1230 TWC - the most exciting place to be!
Category Archives for Member’s Blog
Innovation for Business Success
In partnership with South London Business and funded by the London Developoment Authority, the Sutton Chamber of Commerce held its Innovation for Business Success Event. We had some fantastic speakers, workshop presenters and exhibitors. The event was a great opportunity to find out about more resources to develop your business, but also was an excellent networking opportunity for all who attended.
Croydon will be holding their Innovation event in June and Wandsworth will be having theirs in September, so watch for those events or ask me how to find out more about getting support and resources for your business innovations.
The Market Place restaurant, Bristol
Thanks to the owner of The Market Place restaurant, 20 St Nicholas Street, Bristol, a disaster was averted when she ran down the road after Penny and me, when I’d forgotten my brief case. We had a fabulous meal, with all locally sourced produce, so if you are in the area, The Market Place is a must!
We also spent a fun few minutes saying “was it, wasn’t it?” to someone else in the restaurant with his family – it was Richard Dillane, star of Casualty and numerous stage, film and TV productions!
Thank you again The Market Place
East Grinstead May Meeting
Hi Beverley,
Just a quick note to say thank you for yesterday. It was really great to come along and meet with you all, and I would definitely like to come along again.
I didn’t get to speak with everyone that was at the meeting this time, but I was very much impressed with the enthusiasm and entrepreneurialism of the group. (Of course, it was also just nice to get out and meet some new like-minded ladies for lunch!)
Please do pass on my thanks to everyone for making me feel so welcome,
I look forward to seeing you again soon,
Warm Regards, Claire
Claire Briscoe Stockbroker and Financial Adviser CROWBOROUGH & ROTHERFIELD
Great Stats – women-owned business
According to recent statistics women-owned UK businesses generate a £130 billion turnover each year
6 Months Free Membership Winner
Congratulations from 1230 to Rebecca Leathlean of Casa Jarapa, Spanish handmade cotton rugs. Rebecca wins 6 months free membership of 1230
Casa Jarapa is a unique business selling traditional rugs and throws from southern Spain. The rugs, called ‘jarapas’, are handmade from 85 per cent recycled cotton. They come in a variety of designs and colours. They often have stripes but these are often interestingly irregular. No two jarapas are the same!.
Find out more about Rebecca’s business which is based in Dulwich from her website at www.casajarapa.net
Our first birthday
I just thought it would be nice to let everyone know what a great meeting we had at Friern Barnet yesterday to celebrate our first birthday. Natalie Levitan from Thoughts kindly donated a beautifully wrapped vase as a gift for us to raffle with the proceeds going to Ovacome, our charity and we managed to raise £22. Gary Markwick came along and talked to us about weight management through positive thinking – I think this was pretty hard after we’d just eaten either a healthy portion of chocolate or banana cake, washed down with bucks fizz – but we all got the point!
Croydon’s meeting next week
Only a few days to go before Croydon’s meeting , Tues 6th May. Come and join Val and myself at The Kelong, Selsdon Rd, South Croydon. The food is good and the company even better.
Hints and tips on taking superb portraits
Let’s get high! One of our most useful pieces of photographic equipment is a folding step-ladder. Shooting ‘from above’ is great for groups, and flatters features like nostrils and double chins. For safety’s sake, always use a step-ladder with wide steps and a guard rail, and never try to balance on the top. A lightweight step-ladder is easiest to transport (for obvious reasons). When you’re not using it, make sure it doesn’t appear in the background of your shots! With practice, you can also get a good angle if you hold the camera at arm’s length above your head.
It’s all in the angles If your subject sits or stands with their head and shoulders facing straight towards the camera, the result will be a bit like a passport photo. Not great. If you swivel your subject so they are sitting or standing at an angle, and looking over their shoulder towards you, you’ll get a much more flattering shot.
Pretty as a picture Under harsh photographic lighting, make-up can lose almost 40% of its colour and tone. In order to look ‘normal’, women should apply make-up that’s a bit heavier than their usual ‘day’ make-up (but not as heavy as their ‘evening’ look). Applying the correct base is important, to smooth out blemishes and avoid shine, but go easy on the lip gloss and shimmery finishes, as they may reflect the lights badly. Deeper colours for lips and eyes are particularly effective in black-and-white photography. As for men – a dusting of powder can be applied to avoid flare from balding heads!
Inspired and humbled with Ovacome
On Saturday I was both inspired and humbled by the lovely ladies and their families that I met at Ovacome’s Members’ Day. All the ladies were patients and during the afternoon attended workshops on Art, Hypnotherapy, Relaxation and Health & Well-being (the latter run by our own 1230 East Grinstead and Sevenoaks Manager, Beverley Hamilton).
I also met Ollie! Ollie is a little knitted fellow and is going to help Ovacome with their fund-raising. So this is a request on behalf of Ovacome; Ovacome is looking for a knitting wool company sponsor – if you have contact with such, would you please get in touch with Louise Bayne at Ovacome on ovacome@ovacome.org.uk
I had an amazing day – thank you Ovacome
A la recherche … French speaking PR whizz
Hello, I’m not sure if I am 1230’s only international member but am currently looking out over a grey day in Lyon – yes, don’t believe that life in France is all sunny aperitifs at 11am with the locals on the petanque pitch!
Anyway, this brings me to today’s need: I’m looking for a French native speaking PR freelancer (based UK or France) who could place articles/comment in French business, management and trade press. Not the first time this request has come up and it would be wonderful to find someone who could fit the bill for an immediate project.
If anyone can help me find this person, please email me at diane@dianestevenson.com. Now, time for a cup of tea – yes, you can take the girl out of England but …