July 17th, 2009
This week we hear form Shane Cowley and Annette Matthews. Shane writes about how the OCC helped to develop a great business relationship and promote their business. Continued success to Shane and Shugal, amazing what can happen when can do people get together. Photographs thanks to Cowley Photography and Shugal.
“Myself and Annette met for the first time just over a month ago at the first OCC Drogheda meeting. We swapped cards and I noticed that she might require some good quality product photography. She spotted that I offered photography services for commercial, press and pr needs. On chatting we both realised we could be of help to each other. I offered Annette a complimentary sample shoot to show her ways in which her shoe clip products could be presented. The shoot went very well and by the time I showed Annette the photos we were planning the next shoot and future advertising shoots, as well as ideas for brochures and catalogues that she is planning to produce.
To cut a long story short, having met and chatted at the first OCC Drogheda meeting we developed a good relationship and are in touch with each other regularly planning future shoots together.
By the time the second OCC meeting came about, Annette had almost doubled the number of retailers stocking her product; Shugal had been featured on Xpose and national newspapers and magazines. To add to this by the time the Third monthly meeting happens at the end of July, Annette and I will have completed two photo shoots together and she may even have big news about potential investors who she has recently met with”.
Tags: Drogheda, opencoffee, partnership, photography, promotion, Shane Cowley, Shugal
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July 8th, 2009
Good news travels fast! I was speaking to Angela McCormack of the Drogheda Independent today for an article about our Open Coffee Club . A picture is worth a thousand words, so if you are free on Friday morning come along and be featured in the photo that will adorn the article in the next issue of the Drogheda Independent.
What is required: OCC Drogheda members
Why: For some great publicity and to publicise our club to new members
Time: 11.15am Friday 10th July
Location: D Hotel Coffee Dock
Thanks for your help and looking forwad to seeing you on Friday morning.
Posted in Drogheda, Drogheda Independent, News, article, opencoffee | 3 Comments »
July 3rd, 2009
A date for your diary: The next meet up is Friday the 31st of July, 9.30am, the D Hotel, Drogheda. Bring a friend and share your stories!
Looking forward to seeing faces new and old.
All the best,
Mary
Posted in Drogheda, opencoffee | 3 Comments »
July 2nd, 2009
Open Coffee Drogheda is certainly gathering momentum. We have much to celebrate. Some fantastic partnerships and opportunities have come about from this group, not to mention TV appearances! Annette and Sian take a bow! Here is a place to showcase your news, particularly nice things that have happened thanks to the advice, support, mentorship or otherwise from this group. Please share! Send articles, photographs and video for inclusion to mary@spoiltchild.com and we will get the message out!
This week we have an update from Sian Maloney who appeared on Ireland AM recently on a segment showcasing small business startups.
“I launched www.giftsandvouchers.ie back in November 2008 not realising that it would be straight into a recession! I felt that there was a need for an online business that promoted local shops and businesses that may not have an online presence. I began with just over 20 businesses and this has now grown to over 60. We sell luxury Gift Vouchers and Gifts on their behalf and these can be sent to anywhere in Ireland. We also have a Wedding and Gift List facility allowing clients to select their gifts from any of our huge Partner Business database and compile one Gift List that their guests can choose from. Gifts are then delivered at a time and date that suits the client.
I am a firm believer in Social Media and was delighted to meet my Business Partner, David Quaid from Primary Position, on Twitter (aka @primaryposition). I use various social media tools regularly to promote the business. I recently appeared on Ireland AM. And I have to say that appearance has given the business huge exposure and the traffic on the site has improved a huge amount since. We have taken on new clients including Irish Chef Clodagh McKenna.
We are presently looking at expanding the delivery option to the UK market and also developing an online E-Voucher system which will enable shoppers to email their vouchers and spend them online. We are also making a lot of other changes to the site including launching our new Shopping Forum www.talkshop.ie where people can talk about anything to do with shopping in Ireland. It is also another channel to promote the businesses on giftsandvouchers. Here they will be able to post special offers and our premium member s will have their logos displayed with a direct link back to their own sites”.
Contact Sian sian@giftsandvouchers.ie or on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/giftsandvoucher.
Tags: giftsandvouchers
Posted in Drogheda, News, opencoffee | No Comments »
June 11th, 2009
We enjoyed the first OCC that we can’t wait to do it all again. Please join us four our next gathering on 26th June in the D Hotel. Once again proceedings will kick off at 9.30 am. You will find us sitting around some fantastic oversized coffee mugs like this one. Come along and get to know a fantastic bunch of entrepreneurs from Drogheda and the surrounding areas.
Leave a comment and let us know if you can join us.
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June 5th, 2009
The word went out and we were delighted with the response to the first Open Coffee Club on the 29th of May. A great bunch of people from many different backgrounds turned out. Our group were hard to miss with dramatic Open Coffee cups emblasoning each table, commissioned especially for the event by Made in Hollywood. The coffee and the location were great and spirited conversation and networking ensued. Among the attendees were Denise Fay, who organised and marketed the event with Mary Carty, Campbell Scott, Sian Maloney, Shane Cowley, David Behan, Raul Dore, and Richie Bowden and others I did not get a chance to meet. Hopefully, I will make your acquaintance next time.
Documenting the proceedings with his trusty iPhone was Alan O’Rourke, he did manage to grab a quick coffee though, you’ll be glad to know! In all fifteen entrepreneurs supported the event and made connections with business people from Drogheda and surrounding areas. Hopefully in true Open Coffee spirit these links will continue to grow and flourish and provide ongoing opportunities and mentorship. A huge thanks to one and all for taking time out to join us in the D Hotel on the day.
On foot of the positive feedback received, we have organised another meet up on the 26th of June, the last Friday of the month, 9.30 am in the D Hotel. Come along and meet enthusiastic business people for advice, support, coffee and a chat. We have created a Twitter account @occdrogheda so make sure to follow us. Post a reply here and let us know you can join us.
Looking forward to seeing you all.
.
Tags: Drogheda, opencoffee
Posted in Drogheda, opencoffee | 1 Comment »