Beat the downturn with Barclays free seminars

The Let’s Talk More Profit and Let’s Talk Bright Marketing seminars kick off from 6th May 2009 until late November with the first ones happening in Nottingham and Stratford-upon-Avon.  Businesses interested in attending should call 0845 300 2098 or visit http://www.barclays.co.uk/seminars.

Research from Barclays Local Business carried out after the last programme of Let’s Talk Profit and Marketing seminars, showed that despite the importance of customers, pricing and staff to businesses, these were areas which hadn’t had the priority.  By giving business owners the key skills the majority went on to make changes to their business:

·       Seven in ten had confidence to approach new customers

·         43 per cent sought out cheaper suppliers

·         43 per cent changed the way they charged for a service

John Davis, Barclays local business marketing director says, “Our innovative seminars to support the SME sector give businesses key tactics to make fundamental improvements even during these testing times.  We know from our last programme of Let’s Talk Profit and Marketing seminars that after attending seven in ten business owners had the confidence to approach new customers, one of the most important elements to any business.  The skills and networking opportunities that business owners pick up at these seminars will certainly help them to go on to survive and thrive in this climate.”

The seminars have been developed by Barclays and are being delivered by leading business gurus who have worked with organisations across diverse sectors and size, helping companies face the challenges of business by implementing strategies and processes that focus on customers and profitability:

• Let’s Talk Bright Marketing makes businesses re-think how they get and keep customers, helping  them focus their marketing activities more effectively and profitably, see their business and products through their customers’ eyes, to take control of their sales and marketing activity.
• Let’s Talk More Profit makes businesses re-think how they make their money giving them  tools and techniques to improve profits in their business, improve cashflow and how to make it all happen by getting more customers, more sales, more profits and more cash.

The first 18 are happening in the following areas, the next 17 will be happening from September with dates and places to be confirmed nearer the time.

Emma Austin
Retail Banking PR Manager