The business of Networking

Networking, Crucial Element for your Company

By Thomas Brossard

Hello everyone! My name is Thomas, I am 21 years old and I study in business.

Today I am going to explain what is the Network and why this is so important to succeed in business.

To do this I will take an example of a American company called Toni Patisserie  owned by Paul Pell. I am actually studying at Chicago and one of our courses is to discover companies and ask them question about their beginning and how they grown in the U.S.

What is Networking?

Your network is one of the most important part to begin a business, not only in the U.S but everywhere around the world. The term Networking means persons you met or worked with for example.

In one hand it is very easy to get a good network but in another hand it is very difficult to keep it. Everybody has a network (friends, family etc..) but it is more or less difficult to maintain. One of the best tip I can give you is:" DO NOT BE SHY". Some persons are comfortable to speak with an unknown person, others are not. 

Why is so important?

When you begin a company, obviously you need costumer. Costumer give you money, the blood of your company, and you can evolve. Getting customer is so difficult but your network will give you a base where you can bounce to promote your business and IT IS FREE!!! It is very easy to get network but it is harder to keep relation with. If you do not focus in, your network will disappear and you will develop a new one.

Paul understood that and I will explain to you his story.

 

The 7th of October, We met Paul Pell, the owner of Toni Patisserie.

He told his story and key to succeed in business in the U.S.

Everything began 20 years ago in Chicago suburb. Toni and his wife get an idea: open a Patisserie & Cafe. Unfortunately they had only 30 000$. Renting a local in Chicago is too expensive and competitors are already implanted. 

Today they are located in the Loop, the biggest and the most popular district in the Windy City.

This shop cost them 2.2millions$. This important investment is due to the location of the shop but is due to machines and products. He only sell hight quality products as french chocolate. His products are expensive but really good (trust me). 

Now you have an idea of Paul shop lets talk about the creation of his network. Every week he give chocolate, cakes to concierges in hotel. Concierge give to visitors and obviously love it and go at Toni Patisserie. 

Why? Easy, concierge talks to visitors respond to questions and a customer ask for a restaurant etc... With this method Paul does advertising for free and get new customers. He creates event every Thursday: all macaron at 1$ only. This event intended to catch new customers and, as macaron are good, they come back. One more time a smart idea and a cheap idea. 

Thanks to our excursion I visit and discover amazing places and shops and the most important I develop my own network.

I hope I helped you to get a clear idea about what network is and having read this blog I could become a part of your network, this how it work!

Thank to reading my post and good luck for you future experiences.

P.S: Just for eyes pleasure: