An Essentiallyours publication. Delivered free to over 3,000 businesses in Wrexham County Borough.
ISSUE THREE JUNE 2012
ISSUE THREE JUNE 2012
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Unlike the last edition I’m glad there’s not too many national casualties on the High street to report this time, mind you I am aware of some small local businesses that have ceased trading which is sad news. As a local magazine within the borough I deal with a lot of local domestic businesses constantly and speak to a lot of you throughout the month getting feedback on how business is for you currently. In the main most of you are doing okay, work is a bit all over the place with worrying quiet periods followed by a reassuring flurry. Despite the difficult current economic conditions some businesses are currently having a ball, which for those of us that are having a tough time I hope is encouraging. As you will know Marks and Spencer have just announced a 16% drop in profits, which is quite a large decrease, mind you I’m sure they can afford it, but not to dismiss they’ve had a roller coaster of a ride over the last decade and keep bouncing back. As we know being in business ourselves it’s not easy! This is our 3rd edition and it’s great that you recognise this magazine as local and relevant to your business life and are using the local businesses that advertise if you need anything. The feedback has been positive and encouraging from the business advertisers. Do I really need to say , if we can source as much
of the services and products we need locally it can only help our local economy, where we do have some control and our actions make a difference? Main info in this edition is the new road to the Industrial estate being finally nearly finished and let’s hope it makes a huge positive difference. I feel for those businesses that have been disrupted by the works and hope that the benefits of the new road will more than compensate for this long term. In addition we are talking about cash flow, business finance, grants, business help, info from the inland revenue, and back to basics on how to get more money in your business. We also have updates with how Wrexham lager is progressing and another business profile on long standing local business, J.Johnson, basket makers from Bangor on Dee. Anyway I hope you enjoy it, please feel free to get in touch with anything you’d like covered or any news/feedback etc.
All the best, Jill
Carol Hartnell
Jill Preston
free to over 3,000 businesses in An Essentiallyours publication. Delivered Wrexham County Borough.
How are we finding business this year?
“It’s a good job we weren’t relying on our Eurovision song entry to kick start our economy! And I feel no one consulted Simon Cowell on Engelbert Humperdinck’s song!”
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BUSINESS IN WREXHAM June/July 2012
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Rossett Business Village Rossett Wrexham LL12 0AY
Bangor-on-Dee or to give it its Welsh name Bangor-is-y-coed is a small well balanced village (two churches and two pubs) situated as it implies, alongside the River Dee between Llangollen and Chester. The Dee is renowned for its salmon fishing and it is from this activity that the present business has its beginning. About one hundred and twenty years ago James Johnson and his brother Charlie earned a living coracle fishing, catching or trying to catch salmon. When the catch was poor they would cut a bundle of willows growing alongside the river, take them home and make baskets which they would sell to make money to feed and clothe their families. Life was hard for the two brothers because James had six children and Charlie had twelve. Coracle fishing was a very efficient way of catching fish and the authorities were concerned about reducing stocks in the river. Permits to fish became increasingly difficult to obtain and the two brothers had to rely more on basket making as a source of income. One of James’ sons also named James joined the army when he was eighteen and was seriously wounded in the 1914-1918 war. At Beckitts Park Hospital in Leeds a bone was removed from his leg to repair his damaged left arm. Part of the treatment to strengthen his arm was basket making. He became interested
in the craft and on leaving hospital served a two year apprenticeship with a firm of basket makers in Leeds. Whilst in hospital he met a local girl, Mabel Marion Arnold whom he married and brought back to Bangor-on-Dee. After working with his father he decided to plant a willow bed rather than rely on the haphazard growths alongside the river. James and Mabel had a son they named Cyril. Cyril left school at fifteen to work with his father and had more than forty years experience in the craft. Cyril married Jane and had five children - three daughters and two sons - who have all received training in basket making. Two daughters and a son now work full time in the business. It is a strong family business where everyone gets involved and has sufficient knowledge and skills to continue the tradition. As the business has grown, much of the willow weaving expertise has been devoted to making items to customers’ special requirements, the smaller and less specialised items being purchased from other sources. Unfortunately Cyril passed away very suddenly in June 1997, so the business is now run by Jane together with her three children. Of the seven grandchildren growing up in the family tradition of basket making, at least two are showing a keen interest in the business, so there is no reason why it shouldn’t continue
to thrive for the next five generations! The business has undergone further development and retails quality Conservatory Cane Furniture for which we have gained a reputation for providing quality and service.
Also very popular are our replacement cushions/ covers service for all cane furniture. The family tradition continues to this day. Basket Making Demonstrations are available through out the year £5.00 per person inc. coffee/tea/biscuits. Please contact us for any further information you may require. The workshop is open to the public and no charge for viewing.
J.Johnson & Son Station Road, Bangor on Dee, LL13 0AB
01978 780417 www.jjohnsonandson.co.uk info@jjohnsonandson.co.uk
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Pennaeth Asedau a Datblygu Economaidd
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Cyfleusterau ar gyfer chwilio am eiddo ar draws y sir Cyngor a chefnogaeth i fuddsoddi Gwybodaeth a chymorth am becynnau ariannol Gwybodaeth ac arbenigedd lleol a rhanbarthol Cyswllt i wasanaethau eraill
ORCHID FLOURISHES
with support of Wrexham Council “Orchid” is a Laundry and Dry Cleaning company that is based in Wrexham, North Wales that provides a comprehensive laundry, ironing, service wash and dry cleaning service to the public, businesses and hotels in the local area. The company has been in operation for approx 20yrs, and as such has very experienced and knowledgeable staff, that not only offer a professional and experienced laundry and dry cleaning service, but also a full repair and alteration service. In 2010 Orchid changed hands and welcomed new and enthusiastic owners who have brought a fresh new approach to the company, as well as an increased focus on customer service. Ruth Jones, Director at Orchid “Our business has been supported and enhanced considerably by the input of Wrexham Council and their Business Development team. After attending a series of free courses regarding the initial start up and running of a new business, we applied for a rural development grant, to assist us with 50% funding of a number of new projects which we discussed with the team.
For further information:
For further information: Assets and Economic Development Assets and Economic Development tel: 01978 667000 tel: 01978 667000 business@wrexham.gov.uk business@wrexham.gov.uk Am ragor o wybodaeth:
Am ragor o wybodaeth:
Pennaeth Asedau a Datblygu Economaidd ffôn: 01978 667000 business@wrexham.gov.uk
In June 2011, we applied for funding for general advertising, promotional flyers, IT improvements and leaflets to promote our general business as well as our specialised wedding dress cleaning service. The most significant part of this grant was to help us develop
our IT infrastructure with the purchase of a touch screen EPOS system, to significantly improve our customers’ experience while doing business with us. Our grant was approved in July 2011 and as such we saw significant additional development of “Orchid” that without the support of Wrexham Council we would not have been able to achieve. We are in constant contact with the Wrexham Industrial Estate Co-Ordination Unit who are able to provide daily assistance to us on funding opportunities, property and networking.” Based within Wrexham County Borough Council Premises – Unit A4, Abbey Road, Wrexham Industrial Estate, provides Orchid with an excellent location to serve their local market, the North Wales Coast and the North West of England. Ruth Jones “We truly believe that with the continued support of Wrexham Councils Business Development Team we will be able to expand our business further” Should you wish to contact Orchid, Wrexham Industrial Estate please call 01978 664066 enquiries@ orchidlaundry.plus.com If you wish to contact Wrexham Councils Business Development team please call 01978 667000 business@ wrexham.gov.uk Assets and Economic Development Department, Wrexham County Borough Council
Pennaeth Asedau a Datblygu Economaidd ffôn: 01978 667000 business@wrexham.gov.uk
www.wrexham.gov.uk
BUSINESS IN WREXHAM June/July 2012
Speaking to an audience in Wrexham earlier this month, I used a metaphor which I’d like to share. It came up when talking about creation and how much time people spend creating and also how your past experiences can really influence your future decision making. This is a visual image which you can conjure up in your head. Imagine you are at the helm of a speedboat, travelling at speed, skipping across the waves. Ahead of you is ocean, as far as your eyes can see. Huge, expansive, limitless and infinite. This represents your future. Behind you is the foam that trail of the boat leaves in the water, ultimately your footprint through life. When it goes behind the boat, that’s all it is – foam, nothing more. Not something you need to look back at or spend time thinking about or use to shape
your present. This represents your past. Your focus should be on navigating your boat in the vast ocean in front of you, giving you unlimited potential to travel in whatever direction you wish to take, choosing not to look back, to ignore the “foam” of your past negative experiences and focus on the positive future – the ocean of opportunity. The only moment that matters in life is now. This very second, your current breath, your current heartbeat. What’s gone is gone. You can make a decision right now to change your state, your direction or your choices and turn your speedboat in a new direction. But if you continually look back at the foam, then it’s highly likely that you’re journey will go off course, send you in circles and ultimately delay you.
Ever been to one of those conferences where the motivational guru says “You can be anything you choose to be”. OK, so I’d like to be Usain Bolt please and run a 100M in 9.72 seconds. ”Errr, small problem, you don’t have the genetics to do it”. ”Oh, so I can’t be anything I choose to be then”. Correct - NOT. If you use others as your benchmarks, you may be constantly disappointed in your performance. i.e., If I spent my life trying to be Usain Bolt, I might never make it. My advice is be the best you can be, given what you are equipped with. Be inspired by what others can do and what they achieve and then personalise that to yourself and your own capabilities. It’s far less stressful. When you’re only benchmark is to be the best you can be, you use external reference points but you do not measure yourself exactly against them. You interpret them. You become far happier, more relaxed and more focused on your own development rather than your measurement against things. You’ll find that it has the effect of turbo-boosting your happiness. There is only one caveat to this, which is not assuming your limits. You have to still push yourself into unchartered territory to understand your boundaries and possible re-define them as part of being your best.
Phil Jones
Deputy Managing Director UK Country Head - Brother
www.philjones.biz
www.twitter.com/philjones40
Back to Basics - Making Money Most businesses that receive this magazine are small businesses with the business owner being very much hands on in their business, and if we’re not doing everything ourselves, we’re managing a small team, to provide a service or product, satisfy customers and earn money. Sounds simple! Well I guess in theory making money is simple, you find something that people want/need, provide it and charge accordingly. Bingo, everyone’s happy! As we know things get in the way, and certainly the current economic climate is throwing up a few unpredictable waves for some industries, yet creating amazing opportunities for others. I speak to a variety of local businesses each month that range from doing brilliantly, to just okay or downright terrible! And obviously the modern changing world we live in also means we have to continually be doing things differently. I’ve been a small business in Wrexham since 2005. I have to say it’s not panned out the way I thought it was going to, and I guess
this is true for most of us even if we’re doing well. Certainly on my part that was down to naivety , embarking on a business I wasn’t originally experienced in, and a lot of us will be able to relate to that. We start a business, have great vision and dreams , but in reality things aren’t always what we thought, and of course things are always more difficult in practice than the vision in our heads. Sound familiar? Regardless I thought it would do us all good to be reminded of a few business basics today, to help us focus on increasing our profits, turnover, and customers ,no matter what stage we are at in our businesses ,whether just starting out, or have a few years under our belt or well established with decades behind us. Getting More Money in our Businesses To get more money into our businesses we can either acquire new customers, sell more to existing customers, or increase the frequency of sales, and of course
BUSINESS IN WREXHAM June/July 2012
we can reduce costs. It goes without saying, but how good are we at actually doing this?
actually convert into business?
Attracting new customers
Well we could simply charge more, or have you thought about offering more products or add on services that you can charge for. Also interesting to note research shows that if you package your products people tend to go for the more expensive.
Most businesses go for the acquiring new customers option, which I guess you have no choice about when you’re just starting out, but this is the most expensive and least profitable way of growing your business. However, new customers are important to make sure there is a demand for our business in the future. Gone are the days when you can rely on referrals from existing customers or word of mouth, for most of us. So to get more customers are we networking, using social media, direct mail, advertising, email marketing, have a referral programme in place, or driving traffic through our website for example? Even if we don’t increase the number of new enquiries we receive have we looked at increasing the numbers that we
How can we increase the size of our transactions?
Increase the frequency of sales. Keep in touch with your customers, remind them you are around and they will buy more frequently. Out of sight out of mind and your competition probably could get in front of them and win them. Have offers, (if appropriate) , but by just keeping in touch will help. Newsletters, phone calls, feedback surveys, direct mail, to name but a few ways of keeping in touch. Might be back to basics but I guess most of us aren’t doing as much as we should of the above!
Bilingual in Business Grant Project Menter Iaith Maelor has recently been assisting micro enterprises and social enterprises in expanding their marketing program by running a grant project. The project has received funding through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013 which is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. The grant covers 80% of the costs of the bilingual marketing materials and can contribute to a maximum of £1600 towards the costs. Many businesses have already taken advantage of the project including the health and safety consultancy company,
Atrium, which are located on the Wrexham industrial estate. They received a grant in order to produce a wide range of marketing materials that included a website, a banner, folders and business cards. Gwennan Henstock, Business Officer at Atrium stated that “the fact that the marketing materials are bilingual has been an advantage by giving us the ability to target a greater market and given us an edge over our competitors”. For more information or to arrange a meeting to discuss the grant, contact Osian Edwards by phone: 01978 363791 or e-mail busnes@ menteriaithmaelor.org
Bilingual in Business Grant Project
Get £1,600 towards your marketing budget Menter Iaith Maelor are currently running a grant scheme in Wrexham County that encourages micro enterprises and social enterprises (who employ up to 9 full time members of staff) to market themselves bilingually (in Welsh and English). The grant can be used to cover the costs of bilingual marketing materials such as a website, booklets, TEQTLPIXW TSWXIVW PIE¾IXW TEGOEKMRK PIXXIVLIEHW business cards, signs and can also be used to cover translation costs.
Advertise your business in the local area Covering up to 7,000 homes Throughout Rossett, Pulford, Marford, Gresford, Overton on Dee, Bangor on Dee, Worthenbury, Cross Lanes, Marchwiel and surrounding areas
For more information call 01244 571 602 or email info@essentiallyours.co.uk
The maximum grant is £1600 and 80% of the costs are covered on the grant.
DELIVERED FREE • AUGUST 2010 JANUARY 2012 • DELIVERED FREE
PRICELESS • DECEMBER 2010
For more information contact Osian Edwards by phone: 01978 363791 or e-mail: busnes@menteriaithmaelor.org The project has received funding through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013 which is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. YOUR MONTHLY INSIGHT INTO LOCAL
BANGOR ON DEE, OVERTON, CROSS
LIVING COVERING
LANES AND SURROUNDING AREAS
YOUR MONTHLY INSIGHT INTO LOCAL
LIVING COVERING
ROSSETT, MARFORD, GRESFORD, PULFORD
AND SURROUNDING AREAS
YOUR MONTHLY INSIGHT INTO LOCAL LIVING COVERING
ROSSETT, MARFORD, GRESFORD, PULFORD AND SURROUNDING AREAS
BUSINESS IN WREXHAM June/July 2012
FOOD FOR THOUGHT Hefty workloads, looming deadlines and pressures from management all contribute to UK workers not taking a lunch break. Over six million UK employees do not leave their desks for lunch with just 13 percent managing to get away for an hour. Not taking a break has a significant impact on employee’s productivity levels and as a result British businesses, bottom lines are suffering. It is estimated dips in productivity are costing companies close to £50 million a day. Almost half of UK employees feel their productivity levels
plummet in the afternoon, the prime time being 3 o’clock, resulting in a loss of almost 40 minutes of their day. Since British workers clock up the longest hours in Europe, it’s not surprising there’s an emotional and physical impact on employees. Dr Jenny Leeser, Bupa’s clinical director of occupational health, says: “In challenging economic times, the UK workforce is in overdrive and the lunch break is falling by the wayside. UK businesses may suffer as employees run on empty, with the long-term ramifications a potentially serious concern for employee health and wellbeing.”
The alternative is unhealthy: without proper breaks, you and your workforce risk headaches, sore eyes, joint stiffness and muscle pain, as well as a lack of concentration, de-motivation, and potentially soaring levels of stress. “People are not machines and in order to maintain alertness we need to adjust the pace of the day,” explains Dr Leeser. “We cannot work flat out all the time or we risk burnout. Taking breaks allows us to recover physically and mentally from the effects of the pressures upon us and helps ensure we have something in reserve for the rest of our day.”
Wrexham Lager getting
Larger! I bobbed back to see how Mark and the team are getting on at Wrexham Lager and caught them all hands to the deck sorting out a delivery of malt. It is literally all hands to the deck in every respect as there are currently only 5 of them that do everything from brewing to delivering! The 5 strong team consist of Ian, the chief brewer, Vaughan, the apprentice brewer, Russell chief taster and drayman , and the Roberts family. They’ re making good progress, and have over 100 pubs now on board that they’re supplying, mainly in the local area, although they have spread their wings into London. They have even had enquiries from Dubai, Hong Kong, New
BUSINESS IN WREXHAM June/July 2012
York and South Africa! Mark confirmed exporting would be on the agenda at some point in the future but it’s a bit early for them at this stage. Mind you 3 or 4 new pubs ordering Wrexham Lager every week is great news! They have a new 10,000 litre tank joining them which has been made locally to increase their capacity and new, specially made Wrexham lager glasses which the lager tastes great out of.The glasses are on sale at Wrexham museum if anyone would like to buy them. Mark says the brew is even better now than when they first started and would like to thank everyone for all their support as they commit to growing.
• Wrexham lager was the first lager to be exported around the world? • Wrexham lager was the oldest lager brewery in the UK- its bottles were on the Titanic • Wrexham Lager was the first lager in Australia. • Wrexham Lager was the first and oldest lager in the Uk est 1882 Have a look next time you’re in your local and see if Wrexham lager is behind the bar, if not give your landlord a nudge to ring Mark on 01978 266222.
selling your
business Every City, Town and Village has owner managed and run businesses at their core. Many of these businesses have been built on hard work, service and dedication,” to do what they do” very well. Owners of these businesses spend years building them up and developing a good client base, not knowing what to do when the time comes to sell on. Couple this with a commercial property held on a lease or indeed freehold and you have something of real value. With people finding it difficult to compete in the employment market, especially those who may have experienced redundancy, owning and running an established business really appeals especially if the present owner wishes to retire. When an established business owner wishes to sell they are quite often faced with some difficult decisions.
1 How do I go about valuing my business? 2 What do I do about the premises (leasehold or Freehold) 3 How do I go about selling without telling customers and suppliers? 4 Who should I seek advice from? There is no doubt we are in difficult economic times and this has affected most businesses, however, the good ones generally survive, there will always be a need for a business that “specializes” be it a service, a profession or a product, it is also important to support these independent businesses, otherwise we will all be at the mercy of the supermarkets! Ian J Hart MNAEA www.hartbusinesssales.com
07827 773 773
Graduate Talent makes a real difference at AVOW
Wrexham organisation AVOW can vouch for the skills graduates can bring to small businesses in Wales after recruiting graduate Aleksandra Zembrzuska through the GO Wales scheme to manage their marketing and communication strategy. The ten week work placement organised by Shereen Massingham at Glyndŵr University Wrexham, gave Aleksandra a valuable opportunity to gain experience and has now gained a full time position with the organisation. AVOW (The Association of Voluntary Organisations in Wrexham) connects voluntary and community organisations and activities across Wrexham County Borough. Victoria Milner, Business Development Manager at AVOW explains; “The GO Wales program helped benefit us extensively. As a small organisation is it impossible to have specific departments like marketing, and GO Wales enabled us to get a burst of expertise in a particular field when it was most needed.” “Aleksandra reviewed the current marketing strategies and set solid foundations for implementation.” “The placement was so successful that we recruited Aleksandra full time and she is still with us 12 months later. I would definitely recommend the program to other employers.” Aleksandra has had the opportunity to develop her career in Wales doing a job she loves, she has also been able to access funding via the GO Wales Graduate Training & Development Fund towards a number of IT qualifications to help in her marketing role. The Graduate and Training Development Fund benefited both the graduate and the employer. “I would definitely recommend GO Wales to other businesses, students and graduates. It benefits both parties, as the company gains additional expertise and interns are able to learn and develop their skills.” gowalesupskilladvert[FP]6.03.12 8/3/12 09:12and Page 1 Businesses in Wales can employ students graduates for 10 weeks via the GO Wales Work Placement project and receive a subsidy towards salary costs. If you would like further information please contact the Careers Centre at Glyndŵr University on, 01978 293240 or visit www.gowales.co.uk.
UP SKILL YOUR BUSINESS
UWCH SGILIO EICH BUSNES
Graduate Training & Development
Hyfforddi a Datblygu Graddedigion
SMEs can access up to £1,500 per graduate-level member of staff
Gall Busnesau Bach a Chanolig (BBcCh) gael mynediad i hyd at £1,500 fesul aelod o staff lefel gradd
Graduate work placements Employ a graduate for 10 weeks and a £950 subsidy g wwreceive s view Graduate ply and ap ents acem for our pl e at onlin ales.co.uk ow .g w w w
Lleoliadau gwaith graddedig Cyflogwch unigolyn graddedig am 10 wythnos a chewch gymhorthdal o £950 weld dedigion Gall grad ud cais ne gw a iadau ein lleol ar gyfer ein yn ar-l .c es al o.uk www.gow
Call 0845 225 60 50 for more information
iew
Ffoniwch 0845 225 60 50 am fwy o wybodaeth
www.gowales.co.uk
BUSINESS IN WREXHAM June/July 2012
Small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners are risking burnout and ill health as they battle absence to keep their businesses afloat, research finds. Four in ten (40 per cent) heads of small companies say they continue to work from their sick beds when ill because there’s nobody else to pick up the slack, according to a study from private health insurance company Bupa. With financial pressure and a lack of resources hampering succession planning, almost a third (31 per cent) say that their business would collapse if they were to take time off. Employees seem to be compounding the problem. Nearly two thirds (62
per cent) of SME owners say that employee absence is negatively affecting their business, and according to 46 per cent, high levels of employee absence is estimated to contribute up to a 10 per cent drop in turnover in small businesses. Tony Wood, sales and marketing director at Bupa says, ‘Small business bosses are real troopers; they are totally committed to running their firms in sickness as well as health. However they need to think about how to take care of their health needs and those of their staff, as working through sickness isn’t a long-term solution for anyone.’ The Bupa research shows that the sectors worst affected by workplace
absence are property and technology companies, with 77 per cent of small business bosses surveyed in each of these sectors agreeing that sick leave has a considerable financial impact on business. Other sectors suffering from the effects of unplanned leave are hospitality (58 per cent) and retail (50 per cent). Bupa’s 2011 study found over half (51 per cent) of all HR managers claim that staff sickness absence puts additional stress on those employees left to ‘hold the fort’. One in three (31 per cent) staff stated they had to take on extra overtime to pick up additional workload as a result of colleagues being off sick.
Nearly half of office workers would willingly swap their lunch break for an afternoon nap, according to research. Of the 1000 people surveyed by SME money saving website DealJungle.com, 46 per cent believe that a nap at lunchtime would improve their productivity in the afternoon. Just over a quarter (26 per cent) believe that it would have a negative effect on their output, with 8 per cent of those polled having no opinion either way. The survey shows that a majority (63 per cent) believe that office productivity dips in the afternoon, with 2:45pm being the time most employees identify as the start of the postlunch dip.
The tax revolution starts – PAYE Real Time Information (RTI) pilot begins Real Time Information (RTI) moved a step closer today when the pilot was launched, with the first of 10 volunteer employers submitting their RTI return. RTI will make it easier for employers, pension providers and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to administer PAYE. Under RTI, employers and pension providers will tell HMRC about PAYE payments at the time they are made – as opposed to only at the end of the year. Most employers will join RTI from April 2013 and all employers will be using the RTI service by October 2013. David Gauke, Exchequer Secretary, said: “RTI will ensure that the PAYE system meets the needs of the 21st century. It will improve the service to taxpayers by making it easier to ensure that people pay the right tax after a change of job. “HMRC is committed to a smooth and ontime transition. The start of the pilot today demonstrates that RTI is on track. ”RTI will remove administrative burdens of £300 million a year from employers, mainly from the abolition of the end-of-year PAYE returns process – the biggest single contribution that any tax change could make.” Confirming that HMRC is one of the 10 volunteer employers to join the controlled go live , Stephen Banyard, Acting Director General for Personal Tax, said: “We have been working in close partnership 10
BUSINESS IN WREXHAM June/July 2012
with stakeholders to ensure that RTI will be introduced progressively, to give time for testing the new systems and processes and allowing them to bed in. “The pilot will allow us to iron out any wrinkles in a small, controlled environment so that we can ensure RTI is working smoothly as more and more employers join the pilot. We are working closely with employers and the payroll industry but having HMRC take part in the pilot will allow us to see first-hand how it is working from an employer’s perspective. “A specialist team of RTI experts will be on hand to support employers through the pilot.” RTI will support the operation of Universal Credit – the Government’s flagship welfare programme, which brings together meanstested in and out of work benefits, Tax Credits and support for housing and will improve work incentives and make work pay. The Minister for Welfare Reform, Lord Freud, said: “I welcome the pilot announced today – both Universal Credit and RTI are on track and on time to support the implementation of Universal Credit from October 2013. “Interlinking Real Time information with Universal Credit will enable us to process claims automatically and more efficiently, allowing us to make the right payment based on real time earnings.” More info at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/rti/index. htm
More than a third (37 per cent) of those polled are prepared to sacrifice all breaks in order to reduce their working hours either in the morning or afternoon. Stress specialist Helen Wingstedt, who has over a decade of experience in dealing with stress and the side effects of stress says that sleep is an essential component of success and the amount required varies from one person to another. ‘Whether an afternoon nap is beneficial depends on the reason it’s needed. For example, people suffering the side effects of longer term negative stress will find the daily pressures of life difficult to deal with,’ she says. ‘As the mind reaches its stress threshold the desire to ‘escape’ increases and the ultimate form of escape is sleep. In this instance, sleep isn’t the answer – dealing with the reasons for on-going negative stress is. On the other hand, busy people with a lot to do who find their schedule overly full will benefit enormously from an afternoon nap to catch up on sleep and recharge batteries.’
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Ground maintenance to all sizes of commercial units.
NPTC Competent Trained Staff Safe Contractor Accredited CSCS Health & Safety Members of the Institute of Groundsman
In a regular or spontaneous manner, we maintain turf, grass and hard surfaces, trees, shrubs, flower beds to new and established landscaped areas. Professionalism, quality, reliability, the key factors of our team. Hedge cutting • Pruning • Litter picking • Wood chipping • Snow clearing & Gritting are all part of the grounds maintenance services we offer
t: 01978 855 513 • m: 07734 532 052 Cutting Edge Landscapes (W.M) Ltd, 38 Chester Road, Gresford, Wrexham LL12 8TN
BUSINESS IN WREXHAM June/July 2012
11
MARCH 2012 • DELIVERED FREE
E S S E N T I A L LY O U R S M A G A Z I N E L I M I T E D
About Us In case you’re wondering who sends you this business magazine every few months, we’re a local business called Essentiallyours.
and well used which consequently results in phone calls, enquiries and work for our advertisers.
Established in 2005 we publish two community magazines, one around Rossett, Marford, Gresford and another covering Bangor on Dee, Cross Lanes and Overton on Dee area. These are free to the local residents, and full of local news and information about what’s happening in these areas and in Wrexham. I’m sure a lot of you will have come across us on your travels. Our purpose is to provide advice, information and interesting content within our local publications to help our local communities keep in the know with what’s going on whilst at the same time helping to support our business community by getting our local businesses work. The community magazines are very well established, very popular with the readers, and as such they are well read
YOUR MONTHLY INSIGHT INTO LOCAL LIVING COVERING ROSSETT, MARFORD, GRESFORD, PULFORD & SURROUNDING AREAS
Would you like to earn £500 from a £100 investment? Might not sound world record breaking, but it is real. We’ve had reports of 500% and 400% returns from our advertisers. Hazel’s local foot care business, generated her over 20 appointments from her first quarter page advert. Would you like more customers? Essentiallyours is more targeted, more community focused and more local than any other media in the area.And so it’s widely read, trusted and retained, which is great news for local advertisers! They know they are getting their message directly to the customers they want to reach, and generating impressive amounts of new business. Foot Care
Carol Hartnell
follow Carol on Twitter
@essentialmag
in your own home
Hazel Clark DipCFHP MPS
FREE CONSUMER INFO-LINE 24HR RECORDING HOW TO CHOOSE A CARPET CLEANER
The MosT Thorough Cleaning You’ve ever seen or iT’s Free
01978 261693 07703 607 671 hazel@fhpclark.co.uk
That’s right, the most thorough cleaning ever. If you’re not 100% delighted with my carpet & upholstery cleaning service, I’ll quickly return and give you a free re-clean. If I still can’t make you happy - for whatever reason - I’ll refund your
money 100% - What could be fairer? I’ve invested in the best cleaning systems possible giving a fantastic result on carpets and upholstery every time! I’ll clean, deodorise and condition your items leaving them clean and fresh.
your life, your home, your community.
DELIVERED FREE • AUGUST 2010 100% no-risk iron Clad guaranTee
MAY 2012 • DELIVERED FREE
What does this mean? Simply this: If you’re not totally happy with my work, I’ll reclean the area for free. If you’re still not satisfied, I’ll give you your money back.
01978 798016 CALL for A free quotAtion
Jill Preston
Hazel’s local foot care business, generated CArPet AnD uPHoLSterY CLeAninG SerViCe her over 20 appointments from her first Call 0800 695 1352 quarter page advert.
Nail Trimming • Ingrowing toe nails removed • Hard skin removed • Corns • Verrucae • Foot care advice •
follow Jill on Twitter
celebrating
30 years in Business Extensive ranges in beautiful APRIL 2012 • DELIVERED FREE kitchen, bedroom and office furniture.
All manufactured and installed by our own highly skilled craftsmen. Free no pressure, no obligation consultations with Jane, our lady proprietor. Superb Value For Money
Tel: 01978 265381 Mobile: 07802 606352 www.reflections-wrexham.co.uk
Reflections, Unit 2, Fairfield, Barkers Lane, Borras LL13 9TP Showroom open Monday - Friday 9am - 4.30pm with evenings and weekends by appointment.
@essentialmag2 find us on Facebook
essentiallyours call us
01244 571 602 email us
info@essentiallyours. co.uk YOUR MONTHLY INSIGHT INTO LOCAL LIVING COVERING
BANGOR ON DEE, OVERTON, CROSS LANES AND SURROUNDING AREAS
YOUR MONTHLY INSIGHT INTO LOCAL LIVING COVERING
BANGOR ON DEE, OVERTON, CROSS LANES AND SURROUNDING AREAS
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BUSINESS IN WREXHAM June/July 2012
YOUR MONTHLY INSIGHT INTO LOCAL LIVING COVERING ROSSETT, MARFORD, GRESFORD, PULFORD & SURROUNDING AREAS
Advertising Feature
“How could we refuse the country of Plato?”
• Investments • Retirement Plans • Insurance • Tax At Hadlow Edwards we offer a distinctive approach to our clients and their financial affairs. You get all the benefits of personal attention and years of experience, from an approachable, friendly team of professionals. We take care of the details and take away the frustration of financial planning.
To start with a very brief modern history recap. The casting vote to “accept” Greece into the Eurozone, fell to France. With great flair the French Minister summarised his support for Greece joining with the above line – “How can we refuse the country of Plato?” If Greece stays in the Euro (currently thought to be about 60% likely) the country simply must accept the terms of the financial bailout conditions. If it is going to go (the 40% shot) Greece would set a precedent as no other country has previously left. Greek Banks would be under severe strain and the tipping point would be the inability of the Government to pay salaries and a new currency would have to commence. What does it mean for us in Wrexham, Marford, Rossett or Chester? One thing for sure is that not one of us can steer this or do anything about the eventual outcome for the Eurozone! What we can do is prepare our own ground whether we are running our households and personal finances, a small business or a large business with lots of employees. For starters let’s consider 3 “to do” actions: 1) Know your numbers - surely there have not been too many times when understanding
exactly what you hold has been more important? Review your investments and understand firstly your own exposure to the various markets and secondly understand exactly how you are doing. Is your ISA or Bond 15th out of 125 similar funds or 115th? 2) Pension Review – If you are managing your own pension, looking after a group scheme for your employees or perhaps you are closer to retirement – a thorough review must surely be worthwhile. There are going to be opportunities as well as threats in the period ahead and an hour of your time would be well spent given the likely volatility we may well see. Quite simply there will be pension winners and pension losers. 3) Cash Savings – We have just had 3 years of record low interest rates with no early end in sight. Many savings accounts are paying miniscule returns – well below the rate of inflation. In short, your savings are losing money in real terms. Whilst a cash reserve to meet your day to day and emergency or unforeseen needs is a must, you need to ask yourself how long you can afford to see your savings lose value?
Our Offer (It’s free) If you’d like to review your savings, investments or pensions simply: 1) Send us a quick email with your contact details and we will come back to you to take things forward. Or 2) Make a quick call to the office to arrange an appointment here, at home or your place of work. We will provide you with a review of your position and fund performance to date with no obligation and no cost.
65 Regent Street, Wrexham LL11 1PF
Telephone: 0800 652 8175 Fax: 01978 311 633
email: hadlow.edwards@sjpp.co.uk web: www.sjpp.co.uk/hadlowedwards
If only sorting out the Eurozone was as simple as that!
Contributed by Warren Hadlow & Medwyn Edwards, Hadlow Edwards Ltd. Telephone: 0800 652 8175 – e-mail hadlow.edwards@sjpp.co.uk Hadlow Edwards Limited represents St. James’s Place Wealth Management Plc, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
BUSINESS IN WREXHAM June/July 2012
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Exhibiting but not sure where to start?
Exhibitions are a powerful marketing tool. Providing an opportunity for face-to-face meetings with customers and potential customers. Exhibitions allow you to do hands-on demonstrations of your products. Visitors are there to find out more about your products and services so they are extremely receptive. Why do people go to exhibitions? The one main reason why people go to trade show is to see what’s new. See demonstrations, check out competitors for the product/ service they are interested in, help them decide on the product they are interested in or the supplier they want to work with. So when you go to an exhibition as an exhibitor it pays to stay focused. Don’t overload your stand with graphics explaining every single little product/ service that you offer. Focus on one or two to showcase then you can discuss the others when you have engaged with a visitor that shows interest in what you are offering. Knowing your audience and researching what audience the show will attract will help you decide what to promote at the show. Exhibitions are a great place to network. Even with your competitors or in fact,especially with your competitors. So how do you make sure you are noticed? The cheapest way of presenting your company at an exhibition is with the use of pull-up or pop-up graphic displays. These are a cheap but effective way of showcasing your brand with graphics. A step-up is called a modular 14
system. This is a bigger, more complex structure made out of aluminium framework that is covered in graphics. These can be printed on a variety of substrates, from banner material to textiles. The system can be purchased and reused again but some stand contractors will have them made available to hire. The ultimate way to show off your brand is, of course, by having a bespoke stand designed specifically for you and then built by a contractor. Commissioning a bespoke stand means it has been designed with your company in mind and will cater for everything you need to really make an impact. It does, however attract a higher price tag compared to the previous two systems. Saying that, more and more companies opt for a bespoke stand but are clear at the beginning that they wish to reuse it. This helps the contractor at the design stage so the stand can be built in such a way that it is easily assembled, dismantled and stored for the next show. Black Iris Exhibitions has now decided to offer a sort of a stepping stone alternative. A bespoke exhibition stand that has already been built, dominated by graphics so it can be easily rebranded, and is available to hire. All the pros of a bespoke stand without the huge price tag and without you having to struggle with assembly of the stand or pulling it down at the end of the show. We do this for you and is all included in the price. So if you are thinking about upping your game at the next show, give us a call on 01978 780 421 to find out more about our offer. www.blackiris-exhibitions.co.uk
BUSINESS IN WREXHAM June/July 2012
ACCESS ROAD UPDATE The need for improved access to the industrial estate was identified in 1970 and funding for the project finally became available in the 1990s. Since that time extensive preparation and a Public Inquiry have been undertaken to bring the project to its long awaited start in June this year. Wrexham is well served by the A525 and A483 which gives good links to the motorway network, however, links to the Industrial Estate are woefully inadequate from both north and south approaches. 40 tonne articulated wagons are regularly required to pass each other on roads which are little more than country lanes, which are too narrow and unsuitable. The poor access also risks Wrexham’s industrial estate losing its competitive edge which is a barrier to existing and new businesses. The Industrial Estate is located about 4 km to the east of Wrexham town centre. It is a major employment zone, covering around 513 hectares with around 300 companies providing employment for about 7,200 people. The employers include such household names as Kellogg’s and JCB, it is home
toWrexham’s state of the art household amenity site and Wrexham’s Recycling Park run by Waste Resources Group who manage the county borough’s green and food waste on behalf of Wrexham Council. It is also home to many small family run businesses and medium sized operations. The programmed construction period for the Wrexham Industrial Estate Access Roads Scheme is now over half way complete. Wrexham Council’s Executive Board Members will receive a presentation at the start of next Tuesday’s Executive Board Meeting to update them on progress to date. The southern section - from Cross Lanes to Five Fords is expected to be complete well ahead of programme, with the northern section also still on target, for completion ahead of August 19th this year. The scheme, funded by Welsh Government, is also currently within the budget. For more info visit www. wrexham.gov.uk
network like there’s
no tomorrow!
That statement is undoubtedly true, but for many small and growing businesses cashflow can become a problem. One of the most popular and fastest growing finance options helping businesses with cashflow is invoice finance, whether through invoice discounting or factoring.
BUZZ TUESDAY This is not just the usual networking event where people get together in a room to interact. buzz tuesday provides you with a speaker to talk on a topic that is interesting, educational and inspiring and more importantly relevant to help grow your business.And a bit of decent food never goes unnoticed! If you don’t have a structured marketing plan and would like to push your business we’ll show you what to do
June & July dates TBC email maja@buzztuesday.co.uk for more info. If you’d like to meet like-minded professionals from the Chester and Wrexham area in a relaxed setting, and also learn something new visit www.buzztuesday.co.uk
WEEKLY - THURSDAY 6.45am - 8.30am Business2Go is a friendly, growing business networking group. We meet for breakfast at Rossett Hall Hotel every Thursday to talk business, give each other referrals and provide advice and business support. Business networking is a great way to help grow your business. By meeting regularly with other local companies and generating leads from them, this is a great way of establishing your company in the area.
With the Banks making it more challenging to obtain overdraft funding, rather than leave money tied up in invoices, invoice finance allows these to be freed up, typically up to 90% of the gross invoice value. Invoice finance can help provide much needed working capital for a growing business, remove peaks and troughs and help with better budgeting and planning. An option for most businesses, it appeals in particular to some, especially those businesses involved in recruitment, transport and logistics, manufacturing, wholesale and distribution and IT but for many businesses trading with other businesses, invoice finance is now in the mainstream as a commercial finance option.
Business 2 Go The 2 options are invoice Rosset Hall Wrexham discounting or factoring, both LL12 0DE t: 08443 57 57 38 advancing money to a e:admin@bus2go.net company as it issuesNew Standing new Order invoices, the Instruction For more info visit www.bus2go.net difference between the two being To Bank Please set up the following standing and debit my/our account accordingly that order with invoice discounting the 1: Account details company continues to collect FORTNIGHTLY - FRIDAY 7am - 8.30amAccount name: ___________________ ___________ invoices Account as No: normal and the Membership of your local group offers much more than just business Account holding branch: ___________ Sort code: ____________ service is confidential, whereas opportunities. As well as the natural support that the regular with factoring the invoice finance meetings provide, every member has the opportunity to present to 2: Payee details company and the group on a regular basis. This is excellent practise for those allName of person or organisation you are paying: chases BUSINESS 2 GO collects invoices on your____________________ behalf, so is not a important business pitches to potential clients. Payment reference: (This will appear on the bank statement of the recipient account) Meeting St David’s Hotel, Ewloe every confidential service. Sort code: 55-81-42
other Friday.
For more info visit www.bforb.com
(Of the person/organisation you are paying)
With bank overdrafts on the 90581695 decline, invoice discounting is seen by many as the quickest and easiest 3: About the payment way of freeing up money with no How often are payments to be made: Monthly change in your Date credit procedures, Amount details Amount Account number: (Of the person/organisation you are paying)
Date and amount of first payment: (Please allow 3 working days for receipt)
Describe you and your business concisely and impressively.
improving your cashflow but not necessarily meaning you have to change your day to day banking or provide direct security over your home or other property assets. For those businesses with a turnover of less than £500k, and for start ups with a good business plan and order book, and/or phoenix businesses factoring is a good option, again freeing up money and helping cashflow but taking the stress and cost of credit control away from you allowing you to concentrate on growing your business. Although this is now a more mainstream option there are still many providers and it is still important to both find the right provider and then review your invoice finance arrangements annually to make sure you are still getting the best option for your business. Touchstone Commercial Finance, set up in 2008 in Wrexham has been helping commercial clients throughout North and Mid Wales since then. Building on over 25 years of commercial banking experience Ted Hewitt-Symonds has brought an insider’s knowledge of what lenders are looking for and how they look at commercial finance and uses this knowledge to approach a wide range of commercial finance providers on behalf of clients. Whether you are looking to borrow £50k or £10m Touchstone offers a totally independent solution for your commercial finance requirements and one which looks to get you the solution best suited to you and your business.
__________ £_______
To find out more about invoice finance or to give your existing invoice finance facility an annual healthcheck call
Date and amount of ongoing payments:
___________ £_______
Choose from one of the two following options 1: Date and amount of final payment
____________ £______
Touchstone 07595 219921
2: Until Further notice (Payments will be made until you cancel this instruction)
4: Confirmation
(tick)
email info@touchstonecommercialfinance.co.uk
Customer signature(s): ______________________________________________ Date: _____________________
Put Twitter to work for your small business A Tweet is a powerful tool. Every week billions of Tweets flow through Twitter about every imaginable subject. A wide variety of people, organizations, businesses - big and small, local and international, all use Twitter to make their presence known. Twitter can help your company connect with customers, amplify your message, and ultimately, grow your business. GET STARTED Your customers are already on Twitter. Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of the conversation. Learn how to use Twitter effectively to meet your business goals. ENGAGE YOUR AUDIENCE Make sure your voice shapes the online identity of your business. Tweet about the ideas, principles and value of your business. Share links and pictures with your customers. Let them see what happens behind the scenes. AMPLIFY YOUR IMPACT The more people who talk about your business on Twitter, the more followers (and customers) you’ll get. Focus on activities that promote your @username and expand your business. When you first join Twitter, it’s tempting to start tweeting right away. But before you begin, it’s a good idea to follow and observe businesses similar to yours to see what they are doing well, and to learn from their mistakes.
“To follow” someone means that you are subscribing to their stream of Tweets, and will automatically receive their Tweets in your timeline. When someone follows you, your Tweets will show up in their timeline. Twitter has an asymmetrical follower model, which means that you do not need to “approve” of the people who follow you, and they do not need to “approve” of you. However, you will likely want to follow back most of the people who follow your business. This acknowledges them, and enables them to send you direct messages. Go to search.twitter.com and use keywords associated with your business to look for related hashtags and keywords that are associated with similar businesses. Read through these results to get inspired by what people are already saying. In order to engage your customers, you’ll want to build from insights about their interests and comments in order to learn what types of content will be most appealing to them. At search.twitter.com you can also enter your product or business name to see what people are saying about you. Be yourself - Too often, businesses are overly formal on Twitter. Your Tweets should reflect your personality. People respond best to friendly, conversational Tweets. Be responsive - Reply when people tweet about you. Favourite and retweet positive messages, and thank those who are praising you. Promptly address critical Tweets about your business.
Some conversations need to be taken offline. If there is too much back and forth between you and your customer, or the exchanges become too specific for your timeline, ask the follower to send you a direct message (DM) with contact information so you can communicate further by email or phone. Tweet daily - People wonder how often they should tweet, but there isn’t one “right” answer.Tweeting every five minutes might be too often and tweeting only weekly is very likely too infrequent. At first, make a goal of tweeting once a day. Over time, you’ll see what works best for the amount of content you want to share and for your particular business. Just because Twitter happens in real time, it doesn’t mean you can’t look ahead. Think about your important upcoming events — product launches, holidays or seasonal events — and see how you can incorporate Twitter into your plans. Share - People tend to share positive Tweets that solve a problem, answer a question, entertain or inspire. On Twitter, we see the most retweeted content tends to contain links, photos, videos or quotes. When you Tweet something interesting, it has the potential to travel to many prospective customers. Promote - There are many ways to promote your Twitter @username online and offline: business cards, signage, advertising, delivery vehicles, product packaging, storefronts, email, your website, etc. Anywhere your customers interact with your brand is an opportunity to encourage them to follow you on Twitter.
business.twitter.com
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@TwitterSmallBiz