Stan set up his business in 2008.  Messaging365 is an aggregator, developer and service provider of mobile self-service solutions that enable businesses to connect with customers globally irrespective of country, network or handset in order to boost sales, increase customers loyalty, and to provide mobile self-care capabilities on every mobile phone.

”There are 5 billion mobile phones on the planet out of 6.1billion of the total populatation, with a 1.2 billion subscribed only last year.  Businesses of all shapes and sizes love text messaging for its ability to play a key role in wowing their customers, whether through mobile marketing campaigns, direct response sales, pre- and after-sales support, self-service and even customer loyalty programmes.  I will use many examples to bring this concept to life,” said Stan.

MOCC is a business network run by businesspeople for businesspeople. The event is free of charge. All meetings last between one hour and 90 minutes, and the 6pm time is a departure from the usual 11am one.

All you have to do is turn up on the day. More details on the Mayo Open Coffee Club are available on http://mayo-open-coffee-club.org/, or you can email any of the organisers: Judith Feehan (iibccastlebar {at} gmit(.)ie ), Robert Grealis (Robert {at} thediscoverypartnerhsip(.)com) or Maria Staunton (Maria.Staunton {at} gmit(.)ie ).

Start-up businesses, people with the germ of an idea, and established businesses all find the Open Coffee Club a useful vehicle to get in touch with what’s happening in the business world around Mayo.

One of the most critical aspects of marketing is the formation of a brand.  The product is a physical item or service. The brand is what people perceive it to be.  What makes people reach for a Coke instead of a Pepsi?  It takes a bit of effort to establish an effective brand, but once it’s done it can help sell every other product in the portfolio.  A brand is a global asset. Learn how to build or refine one for yourself. Whether your company is small, medium, or large, building a strong brand adds value. Daria will use many examples to bring the concept to life.

MOCC is a business network run by businesspeople for businesspeople. The event is free of charge. All meetings last between one hour and 90 minutes, and the 6pm time is a departure from the usual 11am one.

All you have to do is turn up on the day. More details on the Mayo Open Coffee Club are available on http://mayo-open-coffee-club.org/, or you can email any of the organisers: Judith Feehan (iibccastlebar {at} gmit(.)ie ), Robert Grealis (Robert {at} thediscoverypartnership(.)com) Maria Staunton (Maria.Staunton {at} gmit(.)ie), or Liam Horan (liam.horan {at} slinuacareers(.)com).

Start-up businesses, people with the germ of an idea, and established businesses all find the Open Coffee Club a useful vehicle to get in touch with what’s happening in the business world around Mayo.

MOCC is a business network run by businesspeople for businesspeople. The event is free of charge. All meetings last between one hour and 90 minutes, and the 6pm time is a departure from the usual 11am one.

The meeting will be facilitated by Aisling Roche from Arms Marketing based in Claremorris, Co Mayo (www.armsmarketing.com). In her presentation “Marketing on a shoestring” Aisling will cover a few practical tips on how small and medium businesses can do their own effective marketing using limited resources.  This will include: the importance of understanding your customer and how to generate publicity for your business.  She will also touch on the appropriateness or not of advertising, social media and other forms of marketing communications.

Aisling has over 20 years experience in international food, retail, services and training businesses gained in France, Italy and Ireland.  She lectures part time in Marketing at the UCD Business School, and on a variety of Enterprise Support Programmes around the country.  She founded ARMS Marketing and Training in 2000 and has since expanded the business to include training in marketing, marketing communications, branding and related communications topics.

All you have to do is turn up on the day. More details on the Mayo Open Coffee Club are available on http://mayo-open-coffee-club.org/, or you can email any of the organisers: Judith Feehan ( iibccastlebar {at} gmit(.)ie  ), Robert Grealis (Robert {at} thediscoverypartnership(.)com) Maria Staunton (Maria.Staunton {at} gmit(.)ie), or Liam Horan (liam.horan {at} slinuacareers(.)com).

Start-up businesses, people with the germ of an idea, and established businesses all find the Open Coffee Club a useful vehicle to get in touch with what’s happening in the business world around Mayo.

Happy New Year to you all from the MOCC  Team.  To get you all off to a new start, the January’s MOCC will take place on Wednesday 11th January at 11am in the Harlequin Hotel, Castlebar where the facilitator for the first month of the year will be Tracey Glacken from Glacken Accountants (http://www.glackenaccountants.com/) who will focus on the “Budget 2012 and the key implications for start ups and small businesses”.

MOCC is a business network run by businesspeople for businesspeople. The event is free of charge. All meetings start at 11am and last between one hour and 90 minutes.

All you have to do is turn up on the day. More details on the Mayo Open Coffee Club are available on http://mayo-open-coffee-club.org/, or you can email any of the organisers: Judith Feehan (iibccastlebar {at} gmit(.)ie), Robert Grealis (Robert {at} thediscoverypartnership(.)com) Maria Staunton (Maria.Staunton {at} gmit(.)ie), or Liam Horan (liam.horan {at} slinuacareers(.)com).

Start-up businesses, people with the germ of an idea, and established businesses all find the Open Coffee Club a useful vehicle to get in touch with what’s happening in the business world around Mayo.

Hosts the Harlequin Hotel will lay on some mince pies to add a seasonal flavour, and Belmullet-based event photographer Proinsias Mac an Tuile from Tullylens (www.tullylens.com) will come along to take festive shots of the attendance. The topic this month will be on “Sources of Funding for Start-Ups and SME’s” and a panel of experts from South West Mayo Development Company, Mayo CEB, Mayo North East and Enterprise Ireland will be there to answer questions from the audience. 

MOCC is a business network run by businesspeople for businesspeople. The event is free of charge. All meetings start at 11am and last between one hour and 90 minutes.

All you have to do is turn up on the day. More details on the Mayo Open Coffee Club are available on http://mayo-open-coffee-club.org/, or you can email any of the organisers: Judith Feehan (info {at} pm-support(.)net), Robert Grealis (Robert {at} thediscoverypartnership(.)com) Maria Staunton (Maria.Staunton {at} gmit(.)ie), or Liam Horan (liam.horan {at} slinuacareers(.)com).

Start-up businesses, people with the germ of an idea, and established businesses all find the Open Coffee Club a useful vehicle to get in touch with what’s happening in the business world around Mayo.

These include Government Departments, State Bodies, Agencies HSE, Local Authorities and the Education Sector – Universities, Schools and Colleges

The size of this market is worth approximately €16 Billion to Ireland.

Procurement Thresholds

• Competitive process should be used unless there are justifiable & exceptional Circumstances
• Low Value Purchase < €5K – One or more Verbal Quotes
• Intermediate Value Purchase Between €5K & €25K – Formal Tender
• Process – Minimum 3 quotes by Invitation or Open Process (Debriefing)
• Higher value Purchase €25K up to EU Threshold: €125K Advertise in e Tenders (open)
• Highest value Purchase €125K +: Advertise in OJEU/TED & eTenders

Sourcing Opportunities

• Register with all Relevant Websites (Public Sector)
• Analyse Tender Notices and Identify Common Requirements
• Draft Standardised Tender Document Based on Requirements
• Amend the Standard tender Document to Incorporate the Specifics of each Tender
• Research the “Buyer Organisation”

What Buyers Want

• Can deliver what’s being asked for
• Evidence that the applicant can meet the need by demonstrating its:
  • Capability
  • Capacity
  • Relevant experience
  • Provide the requested information in the format specified
  • Agree to the Contract Terms & Conditions
  • Provide overall Value for Money and is Affordable

Initiatives to Benefit SME’s

• Circular 10/10
• Standard Documents
• NPS Website – www.procurement.ie
• Upgrade of eTenders

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejtH1x7-sHY

The guest speaker was a previous winner of the Entrepreneur of the Year competition in Portugal, Sandra Correia of Pelcor www.percor.pt .