Are you curious about how Commerce Connections started and what its purpose is? In part 1 of our series, we went back to 2012 to discover the story behind Commerce Connections. We learned Daniel Rothrock, now Director of Property Management at Eaton Realty in Fishhawk, Florida, was looking for a way to quickly grow relationships with local vendors and trades for his new position as a property manager.
Read Part 1 here, and come back to continue the journey.
If At First, You Don’t Succeed…
Daniel decided to start his own BNI networking group. He spoke to local businesses and found there was interest in a new chapter in Fishhawk. He followed the necessary steps and over the next six to eight weeks, gathered 12-13 people to meet for the new BNI chapter.
However, BNI requires at least 25 people to be members, so the group was shut down by BNI.
Daniel looked at his group of business owners and thought, “Well, that stinks. But I’m not done!” He asked the group, “Who’s with me in starting another networking group?”
Six or seven people said, “If you’ll structure it, lead it, and run it – we’re in!” And Commerce Connections was born!
Build a Networking Group That Works!
Daniel Rothrock had enough experience and knowledge under his belt by this time to know he wanted to build something different. He wanted to take the best of the different groups he tried and build that into the new Commerce Connections group.
He had listened to what others said about why they left other groups and what they didn’t like. He felt he had a good idea of what to include in this new networking group.
For example, Daniel knew that attendance at weekly meetings is important. That’s how people build the “know, like, and trust” factor. But he also understood that many small or solo business owners needed to work and meet with their clients.
He wanted to make sure there was some flexibility and understanding to allow them to do that when needed, while still making a commitment to attending Commerce Connections meetings regularly.
That’s why attendance is encouraged, but not mandatory. It’s okay to miss a week here and there to do the work of being a business owner. To ensure members don’t become too lax in attendance, though, a seat in the group may be “challenged” if a member repeatedly misses weekly meetings.
Commerce Connections is a one-seat-per-industry networking group, so it’s only fair to have seats held by active members.
If Your Networking Group Has Let You Down, Try CC
There are many reasons why a networking group may not be working for your business.
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Maybe that annual contract requirement and cost scared you off? Commerce Connections has a month-to-month contract system. You stay as long as it’s working for you and leave when you need to.
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Does your other networking group just not have the right mix of businesses that you can connect with and refer to your contacts?
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Are there other businesses in your industry in the group and you feel like you’re competing with one another to get business leads? Commerce Connections has a list of occupied and open seats on our website – check to see if you would be a good fit for our group.
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Sometimes, staying in the same group for too long can lead to stagnation. This is especially true if you’re in a group with an annual contract, for example. You’ve all referred to each other and there’s not much left to share anymore. It may be time to expand your network to meet new business owners with new leads to share. At Commerce Connections – you can grow with us!
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It’s the responsibility of the members and leadership to build a culture that offers value. Is your group fostering growth in your profession and business education?
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Is community service a priority for you as a business owner? Sometimes referrals aren’t as important as opportunities to give back to the local community.
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Does your networking group help you develop personal relationships with your peers? At Commerce Connections, we keep it positive, fun, and engaging. We like to mix things up so meetings don’t become stale over time and still adhere to our core values.
Adding Technology to the Networking Experience
If you thought you’ve learned all there is to know about Commerce Connections at this point, you better grab a fresh cup of coffee and settle back in. Because…there’s more!
Daniel Rothrock, Director of Property Management at Eaton Realty in Fishhawk, Florida, and founder of the Fishhawk networking group, Commerce Connections, was not content to rest on the group he started. He put his created hat on and combined it with his technology skills to create an automated, responsive system called VENATOR (read more about VENATOR here https://www.commerceconnections.network/blog/post/how-to-hunt-and-find-business-success).
VENATOR – which is Latin for “hunter” – allows members to track their networking metrics online quickly and easily.
VENATOR:
Visitors
Education
New Members
Attendance
Thank Yous
One to Ones
Referrals
The system is designed to allow members to instantly send a referral to someone in the group instead of waiting to see them at the next meeting or contacting them via phone or email.
Commerce Connections uses this VENATOR system, created by Daniel, to provide immediate feedback to members as well. For example, if you just had a one-to-one meeting with a member, they’ll get a notification of how you thought the meeting went. Did they find value in your conversation, or did you talk too much about your own business without asking about theirs? That’s valuable for growth and improvement.
Regular Training, Education, and More
Quarterly training, whether from internal or external sources, is another great benefit of creating a unique experience for Commerce Connections members. He didn’t want the group to become a “pitch group”, he wants there to be true business growth for every member.
As people and businesses came out of the Covid shutdowns, the opportunity to learn from one another was at the forefront of sharing and education. What did businesses do new or different, are they keeping those changes, and how can they be prepared for something similar in the future – all timely and valid information to share.
Excuse Me, Is This Seat Taken?
Daniel believes networking groups with open seating can create conflict. What happens when there are three realtors or three insurance agents in the room - how do other members decide which one to use? Or if one has a more outgoing personality than another, does that quieter member get left out?
When he structured Commerce Connections, Daniel created the one-seat-per-industry model so each business owner is in their own spotlight. That lack of potential conflict has resulted in positive feedback from members. It also allows members to see the personal side of people instead of focusing on their industry types.
Visit Us and See if We Are the Right Networking Group For You
Whether you are a new business or a more established one, if you want to grow in the southeastern Hillsborough County area, you’re invited to visit Commerce Connections. It’s a place where genuinely friendly and welcoming people gather to support each other and give back to our local communities. We’d also love the opportunity to learn from you.
Schedule a visit or join us on Wednesdays at The Scrambled Egg in Fishhawk. We can’t wait to meet you!