Entrepreneur & Investor Issue 13

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EDITOR’S LETTER DEAR READER, Welcome to the latest edition of Entrepreneur & Investor Magazine.

Where ever you are in your entrepreneur journey, you’ll find plenty of useful and inspirational articles in our Summer magazine. This issue features everything from how to podcast, launch beauty and fashion brands to beating the burnout many entrepreneurs experience.

Our very popular luxury lifestyle section features a treasure of aspirational delights from cars and yachts to fine dining, spas and exotic travel.

In addition to reading our print magazine, do also visit us online at www.entrepreneurandinvestor.com for daily new articles, and join us on our socials – details below.

Finally if you’ve any suggestions or great stories to tell, we’d love to hear from you. Drop me a note on editor@ entrepreneurandinvestor.com.

My very best wishes,

EDITOR IN CHIEF Lisa Curtiss

editor@ entrepreneurandinvestor.com

ART DIRECTOR AND CHIEF DESIGNER Wendy Muruli

wendymuruli@hotmail.co.uk

STAFF WRITERS Eleanor Anderson Brooke Sealey Gemma Jones Gayle Penny Luke Penny Emily Bone

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LISA FOUNDER & EDITOR IN CHIEF Visit our website - entrepreneurandinvestor.com Find us on Issuu - issuu.com/entrepreneurinvestor Follow us on Twitter - @Entrep_Investor

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THIS ISSUE

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You are your own media Media is changing. TV has become Netflix. Newspapers have become newsfeeds.

Radio has become podcasts. Audio is one of the most powerful forms of audio there is. As an entrepreneur, are you using audio as part of your strategy to engage with your audience as well as to find new customers?

O

2 billion users, Linkedin 500 ver 6 million people Hot on the heels of that news in the UK now comes Apple’s decision to million, Twitter 260 million, listen to podcasts dissolve iTunes into three apps, Instagram 111 million with 23 million YouTube channels. And each week, making it the Apple Podcasting, Apple Music don’t forget apps where there fastest growing new medium. and Apple TV... are currently over two million Podcasts have the ability to tell a story, live through someone I believe that there is a massive in the App Store and rising else’s experiences, & change opportunity for entrepreneurs every day. the way we think. Its intimacy to cut through the noisy online The challenge for all of us can often provoke the is that to cut through the strongest of emotions as well as the deepest of connections “Getting started is actually noise online it’s increasingly for the listener. In terms of easier than it looks. It really becoming a ‘Pay to Play’ space e.g. to get your content seen audience demographics, isn’t that difficult to get podcast listeners tend to be started. People often assume and heard by more than 5% young – 44% are under 34 podcasts require expensive of your followers you need to invest in ads by Google, – & they’re also educated, equipment but all you Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, wealthy & likely to be business influencers. Podcast listeners literally need to get started is Instagram and YouTube. are much more active on your phone or laptop and a Podcasting on the other hand is completely free – and there every social media channel, to pair of headphones.” are only 550,000 podcasts out follow companies and brands there. What is more, 100% of on social media and more likely to subscribe to Netflix world and get their voices your subscribers will see ALL of or Amazon Prime (therefore heard by having your own your content. There’s a reason less likely to be exposed to TV podcast. Twenty plus years that successful B2B brands like advertising). ago business owners were all Salesforce, Cisco, & HubSpot told to have a website, a virtual have launched their own Podcast listening continues shop window, so they all got podcasts...because it works. to rise around the world also, one. There are now over two Businesses are embracing a trend that has not been lost billion websites online. They podcasts to establish thought on key players in the field were then told to start blogging leadership, feed their content create strategic including Spotify, Apple and so those searching online engine, Google.Spotify has spent could find their website, There relationships with their guests, €358 million ($400 million) to are now over five hundred and recruit and retain talent. acquire three podcast startups million blogs out there. Social If you are looking to raise your in 2019 alone and earmarked media was next and they were profile or that of your business, up to $500 million back in told to set up profiles and start to build credibility and become February for similar deals producing content on social the go - to authority in your throughout 2019. media. Facebook now has over niche and ultimately have more 8

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sales then having a podcast is one sure - fire way to achieve that.

How do I know this? Because I launched my own podcast two years ago, Screw it, Just Do it, and it has ben one of the best things I have ever done in my life. I have just one regret - that I didn’t start sooner. Screw it, Just Do it is a business podcast that has been recognised by iTunes as a Top 3 show in the Business, Education and Technology classes. I have interviewed entrepreneurs such as Innocent’s Richard Reed, Notonthehighstreet’s Holly Tucker MBE, Ted Baker founder Ray Kelvin CBE and Dragons Den star Piers Linney, along with hundreds of startup entrepreneurs looking to emulate them. Having a podcast is such a powerful tool to grow your brand and share y our message. I never set out to conquer the iTunes chart but my podcast seemed to really engage with those who are looking for practical advice

on starting and scaling their businesses – with a dose of inspiration and aspiration thrown in. The benefits of hosting my podcast have been immeasurable.

I’ve been offered sponsorship opportunities since having my podcast, speaking gigs with blue - chip companies both here and abroad and have built my network exponentially.

But the biggest benefit has been the entrepreneurs that I’ve met, some of whom I’ve gone on to become good friends with.

Getting started is actually easier than it looks. It really isn’t that difficult to get started.

People often assume podcasts require expensive equipment but all you literally need to get started is your phone or laptop and a pair of headphones.

They are tricky to produce on their own however, which is where I can come in. I launched my own podcast agency to help those who are time - poor but recognise the opportunity

that podcasting offers. As a marketing and HR tool, podcasting is largely untapped.

Brands that embrace podcasting today (instead of years from now) will be seen as trailblazers leading the way.

I believe that just like every business now has a website and social media channels, the day is coming when every business has its own podcast.

If you’d like help creating and growing your own podcast then you can email alex@screwitjustdoit.org with any questions that you may have.

About the Author: Alex Chisnell is a successful entrepreneur and the founder and podcast host of iTunes Top3 show “Screw it, Just do it”, Host of #screwitjustdoit ‘live’ events, Regional Delivery Partner for Virgin StartUp and a Virgin StartUp Mentor.

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What causes burn out and how to embrace it?

By Penny Power OBE

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wonder, do we have to have a shock, some kind of adversity in life, to turn things around and have a better, more fulfilling life?

Wouldn’t it be incredible if we could have enough selfawareness and control of our emotions, before we started out as entrepreneurs to ensure we maintain control of the life and business we want?

This is a question I asked myself after I came out of therapy.

Once I had committed to repair myself after 35 years of hard work and tough expectations of myself, I discovered many things that are basically lifeskills that we should know before we stretch and abuse ourselves as business owners.

However, would this take all the fun out of the journey? I guess in a way it would. I also think that people who have not faced challenges and found a way through them are not whole. In Lao Tzu’s words “to be whole’ first allow yourself to break”. No truer word said ,and taken literally, in my case.

In November 2017 I did break. I hit my wall. My mind and body said ‘enough’, I had burned myself too many times and 10

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I was forced to learn a from the lessons I had been give and never learned from . This was far from a self-indulgent experience, it was a tough year of discovery, forgiveness, taking personal responsibility and the most exciting part, learning to live with and embrace my personal vulnerabilities, the parts of me that make me who I am. To stop fighting that part of me.

I believed, until this moment in my life, that resilience was about how hard you could take the punch and stand up again.

I was so wrong. The best boxer in the ring is the one who can avoid the punches, the one who knows how to dodge the blows.

In a study by Prof Michael Freeman in entrepreneurs and their mental health, he discovered that they were 50% more likely to suffer depression. I have very strong beliefs and understanding of this and want to share them here with you under the following titles 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Curse of the strong Dopamine Compare and despair Ambition Loss of control of life

In my latest book I share my story, very openly, in order to create a fairer benchmark on ‘being an entrepreneur’. I will share what the 5 points above mean in a few words here.

1. Curse of the Strong.

Dr Tim Cantopher, a lead Psychologist from The Priory in the UK, identified a form of hidden depression. Seen among highly ambitious, selfdisciplined, and reliable people who along with these traits rely on the validation of others for their self-esteem and focus on the needs of others before themselves. He called this depression, the “Curse of the Strong” as these people would never stay in bed and wallow in self-pity, instead, no matter how hard life is, they get up and keep going, to their own detriment, never letting anyone down.

2. Dopamine.

This is a critical brain chemical that is part of the ‘reward’ centre of the brain.

It needs to be released to energise and keep us happy.

Entrepreneurs set themselves extremely tough goals, and often very far out. They never notice the small gains, they always want more of themselves.

Without this

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That is my journey and I have never been more happy or fulfilled as I am today. _______

dopamine release definitely tougher.

life

is

3. Compare and Despair.

A modern problem brought on by the images of everyone else looking so shiny and successful online.

The one-dimension you see of someone, without knowing their pain, challenges, sacrifices and reality. Yet you know all your own. This sparks feeling of lacking, of not ‘keeping up’ of being less than you should be. This is a great marketing technique by too many and we must be aware of being suckers to the game they are playing.

4. Ambition.

Named by Luke Johnson in his book “Start it Up”, as “a curse”. Not all of us have the embedded ambition that it takes to achieve the perception of success that we seek. The ability to sacrifice so much in order to achieve the millionaire life style that is sold to us daily.

This vortex of ambition can be addictive, and yet, when you take time to consider what really makes you happy, that will be a true mark of success.

When you understand your

own values and what makes you happy and fulfilled, you will build a much better, and more financially viable business.

5. Loss of control.

I was given this quote 5 years ago, and this was a catalyst for change for me.

“Happiness is made up of three things. i.

50% is whether you are naturally a happy person ii. 10% the achievement of what you want-today (and you will never be satisfied- so accept that 10%) iii. 40% is about “how much control you have over your life and decisions that impact it”. This is the biggy, do you feel in control, or are you overwhelmed and in state of panic, not knowing what to take off your list of things to do. Is someone else controlling you. The list of reason for this lack of control is very personal.

Penny Power OBE was awarded her OBE in 2014 for her contribution to entrepreneurs in the digital economy. A mother of 3, married for 29 years and an ‘accidental entrepreneur’.

Penny professionally speaks about life in business, she believes we all need to take responsibility for our mental fitness and supports business owners through her coaching and her Mastermind Groups.

Penny’s book “Business is Personal” is available on audio, print and kindle and you can connect with her on Twitter and through her website.

Twitter: @pennypower Free Chapter of penny’s book here: www.pennypower.co.uk/ freechapter

Burnout, what a gift to us all.

When it happens, you are given the gift of life again, use this opportunity wisely and know that ‘allowing yourself to break, will make you more whole than you have ever been”.

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4 Effective Tips to Make Your Crowdfunding Campaign Really Stand Out

By John Auckland, TribeFirst

I

n recent years, equity crowdfunding has grown to become a leading form of alternative finance.

Entrepreneurs, earlyand growthstage businesses often use equity crowdfunding to bypass banks and other traditional funding sources, connecting instead with a crowd of engaged investors.

Yet, this popularity has led equity crowdfunding platforms, like Crowdcube and Seedrs, to become saturated ‒ there are now hundreds of active campaigns at any one time. And, as each campaign had to pass the platforms’ own strict due diligence process before they can get listed, you know they will have compelling propositions.

Such a large selection of strong campaigns makes it difficult to cut through the noise. So, how can an entrepreneur or earlystage company compete and win over investors?

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1. Videos should tell a story clearly, not look expensive or overly creative Pitch videos are essential as they quickly communicate the key aspects of your pitch, get across the look and feel of your brand, and provide that important human connection.

Getting your pitch video right, however, is a much more complex task.

Knowing how important your pitch video is, it is tempting to spend a lot of money on it.

Investors, however, might see the expensive animation or glossy production as a frivolous use of money for a startup.

Fortunately, you can make a pitch video look great without remortgaging your house.

In fact, often the best videos are the ones that turn on the creativity rather than turn up the production value.

A good example is a company like Gunna Drinks, which is

taking on the big soft drinks manufacturers primarily using its brand. Therefore, they needed to communicate the brand, first and foremost, then their key investor messages.

Combining an engaging script with some charismatic presenting and some incredible editing, Gunna produced a pitch video that was on brand, sold the investment more than the product, and gave real insight into the founding team and their personalities. ‒ Consider your brand and core selling proposition. Are you big and bold or subtle and sophisticated? Are you selling a product or service?

What are the key benefits or differentiators of your business? ‒ Then consider what investors want/need to know.

Is it the size of your market? A gap you’ve identified? Perhaps you have some high-profile investors?

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‒ Finally, work with a production company to pin down how you are communicating what.

With this clear in your mind, it should be possible to find low-cost ways to create an eyecatching video.

2. Offer unique rewards that don’t cost the earth Early crowdfunding platforms relied on contributors donating in order to receive a reward ‒ often a product the company wanted to produce, but also experiences and other unique opportunities.

While these campaigns are reserved for the likes of Kickstarter and Indiegogo, equity crowdfunding campaigns can still utilise the same principle: offer people something unique and they will contribute.

We recommend offering rewards at specific levels of contribution and making the contribution amount an odd number. For example, offering an invite to an exclusive event for those contributing £1,700 or more.

Entrepreneurs often feel compelled to put these perks at nice round numbers, like £1,500 or more, but investors will usually contribute a round number anyway and the point of perks is to encourage slightly higher investment amounts.

One of the best things about rewards is they don’t have to cost a fortune. In fact, quite the opposite: if you spent lots of money on rewards you may

put investors off with your frivolous spending.

As an example of a low-cost yet effective perk, one of our clients, NextUp Comedy, offered investors membership subscriptions to their platform as a reward, helping the company raise 123% of their target amount.

If someone invested just £100, they would save £42 on their first year’s subscription.

Great savings for engaged investors but next to free for the company to offer. It’s a winwin!

And since the product is unique, there is no competition. ‒ Consider what makes your business unique. ‒ Do you have an original product or service? Perhaps you are connected with some influential or famous people? ‒ Identify your options and consider which are feasible and realistic, which investors might want, and which will cost you the least. ‒ Ideal perks provide investors with additional value or an experience that money can’t buy.

3. Host an interactive investors webinar (not an event) Investors often appreciate the opportunity to ask questions.

Just take a look at the Q&A or forum section of any crowdfunding platform.

Unfortunately,

written

questions and answers can often be misinterpreted or can miss the point. Clarifying can then get complicated and confusing. A much better way to answer questions and address concerns is in person. The best way is to answer everyone’s questions at the same time, helping to avoid duplication and allowing investors to learn from one another.

Hosting an investor event is often one of the first ideas that come to entrepreneurs.

It makes sense ‒ gather your potential investors in one place, let them meet the founders, and address any questions or concerns in a live setting.

But hold your horses.

Events are expensive to put on and require a lot of organisation. As such, you assume a lot of risk hosting an event. What if most people can’t make the date? Does a London event exclude Northern and Scottish investors? How many resources are you diverting away from other business and marketing activities to organise the event?

Even if your business allows you to organise and host a spectacular event at low cost, investors may still see it as a frivolous expense and withdraw their investment.

One company recently held a big party to celebrate hitting its crowdfunding target. As the business was involved in the events industry, the team leveraged all their personal contacts to ensure that the event cost them next to nothing. However, they did entrepreneurandinvestor.com |

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such a good job of making the event look like a lavish affair, one investor ended up pulling their £30k investment.

We’ve found that a wellplanned webinar can achieve the same result of informing potential investors and allowing them to meet the founders. The best time to run a webinar is around the middle of your campaign. Potential investors will have had time to read your proposition and investigate the market, and you should have received over 50% of your funding target by that point.

Simply set up an Eventbrite page with a summary of the webinar content along with the date and time, then share the page with your social media followers, LinkedIn connections, personal connections, as an update on your campaign page, and anywhere else you can think of. ‒ Plan your event at the very start of your campaign for around the middle of your campaign and publicise it using an Eventbrite (or similar) page relatively early on. ‒ Then take note of the questions investors ask during the first half of your campaign and build the webinar to address these concerns. ‒ Finally, make sure there is

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plenty of time for questions at the end of the webinar.

Never make things up ‒ if you don’t know, say you’ll check and provide a more detailed answer. ‒ Bonus tip: Record the webinar and send it out as a campaign update.

4. Make every pound work twice as hard with a dedicated PR campaign Hiring a professional PR agency is likely to be one of the more expensive options on this list, but the difference it makes can be astounding. A professional PR agency, with experience of crowd-funding campaigns, comes with a list of journalist contacts as well as some established relationships.

Additionally, every pound spent on PR works twice as hard ‒ raising brand awareness and gaining you investors in one go ‒ getting twice as much bang for your buck.

known and any ‘expertise’ is often spread across the whole team. PR coverage flips the script, positioning the founder as a thought-leader with unique insight and your company as one worth investigating.

The ‘trick’ to good PR coverage, counterintuitively perhaps, is not to make it promotional. The reason is, journalists don’t care about your business or that you are crowdfunding. Sorry to break it to you, but you’re not a newsworthy story...yet.

Most publications want to educate and inform their readership by offering expert advice and insight. Offer them some expert content for free and they’re fairly likely to publish your article. As long as you include a bio and summary of your business, you’ll end up with a nice little byline next to your article title and promotion of your business at the end.

PR

Perhaps this may not feel like enough to draw in investors, but trust me, it works.

1. It spreads awareness of your business, 2. It positions you as an expert in your field, 3. It can help educate potential investors about your market.

‒ Consider what advice or expertise you could offer that’s related to your business. What might others want to know?

What might they need to know in order to want to invest? Do you have a unique story you can offer?

Startups and early-stage businesses usually aren’t well-

‒ Then pin down 2-3 articles to go out during your

The benefits of good coverage are threefold:

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crowdfunding campaign. Do some research, discover some statistics to back up your claims (and reference them), and find other businesses that exemplify your claims.

Write articles around 1,000 words in length around these titles, remembering to include: an author bio, a company description, social media links, and a link to your crowdfunding campaign URL. Then hire a professional PR agency to distribute them throughout your campaign.

If, during your crowdfunding campaign, you committed to all of the activities listed above, you could spend as little as £2,000 to publicise your campaign.

In our extensive experience running equity crowdfunding campaigns, that £2,000 will result in an extra 20% or so of campaign funding. Even for campaigns at the smaller end of the scale (<£150,000) that could work out to as much as £30,000 in additional investment.

A small investment in your campaign could result in a huge increase in investors.

£17m for over 50 companies on major equity crowdfunding platforms, with a greater than 90% success rate. TribeFirst is the world’s first dedicated marketing communications agency to support equity crowdfunding campaigns and the first in the UK to provide PR and Marketing campaigns on a mainly risk/reward basis.

John is also Virgin StartUp’s crowdfunding trainer and consultant, helping them to run branded workshops, webinars and programmes on crowdfunding. John is passionate about working with start-ups and sees crowdfunding as more than just raising funds; it’s an opportunity to build a loyal tribe of lifelong customers. www.tribefirst.co.uk See: http://www.tribefirst.co.uk Twitter: @Tribe1st

ABOUT THE AUTHOR John Auckland is a crowdfunding specialist and founder of TribeFirst, a global equity crowdfunding communications agency that has helped raise in excess of

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5 Key Tips for Launching a Successful Start-Up

By Liuda Nebozhak, Head of Project at Crello

E

very startup undergoes some trial and error in its first 1-2 years, and this has certainly been the case for Crello, which offers a design tool specifically for marketers and bloggers.

We recently announced and celebrated reaching the major milestone of 1 million users over the course of just 20 months.

However, it took us some time to find our product-market fit, and we are continuing to tweak it to this day. Along the way, we are leveraging our product development with the help of PR, brand ambassadors, and market research, amongst others.

Below are my 5 key takeaways for getting your start-up off the ground.

When trying to find their ideal customer, startups should strive to offer something that nobody else is offering or solve a problem that no one else can.

In the case of Crello, after gaining a steady user base comprised primarily of marketers, we started considering what our users

“Getting to know your users – who they are, what their day is like and how your service or product fits into their life – is the best way to attract and retain customers.”

1. Quality is not a USP, it’s a prerequisite for any successful product and marketing initiative Every startup needs to study its niche and how it compares to the current market. If you think a high-quality product will get you far, think again.

Having a high-quality product is a mere stepping stone.

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needed most that we weren’t providing them with yet. That’s when animated designs and video came into focus. Knowing that 46% of marketers use video in advertising already and 26% of the remaining 54% plan to start doing that in the near future, we realized that this was a huge opportunity for us.

2.

Get to know your audience with personalized communication & services Getting to know your users – who they are, what their day is like and how your service or product fits into their life – is the best way to attract and retain customers.

Startups need to be responsive to the end user’s needs to accordingly develop the right products and updates. This is especially the case for a product aimed for marketers, as these needs will evolve as technologies develop and new trends start to emerge.

The demand for ‘personalization’ is a big trend that we are seeing not only with communication, but also with products and services.

A Deloitte study recently found that 36% of consumers expressed an interest in purchasing personalised products or services, while 48% said they’d be willing to wait longer in order to receive it.

3. Don’t Neglect PR Startups should not forget about the importance PR and the role it plays in creating brand awareness. Sure, you

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need actual paying users and investors to get your startup where it needs to go, but resources should also be dedicated to increasing your brand awareness early on in your start-up’s journey.

Your PR activities need not be solely focused on your product and should also address the end user. Study your audience and zero in on the things that matter to them. Work on inspiring your audience and catering to their needs. Word of mouth will do the rest.

4. Invest in market research for optimal ROI Experimenting and trying to find the perfect product-market fit is extremely important in the first year of your startup’s lifetime. This is really the time to make mistakes and learn from them, which is something that becomes riskier down the line.

Investing in market research will help reduce your risk when making certain product-related decisions. It will also support your efforts to differentiate yourself from competitors by finding certain gaps in the market, or customer demands that are not being met.

Reaching out to influencers and bloggers to tell their audiences about your product or service can also be useful.

Tutorials and reviews work great because they don’t just introduce the blogger’s existing audience to your platform but also improve your SEO.

Once you have identified these customer demands, make sure that these are at the core of your marketing strategy.

Final thoughts

5. Find & nurture your brand ambassadors Startups should encourage their users to share their projects and case studies.

This will help raise your brand awareness and allow you to take a closer look at the effectiveness of your campaigns. A great way to do this is by creating a dedicated Facebook group where clients can share their projects.

Embarking on a new start-up in the marketing space is hard work, but if you keep these fundamental tips in mind your hard work is likely to pay off!

Remember, as a starting point, to always know your user. Keep refining your USP, there is nothing wrong with that. Invest in PR and market research, and don’t forget to leverage word of mouth from brand ambassadors in order to help you grow your user base and scale your business.

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5 Top Trends to Know if You’re Launching a Children’s Fashion Brand

By Neha and Dipe Rajani, Founders of Sonality

S

ocial Media and awareness of the environment are driving many changes in society as a whole, not to mention in both business and fashion.

New and young mums are more interested in what their children wear, and where it comes from, than ever before.

This means that the babies and children’s wear market is changing fast. So what are the top trends that babies and children’s wear businesses should be looking for?

1. Twinning As the phrase goes ‘Twinning is Winning’ and this no longer applies to actual twins! Mums want their daughters to dress as ‘mini me’ and dads want coordination with their sons.

For example, Next’s ‘Just Like Me’ collection coordinates looks for kids and grown-ups and Matalan’s ‘Mini Me’ range has adorable matching mini me outfits from T-shirts, Dresses, Suits and PJs. Mini-meLondon is an online kids clothing brand that aims to bring fun and style to dressing up, by offering matching outfits for adults and children.

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This is an opportunity to capture both the children and the adult market at the same time, by enabling parents to buy matching outfits.

2.

Personalisation/ Customisation For a while now, personalised clothing has been making its way to the forefront of kid’s fashion. Being able to add a unique, personal touch

customisation for babies and children – from the colour, text, images, print type, etc.

Consumers can design their item from scratch or choose from the inspiration page and adapt the design.

3. Sustainable Fashion Sustainability is considered as reducing the environmental impact of the production process and ensuring ethical

“High street brands like Gap, Next and Mothercare are now offering personalisation options. Alongside these old favourites, new innovative, younger brands are appearing which take personalisation to a new level.” to clothes appeals to both parents and children – it’s a great way for them to express their individuality.

High street brands like Gap, Next and Mothercare are now offering personalisation options. Alongside these old favourites, new innovative, younger brands are appearing which take personalisation to a new level.

For example, Sonality allows total personalisation/

guidelines are in place when it come to safe working practices in factories and fair wages.

H&M has vowed that it will use 100% recycled or sustainably sourced materials by 2030, as well as eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from its production process by 2040.

Currently its ‘Conscious Kids’ collection is leading the way.

This collection is made from sustainable materials including ones that are recycled, organic or certified by the Forest

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Stewardship Council (FSC), so parents can feel safe in the knowledge that their little one is wearing something that has been made with the environment in mind.

There are certainly opportunities for new and fledgling brands in this area – but be aware that it won’t be that long before ALL brands HAVE to move in this direction, so you’d need an extra USP to stand out in the long term.

However, if you can start the road to sustainability now, you’ll be ahead of the curve, and currently parents are willing to pay a premium for a compassionate product.

4. Moving Away from Fast Fashion Fast Fashion is inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends. However, with people thinking more and more about sustainable fashion there is starting to be a shift away from fast fashion towards clothes that last and can be kept and used longer.

For mums and dads, sustainability means quality.

It means buying long lasting, robust clothes for kids with

the potential to be handed down to future siblings. With this in mind, brands are now incorporating features that allow garments to grow with little ones. For example, roll up hems and adjustable shoulder straps. In addition, MPs are considering a ‘fast fashion’ tax on synthetic materials in an attempt to crack down on the plastic pollution caused by large fashion houses and retailers.

5. Non-Gender Clothing Anyone who shops for kids clothing will know what awaits them in many high street stores. Pink and purple clothes with unicorns and fairies for girls and dinosaurs, trucks and spaceships in green and blue for boys. However, times are changing. Girls like dinosaurs and there’s no reason why boys cannot wear pink and this is gradually being reflected in the clothes that are available.

In 2017, John Lewis became the first retailer to ditch the ‘boys’ and ‘girls’ labels from its children’s clothing range and Clarks announced that its 2018 range would be designed with an ‘entirely unisex approach’.

There are now also many online retailers such as Little Bird and Mini Rodini who are

also offering fun, unisex kids wear.

Designing non-gender clothing is a growth market with plenty of scope for new and smaller brands to make their name.

These trends are just a few of the ones we’re beginning to see in children’s clothing; and far from being a threat to the industry, these trends indicate just how strong and vibrant children’s clothing is in the UK, with opportunities for new, innovative brands to enter the marketplace with unique products that speak to our changing clothing desires.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Neha and Dipe Rajani are the founders of Sonality, a personalised clothing brand for Babies, Kids and Adults. Sonality offers total personalisation allowing you to design items from scratch, or choose an existing design and personalise it as you wish.

The concept is simple: top quality, ethically made clothes are combined with your design ideas and bought to life in the Sonality design studio. Every item from Sonality is as unique as you are. www.sonality.co.uk entrepreneurandinvestor.com |

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10 Ways to Make Your Current Website Perform Better

By Tim Butler, founder of Innovation Visual.

H

ave you invested a heavily in your website only to find that those leads you thought would be flowing in, are simply not coming?

You are not alone. Millions of pounds are spent each year by businesses on websites that simply don’t work. Why? Because most web design / development companies start with the assumption that making something look better is the answer to selling more. They are wrong. There is much more to it than that, but don’t worry because you can improve your website without having to rebuild it again.

Here are 10 of the fastest ways to improve the performance of your website.

Know your numbers How many visitors does your website get every month? How many leads does it generate?

If you have some ideas of the numbers, well done, but you are probably wrong. Sorry. 98% of all websites we are asked to work on do not have their data collection set up properly. If the ‘view’ you look at in Google Analytics is All Data then you are including spam traffic and traffic from irrelevant people.

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If your business only sells to people in the UK you need a UK only traffic view to give you the real picture of potential customers on your website.

You also need to ensure you are tracking goals on your website, which includes people filling out contact forms and clicking on phone numbers.

Without having access to the correct information, you will be completely in the dark and won’t know how many real potential customers are on your website and how well your website converts. Make sure to you have this sorted to ensure you can measure the positive effect on your sales of the other nine things you are going to do!

Improve your search visibility Now you have accurate data, how many relevant people are finding your website? Are they finding you because they already know you or because they are looking for what you do? Build it and they will come, doesn’t work. If you want more relevant traffic fast then make sure you’re being found through advertising on relevant search terms using Google AdWords and Bing adCenter.

You only pay for people that

actually click on your ads and therefore go to your website.

This is by far the fastest way to drive relevant prospects to your website, but beware.

You must use these powerful tools carefully. By not having carefully targeted campaigns, you can spend a lot of money very quickly without achieving any results.

Learn how to use the tools or pay an expert agency to set up and run the campaigns for you.

A good agency will charge you a significant amount of money for good AdWords set up and on-going management, but it’s a worthwhile investment, as they will make your advertising spend go much further. If they are cheap, or they are charging you as a percentage of spend beware that you might not be getting the best deal!

Get your website found long term You don’t want to be paying for your website traffic all of the time and should aim to improve your website so it’s found naturally on search engines. 64% of ALL website visits start at a search engine, so this is important, but search engine optimisation (SEO) is not an overnight solution.

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Your web designer or marketing agency probably told you they ‘know about SEO’ as they all do but unless you have been charged for specific SEO work assume that you still have it all to do. There are simple things that you can do yourself to help your SEO. For example: Make sure you have what you want to be found for in your main headings Ensure that your meta titles and descriptions are well written and again contain the phrases you want to be found for.

Change generic titles like ‘Services’ to specific titles, for example ‘what we do’.

Ask your suppliers and customers for links from their website.

Make sure that your Yell, Thompson and Google Business Page all link to your website.

There are more than 1000 things that Google takes into account when it determines what pages rank for any specific search. That means that there are lots of things that will help, but also lots of things to do. If you want to do it yourself buy a good book that was published in the last 12 months. Things move quick in search engine optimisation. If you don’t fancy it yourself then again find a good specialist agency to do it for you. As with paid search if they are cheap then it’s unlikely they will be any good!

Ensure it is HTTPS From the 17th October this year, Google is now alerting

people when a website isn’t over HTTPS, which is the encrypted standard for websites. This means Google will be putting people off visiting your website if its not over HTTPS. It also has a significant impact on your position in the search rankings – your SEO. If you haven’t already it is imperative that you get your website running over HTTPS right now!

Call your developer after you finish reading this article and get them to sort it as soon as possible.

Ensure your website is fully mobile friendly This is another thing that you should have already done by now. Check your website by using Google’s mobile website checker (Google it!) to ensure it is. Like the HTTPS issue this isn’t something that you can fix without professional help, but it is essential as now more than 50% of all UK website traffic is from mobile and once again mobile optimisation will affect your Google rankings.

Make your content current Has your website got a blog?

When was the last time you updated it? No blog posts for months says to your potential customers that you haven’t got anything interesting to say and that you are not going anywhere as a business. Don’t think that the solution is to remove the blog as ‘you don’t have time’, that’s even worse.

Get your staff to write blogs, from sales to customer service, to production and delivery.

Incentivise them and report on the amount of traffic that different blogs generate, as this

creates healthy competition amongst your employees to make sure they are writing quality content that will be read and shared. It is particularly important for sales people, so that they project a position of thought leadership in your industry.

Provide information for buyers at different points of their journey Websites often assume that the people on them are just about to buy X and all it needs to do is convince the visitor to buy their product or service over a competitor.

Websites are used for research and investigation. Defining whether they have a need at all is the start of the buying journey and then they will progress through a series of stages to define their requirements, consider the alternatives and evaluate what is best. If you provide information for visitors at all stages of their buying journey you can engage with them sooner and start influencing their decision.

Help don’t sell This relates to the previous point. Don’t have a website that is a bland brochure rattling off the corporate message. Create content that helps, not sells.

Think about what questions your customers might have along the buying process, from defining whether they have a need all the way through to the final product comparisons.

This is equally applicable to consumer websites, as it is to business-to-business. It may entrepreneurandinvestor.com |

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seem counter-intuitive, but the more you set out to help your visitors in a non-sales way, the more you will sell.

Include calls to action Just because your website is focused on being helpful doesn’t mean you don’t include calls to action. You need to be smart about including them too. Having a ‘get a demo’ call to action on the home page isn’t going to work well as people have just arrived at your website.

However, you need to have calls to actions at the bottom and also in the middle of your interesting blog posts.

Go through your website and look at every page – Do you give the visitor a definitive call to action on every page?

– Is the call to action appropriate to the page it is on?

Keep working on your website Possibly the most important point of all is the need to keep working on your website. It will never be ‘finished’. Use the data you have to see where people are coming from when they visit your website; what pages they are looking at, what forms they are completing and what articles they are reading.

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Use this information to guide your actions when it comes to deciding what blogs to write, which calls to action work best and what traffic sources convert into leads. Make sure you’re setting time aside for this every week, and if you cannot, then engage with experts that can do it for you.

By following the ten tips above you can ensure you’re getting the best from your website – and it is working hard for you 24/7.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tim Butler is founder of Innovation Visual, a digital marketing consultancy specialising in digital effectiveness.

Recognised by Google as one of the top 30 digital agencies in the UK, Innovation Visual uses the latest techniques in SEO, PPC and online content creation, and is an award-winning Google, Bing and Hubspot Partner. Innovation Visual works to increase website visibility, lead generation, customer acquisition and developing competitive advantage digitally.

See: https://www.innovationvisual.com/

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Are you making these mistakes and missing out on profit?

By Jonathan Amponsah CTA FCCA, The Tax Guys

A

s an entrepreneur you’re in business to make a profit.

Without profit there is no way you’ll achieve the goals that made you start the business in the in first place. However, despite this I find that a great many entrepreneurs don’t really understand profit – what it is or how to ensure they make it. Let’s look at some of the issues and how these profit mistakes can be avoided.

1. Bank Balance Accounting As a business owner, you’ve heard the phrase “Cash Is King” so many times that it starts to feel like more cash means more profit. You then start to gauge the profitability of your business based on the bank balance. This is a common mistake I see so often. Here are 7 reasons why you might be making a loss in your business despite the cash in your bank account: • You have not taken any reasonable drawings or dividends • You have not paid your suppliers or other creditors • Payroll expenses

have not been reflected in the accounts • You are not paying yourself a reasonable salary • You haven’t made adjustments for all expenses • The cash is from last year’s profits • You have received advance cash from your customers The above list is not exhaustive but covers the common areas where your cash will go. So, the next time your accountant presents you with accounts with less than expected profit figure, have a conversation and go through the above list together with other factors specific to your business.

2. Margins, Margins

Margins

and

This is an important indicator to profitability, but it’s vastly ignored or misunderstood among most entrepreneurs.

The next time you get your accounts, take the direct costs of sales or direct expenses out from the revenue. Then divide that number by the revenue. That is your gross

profit margin. Let’s say your revenue is £1,000 and your materials or direct labour or direct expenses cost you £700.

The difference of £300 divided by £1,000 revenue gives you a margin of 30%. This means that for every £1 of sale, you are making 30p in gross profit. This tells you how profitable you are at the gross margin level.

You can also compare this 30% to the industry average to gauge where you are at. If this margin is so low, then you’re unlikely to be making net profit because there won’t be enough to cover your overheads.

3. Wrong Calculation of Price Having ascertained your profit margins of 30%, a common and huge mistake I see is as follows. You go to see a new project. You take your costs.

Let’s say 1,000. What do you do next? You apply 30% to the costs. You then quote £1,300 for the job. Sounds familiar?

And it makes sense, right?

Well not quite. If you take your £1,000 costs from the £1300 revenue (price) you get £300.

Now divide that by £1,300. You now get 23%. You’ve just lost entrepreneurandinvestor.com |

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7% profit margin without even blinking.

And this mistake will make its way down to the net profit figure causing you to be less profitable year after year.

4. Fear of Price Increase Having realised that you’ve been under quoting for jobs or that your costs have gone up, another classic mistake is to put off price increases for fear of losing customers. Yes, you will lose some customers but let’s do some maths. Let’s say you have 20 customers and your price is £1,300 per customer. (£26,000 revenue) If you put prices up by 10%, your new revenue will £28,600.

If you lose 10% of your customers (2 customers x 1,300 = £2,600), your revenue will revert to £26,000 but with two fewer customers and less resources needed to service the remaining 18 customers.

And depending on how you approach the price increase and how you communicate it, you might be pleasantly surprised that less than 10% of your customers will leave.

5.

Cutting Incorrectly

Expenses

You realise the cash at bank is not yours and that you are not making profits. So panic

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sets in and you’re determined to cut costs to make profits.

Here’s the thing though: Not all expenses will have a greater impact on your profits. A study

by McKinsey and Co (global consulting firm) revealed that whilst a 1% reduction in fixed costs can have around 2% increase in profits, the same reduction in variable costs has a bigger 7% increase in profits. So instead of going for cost cutting at all cost (no pun intended here) conduct a cost benefit analysis and focus on variable or direct costs first.

7. Labour Costs If you have staff, a common profit mistake is not measuring revenue per staff or profit per staff. This is simply taking the revenue or profits per year and dividing it by the number of staff. Let’s assume your income is £100,000 and you have four staff. Your revenue per staff is £25,000. Now compare that to the average cost per staff. This simple exercise will help focus your mind on what needs to be done to increase your profit.

6. Not taking account of the power of 1

Where labour profitability ratios such as the ones above are low, another mistake is to focus mainly on staff rather than both staff and process efficiencies. Dr W Robert Deming, the father of quality evolution and systems once said “85% of the reasons for failure are deficiencies in systems and processes rather than employees”

Incidentally, the same studies also revealed that increasing pricing has a bigger influence over your profits than reducing costs or increasing sales volumes.

But here’s what most entrepreneurs do not consider doing: Assessing the power of a mere 1% increase in price, 1% increase in sales, 1% decrease in variable costs and 1% decrease in fixed costs.

Next time you sit down with your accountant, ask him or her to run these numbers and show you the impact it will have on your profits. Would you lose a lot of customers due to a mere 1% increase in price?

8. Process Inefficiencies

The tip here is to review the seven wastes (Transportation, Inventory, Motion, Waiting, Overproduction, Overprocessing, and Defects – Google ‘MUDA’ for more on this) that exist in all businesses and have a plan to reduce these in conjunction with staff training and engagement.

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9. Flying Blind Peter Drucker (the management guru) is often quoted as saying that “you can’t manage what you can’t measure”. When it comes to profits, the biggest mistake is not knowing the profit numbers that matter in your business. Your gross profit margin, profit per staff, profit per client or project, net profit margin, breakeven number, your monthly costs and your prices are all important numbers to track and focus on.

If you currently speak to your accountant once a year only to be told how much tax to pay with no access to your key numbers, then it is unlikely you will be able to improve on your results.

The good news is that with so many online accounting apps on the market, (FreeAgent, QuickBooks and Xero), entrepreneurs should no longer be flying blind in their businesses.

10. Price Discounts You’ve quoted a price for the job. The customer says, “what can you do about the price” Do you get a knee jerk reaction and offer a price discounts to win the work? Let’s return to the above example (on margins) where you were making 30% margin on sales of 1000. Let’s then assume you offer a 10%

discount. Your revenue drops to £900 but you’ve kept your costs the same. Your margins drop to 22% (£900 less £700 divided by £900) The 10% discount now means a 26.6% drop in your margins (the original 30% less the current 22% dividend by the original 30%. This is just the beginning because it gets worse if we look at the impact this will have on the bottom line (net profit margin), assuming you keep all your overheads the same.

Were you intending to have a 26.6% drop in your margins by offering a 10% discount?

The point here is to be aware of the profit effect of price discounts and use it to negotiate a better win-win deal for all.

11.

Lack competition

planning

vs

The mistake I see here is to look at your competitors’ prices and under cut them in order to win business. Often this is done without a plan (short-term lowcost strategy or need to set up a no-frills division to compete in the market). So, in long run, when you win more business you find yourself not making profits because your costs have gone up and it becomes challenging to raise your prices because you’ve attracted price sensitive customers.

12. Not transferring profit In his book Profit First, Mike Michalowicz makes a compelling case for opening another bank account and transferring your profits before you make payments to anyone.

So, if you’ve worked out that your net profit on every sale is 10%, then a safe way to see and secure those profits is to transfer it straight away to your “profit bank account”. That way you are forced to make do with the remaining 90%.

Profit is the life blood of your business. Take some time to review how you are handling the financial side of your business, avoid the above mistakes and plan for profit.

Your entrepreneurial drive will then succeed in building the business you dreamed of.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jonathan Amponsah CTA FCCA is an award winning chartered accountant and tax adviser who advises entrepreneurs on business and profit improvement. Jonathan is the founder and CEO of The Tax Guys. www.thetaxguys.co.uk

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Company culture matters – more than we think

By Anne de Kerckhove, CEO, Freespee

R

ecent research has confirmed what many business leaders already suspected to be true: company culture really does matter. The Culture Economy, a survey commissioned by breatheHR, reveals that a third of British employees have left jobs due to them not fitting the workplace culture, and that a company’s culture directly influences its productivity.

Meanwhile, the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) has pointed out that the effects of adverse working cultures go far beyond the obvious costs of frequent recruitment and sick pay. It has identified a pressing need to overhaul the traditional British workplace culture if the nation is to thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape.

What does a positive workplace culture look like?

There are many versions of a positive workplace culture, because in each case the concept will be shaped by the nature of the work,

“Of course, it is all very well to talk about making a company’s culture more inclusive, balanced and positive, but quite another thing to quantify it and specify what changes are required.”

Of course, it is all very well to talk about making a company’s culture more inclusive, balanced and positive, but quite another thing to quantify it and specify what changes are required. The research tells us that greater trust in leaders, transparency and support for employees at all levels are ‘must haves’ — but how can business leaders achieve this?

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environment and individuals involved. For example, while the option to dress casually or work flexibly from home is viable in many officebound jobs, in retail it’s a little trickier (although not always impossible). Another example is social events; bringing staff together for social activities may be difficult in an automotive plant, where many staff members work shifts, but much more achievable in a dealership or small business. In general, a culture that fosters happiness, collaboration,

flexibility, diversity and creativity is deemed healthy, and likely to promote the best interests of staff and enterprise alike.

A recent survey of 2,200 employees by McKinsey & Company concluded that greater gender diversity in European workplaces could add as much as $2 trillion to the GDP by 2025, while another study by the same company found that not only did diversity of both gender and ethnicity correlate with profitability and value creation, but that these findings were also replicated in countries around the world.

So, if diversity is a commercial advantage, what must employers do to attract a wide range of talent and persuade them to stay? A dynamic workplace culture is important in this respect, because it helps employers secure the best from the talent pool available for long-term employee retention, according to a study an article by Harvard Business Review. It also stands to reason that happy employees are likely to be more engaged with their work (and thus, it might reasonably be assumed, more productive) but they are also generally more engaged with

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their colleagues, which fosters collaboration and in turn drives up quality and productivity.

Proactivity is key Employers are aware that employees can easily lose trust in management, that the traditional means of shaping and enforcing workplace culture are no longer effective and that, after a tough few years, the overall employment market is becoming more buoyant and competitive. Businesses simply cannot afford to pay lip service to workplace culture anymore; they must change – which will not only benefit their employees, but in turn boost productivity and thus performance.

There is a great deal that companies of all sizes can do to enhance workplace culture and nurture a sense of engagement, inclusion and enthusiasm. Defining the firm’s cultural priorities, flexibility and values in a clear manner, and then cascading these down through the organisation, helps to ensure that they become widely acknowledged foundations of the business.

Surveying staff — not merely to assess their happiness, but also to ask them for feedback and suggestions —and localising/

customising initiatives so that they are of practical use are all positive steps towards embedding a genuinely healthy workplace culture.

People expect the messages their employer sends them to be timely, accessible and tailored. They also, expect to see evidence of a response to the ideas or suggestions they contribute to feel recognised and valued.

For example, at Freespee we have recently re-launched our website and before going public we invited all employees to provide feedback. Over 50% of the company’s employees sent their feedback within a week and they’ve all been reviewed and acted.

None of this is rocket science; it is based on the concept of a reciprocal relationship and mutual respect.

Lessons learned Defining a ‘good workplace culture’ is not easy and there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to building a great environment.

There are clearly lessons to be learned from companies that are already getting it right – often SMEs. Many smaller businesses are working hard to instil the right company culture from the top down – often a task lower down the priority list

at bigger firms – and thriving from this approach.

In order to compete in a changing and evolving business landscape, UK companies must not only have well-trained and well-educated workers; it must also give all employees the support, confidence and opportunities they need to thrive and to drive them forward. At the moment, research shows there is a chronic lack of quality engagement between management and workers, and that this is not only compromising quality and productivity at the moment but also, perhaps even more alarmingly, threatening to stifle the development of talent that is crucial for this country’s future.

British workplaces need more diversity, transparency and equality, according to the CMI. The organisation calls for employers and the government to improve productivity through people.

It is very difficult to see how that can be achieved without a wholehearted and practical decision by businesses to create workplace cultures that not only foster these ideals, but positively enact them.

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Considering Crowdfunding?

Nine Tips Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know to Fuel their Fundraise

By Scott Haughton, COO, Envestors

C

rowdfunding has transformed the fundraising process and is solidly embedded in our lexicon; however, it’s hardly a new concept. In 1793, Mozart, lacking the cash to perform three new concertos in Vienna, appealed for funds and was rewarded by a ‘crowd’ of 176, each of whom received a copy of the concerto manuscripts as their prize. In 1997, the rock band Marillion – short of money to put on a planned US tour – successfully raised £39,000 via a pioneering funding site, using their fans as their ‘crowd’. Jump to today and there are over 200 sites in the US; the UK isn’t far behind with 65. The number of sites is a reflection of the number of cash-hungry entrepreneurs, but a volume of options is no reassurance - when it comes to capital – and competition is high. Here are our tips to help you navigate your way to success.

1 Decide if crowdfunding is right for your business Raising finance is challenging and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. It’s important to look at which fundraising strategy is best for your business – is crowdfunding even right for 28

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you, would business angels be a better idea or even a combination of the two? Not all projects appeal to every crowd, so research whether a particular platform suits your niche and if you’re comfortable with being ‘one of many’. If you already have your own crowd, do you want to share them? If you don’t want to dilute your chances of raising capital, choose a platform like Envestry for Scale-ups, which enables you to fundraise through a personalised, FCA regulated site – and keep that crowd to yourself.

2 Fasten your financials In times of uncertainty – Brexit, for example – it’s crucial to get your valuation right, as conservative numbers will always be more appealing, even to those who pledge small amounts. The advice counts for your forecasts – these must be clear and realistic. Consider your deal as a whole: the structure, option pool, share price and whether you’re offering equity, rewards, debt or loans.

If you’re EIS eligible, advertise it – this is a great tax relief scheme, specifically designed to encourage investing and it’s worth shouting about. Finally, you must be totally clear on

how much you’re raising and why: people want to know what their money will be spent on and you’ll need to have that answer in black and white.

3 Master your marketing plan In order to get people to engage with your brand and invest in you, they’ll need to know you exist, so it’s essential to get your marketing strategy right.

Crowdfunding is all about capturing the personal ethos of the campaign – the connection between your vision and their emotions. You should consider the amount you’re raising, your brand values and the relationship you have with your customers.

Study your product carefully and write down exactly which audience to target: don’t make assumptions, research and gather real data before you start marketing. For example, do you want to have a publicity campaign to encourage your customers to become part of your brand – the Brewdog Punks, for example – or would a reward-based approach be better?

4 Get asset ready You’ve decided on the strategy, now you need the tools to deliver it. Your pitch deck,

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forecasts, investment notes and business plan should all be complete before you begin. video explaining the investment opportunity is another essential - campaigns with a video statistically raise 105% more than those without.

5 Pump up your network Momentum is vital for motivating crowd investors.

Most are likely to stay on the sidelines until they see that others have anted up – in fact, people are 22% more likely to invest once you’ve raised over 40% of your goal.

Before you launch, classify who you think is most likely to invest such as family, friends, colleagues, customers and suppliers. Target them well before you launch to gain that all-important traction – early momentum will create intrigue and a fear of missing out; everybody loves to be part of a success story.

6 Fundraising team are go!

A dedicated fundraising team – as opposed to the entrepreneur who goes it alone - with a specific strategy typically raises 38% more than those who go it alone. It’s a relentless process – say goodbye to your weekends – so the more hands on deck, the better. There will undoubtedly be hurdles, so prepare yourself emotionally if it doesn’t progress as you’d hoped. All crowdfunding sites have dedicated experts and Q&A sections; if you’re worried, get in touch. And don’t forget: if you’re looking for cash to scale, make sure that you still give

your business the attention it needs. You don’t want to raise the capital and then have your company fail through neglect.

7 Drive awareness, constantly This is the backbone of any fundraising strategy and one email won’t cut it. Target your audience and use every option available, as the stats are selfexplanatory: personalised emails have a 53% conversion rate, Facebook and Twitter 12% and 3% respectively. Quality content that explains who, what and why – blogs, updates, progress reports, news etc – should be posted throughout the campaign; keeping your community active and engaged with daily communications triples your likelihood of success. Other ideas include a catchy hashtag, testimonials, a striking banner or just a quirky, unique promotion – anything to help people understand the quality of your product, brand and why they should be a part of it.

8 Be patient Fundraising is a marathon, not a sprint.

Traditional crowdfunding sites set their rounds at an average 30 – 60 days, though trends indicate that personalised, owned platforms - such as Envestry for Scale-ups - will soon become the norm, allowing the entrepreneur to choose – and extend, if required – the length of the campaign, leaving it ‘always on’. It takes time to find and engage a crowd – you may have to repeat the process

if you don’t succeed first time round, so patience is vital.

9 Love your investors Maintaining good investor relations is essential – just because you’ve got the funds it doesn’t mean you can forget your crowd. They’re not an ATM, they’re your cheerleaders and the lifeblood of your business. Honest, consistent updates on all news (good or bad) and a steady line of communication has myriad benefits: free publicity, advice, support and ultimately boosts your reputation. When you’re looking for further funding – either from current or potential investors – down the line, your odds of success will be innumerably greater if you kept your shareholders warm all along.

About the Author Scott Haughton is COO of Envestors.

Envestors is a fintech company that connects investors and scaleup companies.

With its fundraising platform Envestry for Scale-ups, companies get a personalised site to promote deals, raise finance and engage with their investors 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Envestry has raised £100m+ for over 200 companies through its own private investor network.

Founded in 2004, Envestors is regulated by the FCA and has offices in the UK, the Channel Islands, the UAE and strategic partners across China. www. envestors.co.uk

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Free Tools to Help Entrepreneurs get their Businesses Running Smoothly From the Start

By Inna Kaushan, Solna

You have the product or service, you have investors. What you now need are the tools to help you manage your time, get paid and be well organised so your new business runs smoothly, and as inexpensively as possible, from the start.

O

ther entrepreneurs are helping by providing a range of digital tools to support you.

Here is a selection of some of the best free apps and tools for entrepreneurs and small business owners.

1. Trello A super straightforward to-do list with easy task management. Trello is a favourite for freelancers, agencies, and other small businesses, because even the free version gives them exactly what they need.

Who’s going to love it? List addicts and people who like to keep their tasks and projects organised.

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The humble to-do list should never be overlooked. Having a simple list of jobs to do can help you make the most of your working hours, and avoid those unpleasant moments of forgetfulness.

Bullet points on bits of A4 paper might work for a while, but when your job list starts growing, you’ll need a smarter way of managing them and staying organised. Trello is a simple task management tool which helps you organise and order your jobs with clean, colourful cards and lists. If a deadline changes, you can just move the cards around, and if you win a new client, you can create a list specifically for them and keep everything in one place.

It’s all dragging, dropping, and a bit of typing - easy!

2. Clockify Time tracking software that syncs across devices to show you exactly where your time is being spent.

Who’s going to love it? Small businesses or freelancers with a lot to do and no love for admin.

Time really is money, and spending too much time on a job means you’re losing money!

Accurate time tracking means you won’t undercharge or overcharge for your work.

You’ll also be able to see all your projects’ progress, and how much you have left to spare when you’re pitching

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for new work. The key to not wasting time is knowing where you’re wasting it.

Clockify’s timekeeping dashboard is the epitome of organised, you’ll know exactly where your tasks are at a glance! Synced to both desktop and mobile, it breaks down your hours, days, and weeks.

Track your time, break down the data, and turn timesheets into a doddle.

3. Solna More than just an invoicing tool, Solna does all the admin for you. It helps you track your income and gets you paid faster.

Who’s going to love it?

Freelancers and small businesses with lots of invoices and no time to chase them!

For some small businesses and freelancers, getting paid means sending email attachments and mailing A4 pieces of paper.

It sounds simple, but it can end up being a big admin job without the right help.

If you want to get paid on time, smart invoicing is the only way to go. Solna helps you create stunning, branded invoices, send automatic payment reminders to those pesky late payers, and track every invoice until it’s in your account.

All invoices come with read receipt, so no more chasing random accounts people either!

Solna is packed with clever features to help freelancers

and small businesses whether they’re new to the game or not.

4. Coconut A free current account for freelancers, the self-employed, and small businesses, that also takes care of the accounting and tax.

Who’s going to love it? Anyone that dreads financial admin.

Traditional accounting packages and business bank accounts haven’t kept up with the fast-paced way we work today. Coconut addresses this by combining banking and accounting in one simple product.

A Coconut account gives you a debit card, transfers, and simple online statements, as well as some fast, helpful extras. Coconut helps you stay organised by categorising your business expenses, and sending you instant notifications when you spend to remind you to snap the receipt. It also gives you helpful tips about what you can and can’t claim, helping to maximise savings on your tax bill. What’s not to love?

5. Headspace Easy meditation you can do in five or 10 minutes.

mindfulness is something we could all do with.

The app has hundreds of short meditation sessions designed to help with stress, anxiety, depression, and sleep problems. If you struggle to switch off, or find yourself slipping into negative thought patterns, this is the app to download. You can try 10 sessions for free before you decide to pay for a subscription.

Whatever support you need, there’s usually an app to help you. For an entrepreneur on a tight budget these apps are well worth considering. They’ll help you get off to a smooth start.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Inna Kaushan is co-founder of Solna, a smart invoicing platform powered by credit score data. Solna speeds up the invoicing and payment process for freelancers and small businesses. Through leveraged credit data that is overlaid on the platform’s invoicing and reporting functionality, users get a clear picture of their customer’s financial health and their overall exposure to risk. The system’s automated credit control functionality automatically chases overdue invoices – freeing up time and ensuring faster payment. www.solna.io

Who’s going to love it?

Everyone who has a busy mind; i.e. all of us.

Headspace isn’t designed for freelancers or business owners specifically, but some quiet entrepreneurandinvestor.com |

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How can FinTech be used as a Future Force for Good?

By David Solomon, Blueprints

E

ven before the financial crash in 2008, many people had begun to realise that the financial system was profiting only a small group, as private citizens were burdened with bailing out major global banks.

The important thing to know about Blockchain is that it is public and cannot be edited, making it reliable and transparent. While the technology and purpose are sound, the scalability issue needs to be resolved.

Deeply entrenched services, practices, and products at traditional financial firms weren’t evolving for their customers’ needs. They were also maintaining old banking practices, for example the transfer of funds should take seconds, yet still takes days. So new platforms popped up to offer brand new services such as TransferWise and Monzo. Just look at how Monzo has managed to disrupt the banking sector with its app-based current account, in the process becoming the fastest growing bank in history!

Consider how the Blockchain could be used to ensure sustainable and ethical purchases. A resource, such as a tree or mineral, is added to a Blockchain including reference information about where it came from, who the supplier was, the original costs, etc. Whoever then buys the raw material can check its history to ensure it came from an ethical source and that the works received a fair income.

But success stories like Monzo aren’t based on one technology alone - it’s the combination of technology layers that allow for disruptive new approaches to finance.

Distributed ledgers

Most people want to buy ethical and sustainable products but, currently, it’s impossible to know the full supply-chain history. Distributed ledgers will be used to provide the complete history of a product, right back to the raw materials, embedding economic justice into every product.

This will allow consumers to make informed purchasing decisions which will, in turn, drive improvements to the ethics and sustainability of supply chains.

Blockchain is the most widely used and wellknown distributed ledger. Essentially, Blockchain is a public ledger of transactions. When a transaction occurs, it is added to the Blockchain.

Other technologies can then reference the transaction, call up transaction history, and use the data in other novel ways. The fallacy here in this false messiah, is that it would require a limitless amount of energy to scale this globally.

Until we fix the problem around the inequitable exploitation of workers in developing countries, we will continue to unconsciously dine on the suffering people in developing nations to fuel our economies. A great example of this is the fuel that runs our cars, how do you know that this fuel was not harvested from conflict countries where the local people have been robbed of their resources? Would you consent

What are the innovations coming through and how they will combine to turn FinTech into a force for good…

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This process then continues throughout the supply chain to the consumer.

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to this? Are you aware of this? As consumers people do not want to be complicit in the death and destruction of other communities, that is why transparency is so important and as our director of communications Kevin Jackson says, there is a tsunami of transparency coming to all brands.

Brands need to be on the right side of history.

Take our current forestry project in Costa Rica. We want to ensure the protection of the local environment and help develop the local economy.

By feeding the development through a regulated financial exchange which improves on the scalability of the Blockchain’s technology, we can ensure that developers are fulfilling their promises to provide sustainable wood while reinvesting into the community. The same approach could be applied to almost any product.

Imagine being able to find out exactly where your coffee was grown, how the farmers were treated, whether they were paid a fair price, and how the coffee has been processed along the way, that would provide a sense of meaning and fulfilment as you drink your morning cuppa.

You could ensure that every sip was ethical and cruelty-free. That’s exactly what a number of key technologies are already doing – and we want to scale this to many other products.

Decentralised Exchanges In the Western world, financial services make up a sizeable chunk of the economy. In the UK, the financial sector contributes 6.5% of total GDP The reason the financial sector is so large is that it has become involved in almost every aspect of finance, from personal loans to government debt, home insurance to credit default swaps (CDOs), and, importantly, business loans.

What’s more, while usually only acting as an intermediary for these services, financial firms earn a commission on everything they touch.

Essentially, financial services firms are expensive middlemen who have worked their way into almost every aspect of society.

Decentralised exchanges don’t rely on middlemen. As the name suggests, the exchange itself is not centralised in any particular location or around any particular company. Some even use alternative currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum to facilitate exchanges. As such, they remove the power and profitability from a small group of financiers and put it into the hands of the customers.

In the future, decentralised exchanges will play an important role in the democratisation of money and finance. People will be able to choose where to put their money, towards what initiative or cause, and move their money around at will without

the complex and expensive middlemen. Platforms such as GSI Exchange and Binkabi. io are already offering a solution for issuing, trading and financing commodities on the blockchain, creating the potential to trade anything on a decentralised exchange.

Smart Contracts Smart contracts use the Blockchain and decentralised exchanges to enact specific terms automatically, using technology. A simple smart contract used for a token purchase, for example, could state that when the sale is closed that x-amount of tokens will be transferred to the purchaser in exchange for x-number of Ethereum.

The investor essentially buys the contract which is then executed automatically when the sale is closed. While this is a fairly simple example, there are almost infinite ways smart contracts could be applied. The technology is also developing at a rapid pace, allowing smart contracts to be applied in more cases than ever.

Again, smart contracts will cut out the expensive middlemen, allowing for direct and secure agreements between two parties without the need for financial advisors and lawyers.

This will make it cheaper and easier for businesses to create deals and provide an additional level of security.

Small businesses will be able to float stock options without the need for a centralised stock exchange, freelancers and sole entrepreneurandinvestor.com |

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traders can ensure they are paid on delivery of the work, and charities can automate large chunks of their financial admin...just for example.

Applied to things like economic development, smart contracts could be developed to help build investor trust around assets that are owned by the indigenous people of a developing region. A smart contract could, for example, ensure funds are automatically distributed from escrow simultaneously into stakeholdersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; accounts when the product has made it through the supply chain and all ethical standards have been met, all without having to pay expensive lawyers and financial middlemen.

Smart contracts, if constructed in the right way, can provide this level of transparency, efficiency and trust in all transactions, levelling the playing field for countries that have been left behind by investors.

Crowdfunding Crowdfunding platforms have been around for almost 10 years now and have developed from simple reward-based platforms like Kickstarter into sophisticated equity investment platforms like Crowdcube, which attracts millions in capital.

One of the main allures of crowdfunding is that entrepreneurs can connect with potential customers to raise finance without risking losing a controlling stake 34

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or having an angel investor meddling in their business idea.

Additionally, individuals can easily and cheaply own stakes in a number of companies they want to support, without all the complexities and costs of the stock market.

As we can see, FinTech is redistributing financial power away from big, centralised businesses into the hands of individuals.

Until we democratise finance we cannot claim to live in a true democracy.

Essentially, crowdfunding allows anyone to become an investor rather than reserving that right exclusively for a capitalist class. This puts even more power into the hands of customers to drive innovation instead of being led by market forces and submitting profit to already wealthy individuals, customers can use their money to direct the market by helping businesses get started while enjoying a share of the profit.

Making finance democratic is a key step in our growth - your money is a vote for the kind of future you want to see.

In the future, Blueprints will be launching a joint-venture for decentralised exchange that will integrate all these technologies.

Enabling a crowdfunding platform for development projects with an equitable share to the locals.

Allowing individuals to support development projects around the world, where people can participate with money, time, or resources to advance the project, tracking its progress as it develops. This will allow them to make scalable investment returns while generating a positive social impact, which due to changing consumer demands will be absolutely correlated in the future.

More and more, people are demanding that the products they consume are based on the values they want to live by.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR David Solomon is co-founder and CEO of Blueprints - a FinTech company aiming to make international development fair and sustainable. David worked on Fixed Income Business Management at Citigroup and Salomon Brothers Investment Bank for five years before leaving to pursue his interests in social enterprise.

David was a pioneer of the Nation Building Initiative, a new blueprint for Impact Investment, as well as cofounder of the Financial Times Global Impact Summit. He has attended the World Economic Forum as a participant from 2013-19 and is an advisor to Heads of State, Kings, UHNWs, Leaders, Generals and CEOs on strategy. www.blueprints.org

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How Entrepreneurs can Delegate Successfully

By Sam Warner, Shropshire Speakers Toastmasters International club

F

or any entrepreneur, particularly when you are starting a new business, there is a danger of trying to do everything yourself.

If you like to keep the world under control you may need to improve your delegation skills.

Delegation provides opportunities for people to feel empowered, supported and encouraged.

It gives entrepreneurs a chance to reduce stress by spreading the work and sharing responsibilities amongst the team.

Here are my tips for improving delegation and gaining the benefits as your business grows: First steps. If you have a new team – don’t go in like a bull in a china shop. Get to know your team, understand their ways of working, rules of engagement, foibles, and preferred styles of communication and you’ll be able to appreciate their world as it stands - before you add to it. Really get to grips with their deliverables and their concerns and challenges. These small steps will pay off hugely over time.

Share the vision. Be really clear about your vision and mission and share it with your team. If they understand the direction the team is going in, and the objectives that need to be achieved they will start to think about how they can contribute.

Ask for help. A good saying is that “your success is only achieved through theirs” – and you have to mean it and let your team know this is how you operate. There’s no room for insecurity or game playing if you want to be an effective leader who delegates easily. If they can see your vulnerable side, where you are not perfect, where you make mistakes and don’t have all the answers, they will know that you value consulting with them and leveraging their knowledge and experience when solving problems. Ultimately, they will feel respected and valued.

Share and develop skills. By ensuring that you have no silos (individuals with special skill sets that are potential singlepoint-of-failures if absent), delegating tasks across the team will upskill them and ensure that no-one, when they

return from holiday or other absence, is faced with a pile of work – as it will have3 been absorbed by the team. This will create a harmonious team working environment where everyone has each other’s back. With this mindset people will be ready to take on other initiatives to help.

Give excellent feedback. If you can’t give great feedback that is useful and useable then it will become very challenging for you to delegate a second time. You need to give them specific examples of where things went well and why that was great. If things didn’t go so well, help them articulate how they might mitigate that in the future so that the issues melt away. Reward them, in a meaningful way, for their efforts.

Encourage ideas. You can build a culture of problem solving by being genuinely approachable and easy to work with. If you don’t want people to bring you problems to solve – ask your team to bring you solutions and ideas instead.

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you for approval to go ahead; thereby discouraging whinging and moaning about problems which they then expect you to solve.

If a team member comes up with a good idea ask them to lead on it, with you as a consultant (so they don’t feel vulnerable). This raises their profile, makes them feel respected and gives them a specific deliverable.

Be specific and say why before how.

Humans are not robots - they need to understand why a task has to be done to understand the value they are delivering.

Only then will they be able to absorb the policy, process and procedures.

When delivering instructions for a task – start with the end in mind and be specific about the desired end result.

Clearly outline the lines of accountability, responsibility and authority. Be extra clear on touch points/milestones and deadlines – get them diarised.

Organise a review once the work has ended so you can give feedback. Don’t be tempted to

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focus on how they got there focus on the results achieved.

Best to delegate to? Getting to know your team will help you to build mutual rapport, trust and respect. Its these things that help you decide whom to delegate to as you’ll know if they are able to cope with the work, or if it’s too much of a stretch. Take time to get to know how they like to be rewarded and why they come to work every day – then you will understand what words to choose when you are being persuasive and encouraging to them. It’s important to get to know your employees’ limitations so that you can push them a little but not drown them.

Improve self-awareness. As an entrepreneur its important to understand your impact on others. It will improve your ability to delegate effectively and your listening skills.

Listening is the most useful skill you can cultivate.

It validates the person speaking and makes them feel heard.

It allows you to be a safe sounding board for the team.

Ask for feedback from your

team (it’s not a one-way street) and respond to that feedback if you can so they know you are paying attention and adapting.

As an entrepreneur your role is to lead the team as you build the business. You can’t do everything so learning about your team and delegating can help you avoid burn-out and become successful more quickly.

About the Author Sam Warner is a member of Toastmasters International, a not-for-profit organisation that has provided communication and leadership skills since 1924 through a worldwide network of clubs. There are more than 400 clubs and 10,000 members in the UK and Ireland. Members follow a structured educational programme to gain skills and confidence in public and impromptu speaking, chairing meetings and time management. To find your nearest club, visit www. toastmasters.org

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How Entrepreneurs can use Publishing to Monetise Followers

By Dan Kieran, co-founder and CEO of Unbound

F

or entrepreneurs developing your presence on social media and building your following is an important step to your marketing and brand development.

However, making entertaining or informative content people want to come back to over and over again is time consuming.

One area in which you can develop, and maintain control over, your business and personal brand is by publishing a book and offering content and off-line experiences that sit alongside it.

Here are my five top tips for getting a book published and monetising your followers.

your audience something that mainstream popular culture has missed. Traditional publishing is designed around maximising the chances of producing bestsellers, which means they look back into the past to try to emulate something that has already been done. It breeds a kind of unconscious conformity, which is not usually a place suited to the wild creative spirit that exists online.

Publishing the book yourself might then seem the best route to go - the time it takes to tout your book around the publishers could be better spent getting on with it yourself, and maintaining control of your work. However, publishing a book costs a lot of money.

1. Write – keeping true to who you are

2. book

Publishing a book gives you the opportunity to control the narrative so you can keep your work true to who you are. But you’ll need to find a publisher who shares your vision or publish the book yourself.

The obvious solution to this problem is to crowdfund your book. By crowdfunding your book, you will retain complete creative control over your work.

You can produce something you care about, which in turn will appeal to your followers.

Finding a publisher is much easier said than done. The likelihood is that you’ve built your following by offering

Crowdfund

your

Traditional publishing is also limited by the public expectation of what a book

should cost – typically up to £10 for a paperback and £20 for a hardback. However, by crowdfunding your book, you can sell additional experiences and merchandise around it.

For example, video games influencer, Dan Hardcastle, raised over £300k for his book, Fuck Yeah, Video Games, on Unbound.

What’s interesting is that 80 per cent of the money he raised came from non-traditional book sales, unique experiences and greater access to Dan such as signed copies, exclusive illustrations and personalised videos. This is nearly £250k in revenue that he might not have received if he’d simply published through a traditional publisher. Such is the power a crowdfunded book can bring to an influencer.

3. Write something your followers want to read about Writing a book for your followers sounds simple, but what should it be about? Only you know the answer to that.

The key is to be as authentic as you can. Don’t try and write what you think someone else wants to read. Or even what you think will sell. Write the book you care most about and entrepreneurandinvestor.com |

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tell your audience what that is. They will back you if they believe this is core to who you are.

At Unbound, we’ve developed a machine learning algorithm that helps us to predict, with a high degree of accuracy, how much a book is likely to raise before an author crowdfunds it. By using data such as the size of the author’s following and the topic of the book, we can predict with around 80 per cent accuracy precisely how much a book will raise within 90 days of accepting pledges / pre-orders.

However, you don’t need to have a degree in data science to decide what to write about.

You’ve got plenty of followers, so run a poll. Crowdsource your book idea and they’re more likely to buy it.

4.

Be rewards

creative

with

There’s a fairly simple rule to follow when offering rewards to followers: the more creative the offering, the greater the value. And make sure what you offer is authentic to who you are and what you do.

Never has this been so aptly demonstrated than with popular YouTube comedian, Stuart Ashen, when he offered a ‘box of mystery tat’ as part of his crowdfunding campaign for his book Attack of the Flickering Skeletons. He sold three boxes of junk at £250 each. But of course, it wasn’t really ‘junk’.

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Stuart’s fans would recognise and value because they love what he does and they trusted him to deliver something suitably extraordinary.

5.

Engage your passionate fans

most

Within any given audience, you’re bound to have a select few avid supporters who will pay a significant premium for exclusive access to you or your ideas. This is a fact traditional publishing simply cannot capitalise on. However, the digital economy has created untold new opportunities for authors to engage with their most passionate fans.

Dan Hardcastle created a reward level at £2,500 for Fuck Yeah, Video Games, which allowed a supporter to choose the video game for an entire chapter of his book. This was clearly only targeted towards the superfan. In some respects it didn’t even matter if someone bought it – it mainly served to demonstrate the depths of his accessibility and creativity, and to act as something that grabbed the attention of his followers. However, as a bonus, it did actually work and he sold out this reward level.

You would have to sell 312 copies of a traditional paperback to match this one purchase from a superfan.

Every high-level reward like this is bought by people who are die-hard supporters of what you do. They want the opportunity to have something unique. To connect with the creative people they most

admire. You. The other great thing about superfans is that there’s a direct correlation between the quality and passion of an influencer’s audience and the amount of money they’re likely to be able to raise from them. What encapsulates your offering to your followers?

What can you offer them that’s unique to you?

There are many people who are building up large numbers of followers. Publishing is one of the industries with the potential to embrace this new paradigm. Use the tips above and use a book to express your ideas and develop your brand.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dan Kieran is the co-founder and CEO of Unbound, a crowdfunding publisher that combines data science and an award-winning publishing brand with an online marketplace. Readers preorder books through pledging, Unbound publishes and sells them, giving authors a 50/50 profit split and access to an engaged community.

The publisher’s 200k users from 195 countries have pledged £7m+ to fund 436 books todate, including bestsellers like Letters of Note and The Good Immigrant. By predicting future trends, Unbound funds books more quickly and reaches instant, data-driven acquisition decisions. www.unbound.com

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How to Create a Successful Health & Fitness Business

By Tom Cowan, Head of Operations, Vyta App

A

s the 2017 State of the UK Fitness Industry Report revealed, “the UK health and fitness industry continues to grow, being mainly driven from the private sector, which has more clubs, more members and a greater market value than ever before”.

So, in such a heavily contested market place, how do you get ahead of the competition and create a successful health and fitness business?

According to David Walmsley, Senior Leisure Analyst at Mintel, “Flexibility and technology are two important emerging forces in the private health and fitness market”. The recent surge in the number of low-cost gyms has brought a greater degree of flexibility to the consumer, which has encouraged more users to enter the health and fitness market, drawn by the offerings of flexible payments and affordable personal training.

Technology, on the contrary, has trickled down from the premium sector, as clients demand more sophisticated training programmes and a more enjoyable, interactive experience, such as with the use of virtual reality treadmills and exercise bikes.

At Vyta, we have brought together these two aspects to create a service that is fundamentally built around both flexibility and technology, in order to appeal to the modern health and fitness user. As we know, trying to arrange a session with a personal trainer can at times be a difficulty just in itself, with the client often having to fit around the trainer’s schedule and existing clients, and they may then still need to travel to the gym, which for some people is a big ask in our increasingly busy lifestyles. This is where the flexibility can sometimes be lacking and one reason why initially keen gym-goers may not be able to sustain their fitness regime, leading to a potential loss of momentum, lack of progress towards their goals and resultantly becoming demotivated and giving up before often then entering a repeating cycle of starting and stopping their fitness regime.

We think that we have the answer.

As an app, we revolve around the use of technology and as four out of five UK adults now own a smartphone (Deloitte, 2016), we are becoming ever more centred around booking things on-the-go, on-demand from our fingertips. Booking

a training session is a slick process, taking just 20 seconds, and can be made just one hour before you would like to train.

We even have intelligence within the app that tracks your trainer’s location for the thirty minutes before your session, allowing you to maximise your time and be as productive as you can right up until your trainer arrives.

We’ve given the client the power and made everything flexible to their needs, somewhat turning the industry’s usual trainer-client dynamic on its head. From the Vyta app, you can choose when and where you would like your training session and our trainers come to you at your home, park, hotel or office; taking flexibility to a whole new level. We essentially fit training into your lifestyle rather than trying to make your lifestyle fit around your training, to maximise your chances of sustaining your fitness programme and minimising the risk of dropout. Clients also get the chance to browse our trainers’ profiles and have a look at their experience, qualifications and areas of expertise before selecting their favourite trainer for their session.

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This is another benefit of Vyta.

The health and fitness industry has an abundance of personal trainers, so how do you know which one to pick, who is going to be right for you and your needs? Most people start with a personal trainer through a recommendation, but this doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily mean that they have the skills to meet your requirements or that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find that their style suits you.

Through the Vyta app, we bring clients and trainers together to provide the client with a whole host of trainers to choose from, all in one place so they can quickly and conveniently pick 40

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out the one who they think is best suited to them. However, we arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a marketplace, all of our trainers have been handpicked following a rigorous recruitment process, selected for their expertise, including industry-recognised qualifications, their style and personality.

The whole Vyta training experience is personalised for each client. No matter which trainer you select, they will perform a consultation to fully understand you and to be able to tailor your programme to your needs and objectives. You will also be provided with a team-to-one approach, backed

at all times by a dedicated support team to give you added motivation and input to keep you on track.

We hope that Vyta will be successful as a business and become a model example for the agile, modern health and fitness company but also to be a successful solution for our clients, giving them a more sustainable way to train that brings them a much more realistic way of achieving long-term health and fitness improvements.

Tom Cowan Head of Operations, Vyta App

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How to Fundraise in Uncertain Times

By Scott Haughton, COO at Envestors

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hat is happening with Brexit is still unclear, but the clock is ticking. If we get the kind of Brexit we want, could we still find ourselves engulfed in a recession? If so, what will this mean for entrepreneurs and the investment community?

Is now the right time to raise funds?

Can I attract investors during an economic downturn?

It is possible to raise funds during an economic downturn.

We’ve been helping businesses raise finance since 2004. I remember sitting with an entrepreneur who needed a cash injection in the last recession, advising him to wait.

Our investors had gone quiet; the market was quiet. But two months later, I ate my words.

After the initial shock, angel investors recovered and while investment was harder and slower to come by, it was still there.

How to raise funds during times of uncertainty?

Although start-ups should not put the brakes on any fundraising plans, we do advise

a different approach to raising equity finance during times of uncertainty. For entrepreneurs seeking funding in 2019, here are our top tips: 1.Practice patience Savvy entrepreneurs know that seeking equity investment

successes, such as publicity, a new contract or simply some attractive ‘buzz’.

2. Gain investment from a variety of sources With banks, angels and crowd investors all being more

“Savvy entrepreneurs know that seeking equity investment is a lengthy process. It is a marathon in good time and a full iron man in an economic downturn.” is a lengthy process. It is a marathon in good time and a full iron man in an economic downturn.

Technology has enabled scaleups to have far more control over their fundraising activities; one way is to keep their funding rounds open for as long as they need to. With a climate of greater caution, this is the best way to find the optimum startup/investor ‘fit’.

There are others benefits too; a longer round allows a company to capitalise on any unforeseen

cautious it is more important than ever to be prepared to woo investment from a variety of sources. According to Alec Lynch – CEO of DesignCrowd. com, a crowdsourcing startup founded at the height of the last recession, ‘when the economy falters, angel investors in particular, look to move their money out of the stock market and may be willing to fund you if your prospects are promising’. To be effective, entrepreneurs must make sure they have

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all their documentation ready and adapted for each audience. Keep in mind that what is important to your business network in making an investment decision, may not be the same thing for angel investors. Having a fundraising platform that allows you to restrict document views on an individual basis, is really useful for ensuring you get the right message to the right potential investors.

potentially saving yourself a lot of hard work when it is time to raise funds again.

3. Focus on investor relations Happy investors make repeat investors. Despite this, many businesses revert to business as usual after a raise and tend to forget about shareholders once the money is in the bank.

It is crucial that businesses communicate honestly and regularly with their investors.

Whether it’s through an investor relations portal on a digital platform or having a dedicated staff member to keep them happy, it’s a vital factor in any start-up’s road to success.

Having a presence in multiple markets allows you to spread risk; should sales slump domestically, sales in foreign markets unaffected by Brexit can bolster revenues. Keep in mind that international expansion is a long-term project and often requires significant capital, so those businesses who currently have no international operations may want to look to form strategic partnerships in the first instance.

Be sure to provide your shareholders with regular updates on business performance, good or bad: they can celebrate the good and guide you through any trouble spots. By keeping your current shareholders happy, you are

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4. Develop an international strategy International is key and should be looked at strategically from two perspectives: How can international expansion benefit my business? And how will attracting international investment help my business to scale?

Investment from abroad is the second point to consider when looking at internationalisation.

With more caution potentially coming from local investors, international represents a large and important opportunity. China is the perfect, Brexit-proof, example.

Mark Hedley, Director of the

China-Britain Business Council says ‘You simply cannot afford not to look at China.

There is a huge consumer demand for innovative UK tech and this has created a vibrant opportunity.’ Chinese provincial governments even have a mandate to attract high end technology companies for mutual gain; this has led to the creation of funds and incentives, such as dedicated tech parks, subsidised rent schemes and incubation/ acceleration programmes.

5. Have a rock-solid valuation Downturns affect the public stock markets first. And where the public goes, the private follows. Therefore, it is crucial to have a realistic valuation.

Modwenna Rees-Mogg, Editor of The Angel News, explains.

‘Businesses looking for money have to be reasonable about their valuation. Investors are looking for a company that has cashflow and an interesting structure – borrowing money that converts into shares protects the downside from a lower valuation’.

‘Companies decide what expectations to signal, and signalling has a significant effect on how new investors structure offers’, continues Todd Hicks, writing for Forbes.

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‘I have seen investors walk away because the signalled expectations were too far from the price and terms they were prepared to offer. On the other hand, a company that signals confidence and an expectation that is slightly aggressive - but basically realistic - can lead a new investor to make a better first offer. It’s vital to get at least one offer and very important to get more than one. This is the strongest reason to keep expectations reasonable at the start’.

Ultimately, the message is: don’t pick a valuation out of thin air, get advice from an expert – such as a professional investment analyst – and listen.

They know what they’re talking about.

Getting ready There’s no real evidence that deal flow or angel appetite is reducing. ‘The hope is that Brexit creates an opportunity for SMEs, as they can be nimble and manoeuvre quicker than bigger companies which may give them an advantage’, says Mark Brownridge, DG of the EIS Association.

So, what does this all mean?

Despite all the uncertainty the data suggests that the fundraising landscape is as healthy as ever. Our portfolio companies are still very attractive to our network of sophisticated investors. With the right tools – digital or otherwise – now is a good time for businesses to scale, regardless of a good, bad, soft, hard – whatever Brexit we end up with.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Scott Haughton is COO of Envestors, a fintech company that connects investors and scale-up companies. With its fundraising platform Envestry for Scale-ups, companies get a personalised site to promote deals, raise finance and engage with their investors 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Envestry has raised £100m+ for over 200 companies through its own private investor network.

Founded in 2004, Envestors is regulated by the FCA and has offices in the UK, the Channel Islands, the UAE and strategic partners across China. www. envestors.co.uk

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How to get to Grips With the Numbers and Grow Your Business

By Jonathan Amponsah CTA FCCA, The Tax Guys

W

hen you start a new business you’ll be asked lots of questions about your numbers, projections etc and then what is actually happening to you profit, cashflow etc as your business develops. Many entrepreneurs struggle to get to grips with the numbers and finding the answers to the questions. Yet numbers are the language of business and unless you understand the story your numbers are telling you, you’ll be flying blind.

(the sales) and quickly glance through the list of expenses.

Here are some tips on how to understand your year-end or management accounts including some red flags that you should act on if they arise.

How does your balance sheet look?

Are profitable or not?

The first thing you want to do is check if you’re making profit and see if that profit figure makes sense. This is done by looking at the profit and loss account and scrolling down to the bottom figure which will show a profit (positive figure) or a loss (negative figure).

Then look at the top figure 44

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Take the bottom figure (let’s assume its £15,000 profit) and divide it by the top figure (assume £100,000 sales). This will give you 0.15 which means for every £1 of income, you are generating 15p in net profit.

How does the £15,000 profit compare with what you had in mind? And does the 15% net profit margin deliver the right return for you?

The next thing you want to check is that the business has a positive balance sheet value.

You do this by looking at the balance sheet statement which shows what your business has and what it owes. Scroll down to the bottom and make a note of the last number. It’s normally called capital and reserves. Is that figure positive or negative?

A positive figure means your business has some value.

A negative figure is a red flag and means if things carry on

as they are, you will not have a business for very long. Act right away to improve this.

Start by improving profits.

Because the balance sheet tells you about your assets and liabilities, your debtors and creditors, when you look it try to ask simple questions like; is this how much I owe my creditors? is this how much my customers owe me? If the amount your customers owe you is higher, this is a red flag.

Get the debtors list, review and start making some calls.

What trends are emerging?

Trends are your friends when it comes to reading and understanding your accounts.

Compare the current year or the current month’s figures to the previous year or month to make sure you are making progress towards your milestones and also to help spot any anomalies. In business nearly every decision you make gets turned into a number. For instance, if your phone costs or utility costs have gone down by, say 30%, compared to last year, ask yourself why. What is

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the story behind this number?

Is this because of the cost cutting decision you made a year ago? Or the change in tariff decision? Once you start seeing the numbers this way, you take the fear out of accounting.

Is the cash flowing (in the right direction)?

So, your profit figure shows £15,000 as above but your bank balance is only £3,000. Where did the £12,000 go? There is another financial statement called cashflow statement which reconciles your cash to your profit. But if you don’t get this, no need to panic. Here is what you can check: Have your customers paid you late?

Have you drawn more money or dividends out?

Have you paid your suppliers early?

Have you purchased some equipment?

If you answer yes to any of the above, then chances are that’s where the £12,000 is sitting.

Is your gross margin enough?

Gross profit margin is an important number to calculate from your accounts, but it’s vastly ignored or misunderstood among most entrepreneurs. So, the next time you get your accounts, take the direct costs of sales or direct expenses (what we call variable costs) out from the revenue. Then divide that number by the revenue. That is your gross profit margin.

Let’s say your revenue is £100,000 and your materials or direct labour or direct expenses cost you £70,000.

The difference of £30,000 divided by £100,000 revenue gives you a margin of 30%.

This means that for every £1 of sale, you are making 30p in gross profit. This tells you how profitable you are at the gross margin level. It also tells you whether your business model works or not.

Here are two red flags. If you’re making £30,000 in gross profit but your fixed costs are say £35,000, something needs to change if you’re to remain in business for long. In addition, if your margin is far below the industry average, you need to

understand why and take the necessary corrective action.

Do you breakeven?

know

your

In other words, how much income do you need to make to reach zero profits? This is the point where your total income equals your total costs.

The reason you need to have an idea of your breakeven number is so that you know how much income to make to cover all your costs.

How do you get this number from your accounts? You will first need to know your total fixed costs. These are the costs that do not change regardless of the amount of sales you make. So, things like rent, admin team costs, rates and fixed line contracts. In your profit and loss account, it should be most items listed under admin expenses although do watch out for any variable costs that find their way under admin costs.

You then need to know the gross profit margin. You divide the total fixed costs by the

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gross profit margin and this tells you the amount of sales you need to make at any given period to cover all your costs.

Let’s boldly assume you’re now falling in love with your numbers and you have calculated the margin as 30% and your fixed costs as £35,000 as per the example above. £35,000 divided by 30% gives you a figure of £116,667.

Remember the income is currently £100,000. This tells you that your business needs to grow its income or review its costs if you’re to stay in business for long. Armed with this number, you’re no longer flying blind or fearful of the numbers. You know what to and you’re back in control.

What Is Worth?

Your

Business

You now know how to get and make sense of your profit figure. You also know what to look out for when you review

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your balance sheet and the meaning of the balance sheet value. And how to look out for the cash drain in your business. Did you know that these give you a starting point in measuring the value of your business?

Healthy profits, good cashflow and positive balance sheet values are all good signs of a valuable business. Of course, there are many other factors to consider when valuing your business and other key drivers of business value.

However, knowing how to read your accounts and what the numbers mean certainly puts you in a pole position.

It also helps you make the right decision with regards to building the value of your business.

Conclusion Start your entrepreneurial journey by learning the language of numbers. It’s important that you or someone

skilled in numbers interpret them so you can understand the story and power behind the numbers and make the right decision. In addition to the areas covered here there are other key numbers to review so make sure you meet up regularly with your accountant.

Keep asking questions, build your knowledge and grow your business.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jonathan Amponsah CTA FCCA is an award winning chartered accountant and tax adviser who advises entrepreneurs on business improvement and tax optimisation. Jonathan is the founder and CEO of The Tax Guys. www.thetaxguys.co.uk

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HOW TO SET UP A SUCCESSFUL BEAUTY BUSINESS

K

AM Hair and Body Spa has been in business for 26 years and it has grown consistently.

Even through recessions and other difficulties this salon bucks the trend and just keeps on going. Many businesses are struggling, cutting back and even closing, but not KAM, it just keeps on succesding. The salon is based in a small town that has no town centre, but the owner Karen Thomson and her fantastic team have created a haven for everyone, a destination salon that clients love to travel from miles around to for all of their hair and beauty needs.

Karen Thomson, owner of KAM Hair and Body Spa, shares her top five tips on how to set up a successful beauty business….

1. Have a business plan in place Prior to setting up a beauty business, it’s crucial to have a business plan in place that’s solid and includes information on your business objectives, goals, market research and also financial forecasts. It’s also important within this to have business targets that are

realistic to help your business adapt and grow. Looking at market research, you will be able to establish what services and treatments you should and will want to provide and at what cost. The business plan can also help you with figuring out what you will need to spend in your business on things such as business rates, staff wages etc. so it’s key to have this in place prior to opening your business.

2. Stand out from the crowd To be successful in an industry that is highly competitive is difficult, so it’s important that you offer something different from your competitors to stand out and have people who will travel the extra mile to go to YOUR beauty salon. To stand out from the crowd can be simple, decide your target market first of all and choose treatments and products that will appeal to them, customer service is so important people want more than just the service they want to be really looked after, keep a good level of stock so it’s available for clients and shows you believe in the brand you promote. It’s important that your salon finds

a way to stand out in order to get people visiting your beauty business instead of others.

3. Have the right staff This is crucial when owning a beauty business, as staff must be qualified and experienced in order to provide your clients with the very best beauty services, as well as the very best customer service. It’s so important to find the right staff, who you can trust and know will be an asset to your business and want to help make it grow and succeed and will want to grow and succeed themselves too.

4. Promotion Communication is crucial to a beauty businesses success and publicity and marketing is a great way to get your brand/ salon name out there and does not need to be very expensive.

Whether you advertise in local magazines and papers or online, this can be a great help towards gaining new clients and shout about your beauty business. It’s also very beneficial for your beauty salon to have marketing procedures such as monthly entrepreneurandinvestor.com |

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newsletters, emails and texts that can be sent to your clients to keep them informed of the latest deals, competitions, and new products and to generally keep them informed of what is going on in the salon. These procedures allow clients to feel that the salon cares about them and they are special in order to keep those clients coming back and recommending to friends and family.

5. Have a great website and engaging social media platforms A salon website is a reflection on the salon itself and therefore should look great, be current and easy for clients to use. Having a website that looks good, functional and informative will engage your clients and will make them more likely to visit. Therefore, if you have a booking system on your website, be sure to make sure this is easy for your clients to use. Have a great welcome page that will really stand out,

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as well as other pages a client may be interested in looking at, such as price lists and also a blog. Never underestimate the power of the personal touch; clients will love to hear news on your blog on what the salon has been up to. News on award wins work particularly well and will show professionalism of the salon to your existing client and new clients. Your salons social media can be used for many things, including getting feedback and recommendations from clients, which can result in new clients and retail sales for the salon too. Social media is a great tool for allowing salons to engage with their clients, to promote brand loyalty, build relationships and spread

awareness of your brand. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rare that a client will not have social media, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the perfect platform to communicate with your clients and keep them engaged with your salon, whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s by creating posts that ask your clients questions, by hosting giveaways or showcasing pictures of beauty therapists work.

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How to Turn Customers Into Stakeholders

By John Auckland, TribeFirst

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e are entering a world where people will feel insulted if you call them ‘consumers’. We are seeing the emergence of a new movement of what I call ‘postconsumers’. The individuals driving change are the generation that’s growing up now. For entrepreneurs building companies for the future, now is the time to be developing relationships and turn these potential customers into loyal stakeholders.

As post-consumers they will take great offence by the very notion that they might be taking more than they give.

They will choose to make ecofriendly buying decisions, to demand to know the supply chain provenance of their food and their clothes. They will buy from companies that refuse to engage in unsustainable practices such as planned obsolescence.

They will be sustainers rather than consumers, stakeholders rather than customers, tribes rather than crowds.

Post-consumers will trust the word of influencers and friends while dismissing marketing and advertising.

It’s a paradigm in which churn rate is a significantly more relevant statistic than cost per acquisition.

In this changing world how can entreprenuers build relationships and create stakeholders for the longterm?

It’s about tribes First and foremost, the brands of the future will be communities, and to be even more specific, tribes. Two of my favourite community-focused brands are GiffGaff and Monzo, who have built democratisation into their marketing strategies by involving their customers in major decisions.

GiffGaff has used its customers to write, direct and appear in its TV ads, and the company provides discounts and rewards in return for providing customer service support.

In doing so, GiffGaff has essentially crowdsourced their business model, building one of the UK’s major mobile companies with only a handful of true employees. I remember hearing a talk from their CMO, who described her

role as a ‘brand custodian’ as opposed to a ‘brand guardian’.

Essentially, she’s saying the company doesn’t own its own brand, it’s just looking after it.

They’ve built their brand from an ethos of their customers being the true owners.

Monzo, the challenger bank, has taken this a step further in many respects, by opening up a number of crowdfunding rounds specifically for their customers, allowing them to become part owners in the brand. They also involve their community in every major decision they make, such as changing their name and choosing what parts of their service they should charge fees on. As such, they have democratised their decisionmaking.

Brands like this are leading the way, but I predict this will become the norm after the death of the consumer.

Gaining investors One in 10 of us has invested in small UK private companies through equity crowdfunding, and this number is growing. It’s also becoming more common

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for growth companies and medium enterprises to offer shares to their customers.

Big tech companies are riding high on the stock exchange, offering their shares via public exchanges far sooner than many historical corporations could have dreamed of.

Challenger stock brokers such as Freetrade are being supported by retailer investor insight platforms like Genuine Impact, allowing DIY investors to make informed and instant decisions about which investments they make. It’s easier than ever for customers to own a slice of their favourite brands, so they can be financially rewarded for their faith and loyalty.

If you’re a startup or growth company, the best way to get your customers to invest is through an equity crowdfunding campaign. If you have no idea where to start, there are a whole host of crowdfunding support partners and workshop programmes out there to take you through the process, which will also increase your chances of a successful campaign.

Check out Virgin StartUp’s

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Crowdboost, Crowdcube and Grant Thornton’s Crowdfund Bootcamp or TribeFirst, where we offer a managed service to help companies raise.

If you’d rather just sell shares direct to your customers rather than run a public campaign, then you can either facilitate this through SeedLegals, or we recommend setting up your own fully licenced, FSA-compliant platform on Envestry.

Open for investment – every day Obviously as a crowdfunding expert I am a huge proponent of equity crowdfunding. However, I do find it quite limiting for companies that wish to be always-open to investment from their customers. You could list your company on a small cap public exchange like AIM or NEX Exchange, but that means a lot of additional cost and admin that comes from being a public company.

BrewDog solved this problem by running multiple concurrent campaigns across rewards and equity platforms; they built crowdfunding into their DNA.

But that’s a lot of effort.

However, there is an easier way to allow your customers to invest at any stage. One of the reasons I’m a big fan of Envestry’s white label solution is that it allows a company to be ‘always on’ for investment, 365 days a year. No time limited campaigns, just an ability for any brand to be available for their tribe to invest whenever they feel the relationship has reached that stage.

Use soft dividends Somewhat counterintuitively, most equity crowdfunding investors aren’t actually expecting to see a return on their investment. They want to be rewarded in experiences and ‘stuff’. The Financial Times recently ran a feature on crowdfunders searching for the next Facebook or Apple, and they concluded that most investors expected to lose their money. If they win, they win big, however that’s not the primary incentive. Feeling part of something was more of a driver.

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This can be evidenced with Crowdcube alumni Wool and the Gang, where investors were given the option of receiving store credit or their original investment returned.

Most crowdfunding investors opted to receive the credit.

So, if you do decide to sell shares to your customers, take into consideration that perhaps the postconsumer will want to receive ‘soft dividends’ (exclusive stuff/ insider knowledge/ experiences) instead of just a financial return.

Provide bragging rights Reward your investors and best customers with exclusive merchandise or early access.

Monzo built the fastest growing bank in history by simply giving their early adopters and investors a Golden Ticket that allowed them to jump the queue in getting a zero commission/ fees pre-payment card that they could use abroad. Then when they ran a crowdfunding round, they

gave their investors a sense of status by providing them with an exclusive ‘investor’ debit card. Sometimes the gestures don’t even need to be grand or expensive. But ultimately a post-consumer wants to be able to tell their mates they were part of something. By giving them the tools to brag, you’re enabling a culture of word of mouth, authentic marketing, which is pretty much the only kind of marketing that will be trusted in a post-consumer age.

From the start of your company through its development stages you need a strategy of regular communication with customers.

Our pos- consumers will want transparency and to hear about the good and the bad, to experience the highs and the lows. With communication you’ll build a culture of trust which will enrich and deepen your customer /stakeholder relationships. It needs to be in your organisation’s DNA.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR John Auckland is a crowdfunding specialist and founder of TribeFirst, a global equity crowdfunding communications agency that has helped raise in excess of £17m for over 50 companies on major equity crowdfunding platforms, with a greater than 90% success rate. John is also Virgin StartUp’s crowdfunding trainer and consultant, helping them to run branded workshops, webinars and programmes on crowdfunding.

See: www.tribefirst.co.uk

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Female Founder Interview: Hotelier Jemima Mann Baha

F

ez is Morocco’s second city and its UNESCO World Heritage medina is truly extraordinary.

Inside this medina is the art deco Palais Amani that was partly rebuilt in the 1930s. The hotel is home to 18 bedrooms and suites, a roof terrace, a cookery school, a restaurant, a library, a garden and a hammam. Jemima Mann Baha and her husband own and run this independent hotel.

Says Jemima; “The dream of owning one’s own hotel, it’s a bit like lawyers or bankers in the 80’s coming to our family run restaurant and over a drink at the bar saying how they longed to throw their city life up and set up a little bistro. The dream of the hotel is somewhat the same except the clients never go home. At least the restaurant pulls down

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the shutter and the kitchens go quiet until the next day; at a hotel it is 24hours 7 days a week and unless you decide to close for holidays, 365 days of the year”.

This spring ‘The Luxury Travel Guide Awards’ awarded Palais Amani the ‘Service Excellence 2019’ award. Palais Amani has certainly evolved over the years. Opened in 2010 the hotel has added bedrooms, a cooking school and upgraded its food offering.

Palais Amani showcases the finest authentic and traditional Moroccan decoration. A large garden of 600m2 is at the centre of the palace filled with orange trees where birds, permanent residents here, provide the birdsong in this tranquil haven.

Fez itself continues to grow as a destination. Until recently only

a handful of airlines served the city. Now, Air Arabia Maroc and Ryanair both offer many connections across Europe enhanced also by TAP Air Portugal’s daily Lisbon flight. It means it has never been easier to explore this magical city.

What about getting into the business? So many people dream of setting up a B&B or hotel, what advice can you share?

“It depends what the long term plan is: if it is to set up a hotel and not to be too hands on then you need a minimum of rooms to make it profitable enough to employ staff to do the day to day ground work.

An ideal size, and one that can then possibly be sold onto a group is 25 rooms but that is a big commitment to take on

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at first and of course depends on where, and the level of investment that you are able/ want to start with. This will not be a lifestyle project at all, but a business in the hospitality trade that you are setting up and if this is what you want to do, I highly recommend to employ key members of staff with a background in the trade.

However if the intention is more of a lifestyle change, to live where one works, leave the big smoke and set up in a beautiful part of the country then I would recommend starting small.”

Jemima continues; “Ideally in a property that has good links so your future guests can get to you easily and with maybe outbuildings that can be converted later if you decide to expand; But before you even get as far as making the decision of what size, there are a number of questions to ask yourself: a) am I happy to be working the hardest when the majority of people are

enjoying themselves? Bank holidays, Christmas, new year weekends? b) am I a good listener: the client who is not happy with the room colour, or thought that the sea was nearer, is something you may have to deal with a smile. c) am I happy to muck in when necessary: you might not see yourself as an expert bed maker and bathroom cleaner but this may be one of the things you find yourself doing when your staff don’t show up.

If all these are answered positively, then you need to think about where you are wanting to set this hotel up and what does that mean.”

“A run down building might be a great purchase, but just how much is it going to cost to make it into a feasible hotel, with all mod cons and fire and safety regulations?

Very often before one has even got the part of fixtures and fittings, recruitment of staff, marketing and opening, the

budget may have run out if the business plan is not realistic.

A B&B is less work than a hotel that serves meals but if you have fallen in love with a rambling farm house 20 miles from the nearest village then you may end up having to have a dining room with lunch and dinner. This is ok but will mean hiring a couple of chefs if you are not planning to be in the kitchen as well and then the question of profitability arises, should I open the restaurant for guests only or am I looking at setting up a restaurant as well.

And once you have got all the work done of setting it up and are ready to go, how will you get the guests through the doors?

Online agencies give you immediate exposure but they also take a large chunk in commission so this is something that needs to be factored into your room rate.”

How to enhance a hotel business in an era when everyone is seeking that buzz word ‘experiences’

“Moroccan cuisine is often quoted as being in the top three world cuisines and so a trip to Morocco wouldn’t be complete without tasting the diversity of its food.

Palais Amani set up the Fez Cooking School last year and it has been a huge success with hotel guests and visitors to Fez. Guests can discover entrepreneurandinvestor.com |

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the complexity of flavours in our gastronomic restaurant Eden, where a selection of traditional Moroccan dishes are served daily. And they can experience some of the tastes in the rooftop tapas bar whilst watching the sun set over the ancient city. But they can also learn how to make some of these at Fez Cooking School, our brand new cooking workshop facilities on the rooftop of the Palais Amani. At Fez Cooking School our courses vary from a simple hands on lesson to make staple Moroccan dishes like chicken Tagine, or CousCous, to a private half day tour that includes going out into the local markets to buy the produce before learning some of the secrets that make Moroccan cuisine so delicious.

We also are very active in pop up culinary events, where we partner up with chefs from other cities or countries and run 3 or 4 day pop up menus allowing travellers and locals alike a new foodie experience from time to time; These generate great press exposure for the restaurant, are highly motivating for the chef and underline our reputation as a foodie address when visiting Fez. Our last event coincided with the official inauguration of Fez Cooking School opened by Anissa Helou, chef and world expert on Islamic cuisine whose book Feast was published in USA last month. During the inauguration our chefs put on a live cooking demonstration and clients and locals alike were invited to taste some new dishes.”

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How can other hoteliers benefit from offering food-related experiences, what can it bring to their business, and how to move it forward?

“We started the first proper cooking school here and are taking it to new heights. We recognised Fez’s potential very early on as a viable place for a boutique hotel but also recognised it as a foodie city.

Fez is the spiritual and culinary capital of Morocco, where the best in food traditions are born.

And the way the ancient city functions here is like stepping back into the medieval times, so a traveller wanting to understand the culture that they are visiting, cannot really begin to understand without getting under the lid of the way the people here feed themselves.

The city is made up of mini districts making crafts trading like in olden times in Europe, each with tiny ‘hole in the wall’ type stalls and cafés selling street food and local markets selling fresh seasonal produce. So the first step in understanding the culture of Fez is to get out into these districts and see what the locals buy and taste what people eat. At the Fez Cooking School this is part of the guided tour before the cooking lessons start.

With the chef and a native speaker to translate, the guest chooses the ingredients for the class and learns how the locals shop on a daily basis.

These food buying and tasting tours are far beyond the tourist

circuit so the traveller really gets to feel how this city ticks.

We run baking classes too, that end with a mint tea ceremony allowing the guests to make bread, and see how the communal bread ovens work in the city, something that is now part of our history books in the west. They round their day off with a delicious glass of mint tea at the tea making ceremony on the hotel’s rooftop knowing that they will carry this know-how home with them to try with family and friends.

Travelling trends have moved on from ticking off landmarks on a bucket list. Travel is all about experiences and there is no experience more pleasurable than understanding what people eat. Learning whilst on holiday makes the experience of a country last long after the suitcases have been unpacked and the traveller is back at work.

Any hotelier wanting to offer their clients an authentic understanding of their culture should do so through allowing them to understand the food and traditions. Perhaps the olive oil is particularly good in your region, in which case an olive oil tasting could be a great event to set up for guests. Or breakfast traditions are very different from those of your clients. Then train one of the receptionists to be able to explain some of the differences and share this with your guests.

If the resources are not available in-house then pairing

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up with a local restaurant, or seeking out people who have already set up food tours would be the way forward for a hotelier who is looking to extend the average stay and enhance his guests time. For other hoteliers in our city, having Fez Cooking School as an experience provider means that everyone benefits.”

Looking to visit? Here are some of Jemima’s best kept secrets to discover Fez: My favourite spot for a mint tea in the Fez medina… There is a small café on a square near the Chaabine that is on the first floor overlooking a newly restored Fondouk; the tea is brewed in a large copper urn with huge bunches of mint and alarming amounts of sugar, but the smell is wonderful like

mint imperials spearmint and almost as vivid green when poured from a height into a large glass.

My favourite shop in the Fez medina... Very close to the Palais Amani is a bazaar called: Ali’s Art gallery. It is like a Tardis in that once through the doors it goes from floor to floor and room to room each overflowing with the most incredible works of art, furniture, jewellery, mirrors, an absolute Aladdin’s cave of wonder! I never tire going there and rarely leave it empty handed.

My favourite restaurant in Fez… Might sound a bit strange for Morocco but my favourite restaurant in Fez is Moi Anan, a tiny Thai restaurant in the medina that has delicious dishes, a great change from

the variety of Moroccan foods I so love.

My favourite ingredients in Fez… This has to be fresh coriander sold by the cart full, used for making Chermoula: a marinade that is used for fish, vegetables and meats and is made with ingredients that are close to hand in the markets: a good bunch of coriander, paprika and garlic, Moroccan olive oil and lemon juice.

My favourite place to watch sunset in Fez... The roof terrace at the Palais Amani, the sun sets just beyond the merinides tombs that are clearly visible from the rooftop and I love watching the colours go from apricot to deep pink with a pomegranate cocktail! www.palaisamani.com entrepreneurandinvestor.com |

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New Research Shows the Highest, and Lowest, Risk Regions in the UK for Late Payments

By Inna Kaushan, co-founder of Solna

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sing the data of over 3million SMEs up and down the country research has been undertaken to discover which regions are the highest and lowest risk for small businesses and freelancers when it comes to getting invoices paid on time. 121 areas of the UK were scored and ranked based on how quickly businesses make their payments.

According to the Federation of Small Businesses, 58% of their members are owed up to £10,000 in late payments from their clients. 15% are owed between £10,000 and £20,000, and an incredible 27% are owed over £20,000 from their late paying clients.

Invoicing platform Solna, which undertook the new research on late payments, scored businesses from 1 to 5, based on their creditworthiness and ability to pay invoices on time.

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scoring 1 have lower credit ratings and regularly pay late.

All scores were ranked to reveal the highest and lowest risk areas in the UK for late payments.

Late payments: Highest risk areas in the UK 1. West Central London 2. Bolton 3. East Central London 4. Oldham 5. Luton 6. Birmingham 7. Darlington 8. Sunderland 9. North London 10. Romford Late payments: Lowest risk areas in the UK 1. Lerwick 2. Aberdeen 3. Kirkwall 4. Hemel Hempstead 5. Redhill 6. Outer Hebrides 7. Swindon

8. Falkirk 9. Dorchester 10. Dumfries Most reliable payers: in the Scottish Islands Some of the most northerly parts of Scotland come out on top, dominating the top 4 low risk positions. Towns in Surrey, Dumfries and Galloway, Hertfordshire, and Dorset make up the rest of the top 10.

Interestingly, the best freelance and business clients might be found off the mainland. Remote Scottish islands, including Orkney, the Outer Hebrides, and Shetland, are the most reliable for fast payments.

Orkney SMEs represent 81.8% of private sector employment across its inhabited islands. Invoice payments are clearly unaffected by their remoteness.

Small businesses in Kirkwall and Lerwick - Orkney and Shetland’s largest settlements - are some of the most reliable pay-

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ers in the UK. It’s no wonder a 2016 survey found 56% of Shetland startups have a lifespan of at least 5 years, making it the best location in the UK for startup survival.

Late payment common across central London, the Midlands, the North Areas of central London, Greater Manchester, Yorkshire, and the Midlands made the list of least reliable areas. These towns and cities tend to be more densely populated with startups and SMEs, meaning more competition, more costly overheads, and possibly more reasons to delay payments to protect cash flow.

There is a combination of cultural, geographical, and economic reasons why people in more rural areas have better scores than businesses based in London and other urban areas. Businesses in a smaller community are more likely to pay their suppliers on time because they’re more likely to know them and becoming known for unreliability could be really damaging to their business in such a small world.

For small businesses and sole traders in the ten highest risk locations, dealing with late payers can be time-consuming and frustrating. Late payments can damage their cash flow and prevent growth, making it harder to win new business, and pay for essential resources. Financial stress can be emotionally draining for business owners and freelancers, affecting their ability to pay

their business’ bills as well as their own. They also might be forced to let staff go, or even shut down for good.

When a business delays payment because of cash flow issues, they create cash flow issues for their suppliers too.

Those suppliers might then delay paying their own invoices, and on and on it goes.

Brexit uncertainty is having impact on small businesses across Britain. While negotiations continue, every businesses need to make sure it’s doing everything possible to manage cash flow, prevent late payments, and stay prosperous in order to cope with whatever the deal or no deal delivers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Inna Kaushan is co-founder of Solna, a smart invoicing platform powered by credit score data. Solna speeds up the invoicing and payment process for freelancers and small businesses. Through leveraged credit data that is overlaid on the platform’s invoicing and reporting functionality, users get a clear picture of their customer’s financial health and their overall exposure to risk. The system’s automated credit control functionality automatically chases overdue invoices – freeing up time and ensuring faster payment. www.solna.io

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Taking advantage of digital disruption in early-stage investment

By Oliver Woolley, CEO, Envestors

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he human touch has always been valued in the early-stage investment process: matching businesses and investors has a significant relationship component, after all. Give this, the fact that the adoption of digital in this sector has lagged behind other industries is not a surprise. Pitch events, where potential investors receive printed info packs and follow up by phone to learn more, are still the norm.

But the sector is starting to acknowledge that digital does not mean impersonal. Rather, it can help build deeper relationships - faster - by providing new ways to communicate, share information and ultimately make the process of finding the right opportunity and deciding to invest easier for investors.

complete due diligence and manage their portfolios In early-stage investments, offline activity is still primary.

This is set to change with the introduction of white-label investment management platforms like Envestry for Networks. These platforms allow groups to showcase deals to their investors, in an FCA-regulated environment. Investors can review deal information and documents in a secure area, engage with the management team and other investors and make an investment.

investment networks, clubs, incubators and accelerators, all of whom actively help investors to find opportunities and scale-ups to secure funding - but they are all closed and separate. Our vision for the future is one in which all these groups connect to one another, without sacrificing control or independence. We’ve built a software platform to do just that. Using an aggregated approach, we can bring the world of early-stage investing together in a way that benefits all of those involved.

The transformation

The suggestion here is not that digital will replace offline activities; presentation events and face-to-face meetings will always play a crucial role in any investment decision. Digital will complement these activities in a way that makes the entire end-to-end experience much better for investors.

There are two key ways in which digital will transform the world of early-stage investing:

2.

Connecting the disparate world of early-stage investing

For scale ups, it means working with one party and gaining wide exposure rather than promoting a deal through a number of disparate networks. For investors, it means having access to a near unlimited number of deals, all filtered according to interest and managed in a single location – regardless of network of origin. For investment facilitators, it means a greatly improved experience for their investors and decreased operational overheads.

1.

Making it considerably easier for investors to discover deals,

The landscape we have today is the same landscape we had fifty years ago. We’ve got

But why is now the time? I’ve delved into the market and industry trends to show why I

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think 2019 is the year that early-stage investing truly adopts digital.

Results – right now We live in an age of instant gratification. This spans across all areas of our lives – from instantaneous validation on Twitter and one-hour Amazon delivery, to 24-hour news at our fingertips. So why should the investment experience be any different? If I can find out about anything in the world from wherever I happen to be, why should I – as an investor wait for a pitch session to find out about investment opportunities?

The ROBO Effect Borrowing a term from the retail industry, ROBO (Research Online, Buy Offline) reflects a broad behavioural change.

People no longer head to a shopping centre to browse for an item, they go online and find what they want and then go down to the store to get it. In many cases, they opt not to go to the store, satisfied with the information they have found

online, and make an immediate purchase. This behaviour isn’t particular to consumers: a study, by Forrester Research, found that 68% of business to business buyers researched online independently and a further 62% say they go as far as developing a selection criteria and vendor list based on digital content.

So, why is it different with investing? When people prefer to get information instantaneously and independently, why do we ask them to wait for a pitch event? Using digital, information on potential investment opportunities and any relevant details can be ready for investors to read at their leisure.

Further to that, information can be interactive. Potential investors can ask management teams questions - using online channels - and get answers in real time.

Seeking a diverse portfolio Digitisation has fuelled the unprecedented growth of startups in the UK. This has produced a vast – and occasionally overwhelming – array of op-

portunities, resulting in a trend showing networks are becoming more niche and sector specific. While regional investment networks have long been part of the landscape, they are joined by networks specialising in – for example – Greentech, MedTech or women-owned businesses. This is not a bad thing, but it has caused further fragmentation.

Experienced investors know, that if they are to get the best chance of a return on their investments, a diverse portfolio is a must. However, such specificity throws diversity out the window, leaving investors only one option – joining multiple networks and doing a lot of leg work to build and manage their portfolios.

Digital to the rescue. With an aggregated platform, regional and niche networks can connect to one another and share deals at the click of a button.

This allows networks to protect their greatest asset – their investors - while offering them a broader array of investment opportunities without doing all of the vetting and admin.

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The uncertainty factor By mid-2018, the impact of a looming Brexit was already starting to be felt across the industry. With predictions of economic troubles in the UK in the short term, many investors tightened their purse strings, becoming increasingly selective over which investments to make. Yet, at the same time, reports show that foreign investment is at an all-time high: in 2017, a whopping ÂŁ6bn was invested over the course of the year, with 396 of these deals involving at least one investor from abroad.

This is another opportunity that could be capitalised by digital. With a digital platform, deals can flow across borders â&#x20AC;&#x201C; giving investors the ability to further diversify their portfolios, while giving businesses a better opportunity to find investment.

Key players, like The SetSquared Partnership and Britbots, are already well on their way to adopting digital.

Digital disruption has begun so

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as entrepreneurs and investors you can take advantage of the many benefits.

About the Author Oliver is CEO and Co-founder of Envestors. Oliver sits on the Board of the UK Crowdfunding Association (UKCFA) and sat on the Board of the UK Business Angels Association (UKBAA) from 2006 to 2014.

He is also a Member of Court at Imperial College (London).

After completing a degree in Finance, Oliver decided not to become an accountant but instead raised equity and bank debt to start Woolleys Healthfoods. The business comprised three retail catering outlets in central London, three organic sausage shops and a factory in the south-east of England, which wholesaled to 200 establishments including Harrods.

In 1997 he sold the business to Northern Foods and moved into early-stage investing. www.envestors.co.uk

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What Midlife Crisis?

Women Still Mean Business

By Karen Davis

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idlife for women can be seen as a bit of a joke. There are the comments about being “over the hill”, that if we get stressed it must be that “time of life” and there are mutterings about “the change” if our behaviour doesn’t conform to the norm. Couple that with the empty nest, looking after ageing parents and the insecurities that women have about their looks in midlife and you could be forgiven for thinking that it’s a downhill path, a waiting room for retirement and grandchildren. It could be conceived as a weak hand to play.

However, here’s the surprising thing. Midlife women are the fastest growing demographic in the World. They control 67% of all household spend and make 80% of all healthcare decisions. So, if you’re a man reading this, women like me are making 80% of the decisions about your health from what you eat, to pushing you to see the Doctor to likely as not being the nurse who cares for you in hospital. Not so weak now.

Midlife women have been almost completely unaware of their influence until recently, but now a whole host of circumstances are aligning to make them wake up to their power and the possibilities of what they can achieve, both personally and in business.

This change has been coming for a while and working in the beauty industry, as I do, it seemed to start when L’Oréal included a few older women, such as Helen Mirren, in their campaigns. Hailed as a triumph this moved fairly fast into a backlash against a standard beauty phrase which was plastered over as many products as possible. “Anti-Ageing” became insulting.

Today, the BBC runs “Menopause” Weeks, Ofcom is berating broadcasters for not having enough midlife women on screen compared to midlife men and women over 50 are the fastest growing sector of the workforce in the UK. What does this mean for business?

I run a beauty subscription box called TOYL (www.toyl.co.uk)

for midlife women, specialising in offering them brands that are not only suitable for them but also that are interested in them. I’ve heard the phrase “commercially stale” said about my audience and I’m then not sure why they would want to buy from them. 67% of household spend, I think that brand forgot that bit. I think they also forgot that in the next 18 months around 7 million female Millennials will start turning 40, how will they view midlife?

Part of my offering to my audience is a range of blogs, newsletters and podcasts on all things midlife and I’ve come across some amazing people who are all telling me the same thing – midlife women in the next decade will not be like our mothers. There will be no toning it down. Midlife women will want more, they will want these years to be a time when they achieve their ambitions having looked after others for most of their adult life. They will not accept goods from companies that see them as “commercially stale” and they will want to spend money on themselves.

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their own businesses either to supplement their income, to achieve their dreams or to give them the freedom to work when and how they want to.

They won’t agree that midlife is a time to cut your hair short and to let it go grey. They will not be waiting for their partners to retire, they will be out there living life. In short, while many beauty brands see the Asian markets as their next big opportunity I’d remind them all not to forget that midlife women are the fastest growing demographic in the World.

So, as brands think about new territories, they should seriously think about who holds the purse strings in each country.

For my business, it means that beyond my beauty box there are plans for a business school specifically aimed a midlife, female entrepreneurs and a chain of women-only gyms.

We want to be fit and well in our dotage and that action starts now. For your business I’d say open your eyes to us as a market, challenge your 62

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teams on how to speak to us, create dialogues with us, consider employing us in quality positions and remember the average age of the most successful entrepreneur start-ups is 45. Crisis? Sounds more like midlife opportunity to me.

About the Author Karen Davis is an ex-beauty PR, an award-winning beauty blogger for the 40+ woman, International Speaker and Founder of Time of Your Life, a beauty & lifestyle subscription box, podcast and blog for women over 40 which has experienced 500% growth in the last 12 months (www.toyl. co.uk). In September 2019 her book, The Time of Your Life, is published which talks to women about how to reimagine mid-life as their most exciting and rewarding years.

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Launching into the industry - What does it take to turn an idea to a brand?

By Sharon Rabi, DAFNI owner, designer and entrepreneur

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eople live in groups.

That is the reason we love communities, social and physical. And communities, all communities have an admin or two. Every great startup starts with a romantic idea that tackles a problem in a fresh and futuristic way, but what happens when that idea matures into a product and needs to meet people?

The fax machine for instance was invented in the 60s but only became successful in the 80s, the product was ready, but it took the industry, it’s target industry- offices, 20 years to adapt this new solution, that undoubtedly solved a problem.

In my story, I knew there had to be a faster way to style hair, with a flat iron, it takes 30 minutes every time excluding the time it takes to dry hair (yes boys, 30 minutes, just on styling hair). I thought the idea of the flat iron was outdated and simple. I discovered the patent for the flat iron was first filed in 1909 and hadn’t changed since. I decided my time and

time of other women is precious and someone should do something to change the current situation. I knew I wouldn’t be the only woman thinking about this situation, but no one else had tried to change it and I understood that person who was going to have to start the change was going to be me.

I spent three years developing my ideas with my father in my parents’ house. During that time, I learnt so much and failed many times. However, I felt like when the product was finally made and ready, my work would be done. I was very wrong. I found that it takes a lot to launch a brand and product successfully. I had to take a long-standing way of styling hair, with the flat iron, and show the world why my design, a brush was better.

Luckily, a miracle happened and a simple demo video I made and posted on social media went viral, gaining over 120 million views organically. The industry came to us. I say ‘luckily’ but I think it is important for

brands to utilize very opportunity and platform out there. I didn’t have a big team or large budgets, but I had social media and passion and used it to work for my brand.

After DAFNI was launched a lot of copies were created by other brands within the industry. If my first challenge was to explain why a brush was better than a flat iron, the second challenge was to explain why DAFNI quality is better, (because we don’t see a P&L, we see a customer) why our brand is better (because we aim to give women more time to achieve things) and how to do that with very low media budgets. Again, I turned to the resources I had. Women themselves. Women who chat and share their favourite hair and beauty discoveries and influence each other.

The one thing that always works in every industry is to have that key person, that community leader, that industry influencer endorsing your product and brand. entrepreneurandinvestor.com |

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These influencers are there in any industry, and have a few key features; they are trusted, they speak their mind, their voice resonates clearly in the industry and they don’t need permission from anyone else to adopt a new concept.

One of the most crucial decisions every startup needs to make is to determine which industry they are looking to conquer first. We all believe, (yes all) that when we invent something new it is for everyone. Even if your product is for everyone who needs it the most or will adopt it the fastest? What community are these “early adopters” a part of?

These are challenging questions, no doubt, it can take years to find the answers that fit your company.

With DAFNI, our mission shifted from approaching “all women” to approaching “time poor women” or even more specifically “career women”. After understanding which sector or sectors are most likely to adopt your innovation first, the second step is to find out where the make decision that concern the habit you wish to change. It can be a few places but again editing is a blessing, less is more.

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For instance with DAFNI women make beauty decisions in beauty stores, beauty salons and drugstores. Each of these have their own identity and while the invention of a hair straightening brush can be sold through all these channels the same brand can’t (unless it’s stronger than all these identities combined). The reason for this is that products have functionality, but brands have an identity (on top of their wonderful products) and to launch a product into the industry really means to launch a brand that understands what it stands for, who it speaks with and where these people make decisions about the habit the brand wishes to change.

Once you understand your target community you should start recognizing the influencers in that community. We all heard of that shirt Beyonce wore selling out (though there was nothing special about it) or the new iPhone waiting lists (without anyone really understanding the hurry). To launch into an industry is to tap into a community, after creating a great product the real work begins, getting the people.

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How to Build a ProductBased Business as a Single Parent on a Low Income

I

n 2011 Julie Hawkins, who lives on Ross on Wye, was a 35 year old single mum to be. She was living on an income of around £250 a week having separated from her former partner and life was a financial struggle.

To her surprise she found her ‘prototype’ created for her own comfort, really impressed every professional who saw it. Julie felt she was duty bound to share it for the benefit of others to use.

Julie spent two years, scraping pennies to health and safety test, patent and produce a British Standards product ready for market. She couldn’t find an investor and banks would not lend her money, so capital through any ‘normal’ route was a non-starter.

Yet Julie had had a brainwave around a product – a pillow which helped her during her pregnancy when she just couldn’t get comfortable while sleeping or resting. She’d tried to find something to help her yet found nothing really worked.

However it came back to the issue of money and responsibility – she was by this time single, with a newborn baby, adverse credit due to divorce and house reposession and very little income. How could she ever bring her pillow – now called the KIH Bed Pregnancy Cushion to market?

All of the products on the market were traditional pregnancy cushions that are like a very large pillow that help you to lay on your side

The answer was – determination and patience along with careful use of what money was available.

However her mum mentioned an organisation called Frederick’s Foundation. This organisation is a charity who lends to so-called (in Julie’s words) ‘undesirables’ and she pitched her extensive business plan along with her certified market ready product to a panel of eight people and was successful. She was given a loan of £8,000 to buy her initial stock and some advertisements aimed at pregnant women.

“Instead of filling up the fridge with delicious food I would spend £30 on a piece of material and instead of clothes, I would spend £60 on a CAD drawing. Sky TV, nail bars, hairdressers and take-outs were not an option. Every penny went to creating the market ready product.”

Sadly this money was wasted as Julie came to realise over the next two years her ‘market’ was actually professional practitioners, who would go on to use the product for their pregnant clients year after year.

“This meant I needed to market my product to a different audience – without any budget.

Frustrated, Julie thought about – and then designed and created her own product to enable her to lay prone full-term pregnancy. She took this with her to her midwife and other professionals to help her and to see what they thought.

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So I networked to raise awareness and used social media as affordable PR. I’m still repaying the initial loan but I’m so passionate about the opportunity that they gave me, I will continue to support the charity with financial donations after my loan is cleared in full.”

Julie recently exhibited at the NEC in Birmingham and sold more units in one month as a result than she sold in the previous year.

She has always argued that the worst thing about starting a business as a single mum with little money is the lack of exposure. If she could have exhibited at the NEC in the first couple of years she would have escaped years of struggle, and could have further supported the UK economy.

“If I had let fear of failure stop me I would never have gone without and gone to such great lengths to bring my product to market. I knew pregnant women like me were desperate for this level of comfort and I had to just keep going and trust the 66

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greater purpose.”

Julie has since won awards for her business and in 2018 set up the Single Mums Business Network to help other women who are working hard behind the scenes not to live in poverty. She is determined to raise awareness of the stigma, misconceptions as well as helping these women gain much needed exposure, to save them from either having to sacrifice time with their children, or turn to the humiliating lifestyle of benefits.

About the author: Julie Hawkins is the founder of KIH Bed Pregnancy Cushion and the Single Mums Business Network. Her company is six years old and information can be found here - http://www.kihproducts.co.uk

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Opportunities for authors and publishers in the changing publishing industry

By Dan Kieran, co-founder and CEO of Unbound

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raditionally publishers have always been the gatekeepers separating authors and readers.

The lack of direct contact with readers and combined with pressure from retailers to publish more books like the bestsellers from the previous year, means they rely on historical sales data to decide which books should be made. If there is no successful precedent for them to point to, this makes it harder to justify supporting new ideas and original stories from a more diverse range of voices.

Now, using technology platforms, authors and online content creators are able to ‘prove’ their audience exists by capturing it through social media. This combined with a vast amount of data to analyse, and more viable ways to make sense of it, means the radical tech-enabled evolution of the publishing industry is inevitable. This evolution will democ-

ratise the industry in favour of authors and readers, while creating new opportunities for publishers themselves.

Let me share my views on how the publishing industry is going to change and the opportunities this provides: Game-changing books will increasingly come from smaller publishers As long as the large publishing groups continue to use the same approach they will continue to overlook many potentially game-changing and award-winning books. This is likely to include titles that tread new ground or connect with passionate and currently underserved audiences that smaller publishers are agile enough to capture.

This year The Milkman by Anna Burns published by Faber and Faber won the ManBooker Prize. Faber is a big independ-

ent publisher, but they haven’t lost their ability to find and define the public’s tastes. But going direct to readers is also becoming a key indicator for this evolution – the Rathbones Folio Prize this year was won

by The Perseverance by Raymond Antrobus, published by Penned In The Margins who combine publishing, performance and events and the runner–up, Mary Anne Sate Imbecile by Alice Jolly, was published

by Unbound the crowdfunding publisher that gives readers the power to choose which books should be made (full disclosure: I run Unbound). The Indies are on the rise.

Data will be key to making publishing decisions The constant advancement of machine learning and data science means it’s easier to generate insights to understand human behaviour and this extends to the books we want to read. It’s already possible to

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use social media data to spot new trends. By developing the right tools, publishers will be able to use this data in real time to spot new ideas gaining traction and commission books that capture the zeitgeist of the moment.

Crowdfunding enables the direct-to-consumer monetisation of virality that is inherently stored within an author or content creator’s online fanbase far more efficiently than the traditional model that relies on retailers. For one thing; you can sell more than a book.

Going direct opens up higher price points than are available to readers in a bookshop.

At Unbound we have used more than seven years’ of transactional data to build a machine learning tool. It can be used to identify authors and potential authors with ideas that could be turned into high value books. For example, a video games content creator we identified raised £300k on Unbound to fund the launch of his new book, £100k of which came in a single day.

We can also let authors know how much their book is likely

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to raise through our crowdfunding model in advance of it launching.

they have worked hard to build - as the key to the value they have created.

In the end all publishers are looking for the same thing – books that audiences will love to read. Data science can’t write great books for you, but it can show you where they are hiding.

Publishers will focus on engaging reader communities rather than traditional marketing

Readers and authors will benefit from a democratised industry By changing up the way books are chosen, and with new data analysis de-risking these new authors by being able to prove the audience exists online, even if there is no precedent in the historic sales data, a much more diverse range of voices will be heard.

The finances will change too.

Authors earnings have been falling dramatically for years.

Unbound already gives each of our authors a 50/50 profit split, but I think that a more equal relationship between traditional publishers and authors is now inevitable. Authors and content creators can point to their online fanbases – that

Many of the traditional marketing and advertising formats used by publishers are disappearing or becoming less viable and effective. With bookstores closing down, publishers have fewer opportunities to physically market their books.

Due to a declining newspaper readership, print media ads are also catering to a rapidly diminishing audience, and certainly not a young one. The number of book reviews are also reducing and publishers will tell you anecdotally that even good reviews are not the guarantee of increased sales they once were.

There are also difficulties in marketing via other media platforms. Authors are often neglected by broadcast media in favour of actors and musicians. New generations tend to value the opinions of their

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friends and others in their online communities, blogs and forums, over the efforts of brands themselves.

Given this, it will be up to publishers to build a community of loyal readers by engaging them, listening to what they want, and implementing some of their ideas. Having a large, engaged community means that each book will have more traction, as readers will treat new publications as recommendations rather than just advertising.

and it will be exciting to read the new authors that emerge from around the globe.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dan Kieran is the Co-Founder and CEO of Unbound, a crowdfunding publisher that combines data science and an award-winning publishing brand with an online marketplace. Readers pre-order books through pledging, Unbound publishes and sells them, giving authors a 50/50 profit split and access to an engaged community.

For publishers willing to embrace technology and build communities of readers and authors there are opportunities to be seized. This will be beneficial for all stakeholders

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Simple tech tweaks can make all the difference

By Anne de Kerckhove, CEO, Freespee

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s the retail sector strives to keep pace with the change in consumer behaviour and ever-increasing customer experience expectations, failure to differentiate can often spell the end of a business. The retail landscape has never been more competitive than it currently is, so it is crucial for businesses to embrace digitalisation and new technologies to gain and maintain a competitive edge in today’s market. With retailers like Bonmarché and Coast on the brink of collapse, it is vital for brands to constantly be at the top of their game in order to survive against competitors and market fluctuations.

Overall, brands are failing to offer good customer experiences and, as a result, are facing struggles – longstanding womenswear retail chain Bonmarché made this evident when shares in the company recently dropped 18% after a warning that profits would fall short due to weak consumer demand. Other retailers have also fallen prey to the worsening retail environment, with several well-established chains having closed stores or seeking serious financial restructuring in order to survive, including 70

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Toys R Us and Debenhams. It is becoming increasingly clear, that change needs to happen, and brands need to innovate to survive. Incorporating small but impactful technological changes could therefore be the answer, making a big difference to a business’ operations – and its profits.

Digital transformation is huge and can often feel like a mountain to climb. However, despite what retailers may think, it doesn’t always require huge business model changes and drastic process shake-ups. As it becomes clearer that customer experience is the key to driving sales, businesses should not overlook the benefits of making small changes that can greatly enhance the experiences of their customers. This is especially crucial given that a majority of adults (56%) would choose digital resources over their significant others for recommendations on products and services, according to a recent study published by Datastax, which puts the value of ‘word of mouth’ into a wider online experience pespective.

Artificial intelligence (AI) can help retailers analyse customer behaviour and journey data

and assist in identifying their individual needs – so they can then be met. By starting to predict what customers want, and need, AI (in tandem with machine-learning) can elevate the whole shopping experience to another level. As it stands, only 7% of retailers currently use AI to enhance their services, and this should increase as retailers see the benefits that AI-driven technology can provide.

Thread, an online start-up, has used AI to assist men in selecting clothes – and subsequently raised £16.7 million from investors, further demonstrating that retailers should look to new, AI-driven technologies to stay competitive. Interactions and conversations between humans and brands become more productive for both parties with AI-enabled technologies. This is because these technologies combine artificial intelligence and data to provide analytics – learning from and responding to a slew of data points in a way that no human ever could. With these analytical insights available, high street retailers can provide the empathetic, responsive service that customers appreciate and increasingly demand. It’s a win-win: consumers get a cus-

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tomised service, and retailers benefit from their improved customer satisfaction which builds brand loyalty and ultimately helps boost market position.

Despite what retailers might think, AI doesn’t always have to mean going as far as installing a team of robot workers to keep up with the digital landscape. However, robot-driven technologies can certainly help. When it comes to the specific technology elements that retailers can implement to start reaping the benefits of digital transformation, dynamic call numbers are just one example of how simple elements can offer huge growth benefits.

Simply put, these are unique phone numbers, assigned to each visitor, that are automatically displayed on a brand’s website or in a digital advertising campaign. This simple feature gives businesses the ability to track a specific customer’s journey, and provides extended data insights into that customer, helping to deliver a tailored customer experience.

Retailers can also look to geographical call routing as a method of attracting their target customers across different

regions. Call routing allow users to understand the digital context of each visitor, such as by discovering why they were visiting the site, where they came from, and why they ultimately contacted the brand.

With this rich contextual data, businesses can then target the customers who truly want to buy and prioritise the journey of these customers through to specific call handlers who are trained and equipped to handle their enquiries most effectively.

Using a dashboard to analyse customer insights and enabling call tracking are also simple functionalities that businesses can utilise to drive growth. For example, enabling customers to text customer service departments, instead of having to call them (and most likely be put on hold or stuck in a long queue) can help speed the process up – both for customer service teams and for customers themselves. This is especially effective when targeting key audience demographics.

For example, millennials tend to prefer text messaging over making phone calls, so for businesses who cater to this age range as their primary sales segment, implementing this type of tech is a no-brainer.

By putting customers at the heart of a business’ operations, retailers are able to use data insights to not only enhance customer experiences, but spend money better in the long run and increase customer loyalty. Previously, advertising and marketing campaigns have involved putting large chunks of money into campaigns to increase profits, without receiving targeted insights post-campaign as to its effectiveness.

For example, Allclear, an insurance specialist, freed up £20k of their marketing spend based simply on customer insights within three weeks – a prime example of how small tech tweaks truly can make all the difference.

In today’s vastly competitive marketplace, businesses must utilise every tool they have to minimise their risk of failure – and maximise their chance of success. This doesn’t always mean spending lots of money – but using the right technologies effectively to enhance customer experience for maximum business benefits.

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Investing in Watches

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re you looking to make an investment in something beyond your usual stocks and shares? Then it might be the right moment to sink your teeth into the luxury watch market.

In this article, Michael Ayres, from watch and jewellery specialists Est.1897, shares some of his 27 years’ experience in the field to help you start a collection with your first investment timepiece.

Though they might not be the most obvious investment for an entrepreneur, a carefully chosen wristwatch can steadily increase its worth over time.

And, even if it doesn’t, many models will hold onto their value, presenting themselves as a smart choice to guard against the likes of inflation.

Here in the UK, interest in quality timepieces has seen a steady rise in recent years: the latest figures from the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry show that the value of imports to the country have risen by 6.4% since 2016. And, with this rising demand comes more opportunity for an eagle-eyed collector to kick start their own watch investment portfolio.

With this in mind, I’ve put together a few key points that you should consider when it comes to choosing an investment watch.

You need to do your homework If you’re new to the world of luxury watches, it’s important to know you can’t just pick something from one of the top brands and expect its value to grow. Like any market, there are trends you have to learn before jumping in.

Some brands will be on an upward spike, others will find themselves on a slope, and even within a watchmaker’s range, there are lines that are a safer bet than others. Take the time to track who the movers and shakers are and you’re likely to make a better decision.

Know which brands are safe bets It’s likely that you’ll want your first investment watch to be a solid bet that isn’t in danger of depreciating. There are two go-to watchmakers for this: Rolex and Patek Phillipe. Both have a long and storied history in making fine timepieces and both brands have regularly been seen on the wrists of the

rich and famous, which makes them highly desirable.

Rolex is far and away the most popular investment watch brand: their Daytona and Submariner lines are iconic and a great choice for the first-time collector. Patek Phillipe have a higher price point than Rolexes, but you’re paying the cost of their incredible exclusivity and investment potential. Which brand you choose will probably depend on your budget, but you can really bank on these brands.

There are also other Swiss brands that represent a fairly low-risk investment, such as Omega, TAG Heuer, and Breitling, though it’s best to do some research into particular designs to find the one that can deliver the best return for your price point.

Recognise the features that make a watch special When you’re starting your watch collection, it pays to develop a real eye for detail.

Often, a model with unique features, such as a special dial or one-off movement, will become highly sought after in the future. A famous example, as reported by Haute Time, was the Rolex Daytona Reference 16520 that featured a Patrizzi dial that became discoloured

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over time. This unique feature made the model highly sought after among collectors and incredibly valuable.

So, as you’re looking to expand your portfolio, it’s well worth staying on top of the news within the watch industry and talk among the collector community. You might just pick up on a particular special edition being released or discover a model with a story worth investing in.

Buy from a trusted second-hand dealer If you’re looking for the perfect timepiece, you don’t need to confine yourself to the new watch market. As we’ve mentioned, many watches hold their value, which makes a second-hand purchase a viable option too. However, there is a huge global demand for replica watches that are good enough to fool all but the most trained

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eye, so it’s vital that you shop through a reputable dealer.

There are even premium watches out there that started out life as the genuine article, but may have had their parts removed or replaced with non-official components. You should be able to ask a trusted dealer about the history of a watch, but if they can’t supply sufficient details, you should think twice about investing.

Take my advice on board and you’ll be in a great position to get your investment watch portfolio off the ground. However, remember to always keep your own personal taste in mind too, especially if you plan on wearing any of your timepieces. Then, even if a watch does depreciate, you’ll still have something that you will love to wear in your collection.

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Is Bitcoin too much of an investment risk?

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ore than four years ago, we asked the simple question: is bitcoin investment worth the risk?

There have certainly been peaks and lows in value, and this has put many investors off. But what about now?

Exercise Caution It’s easy to look at bitcoin right now as a lucrative asset, capable of massive gains. Actually, that is what it factually was in 2017, so it’s not just perception. But particularly for inexperienced investors, this is as much a red flag as an encouraging sign. The more important thing to recognize about bitcoin over the last few years is that it was incredibly volatile – more than capable of rising or falling over $1,000 in a span of just a few hours. The overall trend was still sharply upward but the volatility in most any other investing arena would spook a lot of investors. Bitcoin should be approached not as a free ticket to gains, but still as a risky and uncertain asset.

Learn the Business Learning to understand bitcoin can be a long and confusing process for a lot of people.

For long-term investment,

however, it’s also vital to learn more about the business, so to speak, of holding bitcoin. Most importantly you need to gain a firm understanding of your wallet options. You have to bear several universal risks in mind when choosing a wallet, and learn the differences between software, hardware, and paper wallets. To put it simply, you’ll be tempted to go for an app or desktop option out of sheer convenience – however, if you plan on holding bitcoin for a long time, other options that aren’t connected to the internet might be more secure.

This is just one example of something you’ll have to learn if you’re to become a serious cryptocurrency investor.

Keep an Eye On Regulation People are still trying to figure out what factors drive the ebbs and flows of bitcoin’s price.

The simple fact might be that investment itself drives investment right now; people are jumpy about such an exciting new asset, and many amateurs are buying in, meaning people are perhaps more liable to buy as it’s going up and sell when it shows the slightest hint of decline. If there’s one overarching thing that affects bitcoin, however, it’s government regulation in larger countries.

Much of the 2017 surge, for example, was credited to the Far East easing off of bitcoin restrictions. Thus, as you study bitcoin and consider managing an investment, be sure to tap into any and all news about regulation.

Heed Predictions Carefully As we turn the calendars over to 2018, we’re seeing a lot of bitcoin predictions. It’s only natural to approach a new year looking ahead to how an asset will perform, particularly after such a lucrative past year. Looking through some of these predictions, we found a simple but powerful line from Yahoo Finance (which projects bitcoin growth toward $20,000 or $25,000 by the middle of the year): “any predictions beyond that are pointless.” This is something not too many analysts seem to be willing to admit, but it’s important to keep in mind. Right now you can find all kinds of predictions, from a total crash to a boom toward $100,000 – and it’s important to take them with a grain of salt. There’s logic to all of them, but the truth is we’ve never had an asset like this and everyone is guessing to some degree. Yahoo Finance has a point.

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International investors are eyeing up Montenegro’s tourism industry – here’s why

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ince regaining its independence in 2006, Montenegro – once an overlooked jewel of the Adriatic – has become a magnet for foreign investment. Its dramatic and varied landscapes, business-focused economic system and low corporate tax rate have made it a hotspot for tourism in recent years, piquing the interest of investors from around the globe.

The tourism sector alone accounts for almost 25% of Montenegro’s GDP, and total foreign investment inflow in Montenegro reached USD 546 million in 2017, up a staggering 41% compared to 2016.

As a result, foreign investment stock currently represents over 130% of the country’s entire GDP, according to the UNCTAD World Investment Report.

“With over 300 kilometres of stunning Adriatic coastline and rugged mountainous landscapes in the north, Montenegro has always been primed for tourism – it’s just taken a little longer to manifest itself than in neighbouring countries such 76

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as Croatia,” says Petros Stathis, owner of the five star Aman Sveti Stefan hotel.

“The government has been instrumental in driving growth in the sector by opening up the economy to foreign investors and removing any impediments to doing business here,” he adds.

Montenegro currently ranks 50th out of 190 economies in ease of doing business, according to the 2019 World Bank Doing Business Report. The government has made a number of major reforms to help attract foreign investors, including offering them equal treatment to their foreign counterparts.

Foreign companies can own 100% of a domestic company, and their profits and dividends can be repatriated without limitations or restrictions.

In addition, government sales of formerly state-owned land have spurred a wave of foreign investment in large-scale hotels and resorts. The market has traditionally been focused on development along Monte-

negro’s coast, but the government is working to promote a more diverse tourism industry in areas such as ecotourism, cultural tourism and rural tourism in more geographically diverse locations.

Focus on the luxe In recent years Montenegrin tourism authorities have made a particular effort to shift the tourist trade away from lowbudget package holidays into high-end luxurious projects that attract wealthy visitors.

This has made the market more attractive to foreign investors with an appetite for high returns.

Two massive yacht ports were recently completed, both including luxury residences, hotels, shopping and space to dock hundreds of superyachts, giving rise to comparisons with other luxury tourist destinations such as Monaco.

“It’s not just the unspoiled terrain, ample sunlight, and hospitable locals that have made Montenegro an exciting travel destination but also a bevy of

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newly renovated and built luxury hotels and restaurants, which have caused some to call Montenegro the next French Riviera,” says Architectural Digest’s Nick Mafi.

A major project raising awareness of Montenegro on the global luxury tourism map is Lustica Bay, a development that will eventually include seven luxury hotels, two marinas, a shopping village and a golf course. It has cost more than $1 billion, making it the largest tourist investment in the history of Montenegro, with much of the funding coming from foreign investors.

The Aman Sveti Stefan hotel, which was built on the existing foundation of a 16th-century village and opened in 2011, was referred to as “the first signal of Montenegro’s revival on the high-end scene” by the Financial Times. The 80acre hotel has become a haven for celebrities other wealthy foreign visitors.

Seizing the opportunity Despite its rising reputation as a luxury destination, prices are still comparatively low in Montenegro compared to other tourist markets in Europe, making it an attractive investment opportunity for those seeking to maximise ROI.

Luxury apartments are available to buy for a fraction of the cost of similar properties in the French Riviera or Spain, and hotel and resort projects can be completed with a much lower budget than in other countries vying for the attention of foreign investors.

A recent report in the New York Times claimed that as much as 80-90% of real-estate sales in Montenegro are made by foreign buyers, many of which are purchasing the property to run as a vacation rental business.

“For the last few years, we’ve seen a steady interest in properties, without the excitement of a bubble, and good value apartments and houses are selling well,” said Ivana Vukicevic, head of the property portfolio at Montenegro Prospects.

For foreign investors eyeing up opportunities in Montenegro, the time to act is now. All signs point to the country becoming one of Europe’s leading tourist destinations, not only in the wealthy popular coastal towns, but increasingly in the lesser-known inland areas with their beautiful mountains, lakes and forests.

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Taking advantage of digital disruption in early-stage investment

By Oliver Woolley, CEO, Envestors

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he human touch has always been valued in the early-stage investment process: matching businesses and investors has a significant relationship component, after all. Give this, the fact that the adoption of digital in this sector has lagged behind other industries is not a surprise. Pitch events, where potential investors receive printed info packs and follow up by phone to learn more, are still the norm.

In early-stage investments, offline activity is still primary.

This is set to change with the introduction of white-label investment management platforms like Envestry for Networks. These platforms allow groups to showcase deals to their investors, in an FCA-regulated environment. Investors can review deal information and documents in a secure area, engage with the management team and other investors and make an investment.

But the sector is starting to acknowledge that digital does not mean impersonal. Rather, it can help build deeper relationships - faster - by providing new ways to communicate, share information and ultimately make the process of finding the right opportunity and deciding to invest easier for investors.

The suggestion here is not that digital will replace offline activities; presentation events and face-to-face meetings will always play a crucial role in any investment decision. Digital will complement these activities in a way that makes the entire end-to-end experience much better for investors.

The transformation There are two key ways in which digital will transform the world of early-stage investing: 1. Making it considerably easier for investors to discover deals, complete due diligence and manage their portfolios 78

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2. Connecting the disparate world of early-stage investing The landscape we have today is the same landscape we had fifty years ago. We’ve got investment networks, clubs, incubators and accelerators, all of whom actively help investors to find opportunities and scale-ups to secure fund-

ing - but they are all closed and separate. Our vision for the future is one in which all these groups connect to one another, without sacrificing control or independence. We’ve built a software platform to do just that. Using an aggregated approach, we can bring the world of early-stage investing together in a way that benefits all of those involved.

For scale ups, it means working with one party and gaining wide exposure rather than promoting a deal through a number of disparate networks. For investors, it means having access to a near unlimited number of deals, all filtered according to interest and managed in a single location – regardless of network of origin. For investment facilitators, it means a greatly improved experience for their investors and decreased operational overheads.

But why is now the time? I’ve delved into the market and industry trends to show why I think 2019 is the year that early-stage investing truly adopts digital.

Results – right now We live in an age of instant

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gratification. This spans across all areas of our lives – from instantaneous validation on Twitter and one-hour Amazon delivery, to 24-hour news at our fingertips. So why should the investment experience be any different? If I can find out about anything in the world from wherever I happen to be, why should I – as an investor wait for a pitch session to find out about investment opportunities?

The ROBO Effect Borrowing a term from the retail industry, ROBO (Research Online, Buy Offline) reflects a broad behavioural change.

People no longer head to a shopping centre to browse for an item, they go online and find what they want and then go down to the store to get it. In many cases, they opt not to go to the store, satisfied with the information they have found online, and make an immediate purchase. This behaviour isn’t particular to consumers: a study, by Forrester Research, found that 68% of business to business buyers researched online independently and a further 62% say they go as far as developing a selection criteria and vendor list based on digital content.

So, why is it different with investing? When people prefer to get information instantaneously and independently, why do we ask them to wait for a pitch event? Using digital, information on potential investment opportunities and any relevant details can be ready for investors to read at their leisure.

Further to that, information can be interactive. Potential investors can ask management teams questions - using online channels - and get answers in real time.

Seeking a diverse portfolio Digitisation has fuelled the unprecedented growth of startups in the UK. This has produced a vast – and occasionally overwhelming – array of opportunities, resulting in a trend showing networks are becoming more niche and sector specific. While regional investment networks have long been part of the landscape, they are joined by networks specialising in – for example – Greentech, MedTech or women-owned businesses. This is not a bad thing, but it has caused further fragmentation.

Experienced investors know, that if they are to get the best chance of a return on their investments, a diverse portfolio is a must. However, such specificity throws diversity out the window, leaving investors only one option – joining multiple networks and doing a lot of leg work to build and manage their portfolios.

Digital to the rescue. With an aggregated platform, regional and niche networks can connect to one another and share deals at the click of a button.

This allows networks to protect their greatest asset – their investors - while offering them a broader array of investment opportunities without doing all of the vetting and admin.

The uncertainty factor By mid-2018, the impact of a looming Brexit was already starting to be felt across the industry. With predictions of economic troubles in the UK in the short term, many investors tightened their purse strings, becoming increasingly selective over which investments to make. Yet, at the same time, reports show that foreign investment is at an all-time high: in 2017, a whopping £6bn was invested over the course of the year, with 396 of these deals involving at least one investor from abroad.

This is another opportunity that could be capitalised by digital. With a digital platform, deals can flow across borders – giving investors the ability to further diversify their portfolios, while giving businesses a better opportunity to find investment.

Key players, like The SetSquared Partnership and Britbots, are already well on their way to adopting digital.

Digital disruption has begun so as entrepreneurs and investors you can take advantage of the many benefits.

About the Author Oliver is CEO and Co-founder of Envestors. Oliver sits on the Board of the UK Crowdfunding Association (UKCFA) and sat on the Board of the UK Business Angels Association (UKBAA) from 2006 to 2014. He is also a Member of Court at Imperial College (London).

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What are the tax reliefs for investing and raising money?

By Clive Hyman, chairman and CEO of Hyman Capital

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here are four venture capital schemes on offer in the UK – that provide investors with attractive tax reliefs against their income tax bill.

If you’re an investor these reliefs can make a potentially risky investment less so, and as a company, if you qualify for these schemes than you will find it easier to attract inward investment.

The four schemes: • Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR). This allows individuals to claim relief on £1m of annual investment and provides 30% of income tax relief.

• Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs) allow an annual investment of £200,000 on which they can claim 30% tax relief.

• The Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) is for early-stage companies raising funds to help grow the business. EIS is for those seeking funding of up to £5m and gives investors 30% upfront tax relief and must 80

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have less than £15m of assets and up to 250 employees.

• The Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) is designed to help a company raise money when it is starting to trade, or has been trading for less than two years. The businesses must have assets of no more than £200,000 and fewer than 25 employees. Businesses raising money under SEIS can receive a maximum of £150,000 through the scheme, offering private investors 50% up front tax relief – hugely attractive although the amount of investment is relatively small.

In this article, I am focusing on SEIS and EIS.

• a workshop • a quarry, mine, oil or gas well, • a building site, such as a construction or installation project.

This is not an exhaustive list, but the type of business a company carries out will be the deciding factor in what premises and facilities are required to meet the conditions for investment.

Approved vs. Unapproved: Two types of fund invest in companies seeking SEIS and EIS money – HMRC “approved” and HMRC “unapproved”. Both spread the risk over numerous companies which is important.

In order to qualify for EIS or SEIS the company must be based in the UK. HMRC says proof of a company’s permanent establishment in the UK includes having an office of factory or one of the following:

Unapproved does not mean the fund is dodgy. All it means is that HMRC has not given its structure prior approval. Approved does not mean “protected” or that HMRC has approved the quality of the investments – but there are tax planning differences between the two.

• a place of management • a branch

With approved funds the ability exists to “carry back” for in-

How to qualify:

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come tax relief purposes and treat the investment as if it had been undertaken in the previous tax year.

Money raised by a new share issue must be spent within two years of the investment or, if later, the date the company started trading.

It must be used to grow or develop the business and must not be used to buy all or part of another business.

Qualifying: Most trades qualify but there are exceptions if most of a trade includes coal or steel production, for example, farming or market gardening, leasing activities, legal or financial services, property development, running a hotel or nursing home, and electricity, heat, gas or fuel generation.

Apart from being established in the UK, they must not be trading on a recognised stock exchange at the time of the share issue and they must not have any arrangements in place to become quoted.

For start-ups, SEIS is an attractive way to target much needed funding. Just because a company has availed of SEIS funding does not mean it cannot go on to raise further funding from an EIS, although the amount it can raise from this will be reduced to up to ÂŁ4.85m.

Companies raising money under EIS must do so within the first seven years of its first commercial sales. If you did not receive investment within the first seven years, or now want to raise money for a different activity from a previous investment, you will have to show that the money is required to enter a completely new product market or a new geographic market and that the money you are seeking is at least 50% of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s average annual turnover for the last five years.

Investors: If you are an investor, you have to source the entity or entities you are going to invest in which you might do through a trusted fund manager, or you might find a corporate finance house that has an opportunity.

You would need to get out into the market and network, and identify what it is you would like to invest in. Investors need to look at the investments and make sure they are sound. It is all too easy to get distracted by the tax relief. The tax relief is great to have; it is obviously hugely advantageous. But what is the point of tax relief if the investment is rubbish?

The business still has to have the necessary fundamentals.

You still have to assess it. Is the management team any good?

Are the businesses you are investing in worth it? Remember it is your cash you are going to have to invest. The tax relief should not blind you to good common-sense investment practice.

Companies: If you are a company seeking investment, you have got to get a specialist tax adviser to help you acquire the necessary approval to do so, the tax relief accreditation letter and advance assurance.

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You have either got to market it through a fund manager or a corporate finance house to high-net-worth individuals who are qualified to look at it.

More than 1,800 of these companies raised funds under SEIS for the first time in 2015-16, representing £154m in investment.

For most of the EIS opportunities you need an introducer or specialist finance companies that will manage everything and probably have a roster of companies for which they want to raise money.

Conclusion:

You must complete a separate application for each share issue and if your application is successful, HMRC will confirm the decision and send you compliance certificates to give to your investors.

Your investors cannot claim the tax relief until they receive their compliance certificate.

Success stories: Since EIS was introduced, 26,355 companies have received investment and almost £16.2bn of funds have been raised.

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Investors; do your due diligence – don’t be seduced by a tax break, the investment still needs to ‘add up’.

Companies: get expert help.

HMRC stresses that tax reliefs will be withheld or withdrawn from investors if companies do not follow the rules for at least three years after the investment is made.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Clive Hyman FCA is founder of Hyman Capital Services offering expertise in due diligence and managing change in business including raising equity and debt capital, mergers and acquisitions, interim management, board management and governance, deal structuring, and company turnaround.

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What you Need to Know About Angel Investing

By Victoria Greene

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f you’ve got a little cash burning a hole in your pocket and you’re looking for ways to get it working, you’ve probably come across the term angel investment. Or, you might have heard it in connection to getting funding for your startup.

Maybe you’re not entirely sure if it’s a road you want to go down, or you just want a better grasp on the concept. If that sounds like you, then you’re in the right place. Over the next few minutes you’ll learn everything you need to know about angel investment.

What Is Angel Investing?

Angel investing generally refers to an individual investing a portion of their own finance into a new business to help it get off the ground. Angels tend to invest in fields that they have previously worked in, or have a deep knowledge of. This not only lets them more accurately decide which businesses are likely to succeed, but it also allows them to offer their experience, as well as with their money, to increase the likelihood of their investment paying off.

There are no rules when it comes to angel investing. The amounts involved can be as large or small as the investor likes. At the end of the day, the investor is free to do whatever they want, and strike whatever deal they like with their startup of choice.

How Is That Different From Venture Capital?

Angel investors can form groups to raise more money and diversify their investments, but they’re still far away from being called a venture capital firm. Venture capital firms tend to have far more investors, as well as dedicated board members whose sole job is to ensure the investments being made will pay off. Angels have to make those decisions by themselves, and will typically consider the capability of the management team above all else.

Since angel investors get involved with a business in the very early stages, the sums of money involved are much smaller than those which venture capital firms will deal with.

But by functioning as an indi-

vidual, these smaller investments can still be worthwhile.

A venture capital firm has staff to pay, so any investment has to be large enough to justify everyone’s time.

Venture capital firms will go through a long vetting process where they research the company and take as much time as they need, to be confident in their investment before putting any money on the table.

This process can take months.

An angel investor can make a decision in a day if they want, since they don’t have a board of directors to answer to.

What’s Angel?

Expected

of

the

As an angel investor you would obviously front cash for the business, but you might want to play a more active role if it’s in a field you’re familiar with, since it’s in your best interest to make sure it succeeds. Exactly how involved you get is a decision to be made between you and the owners of the startup, and if you want to take a backseat and offer your money alone, that’s perfectly acceptable too.

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What Motivates an Angel?

Well first of all yes, the money is important. Indeed, as Angel investors are committing their own cash there are some things that they’ll demand of your business before they’ll sign off on their investment…

But that’s not all there is to it.

Since angels tend to invest in fields they have experience in, it can be a way to give back, and help people who are in a position they were in a long time ago. It can be a charitable act as well as a financially sound one. It’s tough for small businesses owners and the more they succeed the better it is for the economy overall.

Some people just can’t stop working after retirement and angel investment offers a way to keep in touch with the industry they have spent so much time in, and put their connections to use in a low-stress way.

Why become an angel instead of a partner in a venture capital firm? As far as expected return on investment goes, you will see conflicting figures depending on where you’re looking.

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But since your personal risk is higher, the potential earnings of angel investment are also much greater.

What Are the Disadvantages of Angel Investment?

Since angel investors operate as individuals, and use their own finance, they open themselves up to significantly more risk than a typical venture capital firm does. If your investment portfolio isn’t very diverse and one of your businesses goes under, it can cause you major problems. Even if you have your money in multiple businesses, but they’re all in the same industry, you’re highly susceptible to anything that happens within that industry.

To account for these drawbacks it’s wise to limit the amount you invest, and spread your investments across at least 10 startups at a time. Chances are, over 50% of the startups you invest in will fail, so spreading your risk reduces the chance of you getting unlucky and losing out big time.

For startups, the flexibility of angel investment funding

makes it exciting, but it’s also a potentially volatile way of raising capital. With little rules and a big emphasis on personal choice, there is scope for investors and companies to come to disagreements on business direction.

Now you know what angel investment is, what’s expected of the investor, and what the pro’s and con’s are compared to other forms of investment.

If you’re willing to take a risk and like the idea of going back to your roots, but this time with all the experience you gained throughout your career, then angel investing might be for you.

About the Author Victoria Greene is a branding consultant and freelance writer. On her blog, VictoriaEcommerce, she shares tips on how new businesses can take the next step in their development.

She is passionate about using her experience to help entrepreneurs grow their business.

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Naladhu - Private Island Perfection

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ust a speedboat ride from the bustle of the international airport, yet way out into the peaceful blue, Naladhu is renowned for its exclusivity, privacy and being the quintessential luxury Maldivian escape.

Frequented by royalty, the rich and the ultra-wealthy, this simply gorgeous island is home to 20 large, spacious and luxuriously appointed villas – some with wonderful ocean views, others nestled in their own private gardens with direct access to beautiful beaches. All have their own butler at your service 24 hours a day.

Each villa has its own pool – large and deep enough to actually swim in, unlike most of those you find in other Maldives’ resorts.

What’s also special is their position – conveniently directly adjoining the villas’ huge open bathrooms, with features like glass sided sunken baths the attentive staff will fill and decorate with tropical flowers for you, The pools in the Ocean Villas have amazing views across the large deck areas to the turquoise sea beyond – perfect for a dawn dip with the sun rising on the horizon and the sky alight with molten amber and gold.

The villas offer complete privacy too and are perfect

havens to unwind, relax and feel restored. Their design is incredibly practical as well as decorative.

Inside, in addition to the fantastic bathrooms, each has a dressing area, hallway with wine fridge, Nespresso machine and so on, leading to a large, high ceilinged bedroom opening out to a very large deck, with gazebo eating area and spacious roofed section with double-bed swing where you can relax in the shade during the heat of the day. The pool can be accessed from the deck too. Having large outdoor covered areas is such a benefit in the Maldives. Many resorts’ villas just don’t have enough, and means there’s no respite entrepreneurandinvestor.com |

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from searing sun or occasional tropical downpours unless you stay inside.

If you can pull yourself away from your villa, Naladhu has a lovely main pool area, gym and excellent restaurant ‘The Living Room’ with beach and lagoon views, and half way around the island are gorgeous powdersoft white sand beaches.

The island’s interior is very pretty too – sandy paths take you through frangipani and jasmine scented gardens full of all kinds of tropical flowers.

Although a private island, there is a gated walkway which takes you over lagoon to the neighbouring Anatara Veli resort popular with honeymooners. Only Naladhu

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guests can return through the gate to their resort though.

This walkway is a great place to watch the stars at night, and rainbow coloured parrot and other reef fish swim by during the day.

Dining wise, half way across the walkway is a fantastic Thai restaurant. Here you can sit in the moonlight and watch fish, and listen to the sounds of the reef. The dishes are delicious and generous and there’s a great choice.

You can also head on to Veli and Anantara Dighu too, and enjoy their culinary , entertainment, sports, excursions and spa offerings also, and of course experience romantic destination dining, or enjoy delicious cuisine in the privacy

and comfort of your own villa.

This most gorgeous place is such a Maldivian treasure and firm, firm favourite of ours.

Do consider combining it with a stay at sister-resort Anantara Kihavah too.

This stunning luxury resort is located in the Baa Atoll, a sea plane ride away from the international airport.

The villas there are based on the same design as those in Naladhu, and they have over water ones also.

It is possible for you to book Naladhu for your exclusive use – to mark those extra special occasions, where you want to enjoy very best in luxury and privacy with family, friends or colleagues. www.naladhu.com

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Chateau de Montcaud: A Southern Escape

By Wendy Muruli

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few weeks ago I joined a small group on a weekend getaway to the city of Nîmes in the South of France. Our destination, the Chateau de Montcaud.

A picturesque home, converted into a beautiful hotel built in the 18th Century proclaiming ‘le luxe de la simplicité’, ‘the luxury of simplicity’. Luxury has come to mean so much more, everything else in fact but simplicity. In the Chateau, one is opened to discovering a true sense of ease and comfort that is accessible to all who venture to this remote location in the South of France. If first impressions are anything to go by, this is going to be such a relaxing weekend, were my initial thoughts as we drove past rows of vineyards and

through the iron double gates into the opening of the French manor house.

The rooms were grand and spacious but simple and elegant maintaining the original architecture of founder Alexandra Collain, a silk trader who built the hotel in the 1920s.

The luxury of simplicity in this hotel signified the simplest of touches; the chandeliers that lay above my surprisingly large bathroom, the colourful silk panels adorning the walls of the rooms in remembrance of their silk founder, and the fresh flowers, newly bloomed, welcoming each guest upon their arrival. The hotel strives to ‘maintain but give the guests a chateau feeling but in a contemporary environment’ and I personally couldn’t agree more. The Chateau stands on

land spanning 12acres and houses 25 rooms catering to groups, families and solo travellers. The hotel also offers two multi-functional board rooms, ideal for yoga retreats, work seminars and perfect for family events.

Situated near the charming town of Uzès, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful towns in France, the Chateau is also perfectly located for cyclists and tourists who appreciate the long walks along the country roads and the peaceful silence that they find along the trails. I, unfortunately, am not such a person but the smooth drive to the renown farmers market in Uzès where we spent much of the following day was a welcomed retreat, as was the food and wine we entrepreneurandinvestor.com |

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enjoyed on our journey back to the Chateau when passing by the local Vineyard, ‘La Réméjeanne’. The vineyard supplies the hotel with much of their wine and I was particularly intrigued to find out how that delectable glass of red wine ended up on my nightstand.

Staying true to their word, the Chateau aims to give ‘a cultural event when guests stay here’ and their wine trails are a newly added expedition to the hotels’ manifesto, encompassing the lifestyle of the South of France.

‘La Réméjeanne’ lies across 35acres of rolling hills, providing high altitudes and strong winds, excellent conditions for the perfect bottle of wine.

The vineyard predominantly produces white wine but is also a producer of olive oil in a region that is historically known for its olive oil and silk. After three generations of winemakers, Olivier Klein is ‘rediscovering (the) old ways

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of making wine’, alternating the production methods through the generations to find and produce the very best quality of wine and it certainly shows. In keeping with the authentic nature of the hotel’s architecture and history, we were not surprised to hear that not only were all the produce served at our dining and rising

French, but 95% were sourced locally from the region with all the wines coming from vineyards within 15km of the Chateau.

The highlight of our weekend came with the unveiling of the hotels’ collaboration with master perfumer, Antoine Lie, to create the new fragrance, the ‘Soupçon de Soie’, designed to provide ‘an olfactory interpretation of silk.’

It has a sweet, musky aroma with vanilla like tones, or at least I thought so. We were surprised to find that each guest attending the unveiling found a different and more intricate scent, some detected hints of Green Mandarin, others Cashmere and so on, but even more surprising was the noticeable differentiations in scent trails from one guest to the other. ‘A trendsetting creation,’ I couldn’t have said it better myself and when the time finally came for us to depart we could all conclusively agree that Chateau de Montcaud had made an art form of simple luxuries and a return is already long overdue.

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Conrad Maldives Rangali Island - Pleasure Paradise

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wice voted the best hotel in the world, this simply stunning and incredibly special Conrad resort rightly remains the first choice for a luxury break in the Maldives for so many people.

A high proportion return again and again, just like we did, a couple of months ago.

Often when you revisit a favourite, with all the high expectations your memories demand, the result is a sense of disappointment as your stay fails to live up to your last trip, and you just can’t put your finger on why.

With over 15 of the most luxurious Maldives resorts under our belts so far, we were a little anxious this particularly loved one wouldn’t be half as good. Would the villas be as amazing, the two

islands as pretty, the beaches as perfect, dining as delicious and welcome as warm?

Conrad Maldives is located in the South Ari Atoll, a 30 minute scenic sea plane journey from the international airport. Our barefoot captain banked the tiny craft around sharply, delighted to show fellow passengers the resort ahead. Below we caught our first glimpse of the two pictureperfect islands joined by a long jetty across a turquoise lagoon, with strings of over water villas and spas – all as pretty as we remembered.

Was lovely to see familiar faces there to welcome us warmly at the arrival jetty, and usher us off to check in, in the comfort of our stunning villa – this

time a newly and extensively refurbished Luxury Beach Villa on Rangalifinolhu - the larger island, where the watersports centre, main reception, shopping area and gym are.

Large, incredibly spacious and beautifully appointed throughout, they feature high ceilings, a rear hidden relaxation courtyard with outdoor bath and front garden with pool and direct access to the beach. These villas are gorgeous.

Fresh, modern, light and airy, they offer all the privacy you could wish for, yet nestle just a few meters back from the beach behind tropical trees where, if you’re lucky, you’ll spot teddy-bear-cute large bats swing and sway.

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and suite options, and after a few days happily enjoying ours, we were whisked across to the quieter Rangali island to a few doors up from where we stayed before, into one of their incredibly impressive over water Premier Ocean Villas.

Perfectly positioned for stunning sunset views, this super-stylish, spacious open plan home features a modern comfy seating area, bathroom with whirlpool, huge bed with views out across the sea, and floor to ceiling glass doors opening on to a deck with a large infinity pool where we spent many hours relaxing watching fish, sharks and rays swim by, and dainty white terns flit and skim the sea for morsels. The view is so incredible here â&#x20AC;&#x201C; uninterrupted, wild, beautiful, with a froth of white in the distance as waves thunder along the reef edge.

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Sunset Water Villa loved by A-Listers and royalty resides, its privacy protected by discrete guards.

We could still venture along our side though, and sitting on the silksoft pearl-white sand at dusk, watching the sky morph and moon start to rise with nothing but pottering shore crabs for company and the haunting calls of terns was truly magical.

There is another super-special place to stay at this resort.

A pioneering first and the pinnacle of luxury. Somewhere you can sleep actually under the sea, with rainbows of fish surrounding you. The Muraka.

Nestled alone in a private part of the lagoon, this engineering marvel is a first-of-its-kind residence, combining over water sleeping, eating and relaxing areas, large terrace and pool, with an underwater bedroom, lounge and bathroom meters below the

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surface reached only by a lift. If you wished for a truly remarkable, once in a lifetime extraordinary experience, this has to be it.

With a dedicated team of butlers and chefs, you and your loved ones can be pampered away from all other guests, enjoying incredible over and under water views, delicious dining, and absolute peace, quiet and relaxation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; or of course, party the night away in private in this remarkable location.

Our visit here was such a treat - sipping champagne being surrounded by fish whilst under the sea, and enjoying a wonderful private dinner with views out across the ocean is an experience we shall certainly cherish.

One of the joys of this Conrad is that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of those rare luxury resorts in the Maldives which offers privacy, peace

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and quiet, plus enough to see and do for even a several week stay.

There is an excellent choice of dining, each with its own distinctive location and style, a small and beautifully curated shopping area, gym, two over water spas, every kind of water sport, two large pools, plus luxury yachts to take you off into the sunset or fishing -to name just some of the offerings to enjoy.

Our particular favourites were fish watching with champagne and canapes at the amazing Ithaa under sea restaurant, (another under

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water pioneering first), deeply relaxing massages in one of the over water spas, shark feeding, wine tasting in the underground cellar packed with incredible vintages, and a fabulous sunset champagne and dolphin watching cruise on the resort’s luxury motoryacht.

Oh, and not forgetting having the adults’ only huge infinity pool all to ourselves, watching a manta ray ballet from the jetty at night, and enjoying breakfast under the beady eye of George the resort’s tame grey heron each blissful morning of our stay.

One thing we missed this time

because we were enjoying our wine tasting so much was dinner at Koko - the open air Japanese grill restaurant on the beach – but have it on our list of absolute must-dos for our visit next time.

Even writing this now, I’m recalling how wonderful our stay was, and yearning to head back. This resort is an incredibly special place – somewhere you will make memories you’ll cherish forever. www.conradmaldives.com

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Copenhagen in six days

By Wendy Muruli

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openhagen, the capital of Denmark and my home for the last 6 days. It’s quieter than I expected for a capital city, calming but full of life. Both well overdue for a city break, I checked into the Absalon hotel with my sister to begin a week of city hiking. Heavily overpacked, we found Denmarks infamous/ reputable public transport efficiency a back-breaking relief.

Somewhere along the train journey from the Copenhagen airport, Kastrup, and the city centre I was sure we had caught the non-stop express to Sweden and what an inconvenience that could’ve been!

The Sweden-bound fear lasted approximately 10minutes before we arrived at the Copenhagen Central station, the heart of our capital city and with a few simple instructions and 3minutes later, the Absalon banner came into view. Checked in, bags down and shoes off in under 15minutes, that’s a record for me. The Absalon hotel was simple, efficient and elegant, echoing much of the characteristics of the city itself. Never one for strenuous journeys, and lengthy public transport commutes in foreign territory, the comfort

of being located within a walking distance to almost everything newly discovered on our new Copenhagen City App meant that we spent most of the days 1-6 strolling from A - Z feeling surprisingly free and undisturbed and as we meandered past cyclists, braked at traffic lights and lazed outside the Copenhagen Botanical Garden, I got the rather odd feeling that I was not the only one on holiday.

Rush-hour simply didn’t exist, traffic, on the rare occasion that I witnessed it, wasn’t a source of irritation, the cyclists were respected (and so was everyone else come to think of it) and I think I saw a police

car, or the need for one, once during my entire escapade.

So perplexed was I, that my sister and I began to count the number of times we heard a car so much as hoot. The Copenhagen style of living seemed to agree with me and coming back to London was a tragic reminder, but back to my favourite city.

We squeezed more into those six days than I think should have been considered practical and I couldn’t help but wonder why we seemed to be the only tourists. We went on boat tours and stopped in front of those stunning but surprisingly brightly coloured houses, entrepreneurandinvestor.com |

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visited museums of history, art and design, including the Danish Museum of Art & Design, climbed the Church of Our Saviours dizzying spire, wandered inside The Black Diamond modern waterfront extension for the Royal Danish Library, ran up and down the Superkilen park, and somehow always made it back just in time for our free wine hour at twin sister hotel, The Andersen Boutique hotel, our second home which we checked into, halfway during our trip. The hotel’s aesthetically pleasing design, the heart-warming welcome of the staff, and the opportune arrival of a glass of wine every evening in the hotels dining space allowed us to settle into the rhythmic pace of such an enchanting city. The rooms were cosy and effective, subtle and elegant, both hotels, though different in their own ways, were a gentle reminder that there is a beauty in simplicity and a luxury ineffective and sustainable 100 | entrepreneurandinvestor.com

designs, from our showers to the changing lighting systems in our rooms, to the personal ‘take me with you’ iPhones found in each of the rooms at The Absalon hotel, designed by the hotel to assist guests in finding the best restaurants, deals, transport links and touristic sights, simple touches that made a huge difference to our stay. Sustainability was deeply integrated into the heart of the Absalon hotel, from its brand packaging of goods and snacks in our rooms to its ‘room service exchange’ gifts which allow guests to assist the hotel in its mission to ‘reduce their

impact on the environment’ by declining housekeeping services in favour of a range of prizes such as bar vouchers, an Absalon bike, and believe me in Copenhagen, you need a bike, and many other gifts to be used at one’s leisure.

As a healthy environment fanatic, this gesture of care and consideration not only towards guests but the surroundings made this hotel for me one worthy of repeated visits. See you soon Absalon!

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the end of another day filled with stunning architectural discoveries and enriching histories, reminded us of the chairs we saw previously at the Denmark design museum, just a quick bus journey from the Andersen Hotel.

But of course, the best part of being on holiday, is food, glorious food. So, because we deserved it, on our first exceptional day exploring all that Copenhagen had to offer, we treated ourselves to perhaps my best dining experience yet, at the Uformel restaurant.

This elegant soiree was the cherry on top of a wonderful city-break, the casual but sophisticated restaurant with dark and gold tones across the walls and tables set a relaxed but elegant tone to our night as jazz and soul tunes filled the room.

The evening was accompanied by four courses and each course was fresh and rich, the seafood, well-seasoned and the meat, tender and wellmarinated. It was, I have to admit, an incredible dinner

with artistically crafted designs covering the plates and their accompanying wines were carefully and expertly chosen to compliment the acidities and natural flavours of each dish. The food was delectable, each course more intriguing than the last and the selection of wines did not disappoint. An unforgettable dinner and try as I might, I just can’t seem to recreate it.

So much to do, so much to see, so much to discover, and I barely even discussed the eco-friendly, and just purely friendly, nature of the Danes, but if Copenhagen has been on your to-do list or if it had yet to even cross your mind, it’s a city with something to learn from and I would advise you not to miss out and as a friendly piece of advice, take your pick of the Absalon or the Andersen Hotel for the duration of your stay because I certainly didn’t regret it!

DANISH MUSEUM OF ART & DESIGN

Ikea, but make it fashion and Danish. The Danish Design Museum is a unique breadth of practicality and storytelling; a rich history lesson in Danish excellence that through every era seems to have been cutting edge. From the permanent porcelain collection synonymous with pieces from the Royal Copenhagen Factory (established by Queen Juliane Marie in 1775) to the Påfuglestolen - the peacock chair you never knew you needed, the design museum is as fascinating as it is aesthetically pleasing.

It’s more than an external sensory experience.

The museum presents and offers a range of paths toward social justice. Take for instance the Life Straw, a personal water filtration system designed to tackle clean water scarcity in humanitarian crises. The Design Museum leaves a lasting sense of what could be in what’s is currently a highly unsustainable, cluttered world.

This near-utopia is tangible with a visit to the museum shop with classically Danish design and literature inspired

by Danish life such as the ‘Little Book of Lykke’ by Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen. The organic cherry on top is the museum restaurant serving rich but light, savoury and sweet dishes, set to give you the kick to explore more of the charming city that is Copenhagen.

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In the heart of Fez

By Wendy Muruli

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ez, the ancient capital and cultural heart of Morocco is home to the largest Medina in the world. A fact of which I was not aware as I squeezed between the walled alleyways of its labyrinth. Tucked at the edge of this extensive maze, covering 540 acres of land, we turned into a large wooden doorway, the entrance of Palais Amani, and our Riad for the next four days. Built in the ArabAndalusian fashion, the hotel is an authentic replica of a home from the 17th Century, fitting a family of up to 50 people. The home which had been vacant for 30 years and bought in 2006, was transformed into a modern hotel in a historic building. In hotel owner Jemima 102 | entrepreneurandinvestor.com

Mann-Baha’s words, “what we tried to do when we bought it, was to put it back to what it must’ve been like, but really respecting the dimensions of all the rooms. It allows people to get that experience and have a feel of what it must have been like to live in a place like this.” And I couldn’t agree more, once you walk through those gates, “Your’re definitely in Morocco, you’re definitely in Fez.” And you can’t help but be amazed at how effortlessly beautiful it is.

We were welcomed with a traditional serving of Moroccan mint tea (which I shall desperately attempt to re-create at home) and after admiring the centrepiece fountain, surrounded by a

garden of lemon and orange trees, we were escorted to our suite which more accurately resembled an apartment than a suite. In staying true to the original architectural design, the room has a high ceiling with a beautiful chandelier piece hanging above. After settling in and indulging in a mix of Moroccan teas and chocolates I was summoned for my first ever Moroccan Hammam treatment. If you have never had one... you need to, that’s all I can say. It was the most relaxing and rejuvenating experience of my life and that is no exaggeration. The Hammam rooms are tucked underneath a hidden passage below the hotel and are lit by candlelight along the walls through which a fountain of hot water echoed around the rooms, calling to mind a scene from Arabian Nights. I was treated to a deep cleanse wash using Rhassoul Clay, fragranced black soap and essential oils before being left to soak in the heat of the rooms. One of the best sleeps of my life swiftly followed.

Alongside its Hammam treatments, the hotel offers an exquisite range of foods, all using fresh ingredients from the Medina market right outside the front door. At breakfast

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the following morning we tasted how good Moroccan food truly is and neither the service nor the quality of the food could be faulted. As part of guests stays, the hotel offers guided food tours into the Medina, during which we encountered renowned tea makers and indulged in a special blend of teas, we sampled traditional cuisines as we walked and admired intricately woven garments all packed into a market bursting with life. The chef who guided our tour bargained with sellers and introduced us to the locals whilst purchasing the ingredients we would need to take part in our cooking class later in the day. The hotel’s cooking school was only completed last summer but one can already see that it has been an excellent addition to the holiday experience. It was the first hotel I have visited that encompassed and offered such an immersion into such a rich culture making it one of my favourite experiences during our stay, narrowly beaten by the Royal Hammam Happy Hour treatment I enjoyed the previous day.

We spent the remainder of our day on the hotel’s balcony, which offers plush seating hidden from the sun’s glare, a bar filled with traditional and universal spirits and a beautiful view of the fountain just below, as well as relaxing in the gardens of the hotel, of which the view at night is enchanting.

Our second room, named the Misriah 2 or the Egyptian room is perfect for guests travelling with a large family or on a business trip with fellow

colleagues. It comes complete with two living rooms, a large bedroom for two, an even larger bathroom and its own private balcony to enjoy some sun and shade under its canopy overlooking the town and the hotel. The Misriah 2 room typically comes with its other half, Misriah 1, offering guests even more space, privacy and luxury.

The Misriah rooms were built to accommodate the wife of this Moroccan Riad owner’s second

Egyptian wife who insisted on her own apartments in exchange for becoming his wife. A piece of history that made our stay in the rooms even more memorable.

Palais Amani is the perfect hideaway for guests wishing to immerse themselves in the culture and traditions of Morocco whilst allowing guests to be quietly tucked away into their own safe

haven. With complete access to all the city has to offer but still presenting a calming seclusion away from the noise and cluster of the everyday world, the hotel offers an unforgettable retreat in a very special paradise.

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A Moroccan Adventure, Kasbah Angour

By Jasmine Wavita

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ecluded high up in the mountains with views that are ever so breath taking, Kasbah Angour’s location exudes absolute relaxation. Ideal for couples, groups and families this hilltop hotel offers a traditional atmosphere coupled with modern luxuries.

British owner, Paul Foulsham, who opened the hotel in 2011 had tranquillity and relaxation in mind. With the stunning Atlas Mountains as a backdrop, there is no noise or light pollution and guests can enjoy guided walks of the surrounding countryside.

The outdoors also includes a swimming pool and with acres of beautiful gardens and exceptional mountain views this independent Berber Castle hotel features 25 Individually designed bedrooms and suites.

This small but perfectly formed hotel is a calm oasis.

Guests start the day off with a traditional Moroccan breakfast including •Mint tea •coffee •orange juice •local cheese •freshly baked breads •natural yoghurt •fresh fruit. Hot items cooked to order include Berber breakfast pancake, Berber style eggs and Fried eggs with cumin.

After breakfast is the perfect time to embark on a walk.

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To really enhance the experience in the beautiful setting that is Tahanaout.

Walks are with a multi-lingual mountain guide local to the area. Half-day as well as fullday walks are offered. Starting from Kasbah Angour and ending back at Kasbah Angour.

Not only is this an active break but also a cultural one visiting local Berber villages and staying in a Berber castle only add to the uniqueness of a trip here in the mountains.

The rooms and suites are extremely comfortable, and practical too – with large beds, sumptuous furnishings, good sized work areas. Features and services included in all rooms are: • Complimentary Wi-Fi • Wardrobe & writing desk • In-room bar and snacks • Asprey toiletries • Slippers and bathrobes • Tea making facilities • Individually controlled air- conditioning • Complimentary water • Chauffeur and travel services (additional cost). With warm colours and comfortable sofas and chairs. Their bathrooms are bright and spacious with each room featuring a bath and shower and living areas where you can kick back with a book.

Colours and fabrics echo the whole of Kasbah Angour, with

large-scale Moroccan prints set against brown, orange and golds. Elegant bathrooms furnished with old Moroccan stone material. The palette of muted tones, with an emphasis on natural wood furnishings and soft lighting afford a relaxed effect – making the hotel really stand apart.

They also offer a large space to host small meetings or lunches should you require.

Mealtimes are made exciting as the dinner menu changes daily and varied at the Le Grand Atlas Restaurant within the hotel. The hotel purchases everything locally supporting local farmers and businesses.

The hotel also offers single occupancy reductions of 15% on standard & superior room rates.

With no televisions and just serenity, guests can relax and enjoy their bedrooms whilst relaxing underneath the stars at night. And whether it be a day trip to Marrakesh, in which transport is provided for you by a private, family owned local taxi company or a walk with the local, ever-knowledgeable guide. During your stay, you’ll find the hotel to be a welcome haven after a busy day of activities.

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A Perfect Afternoon Tea at Chewton Glen

By Eleanor Anderson

A country house hotel located in the South West of England, with five-star ratings for over 50 years. Chewton Glen delivers a quintessentially English experience.

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et in the beautiful surroundings of the New Forest Hampshire, Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa is the perfect luxury retreat for any time of the year.

Walking up to the doors, we are greeted with a lovely doorman at the entrance and taken through to the Dining Room to our seats. An area I noticed almost immediately was the room décor in the dining area.

Plush and contem- porary, with beautifully elegant decoration, it created a comfortable and inviting ambiance - particularly as the daylight shined through the surrounding windows, generating an airy feel. Even the room has low-lit din- ing lights which added a relaxing atmosphere.. With a window view of the hotel grounds, the atmosphere was particularly peaceful as others enjoyed finishing their lunch. The tables dressed identically in an all-white cloth are laid with precision, just like the cutlery.

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If you’re looking for a place that exuberates luxury with a classic British style, then this choice of afternoon tea in the countryside is an experience you’ll never forget.

Once seated, a tea steward talks us through the variations of tea flavours available, (personally, I went for Assam) however, there’s a choice from Darjeeling to English Breakfast. After a short wait, the tea arrives. It’s served as loose-leaf tea which is sourced from the finest gardens around the world, the perfect accompaniment with afternoon tea. Served between the hours of 3pm and 4.30pm, the afternoon tea arrives just as more guests make their way down and into the dining area. It was presented on a traditional, 3-tier stand with a tasteful selection of finger sandwiches at the bottom.

Fillings included smoked salmon with dill butter, flambards’ egg and mustard cress, roast beef and

horseradish sauce and Somerset brie with pear chutney. In the middle was raisin and plain scones, served with clotted cream and jam. As for the top tier, this consisted of a variety of cakes and patisseries which follows; matcha green tea and citrus macaroons, chocolate and cherry slice, battenberg squares, salted caramel and banana profiteroles and mini, hand-made apple pies. All of which hold just the right amount of sweetness and are matched perfectly with a cup of tea.

The classic Marryat Afternoon Tea is offered to customers at £29.50 per person. However, you can upgrade to an even more luxurious afternoon if you wish. The Marryat Afternoon Tea can be enjoyed with the added glass of bubbles, Veuve Cliquot Yellow Label Brut (£39.50)

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A trip back in time at Middlethorpe Hall

By Emily Bone Are you a Downton Abbey fanatic? Perhaps you enjoy a look back into history or maybe you enjoy the day out of a National Trust house?

Combine all those elements together and we present to you the perfect hotel vacation.

Steeped back in deep history, the only country house hotel in Yorkshire is a breath taking and well-established historical goldmine. Only a 2-mile drive from the city of York, this majestic hotel is an ideal location to enjoy the best of both city and country.

This period hotel originated as a country manor estate built in 1699 and has transformed through the ages. From the famous diarist, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu’s home as an elegant abode, to a nightclub in the early 60’s, a children’s boarding school and now a hotel, it has sure seen an element of varied history in it’s time. In 2008 the hotel was donated alongside 2 other period estates to the National Trust, which still remains as a welcoming hotel.

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characteristic traditions of its past, from the furnishings, to its quaint rooms and even down to the table service.

All the staff are on hand to provide you with the highest quality stay, waiting on your every request. Including an exceptional private tour of the exciting heritage story back in time, with a peak at the hidden gem basement rooms of the hotel from Michael, an esteemed member of staff, displaying the lengths the team will go to ensure your stay is as historical but relaxing as you wish.

Fine dining is an understatement at Middlethorpe Hall; with a relaxed evening of pre dinner nibbles and drinks starting in the library room, then seated for a wide menu of courses.

From the Tasting menu to the A la Carté, the plentiful choice is just as mouth watering as the outstanding presentation that arrives on the plate.

The 2 AA star restaurant is renowned for its excellent food and it is no wonder when an impressive amount of the ingredients served are all locally sourced and home grown in the garden allotments, which are free to roam in at your leisure.

You don’t need to be a keen gardener to appreciate the

gardens here at Middlethorpe.

The beautifully landscaped and maintained areas are by far the spectacle of the hotel, with varied sections from the main lawn to the lake walk and the rose wall, each section as charming as the other. Why not take a stroll around the 20 acres of the garden and parkland that is just a step away through the country doors.

If the periodic hotel and gardens weren’t enough, the estate also provides an oasis of calm with their spa, featuring an indoor pool, Jacuzzi bath, steam room & sauna.

Secluded in it’s own private garden, the spa appears as a quaint cottage but opens to a realm of relaxation, with a variety of beauty treatments on offer, from a Wellbeing de stress massage to an ultimate aromatherapy associates facial.

The relaxation awaits you, so why not take up the offer of a one nights Bed and breakfast accommodation for £109pp with a £45 allowance pp towards your dinner meal at the award-winning restaurant, as well as fill use of the spa facilities.

For more information, go to https://www.middlethorpe. com

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The Residence, Maldives

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ocated a domestic flight away from Male on Falhumaafushi, a pristine island in the Gaafu Alifu Atoll, The Residence is a luxury paradise and blissful retreat.

Just around 40 miles from the Equator, this 5-start resort feels a million-miles away from the hustle and bustle of our normal lives.

The atoll is one of the largest in the

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world and teeming with sea life, and dotted with remote uninhabited palm and golden sand fringed islands. Spread now over two islands linked by a super-long over water jetty, the resort is large but still feels intimate and prides itself in creating the time and space needed for you to rediscover the meaning of relaxation, with attentive yet discreet hospitality.

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a choice of beach and

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over water stunning villas, each designed in harmony with the natural environment, seamlessly blending traditional Maldivian architecture with contemporary elegance and modern comfort.

We loved our villa perched over the lagoon with its own private infinity pool and sun deck, plus spacious, bright and airy separate lounge, bedroom and bathroom.

The views were incredible, and we spent many blissful hours in the pool gazing out to sea, watching all manner of sea and bird life pass by.

The pools are excellent – large and deep enough to actually enjoy a short swim in, unlike those found in many resorts.

The jetty our villa was on

curved gently along a shallow lagoon fringed by the reef and deep blue beyond - prime snorkelling territory, and it was so nice to be able to snorkel straight from your own villa – and safely enjoy a swim in the sea also.

This is a great resort to enjoy a walk or cycle in. Strolling along the various jettys we loved seeing so much marine life, from octopus to turtles, sharks and also rays. The interior of the island is gorgeous too – white sand paths and fringed with tropical flowering trees and shrubs with comical little coots grumbling and scuttling by.

If you fancy a change from the delights of your own pool you can enjoy one of the main large

ones, complete with a swim up bar. Or you can head off on a sunset dolphin cruise, dive on completely unspoilt reefs, enjoy early morning yoga and even get your hair done in the salon.

We particularly loved the over water Spa by Clarins – the only one of its kind in the Maldives. Located at the end of a jetty it really enjoys a spectacular location with enviable views and a welcome breeze.

When you’ve worked up an appetite, there’s a good choice of dining options. Whether its afternoon tea, beach bar snacks or fine dining above the ocean, there’s something for everyone to savour.

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position far out on a jetty and with the cooling breeze, sound of the waves on the distant reef and the sparkle of countless stars above, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s incredible special and romantic, and the dishes are delicious of course too.

This is a fantastic resort, with so, so much to appreciate. It may be a flight away from Male, but is most definitely worth it.

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Park Hyatt Hadahaa

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tiny jewel in one of the southern-most Maldives atolls, this gorgeous resort is the luxury tropical hideaway A-List celebrities and royalty come to, but like to keep secret and all to themselves.

Nestled in North Huvadhoo, one of the largest natural atolls in the world, it has a remote and timeless feel, and from the moment you arrive, as if by magic, soothes your real-world worries and stress away.

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This pearl of an island has a simply stunning pure white soft sand beach, with sunset views you normally could only dream of. It’s surrounded by a vibrant and unspoilt reef teeming with fish which is a diver and snorkellers’ paradise – and it’s very close to shore too, making it accessible and reassuring for even novices and children.

When the resort was created, great care was taken to not disrupt or destroy the natural habitat, and because there was no indiscriminate dredging, the

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reefs and sea bed around were not harmed, resulting in an exceptional abundance of marine life, including turtles.

Villa-wise, resort features 50 beautifully designed villas-36 on land and 14 over the ocean. Whether nestled within the islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tropical greenery or elevated above the water, they are only a few metres away from a beach. Floor-to-ceiling windows and doors lead to lush gardens, a private deck, any many have their own private plunge pool.

Our choice is one of the amazing Park Sunset Ocean View Villas, which are perched over the reef, offer spectacular panoramic views and privacy too.

A host of excellent dining experiences are available. The Dining Room and The Island Grill offer international entrepreneurandinvestor.com |

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and regionally inspired dishes in sophisticated yet casual settings, and the contemporary poolside bar and unique Dhoni are great places to sit back, unwind and enjoy a refreshing drink. For special occasions, do enjoy private dining experiences, including Lagoon, Starlight and Shoreline, each showcasing a unique aspect of the island. Why not dine by the pool at your own villa or try Italian, Chinese or Thai cuisines at The Drift which is perched directly over the lagoon with fabulous ocean views.

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The Residence also has a gorgeous spa.

Treatment villas are close to a large and very pretty spa pool. Tucked away from the beach in pretty gardens, you’ll often have the pool all to yourselves as we did, as most guests enjoy the main pool fringed by the main beach.

It’s a delightfully tranquil area, and the perfect place to relax and read before or after your treatment.

Our highlights of our visit to this very special resort included a fabulous evening where we

enjoyed cocktails and canapes on the beach as the sun set in a kaleidoscope of molten golds, burnished reds and ambers, whiling hours away in the pretty spa pool, a lovely champagne and sunset cruise, and snorkelling amongst fish of every kind and colour right from our villa’s beach.

We can certainly see why the resort continues to win award after award – it’s a wonderful place to be.

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Mӧvenpick Resort Kuredhivaru Maldives

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ne of the newer luxury resorts to enjoy in the Maldives, Mӧvenpick is a truly delightful gem in the northerly and undisturbed Noonu Atoll, a 45-minute scenic sea plane journey from Male.

This pristine sanctuary is a tropic paradise, with silk-soft powder white sand beaches all around, flower-filled wide, dapple shade avenues and birds and fish galore.

This very pretty island is small enough to walk around in 20 minutes - or triple that if, like us, you take time to admire the simply spectacular views and find shells at every few yards.

On the island, you have a host of large, spacious private villas with pools, large out door decks and direct access through little paths through the native hedging that gives privacy, to these gorgeous shores.

Every thought has been given to perfecting the contemporary décor, and there’s even small roof top decks specially designed to enable you to sit with a loved one and gaze at the stars.

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Leading out from the island is a horseshoe of lovely overwater villas. Perched over the sandy gin clear lagoon these are very modern, bright and airy, and come with infinity plunge pools which are large and just deep enough to sit in.

Split into two main areas, the villas have cosy but spacious welcoming bedrooms with a lounge/ seating area and lagoon or ocean views, and across a glass bottomed hallway, a large bathroom with open bottomed area so you have the breeze and can hear the gentle ebb and flow of the sea below. Behind the bedroom is a sizable dressing area. The deck outside is large, and has some welcome shade, and depending on which side you

are located on, either sunrise or sunset views.

If just relaxing on your deck isn’t for you, there’s plenty to see and do. Just taking a stroll around the resort is a delight, with a host of lovely features along the way.

We loved walking to the end of our jetty where we discovered a pictureperfect swinging seat where you can while away time gazing out across the ocean, watching pods of dolphins’ swim by.

Head towards land, and you’ll find delights such as a wine and coffee lounge with a free and super popular chocolate hour, and the elegant Bodumas seafood restaurant offering delicious fine dining with lovely views. Turn left and you’ll see

the kids club, and jetty with an excellent dive school and the place for breakfast on the beach, the charming market style Onu Marché offering a mix of western, oriental and local cuisine.

Across the island is a stunning over water spa, and right, to find the main infinity pool and cocktail bar and Latitude 5.5 grill.

Our highlights were savouring sundowners on the beach watching THE most spectacular sunsets, strolling along the sandy shores at dawn watching terns dive for tiny fry, enjoying exceptionally fresh seafood at Bodumas, treating ourselves to massages in the spa, and snorkelling among every kind of rainbow fish from the entrepreneurandinvestor.com |

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pristine house reef.

The Dive School here is excellent – every evening guests were excitedly sharing stories about the incredible sea life they had seen, and how absolutely stunning the house reef is.

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One thing most worthy of a mention in our review of this lovely resort is the staff.

We, and we know the other guests, received the warmest of welcomes and were very quickly made to feel part of the resort’s family by our villa hosts, chefs, dive school team and central services. Nothing was too much trouble, and everything came with a genuine smile.

We so look forward to visiting again to be wowed by the island’s incredible beauty, excellent dining, villas and spa and of course its unbeatable hospitality.

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Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa

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ust a 15-20 minute speedboat hop away from the main international airport, this large yet relaxing Maldives resort provides a most welcome haven after a long flight when waiting around for sea plane departures is the last thing you need.

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remarkably peaceful, and from most of the villas and suites, each with lovely ocean views, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be forgiven for thinking you were far out into the blue.

Whilst most resorts in the Maldives are gorgeous when viewed from the beach, Sheraton Maldives is incredibly pretty throughout.

Caringly tended lush green lawns,

pink and deliciously fragrant frangipani avenues, acres of tropical flower-filled foliage and a unique and beautiful exotic orchid arbour create picture-perfect vistas at every turn.

We and other guests thoroughly enjoyed our morning and evening strolls through these beautiful grounds each day.

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With a wide choice of villas, rooms and suites, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s accommodation to suit just about everyone, from couples to families and honeymooners too. Our home for our stay was a spacious Water Bungalow with Pool, which had lovely views across to the spa island and ocean beyond, and the reef below was teeming with life â&#x20AC;&#x201C; meaning hours could be spent watching every colour of fish meander by, followed by baby sharks, octopus, rays and also large grey herons stalking their prey.

Comfortable, roomy and recently refurbished, our villa came with a light and modern bathroom, deck with seating area and a good sized

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infinity plunge pool - all with lovely views.

For additional privacy, some guests prefer the Ocean Pool Villas which don’t have direct access to the sea, but have a large private garden, uninterrupted ocean views and a large plunge pool to play in.

The resort has seven unique restaurants and bars providing welcome variety especially during longer stays. From Thai to a tea room, relaxing colonialstyle bar to lagoon edge fish restaurant where you can

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choose your own catch of the day, there’s plenty of choice.

Themed beach buffets are fun and the breakfasts excellent.

For an absolutely incredible experience, do opt for destination dining – ours was a surprise luxury champagne and lobster lunch actually sat in the cool of lagoon, with baby sharks swimming right next you – this really made our stay, and is something we will remember for a long time.

Another highlight of this very pretty resort is the spa.

Beautifully located at the

reef edge on its own private island reached only via a long jetty over the lagoon, it has a gorgeous woodland relaxation room and large rather lovely outdoor pool area surrounded with tropical flowers and glimpses of the sea just meters away.

If you wish for a short break stop off that’s conveniently close to the airport, or to make this your home for a long stay, you’ll find this delightful resort has so much to offer, you’ll be very reluctant to leave.

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SEAT Tarraco T

he company’s newest flagship model was only released in the UK just a few weeks ago. This handsome and substantial 7-seater ticks all the boxes – masterfully mixing state-ofthe-art technology, dynamic and agile handling, practicality and functionality with an elegant, progressive design.

Standing out against competitors costing significantly more, the Tarraco has a premium look and feel, with high quality, durable and aesthetically pleasing materials

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and finishes throughout.

There’s oodles of space for the whole family to travel in comfort, and neat touches like seat-back trays and drink holders too. Visibility for all is very good – the driver enjoys a command position, and large windows and a high ride mean views normally blocked by countryside hedges can be savoured.

The boot when the two third row seats are down is large – enough for everything from golf clubs to cases galore. The Tarraco is super comfortable

even during longer journeys with acres of head, shoulder and leg space throughout.

The cabin is tech-rich too – including one of the best info-tainment systems and excellent real-view camera for pitch-perfect parking.

Out on the road it’s a really pleasurable drive - remarkably agile with plenty of feel, and frugal also, thanks to a superefficient direct-injection, turbo charge engine range with start-stop emitting low CO2s.

A genuinely great, versatile family car.

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From busy city streets to mountain peaks, the new Range Rover Evoque

By Daniel Glover

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he original Range Rover Evoque created the luxury compact SUV market, claiming over 200 international awards.

This success has heightened expectations for the new Evoque, which we recently put through its paces in Greece.

The trip began in the Greek capital, Athens, a notoriously difficult city to drive in. But it was not the narrow streets or the traffic, that caught our attention, but rather the stunning views visible from the Acropolis.

The Acropolis has become the main tourist attraction in Athens, due to its historical importance and level of preservation.

Originally built to honour Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom, the site consists of numerous temple remains which introduce the architecture and mythology that Ancient Greeks became famous for.

Having seen the sights Athens had to offer, it was time for the capital to showcase its best in cuisine. This responsibility was given to Ergon House â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a hotel and deli, which sold a 138 | entrepreneurandinvestor.com

wide range of foods, wines and spirits, all locally sourced.

The taster meal provided ample opportunity to indulge in multiple traditional Greek dishes, including; vine leaf wrapped aromatic rice, falafel, pitta, houmous and Loukomades â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a Greek variant of a chocolate filled doughnut. The courses also carried a heavy Mediterranean character, offering cous cous and seafood dishes such as octopus, complemented well by a lively Greek Sauvignon Blanc.

With taste buds more than satisfied, it was time to unwind in the ideally located Sofitel, Athens, with a walk-in shower and bath before curling up in bed.

An early start the following day, as it was time to test the Evoque in new environments on route to the beautiful coastal town of Porto Heli.

Effortlessly cruising on the motorway leaving Athens, the car interior provided a calming sanctuary of peace and comfort. In comparison to the original Evoque, the new interior is radically

different. Yes, the technology has been significantly improved, adopting some already successful elements of the Range Rover Discovery.

The Evoque also sees the introduction of the ClearSight Rear-View Mirror, which projects a real-time image captured by a camera at the rear of the vehicle. An automotive first, there is also the option for Ground View technology, which provides an x-ray vision beneath the vehicle, beneficial for navigating tricky obstacles and terrains.

However, big interior changes can also be seen in the materials used, many of which are sustainable, including the use of recycled plastic textiles; Kvadrat wool blend and Miko Dinamica suedecloth. These materials offer comfort to the touch, and visually relax you with their lounge-styled designs. There does not have to be an end destination when you drive an Evoque, as the enjoyment and comfort it provides can truly make the journey the destination.

Having passed a multitude of mountains whilst on the

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motorway, it was time to take Evoque off-road, to the peak of the Agioi Theodori mountain.

Tackling steep inclines, on narrow gravel and large stone ‘roads’, with seriously steep cliff edges, my conscience told me I should be scared. However, still in my comfortable cocoon, and with the Evoque passing challenge after challenge with ease, I couldn’t help but feel very secure, untouchable almost. But the fact remains, in many other vehicles, this route would have been incredibly difficult to navigate and impossible to enjoy. Stepping out of the Range Rover once I had reached the summit, I felt the want to do the climb all over again!

The summit rest 1150 meters above sea level, providing some truly breath-taking views. The Panagia Prath church, which

dates back to 1463, proudly crowned the mountain and encouraged a quick prayer.

Beginning the descent, my prayer for a safe passage down had been answered.

Whilst the route down was more treacherous, including multiple river crossings and large obstacles - one of which took the vehicle onto only 3 wheels – the driving experience remained effortless, thanks largely to the hill descent control available.

Having set the preferred descent speed, there was little left to worry about but steer as the car masterfully handled all obstacles that stood in its way.

Safely down back on a main road, it was not long until the Evoque faced a different challenge yet again. This one did not involve rough terrain, but did require the car to be

nimble. The challenge faced?

Crossing an inlet using an abandoned rail bridge, 45 meters above sea level.

Mounting the train track, the agile and responsive Evoque pushed on ahead, undeterred by the height of the challenge.

The reward for successfully crossing the rail bridge was entering Nafplio, regarded as one of the most beautiful towns in Greece, offering views of Bourtzi Castle, only accessible by boat.

A mere hour away, lay the Amanzoe Hotel, the ideal venue for those seeking a peaceful space to unwind without compromising on the hotel’s opulence.

Greeted upon arrival with a traditional Greek refreshment, containing heavy citric notes, the relaxation had only just begun. The Concierge guided entrepreneurandinvestor.com |

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me through the olive trees and lavender bushes to the condo.

Once inside, it was clear to see why the Amanzoe is so highly regarded.

The condo consisted of a large open-plan lounge and bedroom area, connected to both a kitchenette stocked with Greek goodies, and to the wash room, which offered a double walk in shower and a ground level bath. The large glass doors allowed natural light to fill the condo, but once opened, led to a private garden, containing a social area, perfect for gatherings, and a private plunge pool, with uninterrupted scenic views overlooking the sea.

neck and shoulder massage, the perfect way to revitalise before dinner.

The luxuries were not confined to the compound of the condo.

Following watching the sunset from the plunge pool, the hotel spa provided a soothing back,

Heading back to Athens Airport in the Evoque, offered plenty of time to reflect on the experience.

The conclusion from my

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Amanzoe’s cuisine did not disappoint either, with plenty of fresh seafood, local meat dishes and Orgzo – a must try for those yet to taste it. The service throughout the stay had been second-to-none, and was capped off by a local Greek post-dinner cocktail, based heavily on the use of cucumber and mandarin essences.

After a truly relaxing nights sleep and breakfast, the Amanzoe Hotel was one I was genuinely disappointed to be leaving – a must visit for those travelling to Greece.

reflection was clear. The Range Rover Evoque has far surpassed its predecessor. The Evoque is charismatic, and its driveability is truly effortless, regardless of terrain, allowing its passengers to focus on the sweeter things in life. The Evoque is your key to unlocking truly personalised moments to saviour.

But why is this? The dynamism of Evoque can fulfil your every driving and social need, but most importantly it allows its patrons to celebrate multiple lifestyles. If you, like me, do not want to be restricted to one lifestyle by your vehicle, but to rather have the ability to live the life you want in the moment, then look no further than the new Range Rover Evoque, available from just £31,600.

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DS 7 Crossback This is another new flagship model offering a refreshingly different alternative to the raft of rather formulaic SUVs on the market. Interesting, quirky even – the DS 7 breaks the rules when it comes to design – inside and out.

Ideal as a family car, meticulous attention was paid to ensuring

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that the model’s cabin provides exceptional travelling comfort.

The engineers in charge of the project approached the design of its interior as they might that of a lounge in a home, with the accent on space, occupant friendliness, soundproofing and connectivity, all areas in which motorists are becoming increasingly demanding.

Neat touches like seats with a massage function are included too.

Out on the road, the DS 7 is a spritely, capable and engaging drive, thanks to its smooth and swift advanced gearing and advanced engine with a good degree of useable torque.

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Peugeot 5008

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his is an awardwinning and popular SUV, which cleverly combines style and practicality.

Fans praise its premium materials and finishes, high build quality and innovative and amount of advanced tech.

A spacious seven-seater, it’s more than capable of meeting a busy family’s every vehicular need – from carrying large and awkward loads, thanks to rear row seating that can be completely removed, to providing a cosseting, comfortable cross country mode of regular transport.

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An engaging drive, the 5008 comes in a choice of smooth and economical engines, all offering pleasing performance and respectfully low CO2s given the vehicle’s large dimensions.

Tech-rich, there’s a raft of innovative gadgetry and systems, and all specs are well appointed too. A good looking and highly practical car, perfect for the whole family to escape the city in and venture out to enjoy our beautiful countryside this summer in comfort and style.

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CUPRA Ateca

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ne of the most visually appealing of all SUVs, the new CUPRA Ateca oozes class and kerb appeal.

Within a few weeks of its launch it notched up a Sports SUV of the Year award by a noted car magazine, the Judges commending the model for its unparalleled fun factor versus its more expensive rivals, costing just £35,900 OTR. Having the car on test, we can certainly see why it’s turning heads amongst industry experts, with its mixture of interior space and exceptional performance delivered by its 2.0-litre 300PS TSI petrol engine with 4Drive system and

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7-speed DSG gearbox. A really engaging drive, with 400 Nm of torque providing ample power to play with, and remarkably agile and stable even when pushed hard through tight, twisty lanes too.

With a top speed of 153mph, the CUPRA Ateca can reach 62mph in an impressive 5.2 seconds. Its economy figures are impressive, too, with NEDC equivalent CO2 emissions of 168g/km and efficiency of 38.2mpg on the WLTP cycle.

If you are wondering why it’s not called a SEAT CUPRA Ateca - CUPRA became a standalone brand last year, with the intention of offering even greater performance and

design flair for enthusiasts who also want a high level of sophistication and sportiness.

It’s not all about the performance either - this is a seriously stylish car. Muscular, sturdy yet sporty on the outside, and comprehensively loaded within, it boasts a highlevel of kit on the standard specification, including metallic paint and CUPRA Care service and maintenance all included in the price.

Other standard equipment highlights include keyless entry and start system, wireless charging, 8-inch touchscreen system, Dynamic Chassis Control and Park Assist. Our car in Black Magic metallic,

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was fitted with a comfort and sound pack and also the design pack with Brembo brakes and striking 19 copper wheels.

If you desire a distinctive, super stylish sports SUV with cracking performance and real driver engagement, this would be an excellent choice.

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SEAT Ateca

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t might lack the copper flashes and extra boost of performance the CUPRA Ateca boasts, but this model still has ample kerb appeal and is thoroughly rewarding to drive.

Our model on test was the smooth and capable 2.0 TSI 190 PS 4 Drive. With a decent 7.1 0-62mph sprint, top speed of 132, 40.9 mpgs and a CO2 emissions score of 156k/km.

The FR top spec models come with 18 inch ‘Performance’ alloy wheels, full LED headlights, sat nav and Black Alcantara seats

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as standard, and are tech rich, with wireless mobile charging, mobile app syncing, and bristling with handy features such as Traffic Jam Assist.

This is the perfect car for busy family or couple life.

It may be compact, but is bright and spacious inside, and comfortable for even long journeys.

The boot’s roomy too and able to stow even awkward items with some ease.

Out on the road, it’s sure footed thanks to its 4-wheel-drive, agile and spritely, with minimal

road, engine and wind noise.

SEAT’s excellent 7-speed DSG box delivers smooth, slick transitions and it’s equally at home on the motorway, city streets or country lanes.

Great value too - this is a lot of car for just over £31,000 OTR, and an ideal choice for those embarking on their entrepreneurship journey, wanting a car that’s well priced, reliable, frugal, versatile and stylish.

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Wine & Spirits From fine British spirits to vintage champagne, here are some of our favourite tipples to enjoy this Summer. cellars unlocks its full potential. Aromas of pear, grapefruit and hawthorn lead to a crisp, complex, long and elegant finish.

REBEL Pi Ice Wine It may be Summer, but this is a perfect time to enjoy this delicious wine. Meticulously crafted from Roussanne grapes from a single vineyard in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada, the 2016 REBEL Pi vintage is exceptionally rare - only 1,600 bottles were made and it’s the only Roussanne ice wine in the world. Delicious and refreshing rather than sweet and cloying like many dessert wines can be, it has notes of pink grapefruit, citrus and stone fruit. Serve it chilled or mix it up to create a deliciously unique cocktail.

REBEL Pi has recently won a silver award at the London Wine Competition.

Available from www.rebelpi. com £139

Taittinger 2013 Vintage Champagne

Available from Champagne Direct, Champagne Company, Amazon and more. RRP £60

A vintage champagne is only produced by Taittinger when the harvest has been of an exceptional quality. Made from first press wines, it is only released after several years of cellar ageing, allowing the aromas to mature slowly and the length and complexity of the wine to develop. The vintage comprises only wines from the first press with a blend of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir. The Grands Crus make up a significant proportion at 70% while the other selected villages are all classified as Premiers Crus. A 5-year long ageing period in the entrepreneurandinvestor.com |

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Palmers Strawberry & Rose Gin

Palmers Gin, a family owned distillery in Oldbury in the West Midlands, have been making gin for over 90 years.

This latest offering, flavoured with strawberries and rose petals is the prettiest pale pink, comes in perfume-like bottle and is just perfect for enjoying on lazy summer days.

Available from Master of Malt, Whisky Exchange and www.palmersgin. com RRP (70cl): £28

Vela Vodka Copper Rivet Distillery in Kent, another family owned and run distillery, produce an award winning tipple Vela Vodka. Like their other spirits it is handcrafted in small batches using locally grown grain. They are one of only a small number of distilleries in the UK to produce their spirits from grain to glass. The vodka is smooth and delicate, balance of cereal and fruit flavours with pink peppercorn finish.

Available from Harrods, Whisky Exchange, Master of Malt, Selfridges, Hedonism, www.copperrivetdistillery.com RRP from £28.99 (50cl)

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Highclere Castle Gin This Downton Abbey super-premium London gin was inspired by botanicals sourced from the famous castle’s gardens. Distilled above an ancient underground water source, the Highclere Castle Gin is produced in England’s oldest gin distillery, in one of the oldest working copper gin stills dating back to the 1800’s.

With a delicate balance of juniper, lemon and orange peel and a touch of lavender, the gin celebrates Highclere’s historic estate, integrating acclaimed estate grown oats into the blend, adding a rich and flavourful palate experience that boasts a long and memorable finish.

Available from The Drinkshop.com, Amazon and more £39.99.

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The Wine Trails Sussex, Kent, Hampshire & The West Country

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ritain’s south ends are renown for their countryside, stunning views, beautiful quaint towns and the wines that are locally grown in the surrounding vineyards.

The best way to explore the enchanting south this summer, is with a glass of English wine on a stroll along the country side. To assist in your summer adventures, we have compiled a small list of the best vineyards down south and the trails that will lead you there.

KENT Kent, the ‘Garden of England’ is home to over 50 Vineyards, 23 wineries and a selection of grapes in production including; Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Bacchus, Pinot Blanc and Regent. A short train journey from London Bridge and you find yourself at the heart of the Wine escapades. Let the adventures, and the tasting, begin!

HUSH HEATH ESTATE This 400-acre family-owned Tudor Estate tucked in the heart of Kent is home to the Hush heath Manor, built in 1503 and we all know

that history, heritage and wine make up an excellent trilogy. In February 2019, it was reported that the estate was awarded with a gold visitor attraction accolade, recognising the outstanding experience it provides to its international visitors. It is in fact the only English Winery to achieve this highest visitor award

by Visit England. Producer Richard Balfour-Lynn spoke on this achievement, “we have a world-class attraction that showcases the charm of the English countryside and respects the wildlife that lives here. The team in the vineyard and the winery are all very passionate about everything they do, which is why we are delighted to collect a gold award this year from Visit England.” From first-hand experience at the Hush Heath Estate, I have to concur that this award was well deserved.

The estate is comprised of a state-of-the-art Winery, tasting rooms, a rooftop terrace, an upstairs viewing gallery and shop built in 2018. Open all year round, the estate allows free access to guests who can wonder on a self-guided tour of the extensive vineyards, apple orchards and ancient oak woodlands, sampling the

fruits of the grapes as they walk, the tour on average lasts approximately 1.5 hours and does not require a pre-booking. The Hush Heath walking trails takes you through; Nannette’s Vineyard, Turner and Doreen’s Orchard, the Oast House Medow, Old Bramley, Middle Strackney Wood, Old Eight Acre, Spring Field, Foxridge and of course Hush Heath Manor.

The Vineyard turns over a range of grapes used in the making of the winery’s Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay, Bacchus and Pinot blanc and for those of us who enjoy a good glass of any of these fine selection of wines, with or without an occasion mind you, the estate offers an introductory tour on the production process of the grapes that become our wines/ or have become our wines for (however many) years. While on tour of the grounds visitors can enjoy the rich biodiversity of the land thanks to the Estate’s on-going biodiversity environmental programme, making the grounds a must on the summer to do list.

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or beer tasting is also on offer. The open sitting plan is ideal for visitors wishing to relax and socialise while they sip on the newest wines launched by the Estate.

When you have had your fill of Hush Heath’s beautiful estate and wines, head south to the next winery on our trails, Chapel Down…

CHAPEL DOWN The Chapel Down Winery in Tenterden hosts a grand wine and fine food store offering an excellent selection of local produce, not to mention their state of the art restaurant and bar, ‘The Swan at Chapel Down’.

Guided tours, tasting and learning how to cultivate the vines that make your wines.

But if a stroll around the beautiful grounds is all you need, why not accompany it with a free tasting available at the winery’s shop. Open daily from 10am-5pm.

the Gallery Restaurant.

HAMPSHIRE Hampshire, the county on the southern coast of England, is renowned for its hills, rivers, history and diverse wildlife but let’s not forget its Vineyards. Most importantly, the Vineyards of Hampshire Wine Festival 2019 on Sunday 21st July in Exton, Hampshire. The annual wine festival brings together wines from 8 member vineyards for a summer afternoon of live music, delicious food and lots of wine tasting. Visitors will meet the winemakers, book wine workshops and can even jump on a tractor ride to view the stunning 55 acre vineyard up the hill at Exton Park.

WELCOME TO THE WEST COUNTRY, STARTING WITH… CORNWALL

SUSSEX

CAMEL VALLEY

DENBIES WINE ESTATE

Cornwall’s largest Vineyard, Camel Valley Vineyard has been producing awardwinning wines in Cornwall since 1989 by the famous Camel River. The terrace boasts an idyllic setting to gaze over the sunny grape coated hills not to mention the guided tours that are regularly offered to visitors. For those who want a more in-depth learning introduction to the art of wine making, every Wednesday evening at 5pm

The Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking, Mole Valley, is a classic take on true British luxury; the estate offers a stunning Farmhouse Accommodation for those wishing for an extended stay and I wouldn’t blame you, with plenty of events, visits and tours taking place, there is much to see and do. The tastings continue at the Estate’s Cellar and are accompanied by Dinner at 152 | entrepreneurandinvestor.com

between April and October, a Grand Tour & Tasting is available during which you will have a wine maker as your personal guide. They shall be there to talk you through the vineyard year and winery process (its a lot more complex and intricate than even I thought), answering any questions along the way and of course, a fun wine tasting session, commencing with their most famous wine, the Cornwall Brut.

LYME BAY WINERY - ‘Makers of Traditional Country Drinks’ Moving South-West to the Shire County of Devon, we find the Lyme Bay Winery developing Ciders, AwardWinning English Wines, Spirits, Fruits Wines and Mead. Lyme Bay also hosts plenty of opportunities to stretch your legs along the western sides of the English Channel, with a view of the sea and hills stretching for miles in both directions and with a mild temperature and climate, this coast is a great summer weekend destination.

Naturally, the shores are lined with an excellent variety of accommodations to relax after all your wines escapades, with plenty to eat, extensive cliffs and trails to track and a bottle or two to try on your way!

Enjoy and let us know what was your favourite trail!

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By Wendy Muruli

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Skin Care Specials We’ve carefully curated some skincare wonders for you for the season, from ground breaking spray on facials, to regenerating masks, super serums and beauty boxes full of skincare treats. Enjoy!

Linda Meredith Collagen Synergie A revolutionary spray on facial, Collagen Synergie is the perfect travel companion to revitalise, refresh and regenerate your skin whilst on the go. Packed with skin-harmonious science, it has been clinically proven to reduce lines and wrinkles, boost hydration, increase elasticity and even out skin tone.

Innovative and highly effective ingredients include Swiss apple stem cell extract, Soluble native collagen molecules and natural moisturising factors.

Skin feels instantly smoother, soften and more comfortable on application, and we found it an invaluable boost during and after frequent long haul flights which are notoriously drying for your skin.

Available from lindameredith. com RRP £105.

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Available from LookFantastic, French Pharmacy, www.polaar. com www.thefrenchpharmacy. co.

Smoothing cream 50ml £35.

Micro-Peeling Foam 100ml £27. Smoothing Fluid 50ml £35

Polaar Northern Light range The perfect solution for those with dehydrated and blemish prone skin, this new range features powerful active ingredients to really boost radiance and smooth skin texture. Made with Siberian Olive which contains 30 times more Vitamin C than an orange, the first 100% natural salicylic acid molecule, plus a new-gen. anti-pollution shield, and all of the products are free from mineral oils, parabens, alcohol and phenoxyethenol and ideal for even sensitive skin. All products in the range are naturally vegan and we found delightful and soothing to use, with a lovely fragrance.

Bee Yu Cleanse, Tighten & Regenerate Face Masque This much-loved, best selling New Zealand luxury skincare brand is new to the UK but already proving a hit with beauty experts country-wide.

A favourite product is its new Cleanse, Tighten & Regenerate Face Masque.

Made with 11 active ingredients including super-potent and antimicrobial manuka honey and also bee venom, which in small amounts, tricks the skin into thinking it has been stung so it produces healing

FORTUNE & LIFESTYLE

and plumping collagen.

We love the fact that an amount from each sale goes to help save bumble bees across the UK too.

Available from beeyuskincare. co.uk £88

I MASK purifying probiotic mask Featuring green clay and activated charcoal, this innovative mask absorb impurities from the skin, and delivers optimal hydration and clarity. Fortifying probiotics included balance the skin and support the skin’s naturally occurring flora, and a host of vitamins, minerals and superfruit antioxidants nourish the skin to leave it radiant and glowing.

Available from www.imageskincare.co.uk £45.00

Natura Siberica Caviar Expert Instant Action Super Face Serum This latest wonder product by cult beauty brand, Natura Siberica, has fast become a firm beauty fan favourite.

Not only does the lightweight serum contain the hero ingredient hyaluronic acid, it also contains colloidal gold, known for its antioxidant content, anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties.

Added to this already powerful blend is colloidal platinum another precious metal known for its antioxidant properties, black caviar and cell-repairing collagen extracts to leave skin feeling softer, with a natural, healthy glow.

Cruelty and paraben, mineral oil and other nasties free too.

Available at www.naturasiberica.co.uk £38

Artistry Signature Select™ Personalized Serum Featuring a universal base serum, which contains a blend of five Nutrilite™ sourced ingredients: Acerola Cherry, Black Currant, Green Tea, Pomegranate and Spinach Extracts, it is formulated to quickly penetrate the skin’s surface and help repair its appearance. Depending on each individual’s skin concerns, you choose up to three concentrated Amplifiers for Hydration, Brightening, AntiWrinkle, Firming or Anti-Spot – all clinically proven to improve the visible signs of aging.

These Amplifiers can be freshly mixed into the base serum by twisting the cap to infuse and activate targeted ingredients.

Available www.amway.com from £68.

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Summer Scents Balmy evenings, nights under the stars and picnics by the sea - whether you are jetting off to a tropical paradise or enjoying a luxury staycation, this is the season for wearing a sensational scent. We’ve selected a gorgeous range of distinctive, unusual and memorable newcomers and others sophisticated favourites – all perfect as the finishing touch to any special occasion.

NYC Fragrance Collection by Kierin Long lasting, distinctive, vegan and cruelty free, this new collection of premium eau du parfums is definitely worth seeking out. Nitro Noir, 10am Flirt, Santal Sky and Sunday Brunch all evoke the cool and effervescent vibe of the city and are designed to be appreciated by all genders.

Nitro Noir is sweet and spicy, Flirt fresh and green – think Central Park in Spring, Sunday Brunch citrusy and cheerful, and Santal Sky woody and warming.

All have higher than usual concentrations of fragrance ingredients which are sustainably sourced, and recyclable packaging too.

Available from Harvey Nichols Each £65

Dulceo by Cūrata With unique, heavenly notes of frangipani and decadent rich cocoa, sweetened with orange and finished with tropical florals, Dulceo is perfect for hot summer nights. This awardwinning fragrance is all natural too – no synthetics or aroma chemicals, so kinder to your skin.

Available from curatabeauty. com $215 USD for 30 ml EDP.

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Santal Blanc by Van Cleef & Arples

Orange De Boucheron

This luxurious sophisticated fragrance is inspired by the purity, softness and calm of the colour white. Mandarin and fig are tempered by soft woods and violet, mellowing to a rich, warming tonka bean and musk finish.

Perfectly evoking balmy exotic summer evenings, this delicious fragrance from Boucheron features top notes of vibrant orange and mandarin, a heart of soft rose, fig and coconut, mellowing to a lasting finish of amber woods and white cedar. Memorable and utterly feminine.

A Harrods exclusive 75ml EDP £130.00

Bahia

A Harrods exclusive EDP £175.

by

125ml

Encore Une Fois by Art de Parfum A special limited edition, Encore Une Fois features rare, ethically sourced, cruelty free and all-natural materials.

Inspired by creator Ruta Degutyte’s love of the earthy, organic smells of the ocean, the fragrance is introduced with fresh citrus notes, mellowing to powder-soft violets and earthy ambergris, finishing with the velvety darkness of smoky balsams, resins, and patchouli.

The scent uses precious oils and absolutes to recreate the delicious fragrance of sun kissed skin.

Available at www.artdeparfum. com. 50ml EDP £160.

Pablo by Curionoir

This sustainable artisan New Zealand brand brings us Pablo.

Fresh notes of lemon, coriander and freesia couple perfectly with the richness of frankincense, vanilla, tonka bean and tobacco resulting in a distinctive and long lasting fragrance perfect for hot summer days and exotic nights.

Available from The Conran Shop, Browns and www.curionoir.com 50ml EDP £150.

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Signature Collection by Dunhill The Signature Collection – a name originally associated with Dunhill lighters, is a fragrance collection obsessive about quality and range of materials, ingredients and where each originates.

Evoking the spirit of the adventurer and explorer, Arabian Desert, British Leather, Moroccan Amber and Indian Sandalwood are each distinctive, evocative and beautifully crafted, and packaged in stunning contemporary glass bottles inspired by the house’s engineering heritage.

Available from Harrods 100ml £120 each.

Explorer by Montblanc Another masculine fragrance inspired by explorers, adventurers and pioneers. Only the absolute best ingredients were sourced from around the world, including a special Bergamot from Italy, vibrant vetiver from Haiti and heady patchouli from Indonesia.

Each work in harmony to give fresh top notes, mellowing to a memorable richness and depth.

Available UK wide EDP 100ml RRP £70.

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Pasha Edition Noire Limited Edition by Cartier This new fragrance galvanises the original “fougère” accord of Cartier’s original Pasha de Cartier fragrance with a burst of citrus freshness.

Vibrant yet rich, the limited edition is distinctive, charismatic, memorable and long lasting.

Available UK wide EDT 100ml: RRP £88.00

FORTUNE & LIFESTYLE

Beauty Gadgets for On the Go We’ve selected a range of great gadgets for the season to enhance skin, hair and even your smile.

S

kincare tech experts Magnitone offers an excellent range of beauty enhancing clever gadgetry. Our first favourite is their redesigned Barefaced 2 Cleansing and Toning brush.

Its combination of sonic oscillations + pulsed vibrations deep-cleanse, massage and tone the skin. Switch it on and glide the brush across the face for 1 minute using the built-in zonal timer.

RRP £90.00

The second product thats caught our attention is their new XOXO Micro-Sonic Softtough Silicone Cleansing Brush.

This promises to deep clean, brighten and soften skin for a more radiant, healthy glow.

With Micro-Sonic technology and non-replaceable, naturally antibacterial PurO Silicone, it also helps balance the skin and control breakouts. Perfect for those with sensitive skin. 8000 Micro-Sonic Pulsations per minute gets deep, under the skin’s surface where hands and dislodges trapped impurities.

Another favourite is their BlendUp Vibra-Sonic Blending Makeup Brush. This flawlessly blends makeup like a pro, whilst stimulating skin for a more natural look and a healthier finish. The BlendUp glides over your skin with over 200 Vibra-Sonic movements per second to give the softest looking, most natural, airbrushed effect, that’s both healthier for the skin and free from clumping, clogged pores, edge-lines and streaks.

RRP £40.00

All are available Magnitone.co.uk and stockists.

RRP £70.00 from other

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DAFNI allure This is the ultimate on-the-go styling tool, enabling you to straighten your hair quickly where ever you are. Cordless, compact and designed to fit comfortably in the palm of your hand, the allure is easy to hold and use whether you are on a train, plane or passenger in a car. Long lasting batteries

Waterpik Flosser

Cordless

Water

Just launched in the UK, this smileenhancing wonder is 3 x more effective at cleaning between your teeth than dental floss – and more eco-friendly. Used as part of your daily routine, this clever beauty gadget uses a high pressure tiny jet to instantly flush any debris from the tooth and gum area, removing 99.9% of plaque. It’s gentle enough for even sensitive gums too, and as it rotates 360 degrees, you can reach all areas of your mouth for a squeaky-clean pearly smile.

Available UK wide £54.99

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mean the straightener is always ready to go, and the unique ‘Curved Core Technology’ it adopts means even the roots closest to the scalp can be targeted for optimum long-lasting styling results.

It features heat resistant, scalp protecting brush tips too, so no painful burns.

Available UK wide and on www.dafnihair.com £155

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Introducing Sarah Zhuang’s Fantasy Garden collection leaves and flowers complete the lavish and covetable key pieces.

T

he award-winning jewellery designer Sarah Zhuang’s spring 2019 collection is inspired by buzzing bubble bees, flitting ladybugs and darting dragonflies. They culminate into an opulent collection named Fantasy Garden. The playful pieces are delicately hand-crafted in 18K gold and set with a rich palette of coloured sapphires, ranging from deep blues, to bright yellows and dazzling pinks. Jaw dropping rings, stud earrings and necklaces of ladybirds, butterflies, bumble bees, dragonflies and beetles are all able to be worn in versatile ways. Decorative pieces themed around water,

Meant to dazzle and amaze, Sarah Zhuang designed the jewellery for the adventurous, curious and outgoing woman, who loves a thrill of a new experience. The collection starts from £1,200 is available to buy now at Kabiri, London and Harvey Nichols.

Born into a family that has worked within the jewellery trade for more than 20 years, Sarah Zhuang has lived and breathed design from a young age. Fuelled by her passion for jewellery craftsmanship, she received her design certificate from the GIA and a professional diploma from Hong Kong Design Institute, before studying in Florence, Italy, to further hone her skills in jewellery design and making.

In 2017, she launched her own eponymous brand, which Sarah describes as “as versatile as women”. Already stocked in retailers in Hong Kong, China and Japan, Sarah aims to expand her presence in the UK and internationally.

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E&I Book Club From achieving excellence to sales skills and even how to have a happy hustle, here are our picks of some of the latest and best books around this summer.

Peter Drucker’s way to the top: Lessons for reaching your life’s goals

By William A. Cohen, PHD

1.

2.

How to have a happy hustle: the complete guide to making your ideas happen

By Bec Evans

4.

8.

The Wealth Elite A groundbreaking study of the psychology of the super rich

By Rainer The Launch Book: Zitelmann Motivational Stories to launch your idea, business or next career

By Sanyin Siang

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Living Brands How biology & neuroscience shape consumer behaviour & brand desirability

By Dr. Constant Pantidos

The salesperson’s Secret Code: The belief systems that distinguish winners

By Ian Mills, Mark Ridley, Ben Laker & Tim Chapman

Business is personal Be the leader of your life and business

By Penny Power OBE

7.

5.

3.

6.

The Connection Book: 50 ways to communicate more effectively

By Emma Serlin

9.

The Excellence Book: 50 ways to be your best

By Kevin Duncan

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