I read with interest your marketing tip of the month on researching customer profile. I think I might need some help. Sacha Barnes Associates was launched on the 1^st of December 2007 at The Colin Sanders Innovation Centre. Thanks to my business Partner who ran his own company for the last 20 years we have no real shortage of clients, however, not wanting to rest upon past good fortune and being eager to find my own way and prove my worth, I decided to use a few quiet moments to write around to all the possible contacts I could think of. Convinced that it would be best to target my marketing with a personalised letter, rather than spend lots of dosh on advertising in trade journals etc I put pen to paper (with the aid of my brand new computer and letter headed, recycled paper). I have now written to about 150 trusted names, acquaintances and related professional practices. Some weeks later I have had precisely two responses, wishing me well in my new venture. Now either I'm doing something very wrong or everyone out there is much busier than me. And in the mean time we have put a web site together and can be easily Google’d. But I’m not down hearted, in fact I'm getting such a buzz from starting our own business after 30 years working in local authority and the sun has started to shine. The one thing I am sure of though, I clearly need some advice and more than a bit of training. This is where I find the Late Breakfast so helpful. Taking a couple of hours out from the day job is quite feasible, not at all painful and when it comes to ‘speed networking’a lot of fun. What I need now Christine is a strong coffee, a Danish pastry, good company and a speaker on how to target potential clients. Line it up please. Jeremy, Sacha Barnes Associates, www.sachabarnes.com

An overview of our most recent meetings - what did you miss??

March was a busy month for networking - we tried speed networking and small group networking.  It was exhausting but we certainly got to know one another a little better and I saw at least one strategic partnership being 'born'.

Train to Gain and Business Link were both big contributors to The Late Breakfast events. Business Link was promoting home working, highlighting the electronic forms of communication that now allow us to work from virtually anywhere. Bill McCardle from the LSC  provided us with an excellent overview of Train to Gain. This is a service that can help any company no matter what size. If you would like to find out more - check out this website http://www.traintogain.gov.uk/

April was equally as eventful across the groups - Lesley Reader spoke at The Late Breakfast Cherwell Valley- an excellent interactive session discussing making the most of networking events. Lesley worked with the group to address their individual challenges making this event a very useful tool for the future - if you would like to contact Lesley follow this link - http://www.lesleyreader.co.uk/

In Oxford we were lucky enough to hear Placi O’Neill-Espajo from Cherwell Innovation Centre talk about the various areas businesses can get help from.  We explored funding options, business planning and various business support agencies. Placi is a natural business match maker who has experience at all levels and is an excellent source of information. Follow this link for more information about Cherwell Innovation Centre - http://www.oxin.co.uk/centre/cherwell

Our Banbury guests were treated to a presentation by Merrill Jacobs from Genero Web design. Merrill lead an interactive session looking at how to make your website into a user friendly customer focused source of information for your customers, contacts and prospects. The group were able to discuss their own experiences and get specific advice from a web specialist. For more information visit - http://www.generowebdesign.co.uk