Cool Stuff at WotsKool!

Is this cool? The fashion world are trying to help encourage men to wear ‘handbags’ to enhance their image.

What ever happened to just keeping stuff in your pockets? Apparently, more and more clothing companies are manufacturing ‘manbags’ to meet the demands of the fashion industry.

‘Retro’ bags and satchels are coming back into modern day fashion at an accelerated rate and personally I can’t stand them! There is nothing more feminine than wearing a bag like this one pictured with, David Beckham. Second hand, retro shops from around the country have been selling stock faster than hot pancacked recently. In particular there is a growing demand for, Gola bags and Dunlop Bags.

Forgive me for being a little old fashioned but I would be just as happy with a bag from Tesco! However, I am sure that if David Beckham thinks there cool you are sure to see the rest of the population sporting them very soon.

Research conducted by moneysupermarket.com has surprisingly shown that villages can be just as bad for vehicle crime as cities.

The worst location for thefts from cars and vans and vehicle theft is the village of Winchelsea in East Sussex. Although the top vehicle crime spots included Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester there were many much smaller villages including Saltburn-by-sea in Cleveland, which was in second place, and Godstone in Surrey which was in third.

The crime statistics were based on the number of motor insurance claims made by residents over the past 5 years.

It came as quite a shock to see smaller villages at the top of the car crime list. The crimes included theft from vehicles as well as vehicle theft. A common problem is theft from works vehicles where trades-people will often leave valuable tools.

I have just come across an awkward video that was uploaded onto Youtube. I hope this guy was not van leasing this vehicle as he will be in a lot of trouble.

Considering recents events in the financial market a new trend has begun. People are turning more to home improvement rather than looking to sell their exisiting property.

The spending trend in home improvement is reflective of a national spending trend where cash is the most important thing. Recent research has indicated that 69% of adults say they will try to pay for various purchases with cash rather than credit cards. The research also indicated that the same people who participated in the survey would not be looking to take on additional debt over the next 12 months.

Buying a new home these days is not so easy. Current economic affairs have left the housing market in complete turmoil with house prices rising then declining. There is no stability. So there is no better time to start work on your own house and save the costs. Be happy with what you have and look to be spending your money a little closer to home.

A local council in the UK recently proposed to make it an offence for drivers waiting in queues at level crossings not to stop their engines. Those not doing so would be eligible for an on the spot fine.

But does it really do any good to stop and restart your engine when waiting in a traffic queue? The UK Automobile Association recommends turning off the engine if you are likely to be stopped for more than 3 minutes. Otherwise, the inconvenience and tiny amounts of fuel involved make stopping and restarting the engine hardly worthwhile.

Motor vehicle manufacturers are acknowledging that a large proportion of urban driving is actually spent at a standstill. Several have started to introduce ’stop-start’ technology which can result in fuel savings of between 10 and 15%.

So the answer to the question is ‘yes it can be’.

The BBC’s much criticised spending on corporate hospitality over the years is under scrutiny this week as they seek to meet a £140M shortfall over the next five years due to the economic downturn, staff have been told.

The BBC have revealed plans to sell off buildings within the corporation such as the BBC Television Centre is West london along with corporate hospitality spending at such events as Wimbledon and the FA Cup. On Wednesday the directory general, Mark Thompson sent out a direct email to all BBC employees claiming the current financial crisis is forcing the BBC to make some drastic changes to company budget. BBC Christmas parties have also been axed this year.

Thompson stated that “We have already undertaken some day-to-day cut back such as new policies on the corporate use of taxis, limits on entertaining, attendance at award ceremonies and conferences.” Corporate hospitality is an important part of any business but this year they will significantly reduce their spending on this area.

I say cut Jonathan Ross out of the BBC and you have your problem solved!??

I have been searching out a golf trolley to add to my husbands list of requirements for his xmas presents and think I have found what I am looking for.

Its a PowerPro Golf 200 Series and stands out from the rest for the following reasons;

The warranty is covered for 2 years parts and labour as compared with Powacaddy.
The battery is guaranteed for 1 year, this is in fact the same as Powacaddy.
Powerpro service is excellent. They actually pick up the goods and return them, the service can’t get much better than that!
Extras include a carry bag which Powacaddy charge an extra £45 for and also a scorecard holder which again costs £22.50 if bought elsewhere. That alone works out at a saving of £67.50.

Last but by no means least the price. The PowerPro is for sale at £159.99 which really is a bargain.

Thats one thing off my list!

Bearing in mind the state of the economy at the moment businesses have to keep abreast of all the opportunities available as regards keeping costs down. 

One such idea would be to consider the advantages of using 0800 phone numbers. 

The  good thing about using 0800 numbers is that it benefits your customers directly. When a customer uses the number they don’t need to bother about the fact that they may be incurring high costs. 

Another bonus is that the number would be so much easier to remember and you will also be aware that your customers will always be able to reach you. 

Its true that appearance does matter and the fact is that by using the 0800 number your company may also seem to be bigger than it actually is. This has got to be an advantage in that quite often a larger established company tends to instil a feeling of stability to the prospective customer. 

Finally if you are prepared to pay a little extra, a number can be bought that may be easy to remember and could in fact prompt customers to actually recall your number easily.

There are many ways to promote your business on and offline for very little money indeed. Many of these marketing tactics require no money what so ever yet are simply time consuming. Without a huge budget most marketing techniques can seem difficult however, the modern business world throws up a host of cheap and even free marketing opportunities which are suitable for the small business entrepreneur.

1. Social Networking -

There is a good chance that you may of heard of the latest craze to hit the Internet. Social networking through sites such as Facebook, Myspace and Stumbleupon are a great way to get your website and business recognized in a matter of hours. You can create individual profiles on each of the website and they are really easy to update and keep potential customers aware of what is going on in your business.

2. Blog your Business -

One vital part of any website these days is what’s called a blog. A blog is a fantastic way to keep your website’s content fresh and up to date. As well as simply blogging about what your company is up to you can also express personal opinion about the industry you are in which will encourage people to comment and interact with your site.

3. Reward Customer Loyalty -

If your business has any existing customers be sure to reward them amicably on a regular basis. You wont to try and keep your business for as long as possible and build on it. You could implement a loyalty card scheme where by if your existing customer introduces a friend they get %50 off their next design job.

4. Customer Testimonials -

Again, this one will depend entirely on whether you have any customers or not! If you do then it would be a great idea to ask your customers for some testimonials that you could post on your website. This is a fantastic way to encourage other potential clients into your business by using first hand accounts of how well your service measures up.

5. Send out products for review -

If your business is still on the small side then it may be a good idea to send out some products for review. You could send sample packs to relevant people within the industry and ask them for honest and prompt feedback in return. This is another great way to enhance the user experience on your website.

6. Make your business as contactable as possible! -

If you have a website or not you need to try and make your business as approachable as possible. Sign up to have your website in the yellow pages, yell.com, BT Business book etc. It is vitally important that you have email, fax and phone as different people will prefer different methods of contact.

In conclusion, there are so many different way in which you can promote your business. Many of them simply require time and dedication. There is no harm in employing direct mail services from another company to help out yet most of the work is easily achievable with your own motivation!

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