UK Market Research Company 'Survey Seat' Release Latest Findings On Social Media Linked Online Purchasing

November 19, 2012, 4:00 pm

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Tuesday 20 November, 2012
London, UK 19th November 2012 – Leading UK market research firm 'Survey Seat' have recently announced the findings of a comprehensive survey conducted into effects and influences that social media giants such as Facebook, twitter (and more recently, Google+) have on online purchasing. The survey was completed in conjunction with 'The Good Web Guide' in order to try and highlight how social media can affect how, where, when and on what people choose to spend their money.

The results collated indicated some interesting patterns. The survey involved seeking the opinions of a cross demographic sample of 1107 participants who were then asked to answer a range of questions, which were designed to illicit a response about social media and their purchasing preferences. The results indicated that out of the 1107 people surveyed, 824 actively use the web for hunting discounts and finding better prices on goods and services. Interestingly, it also emerged that once again, out of 1107 participants, a massive 901 (81%) had negative views on newsletters and would rather not receive them from retailers.

These results seem to suggest that while online marketing is incredibly powerful and holds a great deal of potential for retailers and service providers, the current 'norm' of approaching online marketing by way of opt-in newsletters is not an effective method of advertising and enticing customers to purchase. This leaves a gap in the online marketing arena which could be filled with social media advertisements and leveraged with potential enormous effect. With over 30 million registered Facebook users in the UK and around 1 billion users worldwide, the market exposure possibility is almost limitless.

A similarly based survey recently carried out by Survey Seat on behalf of Referr.co highlighted the potential for marketing in the currently popular 'word of mouth' referral system which sees family members and friends 'recommending' products to one another from within the social media platforms. This opens up a myriad of possibilities for companies to evolve their online marketing strategies away from the current 'newsletter' approach and more towards exploit the potential in social media.

SurveySeat.com is an online marketing survey company based in the UK. For further information about the survey and market research services on offer, please contact 0208 767 9302 or alternatively visit www.surveyseat.com and click 'contact us'.



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Spending pattern research reveals that women are planning to spend more than men on their children this Christmas

November 20, 2012, 4:00 pm

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Wednesday 21 November, 2012
A new UK based survey by Virginia Hayward has revealed that women will be spending the most money on their children this Christmas. Fifty per cent of women surveyed said that children are the priority, followed by their partner and then their parents.

Of the men that were surveyed, only a third agreed that children should have the most spent on them, with a further third opting to spend the most money on their partner.

The survey also showed that women are savvier when it comes to saving money, with 44 per cent saying that the recession will affect their spending this year. In contrast, men appear to have a more optimistic view with only 36 per cent saying that the recession will affect their spending.

Other recent research has revealed evidence of increased consumer spending this year in comparison to last year. Retail research published last month by the CBI has shown that 47 per cent of retailers have seen a year on year increase in sales volume, and only 17 per cent stating that sales had fallen. This drive is expected to continue in the run up to Christmas.

The survey was run by online hamper retailer Virginia Hayward to understand what people spend their money on at Christmas time. Justin Walmsley, Digital Marketing Manager of Virginia Hayward said: “The survey results have been very interesting, especially as men don’t seem to be too fazed by the recession. However, it’s great to see that children are top of the list when it comes to spending as it’s a magical time of year for them.”

Virginia Hayward offer a wide selection of festive hampers ranging from £12 - £550, including traditional Christmas sweets, desserts, wines, and cheese selections. Established in 1984, the company is family-run from Dorset, and known for providing high quality and bespoke hampers as corporate and personal gifts. For more information visit www.virginiahayward.com



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HCL Healthcare Confirmed on Health Trust Europe and London Procurement Partnership Frameworks

November 20, 2012, 4:00 pm

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Wednesday 21 November, 2012
Following an extensive qualification, audit and tender process, HCL Healthcare has been awarded a place on both the London Procurement Partnership (LPP) and Health Trust Europe (HTE) Frameworks for the supply of locum and permanent Allied Health Professionals and Health Science Services staff to the NHS.

HCL Healthcare Managing Director Miles Davis says the framework contracts will drive cost savings to the NHS for its permanent and locum staff, whilst ensuring a high level of clinical governance.

“HCL Healthcare is delighted to be on these frameworks which collectively cover the entire country. Our experienced team is renowned for supplying specialist staff at short notice, and this win is reflective of our unwavering focus on quality and compliance.” Mr Davis said.

LPP and HTE Frameworks work with Trusts to make the most of purchasing power of the public sector in the UK and Europe.

“The Frameworks maximise investment in patient care and help to deliver high quality services while ensuring value for money, all of which is in-line with HCL Healthcare’s service offering.”

HCL Healthcare looks to demonstrate their capacity as a volume supplier on the new framework as well as build relationships with new clients and continue to deliver to existing customers.

Ends.

For any further information, contact HCL Communications and PR Manager Laura Ackland on +44 (0) 207 451 1448.

About HCL plc
HCL plc, headquartered in London, was formed in 2003 and is a leading provider of staffing solutions in the health and social care sectors. HCL supplies over 2,000 temporary and permanent doctors, nurses, allied health professionals including occupational therapists , qualified social workers and administration & clerical staff to public and private sectors every week. We are an international company with offices in the UK and Australia and recruitment drives in Europe. For more information please visit our website at www.hclplc.com, view our facebook page or follow us on twitter @HCLplc.




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Why settle for average? Average is as close to the BOTTOM as it is to the top

November 20, 2012, 4:00 pm

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Wednesday 21 November, 2012
Re-marketing really is one of the real breakthroughs in the world of Internet marketing and the business world altogether.

Re-marketing is a way of reaching people who have been to your website AFTER they have left, regardless of whether they did anything when they were on your website!Before Re-marketing, if someone came to your website to browse what you were doing - maybe they found you on Google, saw your advertisement somewhere, were referred to you or however it may have been - the only way you could keep in touch with them was if they took some action. Maybe they bought something or signed up to your newsletter. Essentially they had to give you their details and that was the only way to keep in touch with them.If they did not give you their details, basically you have no way of communicating with them ever again unless they chose to go back to your website. The fact we can now do this addresses and solves a huge problem in online marketing.

But......there has always been a big problem with online marketing that has always been impossible to solve. The big problem is what we call the 1% rule. Obviously lots and lots of research and measurement is done online, especially by larger companies, to understand the buying and web behaviour of people who use the internet. It is extremely important to understand this, especially for large corporations. If they can make a small shift in people's behaviour, its worth tens of millions to them.
EVERY BUSINESS can benefit from this because its the same people and the same behaviour!

On average (We don't like the word average!), only 1% of people who visit a typical website take any action when they go to that website. This is what we call the 1% rule.Think of your own behaviour when you are surfing the web. What most people do online is go to a website that we are interested in and have a quick look. Then our brains have been trained to move on and "surf" the web. That is why it is called "surfing" the web. We go from one site to another. That is fine for you as a consumer, but it is a really big problem for you as a business owner. It means that even if you have got a really good website, product, service and sales strategy then 99% (okay 98% if you are really lucky) of people who come to your website are going to continue "surfing" regardless of anything you do or say. Its not necessarily your fault.Its not because there is anything wrong with what you are doing. However the customer looks at your site and in the back of their head, if what you have got is good, they believe they are going to come back to see you again. They think "I will come back later to this". Off they go, get distracted and never see you again.......Bye Bye customer......BYE BYE PROFITS.

This was a huge problem and we did all sorts of things to combat it....permission marketing and or lead generation online. Rather than selling to people straight away, we begin a relationship and ask them to sign up for something free in return for their email address and name. Problem solved, at least we can keep in touch with them. This helped, it takes the 1% upto 10% or even 15%, but that still left 85% or 90% who have gone forever. These were qualified leads. They did not find your website if the did not have an interest in what you are offering. So we are left with this horrible situation where we had this great thing - the internet - bringing hundreds of thousands of highly qualified potential buyers, but we were losing them. Major problem.Re-marketing really is one of the real breakthroughs in the world of Internet marketing and the business world altogether. With Re-marketing, we can keep communicating to that 99% (or if we are doing permission marketing or lead generation, 85-90%) who leave and we never hear from them again.

Contact info@fullpotentialmarketing.co.uk and we will help you achieve your full potential. Never settle for anything less.

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Eureca.com allows over 4 million SME´s in the UK to purchase like large corporations

November 20, 2012, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: udopt - Newly launched charity gifts portal expects to raise £250,000 by Christmas Day

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Wednesday 21 November, 2012
Recent reports form the European Commission show that by using electronic purchasing solutions, SME´s can save between 5 and 20% on their purchasing costs. Eureca.com, a new B2B market platform based in the UK, is an innovative platform looking to leverage SME´s purchasing power by delivering new Electronic Purchasing tools to all types of companies. By opening up the tendering process to the millions of UK SME´s, Eureca.com has been developed to help professionals buy and sell efficiently in a Business to Business environment.

While many larger businesses are already realizing savings through using sourcing and procurement tools, the adoption of this technology has been slow among SME´s. Existing platforms in the UK are costly to implement and are primarily focused on carrying out complex buying processes, rendering existing “eProcurement” tools useless for the typical UK SME.

Ironically, many of the suppliers that are forced to use sourcing and procurement tools from large companies don't use the tools themselves for their buying needs. The process of finding suppliers and putting contracts out for tender is typically done through email, fax or phone, something that leads to companies establishing a limited list of suppliers and a narrow perspective of the supplier market. In many cases, SME´s fail to leverage their purchasing patterns by negotiating favorable terms, instead following a traditional consumer purchase process.

Eureca.com wants to overcome these issues by providing SME´s, and their employees, a user friendly platform for managing purchasing activity. The platform allows users to monitor all the expenses associated with their purchases, as well as the details on offers from different suppliers. Centralising all the information from different suppliers allow users to compare suppliers and award contracts based on their own criteria. The platform itself is buyer driven, allowing buyers to post their needs, and then to evaluate the offers they receive from suppliers.

Also a product for people that want to sell

Eureca.com is also a marketplace where professionals from any type of company can find business opportunities in real time. After specifying business interests, suppliers will receive notifications of leads relevant to their activities, thereby opening up new sales opportunities.

Media:

• Vimeo: http://player.vimeo.com/video/52852027
  
• [pdf]

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udopt - Newly launched charity gifts portal expects to raise £250,000 by Christmas Day

November 21, 2012, 4:00 pm

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Thursday 22 November, 2012
udopt.co.uk, the charity gifts portal, has launched a fun new charity gift website that provides gift suggestions and ideas for people looking for something memorable to give in time for Christmas.

udopt has been created by Venturian Media, the largest online media publisher in the UK charity sector. In 2011, Venturian Media raised £1,500,000 through its charity network, signed up 12,000 direct debit donors and helped to distribute 10,000 charity gifts. udopt is expected to follow suit through animal adoptions and contribute to raising £250,000 by Christmas Day.

udopt is different to other charity gift websites . - added to the pictures and facts about the animals, udopt has a web app called the udopt’r which quickly matches an individual’s character traits with that of their perfect animal alter-ego. Most udopt users will likely purchase animal adoptions as gifts for children. The udopt campaign is supported by an extended social media network where fellow "udopt'rs" can gather and exchange views with charities and the udopt team, to learn more about endangered animals.

There are a wide range of gifts to choose from with packs from WWF and Guide Dogs including cuddly toys and free tickets to see the animals from the Aspinall Foundation. Plus all adoptions come with certificates, fact sheets and updates through the year. Animal adoption is a present that will be appreciated for the whole year round.

"udopt supports the exemplary work done by the animal charities such as WWF, Guide Dogs for the Blind, The Aspinall Foundation and the RSPB through a series of strategic partnerships." Says Ross Travill, co-owner of Venturian Media and udopt.

"We saw that important animal welfare issues had fallen out of the limelight and wanted to put people back in touch with the animal kingdom in a fun and interactive way. Many animals throughout the World are endangered and a whole generation of people have grown up without any knowledge of their survival status. We hope that udopt will help them to reconnect with the debate, and take action. With donations starting from just three pounds, everyone can adopt their perfect animal, and the udopt'r is on hand to make that choice in a fun and friendly way." Says Ross Travill, co-owner of Venturian Media and udopt.

Animal Adoption Gifts

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Editor's Notes

udopt is correctly written with a small ‘u’.

Venturian Media is the UK's largest online media publisher for the charity sector, running a series of long-standing donation based websites for more than 7 years. Venturian Media retains close relationships with many of the UK's leading charities and through performance based marketing initiatives align themselves with the Venturian Donate Network mission:

Education, Awareness, Fun, Action
• To educate and highlight the plight of endangered animals worldwide.
• To raise awareness and support for the initiatives of the leading animal charities.
• To deliver information in a fun and family friendly way.
• To help people reconnect with the “endangered species” debate, and take action to make a difference.

Twitter: @udoptuk [twitter.com/udoptuk]
Facebook: udoptuk [facebook.com/udoptuk]
Pinterest: udopt [pinterest.com/udopt]
Websites: udopt [www.udopt.co.uk]
Venturian Media [Venturian-media.com]

High resolution images available through Sharp Relations

For further information contact:
AJ Sharp
Sharp Relations
T: 0844 77 66 342
M: 07973 387216
E: aj@sharprelations.com
W: www.sharprelations.com

Media:

• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/embed/Rgb81iWMcXY
  

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Rediscover Your Senses in an Innovative Infographic by Thomson

November 22, 2012, 4:00 pm

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Friday 23 November, 2012
Thomson has released a ground-breaking interactive graphic promoting its new route to Thailand http://holidaysjustgotbetter.thomson.co.uk/holidays/thailand-infographic-post/ .

The interactive graphic encourages the user to "rediscover their senses" in Thailand and was created using the latest technology including HTML5 coding. You can discover how to invigorate all five senses through videos and images, by hovering over an interactive map and discovering sensory experiences such as a visit to the jungle, and Thai massages, as well as the amazing cuisine that’s on offer.

The release of the graphic comes after Thomson announced the sale of flights to Thailand on the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which will be joining the company’s fleet of aircraft next year. Customers will be able to fly direct to Phuket from November 2013, where they can experience unique 'concept' hotels including a First Choice SplashWorld and a Thomson Couples property in the resorts of Krabi, Khao Lak and Phuket. The Thomson 787 Dreamliner will also fly to Florida and Mexico, Cancun from May 2013.

Shona Swain, General Manager of Long Haul Product for Thomson, said: "The graphic is a great way to really promote the fact that there is so much to see and do in Thailand. The country is full of surprises, and is an amazing alternative for those who want to experience something different."

About Thomson: Thomson and First Choice, part of TUI UK & Ireland, take over 5.5 million customers away each year, making them the UK's largest holiday company.

Travelling to 88 destinations in over 30 countries, Thomson and First Choice offer a wide range of holidays for families, couples and groups alike. Thomson Airways will be the first airline in the UK to take delivery of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, with long haul flying starting on 1st May 2013.



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How to Improve Business Mailing Productivity: A New Whitepaper from Neopost

November 22, 2012, 4:00 pm

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Friday 23 November, 2012
Neopost releases new white paper explaining how today's intelligent mailing solutions can streamline business communication and improve business efficiency and productivity.

Neopost has produced a new white paper explaining clearly how businesses of all sizes can make use of mailing equipment and software solutions, to speed up the opening and distribution of incoming mail and the creation and despatch of outgoing post. ' How to improve mailing productivity ' is the second in a series of Neopost white papers and follows the recent publication of 'How to cut the cost of postal communications'.

Mail is vital to the smooth running of any business and the speed and accuracy with which invoices, contracts, statements, reminders, marketing material and other business-critical mail is processed can have a major impact on everything from cash flow and new business generation to the quality of an organisation's relationships with customers, suppliers and employees. Even so, many businesses continue to rely on manual processes and poorly managed workflows for the handling of incoming and outgoing mail.

Neopost's free 12-page guide explains why it is important to eliminate bottlenecks and delays from mail workflows; highlights key topics to consider when designing more efficient mail processes; and outlines the productivity benefits of the latest mailing solutions, from envelope openers to output management software .

“As managers come under pressure to eliminate wasteful business processes, I would urge them to look at how they manage their incoming and outgoing post,” comments Neopost Marketing Director Andy MacKenzie . “Fast and accurate mail processing is essential to business efficiency and is becoming more so as postal communications are integrated with enterprise applications through output management solutions and the scanning of incoming mail. Even businesses with simple requirements can achieve big productivity gains by investing in a letter opener or folder-inserter to automate time-consuming manual tasks.”

To download Neopost’s “How to improve mailing productivity”, please visit http://www.neopost.co.uk/pr74

ENDS
 

About Neopost
Neopost is the European leader and number two world-wide supplier of mailing solutions. It has a direct presence in 18 countries, with 5,600 employees and annual sales of €1003 million in 2011. Its products and services are sold in more than 90 countries, and the Group has become a key player in the markets for mailroom equipment and logistics solutions. Neopost supplies the most technologically advanced solutions for franking, folding and inserting and addressing as well as logistics management and traceability. Neopost also offers a full range of services, including consultancy, maintenance and financing solutions.

Neopost is listed in the A compartment of Euronext Paris and belongs notably to the SBF 120 Index.

Press contact is Claire Dodds at Neopost Limited
Tel: 01708 714143
Fax: 01708 714050
Email: claire.dodds@neopost.co.uk

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Charity runners to complete Yorkshire alternative to famous marathon

November 22, 2012, 4:00 pm

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Friday 23 November, 2012
PRESS RELEASE
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 23
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Charity runners to complete Yorkshire alternative to famous marathon

A GROUP of charity runners will take part in a Yorkshire alternative to the New York Marathon this December, following the cancellation of the world famous event due to Hurricane Sandy early this month.
A group of runners from the Harrogate area will complete their own take on the world famous race on December 2, by running from New York Village, near Summerbridge, to Saint Michael’s Hospice in Harrogate.
The group of eight are determined to complete this alternative to the New York Marathon to fulfil their promise to the many people who sponsored them more than £30,000 to help local people live with terminal illness and bereavement.
Runner Patrick Dunlop said: “We completely understand why the New York Marathon was unable to take place in 2012 and thoughts are with everyone who has been affected.
“However completing this alternative challenge is important to us because it gives us the opportunity to fulfil our promise to the many people across the Harrogate district to sponsored us to finish the race, thus enabling the money we have raised to be put to good use supporting patient care at Saint Michael’s.
“This is how the idea of an alternative was born- and with New York in our patch the idea came together quickly.”
People seeking to support the team can do so with refreshments at different posts along the route.
Local businesses and individuals are also encouraged to sponsor the team, or sponsor the mile markers along the route.
Donations can also be made through Justgiving or via mobile phone by texting 'NYNY12' and the amount to 70070.
…………..ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS:
Saint Michael’s welcomes all enquiries. For further information or to arrange photographs or video footage, please contact the Communications Department on info@saintmichaelshospice.org or by ringing (01423) 856 793.
Saint Michael’s believes everyone in the Harrogate District should be offered the choice of the best possible end of life care regardless of their diagnosis or place of care.
We are the only organisation in the district dedicated to ensuring local people get the end of life care they need and deserve.
We are doing this by:
1. Continuing to improve and expand the Inpatient and Outpatient services available from our Hospice, at Hornbeam Park.
2. Working in collaboration with our colleagues in the NHS to assist people who choose to live at home at the end of their life.
3. Setting up and running the area’s first comprehensive bereavement support service.
4. Playing a leading role in the development of a palliative care strategy for the local area.
5. Identifying and sharing excellent clinical palliative care practice through the development of an education programme for health professionals.
6. Acting as a voice for the views and concerns of the people who use these services.

We place great value on dignity, respect, compassion and empowerment.
We receive a £660,000 grant from the NHS towards the £3.8million needed to maintain our current range of services.
This means the majority of our costs must be funded through the local community and our own fundraising initiatives. More information about Saint Michael's can be found at http://saintmichaelshospice.org



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Tesco's new interactive technology offers shoppers a world of toys in one place

November 25, 2012, 4:00 pm

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Monday 26 November, 2012
A giant 80 inch touch screen giving shoppers interactive access to more than 11,000 products is being trialled in one of Tesco’s key stores in the run up to Christmas.

Shoppers will be able to use the state of the art technology to browse the full range of toys available on tesco.com, filtering what’s available by age, gender and price. Customers can then place an order by printing a ticket for Click and Collect or by using their mobiles, via a QR code on the screen or by sending a text message to get a weblink. Some products can be rotated for a 360 degree view and all come with full descriptions.

This innovation builds on the recent trial of a virtual grocery store at Gatwick Airport, which also offered customers instant touch-screen access to online and mobile ordering in a convenient location.

The screen, which is more than 7 feet tall, allows people to move seamlessly from browsing real aisles to the virtual aisle, providing easy access to the wider range of products available online and helping customers do more of their shopping in a single trip.

Tesco’s UK General Merchandise Director, Neela Mukherjee, said: “Our focus is on making shopping as convenient as possible for our customers, and we also want to make sure store customers don’t miss out on the growing range of products we have available online. This giant screen makes use of a single section of the store to offer shoppers access to an enormous range of toys, like being able to stroll down the longest aisle in the world. It’s also a really fun way to get a close look at what’s available and, with Christmas approaching, we’re sure plenty of children will be encouraging mum and dad to stop and have a look.”


Media team

For journalist enquiries only contact the Tesco Media Centre Monday to Friday, 8am to 6:30pm on:
+44(0) 1992 644 645

Out of hours call:
+44(0) 1992 644 733

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Is your chimney safe for Santa?

November 26, 2012, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Thinking about escaping the UK this Christmas? So is everyone else!

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Tuesday 27 November, 2012
Christmas is fast approaching and with the colder weather also arriving, cosy chimney fires are being lit. Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service are encouraging you to check your chimney is clean, safe and swept for Santa’s arrival.

Chimney fires can cause serious structural damage to a home, with the risks being even greater if the property has a thatched roof. The damage is not only fire based but also the dirt and smell left from all the soot and smoke, which would affect your personal property, including all your Christmas presents.

Chimneys need to be dirt free to allow the free passage of dangerous combustion gasses, so regular cleaning will remove soot and creosote, and help prevent dangerous chimney fires. Make sure your chimney is swept regularly by a registered chimney sweep.

Sweeping frequencies
Sweeping frequencies below are for guidance only. Frequency will depend on a number of factors including: type of fuel, appliance used, duration of use, moisture content of wood fuel, type of chimney.

- Smokeless coals - at least once a year
- Wood - up to four times a year
- Bituminous coal - twice a year
- Oil - once a year
- Gas once a year

Growing in popularity are wood burning stoves and they also need to be checked regularly to ensure they are safe and clean, ensure wood burners are installed and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Top tips
- always use a fire guard to protect against flying sparks from hot embers
- make sure embers are properly put out before you go to bed or leaving the house
- when burning wood, use dry, seasoned woods only
- never burn cardboard boxes or waste paper
- do not overload the grate
- consider having a carbon monoxide detector fitted as an additional safeguard against the build up of poisonous fumes
- have a working smoke alarm

Smoke alarms
Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service advise you to:
• regularly check your alarm/s by pressing the button
• once a year – change your battery or consider buying a ten-year alarm which will not require frequent battery changes
• once a year – vacuum and wipe the smoke alarm casing to ensure dust isn’t blocking the sensor chamber (For mains wired alarms, switch off first).

Top tips on winter safety.

End
For more press information or interviews please contact
Suzie Izzard
t. 01392 872296
m. 07812 148426
sizzard@dsfire.gov.uk
Keep up to date and follow ‘dsfireupdates’ on twitter and Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service on Facebook

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Thinking about escaping the UK this Christmas? So is everyone else!

November 27, 2012, 4:00 pm

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Wednesday 28 November, 2012
Thinking about escaping the UK this Christmas? So is everyone else!

Purple Parking figures show people are fleeing the UK rain and winds and flying away to better climes this Christmas. Overall bookings over the festive period are already up by 28% and booking values have increased by 30%. Of all the booking trends the most notable increases in bookings are at Stansted, Manchester and Gatwick.

More people are parking at Stansted with booking figures exceeding last year’s Christmas bookings by 127% with still a month to go. The airport parking industry has seen an increase in the use of Meet and Greet services; an off-airport service where customers can drive up to the terminal and a chauffeur drives their car to a safe car park, delivering it back to arrivals as they return. It may be more expensive than the other off airport option, Park and Ride, but people are willing to pay for the convenience as Purple Parking has seen 151% increase in bookings for the Meet and Greet service for Stansted over Christmas.

Manchester airport parking has seen the next biggest increase with bookings over the holiday season up by 51%. This airport is bucking the trend slightly as customers are opting for cheaper parking with Meet and Greet only up 2% whereas Park and Ride figures are up 125% year on year.

Gatwick parking was the third airport to see a festive increase already beating last year’s figures by 34%. Gatwick customers are choosing the convenient Meet and Greet service with an increase of 75%.

Mark Hinge, Managing Director of Purple Parking explains, “Typically Christmas has always been quieter than the summer, however we have seen a change in trends over the last few years. Nowadays the typical summer holidays are not always the preferred time for people to travel. Holidays during the winter months allow people to escape the winter weather for sunnier climes and also travel to different destinations which experience their rainy season in June, July and August and better weather in December and January.”

Stansted airport parking was recently in the news after introducing a £2 drop off fee for passengers, encouraging people to instead use off-airport parking or public transport.

Award winning Purple Parking the UK's largest airport car parking operator, has specialised in airport car parking within the Business and Leisure travel market for over 20 years. The company offers services at 26 key airport car parks across the UK, including Heathrow Parking. Purple Parking is known for its excellent service and with its consistently competitive prices it is favoured by many customers travelling from the UK.
Ends



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Now you can save even more with Kitchen Magic

November 27, 2012, 4:00 pm

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Wednesday 28 November, 2012
We may be looking at some ‘green shoots of recovery’ as the economic figures take us out of recession and into growth for the first time in months, but across the country households are still watching every penny. So an extra-special offer from Kitchen Magic is just what you need at this expensive time of the year. To make sure your kitchen refurbishment is even more special and a real bargain too, Kitchen Magic are extending their free fitting offer on all orders. Click Here – FREE Fitting on Kitchen Doors

“We’re certain that our customers will love this extra offer, and since we announced free fitting on all orders, we’ve been inundated with inquiries,” comments Marketing Manager Samantha Davies. “This is probably one of our busiest periods ever, and with the run-up to Christmas always a bit of a frantic one, our teams of refurbishment experts are working flat out to ensure everyone who orders now gets their perfect kitchen in time for the festive season,” she adds.

Even better value

The free fitting offer means that Kitchen Magic’s refurbishments are even better value than ever before. Choosing a refurbishment rather than a complete kitchen replacement means that you can have a great looking end result at a fraction of the cost, and with far less disruption than a refit.

“The cost of a complete kitchen refit is split between the price of the units and materials and the charge for fitting,” explains Samantha. “With our offer, not only are you saving a huge amount of money by utilising much of what you already have, but our free fitting offer cuts the cost right down to the bone too, making it the most economical choice,” she adds.

A refurbishment lets you keep your existing layout and, rather than ripping out and throwing away perfectly good units that still have plenty of life left in them, Kitchen Magic will transform the look of your kitchen by replacing doors, drawer fronts and worktops.

This keeps disruption down to an absolute minimum, meaning your kitchen transformation can happen in days, rather than weeks. And with festive attention focused on the kitchen, that’s good news for stressed family chefs across the country!

A start-to-finish service

The free fitting offer is part of their start-to-finish service, that begins with an expert appraisal of your existing kitchen and carries on to specialist design consultations by experienced kitchen designers. Rapid (and of course free!) fitting by their expert refurbishment teams and an after-care service that’s second to none ensures that every customer is delighted with Kitchen Magic’s results.

“We know that although design is key when you’re doing a home improvement, in this age of austerity costs are also a significant factor,” says Samantha. “We want to make sure that Britain’s householders can have the kitchen of their dreams without breaking the bank, and a refurbishment with free fitting is, in our mind, the best way to achieve this. But we’re almost swamped with inquiries for our fantastic kitchen make-overs, so make sure you contact us soon to book your free quotation!” she concludes.

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Notes for editors:

About Kitchen Magic

Located in Birmingham city centre, Kitchen Magic is long established with over 26 years trading experience. As one of the first companies to specialise solely in kitchen refurbishment, they have built a reputation for their high level of service and have recently appeared on Channel 4’s You Deserve this House. For more information about Replacement Kitchen Doors – Click Here



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Top 5 Christmas Jewellery Gifts for Her When Shopping on a Budget

November 27, 2012, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: VAUXHALL SHARPENS NEW VAN LEASING RATES

≪ Previous: Now you can save even more with Kitchen Magic

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Wednesday 28 November, 2012
Everyone wants their loved ones to feel special on Christmas day. However, in these tough economic times we don’t all have the budget to spoil our partners as much as we would like.

The good news is that while jewellery might be the ultimate symbol of luxury, this festive season there are plenty of beautifully made pieces priced at under £250. With this in mind, here is a look at five beautiful jewellery gift ideas that won’t break the bank.

Necklaces
Necklaces are extremely fashionable right now, with a huge revival of chunky statement pieces that are perfect for brightening up the highly tailored style of clothing currently available on the high street.

Charm necklaces are an affordable and stylish option, with intricately designed sterling silver charms brightening up even the plainest outfit. Pendants are another beautiful yet affordable necklace style to keep an eye out for this Christmas.

Swarovski crystals make an eye catching centrepiece that won’t break the budget. Two great examples are the Swarovski ‘Simplicity’ pendant which features a large, clear crystal framed in clear crystal pave and the Swarovski reversible pendant, which is rhodium plated with a spinning disc centrepiece of Jet Hematite crystals.

Both items are guaranteed to impress with their wow-factor quality, yet with price tags well under £200 they won’t put your finances on a back foot before the start of the New Year.

Earrings
Whether your partner prefers hoops, studs or drop earrings, there is a huge range of affordably priced options to choose from. If you’re on a very strict budget, stud earrings can start at around £15 and include a wide range of quirky and playful earring designs, including fruity-inspired, lady beetle and candy-striped creations.

If quirky isn’t really your girlfriend’s style, chic and elegant looks are still very affordable. The Emporio Armani collection features a beautiful selection of small sterling silver hoop earrings set with cubic zirconias. A truly glamorous stud design might be more what your girlfriend loves and if that’s the case you can’t go past the Ti Sento sparkling cubic zirconia ball stud earrings which come set in rhodium and plated with sterling silver.

Bracelets
Bracelets make for a stunning Christmas gift and the style of jewellery is also well suited for a heartfelt engraving to add an extra sentimental touch. Classical silver bracelets make for a timeless accessory and there’s a wide variety of styles priced under £100, leaving extra money for a card and some chocolates.

Charm bracelets are exceptionally popular right now. DKNY has created a high shine stainless steel charm bracelet featuring a beautiful assortment of charms, which are encrusted with cubic zirconias and priced under £100. For a unique and feminine option, the Chris Lewis Pearl Nest Bracelet is a beautiful piece set in sterling silver. Priced at only £130, it also comes with a matching necklace and earrings to complement the look.

Charms
If your girlfriend already owns a beautiful charm bracelet or necklace, why not add to her collection by getting her a new charm? From sentimental and stylish to fun and quirky, a new charm is a great way to show just how well you know her. Lovelinks are a stylish yet affordable brand of charms if you’re thinking of creating a bracelet or necklace from scratch.

Rings
Nothing says romance and celebration like a new ring. Spoil her this Christmas with a stunning 9ct white gold diamond set ring with intricate flower designs. Or, if she loves a splash of colour in her jewellery, why not consider the beautiful 9ct white gold ring showcasing a .45ct Marquise Cut pink sapphire. Worth £249, it’s sure to be a gift that she’ll cherish for life and falls just under the £250 budget threshold.

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VAUXHALL SHARPENS NEW VAN LEASING RATES

November 27, 2012, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: OneDirection.net Release New One Direction iPhone App

≪ Previous: Top 5 Christmas Jewellery Gifts for Her When Shopping on a Budget

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Wednesday 28 November, 2012
• Enhanced finance deals across multi-award winning van range
• New rates on Corsavan, Astravan, New Combo, Vivaro and Movano
• British-built Vivaro available from just £199 per month excluding VAT

Luton - Vauxhall has enhanced its finance deals across its multi-award winning commercial vehicle range.
Supported by the manufacturer’s extensive dealer network and available on the Corsavan, Astravan, New Combo, Vivaro and Movano, the new contract hire rates mean that the entire Vauxhall CV model range is even more affordable.

For just £199.99 per month excluding VAT for business customers, the British-built Vivaro comes with the Extra Value Plus Pack, including: air conditioning, remote alarm and Electric Pack. Also UK-produced is the Astravan Sportive, available from £161.99 per month excluding VAT. The new-to-the-range Combo Van is available from £166.99 per month excluding VAT.

“Our new Vauxhall Leasing offering has been developed to meet the many challenges of running a modern van fleet,” said Richard Collier, Vauxhall’s National Commercial Vehicle and B2B Sales Manager.
“Our contract hire solution is both flexible and highly competitive in the marketplace, while our excellent regional coverage means customers can take advantage of the fully maintained packages which cover services and brakes and tyres, providing hassle-free motoring.”
The lower rates, which include Roadside Assistance and Vehicle Excise Duty for the duration of the contract, mean that Vauxhall can now act as a one-stop-shop for customers’ supply and fleet management needs.

For further information on Vauxhall leasing, please visit http://www.vauxhall.co.uk/offers-finance/van-offers/leasing_businessfirst.html.

Building over 70,000 vehicles alone last year at its plants in Luton and Ellesmere Port, Vauxhall is the UK’s largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles.



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OneDirection.net Release New One Direction iPhone App

November 27, 2012, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Improve Data Visualization By Mapping with Microsoft Excel

≪ Previous: VAUXHALL SHARPENS NEW VAN LEASING RATES

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Wednesday 28 November, 2012
OneDirection.net , recently rebranded as 'One Direction News', announced their new One Direction iPhone App last week, which has received over 25,000 downloads in the first 10 days of release.

Launched to coincide with the release of the popular boyband's new album 'Take Me Home', the easy-to-use app entitled One Direction World is billed as "THE essential iPhone app for every 1D fan", and provides current news, band photos, wallpapers, song lyrics and videos, as well as information on tour dates & concert tickets.

An Android version of the same app is currently the number one downloaded One Direction app on Google Play (Google's version of Apple's App Store), so OneDirection.net are predicting big things for it. Both apps are entirely free to download.

The website has direct links with the boyband's official merchandise company Global Merchandising Services, and as such has an "Official Fan Store", where fans can purchase 1D merchandise such as t-shirts, hoodies and CD's.

With One Direction's popularity increasing each day, OneDirection.net are confident the app will be a success, and promise to release updates on a regular basis to ensure that interest is kept high.

Regarded by fans of One Direction as their first-choice destination for news & gossip, the website boasts over a million unique monthly visitors along with a thriving community. At any one time there can be hundreds of fans from all across the world chatting to each other.

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Improve Data Visualization By Mapping with Microsoft Excel

November 28, 2012, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: MARK WARNER LAUNCHES NEW BEACH RESORTS 2013 BROCHURE

≪ Previous: OneDirection.net Release New One Direction iPhone App

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Thursday 29 November, 2012
To help businesses convey their ideas through data visualization, Topo.ly offers the latest mapping and geocoding technology. By using visual data analytics tools, a manager will not only become a “data viz” whiz, but he or she will also deliver practical growth strategies and optimal expansion opportunities. Topo.ly has been used by different organizations such as small businesses, universities, non-government organizations, schools, sales consulting, and others to provide clear visualization of the data they gathered and stored from their Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.

For new small business owners who are unfamiliar with “data viz” or data visualization, they may initially feel intimidated. They may even lose their way and become entangled in the web of data available in their systems. But once business owners have learned the value of data visualization, they can use it to enhance their decisions and save time.

How Topo.ly and Excel Promote Data Visualization

For decades now, Microsoft Excel spreadsheets are used to store vast amounts of data. These spreadsheets can be used to create maps to easily interpret data. The mapping visualization provided by Topo.ly make it possible for companies to save enormous amounts of time. By pasting their spreadsheet data into Topo.ly, businesses can visualize their data within minutes. A simple look at their map can help them understand business growth and identify opportunities to mitigate the risks and connect with their customer.

Businesses from different industries are encouraged to try out the service. Free registration is available to business owners so they can start to build their maps for free . They can also take advantage of the Plus Membership where they can be able to enjoy advance mapping features for only $20 a month. From this small fee, users can:

- Add infinite number of data sets
- Add territory layers
- Build heat maps
- Customize markers
- Embed maps on websites
- Show location labels
- Save unlimited maps

Indeed, Topo.ly is a reliable business intelligence mapping application to help businesses understand and visualize data. For further inquiries or concerns, visit the website or email the company at contact@topo.ly

Media:

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MARK WARNER LAUNCHES NEW BEACH RESORTS 2013 BROCHURE

November 28, 2012, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Cost of Life and Critical Illness Cover Set To Rise With New EU Directive

≪ Previous: Improve Data Visualization By Mapping with Microsoft Excel

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Thursday 29 November, 2012
Including new four star resort, British Airways Flights and FREE WiFi At All Summer Resorts.

If you are already thinking about next year’s summer holiday, then get hold of specialist tour operator Mark Warner's new summer 2013 ‘Beach Resorts’ brochure, out now!

As well as all the usual great holidays, the brochure is packed full of new holiday ideas like Mark Warner’s new four star resort opening next year, Lemnos Beach Resort on the island of Lemnos, Greece, which will offer accommodation on a full board with wine basis, as well as all the usual Mark Warner waterfront, tennis, mountain biking activities and childcare facilities.

Other new developments from Mark Warner for 2013 include British Airways flights on all of its routes out of London, as well as FREE WiFi at all eight of its summer resorts in 2013 – both of which have been introduced due to customer demand, plus:

• The village style accommodation at Lakitira Beach Resort in Kos has undergone a full refurbishment to bring it to the same standard as the hotel. Additionally, the resort’s watersports equipment has been upgraded and quantities increased in time for the 2013 summer season.

• 50 rooms at San Lucianu Beach Resort in Corsica have been upgraded to a deluxe or superior standard.

• The five star Levante Beach Resort in Rhodes will see the opening of a third restaurant – a Greek Taverna serving traditional Greek food with a contemporary twist.

• Perdepera Beach Resort in Sardinia will have an upgrade to its watersports kit in time for the 2013 summer season.

Brochure prices start from £655 per person for a week at Levante Beach Resort in Rhodes, departing 4th May 2013 and including return British Airways flights from Heathrow Terminal Five, seven nights half board accommodation, resort transfers, seven nights accommodation on a half board basis, Kid's Clubs (over two years), evening childcare, Teenager's Club, watersports and tuition, use of tennis courts and aerobics and fitness classes and mountain biking.

Contact:

For bookings or more information contact Mark Warner Mark Warner on 0844 273 6796.


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Cost of Life and Critical Illness Cover Set To Rise With New EU Directive

November 28, 2012, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: England Legends Launch Canterbury’s ’1871′ Collection at Twickenham

≪ Previous: MARK WARNER LAUNCHES NEW BEACH RESORTS 2013 BROCHURE

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Thursday 29 November, 2012
From 21st December 2012 a new EU Gender Directive will come into force that will impact the cost of life and critical illness cover for both new and existing customers across Europe.

This directive stipulates that it will no longer be lawful for Insurance companies to price their policy premiums based on an individual's sex.

Historically, the price of an insurance policy has always reflected the risk associated with the cover provided. While this risk can be significantly different depending on the gender of the holder.

As the life expectancy of the average woman is generally higher than that of a man, life cover premiums are traditionally lower for the female sex.

In the same way, women also suffer from less serious illnesses than their male counterparts, which has been reflected in the lower cost of critical illness policies for females in the past.

However, with the introduction of this new legislation, this is all set to change.

Insurance companies are now under pressure to bring men and women's policies inline, which means significant rises in the cost of life and critical illness for women. Such raises are expected to impact both the renewal of existing policies and the creation of new cover for women of all ages.

In anticipation of this price hike, women who are aware of the changes are now reassessing their insurance requirements and making the necessary arrangements before 21st December to protect themselves against the changes.

"Because of the gender-neutral pricing, this will result in higher insurance premiums across many different products." said Steven Keogh, Head of marketing for www.friendlyfinance.co.uk.

"In particular, we have seen a significant rise in clients renewing their life and critical illness polices to take advantage of the current lower premiums and to tie these costs down for the long term."



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England Legends Launch Canterbury’s ’1871′ Collection at Twickenham

November 29, 2012, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Moody's assigns definitive rating to COSCO Finance (2011) Limited's bonds

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Friday 30 November, 2012
Last Saturday at Twickenham not only saw the clash between England and Australia but also saw the official launch of Canterbury’s Limited Edition, 1871 collection.

The launch was held in Twickenham’s South Stand store, with a little help from Canterbury brand ambassador Will Greenwood and his sidekick Austin Healey. As fans started to arrive for a little pre-match shopping the comedy duo, who could be the next Ant and Dec, were on hand to serve and assist customers with their purchases whilst modelling some of the new collection.

As if that wasn’t enough, Will and Austin also made time to pose for photos and answer questions for their fans, Will even managed to squeeze in a live broadcast for Sky Sports News whilst taking on the role of ’Sales Assistant’ and trying to upsell a customer from a mini rugby ball to one of the new ’1871′ items.

Will wore the classic 1871 long sleeve rugby jersey which boasts a version of the famous rose emblem inspired by the very first England shirts back in 1871. Austin sported the 1871 anthem jacket in purple, a coulour inspired by the iconic tracksuits worn by the players throughout the RFU’s history. With both Will and Austin being a part of celebrated England squads, they were perfect to be part of the launch of such a historic collection.

Austin even popped over to Canterbury’s ‘Join The Lineup’ fan stand to relive some memories and have his picture taken alongside England’s current players (Even if it meant getting a little too close to Joe Marler!)

To add to the fun we even hired a mime artist for the day who was also sporting the 1871 collection, not to be upstaged by the celebrated talent inside the store, he ‘greeted’ customers and even took part in an ensemble with the QBE marching band!

For more information please visit http://www.canterbury.com

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