BNI launches chapter in Torquay

THE local chapter of a global business Torquay last week.
The about 20 members of Business Network International (BNI) Coastal Connections Group launched in front of a crowd of about 120 people at the Torquay Bowls Club.
In each BNI chapter, only one person from each category – for example, video production, property management, graphic design, conveyancing, accounting, business coaching – is allowed to join.
Members are encouraged to give business referrals to other members of the group at the weekly meetings, and receive referrals in turn.
Coastal Connections member Steve Sweeney said the philosophy of BNI was “givers gain”.
“If I give business to members of my chapter, in turn, they will want to give business to me.
“Word of mouth is the most effective form of advertising, and BNI provides a structured environment for the development and exchange of business referrals.”
BNI area director Helen Searle said BNI was the largest organised networking group in the world, with 180,000 members in more than 6,300 chapters who carried out $12 million worth of closed business last year alone.
“When we started this group, probably six weeks ago, we actually only had a couple of people in the room, and we asked them: ‘who do you know that you trust that we could do business with?’… we just don’t want someone out of the Yellow Pages.”
There are five other BNI chapters in Geelong and Ocean Grove.
Ms Searle said BNI was not just about members getting business from each other, but also about support and gaining knowledge.
“Just by osmosis, you’re going to learn a lot about business.”