Our networking dream did indeed turn into reality as The Best of Guernsey successfully held its second networking event on June 21st - Midsummer's Night at Avant Garden, Sausmarez Manor.
Among the guests were plenty of new faces who arrived ready to make new contacts, take advantage of the 10% discount at Avant Garden, eat al fresco and learn more about successful local businesses.
The setting of Nick Martel’s Avant Garden lent itself perfectly for the midsummer evening event with all the lush greenery and beautiful products. Fortunately the wind was calm enough whilst the rain stayed away so that guests could enjoy a scrumptious barbeque cooked on one of the beefeater BBQ’s stocked by Avant Garden.
“Great networking night last night at the Midsummer Networking Dream and more importantly a BBQ.” (Mike Brehaut – Creative Photography)
The Best of Guernsey’s Kate Heywood started proceedings by welcoming everyone and introducing the list of newest business members since the previous event in January. In between opportunities to network, Kate introduced Paul Gosling from Equilibrium Massage Therapy who spoke about his rapidly growing business and how being a TBOG business member since February 2011 had helped build his clientele. Paul was also on hand (quite literally) to offer a lucky selection of guests a ten minute seated acupressure demonstration.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the short massage with Paul - a great surprise to win a little session! In fact I liked it so much I am organising some sessions for my colleagues!” (Chris Blin – Personnel Appointments)
Susie Andrade, from Channel Islands Skills Academy, also spoke briefly on the Guernsey Customer Service Awards, a new initiative which has been created by the Chamber of Commerce with the support of the Guernsey Press to ‘celebrate and recognise excellence in customer care across the island’. Susie explained the awards were for employees and encouraged guests to use the voting slips in the Guernsey Press to nominate an employee from any local business that they felt had gone the extra mile.
“Thank you again for a very interesting, informative, helpful and entertaining evening.” (Richard Lord – Sustainable Guernsey)
Stuart Mauger from Baan Thai Restaurant, the ‘Most Loved Business in Guernsey’, spoke about what being a business member of TBOG since 2009 and winning the 14 Days of Love Campaign earlier in the year had done for his family business. Stuart explained how they had decided not to take part in the 14 DOL campaign in 2010 due to their reservation about asking customers for testimonials and how business last spring had been slow. He went on to say that with The Best of Guernsey’s encouragement they decided to take part this year and went on to win the award. The PR generated for the restaurant since has seen them experiencing record bookings and things weren’t slowing down with a very busy June. Stuart finished by encouraging business members to take the time to gather testimonials and take part in next year’s campaign.
“Thank you for inviting us to the networking event last night. It was definitely worth attending and very well facilitated!” (Anita Walker, Accent Language Centre)
At the end of the evening several business members received certificates for being officially recognised as one of the best businesses in Guernsey having gained over ten testimonials from their clients. Obviously customers are the most important part of any business so all were delighted to receive this recognition from their clients.
“Island Adventures are the very proud owners of an award entitled 'One of the Best Business in Guernsey'! The comments on it state that Island Adventures have 'approachable, experienced and informative instructors and offer exiting activities at great value for money'! Not a bad bit of news to hear over a glass of pink champagne! Thanks Best of Guernsey." (Kelly Marquis, Island Adventures)
