Polly's Baby Sleeps In A Bag?

This is for anyone who is still looking for ways to keep out of yesterday's doghouse this Christmas! To be honest it is a video of TV3's Ireland AM show featuring a number of great gift idea's; however, the real reason I am posting it here is so that you can have a look at one of Amanda Webb's all organic Feelgood Hamper's which are one of the featured items. There's nothing quite like seeing something in the flesh, but seeing them on TV is definitely the next best thing...

I met Amanda a couple of years ago now, at a networking event held by the Offaly, Laois & Nth Tipperary County Enterprise Boards. Margaret Farrell; who is currently co-ordinating the Network group for Offaly CEB tipped me off the very first time I met her; advising me to take loads of business cards with me.

From that one meeting came away with a variety of contacts, some of whom seem to have leapt from stage to stage and appear to be promoting very successful business ventures indeed. I got my very first order from that event; which gave me the confidence to continue the journey I'd just begun.

Amanda from Feelgood Hamper's was one of the contacts I made there. In promoting her range of totally organic hamper's this lady really caught my imagination; especially considering that she was the only one specialising in organic gift hampers in Ireland. To be honest, I suspect that she still is!

Unfortunately I didn't have the confidence; or the wherewithal, to assure her that many of the material used in my cards is either recycled or reused. It's not unusual to find the occasional piece of newsprint hidden amongst the flowers on them! I have since managed to find a supplier of reycled cardstock, with whom I intend to hook up in the near future...

Regardless, I've been watching Feelgood Hamper's; all the time wishing I had a good enough excuse to purchase some of their lovely goodies. Sadly I don't have too many friends whose over-riding passion is the environment and therefore had no reason to indulge my purse; that is until recently!

I purchased one of the most practical gifts available to new mum's through Feelgood Hamper's; an Organic Baby Sleeping Bag. At this time of the year these little gems are an essential part of the nursery; not only are they an attractive accessory it has a very practical purpose which is keeping babies snug after all they do have a nasty tendency to kick their blankets off don't they?

All I can say about Feelgood Hamper's is that the range of goods they offer is great; but the service is even better! What's more, my friend received her gift within two days of despatch and was absolutely delighted...

Polly BNI

Members of the Irish Business Women's Forum may be aware that I was recently invited to attend a meeting of the newly formed Offaly Chapter of Business Network International (more commonly known as BNI).

Of course being both curious and cynical I went along to the meeting. I'd done a little bit of research, ie Googled BNI; but still wasn't quite sure of what it was I was going along to! The early morning wake-up call was a bit of a shock to the system. Offaly members of the Chapter get up early every Thursday morning for a meeting which commences at 06.45am...

The mere fact that I woke up before the alarm had sounded at 06.10am bode well; and by the time the members of the chapter had started their meeting, I was washed, brushed and dressed. With eyes bright and an open mind I approached the meeting in much the same way I'd gone to the famous Bridal & Debs Exhibition the other week. I had little to loose, apart from a couple of hours sleep that is; and oh so much to gain.

For starters I met a girl I'd been friendly with as a young teenager in the village of Geashill. My fondest memories comprise of the two of us dancing to John Travolta and Olivia Newtronn-Bomb in a spare room above her aunts public house. Of course our energy flagged and we abandoned the black vinyl disc in search of rest and probably a coke or two! The following day the sunlight buckled the disc out of all recognition, resulting in a somewhat bumpier ride for our two hero's...

I know that my friend, with whom I'd lost contact many years ago; had pursued similar career interests to myself and took comfort from her enthusiasm and her firm handshake. There were one or two other faces which I recognized; all of which made it easier for me to integrate myself into the group comprised predominantly of men.

I even had the courage to stand up and introduce myself and my business to the meeting; for sixty seconds I took the floor while my business cards and artists trading cards circulated around the room. Phew! Sixty seconds can be a long time; but there's nothing like nursing to help you through it...

By the end of the meeting, which included a typically Irish Breakfast my only concern was the joining fees. Admittedly they are not cheap; in fact they are anything but! They do however accept Visa/Mastercard and the monthly fee can be taken by standing order...

Compared with the cost of regular advertising BNI is cheap. At a cost of €164.00 a week, I wouldn't get much change out of €2,000 per year, would I? The only problem is that it is difficult to quantify how much an investment of that type would return in terms of new business.

My investment with yourlocal.ie has proven to be an expensive mistake - after one month I haven't had a single click through as a result of advertising through them. Regarding my three month agreement; I was guaranteed business which has so far not been forthcoming, so I'm not going to worry about the other two months of the trial. There's no point in throwing good money after bad...

So; with regard to BNI, where do I stand? I'm sold on the principal; but I am very concerned about the cost involved. Also, the annual fee is non-returnable! Can I really expect a middle aged concrete pre-cast manufacturer to promote my handmade wedding stationary to his customer's? Well, maybe I can - afterall; he does run a golf club too!!!!

I do have the opportunity to visit one other meeting before committing myself. I wonder though, if I will be able to get up so early next Thursday? No doubt you'll find out later in the week; whether or not I did!!!

Polly Pierce
Vinca Hand Made Greeting Cards & Wedding Stationary