NEWS_4-5-7-9-11-12-13_muk.qxp_5/7/8-9/13/15/16-17/19/20 10/12/2019 11:39 Page 5
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Thermos helps the homeless
Above: Winning window at Potters Cookshop.
20s glamour with Le Creuset Le Creuset has announced the winners of its Flavour Revival Display Competition – with Potters’ Cookshop, Hockley taking the top spot. On social media, Potters said of its window display: ‘Think Art Deco, glamour & glitz, rich jewel shades of colour, decadence, opulence and elegance – a celebration of the 1920s era bringing past and present together.’ Second place went to Diss Ironworks, while the joint third prize went to Wardens of Newtonards and Hargreaves of Buxton, and Wroes of Bude came fifth.
Inset: Make International is one of the companies selling overstock via buyfair global.
Thermos UK recently teamed up with homeless charity Simon on the Streets in Leeds to provide flasks for hot drinks to keep rough sleepers warm during winter nights. The Thermos team also raised over £2,000 for the charity in a sponsored ‘Sleep with Simon’. As homelessness in the region reaches record highs and the problem becomes more visibly Above: The Thermos UK marketing team spent a night evident, Thermos UK wanted on the streets to raise money and increase their to make a contribution. As a Leeds-based understanding of what it is like to sleep rough. business, Thermos UK approached Simon on the Streets, an independent, Leeds-based charity supporting entrenched rough sleepers across Leeds, Bradford and Huddersfield. Both parties recognised an opportunity to be able to give entrenched rough sleepers a flask that they could regularly refill and that could give them the capacity to keep a drink hot for up to 18 hours. Thermos UK selected its ‘Light and Compact’ stainless steel 500ml flask, which is durable and easily transported. Simon on the Streets is also linking the initiative with key coffee shops. Rough sleepers are able to get a free hot drink at a participating cafe if they have one of the Thermos UK flasks with the Simon on the Streets logo sticker on its back. “We are delighted to support such a great charity,” said Nick Kime, md of Thermos UK, adding: “The level of homelessness in the region, let alone in the UK, is at a critical mass.” Thermos UK is also replacing the charity’s worn out drinks dispensers with its Thermos 2.5 litre Pump Pots (keeping drinks warm for more than 12 hours). These are used for Simon on the Streets’ weekly sandwich and hot drink run. Fahad Khan, development manager of Simon on the Streets commented: “We’re delighted and incredibly thankful that Thermos UK has donated these flasks to us. As the weather gets colder it becomes increasingly difficult for rough sleepers to stay warm. Being able to get free hot drinks before cafes close will provide our clients with some respite from the cold through the night.” Meanwhile, the Thermos UK marketing trio took part in ‘Sleep with Simon’, spending a night sleeping rough (albeit very safely). With a lot of support from the Thermos UK team, the trio raised £2,370 for the charity.
Re thinking stock The new B2B multi lot auction-based marketplace for overstock, sample and end-of line product, buyfair global is revolutionising buying and selling, according to its founders, who include Make International’s Dominic Speelman. The marketplace’s mission is ‘to rethink, reduce and repurpose stock.’ Dominic, who is ceo of buyfair global and founder of Make International reports: “The response to date has been overwhelmingly positive as we’re addressing a global problem many manufacturers are now facing - what to do with overstock? It’s reached a critical mass and we have a solution – a unique auction site that connects sellers directly with buyers in a brand safe environment.” In addition to Make International, housewares suppliers using buyfair include LSA International, Dexam, BlissHome and Serax. Dominic explains: “The platform offers brands a new route to market and a better return on their product. For buyers the site offers a fast, immediate and simple way to purchase product in volume and at the best possible price. Long lead times are no longer necessary.”
Lakeland, JML and Amazon buy ‘Cock au Pan’ An innovative chicken roaster called the ‘Cock au Pan’ grabbed the attention of leading retailers on the first episode of Channel 4’s four part TV series, Buy It Now For Christmas, which aired at the end of November. The show enables wannabe entrepreneurs to pitch their products to an audience of consumers and a panel of top retailers. The latter consists of Ken Daly, ceo of JML, Wendy Miranda, customer ambassador for Lakeland and Amazon Launchpad’s director of consumer retail, Fiona McDonnell. The first entrepreneur to pitch was Roger – a home Above: A scene from Channel 4’s Buy It Now For cook and professional pianist – who was fed up with Christmas where home cook Roger explained the dry chicken breast when roasting. His invention feeds benefits of his chicken roaster. steam inside the chicken to ensure even cooking. It creates “juicy chicken in half the time,” said Roger. The patented roasting pan won orders from all three retailers, with Wendy stating: “I love the innovation.” The show’s other pitches included an “easier to clean cafetière” that has been developed over six years with an investment of £100,000. The patented invention solves the frustration of cleaning ground coffee from the filter, base and sides of a conventional coffee press. Coffee grounds – or tealeaves – are collected between two fine mesh filters.
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