Hi, you most likely know by now that my prime focus these days is at Mediaglue where we’re having a great time building websites, doing graphics and copy for entrepreneurial business owners seeking growth.

What’s more, I’ve ‘come out of retirement’ to resume my well known sales training program, ‘How to Gain and Retain More Customers’. Check out the dates for upcoming courses at How to Gain and Retain More Customers

Here’s some feedback from the last event held in September:

“Thanks James

I have heard so much of today in bits and pieces. What I got today is why traditional selling from a prepared folder doesn’t work and more importantly what to do to establish if I can help my prospect and if I can what has to happen next and get more sales that proceed.”

Debra Jarvis, Feng Shui Miracles P/L

“Fanatastic course; designed for the sales person who wants to be different to others out there in the market place. Getting the same result “NO SALE” because they sound the same. Be different, Do James’ Course!”

Carl Simms, Independent Contractor

“This is the first sales training I’ve done. I am glad I haven’t wasted my time with other courses. I learnt a great deal of valuable information in a very short space of time. I’m really looking forward to going through the manual and learning how I can do it better. Thank you for passing over your valuable information James. I know it will make a difference to me.”

Sarah Hindmarsh, Elevation

“I did this training about 4 years ago and got so much out of it so doing it a 2^nd time solidified the initial learning and some its been great doing at a 2^nd time as I have learnt even more.”

Vicki Sparks, Connect Working

“Insightful – useful – down to earth techniques, which make a lot of sense. Has generated many thoughts on how to adapt these techniques to own business. Thank you for a great educational event – we look forward to business growth as a direct result”.

Peter Varcoe, WIN Financial Network

Thanks James – It’s been a most enjoyable & informative day

Janeece Giraldo, WIN Financial Network

More on The Coffee Club…

Most Thursday evenings I go to a business networking function that is held at Coffee Club, Park Road, Milton.This venue is managed by a very capable guy called Matthew who has the ability (among other abilities) to remember what one’s coffee and alcohol preferences are. I always have a chat with Matthew when I’m there, he’s a good guy.

Anyway, last night I was telling him about my recent experiences with the Station Road Indooroopilly Coffee Club and he made an impassioned plea: “Please don’t paint all Coffee Clubs with the same brush”.

He was right. Park Road  Coffee Club IS a cut above the rest. Thanks for reminding me mate.

I’m amazed how many people I talk with about coffee shops / cafes in Brisbane. Most would gladly go elsewhere but The Coffee Club. Park Road is a little different; it isn’t the same snobby Italian atmosphere as most of Park Road.

Update on Coffee Club Station Road…

This post started some months ago and I have been there twice in the last two weeks. Both visits were very disappointing.  The worst was one morning this week when I went there for breakfast with a client. The food was dreadful. Three tiny sausages, each no bigger than my thumb, a small serve of mushrooms, and fried eggs that lifted off my plate in one piece on my fork. Two thin slices of toast and a mug of black coffee - and it was over $20!

I’d had enough and spoke to the owner. Here’s the deal, the value breakfast at Maccas around the corner is a quarter of the price. It tastes better and the environment is nicer. At Maccas they always have a Courier-Mail yet at this Coffee Club, some days they do, some they don’t. When I asked for one to read before my client arrived, they said they hadn’t had time to go get one. The newsagency is 50 m down the road, I could have walked to get one while they made my coffee.

And how about you clear the tables when customers finish their meals instead of leaving them there until they leave?

More and more people I talk to tell me they try their hardest NOT to meet people at Coffee Clubs. I hope you’re paying attention down at West End?

If you’re looking for somewhere other than Coffee Club at Stones Corner,  try Stones Throw Cafe. Good food, good coffee, great service, wonderful business-orineted environment, and they clear the tables!

Please let me know where you prefer to meet people…

Earlier post:

The franchise team down at Coffee Club’s HQ must sometimes wonder what some of their franchisees are thinking…

An iconic institution, with one of the most effective marketing tag lines ever; “Where will I meet you?” the Coffee Club is sadly sinking into a morass of ordinariness. Unspectacular coffee and a very tired menu is causing Brisbanites to find new and different venues for their social and business meetings. I’m really tired of lemon pepper Calamari with chips…

I should add that the search is generally in vain as there are few good coffee shops in Brisbane but that’s another story.

Anyway, back to Station Road, and why they must be pulling their hair out.

The darn place is never open. No kidding, 4pm (some days even earlier) and stumps are pulled. Play is over. Saturday afternoon, Sunday, drive past in the afternoon and it’s closed. Meet me at the Coffee Club in Station Road? No, they’re probably going to be closed. Try the two café’s across the road instead. Individual, eclectic, owners who really try to make it a great experience,

People do eat out in the evening around Indooroopilly. There are several venues open along the Station Road strip; starting at the top, there’s the Pig ‘n Whistle, several café’s and Asian venues and at the bottom, The Inrda pub, more café’s and the ice creamery. Across the railway line, there’s also Castelli’s and on the way up to the roundabout, McDonalds and at the roundabout, KFC, Noodle Box and Pizzas. Surely it’s not lack of available trade that causes the Coffee Club to close at 4pm?

Imagine if the Mac Café decided to close at 4pm every day? What would the Franchisor do or say? Methinks there would be some pretty heavy discussions and some very direct talking.

Guys, you’re becoming complacent. Inconsistent opening times across the chain, failing service standards and tired menus. You have an iconic brand and you’re resting on your laurels. Beware the Gatling Gun as your army fight it out in the trenches with swords and pitchforks. The Gatling Gun?

The Gatling Gun effect is a term I coined some years ago to describe the impact of an unexpected fleet-footed, savvy, aggressive competitor in your comfortable marketplace.

McDonalds had to change their offerings to compete with Subway. They had to change their packaging when the public outcry about their eco-unfriendly boxes became too much. They reacted to the outcry caused by the movie “Supersize me”.

What has to happen to cause you to react, Coffee Club?

I don’t know why it is people think that because I’m into sales and marketing, I’m a “natural” target for network marketing opportunities.

Let me set the record straight for once and forever: if you’re even thinking about approaching me as either a prospect, or to do training or coaching for a network marketing business; sorry, I’m not your guy. (FYI, I do use the products of several MLM Companies, though!)

Thanks.

We’re very pleased to announce the launch of our latest project, Brisbane Business Blog where you will find hundreds of useful business articles on subjects including Change Management, Negotiation, PR, Presentation, Public Speaking, Strategic Planning, Team Building, Workplace Communications and more!

Keep your eyes on this site as we’re going to be adding heaps of great content over the coming weeks and months.Of special note will be our Expert Author articles…

Bookmark the site now at www.BrisbaneBusinessBlog.com