Expanding business by word of mouth is BNI way
By Roziana Hamsawi
The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad.
Tuesday 30 January, 2007

CAN businesses grow by word of mouth? US-based Business Network International (BNI), which has established operations locally, certainly thinks so.

In 2005, BNI members worldwide recorded more than RM6.5 billion worth of businesses transacted among themselves, said BNI Malaysia assistant director Gerald Kong.

In a recent interview in Kuala Lumpur, he said the success of BNI has been proven around the world. BNI was introduced in Malaysia in 2000, and since then has grown to 31 BNI chapters nationwide, said Kong. He said BNI works on the philosophy of "Giver's Gain", where members who provide business or referrals for others will also gain in return. "We at BNI sincerely believe that if a member introduces some business contacts of a fellow member to another person, the other person will reciprocate that deed with the same. This is marketing at its very best," said Kong. To avoid duplication, each BNI chapter will not have two members from the same industry.

At weekly BNI meetings, a group of entrepreneurs exchange business referrals that could translate to millions of ringgit worth of business, he said.

The BNI Chapter of Taman Tun Dr Ismail plans to showcase the products and services of its members at a trade fair on March 10 at the Global Business Park Centre in Petaling Jaya.

Some 60 exhibitors are expected to participate, and like the BNI philosophy, each will represent a different industry or business activity.

The industries that would be represented in the fair include information technology, auto, manufacturing, printing, electronics, bioscience and medical.

Kong said visitors to the fair will get to meet with the chief executive officers, managing directors and top management of these companies.

He said having the top people there means there will be some serious business networking between the exhibitors and visitors.