JMLegraph Spring 2019

2019

SPRING

MINI CONFERENCE

SMALL BUT PERFECTLY FORMED

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MISSIONS, MESSAGES AND MOTIVATION!

THE WRITING'S ON THE WALL AT CHISWICK HQ

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Also in this edition

SHOOTING ACROSS THE POND

PRODUCTION GOES STATESIDE FROM NEW JERSEY TO MIAMI!

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YOUR PENSION BENEFITS ARE INCREASING [p12]

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Contents

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3

FOCUSING ON OUR CORE

By Ken Daly

10

CHISWICK'S NEW LOOK

By Michal Makurat

16

BABY BOOM VANESSA & PABLO'S WEDDING KHINE'S LEAVING

4

THROUGH THE KEOGH

11

NEW STARTERS

By Brian Keogh

5

MINI CONFERENCE

By Abigail Heslop & Elaine Francis

6

TRADING PLACES, THE BUSINESS OF SHOWS

By Ian Bennington

17

THE SMALL CHARITY WITH THE BIG HEART

12

CHARITY WITH REEL BENEFITS

YOUR PENSION BENEFITS ARE INCREASING

By Jane Gill

By Mark Penwell

18

RED NOSE DAY

13

QUIZ NIGHT

KEEPING IT REALHARD OR SOFTIT IS WARE IT'S AT

By Dharmesh Lathigra

19

CALENDAR

8

SHOOTING ACROSS THE POND

By Catherine Campbell

COLOUR OBSTACLE RUN

14

A WELCOME RETURN

By Cristina Flores

MINIMISING PLASTICS, A TRAINING IN LETTERING IT'S ON THE CARDS

By Tim Norton

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By Vanessa Gordino

20

CROSSWORD

By Ian Watson

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Ken Daly - Chief Executive Officer

FOCUSing on our core

H

ave you ever done the plank?

I’m not talking about walking a narrow piece of timber to impending watery doom. I mean balancing on your elbows and tippy toes keeping the body rigid in a straight line. After a minute or so, it’s a killer on the abs. ‘Focus on your core’. That’s the only encouragement my maniacal gym instructor repeatedly urges. Yet it’s great advice.

At JML, we’re currently focusing hard on our core. That doesn’t mean we’re not doing new things. Far from it: this year sees numerous developments in every aspect of the business from products to IT, media to team recruitment. Yet everything we are doing is about driving the core areas of the business – retail, direct and international. Selling great innovative products that solve everyday problems, and promoting these through video content that tells a story. Doing new things and constantly evolving is absolutely essential to our ongoing success, but these activities are best when they are designed to strengthen the core business.

throws at us. Because we are a tenacious company, we’ve been able to extricate ourselves from these projects relatively quickly, without too much cost and we’re left wiser as a result.

So now 2019 is shaping up to being a really good year for JML. The business is in a strong position to capitalise on the many opportunities that lie ahead of us despite the obvious uncertainties around leaving the European Union. Whilst the shopping and media landscapes are changing faster than ever before, we know that our customers really want to buy our products. We just need to make sure that we continuously adapt to ensure it’s always easy for them to do so.

Recently we held a conference in Leeds with around 30 members of

It’s true to say that over the past year or so we’ve embarked on some non-core projects which haven’t worked out how we had envisaged.

They’ve been great learning experiences though and have equipped us better to deal with the challenges that being in business

Ken focusing on his core

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the team. A couple of the topics that were looked at were our vision and values. Over the years we’ve had a number of different programmes with different names to engage everyone behind common themes. FIT was a recent one that particularly comes to mind (going Faster, being Innovative and Thinking global). Whilst some of the catchy names have come and gone, actually we have been remarkably consistent over the years and this is the mark of a successful company. The themes that we have talked about at different times during our history haven’t changed, even if the acronyms have. The Leeds session reinforced the fact that across JML we share common values and a common vision for where we need to go. You don’t need a six pack to be a part of the team, as long as we all focus on our core, together we’ll be in great shape!

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Through the Keogh T

ime seems to pass by quicker and quicker every year, it certainly feels strange to be writing an update for the Spring edition of the JMLegraph already as it only seems like yesterday that we were trading what turned out to be one of our best Christmases!

We recently had our best ever week for orders received by the International team, which is great news.

Retail 2019 has started very well for our Retail division with some big year on year increases in our EPOS numbers. Epi Smooth, Handy Heater, Dentapic Sonic and Finishing Touch Flawless have all contributed to the early success. We are about to hit the period where we launched Flawless last year so we do have some really tough numbers to annualise, but we are confident that we can do that and more.

Flawless Brows, Aqua Jet Duo Mop, Nicer Dicer Quick and Chillmax Air are all very exciting products that will be hitting stores and TV over the coming months.

expected them to be given the timing of Chinese New Year. The team are doing a fantastic job of opening new routes to market and making the most of the products they have available to sell. We recently had our best ever week for orders received by the International team which is great news.

Direct Direct sales have been trading up versus 2018, we have had some very successful infomercial tests that will lead to rollouts and a stronger product line-up over the coming 6 months. We are currently augmenting the Direct team in Chiswick with some additional resources to ensure we maximise the opportunity we have with the impending launch of the new web platform and CRM system. You will see the new faces appearing soon, it’s a very exciting time for Direct and I am sure you will see them in the office and pushing the tea trolley before long…

International International sales year to date are flat versus last year, this is in line with where we

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Brian Keogh - Chief Sales Officer

So, overall, we are very encouraged by the start we have made to 2019, we have some great products coming through the pipeline and we have a great team in place to take the business forward. There is never a dull moment at JML, thank you all for taking the time to read this and I am looking forward to catching up with as many of you as possible over the coming months.

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JML MINI CONFERENCE W Abigail Heslop - Contact Centre Manager, Elaine Francis - Senior Customer Service Advisor

e were both lucky to be invited to the recent JML mini conference at the Queens hotel in Leeds. The home of many happy memories and a few some may want to forget! It might have been called a mini conference but the ideas were mega, mighty and magnificent. They sound like the dwarfs from snow white. Disney characters, that’s perhaps an idea for the next conference theme! FYI, Shaun has already bagged Sleepy!

We all arrived around 4pm and met in the hotel for refreshments, it was a nice informal way for everyone to come together. It was a chance to see people who we hadn’t seen for a long time, most likely the last conference and a chance to meet fellow JMLers who we had never met before. We shared a nice meal together, as well as a few shandies and there were some interesting conversations around the tables, in fact this was where some of the ideas which were discussed in more details the next day were formed.

The Thursday started with an update from Shaun and Brian and while we often receive an email update, it seems to resonate more to hear it in person. After some whole room discussion, we were split into smaller groups. The luxury of these smaller groups was more conducive to idea sharing. Each group consisted of about 4 or 5 people, mostly with people who we don’t usually get to talk with/deal with in our everyday roles. We also had an opportunity to meet those who we work with but never see or meet in person! This was invaluable - seeing the face behind an email signature breaks down many

communication barriers and builds bonds that strengthen relationships.

Each group presented their ideas to the wider group (who doesn’t like standing in front of a room of their peers and talking…?) which allowed for Shaun and Brian to give instant feedback and insight which helps everyone to understand why certain decisions are made. We say that, Brian give us some great feedback, Shaun basically took the mick out of us – Us at TD know this is perfectly normal (Shaun made us write that.)

Seeing the face behind an email signature breaks down many communication barriers.

Friday's group presentations were interesting for a slightly different reason. Shaun made sure that those with the greatest hangovers from the Thursday night did the presentation for their group or as we called them, the presentations of shame.

Prior to the conference everyone attending completed a questionnaire which would form the basis of our discussions and tasks. Each group was given one particular aspect of that questionnaire to reflect on and explore. It was great to hear such a range of responses to one question – listening to perspectives from other departments which we would never have been exposed to otherwise.

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We are sure you will all be hearing about the topics that were discussed when Shaun, Brian and HR have digested all the wonderful notes, if they can read the writing (there was enough flip chart paper to redecorate both Chiswick and TD!) however just to give you a flavour of the days, we covered.

• • • • • • • • •

JML goes green Sustainability Interactive retail screens Creative/Effective Social Media Digital Marketing strategies Systems/New tech Communication JML Developed products Exploring new international territories

It's hard to summarise everything that we covered but overall the mini conference gave us a chance to reflect away from our #EveryDay roles at Tyne Dock and look at the wider JML landscape and what we can all do to make that landscape bigger and better and brighter. We all look forward to the feedback from Shaun and Brian and while we know we can’t implement everything, we are sure some of the great ideas will see us increase our profitability and enhance the JML experience for us all.

Shaun did promise that if all our ideas and goals came to fruition and we increased profitability, the next meeting would be abroad, in Hawaii, on a yacht.

Making #EveryDay easier for us all!

While those travelling back to TD were on the train with Shaun, we were a little worried about him as he appeared to be on the phone to Eric the Viking, Eric is Shaun’s car (Swedish Volvo)... he was calling his car to warm the seats for him. (Just a little insight into the pampered world of Shaun Tebble.)

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After

Trading Places The business of shows Ian Bennington - Merchandising Manger

JML and trade shows go together like hand and glove. Our presence at trade shows has been a staple of the business for a long time now and they require input from lots of different departments! Home and abroad, in all kinds of sizes, we are represented onsite by the International team and UK Retail team alike. In my very first week as an FST in December 2002, I helped out my area manager at a trade show in Harrogate.

The board are regular visitors to these shows, plus, you never know who else will visit you on the day...

In the last few months alone, we've been on display at the NEC Birmingham Autumn & Spring Fairs, the AIS show (also at the NEC), the Robert Dyas management conference and the Ambiente show at Messe, Frankfurt. While the shows are different sizes and have different requirements, we still have to represent JML as well as we can by providing top class merchandising and presentation.

Ambiente Frankfurt itself is months in the making. Let me put Ambiente into perspective, as this place is absolutely enormous... think of the biggest shopping centre you know.

Then double the size of it. It really is that big; most (sensible) contractors building the show travel round on bikes or scooters! Getting lost in there isn't ideal, many have perished wandering those enormous corridors.

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For those of you who may never get to get involved with one of these shows, I thought I'd share some pictures with you to give an idea of the kind of thing we do, and what you might see as a visitor to a JML show. We basically turn up to an empty exhibition hall where we turn it into a mini JML store for 3-5 days.

Once International have decided on which hall we'll feature in, product line-ups are agreed months in advance, stock and equipment are ordered; hotels, flights and trains are booked. Our transport partners drive for days across Europe delivering pallets of our equipment and stock from the Northern Office, and they literally drop it on our doorstep at the show. Once there, it's a manic full-on set up of at least 6-7 displays from scratch, along with everything else.

Liezl van Zyl and I have done this for the last few years, and as the day drags on, the thought of the first beer and a burger back at the hotel keeps the motor running.

It's a few years since it happened, but a forklift crashing into one of the pillars at our stand was one of the stand out moments... what's German for "D'oh!"?

The show is then ready for the first day (of five), and the stand gets visitors (customers and JML management) from all over the world, all the while the International team take a stint on the stand (averaging 3 days).

During that first day, I'm on my way home for the weekend. Three days later, I repeat the journey out there

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International Team goes to Before We basically turn up to an empty exhibition hall where we turn it into a mini JML store for 3-5 days. to start dismantling the show...!

The International team pass the baton, and the dismantling commences. Having superb organisational skills (and some mild OCD, I'll be honest) makes the whole process hard work but really gratifying. I was spurred on this year by the thought of my first ice cold Bitburger beer and Manchester United vs Paris Saint German on TV at the hotel!

B

Frankfurt!

eginning of February… It is that time again for the International team to head to Frankfurt for the Ambiente Exhibition show. Liezl, Emma, Monica & Andreas were there to represent JML at the world’s leading trade fair for consumer goods in Frankfurt. Ambiente is held over a five day period, with an excellent turn-up that involves 136,000 visitors from 166 countries.

For JML this is a great opportunity to meet new suppliers and distributors and also to catch up again with trusted customers.

This year saw JML exhibiting in a brand new hall, which made for a nice change of scenery and allowed us to present more products on the stand. All the new lines such as Aqua Jet Duo Mop, Woof Glider and ChillMax Pillow received extremely positive feedback, and all the International team is looking forward to securing new business.

The NEC shows seem to take no less organising than Ambiente, despite it only being at the NEC. Help from Arthur, Sarah's team (normally Vikash, Muteen or Scott) and others is invaluable. Proper teamwork for an honest day of hard slog.

This time, we even took the Asda gondola end from our merchandising area at the Northern Office as the show's centrepiece! JML-branded vinyl wallpaper acted as the backdrop to the displays, and it really helps set the display off. The UK Retail team take their stints on the stand, pressing the flesh meeting new and current customers for five long days.

All well worth the investment at some of the most important retail shows we can attend.

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SHOOTING

ACROSS THE POND Catherine Campbell - Head of Production

I

T’S BEEN A BUSY TIME for the production team with two US shoots in as many weeks. First up was a whirlwind visit to New Jersey to film the HairShark 2-minute spot. HairShark is one of the Buy It Now products and sure to be a winner for 2019.

We were working with Tristar who have vast amounts of experience in filming this type of product. We flew in on Sunday evening in time for a production meeting at Tristar studios.

Sea spray splashes over me, soaking my shirt, as the speedboat tailspins into Biscayne Bay. I’m living out my Miami Vice fantasies, but instead of Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs I’ve got Kristian Gatenby and Kevin Dickens next to me. Oh well, it is a work trip after all and the speedboat ride is our reward after a long week spent in a sweaty studio.

It was an early start the next day, filming at a shopping mall they regularly use. Darla Haun did a fantastic job presenting and a host of models provided the testimonials and ‘hub-bub’ as the Americans call the background action. The HairShark inventors were with us, working tirelessly to ensure all hair was backcombed to perfection.

It was cold and blustery outside, and in the afternoon we heard the news that a snow storm was on its way. A state

HairShark

of emergency was declared in New Jersey and Tristar made the call to postpone the shoot the following day as there was a real safety concern.

While it was disappointing to learn we wouldn’t be around when the shoot was rescheduled, the first day of filming was a success and we headed back to the hotel exhausted but satisfied with a day’s work well done.

With the shoot called off, me and Kristian managed to get a day in New York wandering around Central Park in the snow. Lucky it had all blown over by the time I flew out that night, cold and tired and in need of a hot drink.

A week later and we’re in Miami, the weather couldn’t be more different.

The layers are coming off and the sunscreen is going on. This time we’re working with IME making a full-length infomercial for Oh My Bath! The bath salts which help to temporarily lose excess water weight. IME have been so kind to leave us a welcome pack at the hotel which includes amongst

Minimising plastics, it's on the cards Tim Norton - Business Compliance Manager

PACKAGING

DIRECT 2018 PACKAGING FROM CARTONS around products to customers

34.9T CARD • 1.2T PLASTIC

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around products to customers

This used to be sent to landfill until more recycling was undertaken at Tyne Dock where we now recycle:

44.8T CARD • 7.5T PLASTIC

BOXES AND PLASTIC

sacks to send out products

32.3T CARD • 2.6T PLASTIC

• • • • • • •

Cardboard Stretch wrap/polythene Plastic Clothing Metal Ploystyrene Broken wooden pallets

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other things, sunscreen, a water bottle and a bottle of Guinness.

revising the script finally stopping for a bite to eat at about 8pm.

Producing a full 30-minute infomercial is a completely different ball game to filming a 2 minute spot. IME have a huge studio of their own where they manage to construct three different shooting spaces. With meticulous organization they use all three at once, ensuring no two spaces are shooting audio at the same time. We go between each filming area overseeing the Before and After’s, green screen testimonials and on-set model reactions. The product works so well on some of the models that we have to fake a lesser result to keep in line with our approved test reports.

Friday is the main shoot with our two star presenters. Last year we worked with the king of informercials, Marc Gill, now we’re working with the Queen of infomercials, Jenni Bond.

She’s a true professional delivering consistent performance with enthusiasm. Alongside her is beauty expert Kristie Belliston. Together they set the screen alight and sell the hell out of the product.

The IME crew are mostly Spanish speaking and we pick up a few words to use on our UK shoots. ‘Silencio’ and ‘Vamos’ said loud and often by the Creative Director Vanessa Varrous garnering an instant reaction on set.

We meet the next morning to go over the main studio shoot. There have been some last-minute changes and we spend the afternoon and evening

We manage to get through all three studio sections in one day. We wrap right on schedule and someone passes round cold beers which are guzzled gratefully.

Saturday is a day to relax before heading back. Which is when I find myself on a speedboat gawking at the insanely huge mansions of the rich and famous on Star Island. We have an amazing meal of fresh crab and that evening meet up at a local bar with some of our younger IME hosts to toast another job well done.

This has resulted in a reduction in the number of 26.8 m³ skips, sent to landfill each year from 37 in 2011 to 5 in 2018.

RETAIL 2018 PACKAGING

around products to customers

377.9T CARD • 127.5T PLASTIC

We are now reusing cardboard boxes by shredding them and using them as packaging.

BOXES

PACKAGING FROM CARTONS

18.4T CARD

366.7T CARD • 12.2T PLASTIC

used to send out products

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sent to retailers

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Chiswick's Michal Makurat - Creative Artworker

It’s hard to believe that it has been a year since I started working on office graphics for our Chiswick Office. It has been postponed a couple of times, so I was very glad when I was given a green light finally this year.

As anyone who works in Chiswick office knows, until recently the walls were completely bare. We started with measuring and planning, to make sure everything went smoothly and passed the information to our friendly printers at CPS.

10 JMLegraph_ 2019 SPRING.indd 10

What you can see on the walls right now is very different from where I first started. I’ve had a lot of help and insight from my managers and peers to get the project finalized.

The idea was to convey our company values while giving our office a fresh, original look. I’ve really enjoyed the creative process where I have focused on finding original typography and have been inspired by current office branding trends.

This project was a lot of fun and I’m hoping that you guys enjoy it.

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New Starters

Chiswick

Field

Production Team Oscar Davies Production Assistant

Tony Beer Joined Joanne's team in Ireland Conor Hanley Joined Barry’s team in Ireland

Anna Lidster Producer

John Kelly Joined Barry’s team in Ireland

IT Team Andrew Jones Microsoft Dynamics CRM Consultant

Stephanie Doran Joined Mark's team in Midland area

Product Development Team Sarah Gelb Product Development Manager Direct Team Stephen Smith B2B Digital Marketing Executive Lena Michaels PR & Digital Outreach Manager

Tyne Dock Steven Crabrtree Warehouse Operative Leem Harwood Purchasing Assistant

Kasey Dunn Social Media Content Designer/Producer Bhavik Tailor Senior e-CRM Exective

Hello

Every on

e, My na me the pu is Leem an d I ha rchasin ve rec g dep G ame ently artme s deve starte n t in Ty lo d with p throug ment ne do in coll h vario ck. I s e g u tudied e s a sand , then wich s jobs to bec ome a moved on hop c (how alled ‘t n own ironic er of he san ?). Aft was to dwich e r t h at I re be pa s hop’ a rt of a been n orga lised my pa a nam ssion n isation e in m remem y hou that h ber. In s e a h s old sin the sh part o ce I co ort tim f purc u ld e h as I have and e been very d ing, I’ve lea r a n yp ed so that k much eeps m resents a n ew ch e on m mates alleng have g y toes with m e . My te one a yt imma bove am culate raining whil and b s e a t yo nd ou still ou to be ts tputtin nd one o f the b tanding wo g their been r e k st plac . given es I co I believe JM the ch purch L uld ha ance t asing ve e o start w tea and n orking ver ot a m m is like a f at, the amily orning excite to me goes b d to a a lr y r ea rive in where what to wo I don’t dy the fu r k t . u ge I r c with J e hold ML. s for m an’t wait to t s e and my ca ee reer P.S. M etcalf e is a legen d!

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Your pension benefits are

increasing!

Jane Gill - Head of HR

S

ince auto enrolment began, the Government has been steadily increasing the minimum auto enrolment pension contribution levels for millions of workers and this year is no different – it’s law. Your contributions will increase from 3% of total earnings to 4% from 1st April 2019 and the Company’s contribution will increase from 2% to 3%.

The good news is that once you reach your first anniversary with us, you will meet our 4% minimum scheme rules to benefit from JML’s higher contribution rates. In a nutshell, this means we will automatically increase our contributions to 6% as soon as you reach your first anniversary - there’s no need for you to opt in. We will make the first payment in the month you reach your first anniversary or the month following depending on the date you joined us, so you can sit back, relax and watch your investments grow.

The table below explains the contribution rates:

Date

YOU contribute

JML contributes

Total contributed

31st March 2019

3%

2%

5%

1 April 2019 onwards

4%

3%

7%

Upon your first anniversary

4%

6%

10%

1 April 2018 – st

st

It’s sort of free money from JML without the need for you to do anything, no forms, no fuss, just more money to invest as soon as you’re eligible! And if this isn’t enough and you are seeking a bumper retirement why not think about increasing your contributions – you can save as much as £40,000 per annum although it’s probably wise to start with £50 per month if you can afford it. It’s your money and it’s in your name (not JML’s) and when you’re aged 55 you can opt to drawdown 25% of the fund value tax free – so it’s a great way to save a bit extra too if you know you are likely to take 25% out.

JML’s pension provider is Hargreaves Lansdown (HL) www.hl.co.uk with instant online access to your funds.

If you’re not already registered, it’s really easy to do - you’ll need a PIN first. Just call HL’s helpline on 0117

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314 1783 to request one to be sent to you. If you have pension pots with other employers you might wish to consider transferring the monies into Hargreaves Landsdown so speak to HL about the type of pension pot you have elsewhere as final salary schemes should not be moved.

their portfolio in an uncomplicated way. More information on the Webinar will be provided nearer the time.

Any questions or further information just email HR@jmlgroup.co.uk or ring HL’s helpline.

Your money initially goes into the Schroder Managed Balance Fund recommended by HL experts although there are many more expert favourite funds under their Wealth 50 umbrella. HL will be holding a Webinar on 9th April with their experts to talk us through investment choices for those looking to diversify Spring 2019

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Keeping IT Real Hard or softIT is WARE it’s at

Dharmesh Lathigra - Head of IT Infrastructure

A

ll too often a lot of the work that the IT department carry out takes place in the background, where there might not be anything tangible or visible such as how we actively carry out preventative maintenance tasks in order to maintain the infrastructure or adhere to security and update requirements. This year will see a number of projects and changes the benefit of which will be very much seen around our offices and in the field. Here are just some of these major changes for 2019.

Security Change

FST- Samsung Note migration In February the FST were migrated

Tyne Dock Switch Replacement

to a new smart phone, the Samsung galaxy Note 8. This would see the FST move to a single device, having previously worked from a mobile phone and tablet, these “Fablet” type handsets would encompass all the apps they would use from their tablet such as Flowfinity and Office 365 as well as being their company phone. Not only does this make for a more efficient way of working it also reduces ongoing costs due to the fact we are now only paying for just one connection for each FST instead of the two separately.

New Laptops and PC replacement Many of you already have had your laptops replaced with shiny new Dell laptops. This migration is ongoing and in March more of these laptops will be rolled out. Tyne Dock will also see the entire call centre and office replaced with new, compact Dell desktop PC’s which are of a much better performance and run on the very latest operating system, ideal for when CRM rolls in later this year.

Many of you will already be familiar with MFA, the Multi Factor Authentication procedure that when you sign on to your office applications you are required to enter a code that is texted to you.

Microsoft are changing and improving security methods all the time and this procedure will be enforced more rigorously throughout the company later in the year as we move in line with these changing requirements.

We are currently working on a project to improve our authentication security including MFA.

You may have in your time at JML seen our comms rooms where our network cables terminate. The hub like devices which these all plug into at the other end are called Switches.

When head office moved to Chiswick we moved to state of the art new switches, Cisco Miraki, these ensure for a robust and fast network that we can manage remotely and also receive real time alerts for of any changes or problems.

The Return of Ross!

We can’t leave out a very noticeable IT feature returning in form of the gentle giant that is Ross Brown who returned to Tyne Dock to work with David. Ross left JML for a short period of time but was missing us too much and returned to us in December. Ross has already been instrumental in the FST mobile phone project and will be heavily involved in the various technology upgrades taking place at Tyne Dock. It's great to have him back!

And so for IT the key to 2019 will be to refresh technology, improve security whilst streamlining and reducing ongoing costs, this will ensure we all have the necessary tools we need to make our working lives easier. Of course, if you need anything else from us don’t hesitate to shout and we’ll be happy to help.

In March Tyne Dock will have its entire switch infrastructure replaced with the same Cisco Miraki switches. This is probably the biggest infrastructure change to Tyne Dock since the call centre was moved to Unit 1 and will see the IT team working throughout the night to complete this over a weekend period.

Infrastructure improvements Since moving to the cloud three years ago, technology has changed and with it has the need for many of the servers and devices that run our cloud infrastructure to change

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too. We are actively engaged in a big project to reduce the scope of our servers and how they are housed. This will not only make for a more manageable IT estate but will significantly reduce running costs.

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Welcome Back

A

Welcome Return

Cristina Flores - International Account Executive

After being away from maternity leave, I feel so happy to be back at JML and be part of the International team again!

P

ositive work environment, cooperation, support and always a sense of humour.

This is what you find at JML. And that’s why I am lucky to say, I am glad to be back. I was not thrilled when my alarm went off on Monday, but I must admit, I’m luckier than most people.

As I got out of bed and thought about all the customers I manage and the products I can offer them. I thought about growing sales in some of the new markets I got, and my mind was so busy.

I felt excited instead of dread.

It’s an incredible feeling, looking forward to work every day, and for that, I have each and every one of you to thank.

I am very excited and thrilled to be a mum but apart from being a mum you want to feel that there is something else

I looove my job! that you can offer. You want to feel valuable in other way, that there are other tasks that you can do. For example, make your customers buy more, see bigger sales, bigger numbers, targets reached, and JML makes me believe it.

A training in

Vanessa Gordino - Senior Brand & Packaging Designer

I've been a graphic designer for 10 years now, and before coming to JML I worked in several communication agencies such as web design, merchandising and publishing. Today at JML, it's been more than 3 years since I became a designer specialising in packaging. I have experimented with quite a lot of different media in terms of communication and one of the fundamental bases in design for any media is Typography.

Thanks to the new technology, it is very fast and easy to have access to an innumerable amount of typographies, some better than others created by professionals or amateurs. With experience, I learned to see more or less what makes good and bad typography according to their balances, their spacings and the connections from one letter to another.

Even now, I don’t always have the eye of a Lynx to find all the imperfections and this is an area that I want to perfect. Typography is very important

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g in Lettering

signer

in the world of design, regardless of the media, it defines the character of the communication and must adapt to other communication elements such as photos and illustrations...

At JML, we have the chance to create the logos of our new products, and for each new logo research is needed on what typographies would best describe our new product. Most of the time, for my first drafts I sketch the logos in my pad and try to draw and replicate different fonts found in our font library. Sometimes the fonts found are not exactly what I wish for my logos and that's when I come to draw my own letters. But, how to draw it properly? What are the rules to design perfect letters? What technique should I use? Of course, there are several styles of letters going through the calligraphy, the sign painting, the design lettering...

A few months ago, I had the chance to attend some training with a famous

American sign painter Mike Meyer who does workshops around the world to share his experience and techniques in sign painting. The first days of the training were basically the practice of painting familiar letters such as the Gothic and Roman Script. I had to study the thicknesses of the letters according to the different brushes and to understand by the hand gesture the curves or straightness of each letter and how to tie properly two different letters together. I can tell you that at first it was not easy. It has been years since I worked on large media and painting on an easel, but after two days of intense practice I was very happy with the result and with this new experience. Working manually without the computer gives a real character and authenticity to every letter and every word drawn or painted, despite imperfections I found the words more true and stronger on sensibility. The last days were to study the letters with colours, effects, shadows, light, Spring 2019

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gradients or reflections that could be made on each letter. This training brought me a better understanding of the letters in different typefaces and how to draw them better as well as the different effects.

During this training, Mike Meyer mentioned to me about Martina Flor, a lettering artist living in Berlin.

I looked into her work including online tutorials and bought her amazing book. I became a huge FAN! Knowing my new passion for lettering, Marie Sloan (my manager) recently offered me a practice book on Calligraphy by Kirsten Burke, a famous English calligrapher. Now, I also practice calligraphy which is a very nice way to explore script lettering.

Today I put a lot of practice into all these lettering methods as well as my new knowledge from my training with Mike Meyer, to create the new logos for JML products.

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Baby

Baby Boom Congratulations to: Hla & Kyaw.

Tommy was born on 13th February, weighing 7.5 lb.

Amrita

Reyan was born on 11th March, weighing 6.2 lb.

Jack & Lizzie's

twins born on 12th March.

Eira: 4.1 lb / Hector: 6.3 lb.

Wedding

Congratulations

Vanessa & Pablo who got married on the 20th of October in Majorca.

Leaver

Farewell & Good luck

Khine

After 13 years at JML, Khine has decided to return home to Burma.

We wish her all the best for the future.

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JML t nd a ll a as, we a d n a n e c Christm ti pport.

K s u s ta r n d a n fa De ness a had a d u in o k y r e u I hop nd yo

r! you a ew Yea ts anks to th appy N , H , id y create lo d tl s Fir able to support re e s. e w u w s e in ie il eved and w the fam you beli nd best e a s t u s a e c g big all be was our smiles, arts of as 2018 nderful o tm w s d ri n h e best p a C s th e f e ri o o e som or thos y mem pturing eived. F a c of happ c re w e o v h a eh ere de s eir sinc dback w short sli ched a ass on th kind fee a p e tt rry a to th a f e c d v o e ome n ask will all We ha p and s ave bee at they ro h th d e w ry ta o n y orl mem the Sa very po d family e been treasure a art. e p that hav v a a yh d also that the ther an e g to thanks pices, n s whe ies, hos rt il a m e h fa f ir ber o Day to in the er Fun g a num , a Summ e visitin b g o in ng BBQ ls g ri a n ies bri pe to b we will it o il r ics h c a n e e fa ic y W p This ears liday. nd care teddy b el on ho hools a v d c s a n e l a tr it , ia p s c s to spe f re game enough mber o ummer ot well ing a nu g ils bar, s n a ta those n ce to k rr n c a a o h the c ach, m also be s e l il ie b il w e our il m e b fa mo give nes, w well as unger o ost. As ities to o v m y ti c it e a d th to d e for ey ne dship aks an nd frien when th hort bre pport a gether u days, s to s l e a c m racti uality ti rovide p spend q ngs to p ti e illness. l e a m ur small /termin s monthly u o ri e hown o s s a e v g a in h c funding ve you those fa munity r the lo m o fo c s y k n n ra tha ls for mind fo eartfelt rity goa are us in as our h our cha b o to to u t o e As well g ask y elp us to can we at will h charity, th s d o o tion g s been or dona truly ha rt o p r? p a our su the ye r not. of us, y others o e three lp e th h m to o fr ble ou again being a Thank y een us tw e b e c eren the diff

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Charities

T he small charity with the BIG

Hugs Love and l and Ojo u a P , y r r e K

Charity with REEL benefits Mark Penwell - Technical Manager

I am Mark Penwell your Technical Manager at JML. I joined the business last October. Calling all anglers of all abilities, from the match fishermen to the occasional pleasure angler. I have for the last few years organised a charity fishing match at Tunnel Barn Farm for Macmillan. The main aim is to have a day out fishing with your mates.

Tunnel Barn Farm is a premier fishery in the heart of Warwickshire. We start the day having a colossal breakfast at the onsite café. The teams of 6 are split onto different lakes. You fish Spring 2019

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for 5 hours with the largest weight winning each section and giving your team 1 point. The team with the lowest score wins the match.

The entry fee of £20 includes the peg fees, pool fees, a food buffet after the match and a £2 donation to Macmillan. With a fantastic raffle we have raised over £500.

This year's match is on the 17th May. It would be great to put a JML team in the match. Please bring your fishing buddies. If interested then please contact Mark Penwell (mark.penwell@jmlgroup.co.uk)

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Events

Red N se Day On Friday 15th of March it was national Red Nose Day, a day to donate to Comic Relief for supporting vulnerable people and communities in the UK and internationally.

For this occasion Chiswick had a big baking cake sale/competition and

Nitin - Best Taste

prizes were giving to the best Creative, the best Presented and the best Tasting cakes. We had a lot of amazing varieties of cakes and biscuits all home made. Well done to all the bakers who entered these competitions. We also had a sweepstake game where Stacey has been the lucky winner.

Natalie - Best Creative

James - Best Presented

JML

goes to the

Quiz Night Nitin Gohil - Analyst Manager

Imagine magine the scene scene, it's Wednesday and it's already been a very long week in the office, you are really really tired and could do with a pick-me-up.

had to choose a team name, we went with Nitin’s b***hes well, it sounded hilarious at the time.

A

Then onto the serious business, just over forty questions spread over two rounds from random categories. Weird questions like “what was the name of the dog in the garfield comics” and “the megane, scenic & clio are cars from which manufacturer?” came thick and fast. In true JML style, we took part in a very quiet and professional manner – ok we were the loudest in the competition.

few of the tormented souls, i.e.

James Specker, Mel Thomas, Jack Clements, Oscar Davies, Sonia Ascensao, Nick Parkinson, and your's truly decided to go for a few drinks at our local pub, the gunnersbury. Inevitably one drink lead to a couple more and then James had a great idea, “let’s go to the old packhorse and join the quiz night.” To be honest, we didn’t need any convincing and we all agreed.

James rang ahead and booked a table and off we went. Once there, we grudgingly paid our entrance fee and

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Once the teams had been marked and scored, the results were announced in reverse order. We were a whisker away from winning the whole thing,

being pushed into second place by a couple of points. Still an amazing result, coming second in a competition with eleven teams. To celebrate some of us went for a cheeky Nandos but that’s another story altogether.

Forr a random lastminute decision, we all had great fun and we are looking to do the quiz again sometime very soon. For those of you wondering, the answers to the two questions Oscar's ni ght out at JML are Odie and Renault.

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Calendar

April 9

PENSION REVIEW WITH HL 10:00am Chiswick Office

10

QUIZ NIGHT

May

25

6.00pm 3rd floor Chiswick

26

WORLD EARTH DAY

8

11.30am - 2.30pm Chiswick Business Park

8.00pm Chiswick Green

5

23

WINGS FOR LIFE WORLD RUN

Chiswick Business Park

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9.00am Chiswick Office

2

URBAN FOOD FEST

MOVIE NIGHT

8.00pm Old Pack Horse Pub

EASTER EGG HUNT

QUIZ NIGHT

MOVIE NIGHT 6.00pm 3rd floor Chiswick

12.00pm Chiswick Business Park

30

ENGAGE MEETING

June

2.00pm Chiswick Office

8

COLOUR OBSTACLE RUN 1.00pm London

July

20

obstacle run

MOVIE NIGHT 6.00pm 3rd floor Chiswick

After a successful Woman's Muddy Run last October, we are participating in a new team fun run, this time with COLOUR and OBSTACLES. The Color Obstacle Rush will take place in London on the 8th of June 2019. Everybody from JML, families and friends are welcome to join.

HERE'S the link to join the JML team and it will give you 10% DISCOUNT.

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25

CAFE TAKEOVER

6.00pm 3rd floor Chiswick

JML CHISWICK

https://www.rushsignup.com/event/177/BQARXFTYEL/

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MOVIE NIGHT

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D R O SW

S O R C

AMERICA SP ECIAL

by IAN WATSON, COPY WRIT ER ACROSS 2. The president’s a real card!

6. The road to buy your bricks on 9. Sound like an upper-case mountain 10. A cake and some bread 11. Where every lawn is short 12. A heavy load of laundry 14. A big hole for a big piano 16. Not the most colourful abode

DOWN 1. My friend is the clever one 2. An ocean of notes?

3. Mr Trotter knows 4. Baked to the macs 5. The place to study locks 7. Celebs and seageants 8. Where the Buddies grow 10. Boxers or mountains?

13. Run for the top medal 15. It’s actually just called a ‘bull” 16. Crazy, mixed-up stew

Across: 2. Trump • 6. Wall Street • 9. Capitol Hill • 10. Rock And Roll • 11. Motown • 12. Washington • 14. Grand Canyon • 16. White House Down: 1. Budweiser • 2. Tennessee • 3. Delaware • 4. Apple Pie • 5. Yale • 7. Stars And Stripes • 8. Hollywood • 10. Rockies 13. Gold Rush • 5. Cowboy • 16. Wild West

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