Small Business

Kerry Businesswomen’s Network 1st July

By Anne Kiely  |  2010/06/21 15:19 Posted in Business Networking, Ireland Business, Ireland events, Kerry Business, Kerry County Enterprise Board, Kerry events, Women in Business  |  Comments (1)

Thursday 1st July will see the final networking meeting of this membership year of Kerry Businesswomen’s Network as we take a break from meetings in August.  We will be one year old on 23rd July and we already have over 90 members!  Take a look at www.kerrybusinesswomen.com for the latest news and to browse the Directory of our members.
 
Come along to the Meadowlands Hotel in Tralee, 7 for 7.30 pm, to meet up with members and other guests.  Mary Beary of People Sense will be the main speaker on “Practical Marketing in Action”.  She has lots of great ideas on how to promote your business in a cost-effective way.
 
There is NO ADMISSION FEE for this meeting and you are welcome to pass on this invitation to any other women who may be interested in attending.
 
Please let Anne Kiely know if you would like to come so that we have an idea of numbers – kerrybusinesswomen@gmail.com

The Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee

Where do you get your ideas?

By Anne Kiely  |  2010/05/10 09:07 Posted in Entrepreneurs, Small Business, Social Media and business tools  |  Comments (0)

I subscribe to updates from Seth Godin’s blog and found this recent post interesting -

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2010/05/where-do-you-find-good-ideas.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Fsethsmainblog+%28Seth%27s+Blog%29

While I’m on the subject of creativity, I want to mention a great book – “Thinkertoys” by Michael Michalko.  I originally borrowed this from the library, but had to buy it as the ideas are so interesting – really different ways of looking at challenges, problems, opportunities (or whatever you are calling them at a particular time!).

I can also recommend Mary T Tierney who runs workshops and one-to-one coaching on Creativity – find out more at http://www.azurite.ie

Mind Maps for Business

By Anne Kiely  |  2010/04/12 08:29 Posted in Small Business  |  Comments (0)

I like using mind maps, usually on paper with different coloured pens, to explore ideas and see connections.  I often use them before writing a report for a client, or for exploring different services for clients or a new direction for my own business.  I also use them at the research and planning stage for clients starting out with social media marketing.

I came across this interesting article on a blog about how to use mind-mapping software to add value to customer relationships:

http://mindmappingsoftwareblog.com/mind-maps-for-customers/

Kerry Businesswomen’s Network 8th April

By Anne Kiely  |  2010/04/05 08:00 Posted in Business Networking, Kerry Business, Kerry events, Small Business, Women in Business  |  Comments (0)

Avine McNally, Assistant Director of the Small Firms Association, will be the speaker at the April meeting of Kerry Businesswomen’s Network (www.kerrybusinesswomen.com).  The topic will be current business issues, focusing on finance and getting paid on time (a problem for many of us!).

The meeting will be on Thursday 8th April at the usual venue – the Meadowlands Hotel in Tralee.  Registration starts at 7 pm, with the meeting starting at 7.30 pm. 

Guests are welcome.  Please contact Anne Kiely at kerrybusinesswomen@gmail.com if you would like to attend.

Are you developing a business in ICT or Life Sciences?

By Anne Kiely  |  2010/03/31 11:23 Posted in Entrepreneurs, Ireland Business, Small Business  |  Comments (0)

Enterprise Ireland has launched the second Propel Programme which can provide financial support of up to €15,000; business start-up training; access to local and global contacts and networks; specialised business and industry expertise in 1:1 sessions; mentoring and access to potential investors.

Propel will run for 10 months and is open to entrepreneurs currently located in the Republic of Ireland.  It’s also open to existing innovative companies in the early stages of development within these sectors that wish to internationalise and scale their business.

Visit www.propelprogramme.ie for more information.  The closing date for receipt of applications is 23rd April 2010.  Places are limited.

Kerry Businesswoman’s Hot Pepper Jellies going down a treat

By Anne Kiely  |  2010/02/15 17:27 Posted in Entrepreneurs, Ireland Business, Kerry Business, Kerry County Enterprise Board  |  Comments (0)

When Kerry-born Melanie Harty lived in the USA, she dreamed of making and selling her Harty’s hot pepper jellies back in her home town of Tralee.  That dream came true in 2009 and Harty’s Foods was awarded Best Grocery Product at SHOP 2009 and commended in the Best Irish category at the show – the major event in the Irish food and drink retail industry. 

Melanie was already well known in Tralee as owner-manager of The Cookery restaurant for ten years and used her wide experience of the food industry to develop, test and launch her range of four jellies.  They are all made in Ireland from the highest quality natural ingredients and are suitable for vegetarians and coeliacs.  They can be used as a dip, spread, sauce, marinade, seasoning or glaze or to add zing to sandwiches and stir-fries.  Melanie describes them as “spicy, sweet and peppery” and gives added value with her recipe leaflet and serving suggestions for the four varieties: Ginger, Jalapeno, Chargrilled and Hot Pepper.

 Melanie explains:

“While working in Washington D.C. and South Carolina I became passionate about the melting pot of ethnic cuisine synonymous with North American cooking. I was struck by the great taste and versatility of pepper jelly – a condiment that is increasingly popular Stateside and has its roots in the spicy rustic home-cooked food of Texas and its surrounding southern states”.

 Through Kerry County Enterprise Board’s Advance Food Programme, Melanie was able to develop her branding, design and production to bring her products to market.  In January 2010, Melanie was delighted to be one of the panel of speakers at the Young Enterpreneurs Bootcamp in Tralee.

 Since winning the awards, Melanie has been kept busy supplying many gourmet food halls and food retail shops and the products are selling well.  The most popular so far is the Jalapeno Jelly with an extra kick and a lingering finish.  Details of stockists can be obtained by contacting Harty’s Foods at info@hartysfoods.com.

For further information, visit www.hartysfoods.com

Enquiries can also be made to Anne Kiely of Kiely & Associates PR on 085 7163762 or kielyassocs@gmail.com

Good news for small business – pay only for results

By Anne Kiely  |  2010/02/01 11:17 Posted in Ireland Business, Kerry Business, Kiely & Associates, Small Business  |  Comments (0)

This press release has been issued today by Kiely & Associates and Quinn Garvey PR:

Good news for small business – pay only for results

 There’s good news from Kerry for all small businesses in Ireland.  Anne Kiely, Kiely & Associates and Anthony Garvey, Quinn Garvey PR, both experienced PR practitioners, have joined forces to offer small businesses a new approach to PR – pay only for results.

 Based on the “no win, no fee” legal model, small businesses will only pay for PR services when Anthony and Anne succeed in getting ‘their story’ into the target media. 

 How does it work? 

 “It’s simple,” says Anthony.  “We agree with you the media coverage we can get for your business, whether it’s radio, TV, newspapers, magazines or online.   We agree with you how long it will take to complete.   Then we go and do it.  And you only pay if we deliver – so no coverage, no fee!”    

As well as providing a great service to clients, Anne believes that the new approach to PR will be welcomed by journalists who will get individually targeted, well written news stories, rather than a deluge of press releases.

 “We are focused on providing great stories to the media, offering strong news angles and writing tailored copy for individual journalists that requires a minimum of changes,” Anne says.

 The two Tralee-based consultants have already signed up over a dozen small businesses to the service, each with different aims and requirements.

 “Typically a client will agree a basket of five or six items, a mix of local and national coverage.   We aim to deliver on our agreed targets within three months,” says Anne

 Anthony adds:

 “Forget retainers and lengthy PR contracts, they went out with the Celtic Tiger.   If you are searching for PR that really delivers the results you want for your business, at a price you’ll love, look no further.”   

 For further information, contact Anne Kiely on 085 7163762 (kielyassocs@gmail.com) or Anthony Garvey on 087 79 79 2 79 (anthony.garvey@quinngarveypr.com)

Farmers’ Market Training Days

By Anne Kiely  |  2010/01/25 19:17 Posted in Kerry County Enterprise Board, Kerry events, Small Business  |  Comments (0)

Kerry County Enterprise Board is running a Farmers’ Market training programme. The next courses will be held on Tuesdays 2nd and 9th February in the Brehon Hotel, Killarney.

The first day will focus on individual stall holders and will include advice on hygiene, branding, pricing and presentation.

On 9th February, the training will deal with the wider issues of organisation and promotion of markets. 

Michael Gleeson, Rural Development Consultant, will be presenting the courses on behalf of the Enterprise Board.  For full course and booking details, see www.kerryenterprise.ie.

Open Coffee Tralee 9th December

By Anne Kiely  |  2009/12/06 19:53 Posted in Business Networking, Kerry events, Small Business  |  Comments (0)

Forget about the budget on 9th December - you can’t do anything about it!

But you CAN come to Open Coffee Tralee on Wednesday 9th December at the Meadowlands Hotel, Oakpark (www.meadowlands-hotel.com),  from 10.30 am.  Meet other business people and raise funds for Kerry Cancer Support Group.

The idea of Open Coffee is to meet people in a relaxed atmosphere – no speakers, no agenda.  There’s no need to book – just turn up!

The Meadowlands Hotel will also be handing over the cheque to Tara’s Tiny Footprints from the first Open Coffee event in October.

Budget 2010 Breakfast Briefing

By Anne Kiely  |  2009/12/01 19:48 Posted in Ireland Business, Kerry events, Small Business  |  Comments (0)

Kerry County Enterprise Board, in association with Peevers Slye Cotter (PSC Taxation Services) will be presenting a Breakfast Briefing on the budget which will be announced on 9th December.

Booking is essential – book online at www.kerryenterprise.ie.  The cost per person is €20 and the venue is the Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee, from 9 am to 10.30 am on Friday 11th December.