Leitrim Business Network

Irish SMEs feel they aren’t getting enough benefit out of their websites, according to a new study from the Irish Small and Medium Enterprise Association. ISME’s e-Business survey 2008 found that 26 percent of SMEs have no website and of those that do, 49 percent are unhappy with it. “Many small and medium-sized businesses would have been sold email and website packages as a sales tool but they haven’t utilised it as such,” said Mark Fielding, ISME chief executive. He said these businesses were misled in the past by web designers and that this had left a sour taste in their mouths. This view was backed up by survey responses: 44 percent of businesses found commissioning a website to be a frustrating or confusing experience, while 41 percent thought web designers tried to baffle them with jargon. The road to bringing these businesses online is a two-way street, according to Fielding, who said that managers and staff in SMEs will have to be trained up in order to be able to reap the benefits of websites, while designers will in turn have to pay closer heed to what clients ask of them. For more on this story see ENN.ie. (See Issues 183 and 184 for tips on web design and development.)

You can now listen to posts on this blog. Just click on the LISTEN NOW button. Please forgive some mispronunciations.

Max Brosi for Cedar Surfboards now has a blog.

We had another great network meeting last night. Representatives from 15 Leitrim businesses attended.

Items Discussed.

1. Cost Saving Ideas for the Small Business. (Suggestions/experiences from attendees)

• Cheaper phone calls using Skype and 13434.ie.
• Shop around - Examples - Company Insurance, Car Insurance (BestQuote.ie was suggested), alternative telephone companies, look at bundle packages. Look at reducing mobile bill by changing tariff.
• Negotiate with your bank to reduce bank charges.
• Consider alternative electricity suppliers.
• Reducing advertising costs by using the web,
• Look at open source software - Examples Open Office,
• Conduct meetings online to avoid travel time. Example - GoToMeeting.ie
• Use Irish language on stationary (more on this shortly),
• Reduce costs by streamlining business processes and consider home office if feasible.
• Make better use of the Internet and email.
• Recycling,

2. Positive aspects of the network

• The fact that there is a network.
• Meeting new contacts.
• Sharing knowledge, experience & ideas.
• Social aspect and meeting peers.
• Helps re-charge.
• Self-support.
• Subcontract work to other members.

3. Suggestions for improving network

• Have the network meetings on a fixed day every month. e.g. First Tuesday.
• Have meetings in the morning as breakfast meetings e.g. 7am.
• Breakout in to groups and have a short brain storming session getting ideas from other companies (more on this shortly).
• Have a specific topic for discussion and send out prior to meeting.
• Do more offline marketing of the network.
• Provide more help with using LinkedIn
• Keep content of meetings fresh
• Record or webcast network meetings for those who can not attend.

Apologies if I have left anything out. Please add to the lists above using the comment section. Please contact me if you wish to discuss any of the items outlined above.
E-mail is johnnyREMOVEFORSPAM@leitrimenterprise.ie

Is blogging right for your business?

Blogging has been the subject of much debate in the national media in recent times. Although the medium is still a quite recent phenomenon, the merits of running a blog and being a blogger have been put under the microscope. Some Irish SMEs have shown that this fledgling form of communication can be used to generate interest in their business. However, the real task for any firm thinking about starting a blog is to decide whether it can be as effective as other forms of online - or indeed offline - marketing.

Blogging for Business (Part 1) (Part 2).

This Evenings Network Meeting.

TIME: 5.30pm - 7.30pm

PLACE: Ramada Hotel, Drumshanbo

AGENDA:

5.30: Welcome

5.35: Network Member Introduction - Each member will be asked to introduce themselves and their business. i.e. Elevator pitch. 1 Minute per member.

6.00: Network discussion, feedback and ideas for the network going forward.

6.30: Break for food and networking opportunity.

7.00: Leitrim ICT Network – Experience to date.

7.30: Close

A comprehensive list of office and commercial unit space is available at Workspace Availability – Co. Leitrim

Bringing fresh new talent to the foreground is an integral part of the Leitrim Design House initiative. A graduate award was introduced at the Art of Fashion in 2007. This award went to Eva Maguire, Graduate of the National College of Art and Design for her collection “Conception”. During her final nine months of the Fashion Degree course in the National College of Art and Design, Eva used the concept of nine months as inspiration for her collection. Further to mentoring through the Leitrim Design House with leading Irish Fashion, branding and retail expert Eddie Shanahan , Eva has recently taken up her internship in Paris with Irish Designer Sharon Wauchob and is very excited about her new future prospects in the world of fashion.

CREATIVITY IN THE MARKERPLACE 2008- A business development programme with Eddie Shanahan for designers and makers will begin on the 26th of March and will run until the end off July at the Leitrim Design House. Eddie Shanahan is a regular commentator on fashion, lifestyle and consumer issues on television, radio news and in print media. He is known for sharp sound bites that highlight a scepticism for hype and nonsense .He is currently Chairperson of the Kilkenny Group.In 2006 and 2007 he produced special ’sell out’ shows for the Leitrim Design House bringing elements of craft, jewellery, fashion and accessories together in a presentation described as ‘unique’, ‘impactful’ and ‘a wonderful show’ by the Sunday Independent.

”RED THREAD – Design & Applied Art is a new co-operative body established to promote the work and interests of a group of designers, artists and craftspeople who were brought together under the Leitrim Design House’s Art of Fashion and Business Development programmes 2006/2007. “Red Thread” aims to develop the artistic and commercial potential of it’s members. It will offer a showcase for member’s collections , opportunities for collaboration between complimentary designers and producers, a resource centre for retail buyers and an entree to an amenable industry forum for graduates.

Eva Maguires graduate collection “Conception”

There has been plenty of varying reports with regard to our economy and whether or not it is slowing down. I would like your opinion from a Leitrim business perspective.

UPDATE:

Yes 37% (15 votes) - No 63% (26 votes) - Total Votes:41

Susan and Kevin McGovern have set up a blog at www.mcgovernorganicwines.ie