Imagine…being in a room filled with nearly 500 women (and a few men) – talking, shopping, and simply having a good time. And all the while, you’re making new connections with each introduction. Think of the possibilities. Think of the publicity. Think of the opportunities. And most of all, think of the good things you could do for others less fortunate.
A few years ago, I sat with my girlfriend, chatting over glasses of wine and bantering ideas back and forth – ideas that started with: “wouldn’t it be great if…” and “you know, we really should….” Usually these thoughts are tossed around in social settings but the thoughts soon fizzle as the real world takes over.
We were on to something. We came up with a simple idea of what women really like: drinking wine, shopping, and having fun with their sisters…and then set a plan in motion to combine these elements, creating the successful venture: Wine, Women & Shopping, an opportunity to come together to celebrate sisterhood.
Now don’t get me wrong, this extraordinary event didn’t happen overnight – or over one glass of wine. It took more than a year of planning and reaching out to friends, business associates, and networking contacts. And we had fun planning it and watching it breathe life.
My friend, Nancy Kirwin, an insurance agent with Townsend Mutual Insurance and I (copywriter and owner of Vantage One Writing and publisher of
At times, our sisters in need included one of us – on a revolving basis. Everyone experiences major upheavals in life and they can’t be put on hold because you’re planning a special event. Because of our “sisterhood” and our focus, we were able to help each other through some of the toughest moments of our lives and get back on track. You could say, Wine, Women & Shopping helped us to maintain a semblance of normalcy in the face of adversity.
And at times, we faced outside negativity. We were told that it would take two to three years to sell out an event of this caliber in our city. But the person who said that did not understand our networking talents. We quickly exceeded our original goal of 200 attendees the first year and sold out more than 300 seats fast. Our second and third events have had early sell out crowds close to 500 people and we’ve raised nearly $35,000 for a worthy cause.
We chose to create a fundraising event to help My Sisters’ Place, a transitional support centre in
In the words of
All it takes is an idea. Talk to your friends and business associates, find a good cause, and watch the ball roll. It’s a great way to increase your circle of connections, which is how business grows…and you’ll be doing something to give back to your community. But always keep in mind the main ingredients for success – be passionate about what you’re doing and have fun along the journey.
Take some time to sit and enjoy a glass of wine with your friends – you never know what may transpire.
Susan Regier is the owner and head writer of Vantage One Writing. She works directly with entrepreneurs to find their core essence and develop a compelling marketing message. Susan has a greater than 90% success rate in getting her clients the free publicity they’re looking for in print and on television and radio. To get your copy of 12 Tips to Attract More Clients & Boost Your Income, go to www.susanregier.com. Phone: 519.471.8726 Email: susan@vantageonewriting.com
