Business coaches and accountants say your business should always be ‘ready to sell’!
Being a member of an industry association such as the Interior Plantscape Association automatically gives you credibility when dealing with clients. Use this to your advantage when submitting quotes. All your stationary, quotes and invoices/receipts should include the IPA logo showing you are a member of our association. This not only raises your profile; it also raises the profile of the Interior Plantscape Association generally which is good for all of us. It may also prompt clients to look at other quotes to see if they are a member and if they are not it may give you the edge. Not a member yet but interested in becoming a member? For more information: http://interiorplantscape.asn.au/membership/
Business coaches and accountants say your business should always be ‘ready to sell’, meaning it should be running efficiently and using ‘best practice’ techniques and methodology. Working to this principle ensures that a high quality is maintained, sales usually increase, and you become more competitive. Becoming accredited is the best way to start your business on the way to best practice.
Accreditation is valuable for many reasons. Not only is it a commitment to achieving high standards but it gives your business credibility. IPA Executive Officer/Secretary Elaine Tunn receives many calls from companies wanting to know who is accredited, particularly government departments who only want to work with accredited businesses. This information is passed on to those enquirers. If it means the difference of gaining a large contract the cost of being accredited is offset, but more importantly your businesses are viewed as being committed to high standards and best practice.
IPA values your membership and we are working hard to make your membership and accreditation work for you. Like you, the committee have businesses to run and need to set aside time to focus and what is beneficial, and this is discussed at length at our monthly meetings.
IPA currently have a double page spread in Hort Journal Australia magazine each month. Executive board member Gabrielle Stannus does a fabulous job writing about trends, events and interior plantscaping in general. This monthly feature ensures that our association is seen and recognised by the entire horticultural industry, Australia wide.
We are always looking for volunteers! If you would like to nominate someone as a subcommittee member or would like to be on a subcommittee yourself, please let us know.
For 2020 we are looking for expressions of interest to attend a study tour to Singapore for IPA members. I look forward to sharing more details next month.
Until then, have a great month!
Karen Smith
IPA President
(M) 0425 349 137