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Networking, sending out signals in all directions to make new business contacts, has meant big business in the last few years for many small and medium-sized New Jersey companies.
Hearsay is that Jerry Rubin, owner of New York City's Studio 54, was one of the first to bring networking into the big time when in 1982 he held his first gathering of business persona. Requirements for these "selective" parties were having a business card and paying the admission fee. The meetings, with social undertones, attracted masses, as many as 1,500 at any given encounter.
The media picked it up and its extravagantly publicized popularity among the business class -- for whatever the reason -- encouraged organizations and, in a few cases, individuals, to begin their own business networks. As the new networks progressed, business associations grew.
Today, New Jersey provides an abundance of such outlets. Whether, in fact, one will make viable business contacts during these card exchanges depends on how comfortable the participant feels about approaching new contacts. The idea is to collect as many business cards as possible in a short time. Introduce yourself, tell a little about your business, request a business card, and offer yours. Follow up this initial meeting with a telephone call or a letter giving more details about how you may be of service to that person's company. Many of the leads may be dead ends, but picking up a few live contacts at each meeting may be enough for a company to consider networking on a regular basis. Here is a sampling of some of the more established New Jersey networks:
Louis Seeger, president of the National Alliance of Homebased Businesses of Bergen County, attends about 15 network meetings a month. "I'm a great believer in networking. I certainly wouldn't continue to go if it weren't worth my time."
His group meets monthly at alternate locations at Altman's in the Paramus Fashion Center, and also holds dinner meetings. Its June 19 meeting will be held at the Maywood Inn in Maywood. Charge is $22. The organization has 37 book members with about 20-35 attending meetings, attracting craftspeople, professionals, and service businesses. For more information,...