“I will never be without BNI for the business support and confidence I receive, but most importantly for the richness of the relationships formed with the members of BNI.”
BNI Waikato member Tracey Mooney, Reservations and Marketing Manager and owner of Windy Ridge Weddings and Function Centre
Recently I shared some of my journey with BNI, as part of the International BNI Story Video Contest by creating a 2-minute video testimonial on how BNI NZ has hugely helped with my professional and personal life. It was a reminder to me of all the benefits I have gained from belonging to BNI Waikato over the years.
BNI Waikato member Tracey Mooney,
Reservations and Marketing Manager and owner of Windy Ridge Weddings and Function Centre,
shares how BNI has supported her through buying and selling businesses, marriage and the birth of her two children.
“I will never be without BNI. My chapter members are the people I run to when I need help, business support, confidence or just a shoulder. The richness of the relationships formed, is worth its weight in gold.”
I am the type of person who was always going to be self-employed. I was never going to be an employee of someone else. My philosophy is: If you are going to leave home to do something every day, do something you love. So, when I sold my previous business (a Vodafone franchise) it was inevitable that I would find a new business to move into. It was just a matter of finding something that floated my boat.
When Windy Ridge Weddings and Function Centre was being sold as a going concern, it seemed like the perfect fit. I had worked in the hospitality industry and I knew my business experience would allow me to grow the business and transform it into something special. That’s not to say that buying the business was easy though.
Support from BNI
Purchasing the business meant I needed to raise money from the bank – which I doubt I would have been able to do it without the expert advice and support from BNI. My chapter really stepped up to help during the due diligence process. They gave me support on:
- Business plans
- Valuations
- HR advice
- Property inspections
- Insurance
All these areas were new to me and with the expertise of members in my chapter, I could get the loan from the bank.
I’ve also been supported with referrals from BNI members in my chapter.
BNI Waikato Metro Chapter Members
When I bought my new business, I asked myself Is this really a BNI business?
Since the business is a venue that supports mostly weddings and private functions, I wondered how many referrals I would be able to generate from my chapter. In the past internal BNI referrals had supported my businesses through lean times so I stayed with the group.
Windy Ridge Weddings and Function Centre
All my questions were answered when within 6 months of having the new business I generated more than $15,000 in referrals from chapter members. It was an incredible reminder of the value of BNI to get a business off the ground and keep it running when you’re just getting on your feet.
I would challenge anyone else who questions whether BNI is right for their business. BNI is about building trust and credibility with other members on an individual level. People get to know and trust you (before your business). This means that any business is a great fit at BNI, if you are a good fit personally and you give other members the chance to learn about you and develop trust in you.
Fresh ideas
BNI has also been fantastic for giving me some great new creative ideas for my new business. Previously the business was known as a wedding venue and was booked out on weekends. That was great but the venue sat idle during the week. When I bought it, I put a focus on getting bookings for corporate events, conferences and Christmas parties.
I did a 1-2-1 with the accountant in my chapter who highlighted new markets that I could target. She has boys starting out at university and saw an opportunity for my business to branch out into other events like school leaving parties. This is an area that I never would have considered.
Since doing the 1-2-1 and targeting this and new markets we have dramatically increased our mid-week business. We’ll turnover more than a million dollars this year. I have five staff and have 20 casual employees. All of this couldn’t have happened without BNI.
For me it’s not just about the business though. I’ve had so many important life moments with BNI and have had huge support from BNI in my personal life. When I married in 2013, our celebrant was from BNI and our MC was from BNI too. I’ve made life-long friends in BNI that I know I can depend on no matter what happens. When I went into labour at midnight, I rang Kathryn Christensen from my chapter to come and look after my daughter. BNI members are the people I run to when I need help, business support or just a shoulder. The reassurance and support I get from BNI is worth its weight in gold.
BNI Waikato member Tracey Mooney, Reservations and Marketing Manager and owner of Windy Ridge Weddings and Function Centre
