Inform Magazine - issue 6 - October 2021 by thebusinessescommunity

Issue 6 - October 2021

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Keeping you “Inform”ed with all the news, products, services, events and opportunities available in St Albans!

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Happy 12th Birthday OnBrand! Businesses COMMUNITY

Contents

What’s in store for you in this month’s Inform Magazine?

The Benefits of Apps

Online Safety Tips from BT

Hot News From The Businesses Community

Cover stars, OnBrand, Celebrate 12 years

Events

The 2021 Woo Hoo Awards

Do You Have A Book In You?

Simple Tips To Be More Sustainable

THE Business Club Launch

5 Questions We Asked A St Albans Business

11 Things You May Not Know About Dance

Local Trusted Businesses Directory

#ShopLocal - Local Products On Your Doorstep

Secrets Of Successful Networking

October News Round Up

Local Sports Clubs St Albans Mini and Youth Rugby

5 Magical Marketing Tips

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Businesses COMMUNITY

Hello Autumn! October is here! And with it comes Autumn, cosy nights, candles, the odd glass of red vino!...PLUS lots of exciting opportunities for residents and businesses in this amazing city. From Halloween events for all the family, products and services available locally with our #ShopLocal feature, local sports groups, a round up of all the news, right through to business support, and the launch of TBC’s very own business Club - Peer2Peer Club with fantastic new investors at Peer2Peer. Check out the full article on how this investment will bring a whole new element to The Businesses Community and support local businesses to really thrive and grow.

We’ve got jobs, Awards, trusted local businesses in the TBC directory plus lots of things for you to try - all right here on your doorstep! AND, we want to know your news, whether it’s community or business based - perhaps show us a product or service you have to offer, or share a sustainability tip, or tell us about a fantastic local business you’ve discovered. It’s your magazine and we want your involvement Simply get in touch at stalbans@ thebusinessescommunity.com to ﬁnd out more. There are tons of FREE opportunities to submit your features, plus advertising and sponsorship options - all very exciting. So, think Christmas, and get your Christmas stories, events, products, gift ideas, tips etc. in ready for the November and December issues - the sooner you send in your features, the more likely they are to get into the magazine. Meanwhile, get the logs near the ﬁre, get the conkers ready, and here’s to a fantastic month ahead! Best wishes, The Businesses Community St Albans Team

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NEW RESEARCH SHOWS THAT APPS ARE THRIVING RIGHT NOW App Annie’s Donnie Kristianto said, “New App Annie data reveals that consumers spent £23 billion on in-app purchases across iOS and Google Play globally in Q1 2021. It’s the biggest quarter since records began – and the ﬁgure is 40% up on the same quarter for 2020.

If you’re in two minds as to whether or not your business requires a mobile app, the latest research shows that there is overwhelming consumer demand for apps, meaning now is the best possible time to get your small business app design project underway.

“As a result, the market grew at unprecedented speed and Smartphone users spend more time on their Smartphones than ever before.”

What does Google say?

Search engine Google has also recognised the vital role that apps have played for consumers during the pandemic. It says ‘nimble’ apps are thriving. Writing on the Think With Google blog, App research ﬁrm App Annie has Marcin Karnowski and Katja Strelcova say, “We know that released new data which shows apps allow businesses to deliver that spend on mobile apps has smoother, faster and more skyrocketed by more than 40% personalised user experiences. during the pandemic. The yearIn this unprecedented year, on-year increase is the fastest pace of growth ever recorded for apps have also become a crucial platform that brands can use the app market, demonstrating that consumer demand for apps to pivot quickly and respond to changing market dynamics.” and app experiences is now at record levels. 04

What does this mean for you? If your business doesn’t yet have an app, you’re missing out. There is huge consumer demand for apps right now, and consumers have shown they are more willing than ever to use them and also spend money on in-app purchases. And therein lies a unique opportunity for small business owners to capitalise on this huge growth area and promote their businesses via a dedicated mobile app.

We’d love to chat, answer any questions and even build you a ‘Free Demo App’ to see if we can help you take your business to exciting new levels in our ever-growing mobile world!

We’re a local family-owned business providing dedicated app solutions for small businesses. The team design, build and publish unique iOS, Android and Progressive Web Apps to help small businesses increase sales, loyalty and repeat customers. www.bigbuzzsolutions.co.uk

From booking appointments to keeping customers up-to-date, mobile apps are a key part of the modern consumer experience as we emerge from the pandemic and those businesses that don’t integrate these as part of their wider marketing mix are clearly going to be left behind. And the best thing is, it’s nowhere near as expensive as people might ﬁrst think! See what it costs here... Want to know more about how a mobile app can help transform your business? Then get in touch with us...

Top Tips with Tania Bringing you tech tips from BT Skills for Tomorrow

Online Safety October is cyber awareness month, so we’re looking at how you can keep yourself and your family safe online. We’ll start with a quick test - do you know the difference between phishing, vishing and smishing? Complete this simple activity to see if you know the different types of scams – then check out the deﬁnitions below.

Often it’s those least conﬁdent with the internet that get caught out. Take some time to explain to friends, family or vulnerable neighbours the differences between these types of scams and how to spot them. Phishing Scammers may try to trick you by sending an email, sometimes containing a dodgy link they encourage you to ‘click’ on. They will try and gain your personal information or encourage you to transfer money. They may pretend to be from companies you recognise.

Smishing Scammers may try to trick you by sending a text (SMS), instant message or a link for you to click on. The scammer will try and gain your personal information or encourage you to transfer money. Vishing Scammers may try and reach you over the phone, maybe even using a recorded voice, called a ‘bot’. They will try and get your personal information or encourage you to transfer money. They may pretend to be from companies you recognise.

Here’s some tips for spotting a scam Out of the blue Watch out for unexpected calls, messages or emails, as they could be from scammers. They often pretend to be from a company or business you are familiar with. It’s very unusual for a genuine organisation or business to contact you and ask for your personal information or bank details if you’re not expecting them to.

Under pressure Scammers will try to trick you into making quick decisions or act urgently - it doesn’t give you time to think about checking their message or thinking twice that they may steal your personal information or bank details. Be aware - they might set a time limit for you to take action or you will miss out on a great offer. Or if you don’t act fast, something bad will happen with your internet, the police or HMRC.

Too good to be true Scammers may use the temptation of a prize or cash to get you to communicate with them over text, email or even a phone call. They might want you to ‘click’ a link or give away personal information or your bank details. Be aware - if something seems to good to be true, it usually is!

Untrusted source Almost all phishing attempts will claim to be from a trusted source, or pretend to be from someone you know, like a friend, company or government agency. If they are asking you to give away personal information or bank details you should be very suspicious. Be aware - try contacting them in a different way. Maybe call them from a number on their secure website, or send them a personal email or message if it looks like it’s from someone you know

An ask If you are at all suspicious you should contact the organisation in a different way, maybe call a number on their secure website, or send a message if its someone you know. Be aware and ignore or delete emails that ask for your bank details or personal information. If the request is genuine, the organisation or person will get in touch with you in another way

For loads more useful free courses and advice to keep you and your family safe – check out BT Skills for Tomorrow Tania Young leads on BT’s Digital Skills programme for older and vulnerable customers.

Exciting Changes are Afoot It’s a long one, but deﬁnitely worth reading! St Albans Businesses To Benefit From Peer2Peer Investment in The Businesses Community We mentioned that there are exciting changes afoot at TBC and with it, some very exciting opportunities for our members and businesses in the area.

St Albans resident John Acton, Co Founder and CEO of Peer2Peer, an organisation which provides Board level support for SMEs, is investing in The Businesses Community (TBC). Founded by Sue Wybrow and with over 5,500 businesses in the TBC Community, all St Albans and Herts based businesses, joining forces with Peer2Peer will strengthen the TBC offer! One of the new strengths being added is Peer2Peer Club, which will offer a vast range of support, ideas, skill building and advice to help St Albans businesses to grow. John Acton, formerly MD of DPD Europe and currently Managing Partner of award winning consultancy DPIEurope says: “Our passion is to build an inclusive set of communities, supporting business owners and leaders to be the very best they can be and to build the best businesses possible.

There are so many great businesses in St Albans and the surrounding district but many have been struggling during the pandemic. We recognise that they need support to thrive. Peer2Peer brings a very simple set of frames and formats to help business leaders build outstanding businesses.” “Sue and The Businesses Community team have built something special in St Albans by developing tremendous engagement with their community of 5,500 businesses, helping them all to develop and grow. I saw an opportunity to help to make these businesses even stronger and more successful. The Peer2Peer Club is where Peer2Peer and TBC come together providing vital key support that local businesses will beneﬁt from.” Sue Wybrow adds: “Having started my own business, Popdance, in 2009 I soon realised the massive beneﬁts of a business community working together and supporting each other. So, in 2015 I set up The Businesses Community which supports businesses of all sizes and ages – from start ups to large multi million pound corporates. It’s

all about building a supportive community and connecting people, bringing businesses in St Albans to the forefront and getting them seen, trusted and connected. Making #ShopLocal even easier – whether it’s for a loaf of bread, right through to building huge ofﬁces.” “We’ve developed a business community of over 5,500 St Albans Businesses via the website, social media, events such as the Game Changer conference in 2019 and the hugely anticipated annual Woo Hoo Awards. We are connecting people who can work together or become clients. We realised the timing is perfect to take TBC to a whole new level and that’s why I chose to partner with Peer2Peer, bringing an exciting new element of helping businesses in this amazing city to learn, plan, grow and achieve their dreams.” We are looking forward to implementing changes and exciting new ventures for our members – bringing them additional value as well as fantastic new opportunities for their businesses! Exciting times ahead!

OnBrand: 12 Years Old, 125+ Years Of Experience OnBrand, the St Albans-based marketing and business growth agency, has just celebrated 12 years at the coal face of helping businesses achieve their goals. Managing Director and founder Daniel Graham reﬂects on 12 years in business and the top 3 things businesses need to do to be ready for 2022. 2022 is a critical turning point for UK businesses. The world is opening up again, business and consumer optimism needs justifying, which is why we’re telling businesses to do (at least) these 3 things to get themselves ready: sort their website, start using customer reviews properly and to be the expert!

Own Your Digital Shopfront

Over 12 years, OnBrand has worked with countless businesses from varied industries. As a full-service marketing and business growth agency, we ﬁnd ourselves entering companies at crucial tipping points. Those points could be anything from a small business trying to move beyond a vibrant presence on Instagram and into full e-commerce, or a large business looking for some expert eyes to help them improve their website’s customer journey. This means we occupy a privileged position of trust – but that trust doesn’t come overnight. It comes from ensuring we stay ahead of the curve and put our experience to good use. And that’s what this article is all about.

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If you’ve built your business on a thirdparty platform, your business is in a constant state of risk. For example, when the paid-content site OnlyFans said they were banning certain types of monetised content on their site (mainly the adult content), it wasn’t just adult content businesses that were concerned. Overnight, OnlyFans was changing its mind about the type of content it would allow people to host, seemingly on a whim. Eventually, OnlyFans was forced to row back the decision following massive user backlash. It was a PR nightmare for OnlyFans, but the debacle showed how dangerous it is to base your income entirely on a thirdparty site – your income can be wiped out overnight if the site changes its guidelines or terms of use.

The same situation can arise if you’re a business that sells on one site – think eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Etsy. It can also happen if you’re only using one particular social media platform to grow awareness of your brand. If the social media platform ‘does a MySpace’ and disappears, or ceases to be widely used, you’re in trouble. If you run a digital business, it is therefore a huge beneﬁt to own the platform responsible for bringing in the money. That’s why we always recommend businesses have their own website rather than relying on third-party web builders – if their systems go down, so do yours.

Use Customer Reviews Properly People buy from people – whether that’s directly or through recommendations. If your business isn’t using customer reviews in your marketing, you’re missing a trick. Customer reviews are strong marketing assets and if you’re not using them, you should be. We use our case studies all the time, because they help us sell our services purely by demonstrating we know what we’re doing. Good reviews are always the best (obviously!), but negative reviews are just as useful because they give you insights into where your business could be frustrating customers. Bad or good, they serve a purpose, but it’s making sure you use them in the right way. For example, don’t knee-jerk a ﬁx to your business based on one bad review, be measured in your approach.

Be The Expert When you ask for advice, most of us want it from an expert – we want to know that the person we’re trusting for input in our life knows what they’re talking about. Choosing to work with a company or buy a product is exactly the same thing – most people will choose to go with the brand they know or have heard about. Google’s new algorithm for serving content to people is called EAT. It stands for Expertise, Authority, Trust and is key determinator in whether or not your content will appear in search results. The companies that work to build themselves a reputation as experts – through the use of content (written or otherwise) on their sites and social media feeds. Optimising your site content to answer customer questions makes you look like an expert – to Google and to the people asking the questions. What company wouldn’t want to be seen as a trusted authority in its marketplace by the people it wants to work with? Head to www.onbrand.co.uk for more information on the many ways OnBrand could help you get 2022-ready.

We’re helping more and more businesses understand the power of their reviews and encouraging them to use them on every channel their business communicates with customers. They should be pushed on social media, used as sale-closing conversion tools, sent to potential customers in your CRM journey, and they should be easy to ﬁnd on your website.

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EVENTS Check the TBC Calendar HERE for all events 1st October - Hertfordshire PA Club - Emotional Intelligent for Professional Success 5th October - Workshop: Change Your Business In 90 Days! 5th October - Mums UnLtd Watford Group 5th October - Learn How To Generate Free Publicity: A Workshop 6th October - How To Attract Your Ideal Clients & Customers 7th October - MACE - Meet The Buyer Event 7th October - Mums UnLtd Online Networking Meeting 10th October - Rothamsted Manor - Afternoon Tea 11th October - Mums UnLtd Evening Group 12th October - Supply Chain Opportunities and More with HS2 12th October - Hertfordshire Virtual Networking 13th October - St Albans Mums UnLtd Networking Meeting 13th October - The Business Network South Herts - Networking and Educational Seminar 13th October - Creating Safe Spaces At Work To Tackle Domestic Abuse and Support Good Mental Health

14th October - Jelly-Co-working at Rothamsted Conference Centre 14th October - Discovering The Hidden Value In Your Business and How To Unlock It 14th October - Athena St Albans South 15th October - Cappuccino Connections St Albans and Beds 15th October - Mums UnLtd Online Networking Meeting 19th October - Mums UnLtd Hemel Hempstead Group 20th October - Athena St Albans North 21st October - Wellbeing Conference 21st October - Harpenden Business Networking Group - Mums UnLtd 22nd October - Peer2Peer Club Launch 22nd October - Export Documentation and Procedure A Practical Guild 25th-29th October - Rothamsted Pumpkin Week 25th October - Mums UnLtd Online Networking Meeting 26th October - Delivering Disability Equality Through Small Businesses 2nd November - Mums UnLtd Watford Group 4th November - Employment & Immigration Update & Looking Ahead To 2022 4th November - Mums UnLtd Online Networking Meeting

Do you have events you’d like more people to know about? They can be any kind of event, not just business - get in touch with us at stalbans@thebusinessescommunity.com to ﬁnd out more

THE WOO HOO AWARDS 2021 The 2021 Woo Hoo Awards are back! This time a little bit different, and even bigger and better.

Book your tickets and check out the incredible sponsorship opportunities now!

DETAILS ON HOW TO NOMINATE COMING SOON!

Do you have a book in you? - 10 things to think about to make it actually happen 1 – How much do you want it? – Let yourself daydream for a bit. Imagine what it would be like to see your name on the cover, hold the book in your hand. Ask yourself what you really want? Is this a new career direction, is it a way to use your creativity, to feed your soul? Or do you have big dreams of a bestseller turned blockbuster? Connect with your goal and let pull you forward.

They say we all have a book in us. They also say we all have a marathon in us. I for one definitely DO NOT have the desire to run 26+ miles or commit to all the training required! I DID want to write a novel from my mid-twenties. It wasn’t until nearly thirty years later though in October 2019 that I became a published author. My first novel, Pivotal reached the 2020 finals of the People’s Book Prize and The Page Turner Awards. If you too have been sitting on an idea and just don’t know if you can make it happen, ask yourself these questions and see if you can give yourself permission to start.

2 – Do you have the skills? – Yes, if you believe in your creativity, you have the determination to make it happen and the persistence to keep going. The average novel is anywhere between 80 and 120 words. It might seem like a mountain, but you just need to break it down into small chunks. Books are written one word, sentence, paragraph, page at a time. 3 – Do you have an idea? – Write it down. You’d be surprised at the number of people who carry their stories around in their heads and never write a single word. No second guessing. No worrying about what people might think. Get it out of your head!

4 – What do you need to know? Other than the story you want to tell, very little! All the how-to’s of publishing can come later. Do read widely, both books similar to yours and in other genres. It is really helpful, not only to expand your vocabulary but also to understand the market. 5 – How confident are you? – You may suffer from critical voices, past remarks from teachers or loved ones. You may have heard the odds are against you. You may well be telling yourself you’re not good enough. Best way to overcome this is to write. Start somewhere and keep writing. It’s one of those skills you can only really get good at by doing it! 6 – How resilient are you? If you want to be a published author it means letting your words out into the world for people to read. Practice, share your work and get feedback, you’ll build your resilience muscle and be properly prepared for people’s opinions and the subjective nature of the book business. 7 - When and where? Time, or lack of it is the most common reason given for not getting started. Look at your day/week/ and work out where there are pockets of time you can use. If you are committed to your goal, you will ﬁnd a way. It’s not about prioritising your schedule; it’s about scheduling your priorities.

8 – How much are you prepared to invest in your new career? You may want to join a workshop, do a course, consider going part time. None of these are essential. Most writers start out writing alongside their jobs and other commitments without spending anything. At some point you might want to consider some formal study, or for those who’d like to self-publish, invest in a cover designer or editor. At the beginning, all you really need to do is invest time. 9 - What support do you have? You need readers to give you encouragement and constructive feedback. Friends, family and writers’ groups are a great help, especially groups with authors who have already published. Feel free to join my Facebook group, full of lovely authors and avid readers. 10 - Are you ready? If you’ve been sitting on the idea for a book, you may still not feel you know enough to write it. That’s ok. Writing a book is not all about the writing. If you need to do some research, if you need to a visit to a particular location to help you build authenticity into your story, do it! With one word of caution. It is easy to get lost down a research rabbit hole, or several! Make sure you are writing too. If you’d like to get started on your book and ﬁnd out more about working with me as your coach please visit my website or click here to get in touch.

Top Sustainability Tip

Each month we like to share a super simple tip to help us all become a bit more sustainable.

Failing that, make good use of the freezer – most fresh food can be frozen and used at a later date.

This months tip is from Rothamsted Enterprises:

Find out more about Rothamsted’s passion for sustainability here - www. rothamstedenterprises.com/ our-passion-for-sustainabilityat-rothamsted-restaurant

Plan your meals effectively! Create a weekly meal plan. It will mean you don’t waste food, and you will save a signiﬁcant amount of money too. If we are going to cook something with specialist or unusual ingredients, for example ginger, fresh chillies, lemongrass, etc, then plan additional meals that week that also require those ingredients.

If you have a sustainable tip to share with thousands of people across St Albans - please email stalbans@ thebusinessescommunity.com to share in the magazine

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Exciting News

COMMUNITY

Scan the QR code to find out more and book for the launch on 22nd Oct launch tickets are just £25 - come and see what it's all about. Book now to make sure you get a place.

TBC is launching

THE business club that WILL help you to reach your goals!

Businesses

Club

Ongoing Club membership is £50/month For businesses that are serious about making a real difference in their businesses.

MOVIE NIGHTS - AFTERNOON TEA - CHRISTMAS PARTIES CHRISTMAS LUNCHES - CHRISTMAS AFTERNOON TEA MURDER MYSTERY NIGHT AT THE MANOR - PUMPKIN WEEK

BOO K NOW

Come along and see for yourself at our launch session on Friday 22nd October, 9am – 12.30pm at Rothamsted Conference Centre in the Fowden Hall The launch session is just £25 and if you enjoy the session, you can then apply to become a Peer2Peer Club Member at just £50/month! Places will be limited – so make sure you book to attend the launch session today and get Friday 22nd October in your diary! See you there!

Book to attend the launch session on 22nd October here

5 Questions We Asked A St Albans Business We love finding out more about the people behind the businesses in this amazing city. This month, we asked Leo Dan, from Goldwater Financial, our “famous five” questions: What kind of customers are you looking for? Are there any types of businesses you would like to collaborate with? I offer holistic mortgage advice whether a first time buyer, remortgaging to get a new deal, moving home or investing in a buy to let. I want to connect with Independent Estate Agents, Accountants, IFA’s. What piece of advice would you give to another business owner? Consistency and credibility is the key to success. Be consistent with your effort and credible in how you do things then organic growth will come with that. What made you start your own business? I’d always had an aspiration to be my own boss and offer a service that beat my competitors and the firm I had been working for. What does your business offer its customers? Mortgage Advice What’s the toughest part of running your business?

Find out more or get in touch with Leo at www.goldwaterﬁnancial.co.uk

If you are a business in St Albans, get in touch to answer our famous 5 questions and feature your business in Inform Magazine - send your answers to the above questions, along with images to accompany the article and how people can get in contact with you and we will do the rest - email stalbans@ thebusinessescommunitycom

Time management, being able to juggle various balls at any given time.

11 Things you may not know about Dance We all know that dance is fantastic for both body and mind, but here's 11 Things You Might Not Possibly Know About Dance

Did you know... 1.

As soon as she could walk, Elizabeth Taylor was given ballet lessons. At the age of 3, she danced with her dance class before Britain’s royal family.

2. All of the dance scenes in 1983’s movie Flashdance were not performed by the lead actress Jennifer Grey, but by a double, Marine Jahan. 3. Goldie Hawn and Teri Hatcher were professional dancers before they became famous in TV and ﬁlms. 4. A Hollywood executive’s comments on Fred Astaire’s ﬁrst screen test were “Can’t act, can’t sing, slightly bald. Can dance a little”. 5. Moderate dancing burns 250 to 300 calories an hour. 6. Val Kilmer was originally offered the lead role in Dirty Dancing. 7. Christopher Walken started his career as a dancer – remember his Fat Boy Slim routine?

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Ricky Gervais performed the famous David Brent dance at the Live 8 Concert in 2005 and to ﬁll some time at Live Earth in 2007.

Michael Jackson did not invent the moonwalk – it was ﬁrst invented by Neil Amstrong in 1969 However Jeffrey Daniel, member of Shalamar ﬁrst performed the ‘backslide’ now known as the ‘moonwalk’ on British television during a performance of a night To Remember on Top of the Pops.

10.

Ben Hammond broke the world record for the worlds longest dance in 2011 by dancing for 5 days with only a 15 minute break every four hours – Popdance danced on stage at Tower Bridge with him for 4 hours non stop too – it was fun!

11.

Lori Singer, who played Ariel in Footloose, beat Madonna in the role for the TV show that ran from 1983-1987.

www.popdance.co.uk

Local Products and Services #ShopLocal Accountants the barefoot accountant ltd Accountancy services for creative businesses www.thebarefoot.accountant

Advertising My Mustard Looking for targeted, cost effective, measurable results? Look no further. My Mustard & Google AdWords, a winning combination. www.mymustard.co.uk

Arts & Culture Trestle Theatre Company Trestle Theatre Company are a mask and physical theatre company running Trestle Arts Base where they offer creative workshops and opportunities, space hire, performances and training. Trestle provides high quality, creative opportunities to everyone. Find out what their current offer is at www.trestle.org.uk/whats-on

Business Coaching Talia Zamora I help determined achievers (specialising in those with Neurodiverse families) to become the go-to business in your ﬁeld and attain the income you desire! I help to form transformational strategies which enables you to live your dream lifestyle. www.taliazamora.com

Business Consultancy Good Beyond We work with forward thinking organisations that want to lead with vision and create healthy happy workplaces that change the world. www.goodbeyond.com/talk St Albans Enterprise Agency (STANTA) Free business advice and training for Hertsbased micro businesses under 3 years old, but we specialise in helping businesses in postcode areas AL1-10 www.stanta.co.uk

Business Support Grow With Vision We help businesses do business better. From streamlining processes, to Software implementation and training, we show you ways of working faster and smarter. www.growithvision.com The St Albans Business Community Effective marketing for your business from a community you can trust www.stalbans.thebusinessescommunity.com/ work-with-us Mums UnLtd Mums UnLtd offers business support for Mums running or starting a business www.mumsunltd.co.uk Jaxstar Solutions Jaxstar Solutions is a Business Support service focused on assisting you to grow your business no matter the size. We offer several different services from a GDPR audit to a Xero Review and Fix package. For more information, get in touch today. www.jaxstarsolutions.co.uk/jaxstar-solutionsservices/ Accord HR Consulting Ltd Accord HR Consulting will help businesses to resolve their tricky people management situations. www.accordHRconsulting.co.uk Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Is legal, H&S, GDPR, HR, and pensions auto enrolment an expensive chore for you? Get it sorted in a day at no extra cost. Tap into the bargaining power of 165,000 members for key business services. We are not-for-proﬁt, all fees go to making business services accessible to all. Call Loreta on 07464 892 681 to discuss your application. Rocket Girl Coaching My life and work is dedicated to personal and organisational development to improve inclusion and understanding in society through Executive Coaching, Consultancy and Disability Equality Training. www.rocketgirlcoaching.com

Charity Harpenden Spotlight on Africa HSoA delivers projects in challenging environments, transforming the lives of some of the poorest people in Africa. www.hsoa.org.uk

Coaching Peer2Peer Peer2Peer is all about helping business leaders build the best businesses possible, but to also, making sure they enjoy the ride. We’re an inclusive group, everybody is welcome as long as you’re serious about being the best you can be and building a great business. Simply ping me an email johnacton@dpi-europe.com

Commercial Photography Striking Places Photography Professional photography for all your business photography needs. www.strikingplaces.com

Dance School Rinceoiri le Cheile Irish Dance Academy Irish dancing classes for boys & girls from 3yrs+ www.instagram.com/rcirishdance

Digital Marketing Wagada Wagada is an award-winning, results-driven digital marketing agency, working with ambitious companies to help them to reach their goals and acquire new customers through engaging and strategic marketing campaigns. www.wagada.co.uk Darcy Salinger SEO & Analytics Service to help improve visibility within search engines jon.salinger@darcysalinger.com and www.darcysalinger.com

Family Louise’s Antenatal Classes Hi I’m Lou the Midwife. I deliver antenatal and hypnobirthing classes and offer antenatal and postnatal care. www.louantenatal.com

Family & Portrait Photography Annie Griggs Photography Capturing a wide range of photography genres, including families and children, business headshots, events and product photography. All at a high professional standard. www.anniegriggs-photography.co.uk

Finance Visionary Accountants Providing professional services including Tax Returns, Tax Advice & Planning, Management Accounts, R&D, Bookkeeping, Payroll & Workplace Pensions www.visionaryaccountants.co.uk/contactus

Flooring Carpet store Quality ﬂooring at affordable rates Tothecarpetstore@aol.com

Food Dizzy Bee Kitchen Food Gorgeous Granolas www.dizzybeekitchen.co.uk Rothamsted Manor Rothamsted Manor is a Grade 1 listed manor house in the heart of Harpenden, offering afternoon tea, music concerts, weddings, parties, wakes and much more. www.rothamstedenterprises.com/events

Graphic Design The Brandit Super simple, super effective, super amazing logos, branding and communications for your business www.thebrandit.co.uk

Hair/Barbering Headcase Barbers proper haircuts in an unpretentious environment www.instagram.com/headcasestalbans

Health and Beauty Karen’s Temple Spa Spa Experiences in your own home www.templespa.com/karenfrancis Caroline k facial treatments I offer luxury skincare treatments, procedures and products. For information or to book call 07949138145

Health and Wellbeing Victoria Bell Nutrition Nutritional therapy programmes supporting women with digestive health and the perimenopause www.victoriabellnutrition.co.uk Forever Living (the Aloe Vera Co) by Nicky Packman I can advise on and supply a wide range of Aloe Vera & Beehive based products to help support skin, digestion, gut health, immunity, mobility and general wellbeing for all ages. www.thealoeveraco.shop/GkHcYFOe Moveology A wide range of treatments to help with injury recovery and ﬁtness improvements. www.moveology.co.uk

Home and Decor Verulam Tile Warehouse Ceramic, porcelian, natural stone wall and ﬂoor tiles for inside and outside. www.verulamtilewarehouse.co.uk Blissfully Organised Professional Organising www.blissfullyorganised.co.uk

Illustrator Hannah Sessions Design I offer bespoke illustrations of your house/ school/ favourite place. Makes a great gift and now have some packages to choose from. Get in touch. www.facebook.com/hannahsessionsdesign

Insurance Broker EIC Insurance Services Limited We help business owners sleep at night by protecting the things they care about www.eicinsurance.co.uk

Language Services Atlas Translations We offer personal, certiﬁed and professional language services. A world-class, ISO 9001 and ISO 17100 certiﬁed translations agency. www.atlas-translations.co.uk

Marketing

Popdance Learn fun dance routines to pop music from the 80s, 90s, 00 and current pop track - for all ages and abilities www.popdance.co.uk

Amber Mountain Marketing Cost Effective Marketing Communications Book a free power hour too boost your marketing here; www.ambermountainmarketing.co.uk/ contact

Positive Reflex Therapy I offer deeply relaxing, rejuvenating and destressing Reflexology and Reiki treatments in the comfort of your own home or workplace. www.positivereflextherapy.co.uk

Joolz Joseph Email Marketing Services & Training. Marketing Motivation and Mentoring for small businesses. Find out more at JoolzJoseph.com www.joolzjoseph.com

Music Kick Pistol Show your support for local indie band, Kick Pistol, by following them on Instagram www.instagram.com/kickpistol

Networking The Business Network South Herts Visit us to enjoy networking with likeminded people and an educational seminar www.business-network-south-herts.co.uk/ events-seminars The Athena Network Bedfordshire & St Albans Business Networking and Development Club for Women in Business www.theathenanetwork.com/katecherry or email me at kate.cherry@theathenanetwork.com Women In Business Network Connections, Support, Business Potential for Women In Business through networking www.wibn.co.uk

Network and Internet Countriﬁ Networks We provide advice, guidance and solutions for improving your internet and wireless coverage around your home or business. We also offer a range of CCTV and Alarm solutions. www.Facebook.com/CountriﬁNetworks

Optometrist EYES on St Albans We ROCK your new eyewear..! www.eyesonstalbans.com

Painters and Decorators St Albans Decor Kitchen Cabinet Painters + Renovations Painting and Decorating www.stalbansdecor.co.uk

Performing Arts School Brilliant Theatre Arts We are youth theatre and drama school combined offering training through performance. Aimed at young performers aged 7 - 21 who have a serious interest in performing www.brillianttheatrearts.co.uk

Print Macpro Design & Print Ltd. Providing professional artwork, design and print to local SME’s. Visit our website for more information www.macprodp.com

Photography Stephanie Belton Photography Portrait photography for families and businesses www.stephaniebelton.com Immersive Walkthroughs We create unique 3D virtual tours to help you promote your business www.immersivewalkthroughs.com/tourexamples

Retail Atelier Ferrari Monti ladies made to measure www.ferrarimonti.com Christopher Place Shopping Centre Shopping centre with new retailers and restaurants www.christopher-place.co.uk Dress Up & Dance Dancewear, dance shoes, gymnastics clothing, fancy dress costumes for sale and hire, accessories and costume make up www.dressupanddance.com Floral City Goodbye Flowers, Floral Gifts and Flower Subscriptions www.ﬂoralcity.co.uk

Retail Lou Murphy Styles Styling and shopping with French fashions from Captain Tortue www.facebook.com/ groups/1620092258294835 Flagship Wines A great range of delicious wines, Champagnes, Ports, Spirits and craft beers www.ﬂagshipwines.co.uk, Flagship Wines on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook

Senior Care & Dementia Care Tea & Memories Reminiscence Vintage Tea Party Activity for Seniors. Suitable for groups in care homes, community care venues, or private homes. Ideal for celebrations. Email terri@teaandmemories.co.uk Tel: 07505 141707

Telecommunications Trio Telecom Trio Telecom are rate 5* on Google and provide local businesses with Voice over IP phone systems, broadband and ethernet connectivity, and call answering and virtual numbers. www.triotelecom.co.uk/contact-us VOIspeed Ltd VOIspeed offers a fantastic business phone system with collaborative tools ideal for hybrid working that can be used anywhere on any device. www.voispeed.co.uk

Video Production Yellow Lizard Media Professional video production for a range of industries, services and events www.yellowlizardmedia.co.uk

Web Design Gold Nugget Designs Bespoke WordPress websites that get your business seen! www.goldnuggetdesigns.co.uk/websiteworksheet

‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE THINKING ABOUT YOUR XMAS COMMS!

GRAPHIC DESIGN & COMMS FOR YOUR BUSINESS

LOCAL PRODUCTS Check out these gorgeous products available from local businesses Derm Results - Power Duo This set features two of our most efﬁcacious and advanced vegan skincare formulas that work together to compliment any skincare routine and deliver visible results £94.25 Eyes On St Albans Eye Tests at Eyes On St Albans - Find out more and book here Regali It’s a Wrap! Really wow your clients, colleagues and family this year with gift wrapping out of this world from Regali - ﬁnd out more here 30

Hannah Sessions Design House and building illustration commissions from Hannah Sessions Design The perfect Christmas present - ﬁnd out more here

Popdance Halloween Parties from Popdance From £165 - ﬁnd out more here

The Brandit Humorous friendship card collection from The Brandit - £10 - buy here

The Cobbled Kitchen The gift of cooking vouchers from The Cobbled Kitchen from £50 - buy here

The Lower Red Lion

Macpro Christmas Cards - The perfect way to show colleagues and clients you are thinking of them and say thanks for their support over the past year. Choose from a selection of paper stocks and sizes. If you need your cards designing - we can help with that as well! Minimum order quantities start at just 25 cards. To place an order or for more information, email us at info@macprodp.com or call 01727 850771.

Brooklyn Lager now on tap at The Lower Red Lion, Fishpool Street Do you have a product or service to offer in St Albans that you would like to feature in an issue of Inform Magazine? • • • • •

Simply send us: an image of the product or service a simple sentence about it how much it is a link to where people can buy/order from you

That’s it - we want to make #ShopLocal as easy as possible for people in St Albans Send your info to - stalbans@thebusinessescommunity.com

The Secrets to Successful Networking Author of the bestselling book ‘The Successful Mumpreneur’ and owner of Mums UnLtd shares her top networking tips. She has been networking since 2005 and has built Viva Business Support, a marketing and events agency, directly from her networking activity.

Engage with the people you have met and get to know them. Don’t keep going to lots of event’s meetings lots of people. The way forward is to deepen the relationships with the people you have already met and work on supporting each other. Use social media to promote the businesses you meet – hopefully, they will return the favour!

People want to do business with people they know, like, and trust. So whether the events you attend are in person, online or a mix all these tips will work.

•

When attending events – here are some essential tips •

Always prepare a fresh well thought out 1 min every time, focussing clearly on what connections you want and what services you are promoting. Ensure you have an offer or call to action.

•

Follow up with attendees after every meeting.

•

Have good clear literature and website.

•

Create some talks and offer to speak at events to share your expertise– this is a great proﬁle raiser

•

Never disregard anyone – you don’t know who you don’t know, and you don’t know who they know!!

The overriding message with networking is HELP OTHERS It’s not about numbers, collecting masses of connections. It’s about the quality of the relationships you build.

When you have 121’s and think about how you can help that person

• • • •

Are there 2 people you know who would make a good contact? Who do you know who could use their service? Can you share any advice and support? Follow them on social media, share a post. What information can you share with someone that could help them-links to an article or website, details of a trade association, courses, workshops, journalist contacts- the list is endless!

Learn to listen to what people are saying and learn about them and their business. Good listeners make good networkers. Make notes and remember vital facts about people.

If someone does anything to help you then remember to thank them. You could send an email, a card, ﬂowers, and you can also publicly thank them on social media. Build your reputation by always doing what you say you will do, be punctual for meetings and be a regular face! If you do not enjoy an event, you attend – STOP! Because not every event is suitable for everyone. There is no point in attending something you hate-life is too short!

Always track your networking activity, even if the events are free it is still your time. Make sure you know where your leads are coming from. Membership VS Non-Membership Networking Compared to when I started there is now so much networking going on. You could network morning, noon and night! So I think attending a mix of low cost and membership is a good blend.

With membership groups make sure you understand the commitments and what is included in the membership. Many membership groups have rules about attendance, contribution and professional lock out. So ensure you visit and then before signing up be fully aware of what you need to do. Enjoy building your network – its fun and exciting and you never know who you will meet! For more business tips read ‘The Successful Mumpreneur’ - available online on Amazon and all good book stores.

Mums UnLtd St Albans now meets at The Holiday Inn Express London Colney. We had our first meeting back in September, after being closed since March 2020 due to the pandemic. The St Albans group has now been running for 9 years and meets monthly. During the pandemic we met online so it was great to meet people in person again. The new group leader Talia Zamora is delighted to be hosting this group. Mums UnLtd has no professional lock out or membership to pay. Next meeting is on 13th October 9.30am-11.30am – simply book a place on our website. All your refreshments are included in the ticket price and parking is free. We would love to welcome you along SPECIAL OFFER FOR INFORM READERS IF YOU HAVE NOT ATTENDED BEFORE – FIRST MEETING FREE Email debbie@mumsunltd.co.uk and share your details and the date of the meeting you would like to attend and we will book you in Tel 07795 683 598 www.mumsunltd.co.uk

News Round Up Business Services St Albans Enterprise Agency (known as STANTA) have a varied programme of training courses planned for this Autumn (some in person and some on Zoom) - ideal for new and start-up businesses. These are free for micro businesses under 3 ½ years old under the Herts Start Up Programme. To ﬁnd out how you can receive free business advice contact advice@stanta.co.uk It’’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we’re continuing to collect unwanted and unloved bras for Against Breast Cancer. For every tonne of bras collected they receive £700 to fund their research. So what’s stopping you?! Clear out your undie drawer and pop by our ofﬁce with your bras! Find us in Censeo House - next to Waterstones in the centre of St Albans. Get ready to trade successfully this Autumn with free 1-2-1 business mentoring. Accessing advice from a business mentor can provide businesses with invaluable support that can help to transform business performance through professional insight and guidance. To help support businesses The Volunteer Business Support Scheme has been tailor matching Hertfordshire businesses with a mentor who has the relevant skills and experience to provide a critical ear to brainstorm ideas explore new opportunities and offer inspiration. Whether it’s to attract new customers or help navigate challenges collaborating with a mentor offers an expert sounding board for businesses to overcome barriers to growth. IT Consultancy Cidrosoft is a shining example of a professional services business that has embraced the mentorship scheme and credits the critical industry guidance received from his mentor and the scheme with helping his business grow and remain relevant. Discover how your business can access free business coaching go.herts.ac.uk/vbss As a business support company helping business leaders get the superstar treatment they deserve it’s amazing to have been recognised by industry experts. To read the full article please go here: www.jaxstarsolutions.co.uk/ national-recognition-for-local-business-owner Take the “What is your networking superpower” quiz? And get your report to help you understand your networking style? www.theathenaacademy.com/natural-networking-quiz

Events Join Home-Start Herts for all the glitz and glamour that a James Bond style evening should offer. It includes an arrival drink 3 course meal entertainment casino tables and an auction with a range of fabulous lots. It’s guaranteed to be a thrilling evening. If your tipple is the same as the main man then “Martini shaken not stirred…” it will be! Book your tickets at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/licence-to-thrill-tickets-169284862581

Family If you love ‘Strictly’ then you will love the kids classes at Dance2gether based at Nufﬁeld St Albans. Classes are for 5yrs from 5pm every Tuesday term time. Contact Sam to book your free trial lesson. www.Dance2gether.co.uk

Finance A business that isn’t receiving timely accurate and targeted monthly management accounts information is ﬂying blind. Contact Visionary Accountants for a free initial business consultation: www.visionaryaccountants.co.uk/management-accountants

Hair At Headcase Barbers on Holywell Hill we like to support local…this is our way of giving something back! Enjoy exclusive discounts when mentioning our “local business club” at the till.

Networking Come along and get your networking on! Our October virtual Athena meetings are available for booking with fabulous like minded women in business contact me for details at kate.cherry@theathenanetwork.com

Retail Lou Murphy Styles helps busy style-conscious women with their outﬁt choices. With a mobile boutique full of chic fashions for ladies size 4-24 from the French fashion brand Captain Tortue you can enjoy relaxed shopping with free style advice. Lou can bring her chic fashions to you or you can visit her boutique-at-home in Harpenden for small group or personal shopping experiences. Contact Lou for more information www.facebook.com/groups/1620092258294835

Jobs Do you know amazing dance teachers or dance schools anywhere in the world? Popdance have huge demand for classes, parties and workshops and want to be able to pass this paid work onto incredible dance teachers - get in touch at www.popdance.co.uk/join-the-team to ﬁnd out more Eve & Adam are looking for a friendly and charismatic front of house, 3-4 days per week. Duties include reception, placing orders and stock takes. Experience on reception is a requirement and knowledge of he beauty industry ia bonus - To apply; please send CV to info@eve-and-adam.com

Amy Wybrow Artworks Get in touch here for any design and artworking queries.

St Albans Minis & Youth Rugby Are you ready to start or continue your rugby journey ? Come along to St Albans Rugby Club, Oaklands Lane. Our fully inclusive approach to the game and friendly atmosphere around the club make it simply ‘a nice place to be’ on a Sunday morning. As an inclusive and friendly club we welcome all-comers and make sure that everyone gets to play (whether you are completely new or have previous playing experience). We have experienced coaches who offer fun, focussed sessions and include PE teachers, rugby players and ex county coach for our oldest year group. Our clubhouse is next to our pitches, so all our parents can enjoy refreshments and conversation, including tea, coffee, bacon butties and selection of homemade cakes, undercover or inside while watching their children have a load of rugby-based fun, just a few metres away.

We cater for a range of ages, every Sunday, throughout the season with all age groups between 5 to 15 years old. You can follow us on our Facebook page for more pictures and news. Check out our Facebook page or visit our site www.stalbansrugby.com junior teams section for more information and contact details. Come along for a free training session every Sunday 9.45am registration for 10 am start , St Albans Rugby Club, Oaklands Lane, Al4 0HR.

5 Magical Marketing Tips from Joolz Joseph With Halloween just around the corner I thought it would be a great month to give you 5 magical marketing tips. 2 . Remember that most of us buy emotionally But justify logically so when it comes to the way you promote your products think about the emotions that you want your customers to feel. How do you want them to react to your marketing, as well as your products and services? Do you want them to be excited or maybe fearful? do you want them to have aspirations or maybe feel informed and trusting. Whatever emotion you’re looking to invoke have this in mind as you create your marketing communications and use words to help you invoke the right emotion. 1. Put yourself in your customers shoes! The only way you can really market effectively is if you know what your customers are thinking feeling and want. So it’s vitally important that you put yourself in their shoes at all times. This means when you send an email, when you design a product, when you look at the user experience on your website - everything needs to be done with your customer in mind. This is something I wrote about in more depth in a recent blog post ‘ putting yourself in their shoes’

3. What should you measure?

5. Be authentic

One of the best ways to understand what marketing works for you is to measure as much as you can. But you also need to be aware of a few caveats - we need anywhere up to 30 touchpoints before we buy and so it may be the combination and the consistency of marketing activity that is more important than any single individual channel (so think where you attribute the sale). This can be a little harder to measure but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be trying. Do look at your Google Analytics and other channel speciﬁc metrics, and test – so consider a campaign that you put out in multiple different channels to see if that has a greater impact than going down one particular channel. Also ask recipients or customers how they found you.

- the whole idea of marketing is to get potential customers to know, like and trust you. Being authentic is one of the best ways to do this because what you will say from the heart will resonate with the right people – your target customers. Authenticity means showing your values, sharing your mistakes and expressing your personality.

4. Create a customer persona To understand more about the emotions and desires of your target audience. You may have multiple customer personas but by creating one initially, you can start to really hone your messaging and the language used to suit that least one and then expand on that. There is a really simple 5 step process to completing your customer persona on my website.

Joolz Joseph is a Marketing Motivator and eMail Marketing Consultant. If you are a small business looking for strategic marketing support but want to manage the day to day in house, ask about her Inspiration Injection programme. Three half day sessions to help you: 1. Understand key parts of your business to inform your marketing 2. Brainstorm marketing strategies, tactics and ideas 3. Plan and prioritise your way forward. Email hello@joolzjoseph.com or visit her website

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Inform Magazine - issue 6 - October 2021

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