Past Issues of E-Newsletter

• September 2007 Wire E-Newsletter
• October 2007 Wire E-Newsletter
• November2007 Wire E-Newsletter
  
  

WiRE HQ would love to hear your views and thoughts on the new style e-newsletter.  Because of all the excellent feedback WiRE HQ has had on the new style e-newsletter, you can now view the directory in the same format! https://www.e-design-consultancy.co.uk/WiRE/WireDirectoryDec07E.html

Congratulations to WiRE Member Claire Priest
WiRE member Claire Priest has won a national award for her business plan. The award, run by Crimson Publishing and in conjunction with NatWest, recognises the UK’s best new businesses and budding entrepreneurs. Her company Blessd specialises in fashionable clothing, designed to compliment a woman’s natural body shape. Blessd will also be launching its range at this year’s Eve Style Show, during the Clothes Show on the 7th-12th December at the NEC in Birmingham. For more details visit the website www.blessd.com.

Gold Award for Wire Member Susie Keenan
Shepherd's Farm Shop has won a Gold Award in the Taste of the West Awards. Shepherd’s Farm shop was the only gold award in the Local Retail Outlet category in Gloucestershire. We wish Susie all the best in the final round of judging against 10 other 'Gold' Retail Outlets from across Devon, Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire for the South West regional winner title. For more details ring Susie on 01531 828590.

National 'Green Apple Award' for WiRE member Pauline Ryder
Online local food and home delivery company, Farm Fresh Express, has won a national Green Apple Award for environmental best practice. The gold award was presented to directors Graham Rawlinson and Pauline Ryder at the Houses of Parliament on Friday 7 November. The award is given by the The Green Organisation, an independent, non-political, non-activist, non-profit environment group dedicated to recognising, rewarding and promoting environmental best practice around the world. More than 80 local producers are represented on the company's website, www.farmfreshexpress.co.uk. and the venture has around 600 active customers. For more information contact Pauline Ryder on 0845 6124040 or email pauline@farmfreshexpress.co.uk.

WiRE Member Launches New Magazine
Maxine Muzzlewhite has put together a New Womens Magazine Online which launches at the end of November. It will primarily cover Finance, Property, Motoring, Health including cosmetic surgery, Travel and Lifestyle. I've managed to secure articles by Nicky Hambleton Jones - of Channel 4's 10 Years Younger fame, Jo Cameron of the Apprentice to name a few. For more details email Maxine at info@womenseverything.com.

Coconut Creatives Expands
Marketing specialists, Coconut Creatives Ltd. expand this month with the introduction of PR guru Sally Butters to their growing team. Sally comes over from Bournemouth University where she is currently a Marketing Manager. Coconut Creatives offers a total marketing solution for independently owned businesses from copy writing and branding to event management and online, as well as their core offering helping with strategic business planning and getting stuck in with the tactical marketing activities. With the growth of the business comes a new exciting website www.coconutcreatives.co.uk.

Advice on how to improve your cash flow
Tammy Parnell from Clapham-Collinge Solictiors offers WiRE members advice on issues affecting businesses. It can be very tricky for small and fledgling businesses to spend time chasing clients to pay for the products that they have ordered. All too often there are delays in receiving money, and some clients don’t pay at all. There are a number of legal ways to improve both the efficiency of invoicing and to chase up bad payers. We can even help to deal with contractual disputes or difficulties that arise. We have an excellent record of success in getting debts paid when they are owed and winning contractual claims. Our litigation lawyers will provide a legal view for WIRE members and the business support team are always pleased to provide advice. Contact Tammy Parnell on ttp@clapham-collinge.co.uk or call 01603 693500.

Need help with marketing?
Elevale PR has put together some simple tips to help WiRE members on the road to success. These are: Know your product, know your audience, know your budget, be realistic, image is everything, plan ahead and this is the news. For more details and information please contact Sarah Flower at Elevale PR on 0870 879 4404 or visit the website www.elevale.com.

WiRE members collaborate
East Yorkshire WiRE member Sally Roydhouse from Wicked Poppy Designs has been chosen by fellow WiRE member and micro brewer Gill Mellor to create special festive labels. When Wold Top Brewery wanted a different approach for their limited edition Christmas ales, they called on Market Weighton based Wicked Poppy Designs to help. Wold Top Brewery is an award-winning micro brewery that uses traditional methods to produce high quality beers that combine the characters of the Yorkshire Wolds and the East Coast. Wold Top Brewery real ales are brewed with passion from traditional recipes and are available online at www.woldtopbrewery.co.uk. Wicked Poppy was founded by Sally Roydhouse 10 years ago and specialises in corporate identity, advertising design and illustration. For more details visit www.wickedpoppy.co.uk.

WiRE Forum
Do you need help with web design, emails, e-commerce or online shops? Lee Ann Smith of W3 Designs will be answering any questions posted at www.wireuk.org/forum. on ASK AN EXPERT. Also Sarah Flower of Elevale PR and Marketing Ltd will be answering questions on PR.

Annual Conference & Trade Exhibition, Staffordshire
The National Farm Attractions Network (NFAN) are holding their annual conference and trade exhibition on Wednesday 6th February 2008 at Drayton Manor Park, Tamworth, Staffordshire. Speakers will include Tony Sefton Vision XS, Health and Safety Executive, Catering Consultants and Winner of the Farm Attraction of the Year Award. Delegates will choose from a variety of workshops in the afternoon including Visitor Experience, Catering, Educational Visits, Establishing an Attraction, Business Rates and Planning Legislation and Secondary Spend. For more information or to book a stand please contact Sarah Althorpe at the NFAN office on 01536 513397 or at info@farmattractions.net.

One Life Live 2008, London
Tickets are now on sale for the One Life Live 2008. The event is held at Olympia in London from Friday 29th February to Sunday 2nd March. Tickets cost £15 for one day and 2 day weekend tickets are available. Tickets include access to all zones and over 150 free seminars and workshops. You'll also have access to free one-to-one life coaching sessions and advice from a range of experts within One Life Clinics. For more information about the event visit www.onelifelive.co.uk

FreshTies.com: A New Way For Business To Help Build Community
WiRE members are invited to join (FREE) a new generation of website where people swap, share, give and take. Individuals, business and charity use www.freshties.com to match up their needs and interests with each other's experience, support and resources. FreshTies.com is not-for-profit. Businesses and charity use the website to promote themselves and find new ways to help their community. Supporters of FreshTies include the Prime Minister, David Cameron MP, Sir Menzies Campbell MP, Dr Sentamu, Archbishop of York, Age Concern and Brunel University Business School. Various BBC regions have reported on FreshTies. FreshTies provides services (not emotive selling) to generate 'community money', and its use is transparent, cost effective and encourages collaboration. By joining the website, half of the 'contribution fee' goes to a Local Fund for the member's local area. Online, groups highlight local community projects. Members contribute to the project's 'shopping list' of needed expertise, equipment, spare time and ideas; and help decide which projects get Local Fund assistance. This involves people, rather than treating them as wallets. The FreshTies concept is that with a bit more swap, share, give and take in the things we do, life will be productive for everyone. To join up for FREE, visit www.freshties.com; join now, select BUSINESS membership. On the payment page, cut and paste the following voucher code: businessJas7f8z7.

Prowess 5th Annual Conference, Peterborough
The Prowess 5th Annual International Conference is taking place on 20-21 February 2008 at the Holiday Inn, Peterborough West. If you reserve your place by 15th December you can benefit from an 'early bird' discount. This is an opportunity to join leading players in business support, policy and practice to celebrate the success of women’s enterprise development and debate all the current issues. The full programme is available by visiting www.prowess.org.uk/conference/Fitforthefuture.htm, and a booking form is available as an attachment. Call Ann Nicholls on 01603 762355 for details of exhibition and other promotional opportunities at the Conference.

Venturefest Yorkshire 2008
Venturefest are looking for innovative science or technology business seeking to raise investment an opportunity to present your business. There is a chance to win the competition prize of £5,000 cash and a minimum of £20,000 in business support services, the opportunity to present your 10 minute investment pitch to Yorkshire Association of Business Angels as well as free mentoring and exhibition space. Deadline to enter is 14th December and for more details visit the website www.connectyorkshire.org/events.

Women In Work Training, Bristol
Women in Work training workshops are being run in Bristol on the 14th-15th December. This is the last chance to get £500 worth of training for only £50. For further information please contact Sarah Cockerill on 084566440558 or email s.cockerill@foodanddrink.nsacademy.co.uk

Free events in the North
Following the success of the National e-learn2work event, "Demand-led e-learning for Small Businesses" at Leeds Amouries on the 26th Nov 2007, the e-learn2work project would like to invite you to our regional dissemination events. There are 4 upcoming sub-regional events in Rotherham, Huddersfield, Harrogate and Grimsby. These half day events are free to attend. For more information log on to www.elearn2work.org.

Be Aware
This scam has been made aware to us by Kerrie Murray at Pins and Ribbons. Please be aware of large overseas orders being placed and them asking you to use their recommended freight company. Please contact Kerry if you would like more information, enquiries@pinsandribbons.co.uk.

10% off Workshops
WiRE member Pen Harrison of Colly Brook Fine Furnishings, based in Hereford, is offering WiRE members 10% off workshop prices (£67.50 instead of the usual £75) for any of a wide range of one-day soft furnishings courses. With a maximum of 6 students, the cost includes materials, tea, coffee and lunch. For more details email pen@collybrook.co.uk or visit www.collybrook.co.uk.

10% off all Items
WiRE member Gilly Brown is offering a 10% discount on all items during December and a free aromatherapy pamper pack with orders over £50.00. To take advantage of this offer please visit the website www.gardendivas.co.uk.

Free Profile on Ethical website
The Ethical Affiliate website is offering all WiRE members a chance to add their personal Spotlight on profile to the website. The profiles will be added to their weekly newsletters. The main purpose is to express their personal and business code of ethics and not an advertisement although some links are allowed (every little helps). There is a (pilot) spotlight on profile which can be viewed http://www.ethicalaffiliate.com/spotlightdianestafford.html

40% off
Crimson publishing is offering WIRE members 40% off the book Inspiring Women. The book picks the brains of the most inspirational females in the business world, including Christine Rucker of The White Company, Sahar Hashemi of Coffee Republic, Laura Tenison of JoJo Maman Bebe, and Perween Warsi of S&A Foods, to name but a few. To receive this offer log onto www.crimsonpublishing.co.uk and enter IW01 as the promotional code.

Buy One Get One Free
Ethika has a company mission that sets out ultimately to eliminate poverty in Pakistan by empowering women to use their spectacular embroidery skills to embellish our limited edition.  We also donate 25% of all profits on garments sold to the orphans and earthquake victims in Pakistan.  Garments are made with community trade chiffons, satin, silks and brocade fabric from Pakistan.  Ethika creates timeless exquisite pieces for confident women who covet fairly sourced premium garments.  All garments are made to order and will be delivered within three weeks.  As a special introductory offer I am offering a buy one get one free on any item (you have to pay for the higher priced item) This offer runs out on the 23rd December- so get ordering online NOW at - www.ethikaboutique.com

What’s caught our eye on the WiRE Rural Marketplace this month …

Chris’s Choice:

Yellow Duck Creative’s - Graphic & Website Design - www.yellowduckcreative.co.uk

Jan Hawksworth – Found on the Rural Marketplace - www.wireuk.org/directory.aspx?member=684.

I've spent ages looking through the rural marketplace and have been inspired by many sites, however the above one gets my vote. On looking through the ruralmarket place the range of business's and website is HUGE! I actually looked first at websites of members that I had met previously, and was quite surprised that they hadn't linked to the rural market place. Perhaps they need to talk to our very friendly and helpful webmaster Richard to give them help to do so.

When Yellow Duck came to the top of my search I was naturally drawn in as I didn't know what it was about!! Marketing can be interpreted so many ways, and when I looked in detail at this site it really made me smile at the mix of metaphors and pictures and it made me want to find out more about the company.

Christine Rutherford
WiRE Opening Doors Project Officer for Hereford
and Worcester