Who can introduce me to____________?

[Brian Koning]

On a recent car trip our family was taking, my 6-year-old son Kyler wanted to play the game I Spy. You know..."I spy with my little eye something _______?" and everyone has to start guessing. So, I started..."I spy with my little eye something green." Well, everyone started guessing things like the car next to us, the grass, the exit sign, the leaves, my shirt...and of course my son guessed "a booger!" Everyone became frustrated with me and asking for more clues because they were all wrong. It was a bumper sticker on the truck in front of us.

When it came to my son's turn, he said, "I spy with my little eye something big, yellow, looks like arches and they sell Happy Meals." Hmmmmm....what could that possibly be?

The point is, I made it hard for those around me to see what I was seeing. But my son, in his simple way, helped everyone hone in on the obvious.

Most people network like I played the I Spy game. Sometimes we are so vague about telling others what we need that those around us can't focus or flip through their mental Rolodex fast enough. Someone introduces themselves and says, "I'm looking to meet small business owners who need more customers" or "I'm looking for people who want to be independently wealthy". And my favorite (and I really, really like this person and am a client...so I'm not picking on her), "I'm looking for anyone with skin". I'm just as guilty in being specific about my needs.

But, what if we could narrow our focus and say, "Who could introduce me to the Chief Marketing Officer of Exact Target?" or "Who can introduce me to the person in charge of IT for Clarian North Hospital". Better yet, "Who can introduce me to Pat Coyle of Smaller Indiana".

So often, we go to networking meetings just thinking that if we tell people about our business and throw out a generic need, the referrals will just come pouring in. I think that's why people become frustrated and quit going to networking meetings. They blame the organization when it's really their inability to share with the group what they need. We need to make real, tangible connections. But, it takes some research and focus on our part to tell others exactly who we need to be introduced to so that we can schedule a meeting.

I'd really like to see members of BRN adopt the practice of using "Who can introduce me to _____________?" I believe this will expedite the referral process and get everyone to look through their contacts. It might take two or three people to get to the right person, but it all comes down to those infamous Six Degrees of Separation.

So, who would you like to be introduced to? It doesn't have to be local, even. Tell us so we can help. But, be as specific as possible.

[Brian Koning]

Who can introduce me to... someone in marketing or purchasing for Starbucks? I have a product called Coffee Wipes (www.coffeewipe.com) that would be ideal for them to sell in their stores. They could also be sold in convenience stores, Walmart/Targets, restaurants, etc...

[Ron Sukenick]

Brian,

I'm in the process of connecting with top executives at Starbucks corporate thru a friend of mine up in Seattle.

Maybe we can open the door for one another.

Initally, if you want to move a product thru their channel, you have to sign the disclosure and release agreement.

It's found on their website.

Call for a discussion. -- 216-8210

[Charles Shinaver]

Starbucks sounds good, but I would like to meet Magic Johnson. He is doing in inner city communities a job others would not do. He is doing it with service. I would like to bring our group to him. As a matter of fact actually having our meetings at Magic's Starbucks would be very cool. So, help in that area would be great. I would rather start with him because of his commitment to the inner cities and minority community.

Right now our strategy is to focus on Old National bank locations because they offer the use of a community room for free. If Starbucks would allow us to do so we could do the same thing with them.

Charles Shinaver, Ph.D.

[Greg Phelps]

Wow!
Thanks for the opportunity Brian…sincerely.
I am looking for the decision maker in charge of sourcing their vendor for manufacturing and packaging CDs and DVDs. These are discs containing corporate content. They may be used for marketing, internal communication, education, or they may be an informational disc packaged with a product. Like the DVD that comes with a Bow Flex.
Some of our clients are fortune 500 companies – my contact is usually someone in the marketing department. Other clients are production companies/agencies who offer turn key services to their clients. My contact is usually a brand manager or production manager. - Thank you and Happy New Year!

[Brian Koning]

Couple of connections for you...

First, you may be familiar with Allied Vaughn (www.alliedvaughn.com). They are probably a competitor, but may be worth a connection to see how you two might be able to work together somehow. I was going to use them for a client's music project that got put on hold...the email for the person I was working with is [e-mail].

Until last June, I was formerly AVP of Marketing for Old National Bank. We had looked at a couple of projects in the past that would provide sales tools on CD/DVD. Kathy Schoettlin is CMO ([e-mail]), Jaclyn Rennie managed our marketing vendors ([e-mail]). Ann Ryan is creative director ([e-mail])

Also, check with Gabrielle Sauce at Saucepan...she's a member of this group. I think they may have done some projects that have multi-media. Gabrielle...can you help here?

Finally, I'd go to ad agencies since they tap into clients and will control those types of initiatives. I use to work for IDC (Indiana Design Consortium) in Lafayette - contact Richard Hines at [phone].

Also, I do marketing work for one of the IRL race teams. We are looking at a green intiative to provide our media kits on disc rather than paper. The media would pick up the disc in the media room and pop it into their laptops and print or copy text to their stories. I'll be sure to contact you when we're ready to start that duplication process.

I'll think of some others and let you know. Hope that helps.

[Greg Phelps]

Thanks for the leads Brian
you are right Allied Vaughn is a competitor.
We have several clients in the auto racing industry. We developed a custom package for one of them that may be right up your alley...no pun intended.
I'm happy to help when you get to that point
Thanks again
Greg

[Cindy Hartman]

Greg,

Do you know Brett Healey? He is the VP of Marketing & Sales for Full Perspective Services. He's also the creator of Confluence. So if his company isn't what you're looking for, he'd be a great source to help introduce you to others. You can connect with him easily - he's a member of Smaller Indiana.

[Greg Phelps]

yeah I know Brett - also a competitor, but thanks for your input. I appreciate it

[Brian Koning]

One of our members, Wil Reyes owns Bullseye Business Furniture and Kingdom Church Furniture. He posted a comment on our "wall" that I feel is better suited for this discussion. So, I moved it over here. And, I want to help him out.

Wil says, "I am starting a networking group of business owners in the fields of: commercial insurance, commercial banking/lending, commercial real estate, commercial phone systems, commerical janitorial supplies, commerical furniture and supplies, interior design (not interior decorating) copy machines and printing. If YOU or if you know someone who would have an interest in this, please write to me at: [e-mail]."

Wil, could you elaborate? Where would it be located? How often would you meet. Are there costs associated with joining the group? We just need a few more details to be able to know who to introduce you to.

[Greg Phelps]

Wil,
Here are several contacts in the printing industry
Kelley Baker - Delp Printing and Mailing 872.9744
Jeremy Shutz - The Jackson Group 791.9000
Brad Carlson - Sport Graphics 899.7000

[Trevor Bradburn]

Who can introduce me to small business owners, self employed individuals, newly weds, or couples who are starting to grow their families. I would like the opportunity to educate people that are interested in learning new ways to create and protect their wealth. As we have all understood how unstable the stock market can be, there are other ways to invest money and understand that it will be guaranteed to grow and never go down.

[Brian Koning]

Trevor, that's not specific enough. Think like my son in the example above. How can you be more specific? Maybe pick a group like, "People with young children under the age of 12 who have just been layed-off or in danger of losing their job in the automobile sector living in Carmel or Westfield and have either just started their own business or thinking about it."

Again, that explaination just took my mind to two neighbors that I instantly thought of. Your initial request didn't jog my memory.