Browsing: / Home
Shortlink

The 2013 Lions secret weapon revealed

By on 05/24/2013 in , ,

The last time the British & Irish Lions toured Australia in 2001 the enormous Lions support at the first test shocked the Wallabies and some say sealed the victory for the Lions. The Australian’s famously responded by giving away tickets to the second test and allegedly resorting to amplifying the home support.

To give the Lions and their supporters the edge in 2013, Rugby inspired fashion brand Ruckstar has produced the first ever Lions anthem, The Voice of a Thousand Men, by RUCK STARS to arm the supporters and to inspire the Lions to victory.

The song is a new version, with Lions inspired lyrics, of the Swords of a thousand men, by Tenpole Tudor and it has a promotional video featuring 4 larger than life supporters hailing from the 4 constituent Lions nations, and their intrepid antics.

The song is on sale as a download from iTunes and other reputable online music stores, with all proceeds to the Wooden Spoon Society.

Ruckstar Founder Neil Boote explains “our anthem is a plea to the lucky traveling supporters to take with them the voices of those supporting from home. Its also a fantastic sing along tune!” He added, “with the Rugby family behind us who knows we might make Rugby number 1. and challenge football’s musical dominance”

Mixx Delicious Digg Facebook Twitter
Shortlink

Flags advise Bury motorists on reducing car crime

By on 05/24/2013 in ,

Officers from the Bury South Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) are using customised flags in car crime hotspots to remind motorists to remove valuables from their vehicles.


Since the start of April this year there have been 71 incidents where items were stolen from vehicles across Whitefield, Prestwich and Radcliffe, and police are keen to help people to avoid becoming victims.


Inspector Mark Kenny from the Bury South NPT said: “Motorists should park in secure or well-lit areas wherever possible. They should also close all windows, set any security devices and remove all valuables, especially sat navs and their mounting cradles. All doors should be locked and checked manually, as automatic locking devices can sometimes suffer from interference. 


“If you must leave your vehicle unattended with valuables inside, make sure you lock them in the boot out of sight, and it’s worth remembering that some stores will keep gifts for you so you can collect them later.”


Police are also urging motorists to register valuables at www.immobilise.com and to security mark them with their postcode and house number or vehicle registration number.  Immobilise is a free Home Office approved website which allows you to keep a record of all your valuable items.


For non-emergency calls or to report a crime call police on 101.


Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. 


Use 999 only in emergencies where there is a threat to life or property or a crime in progress. 


ENDS


Issued by GMP: 24 May 2013.


Pictured: PC Derek Lee of Whitefield Neighbourhood Policing Team.

Mixx Delicious Digg Facebook Twitter
Shortlink

Another year on the waves for Stena Line and Cool FM

By on 05/24/2013 in , ,

LEADING ferry company Stena Line has extended its sponsorship of Northern Ireland’s biggest commercial radio show, The Cool Breakfast Show on Cool FM.

Stena Line will use the sponsorship to promote its full range of travel products, with focus on the Superfast ships on the Belfast – Cairnryan route and the new Belfast – Liverpool Supercruise experience. 

The sponsorship deal is initially running for 12 months with the option of extending at the end of this period and will see Stena Line link up with the new presenters of the breakfast show, Gareth Stewart and Connor Phillips. Gareth and Connor entertain their quarter of a Million weekly listeners with great music, wit and banter from 06:00 – 09:00 Monday to Friday.

Cool FM is the biggest commercial radio station in Northern Ireland with a weekly listenership of 408,000. Cool FM MD, Mark Mahaffy, said, “Cool FM is delighted to welcome Stena Line onboard for another year as sponsor of our biggest show and we look forward to continuing our good work and relationship with them in the year ahead.”

Stena Line’s Head of PR and Communications, Diane Poole OBE said, “The Cool FM partnership has been very successful for us over the past two years and we look forward to continuing this with our sponsorship of the Breakfast Show with Gareth and Connor.

“As we team up together over the next 12 months we will continue to promote our service to all of the Cool FM breakfast listeners across Northern Ireland and highlight Stena Line’s choice of routes and ships on the Irish Sea,” she added.

[End]

MEDIA ENQUIRIES: For further information please contact Kate Ferguson of Duffy Rafferty Communications on 028 9073 0880.

Mixx Delicious Digg Facebook Twitter
Shortlink

UK apparel retailers market dominated by Primark

By on 05/24/2013 in

Sales within the UK’s apparel retailers market remained relatively flat through 2012, reaching a value of £29 billion.

Sales at apparel retailers were affected by the wet weather characterising the British summer in 2012, which discouraged consumers from buying spring/summer collections. On the other hand, an eventful 2012 for the country, with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and London’s hosting of the Olympic Games, boosted sales as more tourists flocked to the country.

Sales through online retailing continued to increase in importance. However, multichannel, the combination of in-store and online retailing, is becoming increasingly popular making the distinction between different retail channels increasingly blurred. This is exemplified by the presence of touch screen monitors in store through which customers can order a size online that is currently not available in store.

The trading environment continued to be challenging in 2012, with the recession affecting consumers’ disposable incomes. In this difficult setting, the extreme ends of the category, value and luxury retailers, performed better than mid-price retailers.

Consumers seeking value for money are turning to low prices clothing, while luxury retailers benefit from a niche clientele resilient to the recession and by the influx of wealthy tourists from around the world, particularly from the Middle East and East Asia.

Among the significant openings in 2012, US retailer of lingerie, Victoria Secret, timed its launch in the UK to correspond with the Olympic Games and opened a new flagship store on Bond Street, London and one in Wesfield Stratford. H&M brands Cheap Monday and Monky, already present in the UK through concessions in department stores, also opened their first stores in Carnaby Street in London.

A number of companies went into administration in 2012, including the Peacocks Group’s brands Peacocks and Bonmarche, which entered administration in January 2012 and which were subsequently bought by Edinburgh Woollen Mill and the private equity group Sun European Partners, respectively. These transactions led to the closure of a significant number of stores. Lingerie retailer La Senza also entered administration in early 2012 and was later purchased by the Kuwait group Alshaya UK, which again resulted in several store closures.

Primark continues to lead the UK’s apparel retailers market. Not only was it the largest retailer in 2012, it also experienced the fastest growth. Primark not only benefits from being a value retailer but also from its clear value proposition based on providing up-to-date and fashion-orientated clothing at competitive prices.

For more information on the UK apparel retailers market, see the latest research: UK Apparel Retailers Market

Follow us on Twitter @CandMResearch

Mixx Delicious Digg Facebook Twitter
Shortlink

Have your say on health, housing and jobs

By on 05/24/2013 in ,

Residents are invited to give their views on what the top priorities for Ramsbottom, Tottington and North Manor should be for the year ahead.


A series of workshops will be held at the next meeting of the local Township Forum, which is on Wednesday 5 June at Tottington Methodist Church.


The aim is to draw up four or five key realistic and achievable priorities to be included in the refresh of the RTNM Township Plan.


The groups will discuss themes including health, community safety, worklessness and training, and housing. Each group will be asked to give their opinions and suggest new projects and ideas to help to achieve the goals for each key priority.


The meeting starts at 7pm, and the usual open forum and public question time will be on the agenda in the second half of the meeting.


For more details, contact township co-ordinator David Thomas on 0161 253 7455.


ENDS


Press release issued: 24 May 2013.



Mixx Delicious Digg Facebook Twitter
Shortlink

Findcourses.co.uk supports Learning at Work Day 2013

By on 05/24/2013 in , , , , ,

On 23rd
May workplaces all across the UK, including corporations, SMEs, public sector
organisations and government departments, celebrated Learning at Work (LAW)
Day, the national event dedicated to the promotion of learning and development
in the workplace. Organised by the Campaign for Learning as part of Adult
Learners’ Week, the theme of this year’s edition – the 14th since
its inception in 1999 – was ‘Many Ways to Learn’, dedicated to highlighting the
many different formats in which continuous workplace development can be secured
in support of an organisation’s overall goals.

For the
second year running, Findcourses.co.uk worked in national partnership with the
Campaign for Learning to help raise awareness of the event and to use its
experience in the sector to encourage both companies and training organisations
to support the initiative. As part of this activity, Findcourses.co.uk built on
the success stories of 2012 and once again offered a “match-making” service
dedicated to putting HR and L&D Professionals interested in organising an
event in contact with trainers looking to contribute by providing seminars,
taster sessions and workshops to their staff. “Essentially, the match-making
service we offer for Learning at Work Day is an extension of what we do all
day, every day” said Kate Butterworth, Site Manager at Findcourses.co.uk. “Our
job is to help those looking for training to find and contact the right
providers in order to advance their professional development. For Learning at
Work Day, we just extended that concept and applied it on a bigger scale in
support of a really important national initiative. We listened to the companies
that contacted us, understood the skills and areas they were looking to develop
among their staff, and got them in touch with providers that could deliver
suitable workshops and taster sessions for their LAW Day”, she continued.

Initial
reports indicate positive reactions on the part of the providers, companies
and, most importantly, the employees that took part in the LAW Day activities
themselves. “From our own and others’ research, we have seen time and time
again that training and professional development opportunities are absolutely
crucial factors in maintaining high levels of job satisfaction across different
industries. Learning at Work Day is a fun way for organisations to show their
employees that they are committed to providing these opportunities and serious
about investing in their human resources in the long-term”, continued
Butterworth.

In other
areas of the country, a series of events organised by companies, training
providers and national partners of the Campaign for Learning – including The
Open University’s ‘Inspiring Learning’ Award and The Science Museum’s workshops
on the future of digital and countless other activities – contributed to making
the 2013 edition of Learning at Work Day a rich, fun and valuable celebration
of professional development. The hope is that increasing awareness of such
events will contribute to the creation of a true culture of workplace learning
that will help UK organisations, and the country overall, fill critical skills
gaps and maintain a competitive edge in an increasingly demanding global
market.

Press Contact: Kate Butterworth
kate.butterworth@findcourses.co.uk
+44(0)203 318 6283

Mixx Delicious Digg Facebook Twitter
Shortlink

Teleopti TEM fortifies its presence in Russia and China

By on 05/24/2013 in , , ,

The striking of two sizeable telecom expense management (TEM) deals – one in Russia and one in China – has prompted Teleopti TEM AB, global provider of TEM solutions, to fortify its presence in both countries. The office in Russia gains an additional staff member while China will soon be witnessing the opening of a new office in Beijing and the installation of a recently hired, full-time staff member.

The deal in Russia with giant, banking client Sberbank, which plays a leading role in the Russian banking sector, was struck in December 2012. Now, following on the heels of the recently struck deal in late April of this year with China Southern Power Grid, Teleopti TEM AB is raring to expand its global footprint in both countries.

”The contract with China Southern Power Grid represents a milestone for us.  A leading energy company in China, it’s a big deal especially because it allows us to get a foothold in the market there,” says Kjell Persovin, CEO of Teleopti TEM AB. “That, combined with several strong partnerships in the region – particularly with Huawei, with whom cooperation has brought successful results – makes me confident that we’ll experience growth opportunities and resounding success with our TEM solution over there.”

The TEM solution, Teleopti Pro, is powerful software for large telecom users that controls costs, monitors quality and manages all communication devices and services. Regardless of the type of telephony – fixed, mobile or IP – this highly efficient software provides organisations with complete information about all its telephony costs, services, traffic and hardware. Such assurance -  i.e. giving clients a 360-degree overview -  leads to complete control over all the enterprise’s communication costs.

Heading the project in China is Shenzhen JHW, a leading electricity device provider and system integrator for the electricity industry in China. Yang Pingbo, project manager at Shenzhen JHW, says that the initial phase of JHW setting up the infrastructure to support some 2,000 devices and extensions is well under way. Based on Huawei UC 2.0 solutions, complete project delivery is slated for end June.

Xiaokun Yang, the newest member of Teleopti TEM AB and the first, full-time, TEM resource in China, will serve as project coordinator for China Southern Power Grid. After initial training in Sweden, Xiaokun will be setting up the Beijing office in May. Once installed, his focus will be on sales and establishing an active local partner network.

In the Russian office, Vladislava Vasilieva, who previously worked (since November 2011) with the Teleopti workforce management (WFM) solution, the company’s other main business area, is now working with the TEM solution. With Teleopti’s decision to increase its resources in order to expand in the region, she was joined by staff member Ghennady Garaganov, hired in February of this year. Together they will boost sales and continue their networking efforts with a view to accelerating Teleopti’s expansion in the territory.

 

Mixx Delicious Digg Facebook Twitter
Shortlink

Facial recognition market to be worth $6.5 billion by 2018

By on 05/24/2013 in

The facial recognition market has been forecast to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27.7% over the next five years, rising from a valuation of $1.92 billion at the beginning of 2013, to hit a market value of $6.50 billion by 2018.

A facial recognition system is a computer application for automatically identifying or verifying a person from a digital image or a video frame from a video source. One of the ways to do this is by comparing selected facial features from the image and a facial database.

Facial recognition is slowly proving itself as a potential technology for authentication, identification and a range of other applications in almost all industry verticals available, and is predicted to become as ubiquitous as finger print technology today.

The technology is not limited to its traditional application of facial detection any more, but its current usage includes refining search engine searches based on facial images, photo tagging applications, identify age, sex and ethnicity of a person in retail stores, gathering intelligence on buying and traffic pattern in various retail shops, identify missing persons, identify hooligans in riots or sport events and recognising emotions from facial expressions to study consumer behaviour and many gaming applications.

Emerging markets such as retail and social networking sites are increasing the adoption of facial recognition technology. In the Retail sector, companies scan consumers’ faces to determine approximate age and gender, and a list of products are displayed on the interface based on the shopper’s specific profile.

Recent terror attacks and constant threats to safety have created an urgent need for advanced security solutions. Facial recognition technology is one of the fastest-growing technologies within biometric technologies. With the emergence of 3D technology, it is fast evolving as one of the most preferred solutions.

Key players currently dominating the facial recognition market include Morpho, NEC Corp. and Cognitec Systems GmbH.

For more information on the facial recognition market, see the latest research: Facial Recognition Market

Follow us on Twitter @CandMResearch

Mixx Delicious Digg Facebook Twitter
Shortlink

Smuggled diesel seized at Cairnryan port

By on 05/24/2013 in , ,

A lorry carrying 24,000 litres of suspected laundered diesel has been seized by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) at Cairnryan Port.

The fuel was seized after Cairnryan Port Police stopped a 40ft trailer as it arrived by ferry from Larne in Northern Ireland yesterday morning (Wednesday). Port Police referred it to HMRC for investigation. HMRC officers tested the vehicles fuel and believe it was running on low duty green diesel from the Republic of Ireland.

HMRC officers then searched the trailer and found 960 30-litre plastic drums filled with clear diesel. The drums were packed in cardboard boxes then shrink wrapped onto pallets. The lorry is estimated to contain around 24,000 litres of fuel, with a potential revenue loss of around £17,000.

Anne-Marie Gordon, Assistant Director of Criminal Investigation for HMRC, said:

“Fuel laundering is unregulated and dangerous. Those who smuggle flammable fuel, in vehicles not designed for its safe transport, show a complete disregard for the safety of other ferry passengers and motorists.

“Illicit fuel is being sold at reduced prices and motorists may think they are getting a good deal because it is cheaper. I would caution them to think again as the true cost is far from a bargain and encourages activity putting other road users at risk.

“We are working in partnership with our colleagues in the Scottish Organised Crime Task Force (SOCTF) and this success shows the important role that cooperation has in defeating crime and protecting our community. I would urge anyone with information on fuel misuse in their area to contact our free telephone hotline – 0800 59 5000 – and contribute to the fight against this criminality.”

A man from Co Antrim in Northern Ireland was detained and released after interview. HMRC investigations are continuing.

Notes to editors

Red diesel is marked gas oil or a rebated fuel for use in agricultural machinery and not for use in road vehicles. Green diesel is the Republic of Ireland equivalent of the UK’s red diesel.

Mixx Delicious Digg Facebook Twitter
Shortlink

Modular data centre market to increase at a CAGR of 37% through 2018

By on 05/24/2013 in

The modular datacentre market has been forecast to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 37.41% over the next five years, increasing from a valuation of $8.25 billion at the start of 2013, to hit a market value of $40.41 billion by 2018.

A modular data centre system is a portable method of deploying data centre capacity. An alternative to the traditional data centre, a modular data centre can be placed anywhere data capacity is needed.

Modular data centre systems consist of purpose-engineered modules and components to offer scalable data centre capacity with multiple power and cooling options. Modules can be shipped anywhere in the world to be added, integrated or retrofitted into the customer’s existing data centre footprint, or combined into a system of modules.

Modular datacentres have redefined the way that traditional datacentres or computer centre architectures implement cooling, power supplies and space infrastructure. It consists of standardised components, making it easier and cheaper to build, deploy and integrate/retrofit to any other datacentre at a customer premises.

North America, the first mover in this market, is still the majority contributor and looks set to remain so through to 2018; but Asia- Pacific (APAC) and Latin America are expected to surpass its growth with a steep increase in Y-O-Y because of huge potential available in countries such as China and India.

Modular data centers are like Legos. You can keep stacking them up and build as high as you need to build it. Companies need the flexibility to be able to build data centers in small, incremental steps. It means they don’t need a whole new building beside a river to cool it. It means they can grow their data centre alongside their business needs.

For many of the largest data centers, placement is important because they need so much power. Some firms, like Microsoft, Google and Facebook, have placed their data centers next to bodies of water that use hydroelectric power.

For more information on the modular data centre market, see the latest research: Modular Data Centre Market

Follow us on Twitter @CandMResearch

Mixx Delicious Digg Facebook Twitter
Shortlink

May 2013. Tpoll launches Future Thinking Forum – Consumer Technology

By on 05/24/2013 in , , , , , , , ,

Tpoll, the leading online community
insight company has launched the Future Thinking Forum, a community of tech
savvy users engaged in live discussion about the latest product innovations,
gadgets and software iterations.

The early reaction to the Xbox One
launch this week is a mix of excitement and possible over expectation. Initial
threads are; is it a gamers dream machine, a premature wedge in the market to
PS4 or, an awesome piece of kit beyond that of gaming-only

Microsoft appear to have made a hit
with the X1 with key features such as the fully integrated multimedia
capabilities and high-end graphics. Users feel the hardware giant has listened
to its customers and added significant improvements in hardware, software and
functionality to justify the price and to warrant replacing their consoles

A major concern by core gamers is
that Xbox One can do so many things like phone calls, movies and photo sharing,
however, can it play its own XBOX 360 games?

The Future Thinking Forum members
are often seen as the core target group for large consumer electronics
companies who value their qualified opinions and feedback. For further
information and to subscribe to the Future Thinking Forum email  Alexandra.clark@tpoll.com

Mixx Delicious Digg Facebook Twitter
Shortlink

UK home insecticides market suffering from bad publicity linking products to leukaemia

By on 05/24/2013 in

Value sales within the UK home insecticides market increased by 1% to reach £22 million in 2012.

An insecticide is a pesticide used against insects. They include ovicides and larvicides used against the eggs and larvae of insects respectively. Insecticides are used in agriculture, medicine, industry, and general home use.

In general, products within the home insecticides category have suffered from bad publicity and supermarkets are very conscious of ensuring that they do not damage their public image. Home insecticides occupy a small space on supermarket shelves, and in small retail outlets only occupy a couple of shelves, with poor visibility.

Home insecticides have suffered from bad publicity over the last few years, which include stories in the media linking certain products to the onset of leukaemia, other types of cancer, premature birth and Parkinson’s disease. Stories also directly linked certain Vapona products to cancer. This makes it a complex category to enter for new players, as consumers remain wary and demand remains low.

The fastest growing category in 2012 was spray/aerosol insecticides, reflecting a trend seen throughout the past five years. These products are more widely available, relative to other formats, and have more widespread usage, as opposed to the more insect-specific formats of insecticide baits and coils.

They are also regarded as better value relative to other formats, most notably electric insecticides. UK consumers are also most used to this type of home insecticide, which is boosting repeat purchases.

SC Johnson Ltd continued to lead the UK home insecticides market in 2012, registering a 48% value share with its Raid brand. This brand accounts for SC Johnson’s entire company share. Ranked second is Sara Lee Household & Body Care UK Ltd with 15%, achieved through its Vapona brand.

Rentokil Initial Plc is placed third with a 5% share, achieved with the Rentokil brand. The sales of all three companies are supported by broad product portfolios and long-term brand reputations.

For more information on the UK home insecticides market, see the latest research: UK Home Insecticides Market

Follow us on Twitter @CandMResearch

Mixx Delicious Digg Facebook Twitter
Shortlink

Good news for Motability customers thanks to new VW Polo Match Edition

By on 05/24/2013 in ,

Volkswagen’s Polo range now
offers Motability customers even greater value for money, thanks to the
addition of a new Match Edition which replaced the existing Match trim level
last month.  The new Match Edition is
available in three- and five-door bodystyles and with Nil Advance Payment on
the Motability Scheme.

Prices
for the Match Edition start at £12,045 (RRP ‘on the road’) for the 1.2-litre 60
PS three-door manual version, and rise to £15,240 for the 1.4-litre 85 PS five-door
with seven-speed DSG automatic transmission. 
With low fuel consumption the Match Edition delivers up to 72.4 mpg on
the combined cycle while emitting just 102 g/km of CO2.

The Polo Match
Edition adds extra specification including rear parking sensors, cruise control
and an alarm with interior protection.  Exterior
highlights include stylish 15-inch ‘Castille’ alloy wheels, front fog lights
and heat-insulating tinted rear windows.  Comfort and convenience are the
main focus inside the cabin with manual air conditioning, an RCD 310 radio / CD
player, multifunction computer and MDI (Multi Device Interface) with iPod
connectivity all standard.  The model is also fitted with electric windows
and a comfort pack, incorporating remote central locking and electrically
adjustable exterior mirrors.

Naturally all the
Polo’s usual safety equipment remains on board with standard specification
including four airbags, ABS and ESP.

A wide range of Volkswagen models is
available through the Motability scheme, from the up! city car, to the multi-award
winning Golf, Beetle, Golf Plus, Golf Estate and Cabriolet, Jetta, Passat,
Volkswagen CC, Scirocco and Tiguan to the Touran and Sharan people
carriers. 

Motability Operations manages the
worry-free Motability Scheme for over 600,000 disabled people and their
families.  Anyone who receives the Higher
Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance or the War
Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement can exchange this monthly payment to lease a
brand new car, scooter or powered wheelchair through the Motability
Scheme.  For more information on Motability call 0800 093 1000 or visit www.motability.co.uk.

For more information on the Polo and your nearest
Retailer, please call 0800 333 666, or to download the brochure or Volkswagen
Motability contract hire price guide, visit http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/buying-guide/motability-offers.

(ends)

9228/KT/rl

Mixx Delicious Digg Facebook Twitter
Shortlink

German air treatment market driven by the interest in improving overall health and wellbeing

By on 05/24/2013 in

Products within the German air treatment market declined in volume terms by 1% in 2012, while current value sales increase by 1% to €77 million.

Consumer demand for air treatment products in Germany tends to depend mainly on the temperatures recorded in the country and the late onset of summer in 2012 resulted in a negative retail volume growth in air treatment products over the course of the year.

Air purifiers registered relatively strong value growth in Germany during 2012, rising by 3%. This positive growth was mainly due to the successful marketing of air purifiers, many of which are positioned as being beneficial to the health of consumers as they can help to alleviate the symptoms of asthma and various allergies.

This trend is also related to the general consumer interest in improving overall health and wellbeing in Germany, which was also evident in other small consumer appliances categories towards the end of 2011-12.

The leading player in air treatment products in Germany is De’Longhi Deutschland GmbH, which held a volume share of 13% in 2012. The traditional German player Beurer GmbH & Co KG was in second position in 2012, accounting for 9% of total air treatment appliances retail volume sales.

Products within the German air treatment market are expected to register static constant value growth over the next five years, while volume sales are set to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1%. The category is demonstrating clear signs of maturity and saturation and the effects of this situation can be expected to slowly intensify.

Room air conditioners are one air treatment products category which can be expected to benefit in terms of volume growth through to 2017 as the willingness of German consumers to spend higher amounts of money on non-essential consumer appliances offered under premium brands is set to increase.

For more information on the German air treatment market, see the latest research: German Air Treatment Market

Follow us on Twitter @CandMResearch

Mixx Delicious Digg Facebook Twitter
Shortlink

HOUSE HUNTERS PREPARED TO PAY MORE FOR A TOUCH OF LUXURY

By on 05/24/2013 in

The desire for aspirational features is thought to have been trigged by the popularity of celebrity photo shoots and reality shows which offer us a peak into the glamorous homes of the rich and famous. Consumers are more aware than ever of the luxury features that can be installed in a modern home.

This awareness is drawing house hunters to homes which emulate the celebrity lifestyle by coming with a little added luxury: and a large proportion of them are prepared to pay more for a property with fittings they deem desirable.

An energy efficient home, a conservatory and underfloor heating were the most sought after aspirational features, the survey found.

A further four per cent of those surveyed said they would happily part with £12,500 or more extra for a home that included these fittings

Polypipe Home Solutions commissioned the survey to look into the purchasing habits of British house hunters and surveyed 1,020 people who had moved house in the last three years or were looking to move in the near future.

Along with the fairly practical top three answers, there were also some slightly more extravagant suggestions. These included the celebrity staple of the walk in wardrobe, a set of stables and a garden complete with hot tub.

A balcony overlooking a large garden and a kitchen diner were another two features often seen in celebrity magazines which made it into the top ten along with mood lighting and a Jacuzzi bath.

Unsurprisingly, in the wealthier regions of London and the South East the premium that people were willing to pay increased. In these areas 40 per cent of those surveyed were happy to pay over £5000 for a home with aspirational fittings.

Although some of these fixtures are considered luxury items, some are in-fact surprisingly affordable and efficient.  

Underfloor heating from Polypipe Home Solutions can be installed in almost any home and it’s more effective than a radiator-based system as it delivers a more even, comfortable temperature to a room too. 

Other features which were popular with respondents were a home with a double garage or air conditioning.

The survey was conducted on behalf of Polypipe Home Solutions by Censuswide.

Top ten aspirational features house hunters
are searching for:

1.  A house that’s energy efficient

2.  Conservatory

3.  Underfloor heating

4.  A double garage

5.  Air conditioning

6.  Jacuzzi bath

7.  Mood lighting

8.  Kitchen/diner

9.  Balcony overlooking a large garden

10.  A modern interior

ENDS

Mixx Delicious Digg Facebook Twitter
Shortlink

PadPivot NST, intelligent holder for iPad and other tablets

By on 05/24/2013 in

The PadPivot is clever and original stand for
every tablet and e-reader, and it can be used both on a table and on your thigh;
it attaches and detaches easily and folds up when not in use.

                             

In general, the iPad and tablets have
changed the way we work, connect, communicate and play on the go. You will
surely be hard to find ways to improve the overall experience, but the
Rocketfish has done it for you. PadPivot is very compact in size; it slips into
a pocket and weighs almost nothing, while offering an amazing stability and
unmatched versatility.

                                   

The PadPivot lets you view the content on
your tablet from various angles in portrait and landscape mode and offers full
rotation of 360 degrees. This stand is ideal for gaming or just relaxing while
browsing the web or watching a movie.

You can buy it here for 25.90 GBP / 30,80 EUR.

*********************

Mixx Delicious Digg Facebook Twitter
Shortlink

Tribute to Drummer Lee Rigby

By on 05/24/2013 in ,

Bury Council’s flag is flying at half-mast as a mark of respect to Drummer Lee Rigby who was killed in London this week.


A book of condolence has also been opened at the Fusilier Museum in Moss Street which residents can sign to show their respect.


Councillor Mike Connolly, leader of the council, said: “The brutal murder of Drummer Lee Rigby has left all our communities, of whatever faith, in shock and disbelief that such violence could take place on our streets. The loss of a Fusilier from the 2nd Battalion with such strong connections to Bury and the North West makes this loss all the more poignant and difficult to bear.


“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Lee Rigby and his fellow soldiers at this most difficult of times. As a mark of respect the council will fly its flag at half mast.”


ENDS


Issued: 24 May 2013.

Mixx Delicious Digg Facebook Twitter
Shortlink

UK grocery retailing market driven by the rise in convenience stores

By on 05/24/2013 in

Sales within the UK grocery retailing market increased by 4% through 2012, hitting a total value of £159.4 billion.

The UK grocery retail landscape is changing with a particular move towards convenience stores which is driving growth, as British consumers look for more convenience, less food wastage and better value for money. Convenience stores are springing up all over the country, generally in areas that are poorly served by larger sized supermarkets.

Each of the “Big Four” (Tesco, Asda, J Sainsbury and Wm Morrison) are driving this growth with J Sainsbury planning to open between 50 and 100 convenience stores a year, and Tesco announcing 150 openings this year. The convenience boom has turned around Tesco’s fortunes in one year. These companies are engaged in such activity as their margins are far greater in the convenience category, but competition is tight and is dominated by loss-leading discount offers.

Convenience is changing the way in which the British shop, in that convenience stores, due to their strategic locations, are on more street corners and town centres than larger grocery stores.

Cost is one of the overriding concerns in grocery retailing in the UK, as inflation continued to rise above target throughout 2012.Prices at grocery retailers are still rising rapidly, which is continuing to put additional financial pressure on consumers.

This is particularly apparent in staples, which have been affected by poor weather patterns throughout the UK in 2012, and by rising import costs. As a result, consumers are becoming more sceptical of supermarket multi-buys and so-called “bargains”.

Tesco remains the top player in grocery retailers the UK, with a 24% value share in 2012. However, 2012 was the first year in which Tesco lost value share following an unimpeded run to the top of the chain of grocery retailers. At some point, this was expected as the competition from the others caught up with the market leader.

Most importantly, Tesco failed to innovate with the same intensity as its competitors. While leading the convenience store experiment, all the other main chains are now catching up and often there is direct competition on high streets between Tesco and one of the other leading supermarket chains.

Through to 2017, convenience stores are expected to see the strongest and fastest constant value compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4% to 2017. As the top grocery chains in the UK are moving into convenience stores at a high rate, it is expected that this channel will see strong growth in the medium term.

For more information on the UK grocery retailing market, see the latest research: UK Grocery Retailing Market

Follow us on Twitter @CandMResearch

Mixx Delicious Digg Facebook Twitter
Shortlink

Optimal leaf spring for retail lighting developed in tight timeframe

By on 05/24/2013 in ,

In a project characterized by close
cooperation, flexibility and shortage of time, Lesjöfors has produced leaf
springs for lighting specialist Fagerhult. The springs are now used in lighting
solutions for one of the world´s biggest clothes chains.

Lesjöfors
was contacted in mid-November 2012 by Fagerhult . Fagerhult is a leading
European supplier of professional lighting solutions. One of Fagerhult´s core
business areas is development and production of lighting solutions for retail
environments. The company was about to win one of their biggest deals ever with
one of the largest clothing trade groups, Inditex, which among others include
the Zara stores. Fagerhult´s request was to get the right leaf springs needed
to install the lighting of the shelving systems in the Zara stores. Different
types of leaf springs was therefore designed and produced under severe time
pressure from the customer. Since Lesjöfors had an earlier successful cooperation
with another business area in the Fagerhult group, the engineers from Fagerhult
turned to Lesjöfors.

Working closely resulted in fast production
Lesjöfors´
manufacturing unit in Vällingby (Lesjöfors Stockholm Fjäder) helped the
customer to design the leaf springs so that function and production would work
optimally. Close cooperation between Fagerhult´s contact persons and Lesjöfors´
technicians and production staff contributed to a rapid process.

“We
got the opportunity to produce initial samples and pre-production of all leaf
springs in the project. Several variations of the initial samples were produced
and on more than one occasion we could have springs delivered to the customer
less than 48 hours after agreeing on the spring design”, says Mikael Hägglund, Technical
Sales at Lesjöfors in Vällingby.

New demanding solution delivered
In late
December, Fagerhult got instructions from their customer to re-design one
spring since an integrated security solution had to be added. Despite the
limited space that was available a good solution was developed and manufactured
and Lesjöfors produced three different prototypes for testing. Also these were
delivered within 48 hours to the end customer.

“Lesjöfors succeeded, despite the extremely demanding time frame and the minimal
space, to deliver a solution that met all the requirements from our customer.
We are very pleased and impressed with the flexibility, speed and high service
level that Lesjöfors has shown us throughout this project, says Thomas
Johansson”, On-Demand Designer at Fagerhult.

Mixx Delicious Digg Facebook Twitter
Shortlink

Jamie Oliver Voted Britain’s Favourite Celebrity Chef

By on 05/24/2013 in , , , ,

According to the latest survey conducted by food supplement
specialist FORZA, Jamie Oliver tops the list of our favourite TV chefs.

The cheeky 37-year-old, who first appeared on our screens in
1997 as the Naked Chef, won the poll with almost a fifth (23%) of the votes and
his recipes were also voted as the easiest to follow at home.

Foul-mouthed Gordon Ramsey came second in the poll with 16%
of the votes, with Nigella Lawson (11%), Gino D’Acampo (10%) and Heston
Blumenthal (9%) taking third, fourth and fifth respectively.

The least popular TV chef was revealed to be Masterchef’s
John Torode, who was picked by just 1% of the 1,000 people polled.

Somewhat surprisingly, the UK’s best-selling cookery author
Delia Smith came second bottom with just 2% of the votes and was also chosen by
more than a quarter of respondents (26%) as being the chef most out-of-date.

Gordon Ramsey was also deemed as being past his sell-by
date, receiving 12% of the vote, with the Hairy Bikers coming third with 10%.

When it comes to re-creating some of the chefs’ most famous
dishes at home ourselves, more than half of us (57%) selected Jamie Oliver’s as
the easiest to follow.

Delia came second for reliability (14%) and Nigella came
third (8%).

Unsurprisingly, Heston Blumenthal came bottom of the poll
with just 1% of votes. Famed for his intricate recipes, such as snail porridge
and mustard ice cream, the unique ‘food scientist’ pushes the boundaries of what’s
edible by introducing elements of physics into his work.

The famously voluptuous Nigella Lawson was chosen as the most
calorific chef with almost half (49%) of the votes, beating the Hairy Bikers (11%)
and Delia Smith (9%). Her chocolate hazelnut cheesecake that was featured on
her show Nigellissima famously contained more than 7,000 calories.

The sexy BBC2 chef was also revealed to make us hungriest
when we watch her shows (31%), closely followed by Jamie Oliver (30%) in second
and Gordon Ramsey (10%) in third.

Lee Smith, the Managing Director of FORZA Supplements, who commissioned
the survey, said: “I think Jamie won the poll because of the success of his
cook books.

“Virtually all of us have got one
of his books in our homes and any idiot can follow the instructions.

“It is interesting that Delia has
gone so quickly from the being the nation’s favourite to being such a turn-off.

“We are learning to love food
more and become a bit more ambitious with our cooking. It’s why so many of us
are overweight.

“The days of Delia telling us all
how to boil an egg are long gone. It’s why Nigella is so popular. She has put
the sex back into cooking.

“She’ll make us all fat – but we
don’t care because we are having so much fun.”

Mixx Delicious Digg Facebook Twitter