Ignite Your Search!

Ignite Your Search!

Ignite Your Search!

Recent Reviews For Our Awesome Members

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Business networking in Tacoma

Around 2009 we were scanning the local area for what might be available for networking for our business.  We looked in Tacoma, Puyallup, Graham, Spanaway, Fife and throughout Pierce County.  There were quite a few options but none that we could envision planting ourselves and calling home.

Networking groups in Tacoma

In our search we found many different types of groups.  There were several industry exclusive groups.  These groups usually were no larger than 40 people at a meeting and they were the same people at every meeting.  That wasn't quite what we were looking for.  We also found a local chamber of commerce in each local city.  And we also found many civic groups like the Lion's Club or Rotary.  All these are great groups to be a part of but when it came to networking we just didn't feel these were where we belonged at that point.

Premier networking group in Tacoma

Since we couldn't find the right fit for us we thought we should just start our own group.  We had zero experience networking and we certainly had zero experience running a networking group. Little did we know that 10 years later we would own and operate Pierce County's premier networking group.

Our humble beginnings networking in Pierce County

It's really kind of a funny story.  We started at a small coffee shop on South Hill Puyallup,Wa.  We didn't really know many business owners.  So we started a Friday morning meeting and invited the very few people we did know. For the first 8 weeks nobody showed up! As we drove home feeling a little disheartened we'd ask each other, "now what?".  Since we had nothing to lose we kept showing up and inviting the few business people we knew.  And on the 9th week 2 other people showed up to our networking meeting!  I can't even imagine what they were thinking but to our complete delight they came back week after week and they even invited a few others. 

Soon we had grown our little group on Friday's to 20-25 people.  We thought we were the networking King and Queen.  We even had to move locations to find a bigger venue.  And then....Facebook came along.  When we moved to a 70 person venue we started using Facebook to promote our events.  And it blew up!  We were actually EVICTED from our 70 person venue in 3 months because we got too big.  Maybe evicted is a strong word.  We were asked to leave...nicely.  The conversation with the manager was actually quite funny.  He couldn't believe he had to turn away such strong business (all our people ordered breakfast!) but he showed me the Fire Marsall code on the wall and the maximum number of people the room would fit.  We exceeded it every week as there was standing room only.

Our next stop was a large buffet restaurant in a local mall.  They weren't technically open for breakfast but their national website said that individual locations would host events if the group was large enough.  Turns out...we were!  Our minimum number of guests at each meeting had to hit 60.  The manager was reluctant to host us in the beginning as he didn't believe we were that big.  After the first meeting he was a convert!  Our meeting at the buffet location grew to 90-100 people at each meeting.  We were on the networking map.  And all this after starting so incredibly slow.  Remember the first 8 meetings? No one showed up except the two of us. 

Our move to a paid membership networking group

In 2013 we decided to move from a free networking group to a paid monthly membership.  It completely changed who showed up to our events (for the better) and we moved to our current location at the Great American Casino in Lakewood,Wa.  Our membership now includes a broad spectrum of businesses. Auto sales and repair, insurance, plumbing, real estate, printing, pest control, photography, massage, chiropractic...just to name a few.  Check out our members and see for yourself. 

Business networking every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday

We have evolved to three weekly networking events each week now.  You can join us on Friday's from 7:30 am to 9:00 am but if early mornings don't work you can network with us on Tuesday's and Wednesday's from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm.  What should you expect as a first time visitor? Well first...it's probably going to be bigger than what you might expect.   Anywhere from 40-80 people will be there...at any event you decide to attend.  And you might feel like you are at a rock concert.  Yep...we crank the music for about 30 minutes prior to the formal networking getting started.  And all that creates super HIGH ENERGY in our room.  You'll feel it.  Oh yea...you'll feel it!
Starting the week of August 22, 2023 all of our events will be held at Tower Lanes in Tacoma. (6323 6th Ave)

You're invited to network in Tacoma with Ignite-U

The only way you'll know if we are a good fit for your business is to come and check us out.  Guests can attend one meeting at no charge  and after the event is done you'll know whether or not you should be an Ignite-U family member.  The enrollment process is simple.  A simple one page membership agreement is all it takes.  You'll have access to all of our networking events and added to our private members only Facebook group.  And you'll be featured in a full profile on this website like every other member!  Check out our events and make a plan to come and see us.  And stay connnected to us on Facebook. We look forward to meeting you soon!

Why Ignite-U