Chat from the Chair – Ask and you shall receive!

Do you know how your customers view you and what you offer? Do you know the impact your company has? You may have a pretty good idea, but the only way you can really find out is to ask them. If we do ask them, we can find out what is a strength of ours to market ourselves, or areas that we may need to develop or improve upon.

Your Brand

This week, I listened to a podcast from the ‘Start, Build, Grow’ podcast series. This is a great podcast to help small business owners. This week’s podcast was by a coach called Richard Liverman, and it was on the topic of your brand.
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1KZG1IdoBb0nSt9EAzIrqB?si=628ece15feba49c2
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/start-build-and-grow/id1739084985?i=1000727148348

In it, he suggested that we can examine our blind spot, the bit we don’t know about ourselves but others can see, with regard to what we offer our clients by asking 3 simple questions.

1. Why is it that you worked with me?
2. What do you get from working with me?
3. How do I help you on your journey?

So, I did this. I set up a simple Google form with those 3 questions, and I sent it to lots of my clients. I’m still getting replies, but the replies so far were illuminating and encouraging. Words like confidence, insight and strategies were what people found helpful about working with me.

So maybe try this with your clients. Ask and you will receive.

(By the way, check out all the podcasts in that series. There are so many helpful ones for business.)

Ask for help – ask and you will receive

One of the good things about belonging to the Stowmarket Chamber is that you are not alone. You are part of a supportive community. That means if you need help, you can ask your fellow members and they will help you. All it takes is asking them for a cuppa and then popping the question. Maybe it is a listening ear that you need. Perhaps it is some advice. Maybe they have an experience that you need to learn from. The trick is to just ask the question. Ask and you will receive.

September & October – busy months 

We have had two additional events this month. Our BBQ was held at Stowmarket Golf Club, and we had some fantastic food and a lovely time connecting and supporting one another. By the time you read this, we will have had our joint safari networking event with Suffolk Chamber. We booked up fast for this.

Next month has a brand new event – Feel Good Friday on 10th October. This is an event to support you with your wellbeing with super speakers and a great goodie bag (it has chocolate in it!). So, book up before places fill. You will come back from it refreshed and invigorated.

I look forward to seeing you at one of our events and hearing whether you have tried asking for anything and if you received it.

For the Future

Chairman Colin Tapscott is always happy to receive any suggestions for what members want to see the Chamber doing in the future. Please send your ideas (and your wish lists) to [email protected]

Dates for your diary:

Please check the website in case of any last-minute changes.

Feel Good Friday	Breakfast Networking
The Mix Stowmarket, 127 Ipswich Street, Stowmarket IP14 1BB	The Mix Stowmarket, 127 Ipswich Street, Stowmarket IP14 1BB
Friday, 10 October 2025	Friday, 17 October 2025
9.30 am to 1.00 pm	7:15 am to 9.00 am

For more information, contact Keely Taylor by email: [email protected].