Tips to Make a Landlord’s Life Easier

Landlords and property companies have a bad reputation but the majority of them are just trying to maximise their income and aren’t out to give their tenants a hard time. With the global financial crisis of recent years, it is becoming harder than ever for first-time buyers to get a foot on the ladder, meaning that more and more young people are looking for good quality rental properties as an alternative. Investing in rental property can potentially be very lucrative for those willing to take the time to do it right.

But whilst there can be great financial rewards for renting out properties, it can also be a headache if you don’t understand the way the system works or aren’t properly prepared. Here are some tips on how to take the stress out of this business for both you and your tenants:

Get fully insured: Of course, you are required to get buildings insurance when you own a property, but not every landlord is aware that they should also get contents insurance. Perhaps it is because they assume it is the responsibility of the tenant to insure their own belongings – but this is to forget items such as carpets, kitchen or bathroom fixtures which will come as part of the property and can be damaged in the event of fire or flood. Cover yourself for every eventuality and you could save yourself a lot of time and expense further down the line.

Invest in property software: Many landlords are reluctant to put their faith in an agent to manage their property for them – and sadly, often rightly so. But if you have several properties to manage it can soon become too much of a strain to try and keep track of everything yourself. In this situation, property management software exists to do a lot of the work for you so you don’t even have to think about it. It can, for example, send automatic arrears letters to tenants, provide you with instant access to specific details about your portfolio, produce accounts and bank statements and even generate reports.

Get a tenancy agreement: This is an absolute essential as it means both you and your tenants are protected by law. I have heard so many cases of landlords letting to ‘friends’, only to lose out badly when they refuse to pay rent or damage the property and then leave without giving notice. You should also run a credit check and ask for references on potential tenants to give you further peace of mind.

Do it yourself: Once you have the above-mentioned property software, there is really no need for an agent. To further cut costs, use skilled friends and acquaintances to carry out maintenance or repairs, or do it yourself if you are able to. Do be aware of your tenants’ rights though: for example, once the tenancy agreement has been signed you can’t enter the property without giving proper notice.

Get certified: You will soon get into hot water if you don’t have all the necessary certifications in place before you let your property. Since 2008, all landlords are required to have Energy Performance Certificates for their houses, and the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1985 legally obliges all landlords to ensure that all electrical appliances and installations are safe before the tenant moves in, as well as carrying out checks every five years. Gas installations also have to be checked, so bring in a CORGI registered engineer to do this.

Musical Theatre Schools How Your Child Could Benefit From Taking a Course in the Performing Arts

Whether your child is reserved or outgoing by nature, he or she will almost certainly benefit from taking a course at one of the many established musical theatre schools. Although musical theatre is considered the toughest of all performance mediums, the three core activities of musical theatre, namely: singing, dancing and drama, offer many positive benefits including:

Confidence BuildingSchool children, students and adults are often called upon to present or perform to their peers. Instilling the qualities necessary for accomplished performance in a creative, yet structured environment, produces exceptional results, and builds a sense of self-worth and personal achievement. Whilst shy children find their confidence through unearthing and developing their unique talents, more confident, outgoing children, will develop valuable life skills such as listening and empathy.

Nurturing IndividualityThrough providing a fun and entertaining learning environment, students feel nurtured, inspired and constantly positive. It’s vital that teachers promote individual creativity and that each child’s contribution is acknowledged and valued.
Children should be encouraged to dream, to challenge themselves and grow in line with their goals. An uplifting environment where each small achievement is celebrated is conducive to producing uniquely creative individuals who can think and act for themselves.

Encouraging Great TeamworkFinding a class which motivates your child and encourages social interaction, enthusiastic participation, cooperation and teamwork is essential. Learning to work well in a disciplined environment with respect for their tutors and fellow ‘performers’, is essential training for any youngster. Teamwork and team-building skills are highly valued in the world of work. Just look how many times the Team Leader gets fired on The Apprentice! Seriously, encouraging youngsters to work well in team activities will definitely stand them in good stead as they progress to adulthood.

Developing Musical AppreciationMusical theatre is perhaps unique in that offers training in three arts-related disciplines for the price of one! It’s the perfect course for any young person who is either multi-talented, or else, isn’t sure where their talents lie exactly, and may be in need of some ‘coaching and coaxing.’
To give a young person the gift of an introduction to the performing arts is a fine and generous thing to do. No doubt as the proud parent waiting in the wings, you will be graciously rewarded the first time you see your child perform on stage.

But much more than the extent of their singing, dancing or acting ability, you will be providing your youngster with valuable life skills that will see them well, whatever career choice they decide to pursue.

Management Software The Best Way to Run a Property Business

Whether you are running a large property business or are a private landlord with just a few houses to rent, the time has come to bring your methods up to date. Forget about your paper-based systems or Excel spreadsheets and invest in the latest landlord management software. You will notice a difference immediately as the fully automated system takes charge of every aspect of your portfolio, saving you a significant amount of both time and money. You’ll never want to go back.

So what exactly are the main benefits of using property management software? To begin with, it can be tailored to meet the needs of anybody working within the property business, from those with just a few tenancies to those managing lettings into the hundreds of thousands. For example, if you have a mixed property portfolio then you can purchase software which, along with accounting and reporting services, also comes equipped with a special service charge module to allow you to deal with complex lease provisions.

Furthermore, landlord management software gives you the ability to maintain real control over your portfolio. We all know how easy it is to let things slide, and one forgotten payment here or routine maintenance visit there can soon see your business descending into chaos. Control over your portfolio means the total automation of routine jobs such as arrears collection, letters to tenants or maintenance reminders. It also means a fully detailed event and transaction history retained in the system as long as you need it, so you can access any important or relevant information in seconds.

Security is also very important to most landlords or property agents, and again this is where managing your business using software emerges as the winning approach. With a paper-based system it is much easier for unauthorised persons to access information on your portfolio, whereas landlord management software will come with a security system which allows you to set individual access rights for each of your staff – or not, as the case may be.

Lastly, if you want a more detailed report on a certain aspect of your portfolio, using specialised software is the best way to get hold of this both quickly and accurately. Built-in report generators will allow you to pick and choose the information you want to create reports and statements which are tailored to the needs of your business. Yes, this kind of software comes at a price initially, but once it is implemented you will soon see savings in terms of both time and money.

Vintage Football Shirts that Match Your Vintage Football Memories

As an avid football fan, what is your number one memory of watching your club play down the years?
Your fave player scoring the winning goal in the Cup Final at the ‘old Wembley’?

Winning a Premiership or league title for the first time? Or in a certain team’s case, the 19th?

Your proud captain holding aloft the European Cup?

If you love your football, you’re bound to have precious memories of years gone by. You’ve got the DVDs, you’ve got the signed photos, now all you need is the vintage football shirt to mark the occasion.

Vintage football shirts are now more popular than ever thanks to the power of the Internet. There are some truly great stockists online where you can find your favourite ‘blast from the past’ footie shirt. It’s really important that you buy from a bona fide company, so you get an authentic, top quality garment at a reasonable price.

How many of these classic milestones in the world of football shirts can you remember?

1930s: Wolverhampton Wanderers ditch their striped kit in favour of an old gold shirt and black shorts.


1953: Gold-shirted Blackpool beat Bolton 4-3 in a thrilling FA Cup final which has come to be known as the Stanley Matthews Final.


1964: Liverpool’s legendary boss, Bill Shankley introduces the world famous all red strip that’s now recognised as part of the great club’s heritage.


1967: Celtic are the first British club to win the European Cup. It’s said that their winning kit of 1967 is the standard against which all future kits continue to be measured.


1970 AFC Bournemouth’s manager John Bond introduces a new kit comprising AC Milan-style red and black stripes. The Cherries still play in a version of this kit today.


1977: The Clough/ Taylor era spawns a golden age of football for the club who’s 1977 Adidas kit represents a fond reminder of their successes.


1982: Ipswich Town, led by their charismatic manager Bobby Robson, are smartly turned out in this classic pinstripe shirt, the following season after their UEFA Cup victory. They also end up runners-up in the league that same year.


1995: West Ham United launch their special ‘Centenary’ shirt – having beaten the likes of Tottenham and Chelsea away, they finish a commendable 10th in the Premiership.


And your club?

What is your fondest memory and why? Because there’s bound to be a vintage football shirt that will help you commemorate the occasion in true style.

Jenkinson & Associates Ltd are a web marketing company providing internet marketing for companies looking to grow their business.

Practical alternatives to tights

Whilst tights are often seen as the most practical form of hosiery, there are some situations where they just won’t do. Perhaps you are wearing a tight-fitting dress and you don’t want the tell-tale ‘muffin-top’, or perhaps it’s just a hot day and you don’t want to walk around for hours feeling sweaty and uncomfortable. In these and other situations, there are alternatives which can allow you to cover up your legs without some of the associated drawbacks.

Stockings will always be great, classic look. They are good for clothes that are very fitted at the waist as they don’t dig in there, and can also come in a wide range of styles to suit whatever colour or particular look you are going for. For example, they can be seamless, toe seamed or, for a sexy look, they can come with a seam down the back. They also come in many colours, from black and nude to more eye-catching colours or even printed patterns such as spots and stripes.

Because they are fixed in place with garters rather than with an elasticated waist and gusset, they also allow your skin to breathe which makes them, some would say, the more hygienic choice on a hot day. Many women who suffer from bladder infections such as cystitis also find that tights irritate the problem and so prefer to find an alternative for that reason alone.

It is also widely accepted that tights, whilst useful on many occasions, are just not a particularly sexy look when compared to stockings and suspenders, which look stunning when teamed with a flattering, fitted basque. When going for sex appeal I’m afraid it has to be stockings all the way.

If you find that you don’t have the time to fiddle about with garter belts every day then an alternative option is holdups, which offer most of the benefits of stockings but take much less time to put on. Holdups are held in place at the top of the leg by an elastic strap, so like suspenders are perfect for the summer or for avoiding an unsightly line around the waist. However, bear in mind that whilst they are certainly more convenient than stockings, if you wear them for very long periods of time they can start to chafe slightly.

Tights, stockings and holdups are all made from similar materials such as lycra or silk and come in different deniers, so it is very easy to find a form of hosiery to replace your trusty tights on occasions when they won’t suit your outfit or mood. 

Jenkinson & Associates Ltd undertake business consulting in providing business and marketing for companies looking to grow their business.

Rental Accounting Software . . . What Every Busy Rental Property Management Professional Needs

If you are in rental property management then rental accounting software can save you time, effort and expense.


Whatever system you are currently using to ‘manage’ your rental properties, whether it’s Excel spreadsheets or a paper-based alternative, you will be amazed how a rental accounting software package will transform your lettings management for the better.












How would you like a brand new member of staff to take on all the ‘hum-drum’ tasks you dread? Accounts; audits; management reports; letters to landlords and tenants; documents for contractors – the list is endless. And somehow there never seems to be enough hours in the day to get even the essentials done.


Just keeping on top of rental income and letting agency expenditure seems to take forever. And that’s more than likely because you’ve got several different systems in operation that are overly complicated to maintain and require lots of cross-referencing. As I’m sure you are only too well aware, this is not the most productive use of your time.


Well now it’s time to end the paper chase and get your office systems properly organized once and for good. Working with an automated software system is fantastic, because you are always up to date. Which means you can spend more time on building your business through dynamic, exciting activities like PR and marketing and less time on ‘housekeeping.’


Your rental accounting software will enable you to quickly organize all your properties and tenants. As well as managing income and expenditure with ease, your software will help you identify potential problem client areas such as late payers, and thus avoid a build-up of arrears and worse – debt collection or legal costs.


In fact, you’ll get a complete 360 degree view of your business’s main areas of activity. Crucially, you’ll know exactly how well the business is performing against key targets, allowing you to make the necessary adjustments to maximize your income potential.


Take the drudgery out of your lettings business and remember why you started the business in the first place:- to find clients the rental property of their dreams whether they stay for 6 months or 6 years – and of course, to make a significant profit!


Getting rid of the tedious stuff will enable you to focus on the ‘people’ side of your business and make client satisfaction your number one priority.


Goodbye paper, Goodbye Excel . . . Hello Great New Accounting System!



Jenkinson & Associates Ltd is a web marketing agency in providing business and marketing for companies looking to grow their business.

Festive stocking fillers

Once you have got the big presents sorted out you may think you are home and dry. But if you are the kind of family that goes in for Christmas stockings as well then you still need to come up with some more gift ideas. Bear in mind thought that stocking fillers are usually a mix of small, useful items and novelty gifts and are not meant to be something to stress over.

As most people don’t have huge amounts of money to spend on stockings fillers once they have got the rest of the seasonal purchases out of the way, here are some easy and popular festive gifts you can buy on any budget:

• Mulled wine: This is always a Christmas favourite, and you can buy lovely bottles of this for very low prices, or even taster boxes with several small bottles using different flavours and spices. If you really want to make the effort whilst saving money, then you can make your own mulled wine with some red wine and spices such as cinnamon, cloves or citrus. Then you have a delicious and ready-made gift for your loved one as well as a few emergency presents if unexpected Christmas guests turn up.
  
  
• Christmas tights and socks: These are low-cost and fit nicely into a stocking! The great thing about buying tights and socks as gifts is that they can come in all kinds of novelty patterns or designs so they are fun as well as practical. For this time of year you can buy lovely Christmas tights, for example, in designs ranging from reindeers to holly or snowmen. These make cute and quirky party accessories for women - and after all, everybody likes something special to wear on Christmas day.
  
  
• Bath oils: This is something every woman in particular will appreciate – taking the time to have a hot, scented bath after a busy and people-filled day.  Any favourite scent will do, but if you can it is lovely to find bath oils which have been specially designed for the Christmas season as the smell will pervade the house and top up the festive cheer. In a similar vein, another popular choice is fizzing ‘bath bombs’ shaped and smelling like Christmas puddings or other Christmassy items.
  
  
• Chocolates: This may seem fairly dull, but unless they are allergic I know few people who will not appreciate a nicely wrapped box of chocolates. These can suit any budget, from the ever-popular box of Quality Streets or Ferrero Rocher to premium boxes of special Christmas chocolates.
  
  
  Jenkinson & Associates Ltd are an internet marketing company providing on line business and marketing for companies looking to grow their business.

Top tips for buying tights

Every woman at some time in their lives will find the need to buy some tights, whether for the office, for added warmth or for a night out on the town. When buying hosiery, bear in mind that you should be playing to your best features in terms of style and colour, as well as considering what you will be wearing them with.

Here are some things to bear in mind when you are shopping for tights, whether it is online or on the high street:

• Versatility: The staple of every girl’s collection should some black tights and some nude tights. Black tights in particular will go with almost everything and suit any body type – particularly if you are after a slimming effect or want your legs to look longer. Nude tights are essential if you want to show your legs in a little summer dress but want a little added protection or perhaps the illusion of a slight tan. Whatever you are wearing, these two shades will cover all bases and are practically essential if you happen to work in an office with a formal dress code.

• Colours and prints: If you want to get a little more adventurous, then there are of course tights available in all kinds of colours and styles. If your legs really are one of our best assets then you can pretty much show them off with any colour or style you want – such as bold prints, glossy fabric or glitter.However, if your legs are a little bigger then you should stick to darker colours and light shades and bold prints can sometimes make them look a bit bulkier (although vertical stripes will help to make your legs look longer). Conversely, if your legs are a little on the skinnier side then you can make yourself look a little curvier with horizontal stripes or dots, for example.

• Shop around: Sometimes high street shops can sell tights with a big mark-up, so if you are the kind of person who buys these often and likes to have a wide variety on-hand in your wardrobe, you should look about online for shops selling wholesale hosiery. Handily, online vendors of wholesale hosiery will usually sell packs in bulk so you can stock up on your essentials as well as having money left over to be a bit more adventurous.
  
  
• Secret slimming: If you aren’t feeling too confident and feel like you could do with a little help, then go for some control-top tights which will offer support to your legs and hips as well as giving you a more streamlined look. 

Jenkinson & Associates Ltd are a web marketing company providing internet marketing for companies looking to grow their business.

Introducing:- Advertising Banners for the Eco-conscious Consumer

Perhaps you’ve been put off using advertisingbanners for your business promotions, because traditional banner materials such as synthetics or PVC don’t sit well with your company’s “green” credentials.

That’s fair enough. Many more businesses these days are becoming conscious of the need to be seen to be more eco-aware and the print business is no exception.

Sign-makers are increasingly recognizing the need to be able to offer their customers  eco-friendly banners  to traditional print materials and the savvy print companies amongst them are now able to provide exactly that.

Bamboo fibre banner fabric

If you’re looking for a fabric which is made from a renewable source, then bamboo fibre banner fabric is the solution. It’s strong, durable and 99.6 per cent biodegradable. In case you’re not already aware, bamboo is a fast-growing and hardy resource that can be harvested four years after planting. It re-grows naturally, without the need to replant. As an added bonus, the bamboo used to manufacture this fabric is organically farmed, instead of being removed from forests.

As the materials are produced in an environmentally-friendly way without the use of pesticides or other harmful substances, you can be certain of getting a product which complies with REACH standards and is certified as such.

Unlike traditional plastic materials, being biodegradable means that your bamboo banner won’t have an infinite outdoor life, so you will find the guarantee period will be less than normal – these products are usually guaranteed for around three months – though of course, they are absolutely perfect for prolonged indoor use.

Polypropylene banner fabric

This fabric is 100 per cent recyclable including the fitted eyelets which are made from the same material. This polypropylene is a high tenacity fabric which means it has an excellent chemical resistance and does not absorb water, making it an ideal choice for all your outdoor banner requirements.

An international code is printed on this type of banner to ensure they are recycled correctly at the end of their useful life.

It’s really important that manufacturers recognize that their activity impacts on the environment and commits to taking appropriate steps to counteract that impact whenever possible.

If buying eco-friendly products is important to you, do make sure you purchase from a manufacturer who shares your values. If your printer or sign-maker offers green alternatives they will of course say so on their website. So if finding committed eco-friendly suppliers is important to you, it’s definitely worth shopping around.

How to plant a no-fuss garden

If you’re a person who wants to have an attractive garden to sit in but doesn’t have a lot of spare time on their hands, you will want to go for low-maintenance plants, shrubs and turf. Landscape gardening doesn’t have to be all back-breaking labour and endless weeding, pruning and fertilising. If you do your research properly you can find beautiful looking plants and shrubs that practically look after themselves, leaving you free to relax and enjoy your free time.

When choosing your shrubs, go for kinds that are fairly self-sufficient to suit your busy lifestyle. Compact azaleas or heathers, for example, are a good choice if you want something that’s going to look stylish but won’t grow wildly out of control. These can retain a beautiful look year-round and you don’t need to be an expert to take care of them.

For a low-maintenance garden, plants in containers are a good idea. One of the key benefits of container gardening is that it allows you to create something unique without going through the long hours of work required for more complex landscape gardening. 

You don’t have to stick to basic plant pots, but can use any containers you have around the house, however weird and wonderfully shaped, to design a garden that is personal to you. Raised beds containing low-maintenance shrubs or perennials can also look beautiful if laid out with care.

If your garden or backyard is of a fairly substantial size, then when you are designing the layout try to limit the amount of grass you have as far as possible, filling the remaining space with attractive paving slabs with plant pots, gravel or even bark chippings. Furthermore, when choosing the type of grass to lay down, go for a variety that doesn’t need frequent mowing. 

It may sound odd, but if you want to have a look at the kinds of low-maintenance plants out there, have a look at what is planted on roadsides or in municipal gardens. All of these plants will have been chosen deliberately to need as little care as possible, and whilst they may not be exactly what you would want it can give you, at the very least, a little food for thought.

Finally, remember that a home garden is never going to look the same as a show garden which will have people working on it all day, every day. If you accept that your garden is not supposed to look perfect then your enjoyment of it will be all the greater.

Maintaining a garden can be a full-time job and many of us today have such busy lives we simply don’t have to the time to dedicate to endless weeding and pruning. By employing Richmond Landscape gardeners if you live in South West London could help you to achieve the garden you want.

Learn to Sing, Dance and Act, all at the Same Time . . . and Don’t Forget to Breathe!

Musical Theatre is arguably the toughest of all musical performance disciplines, because it is considered to be the most technical.  After all, you’re frequently called upon to sing, dance and act, all at the same time! If you’ve been bitten by the Glee bug and feel inspired to take to the stage yourself, there are a number of musical theatre schools you might consider.

A musical theatre school will help you make of your abilities and may even bring out talent you didn’t realize you had. As well as learning new skills, joining a course or class will open up a whole new social life and provide a wealth of opportunities for personal and creative development.

So what sorts of classes are available to musical theatre students?

There are specialist workshops like a West End or Glee-type workshop which generally run for one day and allow participants to learn and perform pieces in a fun, light-hearted environment. These one-day events are perfect for those wanting to get a flavour of musical theatre and you’re sure to end the day on a real high note as you reflect on how much you have achieved in such a short space of time. The experience is bound to leave you hankering for more . . .

For those of you who are serious about wanting a career in the world of performance arts, then a one or two year intensive programme leading to an accredited qualification is ideal.  You’ll receive the highest levels of training and professional advice all the way through your chosen course and as you prepare to launch yourself into your exciting new career.

Many students will have inhibitions when they first join a course – it’s only natural. But really there’s no need to be anxious because most classes will focus on the group numbers first so you gradually gain in confidence. Though of course, if you have a penchant for solo performing you will be encouraged to step into the spotlight sooner, rather than later.

Throughout your chosen course, you will be trained by experienced mind, body and voice coaches to ensure you perform at the optimum level for you.

They say there’s nothing quite like the buzz of live theatre. And for those of us who love musicals, there can surely be no bigger buzz than appearing centre stage in a top production.  If this is what you dream of, then check out the variety of courses and classes available at your local musical theatre school or drama schools today.

What Does a Food Consultant Do?

If you run a hotel, restaurant, bar, take-away service, or any business which involves food preparation, then employing the services of a reputable food consultant will almost certainly improve the bottom line of your business.

A food consultant will provide an objective perspective on every aspect of your service operation, including personnel, menu design, purchasing, front of house – they can even advise on the branding of your business, like brand identity, strategy and management.

Usually someone who works specializes in this kind of role will have worked as an executive chef, or systems expert within a food environment.

A food consultant will also be able to train your staff to optimize resources and improve profitability within the business. They can act as an internal partner and advise on every aspect of your business including brand identity, brand awareness, positioning, operations, systems and front-of-house sales.

If you are setting up a new food business, they will also be able to help with the design of your retail space and associated merchandising. In short, you will gain an objective, expert perspective across every aspect of your business.

Even the most well-run food establishments can do with a little extra help from time to time.

Where hiring a food consultant can really pay dividends is in the area of personnel. Your staff are potentially the biggest asset your business has, seeing as they will interact with customers and one another frequently whilst delivering your food service. Your trusted advisor will train your staff to maximize their potential and make the most of their skills and resources. The consultant will also be able to provide advice on the best way of incentivising your employees and thus promoting loyalty and trust.

It’s well known that the food business is subject to a high turnover rate when it comes to staffing. If your food business consistently attracts a high staff turnover then it’s costing you more money that it should. Constantly hiring new staff every couple of months or so can be a real pain in that you have to keep training up new people. It’s also a real moral-drainer on the rest of your employees.

If you value your staff (and every business ought to), you should aim to do everything in your power to retain them. By offering them first rate ongoing training and incentives for reaching sales targets, you will encourage good moral, strong team camaraderie and high levels of personal motivation. And that can only be good for business.

Jenkinson & Associates Ltd undertake business consulting in providing business and marketing for companies looking to grow their business.

Why buy flowers online?

Flowers are traditionally one of the most popular gift choices and will continue to remain so as they can suit virtually any occasion – whether as a present or for decorative purposes.  With the rise of e-commerce, the growing number of online florists means that more and more of us are choosing to buy flowers online when a special occasion comes along. Here are just some of the reasons why it makes sense to do this:

• Guaranteed freshness: Forget wilting bunches of flowers from garage forecourts – the best online vendors will send out freshly-cut flowers on the day you want them delivered as they work directly with the flowers rather than dealing with middle men. After all, presenting your loved one with a dying bunch of roses probably doesn’t create quite the impression you are going for.

• Online consultants: If you don’t know much about flowers and are not sure which ones fit the occasion, you may be thinking that if you buy flowers online there will be nobody to advise you. Not true: today online flower shops will usually have professional flower consultants to aid your choice.
• Any hour, any day: If you’ve forgotten a loved one’s birthday and need to order some flowers in a hurry, buying online means you don’t have to worry about business hours. You can order them the night before and rest assured they will reach their destination the next day.
• Any place: If you have a friend or relative a long way away then it certainly make sense in this situation to buy flowers online. Many online florists can even offer international delivery if they have branches throughout the world.
• The cost factor: Shopping around online can throw up great deals with most goods, and flowers are no exception. Whilst going down to your local shop means you are pretty much limited to whatever they are charging there, if you look online you have every internet florist at your fingertips and you can compare prices.
• Convenience: Sometimes, with the best will in the world, you just don’t have time to go down to the shops to buy flowers. Perhaps you are working late hours and are tied to your desk all day. Before the internet this would have been a problem, but now all you have to do is locate an online florist, make your choice, make the payment and you’re done. Simple. 

Jenkinson & Associates Ltd are business consultants providing business and marketing for companies looking to grow their business.

Family activities for a rainy day

Everybody is familiar with the situation: It’s pouring with rain outside, it’s the school holidays and the children are going out their mind with boredom, driving you out of your mind in the process! So what kinds of simple and affordable activities are there to keep them entertained and stimulated until bedtime?

• Play a game: Traditional games will never go out of fashion, so use the opportunity afforded by the rain to have some fun as a family. If the kids are feeling particularly raucous then go for a more energetic game such as Twister or Charades, which involves a lot of shouting and gesticulation. On the other hand, if it is nearing the evening and you want to quieten them down a little then jigsaw puzzles are a nice, soothing family activity. One of the great things about jigsaw puzzles is that everybody can take part, whether it is sorting pieces of constructing certain sections.
•  Watch a film: Today we are spoilt for choice with the range of family-friendly films available. Whilst you would not want your children to be slumped in front of the television screen every day, watching a film together is an easy and cheap way to while away a couple of hours.
• Paint pictures: If you can’t take your family outside then it’s an ideal opportunity to get the easels out. Painting is a great activity for kids as it encourages them to be creative – but do remember to supervise them otherwise you could end up with a bit of a mess on your (or their) hands.
• Set challenges: It requires a little effort, but one of my favourite things about rainy afternoons when I was a child was when my parents would put together a treasure hunt for my brother, sisters and I. You can make this as elaborate as you want – if the rain doesn’t look like letting up all day then the core complicated the better! Also, it needn’t cost you much as you can make the clues yourself and the ‘treasure’ can be whatever best suits your children’s preferences.
  
  

Go on a day trip: Of course, you don’t have to stay in the house to avoid a downpour. If all else fails and you have the time or money, take your family on an outing. If you want to go for something educational, then find out about nearby museums of galleries. On the other hand, if you just want them to use up their energy, or they are too little to have the patience for these kinds of places, then take them to a place such as a bowling alley or indoor swimming pool.

Jenkinson & Associates Ltd undertake business consulting in providing business and marketing for companies looking to grow their business.

How to Get Married On a Budget

You hear so many stories these days of people spending thousands and thousands of pounds, even blowing their life savings to achieve their dream of a ‘perfect’ wedding. But the good news is that you don’t have to spend huge amounts of money to have a wedding day you’ll always remember. After all, the day is about celebrating what you have rather than showing off by spending more than you can afford.

If you’re really serious about working to a low budget, then here are some handy hints to bear in mind:

Location: Find a reception venue that is flexible about letting you use your own caterers as many venues will charge unreasonable prices to provide their own food. Also, if possible you should find a place in an area not known for its expensive weddings. And whilst it may not be ideal, bear in mind that many places will charge a lot less for a weekday wedding.

Suppliers: If you need to get married in a place not known for its low prices, for example central London, then make sure you shop around when it comes to suppliers for items such as flowers or decorations. In London wedding flowers can cost a lot of money but they certainly don’t need to be through the roof if you speak to somebody who knows the best discount suppliers and can get you the best deal.

If you are getting married outside London, the wedding flowers will obviously be cheaper so even if you live in the city you could perhaps look at getting married slightly further out if you want to cut costs even further.

Guest list: The first rule here is to remember that you just can’t please everyone. Guest lists are notorious for getting out of hand – it’s the old ‘I invited that group of people so I have to invite those too or they’ll be offended’ situation. You really only need to invite the people who mean a lot to you. Some of the loveliest weddings are the small and intimate ones. How many weddings have you been invited to when you hardly know the bride and groom? Cutting the guest list will dramatically reduce your food and drink costs.

 Food: Do you have a good friend who cooks, or are you a whizz in the kitchen yourself? Either hiring a friend to be your caterer or preparing the food yourself beforehand are the most low-cost options aside from having no food at all – which wouldn’t make for a great day! Hiring professional wedding caterers can really eat into your budget, as it were.

Music: The great thing about the hi-tech world we live in today is that you don’t need to hire a DJ to ensure the music runs smoothly throughout your wedding reception. In fact, it can feel much more personal to you if you create your own playlist on your ipod or MP3 player and just plug it in to the venue’s sound system.  Just make sure before you hire the reception venue that you are able to do this.

Size Matters When it Comes to Getting Your Marketing Right

Right now it might feel as though it’s all doom and gloom, what with the current state of the UK and worldwide economy, not to mention austerity measures biting hard into the public sector. But, it might be surprising to learn that many small to medium-sized businesses are thriving even in these difficult times.

Indeed, recent figures suggest that the number of businesses filing insolvency in the UK have fallen by 10 per cent overall from the same period last year. In fact, regions such as Yorkshire have shown a 14 per cent drop.
This goes to prove that no matter how difficult things get generating income and persuading punters to part with their cash, there are rewards for firms that are willing to put in the hard work and strive towards a clear, common goal. After all, it’s much easier to build from solid foundations.

Of course, this demonstrates perfectly the importance of small business marketing, the need of ramping up interest in your service and products and thus making sure your intended customer base knows exactly who you are and what you do.

A small business may have a smaller budget than larger companies but it is all relative and, if things are done the right way, the various marketing disciplines can create a pretty formidable weapon in growing your business.
There’s above the line and below the line marketing and advertising, encompassing all the fundamentals from promotional spots in local newspapers and magazines, to holding exhibitions and other public events, as well as mail shots and canvassing.

Add that to a diverse and focused online commitment and you have a business marketing strategy that can really make a difference. An external business marketing agency will aide your company’s development, pursuing in-depth market research and analysis, creating the ideal marketing solution.

How to Build a Productive Workplace

It’s an old cliché: happy workers are busy workers – but it’s true, as most company managers will attest. To ensure your employees are working to their full potential you have to listen to their needs and provide a positive working environment. If you neglect this responsibility, the result will be de-motivated, resentful employees who will be looking to take their talents elsewhere at the first available opportunity.

However, there are many fairly simple measures you can take to avoid this – and here are just a few of them:

Offer training and support: Most employees who are worth their pay go into a job with the hope of improving their skills and knowledge in order to progress in their chosen career. If they are not given new challenges and opportunities they can become disillusioned and stop caring about their job performance. Variety is the key to maintaining a stimulating work life, so make sure you invest in training schemes or even sponsor your employees in further education such as Masters degrees if this is something that will contribute positively to their job performance.

Create a great work space: It’s very well known that the environment in which you work can have a significant impact on the way you carry out your job. Give careful thought to the spaces in which your employees work in terms of office design, for example. Do they have enough natural light to boost mood? If not, consider installing some rooflights which are an easy an efficient way to distribute natural light evenly over a large space. If many of your employees work at computers, then the use of rooflights to bring in natural light can also help cut down the number of headaches or eye-strain problems they experience.

Allow time for breaks: In addition to providing the best possible space for your employees to work in, many companies recognise the benefits of providing a rest area for workers to go during breaks. It’s important for employees to take some time away from their work stations during the day so they can come back refreshed and ready to begin again. With the best will in the world, concentration levels will start to drop if we don’t give ourselves adequate rest periods.

Positive leadership: If your managers don’t work to promote a cheerful and productive atmosphere then there is no reason to assume your employees will be productive. Most people respond well to positive leadership, so ensure the people you hire to run certain departments have a proven track record for getting the best out of their team.

Flowers For Every Occasion

Whether they are for a wedding, birthday, funeral or corporate event, well-chosen and tastefully arranged flowers will work for every occasion. And nowadays, of course, there are so many great quality flower shops out there – either high-street, local or online – that it has never been easier to buy them. Flowers can be ordered in bulk to decorate entire venues, or in single bouquets as a special gift.

A single bouquet of flowers is a perfect way to show somebody you care, or to express congratulations at the birth of a new baby, for example. And whilst people often complain about the impersonality of buying a bunch of flowers from a garage forecourt, going to a specialist florist actually allows you to put your own personality into the gift as you can choose the flowers you think best suit their personality of the recipient, and specify how you would like them to be arranged. For example, it is well-known that red roses symbolise love, whilst yellow roses symbolise friendship and a flower such as a lily can stand for innocence – perfect for an occasion such as a christening.

In big cities such as London, where you may not have the time to visit a shop in person, ordering bouquets online to be delivered on the correct day can sometimes be the easiest and most reliable option. In fact in London, bouquets ordered online are now one of the most popular gift choices as in such a busy metropolis you never know when you are going to be held up in traffic, on the tube or at your place of work.

But whilst in places such as London bouquets ordered online are a sensible option, if you need to order flowers in bulk for a special event it is probably best to visit a specialist florist in person so you can discuss your needs with them in detail. After all, you want the event in question to be right, and that includes the decoration.

Another good reason for going to visit a florist when you are buying flowers in bulk for a special occasion is that you can often agree a discount price for large numbers of stock if you are speaking to someone in person. Also, many florists can also arrange the flowers for you at the venue to display them in the best possible light so they will need to see images of the place first to know what they have to work with. Again, this is something best done face-to-face to avoid any confusion.

How Search Marketing Consultants Can Help You To Find New Customers

How can you be sure that internet marketing will help you find new customers and help your business grow in a way you can support? Read on for some information that could help you shape an effective internet marketing campaign for your business that provides great return on investment  in a way that your infrastructure can handle.

Research

Researching your market can help you find out which gaps you could fill for consumers. Researching your competitors can help you find out what gaps to fill so that you can increase market share --- wooing prospects away from competitors because you’ve created a better value added proposition.



Research can also help you formulate an effective strategy for dominating the internet in a way that brings about an excellent return on your financial investment and on the sweat equity you put into the process as well. That research can also help you prepare your business for an influx of new orders.

Testing

Once you’ve determined how to move forward with your internet marketing plan, testing is important. Running some split tests could help you carefully plan for the future and do so in a sustainable way. Controlled growth and controlled expenses are going to be important. Don’t skimp on testing before rolling out a large and expensive marketing plan. You may want to start smaller scale and get more aggressive as you start to see return on that investment.

Analysis

Analysis of your internet marketing campaigns can help you figure out where to invest going forward. Analysis can help you formulate new plans to expand and improve on a continuous basis.  Analysis can help you determine whether the plan and / or the professionals you’re working with are doing a good job for your company.

Expanding Your Horizons

Don’t get too stagnant. Your business direction should continually evolve, as should your internet marketing plan. Is today’s plan bringing you new customers? If not, it’s time for a change. Once your marketing efforts bring you five new customers a week, ramp up efforts so it brings you ten. As you expand your customer base, make sure your business infrastructure evolves to be able to support the volume boost.  If it seems to daunting to continually expand on your own, don’t hesitate to hire a search marketing consultant. Controlled and careful growth in your marketing efforts as well as careful and controlled expansion of your business could result in a well balanced company balance sheet!

Why it Pays to Hire a Wedding Planner.

They say that your wedding should be one of the happiest days of your life.  But if the run-up is fraught with the stress of planning and all the pitfalls that can come with this, you may find that when it gets to your big day you wish you had never embarked upon the whole business.

It shouldn’t be this way, and it needn’t be if you hire a competent wedding planner to advise you and coordinate every aspect of your day. Here are just some of the reasons why hiring a wedding planner can help preserve your sanity!

Organisation: Planning a wedding gives you a lot to think about – flowers, catering, guest list, venue – and sometimes it can seem endless. A wedding planner is well-skilled at coordinating all these different factors and can act as the single ‘go-to’ person for all the different suppliers and service providers you are using. You just have to tell them what you want and then they can do the rest. It’s what you’re paying them to do, after all.

Saving money: It may sound strange considering that you do of course need to pay for the services of a wedding planner, but in addition to the stress-saving benefits they bring, you may find they can even slash your outgoings in the long run. This is because the best planners will have a comprehensive list of contacts and will be able to use them to negotiate on price – particularly important if you live in high-cost areas such as London.
Essential items such as wedding flowers in London can cost a fortune if you don’t know the best places to go.

Saving time: If you choose to go it alone, tasks such as researching suppliers can take up hours and hours of your time. This is particularly true if you live in a big city where there are a huge number of companies offering their services, (like the above-mentioned example of London wedding flowers). You may also find it takes time to come up with the ideal design concept, for example, but wedding planners are experienced in such things and in fact can offer guidance on every aspect of your big day.

Coping with a crisis: It doesn’t matter how much you plan, sometimes things just go wrong. Perhaps your caterers will be held up, or perhaps – horrors! – the bakery sends the wrong cake. The last thing you want to do on your wedding day is go through the stress of trying to rectify these mistakes. Your wedding planner will be that little bit more removed from the situation and, what’s more, will be experienced in dealing with such crises. Think of them as a handy insurance policy.

The Benefits of Installing a Stretch Ceiling

When you are choosing a ceiling for your home, you need to factor in considerations such as energy efficiency, heating and cooling and what it will actually cost to install in the first place.

There are several options you could go for, but here we are going to look at the properties of stretch ceilings. These are suspended systems consisting of a perimeter track and fabric membrane which stretches (hence the name) and clips into the track. They offer a wealth of benefits to the homeowner and can be used anywhere from large office buildings to small rooms around the home.

Here are some of the reasons it makes sense to install them:

Variety: Stretch ceilings can take any shape, from triangular and rectangular to arched or even 3D surfaces. Because they are made from fabric, usually PVC, they are also available in a huge variety of colours to suit absolutely anybody. So if your taste is for the avant garde, a stretch ceiling system will certainly be able to cater for this.

Strong and lightweight: Because of the light weight of the material used, stretch ceilings are easy to install and are also relatively low-cost. The robustness of the material means they will not be damaged if something is thrown up to the ceiling, and do not require special care.

They hide a multitude of sins: Installing a stretch ceiling is an efficient way of covering up any defects such as stains, or perhaps to hide ugly but necessary building elements such as pipes or cables. They can be installed in a day if necessary, which is great if you want to cover up those unsightly ceiling imperfections in a hurry, without resorting to time-consuming plastering or painting!

Hygienic: A definite plus is that stretch ceilings are both moisture and algae resistant – particularly important if you are looking for a solution for the bath or shower room, or even a public swimming pool. They are also waterproof so can be installed in areas which high levels of humidity.

Lighting and acoustics: The versatility of stretch ceilings allows for the simple installation of lighting fixtures of any type, as well as ventilation or air conditioning systems. This makes them perfect for rooms such as kitchens which will include a large number of electrical systems, or for rooms which need to be especially well-lit. They can even improve acoustic levels or sound insulation – something to be thankful for if, for example, you have a budding drummer in the house!

Nylon Stockings Perfect For Every Occasion

Nylon stockings are an essential requirement for every modern woman’s wardrobe. A staple ingredient if you like. They are perfect for social occasions and business dressing. Women who want to look smart for business say they love to wear stockings and dresses even more than they like their power suits. Imagine that!

Here is a brief guide to the types of stockings available in the marketplace today:

Opaque:
Popularized in the 1940s, opaque nylons are considered something of a classic. Opaque stockings are made from a heavier type of nylon material, which does not readily allow light to pass through it, hence the name. Opaque stockings come with either a silk or matte surface and are ideal with casual wear.

Business Sheer:
Made from stretchable, high-quality nylon, ‘business sheer’ is aptly named because it’s favoured by women in the work place. It’s designed for a clingy fit that remains in place however much walking you do during the day. As well as providing optimum fit and comfort, business sheer stockings are lightweight and attractive, providing an elegant, polished look that really is “the business”.

Run Resistant:
As the name suggests, these stockings do not easily run or tear, making them the favourites of many women. This functional type of hosiery is made from sturdy nylon fibers that are friction-resistant. Run resistant stockings are great for everyday use or leisure wear.

Ultra Sheer:
Designed to emphasize your natural skin tone, these stockings are made from ultra-fine nylon. Ultra sheers are ideal accompaniments to party wear and are extremely fashionable. The only downside is that the fine nylon fibers are vulnerable to tears, so you need to take extra care when wearing them.

Silky Sheer:
Fine silk fibers combine with lycra to create a slinky appearance that is just right for formal occasions teamed with a smart dress. As with ultra sheer stockings care must be taken not to scratch or rip the fabric.

Shimmer Stockings:
Pure nylon fibers are blended together to reflect the light as it falls upon your legs. Shimmer stockings are great for smart-casual and formal occasions, in addition they provide a particularly flattering shapely look to legs which is bound to attract compliments.

With so many different types of stockings to choose from, you’re bound to find something that’s just right for the tone and occasion.

Nylons Nylonstrumpfhose  Collants femme  Bas nylon

Hold Up Stockings Bring Out Your Inner Vamp

Perhaps we should all blame Lady Gaga for the latest trend in fetish wear.  PVC ankle boots, slashed dresses and hold up stockings have encouraged the rest of us to unveil our inner vamp, even the squeaky clean Katie Holmes has revealed another side to her character (for evidence check out the September issue of Spanish Vogue.)

At Louis Vuitton in Paris earlier this year models including Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell  strutted the catwalk in rubber wellies, sheer dresses and hold up stockings for Marc Jacobs theme-based collection, which he explained was based on  "hookers, chambermaids, wives, mistresses and other exquisite creatures"  he has encountered during his many trips to London.

But unlike Lady Gaga and our catwalk models, you don’t have to opt for an overtly sexual look to make  hold up stockings work for you. Hold up stockings make for practical every day wear, teamed with a short dress or tunic and knee-high boots, or even ankle boots. Hold up stockings are the most versatile fashion accessory – the must have item – that complements just about anything in your wardrobe.

Sexy and sassy, hold up stockings are one of the hottest trends right now. Whether you fancy fishnets or funky, seamed or patterned, you’re sure to make heads turn when you strut your stuff in the latest styles.

Holdups are available in a variety of deniers and finishes, so there’s bound to be a version you love. If you’re looking to play down the vamp look, then there’s a great range of classic styles available to purchase online now. Chic and flattering, you’ll feel totally gorgeous whatever the occasion.

So whether you’re looking to bring out your inner vamp Lady Gaga-esque, or opting for something a little bit more subtle, hold up stockings are always in fashion. This season’s hold up stockings are designed to turn heads, just make sure you don’t hold up the traffic!

Opaque Tights a Style for All Seasons

For those who think that tights have no place in a summer wardrobe, think again. We are not all super-confident in our legs, and in fact there are many women out there who wear tights year-round. Opaque tights, even as thick as 100 denier, are in style whatever the season and are so versatile you can find a style to go with any look you are trying to create.

There are many fashion icons, Kate Moss and Lily Allen being just two of them, who are often pictured out and about in a pair of opaques in the height of summer.

Here are just a few of my own personal favourites:

Cute patterns: A pair of opaque tights woven in patterns such as hearts or flowers can be absolutely lovely with a pair of shorts and some plain black heels, or boots if you want to go for comfort during the day. This look can be worn winter or summer, but choosing either woollen or lycra varieties. An interesting pattern in bold colour can also really jazz up a little black dress for a night out with maybe just a great chunky pair of earrings to finish the outfit.

Footless tights: If it really is a hot day and you want to go for a more casual and laid-back look but don’t want your legs entirely on display, go for cropped and opaque. These look funky with a pair of ballet pumps and a loose-fitting little dress. But if you’re shorter then make sure you don’t go for ankle-length tights, as these can make your legs appear a little stumpy.

Suspender tights are one of this year’s must-have items and liven up any woman’s wardrobe. They are fun and sexy, and create the illusion of stockings without you having to fiddle around with suspender belts. Because you are going for opaque, you won’t have too much leg on display so you can still pull off a pretty classy look with just a hint of cheekiness. But be warned: less is more. If you’re wearing pair of these and want to go for sophistication, don’t team them with a low-cut top.

Black opaques: Lastly, it may sound dull but a girl really can’t do without a plain pair of black opaque tights in her wardrobe. They go with almost everything, are very slimming and can also make your legs look longer, particularly when paired with a pair of killer black heels. They are also essential as a base for a particularly colourful or eye-catching dress, teamed with a bright pair of heels. Black opaque tights can allow you to do edgy, casual, conservative or sophisticated in equal measure.

Lights, Camera, Action...How Movies Are the Perfect Inspiration for Business Success

For a good example of how the constituent parts of a marketing campaign come together to support the greater good of a much larger entity, you need look no further than that of the movie industry. 

The script and story of the movie can be compared to that of a company’s initial ethos, charter and objective, while a film’s teaser trailers, billboard posters and website are similar to those first tentative steps when a company is promoting itself properly for the first time.

A movie, just like a company, is geared towards making as much money as possible and that means exploiting every last revenue stream to its limit – whether it’s box office, merchandising or external funding. That means that films, costing in-excess of 100s of millions of pounds are backed by the studios which have produced them, with equally ambitious promotions, campaigns and events.

  

That’s the way you have to look at your business. 

Marketing companies will give you the necessary resources and expertise so that your ‘brand’ is as strong as it can be in the online stratosphere and really break those box office records, creating a blockbuster of a company.

A good online communications company will be able to put together a marketing strategy tailored specifically for the needs of your business. They’ll research obvious and not so obvious competitors and support you in gaining an edge over them.

Online is key. But it’s not just about having a great-looking and easy to use website. Social media such as Facebook, Twitter and dedicated company ‘channels’ on Youtube are the building blocks of communicating to your business to business customers, consumers and staff. A web marketing agency will have the skills to enable your company to fully embrace this. 

For an ideal fit when it comes to your company’s online marketing, have a look online for that Oscar-winning combination.