The Green Row blog

2009-03-19T16:36:00.003+01:00

Comment: Can twittering bring tweet success in business?
19 March 2009 Source: Chris Mercer

While Chris Mercer has a healthy scepticism for online fads, he believes Twitter could be more than yet another means for people with little to say to say rather too much. As its business applications begin to be exploited, he suggests Twitter may be worth a second look.

It is easy to become lost in the fog of excitement that surrounds the digital age and its self-appointed pioneers.A tangle of jargon, such as 'web 2.0' or 'widgets', is often intermingled with lofty sentences devoid of all specifics. After all, why dwell on specifics? Isn't it obvious that to any half-wit the internet age will march resolutely onward? We have left behind the American Century and entered the 'Geek Millennium'.

Within the social networking phenomenon, Twitter has emerged as the new kid on the block, the next big thing. Like a welding of Facebook, instant messaging and e-mail, Twitter allows its members to write brief updates, known as 'tweets', to 'followers' on their activities. At first glance, Twitter can appear as nothing more than a crutch for self-obsessed media types, longing to inform others on the trials and tribulations of another drab Tuesday in the office.

What is much more interesting, however, is Twitter's growing use as a business tool, particularly in terms of marketing and building professional contacts. One of Twitter's big strengths is its ability to pull together people with the same interests, and the drinks arena is no exception.
For PR and marketing professionals, there are a number of possibilities. Cathy Warren of Green Row Communications, which handles PR for The Company of Wine People, tells just-drinks that she believes Twitter "is fast becoming an essential component of any marketing campaign".
She adds: "I use Twitter on a daily basis to update my followers on client work that I may be undertaking, coverage results, or any news articles that I find interesting. Whenever I am talking about a client, I will include a link to coverage or to a relevant website to drive traffic."

Using Twitter to drive web traffic appears to be working for Green Row, which also uses the network to link through to its consumer wine website, http://www.lovethatwine.co.uk/. "Interestingly, we have found that Twitter is now the highest referral site to our own website, http://www.greenrow.co.uk/, as a direct result of these Tweets," says Warren.

Several news and media publications, including just-drinks, are already using Twitter as a form of RSS feed, 'tweeting' news updates to interested followers and linking back to the story. Tweets are also searchable on Google, offering businesses and publications the chance to boost their ratings on the search engine giant.

The concise nature of Tweets - one is allowed a maximum of 140 characters - also makes Twitter a useful tool for delivering news and updates to mobile devices. While using Twitter as a traffic driver to other websites is useful, one of its other big advantages comes in building contacts. For journalists and businesses, this means an opportunity to engage more closely with readers and customers respectively, as well as swap ideas.

Early entrants to Twitter have built up strong networks of followers across the food and drink spectrum, from journalists to consumers and fellow PR professionals. Of course, the strength of your network will depend on the number of people in your sector actually using Twitter. Concrete figures for Twitter membership are hard to obtain, but it is estimated that there are between 4m and 5m members. So far, membership is heavily skewed toward the US, the country that spawned Twitter in March 2006.

Some in the wine world have begun to take network-building on Twitter to a new level.
Back in January, just-drinks visited an online wine tasting via Twitter, hosted by Bibendum at its annual tasting day. At first glance, the sight of 10 people sat round a table and fidgeting with mobile phones in their laps in between sips of wine appears a little odd.

But, then, why not? After all, what is really the difference between writing up notes on a tasting and 'tweeting' your comments instantly to a string of interested followers? The difference is possibly about 30 years in age.

"We started out with wine bloggers who wanted to taste wine together," says organiser Rob McIntosh, who blogs on wineconversation.com and who is also brand ambassador for several Rioja wineries, Bodegas Dinastia Vivanco, Criadores de Rioja and Bodegas Carlos Serres.
"This gives the consumer a view of what's happening inside a trade tasting, so they feel more involved," McIntosh continues. "This will help these wineries get more exposure and the bloggers get to taste some more wines."

The followers are clearly interested. At one point immediately after the January tasting, the event briefly rose to become the number one most-followed 'trend' on Twitter, even overtaking the inauguration of President Obama, which took place the day before.

McIntosh believes that the "online wine culture" is still in its infancy, largely because "there aren't yet any experts for social networking in wine". There is, he adds, obvious potential for the drinks industry to use social networking to reach a new demographic of consumer, and particularly those in their 20s and 30s. And, because you can see who is following you, the results are more measurable.

Asked to sum up Twitter in a nutshell, McIntosh says: "Twitter is like a conversation in a pub. I can talk to my friend but everything we say is still public. Anyone on that table over there can join in if they hear something they are interested in."

While a lot of ideas on the web become subject to overblown hyperbole, Twitter may be worth a second glance.

Source: Just Drinks

2009-03-04T13:23:00.007+01:00

BOURGEOIS BOHEME AT LONDON FASHION WEEK

On 20th February 2009, to mark the beginning of London Fashion Week, the Conscious Designers Collective (CDC) put on a roving ethical catwalk outside the Natural History Museum – and the models strutted their stuff in Bourgeois Boheme shoes!

After arriving in environmentally friendly cars the models put on a runway show, decked out in striking outfits by nine of the UK’s top ethical designers. This unorthodox showcase drew large crowds and caused a real sensation on the street, ensuring that London Fashion Week started with a bang.

Bourgeois Boheme were also a part of the CDC’s exhibition at Esthetica, the ever-popular sustainable fashion initiative at London Fashion Week.

2009-02-25T13:27:00.007+01:00

UK AWARE FEATURED IN THE TELEGRAPH

Great article in The Telegraph yesterday about UK Aware and their impressive line-up of green vehicles, due to be showcased at London Olympia on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th April. Click here to view the full article.

2009-02-18T17:44:00.001+01:00

CLASSIC STYLE WITH A CONTEMPORARY CONSCIENCE

Inspired by her ethical ideology Alicia Lai’s shoes combine style and elegance with a unique compassion. Contemporary tailoring made from the finest materials Bourgeois Boheme (www.bboheme.com) prides itself on ethical sourcing and harming no animals in the process of production.

Now in its fourth year and on the back of a phenomenal Winter season Bourgeois Boheme returns with its range of fashionably styled men’s and women’s shoes that prove you do not have to compromise your ethics for fashion.

Says Alicia Lai, Creative Director and Founder of Bourgeois Boheme; “This season we are expanding the range to include new styles, new materials and increased choice to match the desires of our expanding audience. The styles are as diverse as our customers but we’ve remained true to our ideology which is that no one should feel excluded from making a fashion choice.”

Completely leather-free and with no animals harmed during production Bourgeois Boheme stocks ethically sourced fashion ranges as well its own label brand. Bourgeois Boheme shoes are available from www.bboheme.com or call +44 (0)20 88 788 388 for local stockists details.

2009-02-17T16:02:00.005+01:00

THANDI GM LEADING BRAND TO INDEPENDENT OWNERSHIP

Fairtrade wine brand, Thandi, has announced a move towards full independent ownership. Under the leadership of General Manager, Vernon Henn, Thandi is preparing for a full transfer of ownership to its farm workers by 2014. Thereafter, Thandi will become the first black-owned, stand-alone wine company in the world.

Established in 1994 and Fairtrade accredited in 2003, Thandi is currently joint-owned by the farming communities of Nietbegin, Lebanon, and Paardenkloof (66%), and the company of wine people™ – one of South Africa’s largest wine exporters (34%). Over the next five years, Henn will prepare the brand for a full transfer of ownership to the Thandi farming communities, including three new growers who will be Fairtrade accredited in 2009. As such, the 55% share of the business currently owned by the workers will rise to 100% in the coming years.

The company of wine people™ has played a leading role in exporting and marketing Thandi wines. Under the new company structure, the role of exporter will be handed over to Thandi and Henn will be fully responsible for creating the marketing strategy which will be delivered on his behalf by the company of wine people™.

General Manager of Thandi wines, Vernon Henn, says: “It’s been five years since Thandi became a Fairtrade accredited wine. Up until now we have utilised the skills and experience of the company of wine people™ to develop and build our brand and business and we are very proud of the wines we now produce as a result of this guidance.

“We are now ready to take hold of the reigns ourselves, a move that will empower our farm workers and ensure that they take full ownership of the profits generated by sales of the wines worldwide. I believe we will be the first Fairtrade brand to empower our workers in this way.”

Vernon Henn was born in Cape Town and began his career as an office cleaner. The son of a labourer and one of six children his parents encouraged him to excel at school where he achieved excellent results. He was unable to attend university because of financial and political restrictions at the time and so began work with WPK Agriculture as a cleaner. He watched the work force and when a team member left on maternity leave he put himself forward for the job. He became the first black Clerk in the office and went on to study for a diploma in HR.

He joined the company of wine people™ in 2002 and worked his way into the senior team as HR Manager. In addition he has been studying at the University of Cape Town in Wine Business Management for the last two years and will graduate in 2009. He was promoted to General Manager of Thandi in 2007.

2009-02-17T13:21:00.003+01:00

A TOUCH OF SPARKLE FOR MUM
TREAT HER TO PINK THIS MOTHER’S DAY

Spoil your mum this Mother’s Day – pop open a bottle of Pink sparkling wine and treat her to some delicious homemade canapés.

Let your mum put her feet up and wow her with these three delicious and easy to prepare canapés that will add the finishing touches to your mum’s perfect day. The canapés listed below are light yet delectable and perfectly compliment the subtle strawberry bubble of Pink. Why not give the following a go: courgette and parmesan frittatas, Moroccan fishcakes with harrisa yoghurt dip and to finish gooey marshmallow meringue kisses (recipes below).

Pink is an Australian rosé sparkling wine, produced by Yellowglen available now from Waitrose and Asda stores nationwide priced £7.99. All bottles of Pink now carry the Pink Ribbon logo. Pink has made a donation directly to the Pink Ribbon Foundation and will continue to actively raise funds for the cause.

COURGETTE AND PARMESAN FRITTATAS
Ingredients
Makes 16
2 small-medium courgettes
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 tbsp olive oil
4 eggs
75ml double cream
2 tbsp plain flour
1 tbsp chopped basil
4 tbsp finely grated parmesan
salt and freshly ground black pepper
Parmesan flakes and small basil sprigs, to garnish
Equipment
1 non-stick bun/patty tin, generously greased with butter, and the base lined with small circles of non-stick baking parchment
Instructions
1. Heat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan ovens/Gas 4
2. Slice the courgettes in half lengthways and then thinly slice giving you half moons. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan, and add the courgette and garlic. Cook gently until softened and just becoming golden brown. Leave to cool.
3. In a bowl mix together the eggs and cream. Add the chopped basil, grated parmesan and season well with salt and pepper. Stir in the cooked courgettes.
4. Spoon into the greased and base lined bun/patty tin holes. Place in the oven and cook for 12-15 minutes, or until just set and becoming golden.
5. Leave to cool for about 5 minutes before removing from the tray. The frittatas can be served straight away, or made in advance and warmed gently in the oven when needed.
6. When serving, garnish with a flake of parmesan and small piece of basil on top of each.

MOROCCAN FISHCAKES WITH HARISSA YOGHURT DIP
Ingredients
Makes about 18
For the fishcakes
1 large pinch of saffron
500g skinless white fish fillets such as cod, haddock, Pollock etc
35g fresh white breadcrumbs
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 ½ tsp ground cumin
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
finely grated juice and zest of ½ lemon
1 small bunch of coriander, roughly chopped
1 egg
sunflower oil for frying
For the dip:
· 150ml Greek yoghurt
· 1 tbsp harissa paste
· 1 small bunch of mint leaves, finely chopped
Instructions
1. To prepare the fishcakes, soak the saffron in 1 tbsp of warm water for about 30 minutes.
2. To make the dip, just mix everything together and transfer to a serving dish.
3. Cut the fish into chunks and place in a food processor with the saffron and it’s soaking water, breadcrumbs, garlic, cumin, lemon juice and zest, coriander, egg and a good helping of salt and pepper. Blitz until smooth.
4. Divide the mixture into about 18 portions and using wet hands, roll each one into a ball and flatten in the palm of your hand.
5. Heat a couple of tablespoons of oil in a large frying pan or two. Fry the fishcakes in batches for a couple of minutes each side until golden. Drain on kitchen paper while making the rest.
6. Serve the fishcakes hot with a bowl of the harissa dip on the side.

MARSHMALLOW MERINGUE KISSES
Ingredients
Makes approximately 35 kisses
2 egg whites
75g caster sugar
½ tsp cornflour
½ tsp lemon juice
½ tsp vanilla extract
few drops of red or pink food colouring
6-7 tbsp raspberry jam
150ml double cream, whipped to a soft peak
Instructions
1. Pre-heat the oven to 140°C/120°C fan ovens/gas 1.
2. To make the meringues, whisk the egg whites until they form soft peaks. Add half of the caster sugar and continue to whisk for a couple of minutes.
3. Add the remaining sugar along with the cornflour, lemon juice and vanilla extract. Whisk until you have a firm, glossy and super creamy consistency, a bit like shaving foam. This will take a good few minutes.
4. Divide the mixture in half. Fold a few drops of pink or red food colouring into one half, to give you a soft pink colour. Spoon into a piping bag with a ½-1cm wide plain nozzle.
5. Place a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet and lightly brush with a little of the sunflower or vegetable oil. Pipe small dollops onto the paper, roughly 2cm in diameter, leaving a space between each for them to spread slightly. Repeat with the white meringue.
6. Bake for about 30 minutes until the outsides are crispy but not coloured. Turn off the oven and leave to cool with the door slightly open. When the meringues have cooled, carefully peel away from the paper.
7. Spread a little raspberry jam onto the base of one half of the meringues, and then add a little cream to the base of the other half. Sandwich a jam and cream meringue together with a plain meringue and serve as they are or in paper cake cases.

2009-02-11T17:25:00.002+01:00

Thandi launches Fairtrade wine pouch

Fairtrade wine brand, Thandi, is adding an environmentally friendly 1.5 litre pouch to its ethical wine portfolio.

The launch will coincide with Fairtrade Fortnight (23 February-8 March) when the pouch will be available to retailers. It will initially be available in Sauvignon Semillon and Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot varieties with a RRP of £10.49.

Easy to transport and 20 times lighter than a normal wine bottle, the Thandi pouch has an 80% lower carbon footprint than the same wine in two glass bottles. From cradle to grave, including all production and transportation, the Thandi pouch has a lower environmental impact overall than glass bottles and has been developed to reduce waste at every stage of the supply chain and not just at the point of disposal. For example, its compact size and lightweight packaging mean that a greater number of pouches can be transported in one shipment compared to glass, saving on average one in three ships in ocean delivery. The pouch flattens when empty and therefore takes up 90% less space in landfill than two glass bottles.

Vernon Henn, General Manager at Thandi wines, said: “As an ethical, Fairtrade brand we take environmental concerns very seriously and it is vital that we take this into account when packaging our wine. By launching Thandi wine in a pouch we are drastically reducing our overall carbon footprint and offering consumers a convenient alternative that has a lower environmental impact than glass bottles.”

Thandi became the first Fairtrade accredited wine in 2003 and since then has been a strong advocate of ethical trading and social transformation. All 197 farming families involved in the Thandi project own shares in the company and the brand also helps to create wealth as profits and Fairtrade premiums ploughed back into various upliftment initiatives such as a crèche for farm worker’s children and basic adult education.

Tasting Notes:
Thandi Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot
This classic blend has pleasant cassis and red berry flavours, a concentrated palate and a balanced, rounded finish.
Thandi Sauvignon Blanc Semillon
A delicate combination of asparagus and green pepper flavours with touches of passion fruit and a crisp lime finish.

2009-02-02T12:11:00.003+01:00

Win a Valentine's 'Pink Pamper' Kit on Marieclaire.co.uk

Pink Sparkling Wine has teamed up with Marieclaire.co.uk to offer four lucky winners the chance to win a 'Fun and Glamorous Pamper Pack' to get you all ready for your romantic date with the man of your dreams.

Each pack, worth over £200, contains:

A six-bottle case of Pink Sparkling Wine

A Realness of Concealness mini fake-it kit and Her Glossiness lipgloss from Benefit

Pink Vogetti ceramic hair straightners

Paul Mitchell strength take-home hair kit £30

La Senza vouchers For your chance to win, fill in your details below.

Competition ends on Friday 27 February 2009

2009-01-28T17:04:00.002+01:00

Mind set: Optimism’s bright side
18 Jan 2009, 1048 hrs IST, NEELAM RAJ

How we love Bollywood films with their generous doses of optimism, sentimentality and happy endings in which we all secretly believe, until the

Optimism’s bright side (TOI photo)lights come on and we see the paanstained carpet underneath our feet. Now, Bollywood’s feel-good formula is finding global appeal. The Golden Globe-winning Slumdog Millionaire may be a foreign film but its central character Jamal is as hopelessly romantic as any Hindi film hero. He cares nothing for money but will do anything to be reunited with his childhood love Latika. When he finally finds her living as a rich gangster’s girlfriend, he pleads for her to run away with him. “What will we live on?” Latika asks anxiously, in the story’s key exchange. “Love,” he says, simply. Naive and foolish you would have called it in a pre-Obama era when the world wasn’t full of hope and fired up by the possibility of change. But perceptions have changed. Little wonder that Slumdog’s unabashed idealism has struck a chord with Western audiences, with critics putting it in the same league as the Frank Capra classic It’s a Wonderful Life. So has pessimism gone out of fashion? Cynics, check your glass: Not only is it half full but someone might just come along to top it up. American poet McLandburgh Wilson hit the nail on the head: “Twixt the optimist and pessimist/ The difference is droll/ The optimism sees the doughnut/ But the pessimist sees the hole.” Perhaps, more people are enjoying the doughnut. Not that there aren’t enough reasons to be pessimistic – terrorism, recession, climate change, corporate fraud etc. It’s also much easier to be pessimistic because if events do turn out badly, there is at least the morbid satisfaction of having been proved right. In the unlikely circumstances that things end well, it can be a pleasant surprise. Pessimism — or what some call realism moulded from bitter experience — is like a virus, which is why most of us like the sunny dispositions of our friends, spouses, bosses and leaders. I remember a perpetually despondent colleague. Like that character in Peanuts, she appeared to be enveloped by a black cloud of gloom. It cloaked the office as well. A grumpy leader can have the same effect on a whole country. But Obama’s “Yes We Can” attitude is having the opposite effect. Not just America, the world is suddenly feeling more optimistic. Instead of asking “Why”, people are saying “Why not”. The politics of happiness a la Ronald Reagan seems to be working. “I’m here to tell you that there are better days ahead,” Obama said at an election rally in Indianapolis after talking about the economic gloom. “I know these are tough times, and I know that many of you are anxious about the future. But this isn’t a time for fear or for panic.” Worrying about all the grim things that can happen in the future can be very bad for the health. In 2007, a study by researchers in the Netherlands found that people who are temperamentally pessimistic are more likely to die of heart disease and other causes than the naturally optimistic. And it doesn’t just affect the health, it can be bad for the nation. In contrast, optimism can be revolutionary, points out writer and environmentalist Alex Steffen. “Where no one believes in a better future, despair is a logical choice, and people in despair almost never change anything. Where no one believes a better solution is possible, those benefiting from the continuation of a problem are safe. Where no one believes in the possibility of action, apathy becomes an insurmountable obstacle to reform. But introduce intelligent reasons for believing that action is possible, that better solutions are available, and that a better future can be built, and you unleash the power of people to act...Shared belief in a better future is the strongest glue there is.” Despite some of the obvious positives of positive thinking, most of us revel in the gloom. Not only do we like to believe that tomorrow will be worse than today but that nothing can be done about it. But instead of thinking of the future, think of the present. Think of the internet, of better living standards, of longer life spans, or imagine how it was to be a woman or a Dalit or gay 30 years ago. We all want the world to be a better place but we belie the hope if we refuse to acknowledge the progress that has been made. If the world’s problems look intractable, it is because we have given up thinking of solutions and have little faith in the people who are trying to put them into practice. As Leonard Cohen put it: “There’s a crack in everything, that’s where the light gets in.” So where are the chinks of light? Or can we not see them because of the shadows we are accustomed to? Almost no one likes to confess to optimism, which is usually dismissed as the refuge of unrealistic fools. There is always a sense that things are going downhill. The golden age always lies in the past, never in the future. It is this deficit in social optimism that has to be addressed. In the epic Mahabharata , King Yaksha asks Yudhishthir what he thinks is the most curious aspect of life. Yudhishthir plies, “Mortality is a fact of life. Every people see someone dying, yet they live as if they are immortal.” Isn’t that optimism?

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mind_over_Matter/Mind_set_Optimisms_bright_side_/articleshow/3996425.cms

2009-01-26T18:15:00.001+01:00

BIOGRAPHY
Vernon Henn
General Manager, Thandi Wines

Vernon Henn is the General Manager of Thandi Wines (Pty) Ltd, the very first Fairtrade accredited wine brand in the world.

Based in Stellenbosch, South Africa, Vernon is responsible for the day to day running of all operations at Thandi Wines and for the greater task of leading the company to full independent ownership. Thandi is currently owned by the 197 farm-worker families who live and work on the Lebanon and Nietbegin farms. In an act of empowerment which began with wine maker Dr Paul Cluver and a government forestry company SAFCOL signing over 200 acres of land in 1994, the farm-worker families currently own 55% of the business and rising to 100% under Vernon’s management in the coming years.

Vernon Henn was born in Cape Town and began his career as an office cleaner. The son of a labourer and one of six children his parents encouraged him to excel at school where he achieved excellent results. He was unable to attend university because of financial and political restrictions at the time and so began work with WPK Agriculture as a cleaner. He watched the work force and when a team member left on maternity leave he put himself forward for the job. He became the first black Clerk in the office and went on to study for a diploma in HR.

He joined the Company of Wine People (34% Shareholders in Thandi) in 2002 and worked his way into the senior team as HR Manager. In addition he has been studying at the University of Cape Town in Wine Business Management for the last two years and will graduate in 2009. He was promoted to General Manager of Thandi Wines (Pty) Ltd in 2007.

Vernon loves to cook Paella for his family and rates Manchester United as his favourite global brand because of their huge appeal based on quality, passion and people.

2009-01-19T15:51:00.004+01:00

THANDI APPOINTS GREEN ROW COMMUNICATIONS

FAIRTRADE WINE IN MARKETING DRIVE

Thandi, the first ever Fairtrade accredited wine brand, has appointed ethical lifestyle agency, Green Row Communications, to handle all PR and media relations activity in the UK.

The oldest Fairtrade wine to be sold in the UK, Thandi is an empowerment brand that benefits previously disadvantaged fruit farming communities and their families. The objective of the PR campaign will be to cement Thandi’s reputation as an ethical, sustainable business and a top quality wine producer. Activity will focus on Fairtrade Fortnight (23rd January – 8th March) with a tour of media houses planned for General Manager, Vernon Henn, as well as a member of the Thandi farming community.

Henn says: “We were keen to work with Green Row Communications to draw upon their expertise in ethical and sustainable marketing. Thandi is a brand that empowers hundreds of previously disadvantaged workers and it is important that consumers make the right choice when purchasing wine. The Fairtrade wine market in the UK is growing rapidly and our aim, with the help of Green Row, is to capitalise on this rise for the benefit of the Thandi community.”

Green Row will also execute a trade campaign to assist with listings for new products and to increase distribution of the existing portfolio.

Thandi received Fairtrade accreditation in 2003. Since implementing the Fairtrade model, previously disadvantaged South Africans in small rural communities have been elevated from being farm workers to land owners and brand owners of wines. Thandi advocates ethical trading and social transformation. All 197 farming families involved in the project own shares in Thandi and the brand also helps to create wealth with profits and Fairtrade premiums ploughed back into various upliftment initiatives such as a crèche for farm worker’s children and basic adult education. For further information visit http://www.thandi.com/

2009-01-14T16:38:00.004+01:00

A-LIST FASHION ARRIVES IN THE NORTH WEST

Liverpool fashionistas rejoice. Conlons Opticians is introducing a range of designer glasses by international icon Jimmy Choo exclusively to their 11-13 Ranelagh Street store.

Launched in 1996, Jimmy Choo quickly became famed as a glamorous brand favoured by some of the world’s biggest stars. Fans include Victoria Beckham, Kylie Minogue, Jennifer Lopez, Scarlett Johanssen, Beyonce Knowles and Cameron Diaz, and they have recently been awarded Designer Brand of the Year 2008 at the British Fashion Awards.

Jimmy Choo’s range of sunglasses are a guaranteed head-turner with their distinctive and luxurious designs. Feel like Jackie O in a bold, oversized frame or choose from one of Jimmy Choo’s more individual designs, which include a mix of snakeskin prints, gold and silver plating and delicate diamante details. Whatever your preference, there will be something in this cutting edge range for you.

Here are some of the Jimmy Choo frames currently in store:

CHARLEY, £186
Ultra chic aviator style sunglasses in a gold and white frame with an intricate gold stud detail

KAT, £186
A wardrobe essential: look like a true classic starlet in these sleek and bold sunglasses, which feature the Jimmy Choo logo embossed in silver

JIMMY, £195
Stand out from the crowd in these funky blue sunglasses which feature a distinctive mix of gold plated bars carrying the Jimmy Choo logo

JJ BLACK, £216
These extravagant black sunglasses come with snakeskin markings and a distinctive twisted knot detail, topped off with two chunky gold Jimmy Choo logos.

As well as style, eye health is highly important to Conlons Opticians. Knowing that eye health can be a problem long before your vision begins to suffer, Conlons have introduced retinal screening as part of an enhanced eye examination now available in-store.

During this procedure, a highly-detailed photograph is taken of the retina and then viewed on the computer screen almost immediately. Taking photographs allows staff to store and compare images year upon year to monitor any changes in eye health and is a significant advancement in the early detection of sight threatening conditions. Catching them early could help prevent, slow down or even cure the effects of the disease. To find out more or to arrange an examination, visit 11-13 Ranelagh Street or call 0151 709 4668.

2008-11-26T18:59:00.001+01:00

Danny Carnegie of UK AWARE named one of the
Future 100 Young Entrepreneurs for 2008

A very proud moment as our very own Danny Carnegie, founder and Managing Director of UK AWARE has been announced as one of the Future 100 Young Entrepreneurs of the Year during Global Entrepreneurship Week 2008.

Global Entrepreneurship Week is looking to unleash people's enterprising ideas to address some of the society's biggest issues - Climate Change - Poverty - Gender Equality – Health.

The Future 100 Awards, profiles young entrepreneurs aged 18-35 who are demonstrating entrepreneurial flair and innovation in progressing a responsible business venture; one which demonstrates a balance between economic, environmental and social goals to achieve ultimate business success.

UK AWARE will take place on 17th and 18th April 2008 at London Olympia and aims to –
Offer a regular consumer facing green lifestyle show which the public can attend to be inspired. We also offer ethical businesses an exhibition platform, at a fair price, to reach new consumers.
Offer green and ethical enterprise exhibition space at incredible value. The exhibiting prices charged do not cover the cost of staging UK AWARE, so the event relies upon sponsorship from established businesses to be financially viable and sustainable.
Inspire consumers to make small changes in their day to day life which helps to cut their carbon emissions and live in a more considerate way without compromising their modern lifestyle

Danny Carnegie said, “People are realising that the way they spend their money and the choices which they make do have a direct impact on a global scale. However, there is confusion about what we should be doing and what we should not be doing. I think that it’s important for there to be an event which gives people the answers to their questions and offers simple solutions. UK AWARE offers a little bit of everything, from cars to computers and from fashion to travel. Products and services which help people cut their carbon emissions without compromising their modern lifestyle.”

Founder of Striding Out and organiser of the Future100 awards, Heather Wilkinson said: "The future of our world is in the hands of individuals who are committed to generating commercial and ethical returns. Challenging economic times can offer opportunities to question the way we operate as both a business community and a society. We are profiling the 'Future 100' young entrepreneurs who are changing the face of everyday business and improve commerce's impact on the wider world."

The Future 100 awards, encourages and rewards extraordinary vision, ethical business practice and social responsibility. They aim to showcase businesses that offer innovative and sustainable solutions to social problems. The Future 100 Awards is organized by Striding Out http://www.stridingout.co.uk/, a social enterprise which is committed to supporting the development and growth of young and ethical entrepreneurs.
ENDS

2008-11-26T13:13:00.002+01:00

2008 Fairtrade Wine Competition

The Fairtrade Wine Committee held its third annual wine tasting event at Vinopolis in Central London, when Fairtrade certified wines were showcased to the wine trade, journalists and the general public and the eagerly awaited results of the 2008 Fairtrade Wine Competition were announced.

Pictured, Tanya Stuurman from Thandi talks about positive benefits to the local communities.

The aim of the competition is to raise awareness of the high standard of Fairtrade wines on offer and was first set up by the UK Fairtrade Wine Committee in 2007.

Entries from the three Fairtrade producing countries: Argentina, Chile and South Africa, were up by 30 per cent on last year’s competition, and were judged in September by a panel of experts. After some tough judging, the following three trophies were awarded and presented to the winning producers by the respective sponsors:

Harper’s Trophy for Best Overall Fairtrade Wine: Soluna Premium Malbec 2005
Off Licence News Trophy for Best Fairtrade Red Wine: Soluna Premium Malbec 2005
Wine & Spirit Magazine Trophy for Best Fairtrade White Wine: Isabelo Chenin Blanc 2008
In addition to the trophies, the competition also awarded five certificates to the following wines which were presented to the producers by Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation:
Best Fairtrade South African Red: Sainsbury’s South African Pinotage 2006
Best Fairtrade South African White: Isabelo Chenin Blanc 2008
Best Fairtrade Argentinian Red: Soluna Premium Malbec 2005
Best Fairtrade Argentinian White: Co-op Fairtrade Argentine Pinot Grigio 2008
Best Value Chilean White: Equality by Las Lomas Sauvignon Blanc 2007

Nick Day, Chairman of the UK Fairtrade Wine Committee, commented: ‘These awards clearly acknowledge the quality of Fairtrade wines available today and have been designed to help promote Fairtrade within the wine category. The more we can encourage consumers to try Fairtrade wines and see the quality for themselves, the more benefits we are able to bring to the individual Fairtrade producers and to their local communities.’

2008-11-20T17:02:00.002+01:00

London Borough signing you up for Free Green Homes Concierge Services

The London Boroughs of Harrow, and Kensington and Chelsea have teamed up with London Green Homes Concierge Service to give homeowners in those boroughs a year's FREE service, normally worth £199. The service helps homeowners install improvements like loft insulation, draught proofing and solar water heating to make their homes more energy efficient. Included is a home assessment, a full report and then a years concierge service to help you make any small or big changes.

This is an awesome opportunity for anybody making changes to their home, it would cost in the region of 2k to get all of these elements in one service. If you live in the Boroughs of either Harrow or Kensington and Chelsea and want to take this offer up please contact http://www.greenhomesconcierge.co.uk/ or call 0800 089 0098

If you want to taketailored to your needs, whether you want to save money, reduce your carbon footprint or just make your home warm and cosy.

important.
That’s why Harrow Council has teamed up with Green Homes Concierge Service to offer residents a ground-breaking home energy scheme. Created with the London Development Agency, Green Homes Concierge And what’s more… The first 50 people to join the scheme will receive the service free of charge (it usually costs £199 for a year’s consultation).

2008-11-18T11:37:00.001+01:00

PR industry forecast to thrive in recession

A new report backs up the trend in businesses using PR as a key marketing resource through touch economic times.

http://www.netimperative.com/netimperative/news/2008/november/3rd/pr-industry-forecast-to-thrive-in-recession

Nearly half of UK companies surveyed plan to increase spending on PR over the next 12 months, according to a new survey.
The survey of UK businesses, conducted by research company Shape the Future, has highlighted the most frequent areas of marketing spend predicted by businesses over the next 12 months. These were identified as websites (58.9 percent) and PR (42.5 percent).

These figures suggest a reversal on the usual slashing of PR and marketing budgets during hard times. Interestingly, a fifth of businesses surveyed (19.7 percent) also planned to increase spend on website optimisation.

The research also identifies a healthy opportunity for those in the marketing service industry, as companies intend to employ a more diverse range of tools in the tussle for market share.

"There is a clear message here that companies have really got to grips with the influencing power of the internet. With such importance placed on PR and the net, firms with a finger on the pulse of social media campaigns may well be the likely winners," said Peter Martin, managing director of Shape the Future and author of the report.

Sectors and Stats

· Companies more likely to increase marketing spend were business services companies
· More businesses in the property sector are likely to be decreasing spending than average, as are retailers and wholesalers
· Businesses in the South East were more likely to be reducing their marketing spend (20.3 percent were maintaining or increasing, while 25.3 percent were planning to decrease)
· Only 9 percent of companies surveyed planned to reduce their marketing budgets for the coming year

The online survey was conducted between 23 September and 4 October 2008, using a sample of 1,492 businesses across the UK, using Shape the Future's proprietary software and systems.

Source: http://www.shape-the-future.com

2008-10-29T17:29:00.000+01:00

UK AWARE ANNOUNCES NEW UK DATES
LONDON OLYMPIA - 17th and 18th April 2009

UK AWARE, the green and ethical lifestyle show, is proud to announce two new UK dates, following the success of its May 2008 inaugural show LONDON AWARE 08. UK AWARE, www.ukaware.com will take over Olympia Two on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th April 2009 and expects in excess of 10 000 visitors.

UK AWARE is the UK's only public facing green lifestyle show with a proven track record. Danny Carnegie, Founder of UK AWARE said; “We’ve got an interactive, mainstream show which is going to blow the socks off the UK Consumers. Expect lively debate, amazing exhibitors and an opportunity to experience the future of consumerism for the benefit of this planet.

UK AWARE has chosen Olympia because it was imperative to use a venue which aligned itself ethically. EC&O have recently won an AEO award in recognition of their sustainability initiatives, so it was a natural choice. In an industry which traditionally has a large carbon footprint it is great to be able to work with a venue which is setting the industry standard, not just as a venue, but as a sustainable venue.

Exhibitors and speakers include Oxfam, Trevor Baylis OBE, Fairtrade foundation, Method, Green Homes Concierge Service, Greenpeace, G Wiz and many exciting consumer products and services. Live music and entertainment plus other unique exhibitors will be announced in due course.

For further information about exhibiting please contact Jodie Carnegie at UK AWARE on 020 8842 7500 or Jodie@ukaware.com

2008-10-29T15:16:00.002+01:00

LBC - London's Biggest Conversation

Our own Helen Trevorrow gets to grips with issues facing small businesses during the 'credit crunch' and fights it out live on air with LBC's Petrie Hoskins and James Hartigan: Click on the link 23%20Oct.mp3

2008-10-15T15:13:00.004+02:00

NICARAGUAN TRIP OF A LIFETIME WITH PERCOL COFFEE

Beverly Butler from Petersfield in Hampshire and her husband won a once in a lifetime trip to Nicaragua this summer courtesy Percol Fairtrade and Organic Coffee, Trips Worldwide and Waitrose Food Illustrated Magazine. Here’s what Beverly had to say:

“What a fantastic time we had in Nicaragua – so well organised, and exciting as we moved around staying in six hotels in total, from a mountain lodge, to colonial style hotels and a luxury ecolodge.

“We had a driver and guide with us the whole time, who became very good friends over the two weeks as we traveled around the country and we found all the Nicaraguan people very open and friendly.

“We became experts in coffee during our trip. We first visited the coffee bean processing factory in Sebaco and watched the whole process, from drying the beans to selecting the right blends for specific companies in the tasting laboratory. We then spent two days visiting the small coffee co-operatives where Percol coffee is grown and walking round the plantations with the owners learning about coffee growing – it was fascinating

“As well as learning about coffee we also climbed the active Masaya Volcano, trekked up the waterfall of the Maderas Volcano in a cloud forest, visited ‘Leon Viejo’, the first capital of Nicaragua, where we learnt a great deal of Nicaraguan history and Granada, Nicaragua’s oldest and third largest city. Our trip was round off by a stay at the luxury Morgan’s Rock Hacienda and Ecolodge situated directly on a gorgeous beach and surrounded by nature and wildlife.

“This really was a once in a life time holiday – Thank you Percol and Trips Worldwide!”

2008-10-15T12:10:00.007+02:00

TUSCAN COOKERY COURSE WITH KATIE AND GIANCARLO CALDESI

In association with the Castello Di Gabbiano, Delicious Magazine is proud to present an evening of traditional Tuscan cookery with Giancarlo and Katie Caldesi at their London cookery school, La Cucina Caldesi. In this exclusive evening of hands-on cookery, learn all about the traditions of Tuscan food and wine under the professional eye of Giancarlo and Katie - stars of the BBC's Return to Tuscany. Soak up the atmosphere of a restaurant kitchen, discover new and exciting ingredients and experience the authentic Tuscan taste of wines from the CastelloDi Gabbiano

To seciure a ticket for this one-off event please call La Cucina Caldesi on 020 7487 0750 and select option 2. Places are limited so don't delay. Tickets are priced £95.

2008-10-10T13:08:00.002+02:00

VICTORIA LEAVITT JOINS POLLEN AS NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

, the London based branding and design consultancy, has appointed Victoria Leavitt to its Board of Directors as Non-Executive Director. Vicky will be responsible for helping to drive overall business strategy for the independent branding and design firm.

Vicky joins Pollen with significant management experience and a wealth of expertise across all marketing disciplines from a wide array of industry sectors including FMCG, beauty, healthcare, financial services and retail. Vicky has been at the helm of two of Omnicom’s London-based branding firms as CEO of New Solutions and Managing Director EMEA for Siegel+Gale.

Dan Dimmock, at Pollen, says; “We are absolutely delighted to have Vicky on-board. She brings with her a wealth of blue-chip marketing and management experience from a career that has spanned all marketing disciplines and much of the globe. She combines this incredible expertise with unstoppable enthusiasm and a strong track record of business growth.”

Vicky Leavitt continues: “This is an exciting role for me and I am particularly looking forward to working with the talented Pollen management team to build on the success they have already achieved, whilst also raising their profile within the industry.”Pollen is an experienced and professional branding and design consultancy, helping clients to engage with customers and employees, to grow their businesses, and to develop purposeful, exciting brands that drive results. Pollen prides itself on clear strategic thinking and strong ideas for clients that span a wide array of industries - from telecommunications, entertainment and media to FMCG, airlines and luxury resorts. http://www.pollenlondon.com/

2008-10-07T17:18:00.002+02:00

Save money, save the planet
Make savings that really count with Green Homes Concierge Service

Leading home energy service, Green Homes Concierge, is helping all London homeowners to increase the energy efficiency of their homes and to save money in the process. A more efficient home costs less to run: by making simple changes to your home today, Green Homes Concierge can help you reduce your impact on climate change and save you up to £300 a year on your energy bills.

Created with the London Development Agency, Green Homes Concierge is the groundbreaking home energy scheme working closely with individual London homeowners to help them reduce their energy consumption, lower their energy bills and slash their carbon emissions by a third.

How it works
It’s never been easier to reduce your energy consumption and make the changes you know you should. You join the service for a one off, subsidised payment of £199 for a 12 month period. You will then be allocated a personal home energy advisor who will visit your home to undertake an in-depth analysis and create a tailor-made report for your home identifying areas where potential energy savings can be made – this might include draft proofing, insulation, double glazing, solar heating and hot water systems.

Following this initial assessment you will then have unlimited access to a Green Homes Concierge Customer Relationship Manager who is able to provide immediate, accurate and independent advice on the best products and services available to improve your home’s energy efficiency. They will work with you every step of the way to arrange any home improvement work that needs undertaking. Even the simplest changes can make a significant difference to reducing the energy consumption of your home and reducing the cost of your bills.

CEO of Green Homes Concierge Service, Andrew Long, says: “With energy bills on the rise and the threat of climate change ever more apparent, it is vital that we all make changes to the way we live our everyday lives. The personal and professional service that we offer makes it easy for homeowners in London to reduce the energy consumed in their own homes. Together we can make London a cleaner, greener place and make a significant contribution to reducing energy bills.”

To find out more about Green Homes Concierge for yourself please call 0800 089 0098 or visit http://www.greenhomesconcierge.co.uk/

2008-09-24T11:38:00.002+02:00

Shoppers splash out on Fairtrade but not green
Peter Cripps, The Grocer, 20/09/2008
In: Industry news, Industry news
Viewings: 170
Credit crunch-hit consumers are more likely to pay for Fairtrade than environmentally friendly groceries, according to a survey seen exclusively by The Grocer.Despite feeling the pinch, 92% of consumers still claimed to be willing to pay extra for a product perceived to be ethical and 76% said they would choose products benefiting people rather than the planet. Fairtrade was shoppers’ favoured type of ethical product, with 65% of shoppers prepared to pay an extra 10p or more, according to the report by market researchers Feel.“Environmental shopping is obviously under pressure from the credit crunch, but people still care about social issues,” said Chris Arnold, founder of Feel. “In times of recession, people come together more – they may get more touched by environmental issues when they see the effect they have on people.”A separate report by the Food Standards Agency also revealed environmental issues were less important than economic and social issues in the minds of shoppers. The survey of 2,068 shoppers showed that 66% thought economic issues such as price and quality were most important, 23% said their priority was social issues and just 10% first considered green issues.Forum For The Future, an environmental charity that works with businesses, said it was important the environment was not forgotten. Ahead of a report to be released on Monday that highlights environmental products on offer, CEO Peter Madden said: “It is clear from our work with over 15 major supermarket and retail partners that more consumers are demanding greener products and services that are also good for communities.“The challenge is making sure those choices are affordable. More supermarkets are now offering low-priced, sustainable options and making green choices such as low-energy lightbulbs more affordable. These will help customers save money when fuel bills are sky-high,” he added.

2008-09-22T11:35:00.001+02:00

NOW OFFICIALLY THE BEST TASTING COFFEE IN BRITAIN PERCOL FAIRTRADE COLOMBIA GROUND COFFEE
Percol Fairtrade Colombia ground coffee has won a three star gold accreditation at The Great Taste Awards making it officially the best tasting ground coffee in Britain.

Percol Colombia is the only coffee to have been awarded a 3* gold in 2008 and is the highest ranked coffee for taste and quality. Regarded as the industry Oscars, The Guild of Fine Food’s annual Great Taste Awards are the UK’s largest independent evaluation of fine food and drink.
Percol has won 29 awards for quality and taste since 2002. In 2008 a record breaking 4,790 foods entered the Great Taste Awards where they were blind-tasted by up to three separate teams of experts including Charles Campion and Alex James.
Brian Chapman, Founder, Percol said; “It is an awesome achievement to have attained three gold stars and to be the only coffee to do so. We stand in esteemed company with the other Great Taste Award winners and we are delighted to be leading the way for the highest standards of taste in coffee.”
· Fairtrade Colombia, 3*** Star Gold rating – Unmistakably Colombian. A tantalizingly rich aroma with a hint of nuts. Complex flavours creating a smooth, full bodied coffee with attractive citrus notes on the finish RRP 250g at £2.49

2008-09-03T12:22:00.006+02:00

GLOSSY COATS, SMOOTH DIGESTION, AGILE JOINTS
Britain’s best supplemnts for dogs now available all over the UK

Pooch & Mutt, the famous supplement for dogs is now available all over the UK

Made in Great Britain, Pooch & Mutt supplements are 100% natural, made from the finest high quality ingredients and come in fully environmentally friendly packaging. Specially developed for dogs the Pooch & Mutt products are formulated and created by Blue Chip, the leading equine nutrition company and choice of champion horses in racing and eventing.

Pooch & Mutt is a favourite of dog breeders and has been used by a Crufts Supreme Champion. Guy Blaskey, Founder of Pooch & Mutt says; “We make high quality products which give dogs a high quality of life. All dogs can use our supplements but we are most happy when we see dogs with problems make a full recovery.”

Simply add the daily amount of supplement to your dog’s regular food by sprinkling over the top or mixing in. The range includes:

Mobile Bones - A natural joint and bone supplement created to support, ease and preserve healthy joints, strong bone, cartilage and mobility. Ingredients include a unique combination of herbs, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and Glucosamine, MSM, Omega 3 from Linseed, Omega 6 from Evening Primrose and others. RRP £14.99 500g

Bionic Biotic is a digestive and conditioning probiotic supplement for dogs to maintain optimum digestive health and a fully functioning immune system. It gives your dog energy and vitality and can also help with specific problems like underweight or out of condition dogs, diarrhoea, firm stools, glossy coat and skin, overweight dogs and stress. RRP £14.99 500g

For more information about what we do, to see some of the many dogs that we have helped , to buy online and to find out where else you can buy our products come and visit our website