Love it!!!
Driving to work along the M80 this morning I found myself behind a car displaying this sticker on the back window. I nearly crashed into them it made me laugh out loud! What are the best car stickers you’ve seen?
Man Crisps?
With a few limited exceptions, it’s illegal to publish or broadcast an advert which discriminates because of sex, or which advertises discriminatory services. For example, it is illegal for an employer to advertise for a job using words like ‘craftsman’ or ‘handyman’, as this might give the impression that the job is only open to men. Likewise, in today’s politically correct society I am pretty sure it’s illegal to advertise that a packet of crisps are “Man Crisps”. 
Imagine my surprise, therefore, that having consumed a packet of McCoy’s Flame Grilled Steak crips, I turned over the packet to read that they were indeed “Man Crisps” … you could have knocked me down with a feather!
I was so shocked that I dialled the Customer Services number for United Biscuits printed on the back of the packet, underneath the further politically incorrect words “Have you tried our other flavour man crisps”.
Unsurprisingly the lady that answered was ready with her answers (I can only assume that I am not the first person to have made this complaint). She advised me that these were a special promotion (which is not apparent on the front of the packet) and that it was a bit of fun because the thickness of the crisps and the ridges on them made them more “manly” but that of course women could enjoy them too!!!
Now I am no bra-burning feminist I can assure you but things like this absolutely horrify me. In the 21st Century I would have thought that a company the size of United Biscuits who in 2009 turned over £1.26billion with a profit before tax of £223.4million would not wish to alienate 50% of their customer base.
My new obsession
One of the best parts of organising the recent launch of Popinjay was the ordering of branded goods to promote the company. Even better was the searching of various internet sites to find the best value for money deals around. I have hit on a fantastic way of getting amazing deals and wanted to share this with you – it’s brilliant!!!
There’s a company called Vistaprint which I believe is based in Holland but supplies across the globe. Check out your inbox for emails from them as the deals they have, which are ongoing, are incredible and not available if you go directly to their website.
My first order was for 100 buttefly postcards for Popinjay. At a cost of just £4.70 for postage and packaging, I was so delighted I ordered a further 100 (again for £4.70) for the film we’re promoting, Making Ugly.
I was on a roll!
I then managed to order a banner and again was just charged for the postage and packing.
It is excellent quality and made of a fairly hardy vinyl material so should last a long time. Guess what? I felt compelled to order another one so that we can create a much bigger impression at venues in the future!
This second banner arrived in the post this morning and it led me to think that there were other products that I could order, again at significantly lower cost than usually available. On checking my email, sure enough there was another message from Vistaprint with yet more offers available. Without delay I ordered some mugs for the office and some canvas bags and window decals!!! This time the products were discounted and postage and packing was free – another brilliant deal.
As I think you can see from the images here, this is a very effective way of marketing your business but, as with any new start-up, money is tight and although these things are very useful, you have to be careful not to get carried away and make sure you’ve done your research to minimise costs wherever possible.
So, my advice to you is as follows. Sign up to Vistaprint at www.vistaprint.com but don’t order anything. Wait a few days and the email offers will be sent through to you and you can happily start uploading your images and getting your promotional products for free!
Don’t believe everything you read
A story which suggested that users of Internet Explorer have a lower IQ than people who chose other browsers appears to have been an elaborate hoax.
A number of media organisations, including the BBC, reported on the research, put out by Canadian firm ApTiquant. It later emerged that the company’s website was only recently set up and staff images were copied from a legitimate business in Paris. It is unclear who was behind the stunt.
The story was reported by many high profile organisations including CNN, the Daily Mail, the Telegraph and Forbes.
Questions about the authenticity of the story were raised by readers of the BBC website who established that the company which put out the research – ApTiquant – appeared to have only set-up its website in the past month. Thumbnail images of the firm’s staff on the website also matched those on the site of French research company Central Test, although many of the names had been changed.
The BBC contacted Central Test who confirmed that they had been made aware of the copy but had no knowledge of ApTiquant or its activities.
ApTiquant issued a press release claming that it had invited 100,000 web users to take IQ tests and matched their results with the type of browser they used. It also supplied extensive research data. The results claimed to show that Internet Explorer users were generally of lower intelligence.
The BBC sought alternative views for the original story, including Professor David Spiegelhalter of Cambridge University’s Statistical Laboratory, who said: “I believe these figures are implausibly low – and an insult to IE users.”
No-one on ApTiquant’s contact number was available for comment.
You think you know someone
Driving up to Scone Palace in Perthshire on Saturday morning, myself, Geraldine and Russell were in high spirits. We were off to the Rewind Festival where an array of acts from the 80s were going to strut their somewhat arthritic stuff on a bright and sunny afternoon. To get ourselves into the mood we had the hits of the 80s blaring out the car stereo while we sang along and took in the stunning views as we crossed the Forth Road Bridge heading north. A Spandau Ballet discussion took place … but more of that later!
The headline act was Tony Hadley but others appearing on that day were Rick Astley, Billy Ocean, ABC, Bananarama, T’Pau, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Hazel O’Connor, The Beat, Cutting Crew, The Bluebells, Go West and Hue & Cry, but not necessarily in that order!
For me, the definite highlight of the day was Billy Ocean. Boy, he may be 61 years old now but he is still the smoothest operator around and knows how to get the audience into the palm of his hand within a few seconds.
For Russell, however, it seemed as though his highlight was Bananarama! From the minute the 2 girls stepped onto the stage (yes, I know there used to be 3 of them), Russell was beside himself, jumping up and down (more or less in time with the music) and singing along at the top of his voice and yes, he knew all the words! I’m not sure who was more surprised, me or his wife! Neither of us had absolutely any idea he was clearly a closet fan of their work and the image of his pure enjoyment at their set will stay with me for a very long time. Never again will I see my pinstripe suited friend in the same light I can tell you!
But back to the Spandau Ballet conversation. In the car Russell announced that Tony Hadley would end the night by singing True. I disagreed (obviously) and insisted that the final song would be Gold. A true classic that would have everyone on their feet singing along. Who was correct? You guessed it – it was me! For those that know me well, you will be aware that of course I am always right and it is somewhat stupid to expect ANYONE to know more than me, especially about 80s music – my specialist subject!!!
Popinjay Press Release
Tuesday 26th July saw Falkirk based Social Enterprise Company Popinjay launch Scotland’s newest Social Media Marketing Company.
The company, created by Linlithgow based entrepreneur Russell Dalgleish and headed by Tessa Heywood, provides jobs for the unemployed and disadvantaged in the Falkirk area to give a reasonably priced solution to those organisations that want to use Social Media platforms to win new business.
In the fabulous setting of the Brockville Lounge at the Stadium, an evening packed with some amazing guest speakers and culminating in the showing of the trailer for the new UK thriller “Making Ugly”, one of Popinjay’s first clients, it was a highly successful and enjoyable evening.
And officially launching Popinjay Russell Dalgleish said “we believe it is the responsibility of those of us who have had the enjoyment of experiencing successful and fulfilling careers to ensure that those that follow us receive the same opportunities. By linking Social Media with a community based project we believe we can achieve this.”
For more information, please visit our website www.popinjay.net
Popinjay Operations Director Tessa Heywood said “it is very satisfying to see that Popinjay has already been able to make the first two appointments and I hope to see our team continuing to grow throughout 2011.”
Popinjay
Our company will operate as an Internet Marketing Agency providing guidance and advice to companies to further their business aims through the use of Social Media campaigns. By Social Media we include Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube etc. Our unique proposition is that finding and using relevant content is key to any strategy and we are uniquely positioned to find what will work for our clients.
Social Enterprise aims
- To provide employment and training opportunities to disadvantaged groups in our society. These will include the unemployed and those with physical and learning disabilities.
- Charities and Social Enterprises will be provided with access to Popinjay services at a discounted fee. In addition those companies who operate either as charities or Social Enterprises will be provided with free-of-charge training to secure a better understanding of the benefits to be obtained through use of Social Media.
- Profits will be re-invested to allow the company to grow and a % of profits will be donated to charitable organisations that are either locally based or share the same goals as Popinjay.
Have your cake …..
and eat it too!!! No party is complete without a cake and the launch of Popinjay proved to be no exception! Check out the amazing work done by the lovely Catherine in Linlithgow – it tasted pretty fantastic too!!!
A full report on the party will follow once we’ve all had time to catch our breath!
The time is fast approaching …..
Now counting down to Popinjay’s official launch party at Falkirk Stadium this evening! Goodie bags are packed, presentations ready, video camera charged – it’s going to be a great night so look forward to seeing you all there!
Semi Finals – yes!
I am delighted to announce that Making Ugly has made it to the semi finals of the International Movie Trailer Festival – can’t wait to find out how far we’ll get! The grand prize is $5,000 plus a meeting with an industry insider so there’s a lot riding on this – fingers and toes crossed!!!
Weekend round-up
From the intense activity on Twitter, it seems that we all have an opinion on the the tragic, if not entirely unexpected, death of the singer Amy Winehouse at the age of 27. It is always shocking when somebody so young makes an untimely departure from this planet but as a friend of mine pointed out on hearing the news “Drink and drugs don’t ruin you, you ruin yourself”. It is too easy to blame the eventual cause and not to address the reasons why someone who would appear to have everything ended up in such a mess. She had a true, raw talent that it seemed no-one (Amy included) was prepared to nurture but instead, this tortured soul had access to the money and the hangers on that led her to her untimely death. Such a waste.
On a much lighter note, we were well represented in sporting events for once this weekend, with Amir Khan putting on a boxing masterclass to to knock out Zab Judah in five rounds in their light-welterweight fight in Las Vegas and Lewis Hamilton winning the German Grand Prix, moving him up to third place in the championship. I am neigher a Boxing nor a Motor Racing Fan but I am still pleased to see the Brits putting on a good performance and proving we’re not as rubbish as we think we are!!!
The SPL got underway with the early start of the new season and there was the inevitable win for Celtic and a disappointing draw for Rangers. Let’s just hope there is more of a spark when the Barclays Premiership starts on 13th August.
Tessa's Blog 