Why I Started Networking
Over the years in my corporate career, I attended a whole host of networking events; some I liked, some I loved, others I loathed and some that were just too much for me. I consider myself a confident person but there is something about walking into a room full of people you don’t know, introducing yourself to a stranger or trying to pop your head into a group of people already chatting that gives me social anxiety. I don’t consider myself a ‘salesperson’ and those large events where you need to ‘work the room’ have just never been for me. I hear this from many other small business owners. We love what we do and can speak passionately about our product or service but just don’t feel comfortable feeling like we are selling. It’s extremely common amongst founders.
When we launched Scentric Fragrances, I knew that growing my local network was something I absolutely had to do. I had moved to Blackpool to live with my then partner, now husband, and left my established network back in Cumbria. Networking was the best way to do this but I knew that finding the right group was key so that I actually attended, enjoyed the meetings and achieved the goals I set for growing the business.
Why I Chose These Networking Groups
When we launched, I joined a networking group that was recommended to me. We paid £800 for an annual subscription. For this we could attend many networking events across the North West that promised a strong business community, professional relationships, collaboration and trusted referrals. Breakfast was also included – bonus! Unfortunately, after attending several local business networking groups it became clear that our target market was just not in this group. I made the decision to stop attending and wipe of the money we had spent to join. However, I did not let this alter my decision to attend networking- I knew I just needed to find ‘my tribe’. Those vital business connections were out there at other networking groups, I just needed to find them. That’s when I discovered Unique Ladies Networking.
For me, Unique Ladies embodied everything I loved about networking. No massive rooms with so many people I felt intimidated, speakers that were genuinely interesting to listen to and hosts that were welcoming and took time to create trusted referrals between attendees.
I first attended the Ribble Valley group and loved it. Soon I began attending the other Unique Ladies groups; Chorley, Hyndburn and South Lakes. All are within an hour’s travel from home, and all had their own vibe, but all had a vibe I loved.
What I Love About Each Group
Each group is slightly different as they all have their own host, however they all follow the same format. What I loved most was the genuine collaboration between the attendees, all formed from trust and genuine professional relationships. All the hosts took time to have a chat, recommend other attendees that I should speak to and introduce me to other business owners in the room where they felt there was a connection to be made.
The biggest draw for me was that you can pay as you go – no subscription. If my diary didn’t allow for the meeting, I just didn’t book. For a small growing business this is huge, to not have that commitment and be flexible was so refreshing. At just £20.00 per visit, you can take along your marketing material and pop-up banner which many other groups charge extra for. I now take my Scentric pop-up banner, small folding table and product samples to display at every meeting. This was intended as a showcase, but we have now picked up regular customers who attend the meetings and love our products so much they keep coming back for more!
The Benefits of Business Networking
For me, the biggest benefit of business networking has always been the relationships. While it's great to receive referrals and gain new customers, the real value comes from getting to know people, building trust and becoming part of a supportive business community. The more consistently you attend, the more people get to know you and what you do, making it much easier for opportunities, recommendations and collaborations to develop naturally. Networking has also introduced me to business owners with a wealth of knowledge and experience, and I've learned so much simply by listening to others, sharing ideas and supporting one another through the highs and lows of running a business.
Networking has also helped me grow in confidence from a sales perspective. Talking about my business, meeting new people and stepping outside my comfort zone has become much easier over time, and that's had a positive impact far beyond the networking room. I've learned that networking isn't about making a sale every time you attend; it's about investing in relationships that grow over time. Some of the most valuable opportunities come from conversations you least expect, and often months after you've first met someone.
For me, networking has never been about collecting business cards or seeing how many sales I can make in a morning. It's about building genuine relationships with people who share similar values, supporting other businesses and becoming part of a community where everyone wants to see each other succeed. The business that comes from networking is a welcome bonus, but it's the relationships that make me keep going back.
Networking Isn't About Selling
So many people attend a networking group, don’t get a client/customer immediately and write the group off as ‘not for them’. In my opinion this is so short sighted. Personally, I would not recommend someone to another business that I had just met. Over time you build rapport and trust with people. The more you learn about their business, their values and who they work with, you get a good understanding of who suits them as a client. For example, I network with two bookkeepers at two different groups, both are different, have their own styles and prefer different accounting software. I have only learned this over time and have now recommended other businesses to each of them based on my understanding of which might be the best fit – that doesn’t come from attending one meeting.
Another great example is our scented candle range. Each supports a different charity/CIC and two of those are organisations I have got to know through networking; S.I.S. Strength In Struggles and Advocacy Focus. We chose these organisations based on the relationships I have nurtured, through networking over more than a year.
In this picture is me with the lovely Rebecca House, founder of S.I.S. Strength In Struggles.
Networking isn’t about meeting your next client. That can happen and that’s great, but it’s about nurturing relationships with the other attendees who are likely to introduce/recommend you to your next client. It’s not just about who is in the room, it’s about their own network outside of the room. Who do they know? Do they know you well enough to refer to you? Do they trust you? These are the things you should consider when networking, not what you can sell on the day.
My Top Networking Tips
Find your tribe – try different groups, more than once, to understand if the people in the room are your target audience. That doesn’t mean they are your direct client/customer, but do they have a network you can tap into that is.
Manage your expectations – don’t expect to get a client/customer straight away. Build trust and relationships through attending consistently and being clear about what you are looking for from the people in the room.
Don’t babble – get your pitch right from the start. Who are you? Repeat your name twice when introducing yourself in round-the-table introductions, the are lots of names to remember and you want to be memorable. What do you do? Be short, concise and clear about what you do. If you explain too much people simply can’t retain all the information you are passing on and may switch off. What are you looking for? Again, be short, clear and concise about you are looking for. This might change from meeting to meeting. It might be that you are looking for introductions to a certain sector, another time it might be that you are looking for a new accountant or bookkeeper. Don’t over do it. One ask at a time. Your ask doesn’t need to be about getting more sales, a good networking group can help you work on your business with the right connections.
Follow up and arrange 1-2-1’s – building that all important trust comes from people knowing you better. Pick one or two people at each meeting and ask them to meet up for a coffee, or have a brew over a video call. Getting to know each other better and having the opportunity to talk in a more in-depth way about your business helps to grow your business connections, will naturally bring in trusted referrals and forge professional relationships.
Is Networking Worth It?
Absolutely yes!!! They key is finding the right group for you and your business, attending consistently and keeping your pitch short, clear and concise.
We are extremely lucky to have picked up direct customers for Scentric Fragrances at our chosen networking groups. However, our parent business, Rothwell Enterprises Limited, who offer white-label products to service providers in the wellbeing space have gained all our current clients from recommendations within these groups. And that didn’t happen overnight, remember the key factors; consistency, clarity, being concise in your pitch and following up with meetings.
Final Thoughts
If you want to grow your business through trusted connections, then networking could be just what you need. Find the right fit for you, attend consistently, get your pitch right and invest in nurturing relationships.
Some of the business owners I have met networking have now become my friends. As I work from home, it is also great to get out and be around other business owners in a friendly environment. We share those highs and lows we all experience and it’s great to know you are never on your own when you have a strong network behind you.
Unique Ladies has had such a powerful impact on our business and me personally. In December of 2025, Dawn who ran Unique Ladies Hyndburn wanted to retire. As I had been so consistent with the group and offered to help out hosts in the past, I was offered the opportunity to take on the group – I jumped at the chance! Never did I think I would end up running one of the groups, but this is now another revenue stream for our business. That opportunity would never have come my way without me creating those relationships and building trust.
So get out there, do the work and enjoy it – you never know what might happen . . .
