Summerlin salon encourages businesses to network

Aaron Thompson / Special to the Home News

Linda Benitez, marketing director for Roni Josef’s International Salon and Day Spa, sits in the salon. Once a month, the salon hosts a networking event for businesses in the area.

By Jenny Davis

Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008 | 1:50 p.m.

Speed networking is like speed dating — but instead of coming in pursuit of potential dates, people come in pursuit of potential business.

Business people have one minute to showcase their business and afterward spend time networking with each other on the first Wednesday of every month at Roni Josef's International Salon and Day Spa, 7131 Craig Road.

The idea came to Linda Benitez, marketing director of the northwest location of the spa, who said the salon is dedicated to becoming a "networking salon."

"By attending this networking group we help you build your business behind our chairs and beyond," she said. "By showcasing your business here, it will give network members an opportunity to see what your business is all about, as well as give us the opportunity to show people our beautiful salon."

There are dozens of such business networking groups in the valley.

Typical of their events was one Sept. 3 at the salon, where the businesses promoted varied. They included everything from a nearby Denny's restaurant to an Advanced Global Tracking, which sells GPS tracking systems to put in cars in case they are stolen; or are put on "wayward teenagers."

Loren Eslinger, owner of Advance Global Tracking, started the business out of his home about six months ago, and said he is doing what he can to get the business name out there.

"Most of our business is done over the computer, so I thought this would be a good way to get out there and tell more people about who we are," Eslinger said.

The general manager of the Denny's at 7071 Craig Road, Micah Gaines, said he wants to reach out to the nearby community and build relationships with the churches, the schools, the nonprofit organizations and the local businesses. At the meeting he passed out a menu with healthy dishes specifically for the employees at the Roni Josef salon.

"I know they may think we don't have the healthiest food, so we wanted to let them know that we do," he said.

Besides the networking night once a month, the salon also showcases three business a month by allowing a business to promote within the salon in a designated area. The business can set up a space to advertise to the salon clients.

"Our passion is to build future growth and business opportunities for all," Benitez said.

Steve Kruse, who attended the meeting representing "Enjoy The City," a local coupon book, said the networking night was a great idea for Summerlin businesses and for the rest of the city.

"When you help people out, you'll get it back in return," he said. "It's like a pay it forward type thing."

Jenny Davis can be reached at 990-8921 or jenny.davis@hbcpub.com.