THE BEDFORD BANNER
Bedford Chamber of Commerce Newsletter
 
October/2012
Vol. 15   Issue 11
In This Issue
FLAVORS OF BEDFORD
How to Network for Sales people
Goddard School Trunk or Treat
What the Chamber did in September?
Business Development Committee
Alewife Shuttle to Crosby Drive
Chamber Connections
Chamber Calendar
Follow us on TWITTER
 .
                
                FLAVORS OF BEDFORD
November 4, 2012
Doubletree Bedford Glen Hotel
4-6 PM
Flaovrs logo 
Flavors of Bedford offers you the chance to show off your business and demonstrate community support. Major sponsors get mentioned prominently in all press and promotion leading up to the event, during and afterwards.  Do you want to add your name to this list?
Contact the chamber at bcoc@bedfordchamber.org

  How to Network for Sales People - Working the Room

by Marc Wayshak

Let's be clear-networking isn't easy. There's nothing more stressful than walking into a room full of strangers with the expectation that you have to approach them. I still feel over-whelmed the first second I walk into a networking event where I don't know anyone. However, I have learned to be effective at networking with a few very simple strategies.

Your Goal: Walk into the room with a goal-but make sure it's realistic.

If I'm about to attend a networking event with hundreds of possible prospects, I want to know how much time I'll have to complete that goal. For example, let's say there's a cocktail hour before the event's speaker comes on. Then after the speech, there's another half-hour before the event ends. That leaves me with a ninety-minute window of time to network.

In ninety minutes, a realistic goal would be to meet and connect with ten prospects. I make a promise to myself that I won't go home until I have the contact information of at least ten people. There are no excuses or exceptions here. I don't particularly enjoy networking, so if I let myself off the hook I know I will never meet my goal.

Warm Up: The first three people will be the most difficult to approach.

Once I'm mentally and socially warmed up, networking becomes much easier. The second I walk into an event, I strike up a conversation with the first person I see. Every fiber of my being is usually telling me to go to the bar, but that's the worst thing I can do-it will just waste time and keep me stuck inside my own head.

It doesn't matter if the first person you talk to is the bell-man at the conference center; just strike up a conversation. Follow your first conversation with two more random chats. (These don't count towards your goal, by the way-cheater.)

Conversation-starter: What you say to start a conversation doesn't matter; what matters is that you start the conversation.

Having said that, there's one line that I find to be very effective at striking up conversations at networking events:

"What brings you to this event?"

If you have something else that you like to say, great-but don't get caught up on what to say.

Ask the first question: After starting a conversation, you always want to try to ask the first question. Of course, if you do get asked what you do before you have the chance, just use your rehearsed Opening Play. But ideally, before you get to talking about what you do, you want to ask the person, "Who are you looking to meet at this event?"

Depending on how the person answers your question, you'll be able to quickly determine whether this person is worth your valuable time to continue speaking to.

With that question you also automatically shift the focus toward the other person. Remember, most people are terrible at networking and only care to talk about themselves. Also, pay attention to what people tell you so you can make a connection. If you're the only person making connections at the very start of a networking event, you've just moved yourself to the top of the social food chain in everyone's eyes-people will notice that.

Your Opening Play: Eventually, the person is going to ask you what you do. When this happens you'll use your Opening Play (some trainers call this your thirty second commercial)-but you'll tweak it just slightly. My Opening Play at a networking event goes like this:

"I am a sales coach who works with mid-sized* businesses to create a game plan for selling. Today, I'm looking to meet CEOs who are losing too many sales to low-cost competitors, struggling to hit their quarterly revenue goals or getting inconsistent results from their sales teams."

*I don't have to tell him about the other types of clients I have, just the types of businesses that would be at this event.

If the person I'm talking to is a CEO with those problems, she'll tell me so. Then I'll take her through an abbreviated Disqualification Checklist, which I teach in my sales training programs and sales coaching programs. If she's qualified, I'll recommend that we set up a meeting or a phone call. We can exchange cards, too. All that matters is that I have her information. When networking, never just give out cards with the expectation of getting a call back. That's a total waste of time.

Get Help from Connectors: If you talk to enough people at an event, you will eventually find a "connector." These are the people who know absolutely everyone of importance. When you come across a connector, add one more step: ask them for their "help." Here's exactly what to say:

"I'm new to this group and I'm not great at networking. Do you think you might be able to help me connect with some people?"

I've had connectors literally walk me around from CEO to CEO all night, introducing me to everyone.

Be sure to get the connector's information and follow up with a hand-written card and email. Work to develop relation-ships with these people. If they like you, they can change your world.

 

 

Written by Marc Wayshak, author of Game Plan Selling and sales trainer in Boston, MA.

marc wayshak

Marc Wayshak speaking at the Chamber's September Breakfast Smarts Meeting

 

 

 

 

3RD ANNUAL  GODDARD SCHOOL TRUNK OR TREAT

 

Meet & Greet over 500 Bedford families

Time to sign up for the

3rd annual

THE GODDARD SCHOOL Trunk or Treat

Friday, October 26

Whole Foods Market Parking Lot

4:30-6:00

 

What is it?

An opportunity to put your business in front of over five hundred local families.

All you need to do is decorate the trunk of your car and hand out candy. We are limiting this to 35 businesses, so don't wait in reserving your spot-

Last year we filled them all!!

 

Participating Businesses as of 10/1

The Goddard School

Edward Jones Investments
Callahan Karate
William Raveis Real Estate
The Higgins Group
Bedford VA Hospital
Hanscom Federal Credit Union
Bedford Montessori School

Simply Your Home
OrganizingWorks
Bedford Police Department

 

There is a $25.00 particpation charge.

 

  

What the Chamber did in September?

 Catch the Net -Brightview Concord River
 Working Women Alliance - Carlton Willard
 Breakfast Smart Series with Marc Wayshak - Brightview Concord River
 Bedford Day
 Board of Directors
wwacarlton
Barb Davis -WWA
marc3
Breakfast Smart Series
   
bedfordcitizen
New Member The Bedford Citizen at Bedford Day
 

Business Development Committee Update

 


Business Development- The committee is putting together recommended economic development goals for the town. They will be presenting them to the Selectman on October 15, 2012.
Sign By Law - Goal is resident education before the November 7th

town meeting. Plan is to discuss the proposed changes in local media

(Minuteman, Bedford Citizen, etc...) as well as Bedford Council Of

Aging (in person and in newsletter). For each change, list out the

reason for the change and how it will benefit Bedford. The next Sign By Law meeting is September 11th. 

Alewife Shuttle Service- The Chamber is looking for contacts for any Crosby Drive businesses to discuss adding them to the shuttle. Any contact you have will be helpful (be sure to go through your linkedin and other social networks).  

 

    ALEWIFE SHUTTLE TO CROSBY DRIVE

      offers guaranteed ride home program

 
 Did you know the 128 Business Council's offfers guaranteed ride home, along with several other member benefits such as

 

  • DEP Rideshare Regulation Compliance
  • RideMatching
  • Guaranteed Ride Home
  • Commuter Benefits Events
  • Shuttle Bus Services
  • Transportation Advocacy Programs
128 Business Council could be your one-stop resource for alternative transportation and pro-sustainability solutions for the 128 West region. Their  shuttles connect major employers, institutions and communities to public transit (MBTA stations), making commuting more effective and reducing Route 128 West and related roadway congestion.  
 Please contact the Chamber office at 781-275-8503 if your company is interested in participating in this Shuttle Program and/or if you know some other companies in the Crosby Drive area that you think would be interested. 

CHAMBER CONNECTIONS 

 

 

 Each month, Executive Director Maureen Sullivan tapes the Chamber Connections at the Bedford Tv Studio. Check out the links below of who she has interviewed and if you are  interested in being a guest, email her at bcoc@bedfordchamber.org

 

Madeline Altman ~ Bedford TV

Linda Stimson ~ Inner Visions Interiors

 

Adam Schwartz - Business Development


Mara Briere - Grow a Strong Family

The UPS Store

 

 Joan Turnberg - Live LIfe Well
 

Dr. Jean Marc Slak ~ Slak Chiropractic Group


Lea Ann Knight ~ Garrison Knight Financial

 

The Goddard School

 

Brookline Bank


Kristen Presley/Bedford VA

Karen Kenney/ OrganizingWorks

JRM Antiques

 

 

_________________________________________________________________

CHAMBER INSURANCE UPDATE
Beginning October 1st, Coop members will be able to receive discounted memberships at over 10,000 fitness and health clubs nationally, including over 200 locations in Massachusetts. Participating clubs include many Anytime Fitness, Boston Sports Clubs, Curves, Fitness Together, Jazzercise, and YMCA locations, as well as many more that are either Chamber members from across the state or are a part of the national GlobalFit network
 
 CHAMBER CALENDAR

 

October 11

Board of Directors
 Bedford Police Station
7:30 AM 
 
October 11

 

Working Women Alliance
Brightview Concord River
5:30-7:00

Ocotober 15
Catch the Net
FlatBread Company
213 Burlington Road
Bedford, MA 01730
5:30-7:00 PM

October 26
The Goddard School
Trunk or Treat
Whole Foods Parking Lot
4:30-6:00 PM

November 4
Flavors of Bedford
Doubletree Bedford Glen Hotel
4-6 PM

November 6
National Election
John Glen Middles School
8:00-8:00
 
November 13
Catch the Net
Atria Longmeadow
5:30-7:00

 

. 
Welcome to New Members

Bedford Montessori
153 Concord Road
Bedford, MA 01730
781-275-3344

 

    2012 Chamber   Members

 
 

Acme Packet Inc Advanced Media Web

Art Smith & Associates

Atlantic Capital Strategies
Atria Longmeadow
Baldwin Insurance
Baudanza Electric
B2B CFO

B&D Agency

Bedford Acupuncture Center
Bedford Car Wash

Bedford Center for the Arts

Bedford Children's Center

Bedford Farms

Bedford Funeral Home,

Bedford Historical Society

Bedford Plaza Hotel

Bedford Montessori School

Bedford Motel
Bedford Orthodontics
Bedford Research Association
Bedford Rug Company

Brightview Concord River

Brookline Bank
Brown & Brown, P.C.
Cafe Darling

Cafe Luigi

Callahan's Karate Studio

Calling All Pets

Cambridge Savings Bank

Carlton & Duran CPAs

Carleton-Willard Village

Christine Pinney Marketing

CouponSurfer.com

Cranberry Hill Associates

Dalya's

Design 1 Kitchen & Bath

Design Photo

Dr. Dianne Bridgeman

Dr. Kiana Kaymanesh

Dr. Oscar DePriest

DSA Printing

Edward Jones/Britton Wilson
Edward Jones/ Barb Davis

Elm Brook Place

EMD Millipore

Empirix

Enterprise Bank

First Parish
Flatbread Company

Frank Webb's Bath Center

Fujifilm Recording Media U.S.A.
Garrison Knight Financial Planning

GE Infrastructure Sensing, Inc.

Genetti's Wine & Spirits, Inc
Get In Shape for Women

Great Road Gallery & Framing

Grow a Stronger Family
Hanscom Federal Credit Union
Harold Nichols Insurance Agency

Heritage at Bedford Springs

Inner Visions Interiors

JRM Antiques

Inside Outside Staging

Kamate Fitness

Keller Williams Realty

Latady Design

Leary Auto Repair

Lexington Symphony

Live Life Well
Massage Therapy Associates

Mettler -Toledo Thorton

McCullough Associates, Inc

Middlesex Savings Bank

Minuteman Volkswagen Inc.
New England Nurseries, Inc.

NIGHTSEA

North Road Chiropractic
Organix Spa & Salon
OrganizingWorks!
Panospin Studios
Patents Etcetera and Minuteman Legal Services
Patriot Pediatrics
Peter Quinn Insurance Agency
Progress Software
Pulte Homes of New England
Quality Database Design
Rental Car Momma
Richard Egan Insurance AgencyRight At Home

Salon Alfonse 

Salon OZ
Scotia Lights
Serenity Yoga
Servpro of Lexington/Bedford
Simply Your Home

Slak Chiropractic Group
Spencer Company

St. Michael's Parish Center
Stonebridge at Burlington
TD Bank
The Bedford Citizen
The Bedford Minuteman

The Boardroom Bistro

The Divorce Collaborative

The Edge Sports Center

The Goddard School

The Higgins Group
The MITRE Corporation

The Tired Dog

The UPS Store

Town Planner

Vela Ventures

Watson Law Offices
What Army

William Raveis Real Estate

Women's Financial Network

 

 

 

         

 

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