So what’s this BNI I've heard so much about?
Okay, so maybe you've only heard me on the radio once or twice, but are curious as to what BNI (Business Networkers International) actually is. Very quickly, I will sum up BNI like this: We are a group of business people who meet every week with the expressed purpose of generating business for each other. Let's just say it... we want to make more money by closing more business.
"Okay, great," you may be saying... "You want to make more money, how does that benefit me?" Very simply.
BNI members know that the group we meet with every week (Thursday, 8am, Johnny Harris Banquet Hall on Victory Drive) sees our performance every time. If someone in the group refers their friend to me to do a carpet job, and I treat them poorly, gouge them on price, show up late and leave cigarette butts in the driveway, guess what? Word spreads through the group quickly and I don't get another referral. This is actually an awesome, built in quality control measure we have that makes sure every client generated from every referral gets our best service, every time.
Have you ever called a contractor & been stood up? Me too. Have you ever felt like Savannah is still operating on an "old boy's" network that is tough to crack if you weren’t born into it? Me too. Coming to a BNI meeting really is like being injected into a truly reliable network of business professionals who will truly give you their best effort, every time. Trust me, we know that our reputations are on display to our peers in a very real way, and that's an awesome motivator.
Are you a business professional?
If so, first off, I understand how groups like this can sound... "Oh, another builders association." Nope. "Another Chamber meeting... Buy Local Savannah... Rotary...." No, No and no. I was so apprehensive when I first heard of BNI, because I've been to these other groups, until I got there & checked it out. We are not interested in ANYTHING except generating business for members. Nothing against those other groups, but I want to know where my customers are. I want warm introductions to whoever I want. I want people to keep my business in mind when they hear someone mention flooring. I get this from BNI.
"Exactly how do I get all of this value? How is this different from those other groups?"
Focus. We are focused 100% on generating business for our B.N.I. members. I mention on one of our radio advertisements that Eckard’s has closed $15,000 in business from these referrals in the month of October. This is true, and our chapter is on track to do $2 million in closed business this year! I was apprehensive about joining at first, until I came to a couple meetings. I believe it can work for your business too, whatever your business is. Here are a few people you may meet at our chapter meeting:
Joe Rosenblum, Joe’s Handyman Service
Janet Langford, Stanford Connections
Michele Gutting, Remax Savannah
Dana Lee, BB&T
Seth Kovensky, Live Oak Financial Services
Bridgette Hammond, Low Country Exterminating
Warren Hartman, JW Studios
Jon Weinberg, AJ&C Garfunkel Insurance
Luanne Whitlow, Snelling Staffing Services
Plus about 20 others… no two professions alike.
Imagine, one of Seth’s clients wants to buy a home. After looking at their finances, he thinks it’s a great idea. He directs them to Michele Gutting to look at properties (referral #1). They will, however, need a loan… she sends them to Dana Lee who helps them out (referral #2). They need new flooring and a termite letter… I’m referred, and Bridgette (referral #3 & #4). This is how B.N.I. works.
“Great, you refer your friends and I get gouged, no thanks…”
No way. The beauty of our group is that we are subtly self-policing. If one member continually does bad work, or tries to gouge their referrals (who, many times, are our friends and relatives), word spreads quickly through the group that that member is not worth referring business to, and their days in B.N.I. are numbered. We see each other every week… We all want to be known as great business people, worthy of the clients that may be sent our way. You will get our best work (and price!) every time.
Check us out: Johnny Harris Banquet Hall on Victory Drive, Thursday mornings at 8 am.
We have bagels, so if nothing else, stop in for breakfast.
Or give me a shout, I’d love to tell you more, or answer any questions you may have.
Thanks for reading,
-Dane Eckard w/
Eckard’s Flooring Design Center
