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.