Tuesday, 11 October 2011
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
Blog update: Sonos: The Gadget I Can’t Live Without - This has been a big month for Sonos. After six years of q... http://ow.ly/1eZZ6x
Sonos: The Gadget I Can’t Live Without
OK, so compared with Apple’s terrifying expansion and gradual domination of humanity’s gadget obsession, a million units is pretty small potatoes. But Sonos has never seemed to be about scoring record sales or laying waste to the home stereo market – they just enjoy making great products that people love. They’re the gadget equivalent of the small family-run restaurant that you have to book two weeks in advance. The kind that turns down the offer of larger premises because they worry that they wouldn’t be able to offer the same level of service if they had three times as many covers.
Read More - http://www.sabotagetimes.com/camouflage/the-gadget-i-cant-live-without/
Friday, 30 September 2011
Blog update: Birthday Gift Ideas for Dad - How do you choose the excellent present for the almost ideal man in your ... http://ow.ly/1eVgn9
Friday, 23 September 2011
Blog update: Most iconic Bradford sites given spots on new local version of Monopoly http://ow.ly/1eOzwj
Saturday, 6 August 2011
Blog update: UK Online sales growth exceeds expectation during first half of 2011 http://ow.ly/1e89Vn
Monday, 1 August 2011
Blog update: Harry Potter works magic for Rachel - A SPELLBINDING new board game designed by a Portsmouth mum has hi... http://ow.ly/1e3wbb
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
Blog update: Kids pick parents' gadgets - TVs, tablets and computers may feature prominently on adults' credit card ... http://ow.ly/1dZyj9
Monday, 18 July 2011
Blog update: Poor spelling online costs UK millions - Spelling mistakes on websites are costing ‘millions’ in online... http://ow.ly/1dRSOB
Monday, 11 July 2011
Blog update: Amazon expansion gathers pace - Online retailer Amazon yesterday unveiled plans to open a processing ce... http://ow.ly/1dKDKy
Sunday, 10 July 2011
Gentleman's Ball scratcher - Ideal Gift for £9.99
This is definitely the present for the man who has everything! Aimed at the "Busy Male Executive" is the Gentleman's Ball Scratcher!
For the days when your own hands are just not precise enough, the Gentleman's Ball Scratcher is in the shape of a delicate female hand, for those hard to reach places. The 9 inch handle provides excellent extra length to help get around difficult obstacles (beer bellies, old pizza, empty beer cans etc.) and provide the relief so many crave...
This quality silverware utensil is dishwasher safe, and has a stain resistant surface
For the days when your own hands are just not precise enough, the Gentleman's Ball Scratcher is in the shape of a delicate female hand, for those hard to reach places. The 9 inch handle provides excellent extra length to help get around difficult obstacles (beer bellies, old pizza, empty beer cans etc.) and provide the relief so many crave...
This quality silverware utensil is dishwasher safe, and has a stain resistant surface
Wednesday, 4 May 2011
Tax-free wedding gift planning with William & Kate
Prince William & Kate Middleton’s request that people make donations to their charity rather than give them wedding gifts that they might never use could set a trend.
Recent research shows that we spend some £1.1 billion a year on wedding presents with an average spend of £47. With the average couple inviting some 96 guests, this is a total gift value of £4,512 per wedding, according to research from First Direct.
There are 232,990 weddings in total each year according to the Office for National Statistics so there is a lot of money being wasted on unwanted breadmakers, vases, salad servers and the like.
As in Will and Kate’s case, this money could be given to charity or – as accountants are pointing out – or for those who need the money, could be gifted to a young couple as cash to buy things of their own choice.
In addition you can make any number of small gifts of £250 each year to any number of recipients, although you can’t use your small gifts allowance together with any other exemption when giving to the same person.
Parents can each give cash or gifts worth £5,000, while grandparents and great grandparents can each give cash or gifts worth £2,500 as ‘gifts on marriage’. You have to formally express your intention to make a gift within the IHT exemptions before the wedding takes place.The IHT rules only apply to guests who are domiciled in the UK.
With an increasing number of couples living together before marriage, it is possible that both will already own a flat or home. While the couple remain unmarried both properties should be free from CGT as both will be the individual’s Principal Private Residence. On marriage one or the other properties must be nominated as their PPP and is free from CGT on sale. But the second property will be liable to CGT calculated from the date of marriage, when it is sold.
Bear in mind too that many young couples today have lived together before marriage and may even have children. Adult Games Direct is a fantastic site for couples and partners alike to obtain novelty gifts. Now is the time for grandparents to consider making regular gifts out of income to grandchildren to mitigate any potential IHT liability. Provided the gifts are not out of capital and do not reduce your standard of living you can make any amount of regular gifts and they are immediately outside your estate for IHT purposes. Most people do this via a unit trust or investment trust regular savings scheme, written in a bare trust – which costs nothing if you get the fund manager to do it – for the benefit of the child when it is 18.
Recent research shows that we spend some £1.1 billion a year on wedding presents with an average spend of £47. With the average couple inviting some 96 guests, this is a total gift value of £4,512 per wedding, according to research from First Direct.
There are 232,990 weddings in total each year according to the Office for National Statistics so there is a lot of money being wasted on unwanted breadmakers, vases, salad servers and the like.
As in Will and Kate’s case, this money could be given to charity or – as accountants are pointing out – or for those who need the money, could be gifted to a young couple as cash to buy things of their own choice.
IHT free gifts
There is a £1,000 Inheritance Tax exemption for anyone making a gift on marriage to a couple. In addition, anyone can use their £3,000 IHT annual allowance to make an Inheritance Tax free gift – and the recipient doesn’t have to be getting married for the money to qualify as outside your estate for IHT purposes. You can carry forward any unused part of the £3,000 exemption to the following year, so if you didn’t use your annual exemption last year, you can gift up to £6,000. These gifts are immediately outside your estate for IHT purposes.In addition you can make any number of small gifts of £250 each year to any number of recipients, although you can’t use your small gifts allowance together with any other exemption when giving to the same person.
Parents can each give cash or gifts worth £5,000, while grandparents and great grandparents can each give cash or gifts worth £2,500 as ‘gifts on marriage’. You have to formally express your intention to make a gift within the IHT exemptions before the wedding takes place.The IHT rules only apply to guests who are domiciled in the UK.
With an increasing number of couples living together before marriage, it is possible that both will already own a flat or home. While the couple remain unmarried both properties should be free from CGT as both will be the individual’s Principal Private Residence. On marriage one or the other properties must be nominated as their PPP and is free from CGT on sale. But the second property will be liable to CGT calculated from the date of marriage, when it is sold.
Bear in mind too that many young couples today have lived together before marriage and may even have children. Adult Games Direct is a fantastic site for couples and partners alike to obtain novelty gifts. Now is the time for grandparents to consider making regular gifts out of income to grandchildren to mitigate any potential IHT liability. Provided the gifts are not out of capital and do not reduce your standard of living you can make any amount of regular gifts and they are immediately outside your estate for IHT purposes. Most people do this via a unit trust or investment trust regular savings scheme, written in a bare trust – which costs nothing if you get the fund manager to do it – for the benefit of the child when it is 18.
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
REVIEW: The Gadget Show Live Professional
We find out what the toy industry thought of the show's first ever trade day.
The event's first ever trade-only day, the Gadget Show Live Professional, attracted 4,735 trade and press from the UK and Europe, with an additional 104,579 consumers visiting the NEC, Birmingham – a 50 per cent increase on last year’s show.
After receiving positive exhibitor feedback on the trade day, marketing manager for the Gadget Show Live Professional, Helen Marriot revealed it is here to stay. She tells Toy News: “People seem very happy that we’ve added it in and on the whole we are pleased with how it went. We will definitely be continuing with it.”
The next Gadget Show Live has been confirmed for April 10th to 15th 2012, with the Professional day on April 9th.
In 2010, only two hours were set-aside for exhibitors to network and do business before doors opened to the public. “It’s very difficult to have business discussions in a consumer environment, especially where people might want to talk about sensitive subjects like trade prices,” Marriot says.
Marriot explains to ToyNews that the organiser was keen to see more toys on show next year, adding: “They make the event fun by giving children a hands on experience of playing, which is very important for the event. They also fit the TV programme’s profile as a family show.
“It would be great to see more quality toy manufacturers get involved. With all the expensive high end tech on show, there needs to be affordable gadgets consumers can take home and the toys are perfect for this.”
After receiving positive exhibitor feedback on the trade day, marketing manager for the Gadget Show Live Professional, Helen Marriot revealed it is here to stay. She tells Toy News: “People seem very happy that we’ve added it in and on the whole we are pleased with how it went. We will definitely be continuing with it.”
The next Gadget Show Live has been confirmed for April 10th to 15th 2012, with the Professional day on April 9th.
In 2010, only two hours were set-aside for exhibitors to network and do business before doors opened to the public. “It’s very difficult to have business discussions in a consumer environment, especially where people might want to talk about sensitive subjects like trade prices,” Marriot says.
Marriot explains to ToyNews that the organiser was keen to see more toys on show next year, adding: “They make the event fun by giving children a hands on experience of playing, which is very important for the event. They also fit the TV programme’s profile as a family show.
“It would be great to see more quality toy manufacturers get involved. With all the expensive high end tech on show, there needs to be affordable gadgets consumers can take home and the toys are perfect for this.”
Monday, 18 April 2011
Strong growth for online sales
Online sales in March were 14 per cent up on last year, according to the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index with shoppers spending a total of £5.1 billion online.
And the widening gap between multi-channel and online-only retailers continued to increase in March. Those with both a high-street and online presence witnessed a 19 per cent growth on average compared with March last year, while online experienced just 6 per cent.
The Index has seen 18 per cent growth during the first quarter compared with the same period last year, – the strongest first quarter performance in three years.
Chris Webster, head of retail consulting and technology at Capgemini said: “The 18 per cent growth in the Index during Q1 is indicative of a new trend. Consumers are indeed tightening belts, but they are still shopping, and have simply become more strategic in their buying habits.”
And the widening gap between multi-channel and online-only retailers continued to increase in March. Those with both a high-street and online presence witnessed a 19 per cent growth on average compared with March last year, while online experienced just 6 per cent.
The Index has seen 18 per cent growth during the first quarter compared with the same period last year, – the strongest first quarter performance in three years.
Chris Webster, head of retail consulting and technology at Capgemini said: “The 18 per cent growth in the Index during Q1 is indicative of a new trend. Consumers are indeed tightening belts, but they are still shopping, and have simply become more strategic in their buying habits.”
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
Winning Awards. Award winning retailers tell us what it means for them
A nomination at the Oscars can boost box office takings by the odd few million, so what can a nod of approval from the retail industry do for online retailers? We speak to award winning retailers John Lewis, Prezzybox and Seraphine, and discuss the benefits of being nominated with dance gear favourite Pineapple.
In any business, an award can bring financial benefit or a pat on the back which impacts how that company is seen by other businesses, consumers and those within the company itself. For organisations, large and small, winning awards matters.
With online retail becoming one of the fastest growing industries in recent years, new awards have sprung up to recognise excellence in the field of e-commerce and are attracting entrants from huge organisations to tiny start ups.
Getting nominated
The UK.COM Awards are one such web specific awards group which recognise ideas, design, functionality and content of a site. The judging panel, put together by Directors Of .COM Founder Leon Bailey-Green, includes Sarah Beeny, TV presenter and Mysinglefriend.com Founder, and BBC Click’s Kate Russell.
For Pineapple, whose website has proven a real pull and a success, being nominated for the Best Original Idea for a Creative Website at the awards is an exciting time according to the company’s Caleb Newman.
“Although it has been a great year for Pineapple, it is encouraging that our hard work in developing a fun online presence for our dancers has been recognised in this way. We are in a stellar group of nominees, so to be nominated is already an achievement,” he said.
With online retail becoming one of the fastest growing industries in recent years, new awards have sprung up to recognise excellence in the field of e-commerce and are attracting entrants from huge organisations to tiny start ups.
Getting nominated
The UK.COM Awards are one such web specific awards group which recognise ideas, design, functionality and content of a site. The judging panel, put together by Directors Of .COM Founder Leon Bailey-Green, includes Sarah Beeny, TV presenter and Mysinglefriend.com Founder, and BBC Click’s Kate Russell.
For Pineapple, whose website has proven a real pull and a success, being nominated for the Best Original Idea for a Creative Website at the awards is an exciting time according to the company’s Caleb Newman.
“Although it has been a great year for Pineapple, it is encouraging that our hard work in developing a fun online presence for our dancers has been recognised in this way. We are in a stellar group of nominees, so to be nominated is already an achievement,” he said.
Monday, 28 March 2011
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