Episode 7 - From Start-Up to Success: How BNI Helped Build a Thriving Gifting Business

In this episode of the BNI UK Podcast, host Ed Nell is joined by National Director Mike Holman and guest Emma Robson, Director of Stort Valley Gifting and member of BNI Success for Business in Harlow.

Emma shares her journey of launching a business during COVID after redundancy and how BNI played a pivotal role from day one - even securing her first customer before officially launching.

This episode is packed with practical insights on making BNI work effectively, from mastering one-to-ones and refining your weekly presentation to building long-term client relationships and maximising return on investment.

Key Takeaways

Start networking early.

You don’t need to wait until your business is established - BNI can generate opportunities and clients from the very beginning.

You get out what you put in.

Success in BNI comes from consistent effort: one-to-ones, subbing, optimising your profile and actively engaging with members.

Use real examples in your 60 seconds.

Talking about recent work and real clients helps others understand how to refer you more effectively.

One-to-ones drive real business.

Building relationships and truly understanding other members leads to stronger referrals - even when you’re not in the room.

Leverage your network for ideas.

BNI isn’t just for referrals - it’s a powerful sounding board for developing new products, services and business ideas.

Key Moments

“80–85% of our business comes from networking - much of that through BNI.”

“You have to put a lot in to get it back.”

“That one-to-one led to 190 hampers - and I wasn’t even in the room.”

“Use your 60 seconds to talk about what you’ve actually done this week.”

“BNI didn’t just support our business - it helped shape it.”

About the guest

Emma Robson is the Director of Stort Valley Gifting, a business specialising in bespoke corporate gifting and hampers using locally sourced products. A member of BNI Success for Business in Harlow, Emma has built her business largely through networking, with a strong focus on relationships, creativity and customer experience.

https://stortvalleygifting.co.uk/

About BNI

BNI is the world’s largest referral networking organisation. Local chapters meet weekly with a proven agenda based on Givers Gain®, helping members build credibility, share qualified referrals and grow revenue. With training, 1-2-1s and clear metrics, BNI turns business networking into predictable results for SMEs and professionals. Visit as a guest to experience the format.

Find Out More: https://bni.co.uk/en-GB/index

The BNI UK Podcast is produced by The Media Insiders

https://www.themediainsiders.co.uk/

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