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lifestyle Business

Flip the business!

Nathan from The Fresh Focus Photography (thefreshfocus.co.uk) offered DOORtraits to families during lockdown. He would take pictures of families on their doorstep to keep as a memory for years to come in exchange for a donation to the charity of their choice. Well done Nathan!

6 WAYS TO BRING IN EXTRA CASH AT HOME

by SHON ALAM, Bidwedge As Covid-19 continues to keep us at home it is good to find ways to keep ourselves occupied and perhaps also make a bit of extra cash. So here are six ideas that you might like to try…

1. Get creative If you’re planning to spend time on crafting you can get your materials delivered. Whether you want to create something with yarn, wood, paper or recycled materials that you have at home, if you find (or already know) that you’re creating something people will buy, then there are lots of places to set yourself up as a seller. Start by checking out Etsy.com, Shopify.co.uk, Folksy.com and Notonthehighstreet.com. A Facebook page and Pinterest are also great (and free) ways to showcase your crafts.

2. Re-circulate your books Review your bookshelves and decide which books you’ll re-read or pass on to friends or family. If you’re honest, the rest are simply decoration and you can sell them. Amazon is the obvious place to start – you’ll need to register as a seller (have your mobile, passport /driving licence and payment card ready). Ensure you can post what you are offering for sale or get everything ready for when you can. See https://amzn. to/2YWBLc2 Alternatively, try We Buy Books (webuybooks.co.uk) or Music Magpie (musicmagpie.co.uk).

3. Clear your cupboards If you’re clearing out cupboards and find items worth selling, eBay is the obvious place to go. As a seller, you need to be responsible about the sending, ensuring you adhere to social distancing at the Post Office. You can make items ‘buyer collects’ however this is best only if the person is local (avoiding unnecessary journeys) and you can hand over the item using the distancing guidelines. Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree are also handy.

4. What about vintage items? VintageCashCow will buy your vintage items for cash. You put everything you want to sell in a box (during the isolation period, they are offering a free home collection service), they then value it and offer you a fair price within 48 hours. If you accept their offer they will send you a cheque or transfer the money on the same day. Any unsold items they will return for free!

5. Cash in your spare foreign currency When clearing drawers there’s a good chance you’ll find some currency left over from holidays etc. How can you get this exchanged easily? At Bidwedge, (bidwedge.com) you create a free account, state the amount of currency you have and they will tell you the price they will pay for your currency. If you agree, post your currency to Bidwedge and the agreed amount will be paid direct into your bank account. There are no additional fees, postage is free, and all transactions are insured.

6. Make the most of your screen time If you’re spending time on your PC or other devices use some of this time to make a little money. Surveys are popular choice although they don’t pay that well. But the only resources you need are your device and your opinion. Be careful to pick legitimate sites and ones that don’t waste your time and pay very little. Try YouGov (yougov.co.uk), Prolific (prolific.co), LifePoints (lifepointspanel.com) and Swagbucks (swagbucks. com) as starting points. You can even earn cash just by changing your browser! Look at qmee.com.

1. Aloe Vera 2. Chrysanthemums 3. Ficus 4. Peace Lily 5. Spider Plant 6. Snake Plant 7. Dragon Tree 8. Gerbera daisy 9. Chinese Evergreen 10. English Ivy OnBuy.com

ORPINGTON NETWORKING GOES VIRTUAL IN PYJAMAS

Networking isn't what it used to be. Even around Orpington, the shift from often suited and booted face-to-face networking to the online virtual version has brought with it unexpected perils (think people on Zoom calls in bed, partners in the buff walking past and the worry that when someone stands, they've not put their trousers on!) However, these meet ups are at least bringing people together - and networking is part of the lifeblood of business and the community.

So, what local networking is happening? The monthly Federation of Small Business (FSB) meetings usually held at the Masala Dabbas restaurant in Orpington are now held online. There are also free, locally-based Business Continuity Workshops online providing topical expertise to business people. All the FSB and the Business Continuity events can be found at the BCS Facebook group: facebook.com/

groups/522086558475357.

Another regular, friendly local business group, BNI Lightning, meets every Thursday between 6.30 and 8.30am. To become a guest there, call Debbie Beaven on 07833 640938 or email her at debbiebeaven@ bsandb.co.uk. Darren Weale, Teepol Products, FSB and BNI Lightning

Why podcasts are a growing opportunity for business

by BEN ANDERSON, Sound Rebel

The country’s listening habits are being transformed, driven by the change in the way people consume television programmes, with ondemand services becoming increasingly popular. Until the recent stay home warnings, the number of people listening to live radio had been dropping, with more people choosing to listen to podcasts regularly.

A podcast is a set of digital audio files that are made available on the Internet for people to listen to immediately or download for later use. The biggest brands in the world understand the power of branded podcasts, but regardless of the size of a business, podcasts are a great way to communicate your value proposition to an engaged and captive audience. Incorporating podcasts into your marketing strategy offers numerous benefits for your business and there’s never been a better time to get started.

They can be a uniquely spontaneous, informal and intimate medium, perfect for delivering important insight with emotion, warmth and passion for a topic.

It’s not all about well-edited scripts or carefully crafted questions, but about researching the topics carefully, agreeing what’s to be covered and then talking with friends as you would in the pub.

Everyone involved can be in a separate location, which at the time of writing makes podcasts the perfect tool for bringing people together to create memorable content that an engaged audience will find truly valuable.

THE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF 2020 (for people who want to transform their lives)

The rise of non-fiction and self-help books has seen significant increase lately, as people become more aware of their health and mental state and look to find information which could help them on their journey to a healthier and happier life by making positive changes.

Rutger Bruining, CEO of biography-writing service StoryTerrace, reveals his picks for the best books published this year, and discusses the benefits of documenting your own life story…

The Catalyst: How to Change Anyone's Mind (Jonah Berger)

This title will help you to understand and potentially harness the power of the "catalyst" - the person who makes the difference and initiates real change to influence people, often in the most difficult scenarios. Learn the skills of top salespeople, leaders, activists, hostage negotiators and counsellors, and how they use these skills to their advantage to influence the decisions of others and achieve incredible things.

Successful Aging: A Neuroscientist Explores the Power and Potential of Our Lives (Daniel J. Levitin)

Successful Aging encourages us to completely change our perspectives on the notion of growing older and what the later decades of our life are likely to bring. In an age where our life expectancy is only set to rise, Daniel Levitin provides a new way of approaching the aging process to get the most out of our longer lives.

Don't Overthink It: Make Easier Decisions, Stop Second-Guessing, and Bring More Joy to Your Life (Anne Bogel)

Arguably one of the most useful and pertinent books in today's culture, especially for younger generations, Don’t Overthink It provides an approach to being more decisive, deciding how and where to direct your energy and focus, and being more objective in making choices which will help you to spend more time enjoying and revelling in the important things in life.

You're Not Listening: What You're Missing and

Why It Matters (Kate Murphy)

Kate Murphy is a longtime journalist who has written for The New York Times and The Economist. In You're Not Listening, Kate shares examples from conversations across her career with people from all walks of life; secret service agents, bartenders, CEOs and toddlers, to explain how the art of listening and paying attention can truly make a huge difference in your life and your chances of success.

The Lady's Handbook for her Mysterious Illness (Sarah Ramey)

Unlike the other books on this list, The Lady's Handbook is a memoir of Sarah Ramey's experiences contending with a mysterious illness, and her attempts to discover the ailment that she was suffering from that had stumped doctors for years. The memoir discusses how many of today's illnesses are born from our environment, and educates the reader on how the cornerstones of our health, (diet, sleep, exercise, work and social interactions) can interact to have adverse effects on how we feel.

Why not write your own story?

With the almost limitless access to information that we have in today's world, we are arguably more aware as a society than ever before, both in terms of wider social issues, and our own health on an individual basis. However, if you're someone who recognises the benefits of such books, perhaps the best book you could read this year is the story of your own life or one of your older relatives. One thing that few of us consider is the power within the lessons and experiences that we can take from our own personal stories. Looking into your past; the highs, the lows, the failures and successes; can often provide you with many great lessons and knowledge to take forward with you, if you truly pay attention. What's more, these lessons can be invaluable for those around you, particularly younger generations of your family, to bring them closer to you and to help them learn from the experiences you have enjoyed or endured.

A Business Support Task Force has been set up to help coordinate partnership working to support the local economy, with business organisations working together with the council. The task force, which includes the Borough’s Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and the South East London Chamber of Commerce, is working together to ensure that businesses are supported through the immediate crisis of COVID-19, and to plan for the recovery of the local economy. This includes helping businesses access the government’s financial assistance packages and to provide advice and guidance to businesses trying to navigate the wider implications of the government’s public health measures. Councillor Yvonne Bear, the borough’s newly appointed Business Champion and Task Force member, said: “The borough’s businesses have faced the challenges the health emergency has posed with fortitude and determination. We thank you for the extraordinary efforts that you have made to protect the wider community and play your part in fighting this virus. We will continue to advocate on your behalf, working in partnership with you and business organisations to ensure a swift recovery of the local economy.” For more information see bromley.gov.uk/COVID19BusinessSupport

Skills 30:30 goes online!

FSB London is working in partnership with Harris Federation to deliver its next Skills 30:30 event online. Taking place on Thursday 25th June from 12pm1.30pm, it will bring small businesses into contact with Year 13 school students to share their knowledge of the world of work and help them imagine a wide range of future job options. Both businesses and students will join together to hear from keynote speakers before meeting up in break out groups for facilitated industry/ sector discussions, speed-networking, working on pitch examples and hearing some top tips from businesses. If you’re a small self-employed business and can spare 90 minutes of your time to help educate the next generation about the world of work, please contact Sarah King - sarah.king@fsb.org.uk - by Friday 12th June.

Thousands of pounds worth of business is generated by members every week. Our motto is ‘givers gain’ and we live up to it. We currently meet online via Zoom every Thursday morning. Each week there is a ‘buzz’ as we catch up and do business together. You’ll meet people like these: Local business group is welcoming guests... online Fancy getting your business known better locally? Want to make more friends and valuable contacts? If you do, BNI Lightning would like to hear from you .

I am passionate about saving people money on their every day, every month bills through UW. We are WHICH approved and rely solely on word-of-mouth referrals that come naturally due to the quality of our service. Members not only save money on essential bills, but on food shopping, petrol, travel and treats such as cinema and eating out. Everyone has to pay bills, but why more pay more? Save money, make money - ask me how. Emma Montgomery Utilities M: 07956 324 863 E: emmam@utilitywarehouse.org.uk FB: @yourbillsaretoobig W: www.secondpayday.co.uk Graphic design is the art of combining words, shapes, form, and colour to communicate an idea. Logos, brochures, mailers, advertising, signs and a host of other design products visually influence our daily lives without us even thinking about it. I create the images and material to promote your business that make a lasting impression and encourage brand loyalty. Richard Crowe Graphic Designer

M: 07876 540 939 E: richard@creativewiredesign.co.uk W: creativewiredesign.co.uk

If you’d like to visit us at BNI Lightning, call Debbie Beaven on 07833 640 938 or email debbiebeaven@bsandb.co.uk You can find and message us on Facebook and find us online at www.bni-lightning.co.uk If giving and gaining is how you like to approach business and life, call Debbie now!