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<!--Generated by Squarespace Site Server v5.9.2 (http://www.squarespace.com/) on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:35:25 GMT--><rss xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" version="2.0"><channel><title>Press releases</title><link>http://www.2gr8consumerpruk.com/news/</link><description></description><lastBuildDate>Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:55:27 +0000</lastBuildDate><copyright></copyright><language>en-US</language><generator>Squarespace Site Server v5.9.2 (http://www.squarespace.com/)</generator><item><title>Etc..! - Bringing British teaching expertise to the Masai Mara</title><dc:creator>2Gr8</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:55:33 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.2gr8consumerpruk.com/news/2010/1/19/etc-bringing-british-teaching-expertise-to-the-masai-mara.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">219147:2161962:6368311</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-float-right ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.2gr8consumerpruk.com/storage/etc.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1263913261408" alt="" /></span></span>"Etc..!" or "Educating the Children" is a new UK-based charity which aims to combat poverty through educational initiatives in one of the world&rsquo;s poorest regions, the Masai Mara in Kenya.<br /><br />The charity has been established by two British women, Sonal Kadchha and Sapna Sisodia, who decided to act after joining Sir Richard Branson on a Virgin Unite charity scheme to renovate Sekenani Primary School. There they witnessed first-hand the many challenges facing schools in the region; deeply moved by their experiences and the plight of local school children in the Sarova Camp, they decided to build on the foundations laid by Virgin Unite and establish a charity to arrange for British teachers to be given the once in a lifetime opportunity to live and teach in the Masai Mara for three months.<br /><br />"Etc..!" aims to bring British teaching expertise to an area where 90% of the population lives on less than &pound;1.20 per day. The charity will also raise funds to renovate other schools and build dormitories - essential in a region where children are unable to travel to school due to the danger of being attacked by the nature reserve's wild animals. <br /><br />"Etc..!" is about using education as a force for positive change where it is most needed," says Sonal Kadchha. "We are currently interviewing teachers of all ages and experience for the first "Etc..!" school scheme that begins in February 2010 and believe that British teachers will relish the opportunity to participate in such a life-changing scheme."<br /><br />From recent teaching graduates to experienced education professionals, teachers at all stages in their career are encouraged to contact the charity by emailing <a href="mailto:info@etcetcetera.org">info@etcetcetera.org</a> if they are interested in this pioneering initiative.</p>
<p>For more information about the project, please visit <a href="http://www.ETCetcetera.org">www.ETCetcetera.org</a>. To arrange interviews with Sonal and Sapna about a project that is expected to really capture the imagination of British teachers and the UK public, please contact Ben Titchmarsh on 01223 403333 or email <a href="mailto:ben@quitegreat.co.uk">ben@quitegreat.co.uk.<br /></a>﻿</p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.2gr8consumerpruk.com/news/rss-comments-entry-6368311.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Floppeze Pillow delights mothers and parenting magazines</title><dc:creator>2Gr8</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:12:17 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.2gr8consumerpruk.com/news/2009/11/24/floppeze-pillow-delights-mothers-and-parenting-magazines.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">219147:2161962:5901748</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-float-right ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.2gr8consumerpruk.com/storage/flop-cush.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1259079533287" alt="" /></span></span><em>from&nbsp;<a href="http://www.2gr8consumerpruk.com/about-babygr8/">Babygr8</a><br /></em><br />Every parent knows that when a child is born they will be relying on those around them for support &nbsp;&ndash; but the Floppeze baby and child pillow provides that little bit of extra support and help in the first years of your child&rsquo;s life. The extensive benefits of the product have been delighting mothers and parenting magazines alike.<br /><br />Floppeze pillows are custom-designed to create the optimum height and support for breast or bottle feeding, with the added ergonomic benefit of alleviating the back and shoulder pain many mothers experience.<br /><br />During and after your baby's weaning, the Floppeze comes into its own as a support pillow aiding muscle development and enabling a parent to attain a more upright posture, safe in the knowledge that their baby will be protected by the pillow if they slip backwards or sideways.</p>
<p>The Floppeze is also perfect for 'tummy time' as it helps babies develop neck, back and arm muscles, and it helps promote restful playtime too (for those quieter times when babies want to lie down).<br /><br />In addition to these great uses, The Floppeze also works fantastically as a conventional yet fun pillow for your toddler affording a wide variety of sleeping positions and as a booster for car and other journeys.<br /><br />Many parents have even found that the Floppeze becomes such a reassuring presence in a child&rsquo;s early life that it becomes a child&rsquo;s treasured comforter and companion from birth right through to nursery, pre-school and beyond.<br /><br />So whether you would like a little bit of support for your child when they are sleeping, breastfeeding, bottle feeding, burping, laying, supporting or just soaking up the brand new world around them, the Floppeze will give you and your child all the support you need.<br /><br />The Floppeze pillows have just launched their new range of covers which would look chic in any nursery.The designs include a bang-on trend cow print design and pink, blue and beige polka dot designs. If this wasn&rsquo;t enough, the pillow is also endorsed by Clare Byam Cook, celebrity breastfeeding guru who has helped the likes of Kate Winslet, Kate Beckinsale, Emma Freud and Helena Bonham Carter amongst many others.<br /><br />The Floppeze recommended retail price is &pound;26.95. To purchase a Floppeze and see where it is stocked near you, please visit <a href="http://www.pinkanblue.com">www.pinkanblue.com</a>.<br /><br />To find out more about the team behind the pillow, to request an interview, to arrange a competition or to review the pillow, call Louise or Vicky at Quite Great Publicity on 01223 410000. You can also email <a href="mailto: louise@quitegreat.co.uk">louise@quitegreat.co.uk</a> / <a href="mailto:vickyberry@quitegreat.co.uk">vickyberry@quitegreat.co.uk</a>.</p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.2gr8consumerpruk.com/news/rss-comments-entry-5901748.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Baby Tozies: unique slippers for infants</title><dc:creator>2Gr8</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:35:38 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.2gr8consumerpruk.com/news/2009/11/24/baby-tozies-unique-slippers-for-infants.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">219147:2161962:5901524</guid><description><![CDATA[<div></div>
<p><span class="full-image-float-right ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.2gr8consumerpruk.com/storage/toziespic.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1259078698308" alt="" /></span></span><em>from&nbsp;</em><a href="http://www.2gr8consumerpruk.com/about-babygr8/"><em>Babygr8</em></a></p>
<p>Baby Tozies are unique slippers which have been designed to stay on babies&rsquo; feet! They are perfect for babies and toddlers aged 0-4yrs old as the soft breathable fleece fabric stretches gently to allow toes to spread and offers maximum flexibility when kicking, crawling and walking.<br /><br />There are no hard soles to hinder healthy foot growth. Unique Tozie grips on the soles combine to make a perfect non-slip sole which is ideal for toe-gripping babies and toddlers learning to walk and lessens accidents on slippery floors. A gently-elasticated ankle with front velcro fastening ensures a snug and perfect fit. Most importantly, these innovative slippers keep your lil' one's feet warm all year round and at &pound;12.50 a pair they are really budget-friendly.&nbsp;<br /><br />Cozie Warmers who make Baby Tozies also sell a whole range of products including wheat bags and microwavable cuddly toys.<br /><br />Tozie Slippers come in the following sizes and prices:<br /><br />&bull;<span> </span>Baby Extra Small (Premature/Small Newborn) - &pound;12.50<br />&bull;<span> </span>Baby Small (shoe Size 1) Approx. Age 0-3 Months - &pound;12.50<br />&bull;<span> </span>Baby Medium (Shoe Size 2/3) Approx.Age 3-9 Months - &pound;12.50<br />&bull;<span> </span>Baby Large (shoe Size 4/5) Approx. Age 9-18 Months - &pound;12.50<br />&bull;<span> </span>Baby XLarge (Shoe 6/7) App.Age 18-30 Months -&nbsp;&pound;12.50<br />&bull;<span> </span>Baby XXL (Shoe 8/9) &nbsp;App.Age 3-4 years - &pound;12.50</p>
<p>For further information please contact Sereene at Quite Great on 01223 410000 or email <a href="mailto:sereene@quitegreat.co.uk">sereene@quitegreat.co.uk</a>.</p>
<p>You can also visit <a href="http://www.coziewarmers.co.uk">www.coziewarmers.co.uk</a></p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.2gr8consumerpruk.com/news/rss-comments-entry-5901524.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Animal Tails launch their new range in time for Christmas</title><dc:creator>2Gr8</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:45:33 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.2gr8consumerpruk.com/news/2009/11/18/animal-tails-launch-their-new-range-in-time-for-christmas.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">219147:2161962:5842796</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-float-right ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.2gr8consumerpruk.com/storage/animal-tails.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1258563144921" alt="" /></span></span></p>
<p><em>from&nbsp;</em><a href="http://www.2gr8consumerpruk.com/about-babygr8/"><em>Babygr8<br /></em></a><br />"Imagine wearing something that could change the world. That is how my five-year-old views his Golden eagle T-shirt from Animal Tails, and he may be right. The company has a strict ethical policy ensuring that everything from the production line to the supply chain meets stringent international standards. T-shirts have pictures of endangered species and come with tags explaining an animal&rsquo;s plight, while a slice of the profits goes to animal causes. All this for &pound;16.50 &ndash; and they are hard-wearing and comfortable, too." <em><br />Daily Telegraph Magazine<br /></em></p>
<p>With families now becoming more environmentally aware than ever before, organic and ethically produced children&rsquo;s clothing company Animal Tails have been leading the way in their quest to produce beautiful clothes with an important educational message behind them. They have just launched a new winter range that features some of the world&rsquo;s most endangered species including the Polar Bear and the Snow Leopard.</p>
<p>The Animal Tails collection serves to educate young people on the dangers facing these animals. Included in the Animal Tails collection are the Asian Elephant, Siamese Crocodile, Leatherback Turtle, Luna Moth and many more. With each item of clothing comes a story label written to the child from the perspective of the animal featured, with fun and amazing facts about the animal, and ultimately why it is endangered and what young people can do to help.<br /><br />Animal Tails was founded in 2006 by artist and designer Annette D&rsquo;Oyly. The collection is UK Soil Association certified under the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), which assures that the garments are, not only organic, including all the dying process and silk screen inks used, but also ethically manufactured.</p>
<p>"We want to engage children&rsquo;s&rsquo; interest through beautiful colours and designs and fun stories but also serve to educate in a way that captures a child&rsquo;s imagination and gets them interested in an important issue."<br /><br />The collection is available online and stocked in 50 places across the UK and internationally, including Fenwick&rsquo;s of Newcastle and the National Maritime Museum. <br /><br />With Christmas approaching pre orders have been rolling in for the Polar Bear and Snow Leopard designs and these items are wonderful for Christmas gifts. <br /><br />For more information on Animal Tails please visit their website, - <a href="http://www.animaltails.co.uk">www.animaltails.co.uk</a> - which shows the full range of clothing for babies and children which include t-shirts and rompers.<br /><br />For press enquiries please contact Vicky or Sereene at Quite Great Publicity on 01223 410000 or email vicky@quitegreat.co.uk/sereene@quitegreat.co.uk&nbsp; <br /></p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.2gr8consumerpruk.com/news/rss-comments-entry-5842796.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Bad spelling costs UK companies millions</title><dc:creator>2Gr8</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:19:16 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.2gr8consumerpruk.com/news/2009/11/18/bad-spelling-costs-uk-companies-millions.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">219147:2161962:5842441</guid><description><![CDATA[<p>The UK&rsquo;s leading gadget advice company, <a href="http://www.gadgethelpline.co.uk">gadgethelpline.co.uk</a>, has had to take the unusual step of registering incorrect spellings of its website name to counteract the problem the UK&rsquo;s 18-21 age-group have with spelling the word 'gadget.'<br />&nbsp;<br />Gadget Helpline's statistics show that 28% of their visitors in the 18-21 age range are spelling 'gadget' without the 'd.'</p>
<p>This led to Gadget Helpline registering a variety of other domains - including bizaare web addresses such as www.gajithelpline.co.uk, www.gagetthelpline.co.uk and www.gagithelpline.co.uk - to counter a potentially huge loss in revenue.</p>
<p>"Although search engines do have a default alert which asks online users if they meant to spell a word in a particular way, we were finding a huge drop-off amongst the younger users, which we calculated could impact on our business annually to the tune of &pound;150,000," says Crispin Thomas.</p>
<p>"According to our research, 18-21 year-olds misspelt 'gadget' 28% of the time; 21-30 year olds were better, with around 15% misspelling the word; and the 30-50 year old age group relatively rarely misspelt the word, with only 3% spelling it incorrectly. But we have decided to cater for all these groupings by creating misspelt domain names. The results for our company have been fantastic and we highly recommend other businesses in the UK do the same."</p>
<p>Gadget Helpline's research points to a worrying spelling trend amongst people in their late teens and early twenties, and the misspelling of company names could potentially cost the online economy millions of pounds at a conservative estimate. With the UK's economy currently in recession, businesses that trade online may need to adapt their trading methods to counter spelling shortcomings.</p>
<p>For more information and to arrange an interview with Crispin Thomas from the Gadget Helpline, please contact Ben Titchmarsh on 01223403333 / <a href="mailto:ben@quitegreat.co.uk">ben@quitegreat.co.uk</a></p>
<h3>More information about the Gadget Helpline and Crispin Thomas</h3>
<p>Crispin Thomas, the founder of the Gadget Helpline and TMTI (Talk me through it) is an Ernst &amp; Young Regional Entrepreneur of the Year and his phenomenally successful companies are at the forefront of advising the British public on how to get the most out of devices such as mobile phones, MP3s, DVD players and sat navs.<br /><br />In essence, The Gadget Helpline offers consumers and companies a cure for the growing phenomenon that can best be described as "gadget rage."<br /><br />Since its creation in September 2007, The Gadget Helpline has become the UK&rsquo;s most popular advice line for people who need help getting to grips with the electronic equipment which increasingly dominates the way we lead our lives. <br /><br />Crispin first made his name after phenomenal success in the mobile phone industry but after finding that even many of the people behind the launch of mobile phones were not sure how to work them he had a Eureka moment and The Gadget Helpline and its business-to-business offshoot TMTI -"Talk Me Through It" - were born.<br /><br />The Gadget Helpline is a subscription-based help club for people to have one telephone number they can call to cover tech support for all their gadgets. The company&rsquo;s experts answer questions on a vast array of technical difficulties people experience and has proven hugely successful as it taps into the bewilderment felt by many Britons, especially the over-30s, over the mass of high-tech gadgets.<br /><br />Companies find that enabling their customers to ask questions directly to real people is a great way to combat return volume; The Gadget Helpline acts as a "returns doctor" so people don&rsquo;t unnecessarily return devices such as iPhones, Wiis, Mac Books, and TomTom systems believing them to be faulty. <br /><br />But in a broader sense The Gadget Helpline has proven so popular because it taps into a deep-seated problem that many people experience when using the modern world&rsquo;s indispensible tools.</p>
<p>Find out more online:</p>
<p>Gadget Helpline: <a href="http://www.gadgethelpline.com">www.gadgethelpline.com</a><br />TMTI: <a href="http://www.tmti.net">www.tmti.net</a></p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.2gr8consumerpruk.com/news/rss-comments-entry-5842441.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Live TV on your mobile phone from FilmOn</title><dc:creator>2Gr8</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:29:26 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.2gr8consumerpruk.com/news/2009/11/4/live-tv-on-your-mobile-phone-from-filmon.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">219147:2161962:5695442</guid><description><![CDATA[<p>FilmOn is set to launch a 'Telly-Phone' mobile application that means for the first time it will be possible to watch the main British terrestrial television channels streamed live onto a mobile phone whilst on the move. <br /><br />The new service also enables you to watch a vast array of television channels and films live on laptops wherever you are and looks set to herald a new dawn in the way that the public accesses TV content. <br /><br />The downloadable application will be available worldwide and function on all mobile operating systems using both Java and Symbian technology including iPhone, Blackberry and Windows Mobile. <br /><br />The <a href="http://www.filmon.com">FilmOn.com</a> HDi service uses cutting-edge compression and grid technology to allow broadcast quality streaming over as little as a 1mb internet connection. The HDi player, which was launched earlier this year at www.FilmOn.com has now been downloaded more than 3,500,000 times and has delivered more than 91,200,000 hours of free live streaming content. <br /><br />FilmOn HDi offers a range of streaming channels, including BBC1, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, BBC News, Sky News and FilmOn branded channels, including FilmOn Movie, FilmOn Docu, FilmOn Oldies and more. FilmOn will also stream more than 2,500 free streaming 'world channels' channels as an aggregator, taking content from third parties. <br /><br />FilmOn's mobile HDi platform will operate on both Java and Symbian platforms, unique in the mobile world, allowing the HDi player to work across all mobile platforms, including iPhone/iPod, Blackberry, Windows Mobile and Symbian. The player will work over 2G network speeds and can be boosted using LAN and WiFi. <br /><br />The same technology and mobile platform will be used to launch FilmOn.com Mobile, allowing access to the full FilmOn.com library or more than 13,000 films. Users will be able to stream films on demand to mobile devices in broadcast quality. <br /><br />All live content will be provided free to the user and supplemented by advertising, which will be provided by FilmOn during programming as well as in-skin and wrap-around content. FilmOn will supplement live television with additional advertising breaks and will be offered with a 10% advertising ratio with 6 minutes of advertising per hour. <br /><br />The FilmOn.com application will initially be offered for approximately &pound;1 allowing users access to the free streaming television content and will also benefit from a chat and flirt function, automatically matching users based on their viewing preferences. <br /><br />For further information on the launch of FilmOn Mobile HDi, please contact Ben at Quite Great on 01223 410000 or email ben@quitegreat.co.uk <br /><br /><strong>Editors notes <br /></strong></p>
<ul>
<li>The FilmOn HDi codec, uses H264 compression and can deliver a HDi broadcast quality picture to all mobile devices and can deliver up to 720p video.</li>
<li>Premium content can be billed to the mobile phone anonymously or by card.&nbsp;</li>
<li>The FilmOn HDi player launched with 205 users and has now been downloaded more than 3,500,000 times and has delivered more than 19,208,000 hours of streaming content. Current viewing figures show 775,810 HDi users watching an average of 37 minutes of content per session.&nbsp;</li>
<li>FilmOn.com has deals in place with Turner Broadcasting, Paramount, Playboy and more and a library of more than 13,000 films, approximately 70% of which are offered free.</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.2gr8consumerpruk.com/news/rss-comments-entry-5695442.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Bond-esque technology to protect your possessions</title><dc:creator>2Gr8</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:05:34 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.2gr8consumerpruk.com/news/2009/10/12/bond-esque-technology-to-protect-your-possessions.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">219147:2161962:5468382</guid><description><![CDATA[<p>Protecting the treasured possessions you can&rsquo;t afford to lose</p>
<p>TRAAKiT is a revolutionary new satellite alerting device which gives you peace of mind by keeping watch over almost anything you want and alerting you if it is moved.</p>
<p>No other product on the market provides a greater level of security, reliability, functionality and flexibility and the concept is simple. You decide the boundaries where you want your &lsquo;prized possession&rsquo; to be within via PC or mobile phone. The TRAAKiT computer system then sets up a &lsquo;Virtual Fence&rsquo; which monitors the prized possession for you and you can watch your TRAAKIT&rsquo;s progress on a minutely detailed online mapping system.&nbsp;</p>
<p>If the position of your TRAAKIT is moved outside the Virtual Fence, the host computer alerts you of this by sending a text message and an email. The TRAAKiT monitor will then send its position to the host computer every 5 minutes meaning you can see precisely where your possession is going and act accordingly.</p>
<p>The Brainchild of British invention entrepreneurs David Clayton and Tim Young, the TRAAKiT service is primarily aimed at protecting equipment such as tractors, motor mules, quad bikes, classic cars and motor bikes, horse boxes, vans, lorries, caravans, camper vans, trailers, expensive tools and machinery, laptops, cameras and golf clubs but the uses it is put to grows by the day. To demonstrate the product&rsquo;s versatility in the coming months, the Traakit will be used to plot the paths of teams in extreme sport marathons, a band on tour and even a backpacking gap year student! <br />Whatever you wish to use it for, TRAAKiT enables you to follow something you are interested in every step of the way and the beauty of the system is also that it can be swapped from one prized possession to another, giving you protection on a number of assets.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Finally Bond-esque technology has arrived in the hands of the ordinary consumer and whatever you wish to protect and safeguard you can rest easy in the knowledge that with TRAAKiT your possessions are being watched over and are in safe hands.</p>
<p>For more information about this remarkable innovation and the people behind it, please go to <a href="http://www.traakit.co.uk/">www.traakit.co.uk</a>. A TRAAKiT TD1 monitor is &pound;273.50 including vat and delivery in the UK and a monthly service contract costs &pound;14.85 per month.&nbsp; For a limited period of time there is a launch discount of 25% on the service charge provided that the contract is paid in full when ordering the monitor. Devices can also be hired for &pound;50 per month for UK operation and for &pound;52 including VAT for worldwide operation.</p>
<p>For more information call Ben Titchmarsh on <br />01223 410000 or email <a href="mailto:ben@quitegreat.co.uk">ben@quitegreat.co.uk</a>.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.2gr8consumerpruk.com/news/rss-comments-entry-5468382.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Chocolates that fit through a letterbox?</title><dc:creator>2Gr8</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:39:47 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.2gr8consumerpruk.com/news/2009/10/12/chocolates-that-fit-through-a-letterbox.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">219147:2161962:5468239</guid><description><![CDATA[<p>It might seem incredible, but over the course of a single year, the average Brit buys 55 greeting cards, making the market worth &pound;1.3 billion a year.<br /><br />One of the few products to shift more units is the UK's &pound;4 billion chocolate market and now a revolutionary new British product is set to tap into these lucrative retail sectors with a completely novel new gift item which is part chocolate box and part greetings card.<br /><br />Cleverly packaged so it's instantly ready to post and will fit through any letterbox, LetterBoxChocs is the brainchild of British entrepreneurs Nico and Elkie Nicholas.<br /><br />Their unique product incorporates a tray of sixteen luxury Belgian chocolates that cleverly slide out the back of the card. After writing your message, the simple, but ingenious card folds back on to itself to double as a self seal postal packaging, complete with an address panel.<br /><br />LetterBoxChocs are even clearly labeled when you buy with the postage costs for the U.K. &amp; Europe so it can go straight in the post without the need for a visit to the post office. The concept has struck such a chord with consumers and retail buyers that in just a short time the company has grown phenomenally and LetterBoxChocs are now stocked all over the UK.<br /><br />Nico and his wife Elkie have secured full intellectual property protection on the LetterBoxChocs concept and their product retails at just &pound;5.99 plus postage, making it significantly cheaper than anything comparable on the market. <br /><br />Established in 2008, the product was almost immediately stocked by all 553 branches of WH Smith as well as Fenwick's, Beales and around 100 other independent retail outlets.<br /><br />Strong interest has also been shown by other major UK retailers and LetterBoxChocs has recently been taken on by two of the top distributors in the UK &ndash; The House of Sarunds and Bespoke Foods. <br /><br />The International expansion is also well underway, LetterBoxChocs is now working with distributors in 7 other countries and the list is growing fast!<br /><br />LetterBoxChocs have set their sights on achieving turnover of approximately &pound;6m by 2011, and Nico is forecasting sales of &pound;2m in the first full year&rsquo;s trading - not bad for a product which was dreamt up over a family kitchen table one evening!<br /><br />&ldquo;Emails may play a massive part of everyone&rsquo;s day to day lives but the personal touch of a hand written card really makes someone feel like you&rsquo;ve made an extra effort and I&rsquo;ve yet to meet anyone who doesn&rsquo;t like receiving chocolates,&rdquo; says Nico. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re delighted at the phenomenal growth of LetterBoxChocs in just a short time and think that people all over the word will enjoy sending a gift that combines a thoughtful but convenient way to send a message with delicious Belgian chocolates.&rdquo;<br /><br />To arrange an interview with Nico, Elkie and the people behind LetterBoxChocs and to learn more about this remarkable new product contact Ben Titchmarsh on 01223 410000 or email <a href="ben@quitegreat.co.uk">ben@quitegreat.co.uk</a>.<br />&nbsp;<br /></p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.2gr8consumerpruk.com/news/rss-comments-entry-5468239.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Demodone offer video production for free</title><dc:creator>2Gr8</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:35:55 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.2gr8consumerpruk.com/news/2009/10/12/demodone-offer-video-production-for-free.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">219147:2161962:5468234</guid><description><![CDATA[<p>A picture famously tells a thousand words, and a growing number of companies are discovering that a high quality film clip about their business can tell people even more.<br /><br />But although there are a great number of corporate video companies and advertising agencies currently taking advantage in the boom in demand for online corporate video communications that reach out to customers, clients and the public in general, a new company looks set to change forever the way online videos are produced and paid for.<br /><br />'DemoDone' which launches in November 2009 is the brainchild of gadget entrepreneur Crispin Thomas and tears up the rule book by only charging companies for video 'plays' rather than a flat rate for production costs.</p>
<p><br />Crispin is an Ernst &amp; Young Regional Entrepreneur of the Year and his phenomenally successful companies The Gadget Helpline and TMTI (Talk me through it) are at the forefront of advising the British public on how to get the most out of their gadgets. Now he is moving into telling people how it is with his latest DemoDone enterprise and the concept is simple.<br /><br />Much like the pricing structure used in 'ad word' campaigns run by the world's most successful search engines, companies who sign up with DemoDone pay no upfront cost for the production of their video clips.</p>
<p>Instead DemoDone script, deliver and produce a high quality film to a company's exact specifications that succinctly showcases and explains a company or product on a 'pay per view' basis. As a result the Demodone cost reflects the views a company has had, so the higher the views the greater the interest that is being taken in the brand and the cost reflects the success of the video.<br /><br />As part of the package, the video clip is then uploaded onto YouTube and other popular online video channels and companies are charged 20 pence (excluding VAT) per view for the first 10,000 times the video is watched and there after a charge of 5 pence per view. <br /><br />All views are verified by an independent stats system and in the event that views to the value of &pound;1000 plus vat are not delivered to DemoDone after 6 months of the film going live then a nominal charge of &pound;1000 plus vat&nbsp; is payable as a minimum traffic charge. This means that companies can monitor how successful their online video communications are proving and in effect have a 'free' video that they can upload onto their website, tag in their emails, send to customers in e-newsletters or use it anywhere to promote business. Demodone also has its own hosting platform for the films themselves.<br /><br />With no initial risky outlay on getting the video produced, DemoDone then pays for itself in terms of new business leads and customer satisfaction feedback that will result from the increased levels of exposure. This new business model looks set to transform the corporate communications market.<br /><br />"We've taken the Adwords model and applied it to video and early feedback we've received from companies is that they love the DemoDone concept. If the internet had had the bandwidth when we all made our websites we would have had a film made. It's the only really effective way to get your message across.</p>
<p>You can view clips at www.demodone.com" says DemoDone founder Crispin Thomas. "Studies have shown that online videos are a superb way of connecting companies with their clients and customers and, now that internet band widths have increased, DemoDone online clips are a low cost way of getting something that's very effective."<br /><br />To learn more about DemoDone and to arrange an interview with Crispin Thomas, Managing Director of DemoDone, please contact Ben Titchmarsh at <a href="ben@quitegreat.co.uk">ben@quitegreat.co.uk</a> or call him on 01223 41000.<br /><br /><br /></p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.2gr8consumerpruk.com/news/rss-comments-entry-5468234.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Alayna Salter breaks world record...</title><dc:creator>2Gr8</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:16:18 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.2gr8consumerpruk.com/news/2009/1/20/alayna-salter-breaks-world-record.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">219147:2161962:2873399</guid><description><![CDATA[<p>Alayna Salter has broken the Guinness World Record for the world&rsquo;s largest bracelet! 85 metres in length, the bracelet wound its way around booths and up onto the stage at the Birmingham Clothes Show Live.<br /><br /><span class="full-image-float-right ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.2gr8consumerpruk.com/storage/Alayna%20Salter.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1229704904455" alt="" /></span></span>New jewellery brand 'Punky Allsorts' which was designed at the kitchen table of singer/fashionista Alayna Salter has quickly become the hottest new favourite brand of the stars, snapped on Nicky Hilton, Gabriella Cilmi, Fearne Cotton and chart topper Katy Perry. Alayna Salter says &ldquo;I was delighted to break the World Record. I really feel this emphasises the quirky element to my funky Jewellery and music.&rdquo;<br /><br />The quirky jewellery is currently stocked at Kitson in LA, as well as several UK stores and was first spotted adorning Paris Hilton, however now it seems the range is reaching out to new fans.<br /><br />Alayna, a designer and musician launched the sweet inspired jewellery range after music fans at her gigs kept asking where she got her distinctive earrings, bracelets and necklaces. A fan of customising clothes and accessories, she began making her own jewellery after <span class="full-image-float-right ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.2gr8consumerpruk.com/storage/Alayna%20New.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1250094400903" alt="" /></span></span>finding that high street and designer labels didn&rsquo;t allow her to express her individuality. Her girly designs have since proved to be an immediate hit with fashion conscious trend setters and her designs are now adorning the bodies of LA celebs and Punky Allsorts are fast-becoming one of the big new trends of 2008.<br /><br />The jewellery&rsquo;s success on both sides of the Atlantic is just the beginning for Alayna as she is extremely ambitious, and believes that to start a business you just need complete confidence in your product. &ldquo;If you&rsquo;re brave and have a great idea, use your initiative and just go for it,&rdquo; says Alayna. &ldquo;I wanted to create a young, fun brand that didn&rsquo;t follow the rules of the more formal traditional trends and that&rsquo;s exactly what I&rsquo;ve done; better still the success of my jewellery is now providing me with the opportunities to further my music career.&rdquo;</p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.2gr8consumerpruk.com/news/rss-comments-entry-2873399.xml</wfw:commentRss></item></channel></rss>