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£10 Million achievement for Blackburn networking group

Posted on by Claire Stephenson

A Blackburn-based BNI chapter is celebrating after its members generated over £2 million in the last year, bringing the total amount of work referred within the group to over £10 million since its launch. 

Launched from a core group of just three members in 2014, BNI Infinity now boasts 21 members, meeting every Friday morning at the Hampton by Hilton, Blackburn.

The group is part of global organisation BNI, the world’s leading business referral organisation. With over 318,000 members in 77 countries, BNI provides weekly networking meetings for groups of businesses, who follow a focused meeting agenda that enables them to use their combined network of contacts to find business opportunities and referrals for one another.

Last year, its members in towns and cities across the UK & Ireland shared over half a billion pounds (£538m) of business between one another. Its chapters in Lancashire generated over £12 million in business for members in the same period.

BNI Infinity chapter president Ben Govier said: “The reason BNI is so successful is because its systems are built around building deep connections between individuals. That leads to the know, like and trust factor that is required to provide referrals into each other’s own valued contacts and connections outside the room.

“What further sets BNI apart is that all referrals are tracked on the app, so that members know exactly how much money they are making from their membership.”

BNI Executive Director for Lancashire Louise Eccles said: “A massive congratulations to what BNI Infinity has achieved, going from strength to strength since its launch.

“While the membership has constantly evolved since 2014, BNI Infinity can proudly say that some of the biggest names on the Lancashire business scene have enjoyed wild success from their membership, whether they joined as start-ups or well-established names already.

“BNI itself has undergone many changes since BNI Infinity launched and we’ve introduced new technologies that mean BNI members are now better connected with peers across the globe than ever before.

“Our message is, if you’ve never tried BNI, come along and see what we’re about. If you haven’t tried it for a while, come along and see what’s changed. Our doors are always open to people who want to prosper and grow through a community-based teamwork approach to building their business.”For more information go to www.bnionline.co.uk

Sales Geek launches in USA

Posted on by Claire Stephenson

Blackburn-based Sales Geek has launched into the USA with the opening of two state-wide master franchises. 

Having expanded to more than 30 offices across the UK since its launch in 2017, multi-award-winning Sales Geek is one of the country’s fastest-growing providers of business solutions and sales training, while its Sales Geek app also has users across the globe.

Now launching the brand in the USA, Joe Heikkinen and Gene McCabe have opened master franchises in Texas and Florida respectively.

Joe Heikkinen’s career in sales includes time in B2B, pharmaceutical, biotech and medical devices. His roles in sales leadership began at AstraZeneca where he held a variety of director-level positions. He then moved into a VP of Sales role at Getinge Group in 2011, and most recently was the Senior Vice President (Head of Sales and Global Field Operations) at Stemline Therapeutics.

Joe is seeking to provide the benefits of his experience to organisations in Texas and build a network of further experts across the state.

Launching similarly in Florida, Gene McCabe moved from IT leadership into sales in 2007, as a multi-state account manager for Accredo Specialty Pharmacy, a division of Express Scripts, becoming Sales Director in 2014, then joining Cigna’s Evernorth group as Senior Director, Sales & Account Management in 2021, before launching Sales Geek.

On launching Sales Geek in Texas, Joe Heikkinen said: “Sales Geek’s growth in the UK shows that there is one thing all businesses want, and that is sales.

“Sales Geek meets that need by providing a unique part-time sales director service that enables businesses of all sizes to access -op level sales expertise, without the expense of taking on a full-time, salaried sales director of the same level.

“We also provide sales training for teams and individuals and I’m looking forward to working with businesses across Texas and growing the brand and organisation to help businesses throughout the state.”

On launching in Florida, Gene McCabe said: “I’m very proud and excited to help bring Sales Geek to the US. Sales Geek is on a mission to change the way the world perceives sales. We are committed not only to improving sales practice and helping clients smash their targets, but doing so in a way that remains mindful of maintaining good mental health for the people working within the profession.

“When people think of sales as a business role, they often think of high pressure, big stakes, and people on the edge of burnout.

“We firmly believe that’s not how it should be. Happy salespeople are better salespeople, and their clients and customers are happier too, so I’m really looking forward to spreading the word to growing businesses across Florida.”

Sales Geek founder and CEO Richard Few said: “As you can imagine, we’re unbelievably excited to be launching Sales Geek in the US and we couldn’t think of anyone we’d be happier to be doing that with than Joe and Gene.

“When they visited us in Blackburn, we had a fantastic time showing them exactly how we operate here in the UK, demonstrating our culture and we are looking forward to working with them to develop Sales Geek in their own territories in the US. The guys are going to smash it!”

For more information go to www.salesgeek.co.uk.