With the double dip recession seemingly never ending, times are tough for UK business owners. While the large corporations and chains appear untouched, it is the small and medium businesses which suffer. Kent’s once bustling town centres have been replaced with rows of empty shops and closed down pubs and restaurants.

But don’t despair. Whatever your business sector and whether you offer a service or a product, there is help available. If you believe your business offers strong, honest products or services which people still need, your prospects can be vastly improved with minimal investment.

Branding, marketing, graphic design, website design and advertising offer business owners the potential for a generous return on investment. A Kent-based graphic design agency will have local knowledge and the time and care for a personal service, with creations perfectly tailored to your requirements. They understand the needs of an SME like yours – they are one, after all.

As people say, you have to spend money to make money. It is common knowledge that exposure and branding can make or break a business. After all, if nobody knows about a business how will it ever get custom? Similarly, poorly designed websites, leaflets, brochures, fliers, exhibition stands and presentations will be at worst ignored, at best, forgotten.

You have a variety of options to consider to improve business:

Branding and Marketing

All successful businesses are intelligently branded. With professional guidance your brand image and strategy can be transformed or updated, giving your business an unforgettable personality which is consistent across all your communications.
Marketing experts can think up creative and attention-grabbing ways to get your message across in a way which suits your business.

Advertisements, Websites and Graphic Design

A new or improved website has infinite potential to increase sales, and a cheap logo redesign can make people notice your business again. HTML emails and well-designed printed newsletters ensure your business stays in the forefront of customer’s minds, and a professionally designed PowerPoint or Flash presentation will boost confidence and impress at your next sales pitch or conference. Why not make finding, contacting or buying from your business convenient with an app, and watch sales increase? Or create an annual report or brochure which really says something about you?

There are plenty of graphic design agencies in Kent which offer website design, online marketing and on and offline advertisement design, in addition to traditional graphic design services. The wider the range of services on offer, the better understanding they will have at promoting your business across the board.

In addition to this, a Kent-based agency which offers a variety of services can also be used for future promotions materials and marketing literature. This can help keep your brand consistent across all media.

Don’t accept the current economic climate and poor sales. Be proactive and hire a local graphic design agency in Kent to get your business noticed!

Open Water are a branding, marketing and graphic design agency based in Kent. Their team offer world-class designing services, tailored to your business to ensure your message gets heard.
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A lot of people get their office furniture from an internet supplier who ship you a box and leave it on your doorstep. That’s it. While this may seem the most cost-effective solution, it may actually be a false economy. People often don’t realise that there are alternatives available; companies who offer a range of services for similarly competitive prices.

Office design companies will often provide complimentary 2D or 3D plans to help you use the space effectively. With years of design experience, they can help tackle the problems you hadn’t even thought about – how people move through the space, how to fit in the maximum amount of storage or how the overall design will reflect the image of your company. Many business owners try to design the layout of their furniture themselves, but this can be time consuming and difficult. Whereas businesses replace their furniture once in five or ten years, office design companies help create attractive and functional layouts every day.

The matter of time is an important one. If you order from a generic supplier, you will have to plan the office layout, put the furniture together when it arrives and get everything in its rightful place. Then you are left with lots of packaging, as well as your old furniture. It is not until you have visited the dump several times that you have finished the job. The question is, how much do you value your time? All this could take hours – hours which could have been used more effectively elsewhere. Office design specialists will deliver and install furniture, as well as removing the packaging and if required, disposing of your old furniture in an environmentally responsible manner.

Take boardroom furniture, for example. A boardroom, in essence, is a direct representation of the company in microcosm. It is the nerve-centre where decisions are made and may double as a room to meet with important clients or stage conferences. Although designing a new boardroom may sound simple, it is not just a matter of buying a table and some chairs; there are many factors to be taken into account. The size and type of furniture will partly be dictated by the amount of space, but at the same time it is important to know how many people will be present and what style is appropriate. Boardroom chairs need to be comfortable and spacious, but this means they will take up more space. The table needs to allow everyone to sit round comfortably, while being small enough to enable discussion and collaboration. Drawings are essential to make sure everything will fit and function as it should.

Office design specialists will often have better quality furniture than is available elsewhere. While large retailers supply cheap, mass-produced products, specialist companies are able to offer Italian leather, real-wood veneers and glass. They can customise furniture to create a truly bespoke design, and have pieces that can make an impact with clients and employees alike. While this may sound expensive, the prices are often comparable to those offered elsewhere and represent far better value for money.

Perfect Synergi are office design specialists, offering a huge range of executive, boardroom and office furniture. They also provide 2D and 3D design services and will install your furniture before removing the packaging. With over 30 years’ experience, they are the perfect choice for your new office.

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It can be a lonely life being a fish. Your career options are limited, the opportunities for travel slim and the only lasting relationships you can hope for are distinctly arranged. On the other hand, you have a lovely tank, food delivered daily and a nice view. Alright, so the exact dimensions of your tank may vary according to budget, but we’d all have a bigger flat if we could afford it. And how much space do you really need? Once you’ve found somewhere to put the castle and the gravel, you only need some communal living space to swim around in. What’s really important is what you do with the space you have. The usual Vettriano prints are ill suited to an aquatic environment and water features are largely redundant. You could try a lava lamp, but I wouldn’t advise it if you want to keep your gills intact. No, what you really need is a 3D aquarium background.

We’re all leading busy cosmopolitan lives, but it’s still good to have a little reminder of the old country on your wall. A little bit of the ol’ big blue that ma and pa used to talk about. 3D aquarium backgrounds are available which mimic the coral reefs of the Galapagos Islands. So what if you’re a goldfish with no heritage more dignified than the display tanks of Westfield? There’re any number of New Yorkers who claim Scottish blood on far more tenuous grounds. Even if some snooty swordtails should question the efficacy of such a display, you can simply point out the additional benefits beyond the simply baronial. For a start, they’re incredibly attractive things. The urban minimalism of your flatmate’s bedsit might not speak of your own aquatic roots, but a finely sculpted, fully three-dimensional backdrop can lend your little corner of it a certain underwater charm. And it’ll probably create a soothing atmosphere for him, as well. That’s why he has you after all; a calming fin at the end of a wearying day. It’s just the way you swim, you laidback beast you.

There are also the remarkable health benefits. We’re always being told that we need to keep our scales clean, but how many of us have the time? It’s a sedentary life in a tank and there just aren’t the rocks you need to exfoliate. The protruding surfaces offer just the sort of abrasive surface to rub against; shed those scales and keep that streamline form. The textured backdrop is also a great environment for fostering friendly bacteria. Beats tipping a tub of Yakult into your tank every day.

There really is no better way to stay stylish, happy and healthy in your little fishy world than to invest in a 3D background for your aquarium. You’ll love it, your tankmates will love it and your owner will love it, too. Which is just as well – they’re paying after all.

If you or your owner would like to invest in a 3D aquarium background and make your life that little bit brighter, do pay a visit to Animal Source. They stock a host of backdrops for a range of fish tanks, allow available to browse and buy on their fantastic website. Take a look today.

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With profitable units beginning at £100,000, owning your own manufacturing business may well be within your grasp. Don’t be put off by a lack of background in manufacturing. You can use your expertise to your advantage, whether it is in marketing, technology, administration, exporting, accountancy or design.

Contrary to common belief, manufacturing is not limited to large businesses. Small manufacturing businesses can offer the specialised and personalised products that large corporations do not have time for. Many buyers source their items from small and medium manufacturers who support their needs by offering a personal service.
Whereas trends come and go, and other industries prosper and demise, people and businesses will always need things. This is why the production industry is still thriving, and why you will find a wide choice of manufacturing businesses for sale by specialist business brokers.

Whether you manufacture products for direct sale to the general public (clothing, shoes, moulded items, furniture, doors and windows, food or beverages) or items for use by industry (tools, architectural metalwork, joinery, machines, technical instruments, machinery), owning a manufacturing unit means you can choose a niche which suits you. If you don’t have experience in manufacturing, you are able to choose a unit which suits your professional background, gifts and passions. You will also find a wealth of information and support sources available to help you create and run your dream business.

Choose whether you want a manufacturing business which is flexible (computer controlled to produce items to individual specifications or to react to market or customer needs), continuous (an assembly line of non customisable products), intermittent (different product specifications, produced to fluctuating volumes based on demand) or custom (items produced to the individual requirements of each customer). You won’t find any industrial businesses for sale more suited to your needs than manufacturing.

Manufacturers are sometimes offered attractive tax breaks and other attractive benefits, thanks to their benefit to the UK’s economy and the jobs they provide. You can enjoy these advantages of owning a manufacturing business, in addition to a profitable turnover in a stable industry.

Specialist sales websites enable you to browse manufacturing businesses for sale across the UK in one place. Within seconds you can begin comparing specifications and prices, using honest descriptions of businesses, their growth potential, leases, and the owners’ reason for sale to make an informed decision. You will often find that businesses are sold with their business model, tools, machinery, clients and reputation, allowing you to move right in and make your mark in the industry.
So don’t delay your success in the manufacturing sector. Shop around through business brokers to find an opportunity for you.

Premier Business Sales lists hundreds of businesses and franchise opportunities, including a wide range of manufacturing businesses. Begin making profit on your new manufacturing venture with Premier Business Sales.

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In a world where customers are increasingly eco-conscious and energy bills and the carbon reduction commitment energy efficiency scheme are hitting businesses hard, commercial energy solutions are key.

Of course, businesses rely on electricity and reducing your electricity usage should be done with minimal impact on the working environment. There are a number of energy monitoring strategies available which allow you to do just this. If you’re looking for an effective way to reduce your energy bills and meet your carbon reduction commitments (the mandatory cap and trade scheme in the UK), you might want to consider a few of the following:

Voltage Optimisation

Estimates suggest 90% of organisations in the UK can save money through voltage optimisation. This works because the National Grid supplies power at a rate of 242 volts, whereas most electric equipment has an optimum voltage of 220 volts. A voltage optimisation unit acts as a transformer between the electrical supply and the power outage, providing electrical devices with a lower voltage, closer to that which they actually need. On installing a unit, you will find all the electrical equipment in your business - from lights to computers, heaters to heavy duty machinery - works as effectively as before – or even better.

Without voltage optimisation, excess voltage is dissipated by your equipment as heat and vibrations, reducing its lifespan. Small unnoticeable drops and fluctuations in electricity supply (sometimes as high as 253 volts) are also common and are detrimental to your equipment. Installing a voltage optimisation unit will not only prevent wasted energy and save money, but also prolong the life of your equipment.

Intelligent units such as Voltis come with meters for energy monitoring, allowing you to see how much energy and money your business has saved. Some businesses have reported a 20% saving on electrical costs from Voltis units: that’s a typical investment payback of just 2 to 3 years. As well as saving money, you could see a carbon emission reduction of 20%, helping you meet your carbon reduction commitment without sacrificing any use of your electrical equipment.

Sub Metering

Sub metering allows portable or fixed energy monitoring. Find out where and when you are using the most electricity, reported on simple graphs and images on your PC. Sub metering is an accurate and hassle-free form of energy management, offering you the insight you need to make changes to energy usage in your business.

Energy Management SystemsFull energy management systems offer businesses a high level of monitoring and control over their electricity supply. Installation is a large project best suited to refurbishments and new building developments due to the disruption caused. If you can install a full energy management system, however, the benefits are immense.

Systems such as Ipsis involve a unit being installed on each power source. An intelligent reporting suite gives users an energy profile and control over each power source, and they can be controlled individually, by room, by building or by equipment type (eg. heating, cooling or vending). Each source can be monitored and switched off when not in use. Ipsis even allows computers to be shut down ‘safely’ so no work is lost. If you are prepared to make changes to meet your carbon reduction commitment, energy management systems are extremely effective and offer complete control.

Marshall-Tufflex Energy Management offer a range of products to help organisations cut energy consumption, lower carbon emissions, save energy costs and assist with meeting CRC targets. We constantly pioneer new and effective solutions and develop products which help monitor, regulate and cut energy use delivering impressive results.

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Freestyle riders understand that their scooter’s performance is everything. Almost every part of a scooter can be customised for the ultimate performance; there is a reason pro riders don’t use complete scooters. To develop and improve your own personal riding style and trick level (and be in with a chance of being sponsored), you’ll need to create a personalised scooter.

Push your skills with a scooter of the perfect weight, grip, height and strength for what you need. Parts will improve your riding whether you specialise in street, skatepark or flatland riding, and whatever speed and tricks are your strengths. Think about your wheels: you need to balance grip and speed for where you’re riding (more grip if street riding is your style), a light bar which is the perfect height, a deck with balance and brakes which you can put confidence in.

Thanks to online retailers based in the UK, you don’t have to import parts from America to get the best Scooter Wheels, bars, decks or breaks. Top brands like Eagle Sport, Proto, Razor, Blunt, Pheonix, Addict and District can be ordered online from UK-based freestyle scooter experts. This means you’ll receive your gear – and be able to get riding with your improved scooter – fast. Some even cut bars to size to make sure they’re perfect.

The website you order your scooter parts from should be active on the scene. The only way you know you’re ordering the best parts is to make sure they’re chosen by the experts. Don’t even think of buying your scooter parts from an extreme sports site – BMX and skateboard experts know nothing about kick scooters and are unlikely to have the latest parts.

Order from scooter specialists and don’t be afraid to ask for advice if you feel lost in the world of Proto, Addict, Pheonix and Eagle Sport. Expert riders want to share their knowledge and experience and make you the best rider you can be. An easy way to see if your scooter part provider knows the sport is by checking if they have a team competing in contests. If they do, you know you’re in the hands of the pros.

Rigg My Roll are online scooter specialists. Browse their store to see a range of scooters, parts and accessories, including wheels, decks, forks and helmets from brands like Eagle Sport, Phoenix, Razor, Proto and Addict. See their collection of high performance wheels.

A water feature creates a stunning focal point in any garden. The oasis of calm which a pond offers is unrivalled by any other garden feature. With thousands of exciting water features to choose from, it can be easy to forget the importance of a pump. But it is the pump which keeps your water running and keeps your feature looking stunning.

If you have no background knowledge of pond pumps, you may find yourself overwhelmed by a wider choice than you first imagined. Different pond pumps perform different tasks, which is why there are so many. Filter pumps are sometimes called solids-handling pumps because they move solid waste to a pond filter, and are therefore ideal for keeping ponds clean. If a fountain or water feature is connected to a pond filter pump it is likely that the nozzles will become blocked with this dirt, so use a specialist fountain pump for these applications.

Pond pumps are usually categorised by the volume of water which they can turn over in an hour, so only purchase from a retailer which has these statistics available. Work out the volume of water in your pond by calculating width x length x depth x 1000 (use metres for all measurements) and aim for a pump which will circulate this pond volume around every two hours. For example, if you have a pond which measures 3 metres x 3 metres x 0.5 metres, you have 4.5 x 1000, so 4500 litre water volume. Therefore, a pump like the Aquamax ECO 3500 will be more than adequate, as this turns over 3600 litres per hour.

Opt for a pond pump which circulates your required water volume at least every 2 hours, but do not choose a pump too much more powerful than you need if you want to save on power consumption. You may also want to compare the power consumption of various pumps and only buy one which comes with a guarantee for peace-of-mind. Your pond pump will come with instructions for installation.

For your pond filter, look for a maximum flow rate which is the same, or higher, than your pond pump’s turn over. Pond filter kits come with a water pump, filter box and UV clarifier, making the filtration system easier to purchase if you require both a pond pump and a filter. It is always advisable to buy the largest diameter flexible hose to connect your filter.

For fountain displays, you will need to calculate the volume of water in the same way. Your fountain should not reach over half your pond’s narrowest point to avoid water splashing around the pond in windy conditions. Predetermined fountain sets make choosing fountain pump equipment even easier.

For more information on choosing a pond or fountain pump, contact a specialist pond pump supplier. Online retailers offer a wide range of products and are able to offer help and advice by phone to help you choose the right filtration system for you. By choosing your pond pump and filter carefully, you can enjoy a water feature which is clean and beautiful for many years to come.

Water Garden are experts in maintaining water quality in garden water features. Browse their range of pond, fountain, water feature and filter pumps in their online store, or call them today for help in choosing a pump to suit your requirements.

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You may not think about it, but you are constantly bringing new technology into your home. HD ready Plasma and LCD televisions, camcorders, games consoles, computers, laptops, android mobile phones, BluRay and DVD players all need either a HDMI, AV or Scat cable to be set up with your home entertainment system. These devices often don’t come with the appropriate cables. Therefore, it’s important to ensure you have the correct equipment when you bring a new piece of technology into your home.

HDMI Audio Video Cables

With an outdated or poor quality audio video cable, you will not receive the crystal clear picture and high quality sound your home entertainment system can produce. HDMI audio video cables are one of the latest pieces of equipment in the home technology industry, and are suitable for a wide range of televisions. These cables help to improve your viewing experience by offering a high quality data transfer through a single cable, reducing the likelihood of signal loss.

With the digital switchover complete across most of the country, a HDMI cable will ensure you get the most out of your new digital service. HD channels can only be truly appreciated with an efficient HDMI audio video cable.

Many well established electrical equipment suppliers offer a wide range of HDMI cables to suit your requirements. Boost your signal with an active cable or move your television set to the ideal position with long length cables. HD is here to stay, so it’s important to ensure your home is ready for any new technology that comes your way.

PC, USB, Telecom and AV Cables

Specialist cable companies supply a wide range of USB leads, keyboard video mouse cables, mains leads and printer cables to ensure all your equipment works efficiently. Certain organisations even offer a bespoke cabling service where they can build any lead for a specific purpose.

EuroNetwork provide a wide range of cables for all pieces of technology. They also offer a bespoke cabling service and can provide regular solutions for particular industries.

For more information on their extensive range of cables visit our website.

Everyone wants that picture perfect wedding – a location with beautiful countryside backdrops and crystal blue waters, and a venue with magnificent function rooms, steeped in history and perfect for celebrating your special day.

Salcombe is a small town located in the South Hams district of Devon. The quaint seaside area is known for its beautiful waterfront and naturally sheltered harbour. The estuary gave the town great success as a boat, shipbuilding and sailing port and the area is still popular today for sailing, yachting and crabbing.

Salcombe has many unique and picturesque wedding venues with beautiful backdrops overlooking the breathtaking Devonshire countryside and coastline. If would like a venue for both your ceremony and reception, there are venues with wedding licences and professional wedding planners who can help ensure your day runs smoothly.

Many people looking for a seaside wedding immediately search for a venue abroad. However, this can be extremely expensive and difficult to plan. Salcombe is one of the UK’s most picturesque, sunniest seaside locations. The town is perfect for couples who dream of an intimate wedding in a beautiful, idyllic destination.

Once you have chosen your venue will need to start thinking about the dining arrangements, cake, photographer, dresses, hair and makeup stylist, decorations and entertainment. Salcombe has many high quality caterers, cake making services, boutique dress shops, hairdressers and local bands. Take a stroll up the main high street or, for more mainstream stores, visit the nearby city of Plymouth.

Salcombe and many other towns in the South Hams district such as Modbury, Dartmouth, Kingsbridge and Totnes are also ideal honeymoon destinations. Take a trip to Paignton zoo, visit some of the many theatres and exhibitions or take part in a canoe adventure on the River Dart.

Whether you’re looking for a luxury hotel or a beautiful Edwardian property, choose Salcombe and ensure your wedding is one of the greatest days of your life.

Cliff House Salcombe is a stunning wedding venue overlooking the crystal blue waters and white sandy Salcombe bay.

Want to update your bedroom with a fresh new look for summer, without having to re-decorate or buy new furniture? Then Sanderson’s range of elegant and high quality duvet covers and curtains can provide you with the revival your bedroom is lusting after.

We spend almost one third of our lives sleeping, so it’s not surprising to find the bed is the focal point of many a bedroom. An attractive and appealing duvet cover which looks fabulous and feels exquisite to touch is essential for the perfect night’s sleep. Sanderson duvet covers feature classic English designs intended to suit both modern and contemporary decor, and have a 300 thread count. They really are the ultimate in luxurious bedding.

Curtains are an equally important focal point in our bedroom; they take up a large amount of space whether they are open or drawn, and can be the finishing touch to the perfect bedroom. We all know how difficult it can be to sleep in a bedroom which is the wrong temperature; too cold and we’re shivering to keep warm, too warm and we’re scrambling around trying to find a cool spot. Sanderson curtains are available in a variety of designs, and are fully lined and made from 100% cotton percale: perfect for keeping the bedroom cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter months. A lining also protects the curtain itself, ensuring your Sanderson curtains stay looking as fantastic as they do from the beginning.

Having a bedroom which is suited to your tastes means you are more likely to have a well-earned good night’s sleep; essential for your body to completely refuel itself and recover from the day’s stresses. Sanderson duvet covers and curtains can undoubtedly assist you in the quest for a perfect night’s sleep this summer and make your bedroom the best in the neighbourhood.

Sanderson duvet covers and curtains are available to buy directly from Brown’s of Weston, a family run business, rich in British heritage and also offering a variety of other products to help get you the home you desire.

For more information about Sanderson duvet covers and bedding, and to view the range online visit us.