Marketing - a most enjoyable task?

Wednesday 27th October is the date of our next meeting. We shall be focusing on Marketing. Over the past twelve months, this seems to be the subject which is most often raised. Apart from Producing our Products or Providing our Service, Marketing seems to be the next most important part of our business and, rather than being something you learn and move on from, it is a constant task and for many of us, it can be a most enjoyable task too. Penny Eccleston will be on hand with her Professional Photographer's hat on, to help us achieve that quality image for our publicity .  For each 'candidate' Penny will take a few photographs, which she will then email to you and will charge £10.00, so come prepared for this.  We shall also have our popular Mini Masterminding Session and plenty of opportunity for Networking. Come along and join us, remember same place, same time - The Royal Victoria Hotel, Newport 12.00 - 2.00. £4.00 Members, £6.00 Visitors, sandwich lunch included.

Flower and Produce Show - Vale Head Farm

How delighted I was to be invited to be one of the Judges at Vale Head Farm, the venue for The West Midlands Network Flower and Produce Show. This was a particularly enjoyable show because it is specifically designed for those persons who are less able and / or disadvantaged, nevertheless, the array of cakes, pies, jams and chutneys and the flowers, plants, herbs and vegetables were amazing. My fellow Judges and I were able to , indeed we had to, sample the cooking which was to a very high standard and making the choice for the Best in Show was extremely difficult. It was a day to remember and looking around the crowd as winners smiled to have their photos taken and everyone else cheered and clapped, it was hard not to shed a tear - a most rewarding invitation, thank you. Pictured here is Bev Chitterm (WiRE member) with her 'Team'. Bev says ' Over six months is spent planning, preparing, growing and making for the show. On the day our group trundle home tired but proud, medals around their necks, bursting with pride. We rest for a week or two, then we tell every visitor about our medals and show the photos, Christmas comes and goes and in the dreary months of January and February, we look at pictures and start to plan our entries for the next Flower Show. Thanks for the kindness of persons planning, hosting and helping at the event, they give a years happiness to our group and all others'.

Our Speaker Carol Lovatt from the APE Academy of Personal Exellence - Training for a Purpose gave us an enlightening talk revealing some of the techniques she uses in her training. Photographer Sara Moseley took us outside for a photo shoot, which was fun and wet!! It was great to meet two new faces from the WiRE office and we wish Catherine and Jaia a warm welcome from the Newport Network. Social Media was, once again, a major talking point and our Mini Masterminding Session prompted masses of good advice from member to member. How many of us will be at Stoneleigh next week for The Power of Social Media Event...

Wednesday 25th August 2010

Great Network Meeting today. Our Speaker was Joyce Bullock from Insight Design Consultancy - a talented garden designer with loads of energy, she gave us lots of tips and ideas as to how she keeps her business going.

After lunch we had our usual Mini-Masterminding Session, which just showed what you can do in a very short space of time. Penny goes away with lots of advice and we hope she will update us next month.

BESIDE THE SEASIDE Crosby to Cornwall Exhibition by Pat Clare

Thanks to everyone who came along to the Sneak Preview for WiRE Members and their Guests, the Exhibition officially starts this Saturday, 14th August when Pat will be about to say 'Hello', and it runs to the end of September - the paintings are fab! Thanks to Jo Gadsby (http://www.pebblepr.com/) for the photo too.

WiRE Members and their Guests

are invited to an early viewing of our new Exhibition
from one of our favourite Artists, Pat Clare.
You are welcome to join us at the Gallery
from 6 - 8pm on Thursday Evening, there is no charge.


Beside the Seaside
(Cornwall to Crosby)

Pat Clare

The Exhibition officially begins

on Saturday 14th August with an 'Open House'
and runs until the 25th September, there is no entry fee.

The Gallery is located on the first floor of this charming 16th century Coachman's House and hosts a regular display of high quality Contemporary Applied Arts from British Designer/Makers, including studio pottery, glass, ceramics, textiles, baskets and a variety of different styles of jewellery, which Maggie sources from all over Great Britain. The Picture Shop, which provides a Bespoke Framing Service is on the ground floor. There is a pleasant courtyard too, so, weather permitting, there is room to relax.

The Picture Shop and Gallery is located

near the entrance to New Street Car Park,
which is just off the High Street opposite the Church

in the Centre of town.

The Picture Shop and Gallery
The Coachman's House
2c New Street
Newport
Shropshire TF10 7AX
01952 813316

Wednesday 28th July - Maggie helped us to revisit a previous WiRE Annual Conference, when Lucie Storrs gave a memorable speech entitled 'The Seven Deadly Sins of Running a Small Business' and although this speech was actually presented to that WiRE Conference over five years' ago, it still raised some interesting points and gave us plenty of inspiration - many thanks to Lucie. There was much networking, as usual, followed by our Mini Masterminding Session, which is proving very popular and we have even managed to keep it very short (10 - 15 mins) if we find time running out. Many thanks to Rachel and Janet for arranging our drinks and sandwich lunch as always....