Interesting news, tips and articles
Annual Awards Ceremony a success
What an honour to have been blessed in our first year of existence with all the support from our members and the support of the local media. Co-founders Jeanette Minderon and Mientjie Kleinhans started Connection Hub at the beginning of 2025 and didn't know what to expect.
We managed to grow the membership and connect small business owners to do business. As a token of our appreciation, we awarded members with the following awards, and these are the winners:
Poster Award went to Cindy Muller for posting the most adverts throughout the year in the WhatsApp group.
Attender Award went to Liezel Horn for attending every network breakfast throughout the year.
Grapgat Award went to Paul van den Bergh for being the person with the best sense of humour.
Networker Award went to Phyllis Treurnich, who collected the most business cards on the day.
Presenter Award went to Gavin Donker for the best presentation on the day.
Best Ad Award went to Ivan van der Walt for the best advert in the WhatsApp group.
Bravest Award went to Gavin Donker for taking the bravest step by moving from a franchise to an independent business.
Gamer Award went to Liana Vermaak for winning the quiz. She tied with Siya Paraffin, but won the last round.
Multitasker Award went to Jeanette Minderon for being involved with so many different projects.
Click here to read the article that featured in Brakpan Herald.
Announcing the annual Awards Ceremony
Connection Hub
is planning to host an awards ceremony at the end of the year to celebrate all
our members who participated in our networking group throughout the year. To
honour our loyal members, there will be three categories:
1.
The person who posted the most throughout the
year on the marketing days. (Only one post on a Monday and one post on a
Wednesday will be allowed.)
2. The person who introduced the most new members
to the group.
3. The person who actively networks the most in the
group.
The planned awards ceremony will take place at the end of the year and scores will be kept throughout the year. Should there be more than one winner in the categories, the members will be able to vote for a winner. This means the more popular people will stand a better chance of winning. And to be popular means that members should mingle and network to get themselves known.
So, ensure that you post every Monday and Wednesday (remember only one post), network as much as you can with fellow members and invite as many people as you can to our group.
For more information, contact Jeanette Minderon or Mientjie Kleinhans on WhatsApp or email us at jeanette@connectionhub.co.za or mientjie@connectionhub.co.za.
Awards programme for members
Connection Hub
understands the challenges of small business owners and therefore is
collaborating with bigger businesses in Brakpan and surrounding areas to bring registered
members a range of discounts, special offers and group schemes.
As new offers
are available, they will be announced in the electronic newsletter that will go
out to the members.
To be a part of
the programme, Connection Hub members must actively sign up for the programme
by simply sending an email with the request to mientjie@connectionhub.co.za.
There
will be no cost to the registered members to be a part of the programme.
More
information and Ts and Cs will be communicated as they become available.
9 Networking tips
Finding business these days is getting increasingly difficult. To stand out from the crowd of business owners trying to make their voices heard is even more difficult in today’s digital age. So, here are a few points to make the most of your networking meeting.
1. Be prepared
Before you attend the networking meeting, make sure that you have a strategy in place. Have an answer ready when people ask you: What do you do? In one sentence you need to explain to them exactly what you do and what makes you unique. Practice the sentence and know it by heart without reciting it.
2. One minute
In today’s world, one minute is equally very short and very long. When it’s your turn to introduce yourself and your company and you have only one minute, be prepared with the message to convey to the audience. Don’t focus on your product or service, but rather on the solution that you can offer other companies. Make it easy for them to relate and see how you can help them.
3. Be real
Don’t try to be
somebody you are not – be authentic. People are able to pick up when you’re
false. Be honest, but don’t play yourself down. And have an honest curiosity
about other people and what they do.
Click here to read the rest of the article.
8 Tips to make the best of marketing day
You have ONE second to make a lasting impression on other members who are scrolling through the posts on marketing days. Therefore, you have to make the best of every opportunity. Here are a few tips to stand out from the others.
1.
Strategise: Sit down and plan what message
you want to convey and when. Don’t be lazy and don’t wait for the reminder
announcement before you decide what you would like to share for the day.
2.
Different messages: Think about it. You
have Mondays and Wednesdays to market your product or service. If you don’t
have different products or services, then focus on different solutions that you
can offer. You can convey the same message in many ways – so be creative.
3.
Consistency: Be consistent. You never
know who will need your service on the same day that you advertise your
business.
4.
Solutions: You should have a good idea of
who needs your product or service, and what their challenges are. Instead of
selling your product or service, offer the solution to the challenges.
5.
Engage: Don’t wait for people to contact
you about your product or service. Engage with possible members who can collaborate
with you or who might need your product or service. You need to be proactive.
Click here to read the rest of the article.
Connection Hub launch in Brakpan Herald
11 March 2025:
The newly formed Connection Hub held its first networking meeting on Friday at the East Rand Children’s Haven’s Kinderhuis Coffee Shop, where local business owners mingled and enjoyed a delightful breakfast and some coffee or tea.
After being welcomed by Connection Hub co-founders, Mientjie
Kleinhans (Community Choices and Corporate Choices) and Jeanette
Minderon (Lalies Den), each business owner quickly introduced themselves
and their business.
Click here to read the rest of the article
Connection Hub feature article in Brakpan Herald
18 February 2025:
Kinderhuis Coffee Shop, the coffee shop at the East Rand Children’s Haven in Brenthurst, will be the venue of choice to launch Connection Hub’s regular networking meetings for small businesses.
The launch will take place at 09:00 on March 7. Connection Hub offers
small businesses the opportunity to connect and network in person in a
safe space.
Click here to read the rest of the article
