Sole traders are excelling in BNI and at The David Awards this year

For the past decade, The David Awards have been recognising the unsung heroes in home and small businesses throughout New Zealand – the Kiwi “Davids” taking on the Goliaths of the local business landscape. BNI is a partner to the Davids and we have always done very well with nominations and wins in the competition. It’s no surprise then that last week another BNI business has taken out an award at the Davids. His success shows how valuable BNI is for sole traders.

Michael Burton is a member of Rotorua Worx and his business, Burton Security, won the Solo Meo category this year. This Award celebrates a solo business owner who runs their business single-handedly. Michael first heard about the David Awards through an education nugget in a meeting.

Michael has had a long involvement with BNI being a member at two different chapters as an employee and contractor (in Napier and Hastings) prior to joining Rotorua as a solo business owner.

He puts a lot of his success in The Davids and with Burton Security down to BNI, which he says now accounts for 80% of his business.

When he started his own business, he knew he needed to join BNI. He shares three crucial ways BNI helps any start up:

1. BNI immediately lets you know who is who in the local business community (this is especially important when you are new to a market).
2. BNI helps you meet people who are serious about doing business. When you pay for something, you respect it. BNI attracts serious-minded businesspeople with a structure that works.
3. The return on investment at BNI is incredible because you have a room of loyal advocates generating referrals for your business. You don’t need to constantly pay for advertising and media campaigns because your BNI chapter will get the word out about your business for you.

This was the first time Michael had entered The Davids and enthusiastically recommends other members give it a go in 2018. It’s a great way to get some free publicity about your business, is free and takes less time to enter than doing a traditional advertising campaign.