Heat Project Green Deal free breakfast sessions

15/05/2013 by Leave a Comment

As part of the Heat Project working with North Devon  Council, Enact Energy is hosting free breakfast information sessions to give local businesses and residents more information on the Green Deal and ECO funding, which is aimed at improving the energy efficiency of homes in the UK.

There will be information on how it works and opportunities for local SMEs, such as builders and other installers, and how to get involved. There are also a limited number of Free Green Deal Assessments to give to residents in the area.

  • Monday 20 May 2013 at 7.45 am at Cook Island, Mullacott Cross, Ilfracombe EX34 8NY
  • Tuesday 21 May 2013 at 7.45 am at George Hotel, 1 Broad Street, South Molton EX36 3AB
  • Wednesday 22 May 2013 at 7.45 am at North Devon Council Civic Centre, Taw Room, Barnstaple EX31 1EA

Light refreshment including bacon butties will be available.

For details call Enact Energy on 0800 093 4050.

Filed Under: All Blogs, General Business, North Devon Events

Flipping the CONNECT Switch — the BIG secret to really turning on your business

12/04/2013 by Leave a Comment

13connectreallyswitchingonyourbusiness3On April 22, Accountancy Edge is sponsoring a special business event in Bideford.

Paul Dunn is flying in from Singapore to tell North Devon businesses how they can benefit from what he calls ‘moments of connection’. These are the moments where you delight your clients and co-workers by engaging with them. Connections are important in all aspects of business and Paul will emphasise the value of establishing connections in new ways.

Paul will help you step back and think about why you do what you do, and provide the tools to help create more moments of delight with your team, your clients, and your clients’ clients. As well as showing you how technology can help make these connections even greater.

Accountancy Edge is sponsoring the event so we can offer £100 off the ticket price for all members of the North Devon Business Alliance. That means you can come along for just £37!

So follow the link, read about the event and then order your ticket today!

We guarantee that if you come along and feel the event wasn’t worthwhile, then your ticket cost will be refunded there and then!

Paul Dunn is rightly regarded as a legend in business. He started his career as one of the first 10 people in Hewlett Packard in Australia. Then came the founding of one of Australia’s first Computer Companies followed by the Results Corporation — a consultancy that served 23,000 SME clients.

He has always been at the leading edge of thinking and of actual implementation of breakthrough processes and ideas.

That continues with his work as Chairman of the revolutionary Buy1GIVE1 (or B1G1 as it’s better known) — a company that’s Redefined Business Giving and already created over 22 Million giving activities around the world by creating a new ‘platform’ to enable impactful, habitual and ‘connected’ giving.

This is a rare chance to hear a speaker of this calibre.

“Paul Dunn is the best speaker I have ever seen. His ideas and presentations transform the results of hundreds of UK businesses, including my own.  So if you want better results, you simply must go to this seminar.” Steve Pipe – UK entrepreneur of the year

 

Filed Under: General Business, North Devon Business, North Devon Events Tagged With: , , ,

Growing the local economy forum!

31/01/2013 by Leave a Comment

Earlier this month the above event was cancelled due to bad weather – we did have a bit of snow didn’t we! The event has been re-arranged as follows:-

Councillor Phil Collins Lead Member for the Torridge Economy and Councillor Malcolm Prouse Executive Member from North Devon Council invite you to an Economy Forum. We would really appreciate your views on how you see the economy and to help us target our limited resources to the most beneficial areas. It is proposed that the outcomes from the forum will inform the draft joint economic strategy for the Torridge and North Devon area.

If you could circulate this invitation as widely as possible within your networks this would be much appreciated.  

If you have any questions that you would like to raise at the forum please email them in advance to georgina.beardsley@torridge.gov.uk who you should also send your RSVP to.

We look forward to hearing your views at the forum.

Regards

Councillor P.Collins  Councillor M.Prouse

The event will be held at Caddsdown Business Support on 7th February from 6pm – please email Georgina as above if you want to attend – I understand there will be nibbles & refreshments!

 

Filed Under: North Devon Business, North Devon Events Tagged With: , , ,

Product Photography

21/09/2012 by Leave a Comment

When it comes to selling products, it’s important to have a realistic representation of the product.

Photos are the best way to do this. This shows the customer the colour, size, shape and any other detail that may be on the product, thus giving a realistic image for the customer to judge whether they wish to buy it.

So here are a few top tips on how to get the best product photo:

1. Planning
Planning is an important part of making sure you get the perfect image.

Take time to look at the product and try out its best angles, lighting and backgrounds. If your product is dark go for a light background so that it stands out, whereas if you product is light use a dark background to enhance it. Also do some research on others product photography who sell similar products to you, this can help to give you ideas.

2. Lighting
Lighting is the part where most people get stuck on.

Product photos are best shot using a soft light. Using the built in flash on your camera will just ensure that your products have hard shadows, as you can’t control the angle at which it hits the item. Whereas if you have a flash gun, you are able to have more control over the flash and can help keep the lighting soft.

For soft lighting without using an artificial light, it’s best to shot outdoors (or in a light open indoor space) on an overcast day. This is so the lighting is soft and not hard so creates soft shadows and an even light coverage.

3. Test shot
It is important to test how your photo layout looks through the camera lens.

Take a couple of test shots, using angles from your planning and ensure that the lighting and camera settings suit your set up. Adjust where necessary.

4. Angles, focus and tripods

Your planning should help you with your angles and focus range.

It is important to use a tripod or use something to steady your camera when taking an image. This helps keep it level and helps eliminate any movement on your part.

Keep the angles simple. Take a couple of pictures from different angles which you think work best.
For example: A pair of shoes

The customer will want to see the front, side and back view as well as any details that is on the shoe, such as buttons, patterns etc.

Ensure your camera is properly focused on the product to ensure a sharp image. Any details, such as patterns or small details can be shot using a shallow depth of field (see glossery).

5. Editing

You don’t need complicated editing software, there are plenty online that can do the job.

All the editing you need to do is sort out any lighting issues that you couldn’t eliminate whilst shooting. Changing the brightness, contrast and levels of an image can help improve the quality of the image.

Editing online
http://pixlr.com/
http://www.lunapic.com/editor/

If you would like to learn more about shooting your own product photos, Stacey and myself are holding a Product Photography workshop on Friday 28th September at B My Office. We’ll teach you how to shot your products, lighting, angle concepts and planning as well as optimising your photos for your website. If you wish to book your place call 01271 344545 or go to http://www.ndba.org.uk/events-2/workshop-website-product-shots-and-photo-optimisation for more details.

Glossary of terms

Soft Lighting: Soft light casts shadows with soft edges and tends to ‘wrap’ around objects. Depending on 2 factors, close light source + large light source = softer lighting.

You can get soft lighting from an overcast day as the clouds create a ‘softbox’ for the light to filter through.

Hard Lighting: Hard light casts shadows with hard edges, depending on the lighting tool, giving less transition between illumination and shadow.

Hard lighting can be on a sunny day with no clouds, as the light is more direct.

Built in flash: A flash that is built into the camera.

Flash gun: An external flash unit that is attached to the camera via the hot shoe. Allows user to direct the angle of the flash via the attached unit.

Shallow Depth Of Field: Only a certain part of the image is in range of focus. A large aperture (the opening in which a camera allows light to pass through ) and closer focusing range = shallow depth of field.
 

Large Depth Of Field: The image is in focus accentuating the detail of near and far. A small aperture and a further focusing range = large depth of field.
 

 

Filed Under: All Blogs, North Devon Events, Workshops Tagged With: , ,

BMyOffice offers a taste of business support services

10/07/2012 by 2 Comments

How can you improve your business? Do you want to increase productivity and profits? Would smart tips on accounts, customer relationship management, social media and public relations help your business grow?

Virtual business assistance specialist B My Office is offering free taster sessions for businesses in North Devon to try out services that could help them.

All businesses are welcome to drop into B My Office in Bear Street, Barnstaple on Friday 20 July for a chat, a cup of tea or coffee to see what’s on offer, attend a workshop, network with other businesses or to try out the businesses facilities and meeting room.

There will also be the opportunity to enter the prize draw for an A3 laminator donated by South West Office Supplies.

Each taster session will be run by a North Devon business specialising in its field.

Choose your workshop(s) from:

9am – What is customer relationship management (CRM) and how can it help your business? – presented by Convallis Software

10am – Blogging basics: what is a blog? – presented by Multiheat & Energy Systems Ltd

11am – How to use social media and public relations to build campaigns – presented by Zarywacz

12noon – Accountancy tips to improve cashflow and profits – presented by Accountancy Edge

2pm – What is a business mentor?  To be confirmed

3pm – hands-on demonstration – open a twitter account! For all those in business who want one but not sure what to do.

See the BMyOffice community noticeboard to find out what’s happening in the area.

We’re looking to welcome as many businesses as possible on the day to make new connections and to meet old friends.

For details, call 01271 344545 or turn up on the day!

Filed Under: General Business, Networking, North Devon Events Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,
«Older Posts