Demystifying Innovation for SME's

Toby Scott www.pentacle.ie, created a practical 90 minute workshop for members. He focussed on cutting edge innovation techniques that could be applied to small businesses, immediately. Toby is a proponent of User Centred Design thinking and his skills were well matched to members, who are mainly in service businesses. He challenged members to try out new 'customer experience' tools and used everyday examples to build the group's observation skills - did you ever stop to think about how you eat a yoghurt?

identify-observe-involve-try - Toby's mantra for successful user-centred innovation.

Thanks for your feedback:

To see my business from customers’ eyes;

I haven’t learned to observe people that come into my shop and perhaps notice what they do;

By Amanda Scott Facilitator

Sandwiches

Successful Donegal entrepreneur Jenni Timoney, of Doolittle Foods came to tell us her story. How a cafe owner (with no specific business training) in Donegal town makes and delivers 8,000 handmade sandwiches to 200 outlets around the country, everyday. Just think of the logistics! That's everyday...

Jenni did this in 5 years and made it to the finals of Ernst and Young Entrepreneur. Winning new clients Aer Arann and Topaz, she is one of a small handful of genuine entrepreneur successes.

We were shocked and saddened to hear only 3 weeks later that Jenni's business had gone into voluntary liquidation. In her talk she hadn't hidden the brutal side of managing cash, expanding in an increasingly competitive and price driven market. We wish Jenni well and we fully expect see her back in business again.

by Amanda Scott Facilitator

Sligo women in Business meet Chamber at Lissadell tearooms

Colourful photos by SWIBN member Frances Muldoon, of a recent network meeting between Sligo Chamber and Sligo Women in Business Network, hosted by Isobel Cassidy at the Lissadell Tea Rooms on Thursday 24th September

Coffee House evening

Martina Henry hosted an aromatic event at KoKo Latte, Quayside, Sligo. Like all great coffee houses, conversation was the focus for this social summer gathering. To ensure the evening had a business focus, we re-created our Agony Aunt problem solving circles which had been so popular the month before. Members were able to get fresh perspectives on their business needs while offering up new ideas to others.

Help desk: Debbie Woodward www.logis.ie and Cristina Luminea (who kindly created our blog - thank you) our member IT experts, set-up a help desk in the corner of the cafe, for members grappling with how to create a LinkedIn profile and use the SWIBN group for the first time.

By Amanda Scott Facilitator

Social Networking and Conversation Marketing

Johnny Beirne www.johnnybeirne.com introduced members to social networking and conversation marketing in a masterclass which aimed to highlight the revolution in of 'word of mouse' connections. The event prompted so much interest that we invited Johnny back in September, to do two half-day workshops for 20 enthusiastic members. On the back of this initiative, we launched our SWIBN LinkedIn Group. We are delighted to see so many members engaging in minute by minute social networking activities.

By Amanda Scott Facilitator