Category Archives: sligo

Coming up at Open Coffee Sligo over the next few months

Posted on 3 May 11 by | 1 Comment

So just to let people know that there is no ‘official’Open Coffee Sligo happening this thursday (5th May) – but we plan to have some interesting gatherings  and discussion over the coming months.

First though – I want to mention where we are at with some of the ideas we were throwing around for a collaborative workspace in Sligo.  Back in our January meetup – we discussed what a shared work space might look like, and the type of person that might be interested. To move this forward – we compiled a survey so that we could get an understanding of what the level of interest was like.

To date – we have received 15 responses; If you have not already completed the survey but are genuinely interested in a shared workspace – you can complete it here:

http://polldaddy.com/s/480D645D2974B547

Unknown to us while doing all of this – a local Sligo based company is interested in providing a facility like the one that we had imagined. To this end – they are going to be a outline and present the workspace – along with fee structures, membership options, etc – at our next meetup.  More details on this to follow – but if you want to have input on this, the June meeting is definitely one to be at.

Moving on to some topics we covered in April’s meetup – one thing we know very well at this point is that predefined topics, with a speaker – always provide great interest to attendees. With that in mind – we brainstormed a few topics that would be of  interest to lots of people. These included individual sessions/discussions on

  • Search Engine Optimisation (surprise surprise)
  • The Sales Process
  • Creativity/Innovation for SME’s
  • Monetising Facebook (paraphrased as making best use of followers)
  • Google Ads & Analytics
  • Employment issues for SME’s taking on staff (contracts, motivation, self-directed working, etc)

We agreed that much of these topics would NOT be 101 type stuff – we have moved beyond that – but would actually provide insight and real experience from practitioners.

With that in mind – we have made some initial exploration on the possibility on getting people from Facebook/Google to an event in Sligo – but it appears travel beyond the pale is out of the question.

So while we have not scheduled any of these topics just yet – this post should provide readers with a good update on our thinking, and of the range of topics that we might cover over the upcoming months.

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Posted in networking, Office Space, sligo

April Open Coffee

Posted on 4 Apr 11 by | Leave a comment

Our monthly meetup is on this Thursday 7th April, from 11am to 12.30pm or so in the Clarion Hotel Sligo.

We’re looking for suggestions on talks, subjects and speakers that you would to see over the next few months.

So if you have been to other conferences and events – and have any suggestions – then please chat to us.

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Posted in sligo

Survey for Collaborative Workspace in Sligo town

Posted on 21 Feb 11 by | Leave a comment

Following on from our last meeting – we have put together a survey which will help to gauge interest and appetite for a shared workspace/collaborative space in Sligo town.

If you are interested  then please fill out our survey
http://polldaddy.com/s/480D645D2974B547

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Posted in Office Space, opencoffee, sligo

Saturday, 22nd Jan – Join a photo scavenger hunt, win prizes and contribute to a free, open photo archive of Ireland.

Posted on 19 Jan 11 by | Leave a comment

Sligo yeats

At Sligo VEC, we’ll be kicking off a photo scavenger hunt, and you can enter to win a prize and make a significant contribution to the open web.

More info at: http://sligovec.ie/news/sligo-celebrates-wikipedia-10
- Perfect for families and groups of friends to join together
- Learn about Wikipedia
- Win Prizes :)

There are 463 events happening world wide to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Wikipedia. Please join us for the only event happening in Ireland!
http://ten.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

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Posted in sligo

November Open Coffee – We’re going to the Cinema

Posted on 21 Oct 10 by | 2 Comments

Instead of our normal, first thursday of the month, 11am meetup in Sligo – we’ve decided that you all need to go and see a movie.

You probably know that The Social Network – the story of how Mark Zuckerberg founded Faceboook – has received a lot of critical acclaim and is being tipped for lots of Oscar nominations.

So on Thursday 11th November – We’d like to invite you to the 7pm showing of The Social Network – in the Gaiety Cinema, Wine Street, Sligo.

If you quote “Open Coffee” when buying your ticket – you should get it for €5. Afterwards – we will adjourn to a local hostelry for beers and chat  – it will be strictly a non-presentation venue :)

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Posted in networking, opencoffee, sligo

Taking a break for summer! What’re you up to?

Posted on 1 Aug 10 by | 3 Comments

Enjoy the August bank holiday week. We’ll be taking a break for August. We’ll be back in action soon. Keep track of us here and on twitter: @opencoffeesligo

Please leave a comment below and tell us what you’re up to? Any buzz for your business and new ventures you’d like to share? Looking for some help? Any community events or other opportunities you’d like to tell us about?

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Posted in opencoffee, sligo

Sligo Action Group to co-ordinate retail/hospitality for Summer Concerts

Posted on 24 Jun 10 by | Leave a comment

At the June meetup of Open Coffee Sligo – there was a lot of discussion around the benefits there would be for some co-ordination of online marketing activities in the region – particularly with the Leonard Cohen/Westlife concerts looming.

In this weeks Sligo Champion (print version) – there was further indication that retail and hospitality pulling out the stops for the concert weekend.  A committee has been formed to capitialise on the retail and hospitality opportunies – and part of this is an Ambassador Programe.

With that in mind, Sligo Leader Programme have been in touch to make Open Coffee attendees aware of the following :

Volunteers Wanted! Ambassadors for Sligo to act as walking, talking information points during Sligo’s big weekend of July 29th to August 2nd needed! 30,000+ visitors can have a really positive experience of Sligo if met by your helpful, smiley face. They might choose to come back as a result and hopefully spend plenty on the weekend as a result of your input. Interested? Love Sligo? Free that weekend for a couple of hours? feeling Civic? then drop a line to ambassadorforsligo@gmail.com

Let’s hope that this committe is also carefully considering the online options that are avaialbe to them in terms of using relevant local and regional websites, facebook and twitter.

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Posted in opencoffee, sligo

Slides from June Social Media Discussion now available

Posted on 10 Jun 10 by | Leave a comment

Thanks to everybody who turned up (over 50) and contributed to the discussion on Social Media – and particularly to Denise and Aoife who put a lot of time and effort into the event.

One of the main things to come out of the day was how some of the potential for what people are doing for their own businesses, could in some way be tapped positively for use by all businesses in the Sligo and the local region.

As an example – most people were keenly aware of the number of visitors that will come to Sligo this summer for Leonard Cohen and WestLife concerts. While indivudual retailers may have a plan and an online strategy to take account of this – collectively, there seems to a vacuum.

If you have any thoughts on this – please tag your thoughts online with #ocsligo – or leave some comments here.

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Posted in opencoffee, sligo

June Open Coffee Sligo Meetup

Posted on 25 May 10 by | 3 Comments

June Open Coffee Meetup – The Model – Thursday 3rd June – 11am to 1pm

The June meetup of Open Coffee Sligo will be concentrating on the practical usage of Social Media – Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, FourSquare, etc – for your business or organisation.

The aim of the session is to have an open and engaging discussion on how businesses in the North West are using free online Social Media tools to market their business and engage with their customers.

Denise Rushe of The Model and Aoife Porter of Bua Markering will be leading the discussion and providing practical examples Social Media campaigns that they have been involved with.

As with all Open Coffee gatherings – we encourage all attendees to participate in the discussion, debate and networking.

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Posted in networking, opencoffee, sligo

May Open Coffee Sligo Meetup being held in The Model

Posted on 25 Apr 10 by | Leave a comment

We’re delighted to be able to hold the May Open Coffee Sligo event in The Model, home of The Niland Collection.

Given that they only officially re-open on Saturday next, 1st May – this is a great opportunity for people to see the huge redevelopment that has taken place of the last two years.

When Denise suggested last week that Open Coffee members might be interested in a guided tour of the new building – my email response to her was “Snap!” – I’m guessing there are a lot of others who feel the same, and will really appreciate the invitation.

Already one of the country’s leading centres for contemporary culture, this recent redevelopment has seen the building increase in size by a third and will allow The Model to fully realise its potential as a flagship cultural centre in Ireland.

Developed with the visitor in mind, the new building boasts a separate restaurant and coffee dock, a bookshop, a wonderful gallery circuit on the first floor, a purpose built performance space, and a suite of artist studios on the top floor with enviable views of Sligo town and County.

The new model also boasts a free wi-fi in the atrium space and will shortly have comfy seating and a coffee dock installed, providing the perfect ‘third space’, ideal for meetings in Sligo town.

As well as the guided tour – we will also have an opportunity to have a look at the creative enterprise spaces – and finish up with an informal discussion on using creativity and innovation through your working environment.

We hope to see a great turnout on the day – so put it in your diaries now – Thursday, 6th May @11am in The Model.

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Posted in opencoffee, sligo

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