Spring/Summer 2011
Leading UK Entrepreneur
comes to Northampton to help local businesses For the very best of trusted, local... Businesses, Tradesmen, Recommendations and Events It’s all at:
Spring/Summer 2011
Contents Entrepreneur’s Circle The Launch of the Entrepreuners Circle right here in Northampton – with our very own Nigel Botterill. This guy is awesome! A self-made multimillionaire joins forces with local business man Robin Sharpe to help Northampton businesses be super successful in beating this recession.
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And the Winner is... We reveal the winner of our 14 Days of Love campaign – where all you good local people voted for your best loved business in Northampton.
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It’s the wedding season shortly and we take a look at some great, highly recommended businesses to help you plan your big day.
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Recipes to put a spring in your step (ouch!)
30-31
Plus… May Day Events – where to go and what to do.
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BID The Business Improvement District Launch – we take a look at what’s on the agenda to improve our Town Centre.
The
Small Print
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Thebestofnorthampton is an independant publication linked to its website: www.thebestof.co.uk/northampton. The views expressed in this magazine are those of individual writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. All design and artwork is copyright of its respective owner. Reproduction of any part of this publication is strictly prohibited unless prior written consent is given by the publishers. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided in this magazine is accurate, we do not accept liability for errors. thebestofnorthampton is owned by The Evening Inn Company Ltd Registered Address: 27 The Crescent, King Street, Leicester, LE1 6RX.
Features Special
Delighted to work with one of the UK’s most successful and talented entrepreneurs
We get down and dirty with some of Northampton’s great businesses Abington Park Vets
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Braunston Reprographics
18-19
Davison Communications
20-21
The Mailcoach
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Sk:N in Northampton
40-41
Grand Union Designs
44-45
Social Media for Business 50-51
EDITORIAL 01604 601 455 northampton@thebest of.co.uk Editor Alison Pate. MEMBERSHIP DETAILS 01604 601 455 northampton@thebest of.co.uk
Alison photographed by John Roan Photography
DESIGN & PRODUCTION P4 Marketing Suite 6, Hall Farm, Sywell Airport Business Park Northampton NN6 0BN 01604 741128
About Us
thebestof northampton
W
e’re really busy here at thebestof Northampton! Everything is changing in the wonderful world of marketing and, as part of an extremely ‘switched on’ national marketing company, we have now bolted so many useful things onto our brand that will help local people find good, local businesses that they can trust!
from the sanctuary of your own office or home. Brrrrrilliant!
Take a look at our website www. thebestofnorthampton. If you’re looking for a quick quote from recommended local trades people, then our ‘QuoteMe’ service is just up your street! Simply follow the links and your request will be sent directly to our members to help you.
And, we’re launching our Local ‘Recommendation Hotline’ for local people looking for good, recommended businesses in Northampton.
We now have our ‘bestof’ app available free on your smart phone. All very clever stuff that will help you find local services, restaurants, events in Northampton at the tap of your finger. You wouldn’t get this from any other local company.
Thank you……
Not only that, our business, events and special offers e-newletters keep local people in touch with all stuff ‘local’! To subscribe to these, and get some really fab special offers, simply register online at www.thebestofnorthampton.co.uk Oh! And did I mention, this magazine is now available online, so you can read it whilst on the move! We have a great reach online through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube (because we’re smart!) so the timing’s right to do this! Our Social Media Blueprint for Business is going down a storm. We have a brilliant training package that will help local businesses learn about social media strategy, how to use the social media platforms and how to do it properly. It’s awesome and you can learn all this ‘stuff’
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Thebestof Northampton – helping local businesses connect with local people!
‘I never really understood what social media was all about and shyed away from it until Alison showed me how important it was now to my marketing mix. She’s the only one that’s been able to make me understand it and that’s why I will be making sure that social media is where we will be developing our business in the future’ Phil Watts, Grand Union Designs ‘We’ve been with thebestof Northampton for 12 months and have been really pleased with their service. We’ve gained many new clients from promoting ourselves on their website and in this magazine. We have just renewed our contract for another 12 months’. Jim Clarke, East Park Dental Practice
Give the team a call on
01604 601 455
to see how we can seriously improve your business!
LOCAL BUSINESS
ABINGTON PARK VETS
By Alison Pate
T
he Abington Park Veterinary Group is one of Northampton’s very well established businesses – a business with ‘pedigree’ you could say! Nigel Anthony and John Prior, who met at Cambridge University, set up the practice in 1985 and today it still practices from its original premises overlooking Abington Park. The business has gone from strength to strength over the
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years, with more vets becoming partners, Richard Edwards in 1989, Andrew Jagoe in 2000 and Jeremy Onyett in 2008. Today, Abington Park Vets is a thriving hub of activity treating thousands of small animals a year, both at their original surgery and their other clinics at Moulton College and St James. All in all, there are 47 members of staff now, situated over the three sites, with 4 partners and 7 associate vets, all supported by their fantastic team of nurses, managers, receptionists and support staff. Abington Vets stand out from the crowd because of the many advanced diagnostic techniques and treatments that they are able to perform. The vets, several of whom have extra qualifications, provide both a first opinion and a referral service for more complex cases, which is available both to their own clients and those referred from other practices.
Andrew specializes in internal medicine and oncology, Jeremy and Jamie are soft tissue and orthopedic surgeons, whilst Nigel’s specialist subject is dermatology. They take pride in their ability to do as much as they can within the practice without much need to refer cases elsewhere. Everything from a complex hip replacement to a simple nail clip! One of the other main distinctions between Abington Vets and other practices is that fact that they have access to MRI and CT Scanning from their practice in Moulton. Why is this of interest? Well, it means that clients and their pets don’t have to travel to other parts of the country for specialist diagnostic procedures. A mobile scanning provider comes to their practice fortnightly to provide MRI and CT scanning, meaning that patients don’t have to suffer the stress of long distance travel especially
‘A grateful thank you to you and your wonderful team for giving Scooby a new lease of life, as you have seen for yourself he is recovering brilliantly, we have our happy boy back! Once again our sincere thanks’ Scooby, L&G. if they are in pain from spinal injuries or fractures. In an attempt to provide continuing excellent care for both their patients and their owners, Abington Park Vets have recently taken the momentous decision to open their Abington surgery 7 days a week. This means that they can now provide the same standard of care over a weekend as during the week, with routine appointments and surgery now available at the weekend for no extra cost. The highly qualified nursing team provide 24 hour nursing care to all hospitalised patients so clients can rest assured that their pets are receiving the best possible care at all times. Zena Worley, Practice Manager explains ‘our complete service had only been available five and
a half days a week before, which we thought wasn’t ideal for our customers, but now we provide the same quality of service, with the same quota of staff every day of every week. Before at the weekend we could only deal with emergencies.’
professional excellence it is also a hardworking and friendly team who all work well together and therefore they can continue to live up to their ethos of “Care Through Excellence”.
Check out their brand new website: packed with loads of information from ordering prescriptions online to a really neat ‘symptom checker’ that owners can use to make an informed decision as to when to visit the practice with their pet. There’s a real buzz of excitement at Abington Vets. You get the impression that they really care for the animals they treat – from the much adored Labrador to the varied injured wildlife that people bring in. The whole practice is not just about
Take a look at their website www.abingtonvets.co.uk for more information or simply give them a call on
01604 628685 Abington Vets – NOW OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!
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UK Leading Entrepreneur comes to Northampton to help local businesses
M
ost people in business complain about working too many hours or not reaping the financial rewards they thought would come their way. Added to this, the bleak back drop of the economic climate, you would say that it’s not exactly an inspiring time for business owners. BUT, there is light at the end of the tunnel, if you want to achieve success in your business, you can! Others will and so can you. All you need is the right idea, the right mind set, the right tools and that’s where Nigel Botterill comes in! Nigel is known as the small business money maker. And he should know – he’s set up, from scratch, 5 separate million pound companies in the last 5 years. He is now a multi millionaire. Don’t get me wrong though; wherever your business is right now, he’s been there. He’s had the sleepless nights worrying about cash flow, his tax bills and his overheads. He’s also had his share of champagnepopping excitement too. He’s a business owner, just like us so he understands exactly what a white-knuckle roller-coaster ride it can be; full of stratospheric highs and stomach-churning lows – sometimes in the same day!
He knows what it takes to build a successful business…. and fast As well as running his own businesses, he has helped set up over 2,000 people with their own businesses, with a great deal of success. Nigel and his team know what it takes to help, improve and build a really successful business and this is what he spends much of his time on.
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The Entrepreneur’s Circle – helping business owners escape mediocrity and live the life they want. Nigel has formed the Entrepreneurs Circle to help business owners in the UK achieve success. And it’s coming to Northampton. Be warned, though, THIS IS NOT FOR THE APATHETIC! But, if you’re an entrepreneur or business owner looking for a place that understands you, looking for a place that can help and support you, a place that can inspire you, console you, cajole you….a place where you can learn new things, new techniques, new ideas and, if necessary get a kick up the arse, then congratulations – then The Entrepreneurs Circle is for you!
Nigel will be holding a seminar on June 13th at an exciting venue in Northampton at 6.30pm to 9pm. Remember, this isn’t one of those seminars that give you woolly pie in the sky bull, but it is a
seminar by someone that doesn’t just teach it; he’s been there and done it and is still doing it today. If you’re serious about achieving success for your business, then you can.
It gives me enormous pleasure to write a testimonial, extolling the many virtues of the Entrepreneur’s Circle, because I believe more small businesses would benefit hugely from the vast knowledge, experience and networking opportunities available to them. The business information, the life lessons, the expert advice – not to mention the freely distributed kicks up the arse! - came thick and fast. The Entrepreneur’s Circle is definitely not an environment for the meek, unthinking workshy; these seminars are clearly going to be exhausting – but rewarding, particularly if you offer yourself up for a more personalised hot seat experience. Information from the Entrepreneur’s Circle comes in a variety of ways, using every conceivable medium; website, emails, blogs, newsletters, CDs, webinars, regular telephone calls with Nigel himself, valuable Meet The Giants updates, and even (my personal favourite) NB TV – oh yes, monthly video Nigel nuggets to help keep you focused, motivated and enthused about your business. The man’s contagious, in the nicest possible sense. Nigel’s enthusiasm and energy seem boundless, he calls a spade a shovel, and you’d best be prepared for his painfully honest Yorkshire man voice of experience. Nigel doesn’t do flowery. And, as a result of Nigel’s “…get on with it!...” exhortation, we duly followed his advice and won a great deal of work that we would not otherwise have been in a position to even quote for. Results always speak for themselves! It therefore gives me great pleasure to urge all small businesses – new or well established – to join the Entrepreneur’s Circle, and make that step change in the growth of your business in 2011. For and on behalf of IKD Kitchens KARAN DENNIS
We’re here to help. To book your place at £29 + VAT simply call us on 01604 601 455 Small Business Owners SHOULD NOT MISS OUT ON THIS! For more information please visit www.entrepreneurs-circle.co.uk
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Love...
days of By Alison Pate
O
We had over 160,000 testimonials about local businesses from local people – now that’s a LOT OF LOVE! We had ‘great lovers’ all over Northampton, sharing some great feedback about great local businesses – our Love-o-metre was measured every day to check out who’s most loved and our customers supported us with T-shirts, videos, postcards and Facebook entries.
IAL
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I’M AAT GRE ER LOV
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OF
VE
LO
D LOVE MOSTSINESS BU OWN IN T
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ver the first 14 days of February, thebestof ran a campaign to show some ‘LURVE’ to local businesses. Afterall it is the small business owners right across the UK that have kept our economy going over the last 18 months. Whatever the economy has thrown at us, whatever the Government did (or didn’t!), do, no matter how hard it was to get help from the banks, the great British entrepreneur and business owner was there for his or her customer. We didn’t flee when the snow or floods came. Whatever adversity was encountered it was overcome.
S AY 4D
AND THE WINNER IS…
The Red Lion in Yardley Hastings With a final score of 388 testimonials from their customers, Mark and Diane Hill are:
THE MOST LOVED BUSINESS IN NORTHAMPTON!
“
Here’s some of the things that their customers are saying about them: Cannot think of a better way of spending Sunday lunch - My first visit will not be my last. Warm welcome, lovely building - beams and all Loved the pub. A real Gem of a place. Anywhere you go in the Country you would want to find a “Red Lion” like Yardleys. Excellent beer as well.
Most enjoyable evening, good at skittles, food was great. Will be back. Excellent food for hungry shooters - ready on time, well prepared food and pleasant service. Very accommodating to our needs. Always a warm welcome. Excelllent quality of food, very well presented Always keeps excellent beer (never had a bad pint) food really good. You recieve a warm welcome when you come through the door, excellent food and well kept beer.
Really enjoyed a splendid 3 course meal with very friendly and professional service. We are approx 150 miles from home, saw your ad on the internet, took a chance and booked a table for two. Excellent decision, beautiful meal, would recommend to anyone. Many thanks. My favourite place to come to be treated.
“
Diane and Mark got behind the campaign, as they did last year, to use it to engage with their customers, really get to know them and provide a fabulous service.
Always really enjoyed my meal.
Congratulations to Mark and Diane Hill at The Red Lion in Yardley Hastings.
Check out more testimonials at:
www.thebestofnorthampton.co.uk Find them by simply punching in ‘The Red Lion’ in the search box or visit their website
www.redlionatyardleyhastings.co.uk
01604 696210
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Loved Most iness Bus egory t in Cavoted by as le peop local 1 201
THE MOST LOVED BUSINESSES IN NORTHAMPTON
VOTED BY YOU By Alison Pate
1. THE RED LION AT YARDLEY HASTINGS
enjoyed the meal very much and will “ Icertainly recommend you to my friends. ” 01604 696210
”
01604 591591
”
“
I’ve been getting my hair cut at Seckingtons since they opened! I would definitely recommend them. All the staff are really friendly. Johnny has been cutting my hair for over 7 years now and is always on top form!
”
5. THE TAJ MAHAL INDIAN RESTAURANT
“
An extensive menu offers dishes cooked to perfection, professionally served in a relaxed and attractive restaurant environment. Always an enjoyable experience and great value for money.
”
01604 232661
4. SECKINGTONS HAIR DESIGN
01604 633366
reat photography shop you will find “ Geverything you need in this one shop alone
”
01604 630675
8. LITTLE INDIA RESTAURANT
Fantastic service, always on time, drivers smart and polite, wouldn’t use anyone else.
”
01327 340999
for all your photography equipment, from passport photos to most the expensive cameras. Friendly and helpful staff.
3. CROWN EXECUTIVE CARS 01604 670888
hank you so much for a ‘FANTASTIC “ TKITCHEN’ which we know will enhance our
7. SKEARS PHOTOGRAPHIC
“
O
MOST F LOVE BUSIN LOVED IN TOESSES WN
social and family life, it has already. More space, quality, design etc. Great Teamwork.
Great fun. Very slickly run - no hanging about, lots of time on the track and even the weak drivers got plenty of driving. A superb course.
“
DA YS
6. GRAND UNION DESIGNS
2. NORTHAMPTON INDOOR KARTING
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quaint lovely restaurant. Excellent food, “ Agreat service. We are regular customers and are never disappointed! ” 01604 811761
9. GREENS FINE DINING RESTAURANT
“
Great evening, thoroughly enjoyed the food and company. Definitely coming to Greens again and other ‘thebestofnorthampton’ events.
”
01604 663963
10. CHILLIES INDIAN RESTAURANT
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We always recommend Chillies to friends and family for fantastic service and great food. The dishes are consistently delicious.
01604 674947
”
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LOCAL BUSINESS
BRAUNSTON REPROGRAPHICS
By Alison Pate
B
raunston Reprographics is one of Northampton’s best kept secrets! From humble beginnings, Chris and Janet opened their family print and graphics company in 2004, from a tiny shop space in the Wellingborough Road. In those days they had just 1 computer, a laminator and a photocopier! But, it wasn’t long before they had taken over the entire building and were rapidly growing out of space. Today, 7 years later, Braunston Reprographics is situated in Talbot Road and houses much more plant (and people!) than it once did. They have introduced 2 digital presses, 2 large format inkjet printers, a large format laminator, an automatic finisher, plan copier/scanner/printer plus many other pieces of equipment including garment press and vinyl cutter! All of this equipment has enabled Chris and his staff to provide a wide breadth of print, from 1 black and white photocopy to thousands of A4 sized brochures. It really is a one stop shop from design to complete production. A typical short run order is usually turned around in 24 hours from print ready artwork. This is because Chris and his team undertake most of their work in house. There’s very little that they have to outsource. That being said, what they do outsource they endeavor to use local suppliers.
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Chris says ‘we can do small runs for the consumer, but most of our work is B2B. We’re not large, but we have capacity to do pretty much everything a business requires from its print budget. From business cards to printed garments – we can provide it. One of the benefits of using Braunston Reprographics is that we don’t charge a set up fee for supplied press ready artwork. This can make a massive difference to the final cost of the product. We can keep our costs down because we are compact and succinct!’ There are 5 people now involved in Braunston Reprographics, and, it’s a real ‘family’ affair. The point about Braunston is that you really feel that you’re getting a personal service. Because they are onsite, you know you’re dealing with the people that are actually going to print your work. It’s the personal service that makes Braunston ‘special’. Chris says ‘The service that we provide is all encompassing. We can help with the design stage of a product and see it through to completion. It’s very pleasing to see the finished article and the satisfaction on our clients’ faces when we’ve delivered their new business cards, brochures, flyers or wedding stationery. It’s very rewarding to know that we help our clients achieve their goals.’ Another reason they can help the small to medium sized
“We are so lucky to have in Northampton the very best place for copying and printing in the whole world. Nothing is too much trouble and the staff go out of their way to make sure I am always happy with the work they have done”.
enterprise is they have variable data software that allows them to enter individual text per customer into a graphic design from a mailing list. It makes the finished article personal and eye-catching. I was put in touch with Braunston Reprographics through another company who sang their praises about the work they did for them. Just check out what their customers say: ‘I live in Northampton, though my work offices are outside the county, and found Braunston Reprographics via Best Of Northampton. I am a huge believer in recognising great service and Braunston give a truly extra mile presentation,
“BRILLIANT...Braunston Reprographics are amazing, they work magic when it comes to do with anything that needs printing. I have used them for several years for personal and business printing, I would be lost without their advice, ideas and exceptional service. I highly recommend them”.
nothing is too much trouble! I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them, the quality of product is outstanding and service amazing!
Keep it up!....and here’s to your reputation growing! FABULOUS! Dannie McDonald MD, Dyrberg Kern UK Ltd’.
Check out their offers and more testimonials at:
www.braunston.ltd.co.uk info@braunston.ltd.co.uk 4-8 Talbot Road Northampton NN1 4JB Tel: 01604 626265
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LOCAL BUSINESS
DAVISON COMMUNICATIONS LTD
“WE CAN OFFER CUSTOMERS A LOW COST RENTAL PACKAGE ON ALL OUR TELEPHONE SYSTEM RANGE”
By Alison Pate
T
here are some really well established businesses in Northampton, but one of the things that makes a business good is their ability to keep growing and diversifying to cope with changing market needs. Davison Communications Ltd know exactly what businesses need for their “Communications” and that’s why they have been awarded the 02 Centre of Excellence - a very high accolade indeed, particularly when you realise that there’s very few companies in the UK that have been awarded this acknowledgement. - LESS THAN 20 Well known for their mobile phone services to business, Davison Communications Ltd can now offer 02 landline services and installation of Telephone Systems to compliment their existing business. This means that customers can now have the complete service they need, all in one place, dealing with only one company and receiving only one bill. Customers can port their existing lines or Davison can provide new ones. From a simple ‘one line, one number’ system to ISDN30 systems which will allow up to 30 channels on one line, Davison can provide it all. The other benefits of using Davison Communications Ltd and 02 for Landline are:
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• Free calls to 02 mobile lines calls to mobiles make up by far the biggest chunk of a landline bill, so this service can typically save businesses up to 40% of their total call spend. • Competitive line rental and exceptional deals on mobile contracts • New tariffs with inclusive minutes and care packages • One ‘joined up’ bill, including both mobile and landline rental and calls.
• Free support from their UK based team with just one number for help with landlines and mobiles. • Account Management support for customers with 3 or more lines with 02 (either mobile or landline) • Support by their team of ‘set up’ specialists that will make it as easy as pie to get you up and running. • They guarantee to get you ready to use on time for
“WE HAVE RECENTLY EMPLOYED MORE STAFF TO COPE WITH THE HIGH INTEREST IN THE O2 LANDLINE PRODUCT & DAVISON COMMUNICATIONS LTD TELEPHONE SYSTEMS PACKAGE”
Davison Communications Ltd 218-222 Wellingborough Road Northampton NN1 4EQ sales@davisoncommunications.co.uk landline and ISDN lines - and if they don’t then they’ll give you your first month’s rental free! There is a real buzz at Davison Communications Ltd at the moment - they know they have a really special product that can reduce business telephone
bills significantly, provide an exceptional service for their customers and, by partnering with 02 on landlines now as well as mobiles, they have a complete telephone system solution for small to medium sized enterprises including landline systems and mobiles.
At last, I think, a really ‘joined up’ approach to business communications! For a free, no obligation comparison, simply give them a call on
01604 634 888 today!
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Recommended
Wedding Directory
BRIDAL WEAR
BRAMPTON GRANGE
DONNA SALADO
“The service was fantastic. They were so attentive to the style of dress I wanted. Full marks to all at Donna Salado. I would highly recommend them!” 28 Abington Grove Northampton NN1 4QX 01604 792869 www.donnasalado.com
VENUES GREENS RESTAURANT
“One of the most enjoyable meals for many a year. Beautifully presented, wonderful flavours and the staff were outstanding. The dessert is to die for!” Collingtree Park Windingbrook Lane Northampton Northants NN4 0XN 01604 700 000 www.greens-restaurant.com
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“Thank you everyone who looked after us on our special day. We had a wonderful day, which was capped by the beautiful setting and excellent room. A special thank you to Katia.” Brampton Grange Sandy Lane Chapel Brampton Northampton NN6 8AD 01604 844717 www.bramptongrange.co.uk
MARQUEES CHELSEA HIRE
“Thank you for everything you did for our Wedding. Each marquee looked amazing and we had a fantastic few days.” 56-57 Bunting Road Bunting Road Industrial Estate Kingsthorpe Hollow Northampton NN2 6EE 01604 722255 www.chelseahire.co.uk
WEDDING CAKES
FLOWERS
GARDNERS BAKERY
HOMELAND FLORISTS
“Thank you so much for making and decorating our wedding cake as beautifully as you did. The cake was the centre piece of our reception.”
“I would like to say a big thank you for the wonderful flowers you did for my wedding on 25th February. I was thrilled with the bouquets, button holes and table arrangements. Thank you for all your patience in helping me select my flowers.”
85 Harborough Road Kingsthorpe Northampton NN2 7SH 01604 458 555 www.gardnersbakery.co.uk
Harborough Road Kingsthorpe Northampton NN2 8DJ 01604 712 240 www.homelandflorist.co.uk
CAR HIRE
RINGS
CROWN EXECUTIVE CAR HIRE
JEWELLERS WORKSHOP
“Excellent, professional service. Reliable and punctual.” 49 The Grove Moulton Northampton NN3 7UE 01604 269434 www.crownexecutivecars.co.uk
“We would recommend The Jewellers Workshop for outstanding workmanship, friendly advice and most of all honesty, the jewellery is of the highest quality.” 106 St Leonards Road Far Cotton Northampton NN4 8DW 01604 702 631
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HAIR AND BEAUTY
CATERERS
SECKINGTONS HAIR STUDIO
BANJO’S CATERING
“Chic and glamorous are just two words I could use to describe Seckingtons. But most important is the cut and the service. I have had more compliments regarding my hair since coming here than I’ve ever had! You shouldn’t just take my word for it, you should book your appointment here straight away.” 208 Wellingborough Road Northampton NN1 4EE 01604 633366 www.seckingtons.co.uk
OUTCAST
“Outcast isn’t just a hairdressers - it is a total relaxing and pampering experience. I love going in and seeing everyone, especially Neal, the best colourist ever!” 1 Guildhall Road Northampton Northamptonshire NN1 1DP 01604 233673
PHOTOGRAPHERS JOHN ROAN
“Very many thanks for helping to make our wonderful day even more special. We can’t wait to see the photos and the video. We really appreciate the trouble you went to put on the sensational DVD show and providing the photograph to be signed which was something we weren’t expecting. It’s given us a very special momento of our wedding day.” The Stables Towcester Road Northampton NN7 3AP 01604 269445 www.johnroanphotography.co.uk
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“Our company use Banjos on a very regular basis and find them an excellent caterer. Quality of food is very good with a lot of variety. Always punctual and even ready to help out with last minute orders!!!! I would be happy to recommend their service to anyone.” 23 Low Farm Place Moulton Park Northampton NN3 6HY 01604 269442 www.banjosqualitycatering.co.uk
A new concept in wedding presentation The ‘Guest List’ frame concept was designed and constructed in our very own workshops, and is an ongoing development from our popular Signature frame, which has been a great hit at weddings for several years. Imagine this fantastic frame hanging in your home as a truly memorable piece of furniture, a complete record of your guest’s from the most important day of your life. During the day, two selected ushers are given cameras and asked to photograph each of your guests, within eighty images, in a fun and madcap manner. Later in the day, as you and your family and friends are enjoying the Wedding Breakfast our team are busy editing and printing the images, and mounting them in to the specially constructed frame. During the evening your guests will be asked to sign their own individual pictures, and examine the work of the two ushers. This incredible frame really holds the guests attention and is a great source of fun, and will prove more popular than the disco!
LOCAL BUSINESSES JOIN UP TO LAUNCH FUND-RAISING CAMPAIGN TO RAISE £25,000 YOUNG HEROES OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE PLEASE STEP FORWARD! All proceeds to be shared between Help4Heroes, Veteran’s Aid and the Royal British Legion A group of local business people have joined forces to raise £25,000 in a good cause. The group is called Shire Heroes http://www.shireheroes.org.uk in recognition of all the brave men and women across every Shire in the country who are serving in the Armed Forces, some of whom are repatriated and some who return severely injured and invalided out ‘in the line of duty, just doing their job’. The highlight of the calendar will be an Armed Forces Summer Ball to be held on Friday, 24th June, at Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton Guests can enjoy an evening of elegance and fun whilst supporting such a good cause. Commencing with a drinks reception, followed by a banquet dinner, guests will be entertained, enthralled and delighted by magic, a Pledges Auction and dancing. Tickets £30 per head, corporate sponsorship tables for 10 available. Book via website. Shire Heroes is seeking pledges, gifts and donations – anything that ‘money can’t buy or that you would like but couldn’t justify buying for yourself’ and which can be auctioned on the night. “This carefully planned and well supported event is a great way for businesses to come together under their ‘Corporate and Social Responsibility’ initiative to support our Armed Forces and Veterans,” says event organiser, Julia Watson. Commenting, Chairman, Charles Macadam, says: “One of our founder members has a member of the family who was seriously injured serving in Afghanistan, so it makes it especially poignant for us. The support of the business community and our volunteer committee has been overwhelming – there is such a strong sense of duty to our troops that we want to play our part.” Young Heroes aged between 10-16 years please step forward! Raise money through activities to help. All proceeds will be shared among Help4Heroes, Veteran’s Aid, and the Royal British Legion. All details can be found on the website http://www.shireheroes.org.uk or email dawn.branigan@ btconnect.com with information on your pledges and donations. Thank you, let’s make 2011 a year to be proud of. Together we can do it!
Media Enquiries: Sarah.olney@sodirect.org
Recipes Recipe - Hot Cross Buns Hot Cross Buns are synonomous with Easter. This simple, traditional recipe for hot cross buns is much tastier and fresher than the shop bought ones! Try it out - you’ll be surprised just how easy it is! Makes 12 Ingredients 450g Plain flour 55g Caster sugar 1tbsp dried yeast 150 ml Whole milk 50ml Tepid water 1tsp Salt
1tsp Mixed spice 50g Butter 1 Egg 25g Currants 50g Mixed peel
Method 1. S ift about a third of the flour and mix with a teaspoon of the caster sugar. Make up the yeast according to the instructions on the packet. Stir into the flour and sugar mix, along with the warmed milk, and tepid water. (5 min) 2. P ut the mixture in a warm place and leave for about 20 - 30 minutes, or until the mixture has gone ‘frothy’. (30 min) 3. M eanwhile, sift the remaining flour and add the salt, spice and remaining sugar. Beat the egg and melt the butter. Grease and flour a couple of baking trays. Preheat the oven to 375F/190C/Gas5. (0 min) 4. R emove the yeasty flour mixture from the warm place. Stir in the beaten egg and the melted butter. Gently fold in the remaining flour. Add the currants and the mixed peel. (5 min) 5. R emove the mixture from the bowl and begin to knead it on a floured surface, until it is smooth and glossy. (5 min) 6. D ivide the dough into 12 pieces and mould in your hands to form ‘bun’ shapes. (3 min) 7. P lace the buns on the baking trays (well apart as they will expand during cooking). Put the buns in a warm place again and leave them until they have doubled in size. (20 min) 8. M ake 2 slits on the top of each bun to form a cross. Place in the oven and cook for 15-20 minutes, until the buns have browned on the top. (20 min) 9. R emove from the oven and leave to cool on a wire cooling tray. Whilst cooling, dissolve the remaining sugar with about 2 tbsp of water and brush the top of the buns to make them shiny and glossy. (10 min)
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Recipe - Candied Sweet Potatoes Candied sweet potatoes with a lovely sugary peppery topping although you could just top these with chopped herbs instead. Serves 4 Ingredients 4 Sweet potates 50g Butter 50g Muscovado sugar 2 tsp Green peppercorns Method 1. Boil the sweet potatoes in their skins until almost cooked. Drain and cool slightly. 2. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/ Gas6. 3. Peel the sweet potatoes and cut into thick slices. Place in an ovenproof dish. 4. Melt the butter over a low heat and brush over the potatoes. 5. Sprinkle the slices with the sugar and place them in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. 6. Meanwhile crush the green peppercorns with the pestle and mortar. Sprinkle the peppercorns over the sweet potatoes just before serving.
www.theeveninginn.com Recipe - Rack of Lamb with Mustard Crust A succulent simple recipe to prepare and eat but looks amazingly professional. It can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance and popped in the oven at the last minute. Ask a butcher to prepare French trimmed rack of lamb. Serves 4 Ingredients 12 Lamb ribs 75 g Butter 100 g Breadcrumbs 2 tbsp Dijon Mustard 2 tsp Rosemary (dried)
4 Garlic clove(s) 2 tsp Parsley 2 tsp Thyme Salt Pepper
Method 1. To prepare in advance make the herb crust. Soften the butter in a bowl and add all the other ingredients (except the lamb!). Mix well. 2. Press the mixture onto the fatty side of the lamb. Press it in well. The meat can be covered and chilled for up to 24 hours before being cooked. 3. To cook the meat: Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas6
4. Place the lamb in a roasting tin and cook for 15 - 20 minutes or slightly longer depending on how pink you like your lamb. Tip! If you are cooking large quantities it is useful to switch roasting tins around in the oven to ensure even cooking of the lamb racks. A meat thermometer should register 60C/135F when cooked. 5. Merlot Red Wine Jelly goes really well with this dish or you could use a fruit coulis.
Recipe - Peppers stuffed with Couscous A very colourful, lightly spicy couscous filled oven roasted pepper starter or vegetable accompaniment. Serves 4 Method 1. Put the couscous into a bowl and cover with boiling water. Leave to stand for 5 minutes or so. Heat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas6 2. Cut the peppers from the stalk down the pepper and carefully scoop out the seeds. Remove the core. 3. Chop the onion. Heat the oil in a small or medium pan. Fry the onion stirring occasionally until soft but not golden. 4. Drain the couscous and add all the remaining ingredients to the couscous. Mix well. 5. Divide the couscous mixture between the peppers by spooning into the slit in the peppers. Fill them 3/4 full as they will swell slightly during cooking. 6. Lightly grease the roasting tin or dish. Arrange the peppers with the slit facing upwards. Place near the top of the oven and cook uncovered for 20-25 minutes. Serve hot or cold.
Ingredients 4 Peppers 100g Couscous 50g Apricots 1 Egg yolk 1 Onion 25g Raisins
2tsp Walnut oil Salt to season Pepper to season 1tsp Parsley 1 tsp Chervil 1 tsp Mint
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Events
Sir?
Something for the weekend, Lamport Hall Saturday 28, Sunday 29 and Bank Holiday Monday 30 10.00am - 5.00pm
Festival of Country Life This event is set in the parkland of Lamport Hall and is run by the Lamport Enterprise Limited, in conjunction with the Hannington Vintage Tractor Club. A fantastic day out for all the family - something for everyone! Exhibits on display will include vintage tractors, agricultural implements, stationary engines, period caravans, organs, steam engines, working exhibits, classic cars and motorcycles. Traditional crafts being demonstrated include spa making, pole lathe making and willow basket making.
Admission: Adult £6.50 OAP £5.50 Children (11-16) £4.00 Children under 11 Free Family Ticket (2 adults & 2 Children 11-16) £19.00 Enquiries: Lamport Hall 01604 686272 or estateoffice@lamporthall.co.uk
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There will be plenty to keep children entertained, including free Punch and Judy shows throughout the event. Main Arena attractions will include falconry, sheep dog and ducks, Suffolk Heavy Horse dray and harness demonstration, dressage to music by a Freisian Stallion and a parade by the Pytchley Hunt hounds. Working arenas will carry out various demonstrations. The craft stalls and trade stalls will be selling a variety of items.
Kelmarsh Hall Hardy Plant Fair 1st and 2nd May Sunday 1 May 2011
Hardy Plant Fair Sun 1st & Mon 2nd May, 11am-5pm on both days Admission to include the Kelmarsh Gardens Adults £2.50 Children under 14 FREE Mon 2nd May, 2.30pm Talk by Nick Hamilton from Barnsdale Additional £5.00 No discounts for RHS, HHA, EH members
Royal and Derngate Theatre Lenny Henry Saturday 7th May 2011 Cradle to Rave is the brand new one man show from Lenny Henry Fresh from his award winning stint in Northern Broadsides production of Othello, Lenny returns to his roots with a funky, funny and touching show about the thing he loves most - music. Cradle to Rave is a musical journey, exploring the role music has played, and will play, at every stage of Lenny’s life from the womb to the tomb.
7:30pm Tickets: £24.50 www.royalandderngate.co.uk
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What to Drink Now:
Wines for Spring A
fter a winter of brawny wines, spring is a time to move on to something lighter and livelier. But that doesn’t mean sacrificing flavour and complexity. Chenin Blanc in its home territory of the Loire Valley offers white wines that combine complexity and fruit with vibrant freshness. They’re a great match for lighter spring dishes, especially fish and buttered spring greens. Less familiar but – at their best – no less attractive are the rapidly improving whites of Greece. On the red side, decent Bordeaux offers layers of interest without excess weight. So too does Pinot Noir, which is perfect with spring lamb. Chile is a country making strides with this often fickle grape. Last but not least, we have a couple of Cavas. Forget cheap and cheerful, go for stylish with plenty of fizz!
Loire Chenin Blanc Chenin Blanc is often overlooked in lists of the world’s top grape varieties. You need look no further than its past performance in its home territory of the Loire Valley to find the reason. There have been some fabulous wines of various degrees of sweetness, but there have also been some over-sulphured, under-ripe, rot-affected shockers. Thankfully, with better work in both vineyards and cellars, and also with a succession of warmer vintages, quality is most definitely on the up.
Bordeaux While 2009 looks as if it was one of the best-ever vintages in Bordeaux, it’s going to be a few years before the top wines filter through. Never mind, nature has been kind to the world’s most famous wine region in the past couple of decades, and while the top wines command jawdropping prices, there’s plenty available at less stratospheric levels. Classic roast lamb wine!
Cava Ask people to spend £20 on a bottle of Champagne and they won’t bat an eyelid. Ask them to spend the same amount on Cava, Spain’s main contribution to the world of sparkling wine, and you’ll get a very different response. That’s a pity, because upmarket Cava can often shame similarly priced Champagne.
Chilean Pinot In the past 10 years Chile has begun to produce Pinot Noirs that deserve attention, and often at razor-sharp prices. As exploration continues into newer, cooler vineyard regions, and as the winemaking styles mature, there’s no reason why quality shouldn’t continue to increase. Regions to look out for include San Antonio, Limarí and Bío-Bío, as well as from the Casablanca Valley.
Abridged article by Simon Woods for Square Meal.
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LOCAL BUSINESS
THE MAILCOACH
By Alison Pate
B
eing part of an integral community right here in Northampton, Sue and Lionel Roberts who own The Mailcoach Pub in Derngate have always had a fantastic relationship with the Theatre. Obviously, The Mailcoach is within spitting distance of the Royal and Derngate and is not only a popular haunt for theatre-goers both pre and post production, but also for many of the cast and staff after the show. So, when R&D Creative Director, Laurie Samson approached them to consider hosting a production IN THEIR PUB, they were delighted to oblige. The season of plays entitled ‘Addicted to You’ included the world premiere production of ‘Honest’ by Northampton playwright, DC Moore. Honest is a play about an unusual addiction – about a man whose compulsion to telling the truth leads to a night that spirals out of control. Taking the audience on a journey across London, Honest explores the lies we tell each other, and the fall-out when the truth is revealed. The decision to stage the play in The Mailcoach Pub was truly inspired, as the play is set in, well….a pub! The play was staged in the restaurant area over a two week period and was a sellout every night. People who came to the first show couldn’t resist telling people how good it
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was and encouraged their friends to go and see it. It caused a bit of a stir with some of their regular customers and they soon joined in the fun and were incredibly good natured about it. Such was the success of Honest over this 2 week period in The Mailcoach, the decision was made to take the play to Edinburgh, but not before it’s return to The Mailcoach for 2 preview performances before it hit the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
The reviews at the Fringe were extraordinary: ‘gets you where it hurts’, ‘mordantly funny’ said The Guardian and ‘a subtle, biting satire on the state of the nation’ said whatsonstage.com. Both awarded the play 4 stars. And to think that it all started right here at The Mailcoach Pub in Northampton! The play is still on tour and is now being performed at The Queens Head Pub, near Piccadily Circus throughout March and April.
The Mailcoach 8 Derngate, Northampton 01604 604 669 www.mailcoachnorthampton.co.uk Sue says ‘I have had a very good relationship with everybody that I’ve met from the Theatre ever since we arrived here in 2006. It’s a real thrill to know that we have helped to make this play a success up and down the country. We support The Royal and Derngate in Northampton and really appreciate the productions they put on. It’s great to know that this support is reciprocal and everybody wins
when we work together. Many of the casts from many productions come into The Mailcoach after the show and we’ve had a lot of fun with them over the years. We would happily stage another production for the Royal and Derngate, if the opportunity arises’. All in all, not only do The Mailcoach do great food and great wine, you’ll be in great company there as well!
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20 WAYS
TO SAVE MONEY…
I
t is well recorded that British credit card holders now owe an average of £2,200 on their plastic and with retailers reporting a slump in sales not seen for 2 decades, it is clear that shoppers are reigning in their spending. To clear a debt of £2,200 on a card that attracts an interest rate of around 15% will take more than two years assuming a monthly repayment of £100. But, according to This Is Money website, there are plenty of simple ways to make significant savings on your regular spending that could clear the debt many times over in less than a year.
1. Change your attitude to your mortgage This is the most expensive item you are ever likely to buy. If you’re paying your lender’s full standard variable rate, you are probably paying hundreds of pounds a year more than you need to. If you can afford to make overpayments on your mortgage, you’ll clear your debt several years early and make massive savings. For example, if you borrow £100,000 at 6% over 25 years, you’ll pay it back at £643 a month. The total charge for credit will be £93,000. but if you can overpay by £100 a month, you’ll clear the loan in less than 19 years, giving you 6 years of mortgage-free living and saving a staggering £25,000 in interest.
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2. Clear your credit card debt One of the golden rules of financial planning is to clear your most expensive debts first, in other words, your credit cards. It may be a convenient way to pay for goods but if you can’t clear the balance every month, consider a low-cost loan as an alternative.
3. Cut the cost of your fuel bills As the global demand for power threatens to outstrip supply, prices are rising. But that doesn’t mean you need to be ripped off. The domestic market for fuel is a competitive one and you can change supplier with a few clicks of the mouse.
4. Consider installing a water meter The companies behind the supply of water exist to make a profit, we pay them to supply water and have every right to expect it to flow from our taps. But if it doesn’t rain, supply runs dry and the price goes up. So you may want to consider the possibility of installing a meter. If you have a big home with few occupants you may be surprised to learn that you could halve your annual bill.
5. Cut your home phone bills BT may seem to behave like a monopoly but it most definitely isn’t one. If you must use your phone there are scores of cheaper alternatives from cable
companies that package your telephone, television and even broadband internet access to low-cost dial-up services that give you access to cheaper calls using your existing BT line.
6. Consider a pay-as-you-go mobile If you’re spending £50 a month on a contract, this equates to £1,000 of your gross salary. You can buy a pay as you go phone for as little as £30 and only pay for the odd call as and when you need to.
7. Make a shopping list Food shopping forms a significant part of our monthly outgoings and the supermarket is where the bulk of the money is spent. Tesco take £1 in every
£8 spent by UK shoppers. But be warned, stores spend a small fortune studying ways of making us part with more of our money than we would otherwise intend to. Have you ever wondered why your favourite song is playing in the background as you navigate the aisles? Have you even noticed the background music? Possibly not, but you will have noticed at the checkout that the bill is often more than expected. To circumvent this, simply make a shopping list. Dig out the cookery books, plan a few meals and only buy what you need. You could save yourself £520 per year.
else who will? You can flog anything for the cost of a small commission. Tip: you may want to buy a few items first to build up your rating as a respectable e-Bayer before you start selling.
8. When was the last time you went to the market?
13. Learn to say ‘NO’
One way to beat the supermarkets – that is, to eat healthily for less – is to use the local market stall. Lower overheads should mean lower prices. Cherries, for example were £2.99 in Asda for 400g and the equivalent at the local market was just over £1.00.
9. Consider own brand goods You can buy a tin of own label baked beans for 14p and a loaf at Asda, Tesco or Sainsbury’s for 19p. Enough said!
10. Don’t buy Designer Labels Celebrities are given expensive clothes to wear. You’re not. At the end of the day, and let’s face it you may only wear the outfit once, can you justify paying hundreds of pounds over the odds because a top designer has had his or her name sewn on the label? Can you honestly tell the difference between a £600 designer bag and a £69 bag?
11. Sell your clutter on e-Bay Take this quick test: You’re at home, you open a cupboard and it’s full of clothes you haven’t worn or ‘good ideas at the time’ you haven’t used for 3 years. So why not sell them to someone
12. Do DIY We’re a nation of obsessive DIYers and for around £100 you can take a course at your local adult education college to improve the skills needed to tackle most household repairs. If the college runs plumbing courses you could soon be on track to wiping out costly call-out charges and extra insurance policies once and for all.
It’s easy to capitulate to the demands of a screaming child in a packed store on Saturday afternoon. But don’t do it! Similiarly, how often does a ‘swift half’ after work turn into a £40 drinking session? Saying ‘no’ a few times a year will do wonders for your bank account.
14. Stop trying to keep up with the Joneses Trying to keep up appearances is little more than a costly illness. Remember, you cannot judge someone by what they have because you don’t know how they got it. Chances are they’re in more debt than you!
15. Ask yourself: Do I really need this? Imagine the scenario. It’s lunchtime and you’ve got an hour to kill. You find yourself in a department store and there’s a sale on. You pick up a beautifully packaged selection of barbecue tools and associated garden stuff. It’s half price. Now, stop! Ask yourself: Do I REALLY NEED THIS? Exactly! Now put it down and walk away!
prepared to fly to any destination as long as it’s cheap. You can benefit from this too. Just remember only a few seats on each flight are sold at bargainbasement prices and once they’re sold, the prices rise. So, book early to get the cheapest deals.
17. Beat the ticket touts Ticket touts earn their living by getting hold of tickets that are ‘otherwise unavailable’. Well, here’s the news: they are available to everyone when they first go on sale. You just need to know when they go on sale. Simply sign up for the free ticket alert newsletters from the main agents to ensure that you’re first in the queue.
18. Cut down your drinking A few beers after work a few nights a week is a financially debilitating state fo affairs. Set limits and stick to them.
19. Pack up smoking Nevermind the health implications, the guilt and the smell, your 20-a-day habit is costing you nearly £2,000 a year. PACK IT IN!
20. Cancel the gym membership If you pay £40 a month by direct debit and you use the gym three times a week, then great, but if not, cancel your membership immediately! You’ll soon save enough to buy your own bike and, if you’re so inclined, a rowing machine. Consider running home form work three times a week! It’s free!
For more money saving tips please visit www.thisismoney.co.uk
16. Book early! Low cost airlines have created a market in holidays for people
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Ditch the razor
and embrace the laser! April sees the launch of Sk:n Razor Amnesty
I
n just one year, Brits can spend a massive £1.8 billion on razors for hair removal, and that’s not including those who use waxing and creams to keep body hair at bay. That’s why laser hair removal experts Sk:n ask you to banish the blades, swap your razor for a laser and take part in Sk:n Razor Amnesty. Sk:n Razor Amnesty kicks off with razor amnesty boxes will be stationed in each of the 37 Sk:n clinics up and down the country. Anyone who wants to give laser hair removal a go, can simply hand in their razor and receive a free laser hair removal test patch and an in-depth consultation with a Sk:n expert, normally worth £25. Taking up the call to arms (and legs!) is beauty expert Nicky Hambleton-Jones, presenter of Channel 4’s Ten Years Younger and founder of www. lookandfeelyounger.tv, who is adding her support to the campaign and encouraging the nation to switch to laser hair removal. Nicky says, “Come on ladies and gents! It’s time to throw out those razors and think about an alternative solution to unwanted hair. I’m a great believer in laser hair removal, especially as it’s not always easy to find time to keep you body hair free. Laser hair removal is becoming more and more popular – especially with high street clinics like Sk:n providing such affordable
treatments. In my view, it’s the most convenient, safe and costeffective way to keep unwanted hair at bay.” As well as giving every woman and man in the UK a chance to try laser hair removal for themselves, throughout the month Sk:n will also be highlighting the benefits and cost savings to customers in their clinics: • Cost-effective - the estimated cost of waxing your legs in a lifetime is almost £8,000, but by switching to a course of laser hair removal you could save nearly £7,000 • Convenient - laser hair removal is a great time saver in today’s busy world and, after a course of treatment, there’s no more worrying about swimwear disasters or avoiding skirts, shorts or skimpy tops during the hot summer days • Safe - laser hair removal at Sk:n is even suitable for sensitive skin Sk:n’s Group Medical Director, Dr Sean Lanigan is recognised
internationally as an expert in the field of laser treatment. He comments: “At Sk:n, we use the latest in laser technology and have a range of lasers which are suitable for all skin types, including Asian and AfroCaribbean complexions. As the largest and leading provider of non-surgical cosmetic treatments in the UK, with 10% of the UK’s dermatologists working for Sk:n, Sk:n is completely committed to providing a safe and professional service to its clients.” To take part in their Razor Amnesty or for any more information just visit www.sknclinics.co.uk or call 0800 028 7222 to make an appointment. Laser hair removal starts at £25 for a test patch, with a course of six underarms costing from £450. Sk:n clinics are open 7 days a week, with late evening appointments to suit those who work.
10 FASCINATING You Tube FACTSyou! e s i r p r u s that may
Y
ouTube is huge – Humongous, even. More video content is uploaded to YouTube in a 60 day period than the three major U.S television networks created in 60 years.
The average YouTube user spends between 15 and 25 minutes a day on the site, but how much do we know about the world’s largest video sharing website? Do you know what the most watched YouTube clip is? Can you name all three founders? Do you know how many times per minute a YouTube link is tweeted? Here’s some fascinating facts about YouTube: 1. P ayPal’s Role in YouTube’s creation YouTube was created by Chad Hurley, Steve Chen and Jawed Karim in 2005. The 3 founders knew each other from working together at another Internet start up, PayPal. In fact, Hurley designed the PayPal logo after reading a Wired article about the online payment company and e-mailing the startup in search of a job. YouTube was initially funded by bonuses received following the eBay buyout of PayPal. You could argue therefore, that if there were no PayPal there would be no YouTube. 2. Y ouTube’s Origins as a Dating Site The founding trio didn’t come up with the YouTube concept straight away. Legend has it that YouTube began life as a video dating site dubbed ‘Tune in Hook Up’, said to be influenced
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by HotorNot. The 3 ultimately decided not to go that route. The inspiration for YouTube as we know it today is credited to 2 different events. The first was Karim’s inability to find footage online of Janet Jackson’s ‘wardrobe malfunction’ and the second when Hurley and Chen were unable to share video footage of a dinner party due to e-mail attachment limitations. 3. YouTube caused problems for Utube The domain name YouTube.com was registered on Valentines Day in 2005. This however, caused a huge misunderstanding for Universal Tube and Rollform Equipment, based in Perrysburg, Ohio. It’s company domain, utube.com was overwhelmed with traffic from people that tried to spell the video sites name phonetically. The manufacturing company sued YouTube claiming its business was damaged by the video site, but the claims were dismissed. Nowadays, it seems utube has bowed to the
inevitable – its business site has been moved to utubeonline.com and the original utube.com is a video-themed landing page for bad spellers! 4. The first ever YouTube video The first video to ever be uploaded to YouTube isn’t a classic by any means. Shot by Yakov Lapitsky at the San Diego Zoo it shows co-founder, Jawed Karim in front of the elephant enclosure going on about long trunks. It has, nonetheless, racked up a very healthy 4,282,497 views since its online debut on April 23 2005. 5. The first Rickroll The first instance of a Rickroll appeared on YouTube way back in 2007. Apparently, it is the evolution of a prank that originally ‘duckrolled’ users via links that led to a duck on wheels. Now a classic in its own right, the Rickroll has become what must be the most common online practical joke. Back in 2008, at the height of
the phenomenon, a SurveyUSA poll suggested over 18 million US adults had been Rickrolled – perhaps more, given that Rick Astley himself participated in a mass-Rickrolling in that year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
page views each month. We spend around 2.9 billion hours on YouTube in a month – over 325,000 years. And these stats are just for the main YouTube website – they don’t incorporate embedded videos or video watched on mobile devices.
6. YouTube’s Annual April Fools Pranks
8. YouTube’s social stats
For the last 3 years, YouTube has pranked its millions of users every April Fools Day. The first was a classic – every video on the site’s homepage was actually a Rickroll. In 2009. YouTube turned the site upside down and in 2010 an attempt to reduce the bandwidth costs saw a ‘TEXTp’ mode introduced, which translated colours in the videos into text. We can’t wait to see what they have in store for 2011. 7. Some jaw dropping YouTube Statistics As of February 2011, YouTube has 490 million unique users worldwide per month, who rack up an estimated 92 billion
Social media-related YouTube stats are just as impressive. YouTube says that on average there are more than 400 tweets per minute containing a YouTube link. Meanwhile, over on Facebook over 150 years worth of YouTube videos are watched every single day. 9. The most viewed, linked and favourite video Not counting music videos (which due to licensing restrictions are often shown only in the US on YouTube), the most viewed video of all time is the classic ‘Charlie bit my finger’ with an astounding 282,151,886 (at the time of writing). When you include music videos from
the US – only ‘VEVO’ site, then the crown goes to Justin Beiber, whose ‘Baby’ video has over 466 million views and counting. Did you know you can view the ‘YouTube Charts’ at any time to see continually updated info about what’s popular? 10. The YouTube ‘Snake’ Easter Egg Game YouTube has a fun Easter egg that will let you play a Snakeesque game within the video window. It’s simple to execute if you’re keen to try it out. Check it out!
Article by kind courtesy of Amy-Mae Elliott, posted on http://mashable.com
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LOCAL BUSINESS
GRAND UNION DESIGNS By Alison Pate
I
hooked up with Phil Watts at Grand Union Designs, because I had heard of their exceptional reputation within the county for providing top quality, bespoke kitchens. Grand Union Designs is a collaboration between Phil Watts, the designer, Michael Goacher who runs the manufacturing side and James Murphy who manages the installation side of the business. They have over 30 years in the business, but have been based in Weedon for the past 5 years. Phil says ‘Our customers have an appreciation of our reputation to provide genuinely bespoke kitchens of the very highest quality. We genuinely make everything ourselves and don’t provide an ‘in the box’ type of service. Our customers really appreciate this. We design our kitchens with our customers, rather than for them, because, at the end of the day, it’s their space, not ours. We can provide any style, any colour, contemporary or traditional design.’ It’s fair to say that Grand Union Designs are not a ‘counterfeit’ organisation. They are way more valuable to their customers than just copying a kitchen from an advert they’ve seen. Phil is really passionate about not ripping off other designers’ work, but will take inspiration from them. That means that every kitchen
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they design is truly bespoke and original. ‘We provide a great level of service and all of us have input into every job. We are proud to provide a lifetime guarantee on all of our kitchens. We can do this because we’re pedantic about the quality of the materials we use. We are personally very proud of what we achieve for our customers. We have excellent cabinet makers working for us and we make our furniture to fit the space.’ One of the main advantages of having a bespoke kitchen made by Grand Union Designs is the fact that they actually lay out your kitchen in their
showroom for you to see it before it is installed. At this stage, any adjustments can be made, handles changed for example, so that all customer expectations are exceeded. It’s a very personal service and you really get the passion from Phil about what Grand Union Designs are all about – a personal service where the suppliers are genuinely interested in what they’re doing for you. Phil says ‘Although our core business is making furniture, and we’ve been doing it for the past 30 years, we also advise on countertops – the benefits of quartz or granite for instance, the best appliance manufacturers and the best flooring to
‘Thank you for all the hard work you put into the kitchen. Andrew and I are thrilled to bits with it all’ complement our kitchens. We know that there is an element of upheaval when having a new kitchen installed, but when it’s planned properly, the amount of upheaval is kept to a minimum.’ And, by looking at the many, many testimonials and letters of thanks from their customers, you can see why Grand Union Designs stand out from the crowd. Grand Union Designs Concept House, Watling Street Weedon NN7 4QG Tel: 01327 340999 sales@granduniondesigns. co.uk www.granduniondesigns.co.uk
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HARD LANDSCAPING MADE EASY Get set to enjoy the summer
by Kevin Draper of local builders merchant Gibbs and Dandy
Dull and dreary or bright, vibrant and cheery, will spending summer in your outdoor space put a smile on your face? If the answer is no, its time to start planning that hard landscaping outdoor makeover to give you that relaxing BBQ filled summer you deserve. If you’re fed up of looking out at that tired landscape of weeds, cracked paving, rotten fencing and broken pots, me and my colleagues at Gibbs and Dandy are here to help. Now is the time to do all the major jobs like slab laying, decking, fencing and cleaning, so you can enjoy your outdoor space when the sun arrives. To help your plan become a reality, we have put together our biggest ever range of landscaping products from fencing to decking, paving
to walling and trellises to exciting garden accessories, complete with the right tools to make the jobs simple. Why not come and see our new landscape displays or pop into our Northampton branch on Heathfield Way, or call 01604 580222 and ask a member of our experienced team about our top beauty tips for that summer garden makeover. You can also see a huge range of products at our website www.gibbsanddandy.com
Editorial
SOCIAL MEDIA BLUPRINT FOR BUSINESS By Alison Pate
M
ost businesses know that they should be engaging with social media. They know it’s having a fundamental shift change in the way we do business. What are people saying about you and your business on Twitter and Facebook? How many customers have you missed out on this year because you’re not using social media properly? What will happen to you if your business doesn’t engage social media? HELP IS HERE!! SOCIAL MEDIA BLUEPRINT FOR BUSINESS This new Social Media Blueprint for Business is a brilliant ONLINE TRAINING MODULE specifically put together for UK business owners to enable you to make the most of opportunities that social media presents. It will teach you everything you need to know about how to use Social Media effectively in your business. You can go through the training step-by-step, in your own time, at your own pace, at home or in the office. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced
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dabbler (!), these Blueprints will help you get on the right track so that your business doesn’t get left behind. Who’s it for? If you know nothing about Twitter or Facebook. No previous knowledge required. If you’ve dabbled with it in the past but found it confusing. If you’re serious about the future of your business and you recognize the shift that
is being created on how we communicate, then these Blueprints are for you. What’s in these Blueprints? Module 1: Why Social Media matters so much to your business and how it’s changing everything that you thought you knew. Module 2: How to use Twitter effectively to grow your business. Includes step-by-step instructions.
Module 8: 10 reasons why your business needs a social media manager now!
‘Thousands of your potential customers and connections, peoplethat live in your area are using Social Media today. You would have to be either incredibly arrogant or a complete idiot to not even try to connect with them’ Nigel Botterill, CEO, N5 Ltd.
FOR A DEMO VISIT
All these Blueprints are delivered online via a secure member-only website. Once you’ve invested in your training, you’ll be given your own private log-in so you can go through the training at your own pace. Testimonial: ‘I was messing around with Twitter, Facebook and Linked In but didn’t really know how it all fitted together. I couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about. Worse still, my staff said they could do it, but I didn’t really know what they were supposed to be doing. I invested in these Blue Prints and now I have the knowledge, the understanding and the techniques to use to build my brand using social media. And, I now talk from a position of strength with my staff about our online strategies using social media.’ Alison Pate, thebestofnorthampton There’s no evening workshops to attend – you do it all in your own pace, whenever YOU WANT TO.
www.socialmediablueprint.co.uk/demo
Price: Single User Licence £249 + VAT, Multiple User Licence £399 + VAT Check out the demonstration video at www.socialmediablueprint.co.uk/ demo
Module 3: How to use your Facebook profile AND your Facebook pages to grow your business. Module 4: Linked In – step-by-step instructions on what to do and how to do it effectively to build your business using the world’s premier B2B networking tool. Module 5: Everything you need to know about using video and YouTube
to drive traffic to your website and boost your organic rankings. Module 6: Foursquare – the new kid of the block – absolutely essential if you’re in retail or have a restaurant or bar. This module guides you through every step of the way. Module 7: Your Blog – the centre of your world online. Why it matters, how to do it, what to blog about and the best software to use.
Testimonial: ‘This is the best £250 I have ever spent. It’s fabulous. Really good instruction, no jargon and I really ‘get it’ now.’
BUY ONLINE ON www.sharpsocialmedia. co.uk or call us at Sharp Marketing and Social Media on
01604 601 455
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EDITORIAL
YOUR NORTHAMPTON - ALTOGETHER BETTER
By Alison Pate
A
n exciting new era is opening up for Northampton town centre with the launch of the Business Improvement District (BID). The BID is made up of more than 500 businesses in the town centre area working together to create a vibrant and thriving trading area that is good for businesses and visitors alike. Short term plans to make Northampton better for shoppers, visitors and businesses include: • Looking at the introduction of town centre hosts to help visitors to the town find what they need and give them a helping hand • Making a difference to the street scene, with enhanced cleaning and other environmental improvements • Brightening up the look of empty shops by installing attractive artwork promoting the town. A property in the Drapery has already been given a makeover in this way BID Chairman Stephen Chown said that the BID also plans to support popular events that bring people into the town centre and raise its profile as a fun destination, including the Northampton Music Festival and Britain in Bloom. In the longer term, BID members want to see a
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“Businesses in Northampton who pay the BID levy can already benefit from a 50 per cent discount for membership of the Northampton Retail Crime Initiative. Log on to the BID website to find out”
brighter, cleaner town centre with a buzzing atmosphere and thriving business community. There will be improvements such as more bins, better seating, cigarette stubbers and public art, measures to attract new businesses into the town and potentially a loyalty card or similar scheme to attract shoppers. Stephen Chown said: “We now have one voice for business and will promote the town centre and put improvements in place to give visitors a really enjoyable experience so that they stay longer and come back more often.”
Northampton after dark a place for everyone The nighttime economy, a really important part of what is on offer in Northampton, is not being ignored. The team will be working hard with other partners to make Northampton a great place for a night out and will be aiming to achieve Purple Flag accreditation, working together with the Community Safety Partnership. The Purple Flag recognises excellence in the management of town and city centres at night and aims to raise the standards. Neil Bartholomey, Deputy Chair of the BID and Chair of Northampton Pubwatch said: “Northampton after dark is as important as Northampton by day. We are working with BID members and partners about key changes to our town centre.”
Any town centre businesses who want to find out more about the BID can email info@northamptonbid.co.uk or log on to the website www.NorthamptonBID.co.uk or call 01604 837766.
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thebestof APP has arrived! Great news for us all! Our bestof app is now available on the iphone and the Blackberry! This means that you can now keep up to date with any special offers, recommendations and events in Northampton with one tap of your mobile phone. To get our super-duper app, simply go to the Apple store and search ‘thebestof’ and we will be there, all ready to download onto your iphone. Our local app helps you: • Find out about any special offers that are being promoted in Northampton • Keep in touch with what people are saying about local businesses and services • Check out a massive range of ‘stuff’ that’s going on in our local town It’s FREE, it’s FUNKY and it’s THERE TO HELP YOU! Check us out at Apple.com thebestofnorthampton – giving you the best that Northampton’s got to offer
thebestof northampton
Internet TV to be in 2011 By Gavin Hills
2
011 is set be the year that the internet not only resides in your office, but firmly moves into the living room as well. The long anticipated ability to view the internet through your television is already beginning to make firm inroads into American households, but infrastructure and technology is now in place for the same to take place in the UK with what is inevitably going to be the next milestone in the history of television. There are currently three main protagonists, Apple, Google and Yahoo all vying to become the number one choice of the mass market for accessing online content through your TV. All are battling to partner with TV manufacturers and content providers to offer customers the best package. Internet TV not only allows you to watch TV programmes, but also download or stream them ‘On Demand’, participate in social networking such as Twitter and
Facebook, make video phone calls, and install a wide variety of Apps just like you do on Smartphones. Google TV also combines it’s search technology to enable users to easily search for the programmes they want to watch. Websites of big TV channels and media providers (such as www. hbo.com) are being modified and re-launched to also suit use via a television. Although this may not be applicable to small to medium sized businesses at this stage, it
will filter down over time and lead to a new era in how we use the web, the graphical style of web sites and the way in which we move around them. Basic versions of Internet TV have already been available from some manufacturers but with limited ability. With set top boxes and standalone TV’s from Apple and Google expected early this year the internet in your living room should really begin to gather some momentum.
If you are contemplating a new web site, you can contact in.house.media or request a free audit of your current web site by going to
www.ihm.co.uk/thebestof
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Useful
numbers Gas
0800 111 999
Electricity
08457 331 331
Water Emergency
08457 145 145
NHS Direct
0845 46 47
Crime Stoppers
0800 555 111
Childline
0800 11 11
Samaritans
08457 909 090
BT Fault Line (hah!)
0800 800 151
RSPCA
0300 1234 999
PDSA
0800 731 2502
Alcoholics Anonymous
0845 769 7555
Relate
01604 634 400
Al-Anon
0207 4030 888
Victim Support
0845 303 0900
Local Police (non emergencies)
03000 111 222
Northampton General Hospital
01604 634 700
PubWatch Incident Line
01604 432 436
Northampton Borough Council
01604 837 837
Emergencies
999
FAST Computer and Laptop Repairs 01604 582000
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