October 27th, 2011
“When shopping on the internet we are all rather frustrated by photographs and videos” says Eyefly360 “because they cannot show us all that we want to see. Yes, we can see what the cameraman pointed at, of course, but we can only follow the path he took. We have no interaction with these images”.
What if you could look all around a hotel as if you were actually there or manipulate a shoe as if it were in your hand? How about flying through a house as if visiting in person? This ‘virtual touring’ is already popular with all sorts of websites from restaurants and estate agents through to boat builders, auctioneers and jewellers.
“Anyone proud of their location or product should show all of it on their website and save their two dimensional pictures for the printed media” says Eyefly360. “Visitors really appreciate the candour of a virtual tour and will stay on your website much longer”.
A location or product is photographed many times in all three dimensions. Eyefly360 can even shoot virtual tours from fifty feet above your back garden. “This offering is quite unique” say Alan Reed of their Andover laboratory “no other virtual tour provider has mastered the technique”. Virtual tours can be viewed on websites by smart phones and tablets.
Hear Eyefly360 tell more at MBG on 15 November 2011. www.virtualtours360.co.uk
Don’t forget! Monday 14 November is charity Quiz Night for Enham, 6:00 p.m., the Hayward Suite, Wolversdene Road, Andover, organised by Langdowns DFK.
Guests are welcome at MBG every third Tuesday, The Copper Kettle, Andover, 07:30-9:00 Enquiries: dmmcnamara@parkesbrowne.co.uk
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October 17th, 2011
Bliss founder Larraine Mitchell
Now in its 25th year, Bliss is the colourful Beauty Salon in East Street, offering extensive treatments and Clarins products to make all ages, sizes and genders feel and look good. Its founder, Larraine Mitchell’s early experience began at the Elizabeth Arden Beauty Salon in London’s Bond Street, treating clients in the glamorous world of royalty and film stars which has led to the unique quality and service you see today.
Apart from extreme male and female waxing, Larraine specialises in hair removal and advanced cosmetic techniques. Using the latest Apilus Platinum Pure computer, you can not only have hair removed permanently and pain free, but all sorts of lumps, tags, veins, hairs and crusty bits removed from all those secret little places you would rather no one knew about!
Supported by fantastic therapists and friends, Sam, Amy and Jane offer Bio sculpture gel nails Sienna spray tanning, Deep Tissue Massage and many other treatments.
A testament to this successful business is that clients are still returning for treatments 25 years on.
So in the knowledge that you will feel comfortable and safe with expert confidentiality check out www.blissbeauty.com “Its Bliss!”
At Andover Mutual Business Group’s meeting on 18th October 2011 Larraine will give you an insight into the fascinating business of feeling and looking good.
Visitors are welcome to join us, every third Tuesday of the month at The Copper Kettle at 7.30-9.00. Enquiries: Dennis McNamara dbarnes@parkesbrowne.co.uk
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August 22nd, 2011
Ray Halliwell of Auditel
Mutual Business Group member Ray Halliwell’s clients are delighted to see him as his dealings with companies are always cash positive. Ray has helped clients achieve savings averaging 10% - 30% on their bills. This is the challenge that Ray loves waking up to each day and especially knowing that his services cost clients nothing, as they are paid for out of savings he makes for them.
On Tuesday 20 September the Andover MBG will hear how Ray, of Auditel WRH Consulting, has achieved real savings for companies on energy, telecoms, stationery and printing supplies bills. His clients are usually medium sized companies in manufacturing; office-based; commercial or retail sectors, spending between £5-£10k yearly for each of their energy, telecoms, stationery and printing supplies.
Ray has a passion to locate the best deals. He analyses his client’s invoices and contracts, researches and surveys the market and undertakes a purchasing exercise, before putting his recommendations to the company, with which clients rarely disagree. Ray manages the implementation and verifies savings from the new supplier. Only then is Auditel paid.
While customers could do all this themselves they don’t always have the time or resources. It’s a win/win for clients as it costs them nothing, whether Ray confirms they already have the most cost effective suppliers, or if he has reduced their bills.
On 20 September you’ll hear actual case studies of happy clients for whom Ray has made substantial savings.
Join us at The Copper Kettle at 07:30-9:00. Guests are welcome. Enquiries: dmmcnamara@parkesbrowne.co.uk
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August 10th, 2011
Tim Pearce of Grape Expectations
Warm and spicy, intense, smooth or fruity – these words could describe members of the Andover Mutual Business Group but, in fact, they are the wine characteristics we will learn about on 16th August - over breakfast!
If you appreciate wine, or would just like to know how to select a bottle, this shouldn’t be missed! Guests will harvest many top tips about wines, brought to you by Julie & Tim Pearce of Grape Expectations, Andover’s Independent wine merchant, at 159 Weyhill Road. Sadly, we won’t be sampling actual wines, just ‘notes’ of them, over our delicious breakfast.
Tim will tell us about the wines he has experienced on extensive travels around Europe’s wine producing areas. Tim is an accredited Wine & Spirit Education Trust tutor with many professional qualifications. He’s been in the wine business for 30 years, so there is little he doesn’t know about wines. At Grape Expectations’ wine store Tim has personally selected a refreshingly different collection of delicious wines.
We’ll hear about grape varieties and styles and matching wine to food. Also, Grape Expectations’ new, special treat: their ‘How to Taste’ monthly Wine School, which will explain all the things you’ve wanted to find out about wine. A perfect treat for you, or someone you know; for just £25 you get wines plus complementary foods and barrels of knowledge, plus convivial company.
This breakfast’s a must! Join us at The Copper Kettle on Tuesday 16 August at 07:30-9:00. Guests are welcome. Enquiries: ed@andovermbg.com,
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July 7th, 2011
Edward Thomas of TWA and David Ings of Langdowns DFK
Andover Mutual Business Group’s July breakfast meeting will combine with Bonallack & Bishop’s Andover Breakfast Club on Tuesday 19 July at Andover’s The Copper Kettle. Once again there will be a huge buzz as the two groups leap at the chance of making new 1:1 contacts and renewing acquaintances.
Congratulations are due to two MBG Committee Members, TWA and Langdowns DFK on their recent Test Valley Business Awards success.
TWA’s Co-director, Ed Thomas commented: “We are delighted not only to have been considered for Small Business of the Year Award but to have won it. Our team have worked hard to create innovative marketing solutions and business events around the region which bring the community together and strengthen our network of businesses as a whole.”
David Ings, Director of Langdowns DFK Andover said “We were so pleased to be nominated, and so proud to be Highly Commended for the Employer of the Year Award; we endeavour to create a positive working environment and strike the right work/life balance for our team, it’s just great to have this recognised on such a grand scale.”
Look out for news of a very special event coming in the autumn. Langdowns DFK with the Andover Mutual Business Group will be holding a charity Quiz Night in Andover, open to any business wanting to field a team.
Guests are welcome to join us on Tuesday 19 July, 07:30-09:00, or at any of our monthly breakfasts on the third Tuesday each month, at Andover’s Copper Kettle. Enquiries: Dennis McNamara dbarnes@parkesbrowne.co.uk
Posted in Andover, Local Events, MBG Meetings, test valley business awards | 103 Comments »
May 17th, 2011
At the June Andover MBG David Hopwood and Stephen Dollin-Browne of DS Networx
David Hopwood (right) of DSNetworx
(DSN) will translate Linux Ubuntu into plain language.
Aha, Linux - but what does that mean to me? Here’s a brief summary - it saves real money on your IT as Linux operating systems and software programmes are free - and give near virus-free computing.
Too good to be true? Amazing, but it is true! Compare Linux against Windows, which is known to have 100,000 viruses and for which each user has to pay a licence fee for every programme.
Why’s it free? The system and software are open source – written and made available by developers, for free-download on the internet, with programmes equivalent to Windows applications, i.e. Open Office equates with Word.
If the software’s free where do DSN come in? While you could download the system and programmes yourself, unless you’re a ‘techie’, you’ll probably want it installed for you. For David and Stephen’s one-off fee you get installation and support for a year, plus training and a personalised manual. What’s more you’ll never have to buy another annual licence-update as programmes are free to download.
DSN recently saved one client in Kent around £7,000 on licences alone when installing Ubuntu and also saved MacMillan Publishing serious money when installing Linux to run their Facebook application.
To get the full translation, hear about their offer of 1-hour free remote support, plus a great breakfast, join us at The Copper Kettle on Tuesday 21 June at 07:30-9:00. Enquiries: Dennis McNamara dbarnes@parkesbrowne.co.uk.
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April 21st, 2011
Julia Homan of the HR Dept, Andover & Winchester
At the 17 May Andover Mutual Business Group meeting Julia Homan, Director of The HR Dept, will tell members about how an employer could avoid potential employee conflict by dealing with employee performance issues promptly, fairly, and legally.
Problems with poor attendance due to frequent short term sickness absence, and those who are performing poorly, can cause tremendous disruption in the office.
In one case, a small company began experiencing persistent short-term absence by an employee. At first the other employees, who were left to cover, did so willingly. However, when the absences continued their mind-set changed and they only helped out grudgingly. Eventually their feelings turned into deep resentment, and they adopted the stance “if he can do it, so can I”. The problem had escalated to the point where one employee’s absences were causing a severe impact on his business.
Solving this problem became a real headache for the company and took time and effort to rectify. It is a pity, as it could have been avoided by having a procedure in place which was fair and transparent, with all employees knowing what was expected of them.
The result of putting fair, legal and transparent HR procedures in place, such as a regular performance management process, can help employees to connect and improve - and keep the business on track, while avoiding disruption.
To hear more good advice from Julia join us on Tuesday 17 May at the Copper Kettle, Andover, between 07:30-09:00. For further MBG information please email: ed@andovermbg.com.
Posted in Andover, Customer Service, MBG Meetings, MBG Member Presentations | 102 Comments »
March 31st, 2011
Trevor Bettell, Remote Team Network
Guests attending the 19 April meeting of Andover’s Mutual Business Group are in for an intriguing talk from MBG member, Trevor Bettell, about his vibrant new online business, Remote Team Network (RTN), which was launched during the recession and which is bucking the trend. In fact, by helping create new UK remote work, it is playing its part in assisting the economy to climb out of recession.
RTN won a major conceptual design export contract in Uganda in association with PWP Architects, awarded by landowner Prince Jjuuko Michael. Remote Team Network is inviting construction specialists in the UK to lodge their interest to work remotely on the multi-million pound tourist development alongside Lake Victoria, through its website www.remoteworkersonline.com.
RTN enables UK freelancers to easily find relevant, remote work, with guaranteed payment. Freelancers’ profiles are listed alongside projects that companies want to outsource. Freelancers bid for the work and project owners select a relevant freelancer, at an agreed fee and timescale.
Freelancers working from home enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle and can spend more time with their family, or on leisure activities, rather than spending time and money on commuting, which is good news.
Businesses outsourcing work are able to control and dramatically reduce their office and employment costs, as they only pay by the project for specialist skills, so gaining a greater competitive edge.
To hear more, join us on Tuesday 19 April at the Copper Kettle, Andover, between 07:30-09:00. For further MBG information please email: ed@andovermbg.com
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February 14th, 2011
The next meeting of Andover MBG will be on Tuesday 15 March at the Copper Kettle between 7:30-09:00. Guests are more than welcome to join us. At that meeting new chairman Edward Thomas of marketing & creative agency TWA will be revealing the single most important ingredient of a successful brand and how to maintain it once you’ve created it.
If you would like to attend please contact Dennis McNamara of Parkes Browne Solicitors.
Posted in MBG Meetings, MBG Member Presentations | 75 Comments »
February 14th, 2011
Photo John Rose Photography
There was a meeting of minds on Tuesday 8 February when Andover Mutual Business Group joined Bonallack & Bishop’s Breakfast Club at the Quality Hotel, Andover. At the informal meeting around thirty members once again met new and old contacts; both groups welcoming the opportunity to exchange views, creating a great buzz of lively debate.
Don’t forget that on Wednesday 16 March the third Andover Business Expo takes place, at The Lights in Andover from 10:00. Entry to the Expo is free. You can have face to face discussions with exhibitors to tap into their expertise, get answers to questions that have been puzzling you and see the most up to date business solutions. There are also a range of seminars from 08:00 including guest speaker Ray Hammond, futurist, who will predict how major trends will affect society and business in the future.
The next meeting of Andover MBG will be on Tuesday 15 March at the Copper Kettle between 7:30-09:00. Guests are more than welcome to join us. At that meeting new chairman Edward Thomas of marketing & creative agency TWA will be revealing the single most important ingredient of a successful brand and how to maintain it once you’ve created it.
Posted in About MBG, Andover, Local Events, MBG Meetings | 65 Comments »