tohim after attending several First Friday events about setting up one in Worthing. His support to allow this tohappen has been great, with a very quick turn around allowing me to set up the first Worthing event within tendays. He also gave me some great advice on how to make people aware of the event, which worked so wellwe had over 40 businesses at our first event! A great networker.” Tony Hedger, A & T Business Associates Ltd

DIARY OF A NETWORKER


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“I recommend Steve Wilson of WDA as a creative graphic designer producing high quality work that continuesto delight customers and exceed expectations. But that’s not all you get with Steve. He has built a successfulbusiness on a strong ethical basis working within the local community investing in the future by supporting theYoung Enterprise programme, strengthening the business community serving the Chamber of Commerce anddeveloping and expanding his own First Friday Network Group which is built on zero cost to participants, awelcoming format and inclusivity. And that’s not all, he found time to be in at the birth of South Coast DesignForum and has given his time and talent to get this fledgling flying. If you like the look of the SCDF website andeNewsletter they are very much Steve’s creation.” Peter Spence, South Coast Design Forum

“I never cease to be amazed and impressed by Steve's outstanding combination of design creativity andbusiness focus. There is a genuine talent for capturing the essence of an organisation's or event’s style andtarget market, and then marrying this to eye-catching and engaging designs that effectively and succinctlyconvey the core message.” Farid Ahmed, Wolf Unique Ltd (President, Chichester Chamber of Commerce)

“I am always happy and confident to recommend Steve and work with him on behalf of my clients. Steve tellsit how it is, sorts out the wheat from the chaff and never has ‘creative failure’. Throw anything at Steve and hedelights in finding an answer. His creativity never ceases to excite me! I thoroughly recommend him for anycreative/design issue. Test him and see!” Louise Fenwick, Coalition Communications

“Using Steve has always been a great experience. He gets what you want straight away, he’s very creative andfull of good ideas. Steve offers good quality at a fair price and always on time with the right results.”Kenrick Garraway, Chichester Council Economic Development Services

The following pages show a typical year in the life of a networker!

JANUARY

Brand:Acceleration Seminar I co-hosted a seminar with two other speakersthis month. The Brand:Acceleration Seminarlooked at the ways in which businesses canaccelerate their performance. We talked abouthow to use a brand design consistently,develop an effective marketing strategy andincrease internet presence.

FEBRUARY

The EBP networkI helped organise a network event for theChichester Education Business Partnership(EBP) to promote what it did to localbusinesses in order to gain new members. TheChichester EBP and the Bognor Regis EBPmerged to form Chichester and Bognor RegisEBP, with over 30 board members. We wantedto celebrate by inviting business people to joinus at our ‘Plug in to the EBP Network’ event tofind out more about what we do!

MARCH

Observer Business Awards 09Fabulous night at the Chichester ObserverBusiness Awards ceremony at the HiltonAvisford Park Hotel. I received an award: forBusiness Personality of the Year 2009. Fred Dinenage described me as: “a real ideasman who is out and about everywhere,involved in Young Enterprise as a judge andmentor, a board member for the EducationBusiness Partnership, Chairman of theChichester branch of the South Coast DesignForum and much, much more. “He is also well known for his networking

activities; running the popular First FridayNetwork which is growing nationwide andattracting new members every month.”


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APRIL

Young Enterprise Awards DayI was a judge and sponsor at the finals of theYoung Enterprise challenge this month andalso presented an award. I’m always pleased tosee the development of the students who takepart in this scheme and am amazed by theeffort they all put in over and above theirschool work day! This time the Best Company,“Fuse” from Bishop Luffa went through to theSussex Finals at the Chequer Mead Theatre inEast Grinstead.

MAY

SCDF 4th Anniversary drinksIn May I organised a gathering at PallantHouse Gallery in Chichester to celebrate fouryears of the South Coast Design Forum. OurChairman Wayne Hemingway and his wifecut the birthday cake to mark the SCDF’s 4thbirthday and creatives from across the Sussexcoast enjoyed a great evening. The event appeared in ETC Magazine,

generating some valuable publicity for theorganisation and its members.

JUNE

Business Focus ExhibitionOnce again this year was full of meetings! In June we were in the thick of organising thesecond Business Focus Business to BusinessExhibition. I had created the identity andpromotional material earlier in the year. Thedecision was made to postpone the exhibitionuntil 2011 due to the uncertainty in theeconomic climate.

JULY

First Friday Event in the TentThe Real Ale and Jazz Festival was held thismonth and I arranged to make use of themarquee in Chichester’s Priory Park to host agiant get together of First Friday networkers -our first-ever EVENT IN THE TENT.Businesses from Southampton, Portsmouth,

Horsham, Arundel, Brighton and Chichesterincluding Wilson Design, ChichesterChamber, SCDF, The Observer, Ray Webb theDeputy Mayor and RAJF sponsors Spirit FMand Supersigns, took advantage of this hugeopportunity to network big time. The diverse cross-section of the local business

community exchanged ideas, news andbusiness cards while RAJF organisers offered agreat selection of summertime food and drinkto keep everyone refreshed. First FridayNetwork’s Event in the Tent is set to become anannual date for the business calender.

AUGUST

Vintage Entertainment!August is a month of holidays! Not very busyon the network scene so we turned our focus toentertainment! The first Vintage at Goodwoodorganised by SCDF Chairman WayneHemingway was a roaring success and wethouroughly enjoyed every minute!

SEPTEMBER

SCDF Summer DrinksIn September I organised a get together ofcreatives and their guests to enjoy drinks andcanapes in the smart surroundings of WestStoke House, Chichester. One last chance torelish the splendour of this gracious settingbefore the restaurant closed for good inNovember. Sussex Life and ETC magazines featured

the occasion in their social pages.


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OCTOBER

Young Enterprise PresentationAt the beginning of October I was one ofseveral local business people who talked tochildren from local schools who wereembarking on the Young Enterprise challengethis year. They were at the point of setting uptheir companies and forming ideas for whatthey would do over the coming months.

Stonepillow Big Sleep Out 2010At the end of the month I joined the judgingpanel at Stonepillow’s Big Sleep Out held inthe grounds of Chichester Cathedral. Mayor ofChichester, Michael Woolley and ChristianNotley from Chichester College were fellowjudges. I designed all of the charity’smarketing and promotional material.The event, held every other year, encourages

young people to spend the night in a cardboardshelter they have built themselves on site, inorder to experience the kind of conditionsendured by the homeless. All three judgesagreed that Body Shop’s shelter was theoutright winner because it combined a solidbuild structure, weather-proofing and comfort,whilst retaining the look of a home.

NOVEMBER

Open Art Private ViewI invited my expanding network from FirstFriday to join members and guests of theChichester Chamber of Commerce and SCDF at a private view of paintings, drawings andprints at The National Open Art Competition2010. This event is held every year and hostedby Neil Lawson-Baker, Chairman of TheChichester Art Trust. The Minerva Theatre inChichester is the perfect showcase for the high-quality selection of work on display.

NOVEMBER

Young Enterprise talkAlso this month I talked to the YoungEnterprise students at Bishop Luffa Schoolabout branding and promoting theircompanies. The aim of the session was to givethe Sixth Form students a betterunderstanding of the world of business; inparticular the start up process. The other guestspeakers were John Bugeja from Rolls Royceand Rob Shaw, an ex Luffa student himselfand director of the Jack Wills clothing company.

Supporting MOvemberDuring the month I and a few fellow designersdecided to take designer stubble seriously and grew a moutstache in support ofMOvember – a moustache growing charityevent held during November each year thatraises funds and awareness for men's health. Our efforts generated press coverage in the

Observer newspaper. At the end of the month wewere relieved to shave off the fuzz and did thisrather publicly at Body & Sole beauty salon inChichester, owned by Sarah Barnett who alsosupported the charity. All good fun for aworthy cause!

DECEMBER

First Friday beats the snow!Snow dominated December activities,disrupting business and daily life, but thehardy folk who come to the First Fridaynetwork meetings didn’t let a little white stuffbeat them!

Around twenty people turned up at the ShipHotel to chat and network. Fortified by a glassof wine or two, they ventured back out into thesnowy streets to carry on the good work...

...Another networking year done?


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Event in the Tent 2011

The RAJF marquee in Chichester’s Priory Park rocked to a different tune on Wednesday 6th July at FirstFriday Network’s second annual EVENT IN THE TENT. Instead of the usual music on offer, the buzz ofnearly 100 local companies filled the air under RAJF’s canvas. Businesses from Southampton,Portsmouth, Horsham, Arundel, Brighton and Chichester including members from other network groupsand organisations such as Chichester Chamber of Commerce, SCDF, BNI and 4Networking along withRAJF sponsors Spirit FM, took advantage of this annual opportunity to network and socialise big time.The diverse cross-section of the local business community exchanged ideas, news and business cardswhile RAJF organisers offered a great selection of food and real ales to keep everyone refreshed for theevening.

Three lucky networkers won prizes in the business card raffle, Ben Power from Springhouse Solicitorsgetting the first prize of two tickets to attend RAJF. Well done folks!

Here are just a couple of the comments from attendees.

“Just a quick email to say thanks once again for a great evening with First Friday. An easy, relaxedatmosphere and a great buzz! Just what networking is all about – I hate to leave a good party!!”Jennifer Schofield, Marcom Defence

“Well done for putting on such a great Event in the Tent again last night. Everyone was networking well and the food and drinks were delicious.”Julie Harrison, Chichester Chamber of Commerce

We also had some great comments on Twitter and Facebook!

If you want to see more pictures visit our Facebook or Flickr pages.

www.firstfriday-network.co.uk

[email protected]

www.firstfridaymedia.blogspot.co.uk

@FFMedia_01

[email protected]

Join us online for more information on howto make your business super successful!

The belief is that around seventy per cent of business is done by word of mouth referral – so attend as many network events as you can!

“Steve’s passion for networking and the importance of building business relationships is the key to why the First Friday Network is such a huge success.

His understanding of small companies need to get out there and network without being tied into a monthly payment – or penalised if unable to attend – filled a gap in the market. His drive and ambition for empowering and enabling companies to

build their networks – for free – has become a tremendous success. I would recommend Steve and the First Friday Network to anyone.”

Horsham Group Organiser

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@FirstFridayNet

introduction to first friday 2015

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