15.
Re: Should I JOIN a BNI Chapter Jun 28, 2008 7:32 AM
in response to:
Sweetsation
I do agree, Sweetsation, that some businesses are tougher to get enough referrals to make it seem worth while. In a retail business selling product, you make a lot less profit per item than a service bases business, so it takes a lot more sales to make something worth while. Normally the most productive way for a business like yours is to advertise on radio, newspaper, or TV, although word-of-mouth helps too.
The BNI attendance policy is there to help both the member and the chapter. If you don't make the meetings people will not think about you to get you referrals and you will not be able to give referrals. The average for referrals of the average member is 3 per month. That means most people don't give a referral every week. But I would imagine if you talk to your customers when they come in your store you may pickup on something they say that would offer an opportunity to recommend someone in your group. I have a hair stylist in my group and she puts small flyers on the wall so her customers can see them while she is doing their hair. She gives referrals from that. Most of our businesses that have a store front put out everyone's business cards for their customers to see.
BNI is not for everyone, but for the 18 chapters that are here locally, they seem to work for many. To find out more about my chapter go to our website at
http://www.bnitrussville.com
