Whilst the full CertainShops newsletter is being compiled, this is a quick reminder that the Brighton Starting Over Show is happening this Sunday.

Complementary tickets to SOS

Free talks and workshops to help visitors start over from divorce, redundancy or bereavement…..

Free tickets to share with staff or colleagues, friends or family who would like to visit Starting Over Shows - just click here…..

These are some of the company’s already sharing the code for free SOS tickets with their staff:  Fire Brigade Union London and South East – Cannon UK – Greater London Authority…..

Boost your CSR and be a good boss, and share a gift from CertainShops

Do you write useful articles of interest to our readers?

Or interesting blog posts?  Feel free to submit any that you feel we should be sharing on our blog – please send as .doc or .odt file with relevant images (please ensure that you have the right to publish any images you send across).  Email suzy@startingovershow.co.uk

Win a fee copy of Julia Armstrong’s inspirational autobiography by completing this very quick survey on “what I think about business coaching?” Click here to take survey

Shrink those utility bills for home and office without wasting any of your precious time…….

Freelance advice – online website full of useful articles and information

If you only want to pay professionals who other people rave about, then you’re in the right place. CertainShops – professionals online. The certain way of doing business.

Become part of CertainShops:

One of the “most useful websites that will change your life” (The Independent)

If you are allowed to join CertainShops, it means 3 previous clients have raved about you. No other online directory of professional service providers gives your clients that peace of mind.

For less than the cost of a networking group, you can build trusting relationships with other CertainShops professionals.

If your PREVIOUS CLIENTS RAVE ABOUT YOU, then become part of our community of approved online professionals. Click here for more information…. certainshops-brochure-15-oct-2009

READER OFFERS

In the Frame

For any CertainShops newsletter readers who commission me to take their photos, be it corporate or domestic, I can offer them a FREE large size, panoramic canvas print of one of the photographs of their choice.

Contact me, Scott Collier, at: http://www.certainshops.com/service-provider.php?sp=12

SERVICE PROFESSIONALS:

If you have a strong professional track record and would like to join our waiting list to be part of our consortium of high caliber professionals selected on merit contact us: suzy(at)certainshops. com

We will promote you through:

Pay per click, Link Campaign and SEO

Press releases and Radio interviews

Site Newsletter free to all Registered Users and Service Providers

Business networking events and trade shows

Corporate Packages

Apply online here…..

CLIENT MEMBERSHIP:

To view the many benefits of our Client Membership package, including free Situations Vacant – please click here…

SEND TO A FRIEND:

Help each other out and let your friends and colleagues have access to our consortium of high calibre professionals selected on merit – why not forward this newsletter to them now?

SUGGESTIONS & FEEDBACK:

Let us know what you want us to put in the newsletter or your ideas on how to improve the content or layout by contacting us at:suzy (at) certainshops. com

The small print

If you do not want to receive another one of our newsletters, you can unsubscribe at any time through your user preferences on the website, or by contacting CertainShops.

To FIND OUT MORE ABOUT US at www.certainshops.com and how to Register for FREE click here:http://www.certainshops.com/register.php

We help make those important choices simple leaving you secure in the knowledge that your needs are fully understood and served by our carefully selected professionals online

© CertainShops Ltd 2006 All Rights Reserved

All text is copyright © of the author and CertainShops Ltd. Logos are copyright © their respective owners.

The information and opinions in contributions to this newsletter and printed on the CertainShops web site in no way reflects the opinions of CertainShops Ltd.

CertainShops Ltd. | 02088167281 | textphone 18001 02088167281 | www.certainshops.com | e: suzy (at) certainshops. com

Registered in England & Wales | Company no. 5685386 | Registered office North Park Lodge South Street East Hoathly Lewes E Sussex BN8 6DS | VAT no. 880175810

In this issue: going to the ball; resources for small business; free tickets to share with your staff/clients

SUZY’S DIARY

Running a small business from home can be lonely at times.  When I found myself deliberately dropping a glove in the high street just so someone would say “excuse me” and a short interaction would ensue, I realised something had to be done. Fast.

Thank goodness for CertainShops.  I huddled in a corner of an internet cafe and went online: within minutes I had booked a free 15 minute consultation with a Feng Shui practitioner who could help make my home less cluttered and encourage visitors, and while she’s at it she’s going to help me declutter my office as well.  I inquired about having a party organised with a fluffy pink cocktail bar hired in for extra fun, and booked in for some motivational inspirational coaching sessions for good measure.

By the time Spring arrives and I don’t need to wear gloves anymore, I will no longer need to resort to the ‘fair weather’ ploy of ‘accidentally’ losing my right shoe – “Excuse me…….”

Useful resources for small to medium businesses

Complementary tickets to SOS

Free tickets to share with staff or colleagues, friends or family who would like to visit Starting Over Shows - just click here…..

These are some of the company’s already sharing the code for free SOS tickets with their staff:  Fire Brigade Union London and South East – Cannon UK – Greater London Authority…..

Boost your CSR and be a good boss, and share a gift from CertainShops

Win a fee copy of Julia Armstrong’s inspirational autobiography by completing this very quick survey on “what I think about business coaching?” Click here to take survey

Shrink those utility bills for home and office without wasting any of your precious time…….

Freelance advice – online website full of useful articles and information

For general blogs and articles on business related topics visit ‘Suzy Says’

Sign our petition:

My daughter Cyd wants to support other children (she’s 13) whose parents are going through break up or divorce, and has started a petition to encourage Government to change the divorce laws and to actively support less combative ways of break up.

Cyd hopes to be at both live SOS events (we need to check her dad’s ok with this first!) gathering signatures.  You can sign the petition now online here:

Break up right – please don’t fight!

THE CERTAIN WAY OF LIVING LIFE

“What’s the latest news?”

Dateline Platinum are having a party

If you know any single people, why not let them know about the Dateline Platinum Starting Over Show balls at the Hilton Metropole in London on Saturday 6th March or at the Hilton Brighton on 27th March?

Meet lots of new single people ready to Start Over….

Become part of CertainShops:

One of the “most useful websites that will change your life” (The Independent)

If you are allowed to join CertainShops, it means 3 previous clients have raved about you. No other online directory of professional service providers gives your clients that peace of mind.

For less than the cost of a networking group, you can build trusting relationships with other CertainShops professionals.

If your PREVIOUS CLIENTS RAVE ABOUT YOU, then become part of our community of approved online professionals. Click here for more information…. certainshops-brochure-15-oct-2009

READER OFFERS

In the Frame

For any CertainShops newsletter readers who commission me to take their photos, be it corporate or domestic, I can offer them a FREE large size, panoramic canvas print of one of the photographs of their choice.

Contact me, Scott Collier, at: http://www.certainshops.com/service-provider.php?sp=12

SERVICE PROFESSIONALS:

If you have a strong professional track record and would like to join our waiting list to be part of our consortium of high caliber professionals selected on merit contact us: suzy(at)certainshops. com

We will promote you through:

Pay per click, Link Campaign and SEO

Press releases and Radio interviews

Site Newsletter free to all Registered Users and Service Providers

Business networking events and trade shows

Corporate Packages

Apply online here…..

CLIENT MEMBERSHIP:

To view the many benefits of our Client Membership package, including free Situations Vacant – please click here…

SEND TO A FRIEND:

Help each other out and let your friends and colleagues have access to our consortium of high calibre professionals selected on merit – why not forward this newsletter to them now?

SUGGESTIONS & FEEDBACK:

Let us know what you want us to put in the newsletter or your ideas on how to improve the content or layout by contacting us at:suzy (at) certainshops. com

The small print

If you do not want to receive another one of our newsletters, you can unsubscribe at any time through your user preferences on the website, or by contacting CertainShops.

To FIND OUT MORE ABOUT US at www.certainshops.com and how to Register for FREE click here:http://www.certainshops.com/register.php

We help make those important choices simple leaving you secure in the knowledge that your needs are fully understood and served by our carefully selected professionals online

© CertainShops Ltd 2006 All Rights Reserved

All text is copyright © of the author and CertainShops Ltd. Logos are copyright © their respective owners.

The information and opinions in contributions to this newsletter and printed on the CertainShops web site in no way reflects the opinions of CertainShops Ltd.

CertainShops Ltd., 72 Medway Drive, Forest Row, E Sussex, RH18 5NX | 02088167281 | textphone 18001 02088167281 | www.certainshops.com | e: suzy (at) certainshops. com

Registered in England & Wales | Company no. 5685386 | Registered office North Park Lodge South Street East Hoathly Lewes E Sussex BN8 6DS | VAT no. 880175810

Win a fee copy of Julia Armstrong’s inspirational autobiography by completing this very quick survey on “what I think about business coaching?”

Shrink those utility bills for home and office without wasting any of your precious time…….

SUZY’S DIARY

It’s just not fair. Still over a week until Xmas Eve, and I come home to find a huge bloke stuck upside down in my fireplace, wearing red. It did not take long for me to ascertain that this premature Santa was suffering from a major life crisis – disruptive workforce and problems with the Reindeer Union, loss of job satisfaction and strife with Mrs Santa who seems to be spending a lot of time with her new driving instructor, a large Elf called Bernard. I had to do something to sort this Santa out – apart from clashing horribly with the orange sofa, I couldn’t light the fire so help was needed – fast!

Thank goodness for CertainShops. I linked Santa up to the internet and persuaded him to talk to some commercial lawyers, get his life and spirit back on track with some coaching, and chat with our collaborative solicitor about how to keep things peaceful with Mrs Santa if she decided to run off with the Elf.

As to how I’m going to get him out of the chimney is another matter entirely. I could try Feng Shui – but maybe a diet of raw vegetables combined with the children tugging on his beard will do the trick, hopefully just in time for Xmas…..

Professional in the spotlight:

New to CertainShops comes the highly recommended Elissa Da Costa – Barrister, Mediator and Collaborative Lawyer

Using a creative and innovative approach in finding solutions to Client’s financial matters on divorce, Elissa is also an expert in cohabitation claims, a formidable Scrabble player and part time renovator of a Steam Locomotive (but definitely not an anorak!) Read more about Elissa here…….

“Any interesting articles/blogs?”

Believing in Never Land

Julia Armstrong writes about the need to stay true to your dreams even in difficult economic times

Win a fee copy of Julia Armstrong’s inspirational autobiography by completing this very quick survey on “what I think about business coaching?”

For more general blogs and articles on business related topics visit ‘Suzy Says’

THE CERTAIN WAY OF LIVING LIFE

“What’s the latest news?”

Free entry to the first thousand business visitors – it’s open all day – meet hundreds of businesses – network

Brighton and Hove business show

Wednesday 14th April 2010 – The Hove Centre, Hove Town Hall – BN3 4AH 11 – 6pm

The Brighton and Hove Business Show April 2010 is dedicated to providing quality and independent local advice, fresh ideas and inspiration, practical tips, information, and ‘all things business’.

You will have an opportunity to see what’s new, keep up to date, use of our free online suppliers information, seek independent local professional advice and discover money and time saving tips, and purchase local products and services.

Become part of CertainShops:

one of the “most useful websites that will change your life” (The Independent)

If you are allowed to join CertainShops, it means 3 previous clients have raved about you. No other online directory of professional service providers gives your clients that peace of mind.

For less than the cost of a networking group, you can build trusting relationships with other CertainShops professionals.

If your PREVIOUS CLIENTS RAVE ABOUT YOU, then become part of our community of approved online professionals. Click here for more information…. certainshops-brochure-15-oct-2009

The Starting Over Show now has a free financial surgery at both events, as well as free legal and wellbeing surgeries.

We have a Xmas present for CertainShops subscribers – free tickets to share with friends or family who would like to visit Starting Over Show

READER OFFERS

In the Frame

For any CertainShops newsletter readers who commission me to take their photos, be it corporate or domestic, I can offer them a FREE large size, panoramic canvas print of one of the photographs of their choice.

Contact me, Scott Collier, at: http://www.certainshops.com/service-provider.php?sp=12

SERVICE PROFESSIONALS:

If you have a strong professional track record and would like to join our waiting list to be part of our consortium of high caliber professionals selected on merit contact us: suzy(at)certainshops. com

We will promote you through:

Pay per click, Link Campaign and SEO

Press releases and Radio interviews

Site Newsletter free to all Registered Users and Service Providers

Business networking events and trade shows

Corporate Packages

Apply online here…..

CLIENT MEMBERSHIP:

To view the many benefits of our Client Membership package, including free Situations Vacant – please click here…

SEND TO A FRIEND:

Help each other out and let your friends and colleagues have access to our consortium of high calibre professionals selected on merit – why not forward this newsletter to them now?

SUGGESTIONS & FEEDBACK:

Let us know what you want us to put in the newsletter or your ideas on how to improve the content or layout by contacting us at:suzy (at) certainshops. com

The small print

If you do not want to receive another one of our newsletters, you can unsubscribe at any time through your user preferences on the website, or by contacting CertainShops.

To FIND OUT MORE ABOUT US at www.certainshops.com and how to Register for FREE click here:http://www.certainshops.com/register.php

We help make those important choices simple leaving you secure in the knowledge that your needs are fully understood and served by our carefully selected professionals online

© CertainShops Ltd 2006 All Rights Reserved

All text is copyright © of the author and CertainShops Ltd. Logos are copyright © their respective owners.

The information and opinions in contributions to this newsletter and printed on the CertainShops web site in no way reflects the opinions of CertainShops Ltd.

CertainShops Ltd., 72 Medway Drive, Forest Row, E Sussex, RH18 5NX | 02088167281 | textphone 18001 02088167281 | www.certainshops.com | e: suzy (at) certainshops. com

Registered in England & Wales | Company no. 5685386 | Registered office North Park Lodge South Street East Hoathly Lewes E Sussex BN8 6DS | VAT no. 880175810

As a vetted professional on CertainShops and also an exhibitor at Starting Over Show, I am constantly aware of the interconnection between the need for personal development during difficult life situations, such as divorce or redundancy, and also the need for business owners to keep their dreams alive during these trying economic times.

I went recently to Leicester to see Peter Pan. It was a long time since I had seen or read the story and I was moved by the poignant tale of the ‘lost boys’ looking for a Mummy and Daddy.  I had recorded a podcast with Julian Ronnie, the composer and Lyricist of Peter Pan, when I was on my Shaman healing course and the experience of listening to the lyrics knowing something of the man and the process he went through to compose and create, added a depth and another dimension to my experience of watching the show.

Why am I writing this article? I think for two reasons.  One – that there was a sadness pervading the desire for the lost boys to find love and connection and that there was an emptiness within them having fallen out of their pram and got lost.  Even though they were having such an adventure in Never Land (the world) they were still searching for the parts of themselves they had lost through losing the connection with their parents, and so the whole adventure reflected a journey towards completion through ‘starting over’ in each new adventure until they eventually returned ‘home’ to love (of themselves- reflected through Mr and Mrs Darling embracing all of them).  Secondly, because I recognized in interviewing Julian that in moving to his real passion – the theatre and the performing arts away from making music for TV adverts – turning away from a more lucrative career – he was having to trust himself and his inner voice.  As his lyrics communicated, he had just to ‘Hold your hands out, think a happy thought and believe you can fly’.

Moving from TV to theatre is meaning a significant change in re-imbursement – but Julian knows he must follow his soul path and his passion and believe that by doing that he will fly and truly fly, not just be satisfied with getting a fat pay packet for composing music for an advert.  Clearly his talent has expressed itself in the adverts and he has needed skill to turn out the briefs required by the agencies – but he realized that if he didn’t follow the pull to ‘start over’ and go towards the theater, where he knew he must go – he would become a ‘lost boy’ himself .

In the end we must look to find our own centre point.  All of us are wounded and have unmet needs from childhood and from generational patterns and karmic influences – but in knowing that you can fly to Never Land means you can dream a new future in the present, so that this future draws us to it, and in the present moment we can also heal the past and so change our perception of those events through a new understanding.  Time might not be linear and ‘cause and effect’ – time might be in a circle with everything, past and future happening now in this infinite moment – which means we always have a chance to fully heal the past and create a positive new future.

So Never Land exists – it is our imagination through which we dream our future into being, and we are only lost if we invest in the stories that disempower us, and think we are powerless to change the influences of our families and experiences, and at the mercy of fate!  Instead if we take charge of our future we can create anything and find ourselves and our true center point, knowing that however much we feel lost through absent or unaware parents, or a world where the old rules of financial stability no longer seem to apply, that we have the support of mother earth and the care of the father source energy – the heavens above us and the earth below.

We will know we are safe and can never get lost – and that in each moment we have the chance to genuinely start over and create whatever we desire.

Listen to Julia being interviewed here…..

“The environment in which we work is inextricably bound with our client and staff relationships, profit and loss, sales and the image of our brand that we project at a subliminal as well as a conscious level. Feng Shui provides a template for maximising the opportunities in our environment to support our business.
The most rewarding clients are those who don’t hide their struggles and tackle them with gusto and verve knowing that they are backing themselves and voting for a better, easier future.  Once you explain what is essentially them and how they’ve created the world they inhabit, they then stop trying to conform to others expectations and come into focus.

It’s done by a series of calculations and analysis of the premises. Scott was one of those fantastic clients who trusted and grasped it. He moved pictures , understood that less was more, acknowledged what he was rubbish at, tackled the life threatening leaks and electrical problems in his wealth area, bought his peace lillies for his stands at exhibitions and reaped the benefits of his obvious talents
with more clients.

The success Scott will claim as he makes more knowing changes will grow, as will his understanding of the right flow of energy. It is as simple and as difficult as taking really good photos….it takes time and practice.”

Leaks and electrical issues in the wealth area!

“flying ducks” encourage wealth – displaying information in threes in an upward progression focuses the viewer on what you want them to pay attention to…..

Work colleague Tom notices the old towel dispenser that was never used has been removed – de-cluttering is an important aspect of Feng Shui

A white-flowering evergreen climber placed correctly will encourage the upward growth of financial success being drawn into the shop – and also create a more inviting entrance

Rosa D’Morgan, Feng Shui for business, home and environment

SUZY’S DIARY

Where have I been for the last year? Stranded out at sea crying S-O-S to no avail, that’s where. Finally I caught a ride to a small island hanging on to the back of a passing turtle. Luckily, the Galapagos Islands now have 3G and with my home make solar mobile charger (patent pending with the help of Baylis Brands) I am up and running again, able to steer my business efficiently thanks to a growing band of CertainShops professionals.

Thank goodness for CertainShops. Despite being marooned, I have been able to create a suitable office on my island hideaway. I emailed photos from my phone of my location to our Feng Shui expert for advice on where best to place the bamboo door to my workspace to attract the most wealth into my business, indulged in a free initial investment consultation with Private Wealth Management via Skype, and ordered a Cocktail in a Box from my events company for a corporate gift with a difference.

I am finding that parenting via Facebook is working very well. The children seem to have survived well without me – how fortunate that they managed to hack into my internet bank accounts while I’ve been away. Now I just need to wait for one of these blooming turtles to migrate and take me back to civilization.

“Any interesting articles/blogs?”

Is your website legally compliant? Business Consultant Janette Whitney offers an online service to make sure you are staying on the right side of the law.

Check out Janette’s blog here and read other very useful stuff

Snappy Snaps Mayfair gets ‘Feng Shui’d'!

As part of our skills swop between our accredited professionals, Feng Shui expert Rosa D’Morgan set to work on Snappy Snaps Mayfair …….

For more general blogs and articles on business related topics   visit ‘Suzy Says’

THE CERTAIN WAY OF LIVING LIFE

“What’s the latest news?”

Free entry to the first thousand business visitors – it’s open all day – meet hundreds of businesses – network

The Brighton & Hove Business Show November 2009 is dedicated to providing quality and independent local advice, fresh ideas and inspiration, practical tips, information, and ‘all things business’ for a more profitable and successful trading Christmas 2009 and start to 2010.

You will have an opportunity to see what’s new, keep up to date, use of our free online suppliers information, seek independent local professional advice and discover money and time saving tips, and purchase local products and services.

Let us help you at The Brighton & Hove Business November Show, no matter how large or small your business may be, to be the meeting place to focus on business matters during Winter 2009/Spring 2010.

Become part of CertainShops:

one of the “most useful websites that will change your life” (The Independent)

If you are allowed to join CertainShops, it means 3 previous clients have raved about you. No other online directory of professional service providers gives your clients that peace of mind.

For less than the cost of a networking group, you can build trusting relationships with other CertainShops professionals.

If your PREVIOUS CLIENTS RAVE ABOUT YOU, then become part of our community of approved online professionals. Click here for more information…. certainshops-brochure-15-oct-2009

The Starting Over Show now has new resource partners!

Parentline Plus have joined us as resource partners on SOS, and UK introduction agency Dateline Platinum have come on board as sponsors.

We had a good time at our SOS exhibitors meet up in October – See our video here:

And thank you to Certain Shops accredited photographer Scott Collier for taking such great pics!

.

READER OFFERS

In the Frame

For any CertainShops newsletter readers who commission me to take their photos, be it corporate or domestic, I can offer them a FREE large size, panoramic canvas print of one of the photographs of their choice.

Contact me, Scott Collier, at: http://www.certainshops.com/service-provider.php?sp=12

SERVICE PROFESSIONALS:

If you have a strong professional track record and would like to join our waiting list to be part of our consortium of high calibre professionals selected on merit contact us: suzy(at)certainshops. com

We will promote you through:

Pay per click, Link Campaign and SEO

Press releases and Radio interviews

Site Newsletter free to all Registered Users and Service Providers

Business networking events and trade shows

Corporate Packages

Apply online here…..

CLIENT MEMBERSHIP:

To view the many benefits of our Client Membership package, including free Situations Vacant – please click here…

SEND TO A FRIEND:

Help each other out and let your friends and colleagues have access to our consortium of high calibre professionals selected on merit – why not forward this newsletter to them now?

SUGGESTIONS & FEEDBACK:

Let us know what you want us to put in the newsletter or your ideas on how to improve the content or layout by contacting us at:suzy (at) certainshops. com

The small print

If you do not want to receive another one of our newsletters, you can unsubscribe at any time through your user preferences on the website, or by contacting CertainShops.

To FIND OUT MORE ABOUT US at www.certainshops.com and how to Register for FREE click here:http://www.certainshops.com/register.php

We help make those important choices simple leaving you secure in the knowledge that your needs are fully understood and served by our carefully selected professionals online

© CertainShops Ltd 2006 All Rights Reserved

All text is copyright © of the author and CertainShops Ltd. Logos are copyright © their respective owners.

The information and opinions in contributions to this newsletter and printed on the CertainShops web site in no way reflects the opinions of CertainShops Ltd.

CertainShops Ltd., 72 Medway Drive, Forest Row, E Sussex, RH18 5NX | 02088167281 | textphone 18001 02088167281 | www.certainshops.com | e: suzy (at) certainshops. com

Registered in England & Wales | Company no. 5685386 | Registered office North Park Lodge South Street East Hoathly Lewes E Sussex BN8 6DS | VAT no. 880175810

The code for free tickets is  sos

Click this link: www.startingovershow.co.uk and put the code into the blank box on the ticket registration page (after you click any of the links on the ‘buy tickets’ box on the home page)

You can share the tickets with friends or family who will benefit from visiting the Starting Over Show

See our recent national press coverage here for SOS

So just…

Go onto the home page at  www.startingovershow.co.uk

Click on any of the links on the blue ‘buy tickets’ box

Add sos to the blank box

Once registered (we don’t pass on your details to anyone) you will receive an email with tickets attached in pdf format prior to the events.

Best wishes

Suzy Miller

We’ve got new professionals to tantalize your taste buds with their expertize, advice on how to get the best out of exhibiting at events, and a video of the adventures of SOS to the sound of the Nutcracker Suite.

Also, it’s your last chance to win some `healthy chocolate’ and to get free tickets to share with a friend in need to the SOS event this Spring.  Click Here to take survey

SUZY’S DIARY

“Mummy, come out now, I know you’re in there” bellowed my young daughter under the door. “You can’t hide under the stairs for ever.  Come out now and cook Xmas dinner or I will disconnect your wireless connection!”   She had already confiscated my IPhone so I gave up trying to catch up on emails and brought my laptop and myself out of the shoe cupboard and admitted defeat.”Don’t worry Mummy” my sons’ comforted me.  Our Xmas present to you means you can relax and let proper skilled professionals do the work for you.  We’ve been onto CertainShops and your new website is all taken care of.”  Sure enough, my computer literate angels had commissioned a Feng Shui expert to improve the navigation on my latest website, a graphic designer to come up with a great new look, and an SEO expert to help drive traffic to the site.Sadly, the pocket money of all three children combined did not quite cover the costs.  But hey, it’s the thought that counts.

THE CERTAIN WAY OF LIVING LIFE

“What’s the latest news?”

SOS meets The Nutcracker…..

We have new word of mouth recommended professionals who have come aboard CertainShops, and they include an

award winning information graphic designer, Richard Wolfstrome;

a life and business coach, Carol Hughes;

a sustainable events manager, Sam Wilson;

feng shui for business and for life, Rosa D’Morgan;

an SEO marketeer Martin Long, who gained one client over 18,000 downloads of their online software,

and PR and marketing professional Sylvia Howe.

All our professionals are personally word of mouth recommended before joining the CertainShops’ website.

The Starting Over Show now has new resource partners!

Wikivorce and Families Need Fathers have joined us as resource partners on SOS.

 We had a good time at our SOS exhibitors meet up in October.

See our video here:

Thank you to all of you who have contributed to our last survey.  See the summary of results here:

Those who contributed to the survey will be emailed the code for free tickets during the next few weeks.

Congratulations to the winner of a portrait photography session with Scott Collier,  Naraya Urban-Winterfeldt.  Thank you to all those who entered the competition.

If you need some smart but unstuffy photos to boost your professional image, or you want some spontaneous and eternal memories of your family recorded, Scott will make that happen. AND you can have the digital negatives too, which is not something every photographer gives up lightly, especially not for free.

“Any interesting articles/blogs?”

How Web Professionals Should Be Proactive In a Recession

Jeremiah Owyang Sr Analyst at Forrester Research: Social Computing

Posted: 06 Dec 2008 06:30 AM CST

Things are going to get worse before they get betterIt’s official, we’re in a recession, says economists. Four quarters since Q4 2007 indicate this economic change and Bloomberg reports that “The U.S. economy may be headed for its deepest and longest recession since World War II”.

It gets worse, Associated Press reports that Employers cut 533K jobs in Nov., most in 34 years”. My job is to listen to the marketplace, and I didn’t hear anyone talking about this until Sept 2008, it’s as if US, and the world were taken by surprise.

Perhaps the scariest thing for most, is that no matter how hard you work, you could get layed off. Your division, your budget, or your role could get eliminated.

I’m not all doom and gloom, here’s how you can be proactive:

Learn How to Adjust at Your Day JobI survived 10 rounds of layoffs and was the final 12.5% of Exodus before I went to work at World Savings, what did I do learn? The trick is to stay flexible and demonstrate you can adapt, increase revenues, or use your skills in a scalable and effecient way. You’ll also need to properly internal market your abilities within your corporation or with your clients to demonstrate why you and your services give greater return out the end. Fortunately, the web can be such a tool –if you know how to do it right.

Understand How Social Media is a Risk and OpportunitySocial media has an opportunity in a recession, these tools are cheap, some marketing campaigns range from 10-50k on the low end, far less expensive than any traditional marketing. Of course, with comes great risk: doing it wrong can result in a punking, not doing anything at all could leave you exposed, and most brands overlook the amount of labor required to develop these programs. As a result, I’m working on an upcoming report, and we’re surveying social media marketers to find out if they’re going to increase –or decrease –their social media resources during a downturn. In fact, we’re re jigging some of my research agenda to meet the needs of the market and client –so stay tuned.

Use Online Networking Tools to ConnectIf you’re a web professional, or are involved with social media in your career, I want you to network with others in my Web Strategy Facebook Group (there are over 9000 folks there), or within the Community Manager Facebook Group (over 2000 folks). You should also be updating your LinkedIn Profile (doing so triggers updates to others) and connect and reconnect with folks you need to synch up with.

Attend Real World EventsThe need to connect in person (yes, real life) is the core essence of what makes us social animals, and as a result, I’ve organized a free networking event called a Tweetup in Silicon Valley this coming Thursday, and 81 intent to come, and 62 others are interested. I found this list of things to do before you get layed off very helpful. If you’re in the area, come out to the event, bring your clients, meet clients, network with others, now is the time to link in with others, build your network before you need them.

Always Be Looking For OpportunitiesYou must always have your ear to the rail, listening and meeting folks that could potentially help you. I’ve made friends with some of the top recruiters in the web industry, and I’ve been helping them when the economy was good –think ahead. If you recently were layed off, or are looking to move up, Forrester is hiring a social media analyst (email your resume to jowyang at forrester dot com), and you can peruse the Web Strategy Job Board.

 

For the girls – why not visit National Association of Female Professionals at: http://www.naofp.org?

For more general blogs and articles on business related topics

check out Suzy Says

PROFESSIONAL SPOTLIGHTS

Sam Wilson of Eco Events gives some hot tips for those of you who will be exhibiting at shows and events during 2009.

Tips about exhibiting 

As you know, exhibitions provide a truly exceptional promotional platform: they’re a unique, 3D experience which, unlike advertising, direct mail, PR or any other type of promotional media, allows your potential customers to feel, smell, taste and try on…The fact that the exhibition experience appeals to all the senses makes it an intensely memorable medium – and offers you the chance to bring your product or service to life in a way that no other medium can do. Below are a few tips that we hope will help you to capitalise on this opportunity:

3.1 Stand design 

The layout and design of your stand should reflect what you want to achieve and differentiate you from every other exhibitor. Colour, light and layout are key in helping your stand tell the story about your product or service. Think carefully about your target audience and how you can clearly show the benefits of what you offer to them (don’t just describe what you do).

Think carefully about how people approach and leave the stand so that your display has maximum impact and access is easy and inviting. It is important to keep product layout clear and simple – visitors need to know at a glance what your stand is about – and they will make a decision about whether to invest time and money at your stand within the first few seconds. Suggested strategies: repetition of the same item can be highly effective and eye-catching; lighting can be used to define specific focal points; simple, clear, professional graphics can highlight your key messages very succinctly. Whatever your objectives for being at the show, your stand should be designed to be inviting, interesting and professional and to reflect the uniqueness of your product/company or service with impact.

Be sustainable: you don’t always need to buy expensive materials or items for your stand – and with the infrequent use of many stand items, to buy new materials is often a costly and inefficient use of time and money. With a little time and careful planning we have often been able to borrow items or be creative with what we already have. Charity shops, car boot sales, local papers and Freecycle are a great place to search for items for your stand. Start early, save money, and support the local community! Where branded materials/graphics are a necessity – make sure you leave out specific show details (e.g. name and dates) so you can re-use them again at the next event.

3.2 Promotional literature 

Events are all about making the intangible tangible – even the smallest tangible item will help to sustain people’s idea of how good your service and product is. Are you planning to give visitors any information about your company or service? If so, will all visitors get the same thing? You may want to consider having different types of information available, so that expensive literature only reaches the hands of the most seriously interested visitor, with the simply curious taking away a business card. Think about using recycled/FSC paper and vegetable based inks, add these symbols onto your literature and develop your brand as considerate and forward-thinking.

Again – make sure that any literature does not contain specific show info so you can use any left-over materials at another time / the following year.

3.3 Activity on the stand 

As your stand should be geared to reflecting your show objectives, make sure you think hard about how it will be used. If you are exhibiting clothes, for example, have you designed in enough private space for visitors to try on samples? If you are presenting a holiday destination, does your stand ‘paint a picture’ of that destination? Graphics, flavours, colours and even refreshments can all be used to make a real impact on all the senses and capture the unique appeal of a destination in a way that a conversation and brochure simply can’t. If you offering a therapy sample, how easy and tempting is it for visitors to walk on to the stand to participate. If you want to collect as many ‘leads’ as possible, have you offered an incentive and how easy is it for visitors to leave their details?  

3.4 People, people, people 

Exhibitions are all about people and the success of your participation is often down to the quality of the contact that you (and others working on your stand) have with the visitor. So do make sure that everyone’s properly briefed and they look friendly and approachable at all times (not forgetting that you’re on view all the time). 

Stating the obvious (but it is surprising how this can be forgotten during a busy exhibition – make sure there are no half-eaten sandwiches and dirty cups in sight and ensure that you have cover for the stand when you need to leave it – even if you are only nipping to the loo!

EcoEvents: Creating positive communications. There will always be 3 things on your guest list – profit, people, planet. We design and build your exhibition stand with these in mind from conception to build to de-rig. Contact: sam@ecoevents.com (0845 521 0120)

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