Yes, I Do
➤ Chamber events, young professionals group and nonprofit events. It’s important to show you are supporting other ventures, especially in a smaller town. — Elysia Demers, Barnhardt Jewelers, Spencer, NC
➤ “Speed Networking” has been very beneficial. Many of the people we’ve met have not only become friends but wonderful business contacts. — Morgan Bartel, Susann’s Custom Jewelers, Corpus Christi, TX
➤ You have to be seen by people who have money to spend, and in order to be seen by them you have to go to the places that they visit. I have conducted lots of business just by running into someone at the spa or one of our better restaurants and having them ask me about a certain piece of jewelry that they were wanting to buy. — Mark Goodman, Goodman Jewelers, Abingdon, VA
➤ Every Friday for 18 years I have met with a cross-section of our community. We exchange referrals and ideas. I use them as a sounding board and have them review commercials and radio scripts. Plus, I’m each member’s jeweler. — J. Dennis Petimezas, Watchmakers Diamonds & Jewelry, Johnstown, PA
➤ For four years, I’ve been the ambassador chair for the Chamber of Commerce. I go to every ribbon-cutting, after-hours and other chamber event that I can. Cannot say enough about the power of being seen regularly! — Kim Hatchell, Galloway & Moseley, Sumter, SC
➤ I belong to Merchant Match. The good thing about this group is each week a different business sponsors the event, so you get to speak about your business and field questions. — Michael Kanoff, Michael’s Jewelers, Yardley, PA
➤ I go to just about any networking event I can. You only need to meet one great contact who becomes your advocate to all of their friends. From Business Networking International alone I have received over $40,000 in new business referrals in the last six months. — Jennifer Farnes, Revolution Jewelry Works, Colorado Springs, CO
No, I Don’t
➤ Have tried a couple but each one seems to be only people trying to sell you their services rather than being interested in what you have to offer. — Alex Weil, Martin’s Jewelry, Manhattan Beach, CA
➤ We’ve found these sort of events tend to attract people looking for discounts — ie., shoppers who are at our store because we met at that event and figure we will give them a discount because of that, but I don’t even give my mother a discount! — Idar Bergseth, Idar, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
➤ Seems like too many people trying to fish from the same pond. — Mark Clodius, Clodius & Co. Jewelers, Rockford, IL
This article originally appeared in the November 2015 edition of INSTORE.