Working Breakfast networking group member Reflex Design came to the aid of a bride to be when the heavens opened.

Usually when Peter is booked to carry out a repair the only deadline is the return of a leased car or its sale. As a result the delay of the repair due to extremes of weather is no big issue. When the car needs to be perfect for a wedding things are different, so a Thursday repair, two days before the wedding, was a fixed date. When the day dawned heavy rain had already started and there was no room to set up the ChipsAway marquee. This is when fellow Working Breakfast member, Reflex Design, came to the rescue with the offer to use their own self supporting marquee to work in.

As a result the repair was carried out on the day and all went well on the big day. So if you were ever thinking about joining a networking group, the best one in Leicestershire has got to be Working Breakfast, because they really know how to take networking to the next level.

Do you go to work in an Armani suit? If so, is a Maserati the motoring equivalent?

On your way to an important meeting and a button comes off or you find a nasty stain on your silk tie. What do you do? Stitch on a spare button and change your tie. As soon as possible I would say. Well it is the same with your business car.

You get pushed towards the kerb by the driver comming the other way and you have a damaged wheel, or you catch the front spoiler in a multi-storey car park.

People notice these things and think “if he doesn’t care about his suit / car, does he care about my order?” Soon you find he has been talking to your competitors.

Peter, at ChipsAway (PDS) Ltd, does not sell silk ties, but he can fix scuffs and scrapes on your car, so see if he can help you. Call Peter on 07830 36 46 86

Ever wondered what Peter looked like? Well here is your chance to find out. As a long time keen photographer, Peter was asked to take part in the “Pentax Legends” project to help them promote their new K-7 Digital SLR and you can see the results of a shoot he took part in at Bradgate Park – http://www.pentaxlegends.co.uk/videos.php?vid=5

So now you know.

While checking through some of my poetry I came across this one I wrote in 2004

 

You’ve quoted you know what’s expected

You’re on time, its part of the game

Introductions, get power and water

All similar, but never the same

 

You walk round the car to be certain

With the Customer, so you can agree

On this scuff, that scratch, and those stone chips

It’s amazing the things that you see

 

You check out the code of the colour

Check the recipe on the PC

Pull out the tints and the binders

And check colour chip just to see

 

We know it’s about preparation

You just cannot cover with paint

So spending time getting the prep right

Will help stop that Customer complaint

 

The stopper’s in and now it’s hardened

And rubbing down gets started for sure

It should be oh-so simple

If not then you know there’s a cure

 

It’s ChipsAway, the team behind you

The solution, our Tech-Support

They always have the answer

This is part of what you have bought

 

Jobs done, the paintwork is shining

Man’s happy and cheque book in hand

Hands it over, so off to the bank now

Another day’s gone as you planned.

Working Breakfast head to the Algarve again. When Peter started ChipsAway (PDS) Ltd all those years ago he soon discovered the benefits of breakfast networking. Hard to believe that setting the alarm for 6am is a good way to get new business, but it was one of the best lessons he learned.

Starting as a bit of a networking tart Peter soon learned that there were two parts to networking groups. There were the members growing their business (or not) by getting up early one morning a week to network, and the people who owned the group who took a large part of the, typically £500 pa membership fee to grow their business.

The first group worked hard to make their group the best to help increase the number of referrals / leads passed between members, while the second work to grow the number of groups so they can fill them with people who can not get into the good groups.

A few years ago a small number of members of  such a group decided there was another way – and Working Breakfast was born ( http://www.workingbreakfast.com/ ). As well as being one of the most successful networking groups in the country with over 2000 leads passed so far this year between the 25 to 30 members, we only pay £250 a year membership and most of that goes towards the annual overseas networking trip.

So if you want to get into good networking, why not come along to a Working Breakfast meeting. Set the alarm early on a Thursday and get to the Regency Hotel on London Road, Leicester, for 6.45 to 7.00 am. You will meet a great bunch of business people who really know how to network and are happy to help members and visitors alike. If you do join us then you too could be enjoying winter sun with other members.

The only downside to making the effort is that if your trade or proffession is already represented, you will always be disapointed by the group that you do join, but don’t let that stop you giving Working Breakfast a try.

Curve restored on SEAT in Leicester. City centre life can be hard on your car and the Curve is right in the centre of Leicester which is why Peter had to repair the front and rear bumpers on this red SEAT. Origionally only the rear bumper needed work, but by the time Peter was called in the front needed some work too. As you can see, once Peter had finished the bumpers looked as good as new.

Mercedes wheel arch needs repair in LE1 – what next? Call Peter at ChipsAway (PDS) Ltd. That is what this local company did when they realised the costs associated with returning a lease car with this sort of damage. Peter was called in and examined the car and identified 2 areas that required attention which, in would have cost over £1000 in charges. Peter was able to carry out the repairs in the company car park well within a working day, so there was no need to make special arrangements and at a cost of less than a quarter of that the lease company wanted to charge. Result!

Red Alfa Spider needs paint repair, ChipsAway to the rescue. When you get to use a nice new Alfa Spider and the door gets opened onto a low wall, what do you do. It’s no good calling Ghostbusters, but a call to Peter at ChipsAway Leicester gets you out of the mire and in double quick time. By talking to other Customers Peter was able to juggle his diary and carry out the repair before the car had to go back. After filling the dent the area was primed and painted. With 4 versions of the colour to choose from it is important the righ one is mixed to prevent variations on the panel. ChipsAway lacquer ensures the final finish matches the rest of the door and a £250 excess is saved.

If any of you have signed up for Twitter, you can find me there as ChipsAway. When I get spare minutes while working I will be posting Tweets about jobs I am working on and hints and tips that come to mind. Follow me and take advantage of these snipets

Decided to celebrate St Georges day with a flag on the van. All went well until I opened the window to cool down and it flew away.