Game Changers ISSUE #28
GO WITH GAB! GC speaks with FX Czar Gabriel Styllas
GAME CHANGERS
DIRECTORY O1
Note from the editor
O2
Richard Bartlett
O3
Gabriel Styllas
O4 O5
View from the top. 03
Centroid Solutions, DMCC 04-05
5COMPLY. 07-8
Helen Astaniou FOREX NOT BOREX. 09-11
Sunny Singh VAN HAWKE SPORTS. 12-13
O6
Viktoria Soltesz
O7
Michaela Newey
O8 O9
PSP Angels, 14-15
Baer’s Crest. 16-17
GC: LUXURY Melekkis Jewellery. 19-21
GC: FEMME 22-24
1O
GC: HOMME 25-27
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GC: EAT
12
GC: DRINK
13
GC:FITNESS
14
Melekkis Jewelerry Advertising Shoot. 38-39
JAM. 28-30
Nelion winery. 31-32
Luis Ribeiro. 33-37
BEHIND THE SECNES...
VIEW FROM THE TOP
Hello everyone, Thanks for taking the time to read the new issue of Game Changers Magazine, and it is a great pleasure to have on the front cover, my good friend and mentor Gabriel Styllas the Founder of Five Comply in Limassol. In case you are not aware, Gabriel is one of the leading names in the FX ecosystem for your brands infrastructure, so it is always great to hear what he has to say. It has been a weird summer so far with living in the blazing Cypriot sun, with a real lack of tourists that normally pack the streets. One upside is that you can get a good seat in a restaurant and gather your thoughts in peace. Hopefully we are all getting back to normal soon, and can push on for a strong end to the year. Thanks to all the team who put this issue together, and all the wonderful contributors!
Paul ORFORD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Game Changers
Centroid Solutions DMCC RICHARD BARTLETT Head of Business Development at Centroid Solutions DMCC
After the last editions (GC 27) huge response to our cover star Richard Bartlett from Centroid Solutions, we wanted to pick his brains about what many see as a quiet time of year. Can be maximised for the headlong rush towards the end of the year. In Game Changers opinion, any effective CEO is not thinking of the beach, they are analysing how to get maximum performance from their institution in one of the most competitive markets in the financial sector. Q I have often found that summer time has been a great time for institutions to put their feet up and say it is quiet, so nothing can be achieved. We have often discussed, that it is a great time to assess your brokerage to run at optimum speed. What are your thoughts on that? Indeed, as business for brokers tends to be a little slower in summer especially August time, it is an ideal time to asses operational efficiency, such as reviewing new technologies etc. Now to a certain extent I think any time is a good time to potentially improve efficiency and in turn profitability of a business as this is the whole reason people are in business in the first place, but for sure, changing existing framework does involve resources that may not be as easily available during the more busy periods, so these quieter times are certainly the better to review and implement new technology. Q I guess a common objection can be that we don’t have time to integrate a new piece of technology. Is there no better time than summer? My thoughts here are simple, if a new technology can improve performance results and efficiency of any business then anytime is a good time to allocate resources to onboard such tech. During summer when organically business is slower, if I had to say, there definitely is no better time. Q From what i understand, the true beauty of your product is that it is relatively easy to integrate to an existing infrastructure. Is that right?
GAME CHANGERS Issue #28
Richard Bartlett Head of Business Development at Centroid Solutions DMCC
When implementing any new technology, it is imperative to plan it correctly and ensure it is fully tested and working as expected prior to switching to a live environment. At Centroid we have a great deal of experience and knowledge of our client’s businesses and how they operate, so we can work with any new client and implement the most efficient integration process which in turn does make it relatively easy to switch to our systems. Q From my personal experience, the vast majority of brokerages tend not to change their set up once they have opened. Why can this be a disaster for their bottom line?
Things move fast in this world especially technology, so something that was cutting edge a few years ago will never be as good as the latest technology available today. Now of course, existing technology providers will say that they are updating their technology as it goes but often these upgrades are superficial and will always be limited to the legacy type framework of the existing and often outdated infrastructure they are based on. The fact is, when it comes to improving performance results and operational efficiency of a brokerage it is mostly down to technology and risk management intelligence. So, if a broker is using outdated technology, they are likely leaving a lot of money on the table that they could be keeping in their own pockets. They may not even release this until they look at the fundamentals of how other technology can make the difference. This is where I come in to spread the word about how the very latest advancements in technology, like we have at Centroid, can add serious value and in turn increase profits etc. Q As an outsider looking in, are all bridges fundamentally the same thing? Many people assume this and it certainly is not the case. To be totally clear though a bridge is just one part of a comprehensive technology offering. For example, when someone takes our service, they receive access to the latest bridge but in addition they get a low-latency aggregator and bespoke risk management engine. It is with these additional parts of our service where the difference can really be substantiated between our offering and others. I would say to any broker to ensure they review what options there are
on the market at least once a year and not assume as many do that all technology is more or less the same. Q One experience I had a couple of years back, we were offered a technology that was incredibly cheap, and this was reflected in its performance and functionality. Should cost ever be a factor when assessing a new technology? This is a good point to make and it is a bit clichÊ but you do in general get what you pay for, especially with technology. For a brokerage that relies on technology primarily for its overall performance it is not an area to skimp and save on. Having said that, cost still needs to be evaluated to ensure the value for money is there, but for sure the added value any good technology offers will pay for itself over and over again. Q How long does it take you to do a demo? This really depends on the people we are presenting to. All demos are tailored to the prospective buyer so is greatly driven by them and what they are looking for and questions they have etc. In general presentations are at least one hour sometimes up to two and a half hours. Plus, we invariably do more than one demo to the same company as negotiations progress etc. Q Whats the best way to be reached? You can find me on LinkedIn and our website www.centroidsol.com Alternatively people are free to e-mail me directly – r.bartlett@centroidsol.com
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5COMPLY GABRIEL STYLLAS CEO and Founder of 5COMPLY
Introduction It’s been 2 years now since European Securities and Markets Authority’s (“ESMA”) first introduced the temporary ESMA product intervention measures on Contracts for Differences (“CFDs”) with restriction on the marketing, distribution or sale of CFDs to retail investors. This restriction 2 years ago introduced: leverage limits on opening positions; a margin close out rule on a per account basis; a negative balance protection on a per account basis; preventing the use of incentives by a CFD provider; and a firm specific risk warning delivered in a standardised way. Although ESMA’S intervention was originally drafted as being “temporary”, National Competent Authorities (NCAs) about a year ago published their National Product Intervention Measures in relation to the marketing, distribution and sale of CFDs by issuing relevant local legislation. The measures of NCAs were largely aligned with the ESMA’s temporary product intervention measures. The intention Obviously ESMA’s aim was to protect retail investors, as consumers, from what ESMA perceived to be products that are perceived to have adverse consequences for certain retail investors. ESMA’s goal was certainly to protect the EU retail clients and it seems most of the restrictions were towards the right direction e.g. negative balance protection and risk warnings. The measures on CFDs ensure that investors cannot lose more money than they put in, restrict the use of leverage and incentives, and provide understandable risk warnings for investors. The Outcome - two years later Since the introduction of ESMA’s temporary intervention measures the big majority of EU retail clients have set up accounts with CFD brokers that are established outside the EU. It seems that traders were looking for offshore brokers and they were willing to accept the additional risks involved.
Gabriel Styllas CEO and Founder of 5COMPLY
Although It is only on the traders’ own initiative that an account can be set up with a CFD broker that is established outside of the EU this was not always the case. Two years later the results are disappointing as the big majority of EU retail clients, ESMA wanted to protect have already moved the relationship, to permitted jurisdictions that could offer them higher leverage, even though most of the times there are no investor compensation funds available and no negative balance protection. Bottom line the retail clients who want to get higher leverage most of the times are ready to get higher risks as well and unfortunately sometimes they are ready to move to brokers that they are not regulated at all. Who are the winners Some offshore regulators like Seychelles FSA and Mauritius FSC managed to attract many new brokers (mainly EU brokers that would like to offer their
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clients the option to get higher leverage). These regulators managed to get some knowhow, improve and develop during the last 2 years, with the aim to attract as many credible brokers as possible by offering higher leverage; however, at the same time these regulators want to improve their reputation, image and credibility and further develop their AML legislation to be in line with the EU legislation. Who are the losers Unfortunately, some EU Retail clients had very bad experience with some non EU brokers (mainly non-regulated brokers), while trying to set up accounts with brokers offering higher leverage. Two years after the introduction of the temporary ESMA product intervention measures on CFDs, National Competent Authorities only supervise a small number of EU retail client trading CFDs thus ESMA it’s not possible any more to protect the majority of EU retail clients. During the past the EU brokers had agreements in place with the big majority of EU retail clients trading CFDs and thus National Competent Authorities could protect the EU retail clients through the supervision of EU brokers. However, this is not the case anymore as most of the EU retail clients
GAME CHANGERS Issue #28
maintain relationships with brokers that are not under the supervision of the NCAs. Summary - What ESMA could have done better ESMA’s original intentions were really good and most of the restrictions are towards the right direction. The measures on CFDs ensure that investors cannot lose more money than they put in, restrict the use of leverage and incentives, and provide understandable risk warnings for investors. However, the leverage restrictions were steep and extremely strict and this was the main reason that most of the EU clients are not cooperating with EU brokers any more. In case ESMA’s leverage restrictions were less strict and at more reasonable limits and even if all the remaining ESMA product intervention measures on CFDs remained the same, the EU CFDs industry would be much different today. The EU retail clients would never move to non EU brokers and thus would enjoy more and better protection under the supervision of ESMA and the NCAs. It’s never too late to relax some of the leverage restrictions.
FOREX NOT BOREX HELEN ASTANIOU Chief Marketing Officer at TIO Markets
Those well acquainted with the forex industry will have heard the term Borex before.
MYTH #1: The 100-line mandatory risk warning kills creativity.
Borex. Cannot be found on the countless forex glossary pages that pollute the web and whose sole purpose is to ram any given website with keywords rather than to adequately educate and inform clientele.
Not necessarily. Working in forex over the years has come to be connected with ritual, rite and rope, rather than with innovation and creativity. With the clamping down of financial regulators in the sector – as quite rightly, they should – it has become inevitable that innovation has been somewhat dampened.
Borex in British. (ˈbɒ-rɛks, ˈbɒ-rɛɡz) Uncountable noun. 1. Abbreviation for “Boring Forex” 2. Descriptive word for demotivating, uninspiring work environments in financial services If you’ve not heard that term, perhaps you’ve actively participated in a conversation like this at an industry networking event: Person 1: Where do you work? Person 2: I’ve been working in FX company x for x years Person 1: Oh, how nice. *Yawn* This article promotes my view on why forex is not borex, via three myth-busting concepts.
What do I mean by this? It’s a marketer’s job to promote exciting messaging that is most likely to convert a viewer into a potential client. A three-line risk warning (on a banner not bigger than the size of your thumb), clearly stipulating that 110% of people have lost their investment trading with your brokerage, therefore isn’t the most attractive message. Attractive, no. Necessary, yes. With today’s regulatory restrictions on marketing specifically in the sphere of financial services, marketing teams are heavily challenged to market in an incredibly saturated industry, but in an ethical, transparent and responsible manner. Marketeers bear a responsibility to the consumers of their financial products. We are responsible for informing them of the risks and for educating clients on how to use such products safely. My favourite approach to marketing responsibly, given I’m overly eager not to sell false dreams, is to go down the road of authen-
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ticity. The people we market to are after all, people. They have worked hard for their investment, and don’t deserve to be misled. By being honest about the risks not because the regulator has asked you - but because investing is quite honestly and truly, a risky endeavour, you build a client base that is more considered in their approach to investing and have a likelihood of staying with you for longer, rather than getting burned too quickly. We try to do this through all our comms, and notably through our blog, where we can expand on the topic at length without having to worry about length or character restrictions. We promote real offerings, produce truthful messaging. And we try to do this in an inviting, original way.
MYTH #2: Copycat culture It may or may not (you decide) have been the case that forex companies emulate each other in order not to reinvent the wheel. Copying the campaign of a competitor because you know it works, for instance, is not a good way to foster good energy, goodwill and originality. Person 1: We need more clients through the door, what shall we do?
Helen Astaniou Chief Marketing Officer at TIO Markets
Person 2: Well, I saw another company launch with a 1000% bonus a while back and I heard it bought them loads of clients. Person 1: What a great idea, let’s do it! Let’s just put it out there that - possibly - forex companies don’t necessarily have the best reputation for innovation. And while I may have fantastically embellished the above example, the point remains that the concept of copycats in FX is alive and kicking. They did this, we did that, they copied us, we copied them, and so on and so forth. The uncomfortable truth is that copying can be a pointless endeavour. The industry and client behaviour changes so often and so quickly that what may have
worked once may not work a second time. And who is to say really, if the thing being copied ever even actually worked the first time?
not or cannot afford to offer small luxuries to their staff corps. So, even small gestures such as a diet coke (example taken at complete random), goes a long way.
There are countless examples of forex promotions that are indeed innovative, creative and just downright fabulous. I put this down to two key factors:
Despite my obvious biases, it would be remiss of me not to pull out TIOmarkets specifically as an innovator in forex. Through my example of TIOmarkets, I want to show that not all forex companies fit the rule. All those who work in forex, do not work in borex.
1. Young demographic of fx industry. The average age-range of those at least who I’ve worked with, in the forex industry is between 25-35 years old. These are young people, with a limited work history, who are not victim to the ‘this is how we’ve done it before’ mentality. 2. Far-sighted management teams. Ultimately, it is the management team who decide whether new and creative ideas hit the print. The more experienced and data-led managers are far more likely to proceed with an original idea, than not.
MYTH #3: All forex companies are the same. FALSE! I’ve had the pleasure of working in more than one forex company, and each one of these companies made valiant efforts to lift the morale of its staff in the hope that in turn, productivity would increase. One such company offered unlimited free drinks to its staff, which for a diet-coke enthusiast (addict) like myself, was heaven on earth. Another company arranged regular team-building events and days out. All great attempts at giving staff that little reminder that they are valued as humans who all need a little pick me up, from time to time. And let’s not be too harsh here – many a company will
As a new company, TIOmarkets isn’t weighed down by the burden of age and allows small innovations to permeate the work environment, thereby improving morale and productivity. Ad hoc meetings on picnic benches, regular office barbecues, and an open-door policy for all, no matter where you appear in the company hierarchy, is rule of thumb. There is no greater way to show someone they are valued than by asking their views and actually supporting them to act upon their answer. Having the start-up mentality also goes a long way towards helping staff feel that they have a stake in the success of the company. The staff here take pride in the progress that the company is making week-onweek, and feel like they are a significant part of the recipe for success. There is no greater satisfaction than in watching the company develop and seeing the fruits of your labour manifest, day in day out. This in itself breeds motivation and the desire to innovate. The work of our marketing team doesn’t stop, doesn’t slow, and just gains traction from day to day. It spans digital, offline, visual, content, coordination, project management and data analysis. We love what we do and we do it because it is not borex.
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Sports is back… SUNNY SINGH CEO and Founder of VAN HAWKE SPORTS
Sports is back. Well in some form anyhow. Like other industries, the world of sport is having to cope with the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. This has resulted in reduced schedules, cancellations, and in some instances, tournaments having to take place in foreign territories. Taking the games away from their domestic markets in an attempt to overcome any imposed restrictions. It certainly has been a challenging period for all involved, including brand partners, who now more than ever, question the validity of sports sponsorships. Despite the issues just presented, you could argue that now is the ideal time for brands to partake in a sports sponsorship. Never before have sports rights holders been so aligned with a brand’s marketing objectives (that being the creation and delivery of assets that best match a partner’s criteria). In fact, most sports properties are moving away from the so-called standardised packages and adhering to specific brand requests (fantastic news for us at Van Hawke Sports, as we’ve been vocal advocates of this since our inception). However, with the fan experience now largely reduced to media and digital consumption only, brands question if the value of marketing exposure presented is still worth the investment. The answer to this is a resounding, YES. Sports’ have had to innovate, not only for brand partners but for the life line that keeps them afloat, the fans. The people who tune in and turn up with regularity to support their teams are the lifeblood of sports, these are the people that all brands are
GAME CHANGERS Issue #28
wanting to canvas to achieve results of positive asociation. Through these partnerships brands should expect this to translate to increased sales. Which is the objective of most companies when they venture into a sponsorship. Sports such as football have introduced innovations such as overlaid computer-generated stadium noise to continue providing an ‘authentic’ viewing experience, as well as fan groups that can see audience members interacting with one another whilst watching from their homes. Seat netting, which primarily was used to hide the empty stadium seats, has seen an increase of up to 70% in some instances of brand visibility, versus original contracted exposure. Even sports such as Formula 1 and Cricket, have responded with a greater emphasis on bespoke branded content creation for audience consumption, which has seen drivers/players assume more ambassadorial and influencer duties in attempts to quench the thirst of fan interest. On top of that brand partners now have the flexibility to work hand in hand with sports rights holders to develop their own unique marketing channels, utilising methods such as team podcasts to integrate their brand further towards a target audience. There are even examples of brands now becoming an active part of the live sports experience with the use of technology such as VR, and the recent introduction of the Ref Cam in MMA. This is where the audience can view the match from inside of the octagon as per the referee’s view. The footage is brought to you by ‘X’, and the brand logo is visible throughout. Allowing a brand to be placed front and centre directly in the viewer’s line of sight. It is the fan experience innovations such as these that brands can now leverage to better improve their sports sponsorship ROI.
In addition, metrics are now more readily available when related to specific joint campaign activity. As well as database segregation and geotargeting (basically the data pooling you would expect from any other marketing channel, but somehow was missing from most sports rights holder’s arsenal). The past few months has seen the acceleration of developments from sports rights holders to improve the marketing assets they provide to brand partners. It is a response to the current global situation, to ensure survival, fend off competition from other marketing channels such as digital, and to ultimately continue generating revenue. Nevertheless, the marketing assets now provided are here to stay and will only improve and become further integrated into their partner offering (and dare I say, eventually standardised). This combined with reduced rate card costs and flexible contract lengths, there has never been a better time to explore and venture into a sports sponsorship. Sports is back…and now better than ever.
VAN HAWKE SPORTS is a leading global sports marketing agency which provides specialised services in sports sponsorships. We bridge the gap between brands and sports rights to deliver tailored sports partnership packages and brand marketing solutions. To learn more about the latest sports sponsorship opportunities available for your brand, contact us: Website: www.vanhawkesports.com Email: info@vanhawkesports.com Telephone: +44 (0) 207 889 2888 Sunny Singh CEO & Founder of VAN HAWKE SPORTS
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PSP Angels VIKTORIA SOLTESZ Founder of PSP Angels
Finding the good in the bad – how online payments can help to rebuild the economy what COVID ruined 2020 made transformations we have never seen before. First of all, it completely transformed customer behaviour. We always knew that we are heading towards a more digitalised era, but this pandemic speeded up the process more then we could imagine. The online payments are now more in-demand than ever, which is opening great opportunities for new players and non-traditional providers. Also, in such a short time we saw so many industries falling – the travel, F&B and face-to-face operators are all collapsing. Never before stock market crashes pushing the economy into recession. It’s not only Jeff Bezos and the mask manufacturers who piled up their billions through their digital ecommerce empires. Since contactless or online payments are the only way to keep social distancing possible as opposed to cash
GAME CHANGERS Issue #28
and face-to-face purchases, several payment service providers are opening champagnes throughout 2020. Payments not only saw a never-before profit during the first quarter of 2020, the bullseye was hit again in Q2 when their biggest competition, Wirecard fell. Customers have stricter and stricter expectations when it comes to payments: everyone demands maximum access, flexibility and convenience. We all get more tech savvy too – we all have a payment app, online banking and heard about blockchain. It’s no longer only the young generation who uses electronic currencies such as Bitcoin to enjoy quicker, better and more reliable payment options. And as we know, with new demand, new supply is born. The banks are no longer cash handling offices at the end of the road, but modern and agile fintech companies. So, its not a surprise that the large technology and social media companies such as Amazon, Google and Facebook are also trying to break into the payments market and take a piece of this tasty, multibillion pie.
Familiar? Have we seen this all before? Yes. In 2013. China is now the global leader when it comes to digital payments. Looking back to the history, it’s obvious why: several new payment methods have been born and implemented, after SARS hit China back in 2013. These new ways not only helped the economy bounce back to its original state, but also made China to be the e-commerce leader. Its not a secret that during the coronavirus crisis, the digital payments have been keeping economies running and helping people reduce contact with the virus. China’s “less cash – more digital” society not only helped to sustain the quarantines and reduce the virus transmissions but also built a solid foundation for further digital fintech developments. During the pandemic, local governments have distributed vouchers through WeChat Pay to encourage immediate spending, Alipay overtook PayPal as the world’s largest mobile payment platform in 2013 (Alipay is now the world’s number one mobile payment service organization and the second largest payment service organization in the world.) and WeChat Pay was born, which is now China’s Second Largest Mobile Wallet. Chinese e-commerce and online payments exploded after SARS. Transforming from cash-upon-delivery to a modern mobile-payment-upon-delivery system was easier and quicker than we thought. The sudden and forced new rules become a permanent shift in the behaviours in China: consumers enjoyed the seamless purchase experience from the comfort from their homes and refused to go back to their old habits of juggling with dirty coins and notes.
Viktoris Soltesz Founder of PSP Angels
There were other benefits too. With the increased digital payments, the compliance forced the population to be more up-to-date with their KYC. About 960 million of Chinese people had formal identification in 2003, removing one of the most common impediments in the world to account ownership – a lack of identity documentation. By 2011, 64% of Chinese had an account either with a bank or e-money provider, nearly double the penetration of India. Bank account ownership was used as a proof of identity for online payments, which made the initial sign up to the new platforms easier and cheaper.
SARS, COVID – or simply the internet which changes in the planet, we all know that the world is heading towards a more digitized state. Even if the virus gets weaker, the social distancing is embedded in all of us now. We now all got used to online payments just as much as to hand sanitisers and masks. But just as in the yin-yang symbol – there is a small good in the bad. China should be the greatest example for all of us of how to turn a disaster to an opportunity and move on to build a bright future.
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Merchant Vessel MICHAELA NEWEY Baer’s Crest
There are a great deal of advantages to a business having merchant status with a banking institution. The most important being, of course, the ability to accept credit and debit cards as payment methods for goods, either online, or in brick and mortar stores. You also have the capability to receive payments in different currencies, with the exchange rates already factored in and not your problem. A person visiting your country can walk into your shop and purchase something with their card, provided that your merchant abilities include accepting money from that persons country of origin. While we are on that topic, being a merchant allows you to radically increase your potential customer base. In an online scenario, you have the ability to sell your goods to people all over the world. It’s just so easy for your customers to purchase instantly with cards. And as for brick and mortar stores – who wants to do business in a cash only store or restaurant? In some industries one is forced to pay in cash for various reasons. This is an exception and usually the customer is accepting of that fact in that particular case. But in most other cases - they want to use their cards. The customer many not have enough cash to cover the cost, particularly in places such as restaurants when “one more drink” will affect the bill. And people don’t like carrying cash around, or having to go to an ATM to get more cash. They consider it unsafe. Additionally, we all know that numerous studies have shown that people purchase more goods using cards and online. The act of not handing over physi-
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cal cash is psychological. Handing over cash makes customers conscious of how much they are spending. Cards, and in particular online purchases, are in some kind of never-never land and “ok I’ll take this lipstick in three colours not just one” is so easy – you don’t have to count the notes in your wallet to see if you can afford it. You just buy it because you want it and you can. Other advantages are that you have better management of your cash flow, and some reporting to keep your books in order. Your money management is improved. And, well in theory at least, you have some security over customer data and they are protected against fraud and theft. Being a merchant is great! BUT. Navigating the stormy waters to become a merchant is not quite so easy. There is a lot of paperwork involved and copious requirements, frequently depending on the country in which you do business. And there is no guarantee that after you have put in a massive effort, costing time and money, they are going to approve you. Fees may be prohibitive. Besides this, you may be in an industry such as 420, in which case you cannot qualify even if you tried, due to local legislation. Or you may simply not meet the requirements due to some other reason. So now what? Good news, Baer’s Crest has a lifeboat for you with
our innovative QR voucher system – 2FavBuys. In a nutshell, the consumer buys your goods using a QR voucher. This system uses Two Factor Authentication for the security of buyer and seller, and is so simple to use that even most “technically challenged” customers can use it. They buyer can purchase their voucher in a variety of payment methods as well. As the seller of goods, the 2FavBuys system integrates with your internal systems using our straightforward and well documented API. You get your own dashboard with reporting capabilities, so you can check transactions, as well as give a nice orderly financial report to your accountant, who will be delighted. And we deal with disputes. So there are barely any chargebacks for you to deal with. Your accountant will love you even more.
Ludovic Vuillier CEO & Founder of Baer’s Crest
Let’s talk about pricing. The higher your monthly transaction volume, the better our rates become. And you are indeed going to increase your transaction volume, because you now have the ability to sell more. With the greater reach that 2FavBuys offers you, you have the potential to dramatically increase your revenue. 2FavBuys has been extremely successful online, and is simple and secure for both parties in a transaction. Ok, so that’s online. But what about brick and mortar? 2FavBuys works with that too. The “in the flesh” version is just as simple and secure for the buyer and seller to use. Contact us to discuss our 2FavBuys voucher products. Smooth sailing awaits you, so jump on board now.
Game Changers Magazine
Lifestyle
GC:LUXURY PANAYIOTIS MELLEKKIS MELEKKIS JEWELLERY
Q Game Changers: Your father Georgios and mother Eva opened the first store over 40 years ago. What motivated them to do this? The Melekkis story started with my grandfather Alexandros, who was working 3 jobs to support his family, including the selling of watches in Famagusta. In 1977 he sent my father Georgios to study in Horology in Switzerland - and upon his return he and my mother Eva began the first family business together in Dherynia. The combination of Eva’s artistic talents and Georgios’ niche skills enabled them to begin the Melekkis brand by providing unique custom made jewellery. Q Was there pressure on you to follow the family business? From a very young age I was working alongside my family in the family business. It was a natural evolution - I was also very keen to learn more about precious stones, diamonds and wanted to explore and study jewellery design. At 20 years old I left for Florence,Italy where I began and completed my degree in jewellery design and gemology at the Gemological Institute of America. Q What is the training to become a professional jeweler? Following my studies in Florence, I believe that studying gemology and jewellery design truly assisted me in improving as a professional jeweller. The issue is that many people don’t fully understand that there is actually a substantial amount of knowledge needed behind jewellery, jewellery making and being able to advise on the right stones, diamonds, gold quality etc. When our clients visit our stores, we are able to provide thorough advice and information which I believe is not readily available in most Cyprus stores. Q You have one of the largest stores in Europe, does this also mean it is hard to keep up the unparalleled quality? Quality is always our priority and this is why we have been able to grow and expand as a business. Our attention to detail, and focus on top quality products has ensured that we have kept and maintained a large
client base that is ever growing. Our largest store in Paralimni has returning worldwide customers for over 40 years. The launch of our online store www.melekkis.eu has also assisted with servicing our clients. Q With three stores in Cyprus, do people from different regions have a particular style? Of course. For example, the Limassol store requests are mainly for yellow gold pieces, and precious stone designs with Ruby, Sapphires and Emeralds, those of which are of a vintage style. The Paralimni store sees more modern requests from clients, including rose gold designs and large pieces with stones such as Opal, Alexandrite and London Blue Topaz.
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The Protaras store is slightly more tourist oriented and therefore has a mix of styles requested, and of course many of the clients purchase diamond crosses, wedding rings, children’s jewellery etc. Q Why should I have an individually designed piece? Investing in a piece of jewellery is something that you will keep for life. All of our products that are designed are limited so that we can keep the uniqueness of every piece special and sentimental to the client. I believe that making and designing a piece of jewellery means you can make it exactly how you dream it to be, with the stone you prefer and the gold colour of your choice. Also many clients feel that they can express something truly personal and individual if they are able to be part of the design process. It is important to note that the most requested individually designed product throughout all of our stores is custom made engagement rings. Many clients have an idea of their perfect engagement ring, what cut diamond they prefer, carat size, setting etc. To be able to create a dream engagement ring that is truly unique is something of a rarity.
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Q I saw from the collections that your brand has designed, I was curious to know what inspires you to make a piece? Having a love for art and vintage jewellery, my inspiration transpires from British, French and Italian history. As I have also travelled substantially, I am constantly inspired by new cultures, cities and art. My designs replicate my travel experiences and cultures that I have been lucky to experience. Q How do you turn a client’s vision into reality? The first step is to book an appointment with one of our design team members at Melekkis. The client will usually explain and provide a background of the story behind the jewellery they wish to create. Preliminary, the piece will be drawn by hand, and agreed with the client. We will then exhibit a wide range of precious stones and diamonds in order to choose the right stone or diamond for the unique piece. Following this stage, we proceed to present the product in 3D format on CAD matrix - this allows the client to see a 3D model of how the piece will be created.
Upon the client’s approval, the production begins in the workshop to formulate and create the unique piece of jewellery. Q How long does it take to make an individual piece of jewellery? Following the 3D model approval by the client, a piece of jewellery can be completed within 3-7 working days. Q How can someone receive a personal consultation for a personal design? By calling any of our stores and booking an appointment or via our website www.melekkis.eu Limassol store: 197 Arch Makariou III, Limassol, 3030, Cyprus +357 25054570 Paralimni store: Melekkis Centre, Onisilou 6, Paralimni, 5284, Cyprus +357 23744222 Protatas Store: 16, Protaras Avenue, Protaras, 5296, Cyprus +357 23 833013
GC:FEMME When Game Changers conducted a poll of our female readers to see who they wanted featured in for swim suits review, Emily Ratajkowski and her brand Inamorata came out with a staggering majority. Ratajkowskis brand has become synonymous for summer elegance when it comes to laying by the pool and drinking those ice cold cocktails. Game Changers was only too happy to find out what the buzz was all about, and to see why Feminism’s number one swimsuit and lingerie mogul.has such an appeal. By the time you are reading this issue of GC, the new line of Inamorata swim wear will be released. This can be viewed at Inamoratawoman.com...enjoy!
Model: Emily Ratajkowski Brand: Inamorata Cost: $235 USD full outfit www.Inamoratawoman.com Photo credit: Models own instagram
Models: Emily Ratajkowski & Sebastian Bear - McClard Brand: Inamorata Style: El Camino Cost: $95 USD www.Inamoratawoman.com Photo credit: inamoratawoman.com official site.
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Any beach look is not complete without the essential beach bag to carry everything from sun cream, a sarong and the latest book by Emily Henry. Even if you are going to the beach, don’t let your standards drop with a hessian bag for life from the local supermarket. Looking good is imperative, so take notes from our GC summer must haves!
Brand: Loewe Name: Paula’s Ibiza Shell Medium Shopper. Cost: 490 EUR www.loewe.com Picture credit: Loewe
Here are three of our favorite beach bags this summer.
Brand: Gucci Name: GG Marmont woven bag. Cost: 1700 EUR www.gucci.com Picture credit: Gucci Brand: Christain Louboutin Name: Marie Jane wove jute bucket bag. Cost: 1490 EUR www.christianlouboutin.com Picture credit: Christian Louboutin
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They say that our eyes are the window to our souls, however on a bright day nobody wants to be seen without a pair of designer sunglasses perched off the bridge of our noses! Whether we are stepping out in Paris or by the beach in St Tropez, s unglasses are an essential to compliment our attire for the days activities ahead. This summer GC takes a look at what the most elegant names in facial fashion are doing to complement our summer look.
Brand: Tom Ford | Name: FTO574 Mia Dark Havana Cost: 310 GBP | www.tomford.com
Brand: Gucci Name: GG0083S Pink Cost: 335 GBP www.gucci.com
Brand: Bvlgari | Name: BV8221B Dark Havana Cost: 313 GBP | www.tomford.com
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GC:HOMME
Game Changers demands that you do not become another Joe on the beach, wearing all the latest swim chic from Sports Direct. The greatest trick the devil ever played was convincing early middle aged men that both Slazenger and Lonsdale swim attire looks great. By spending a little more, you can get a Daniel Craig emerging from the ocean type of results from the females, by taking a look at our picks for your summer look. Game Changers Magazine fashion department have fallen in love with Brazillian luxury swimwear brand Frescobol Carioca. This well fitted brand can make a pleasant change from the standard issue Bermuda Short which were relevant in a far off era. Visit their site to see their full selection of clothing www.frescobolcarioca.eu
Brand: FRESCOBOL CARIOCA Name: Shade tailored swim shorts Cost: 190 EUR Photo Credit: FRESCOBOL CARIOCA
BRAND: FRESCOBOL CARIOCA NAME: Coracabana swimware wear short COST: 185 EUR PHOTO CREDIT: FRESCOBOL CARIOCA
BRAND: FRESCOBOL CARIOCA NAME: Copic classic swim short. Twine & ink. Cost: 185 EUR PHOTO CREDIT: FRESCOBOL CARIOCA
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Nothing finishes off your look better than an elegant timepiece of your wrist. Although a Rolex definitely has its place and has made some breathtaking pieces, sometimes you need something a little different to set off your look. Being a Game Changer is about aspiring to be the best, so here is our choice for what we suggest you have on your wrist, when gracing your next summer soiree.
BRAND: BREITLING NAME: Navitimer automatic 35 COST: 5200 EUR www,breitling.com PICTURE CREDIT: BREITLING
BRAND: CARTIER. NAME: Ballon bleu du cartier COST: 12,200 GBP www.cartier.com PICTURE CREDIT: CARTIER
BRAND: BULGARI NAME: Bvlgari man watch REF103230 COST: 3810 GBP www.bulgari.com PICTURE CREDIT: CARTIER
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GC:EAT JAM - OLD PORT HOTEL. LIMASSOL. CYPRUS.
Address: 7-9 Dimitri Mitropoulou Limassol, Cyprus Website: www,oldporthotel.com.cy
Set in the chic Old Port Hotel, Jam can be found in one of the liveliest parts of Limassol, next to the Old Port and Medieval Castle. Best described as an elegant looking bar restaurant that comes to life after 6 pm, that’s not to say that you should not visit to eat during the day, as the food is lovingly prepared along with the it being great value for money. The building embraces a fusion of modern rustic decor and architecture which this area has now become synonymous with. The old town of Limassol has seen some huge improvements over the past 5 years, with many buildings keeping their original features, yet having the proprietors own interpretation on the interior design. We arrived just after 6 pm when Jam comes alive with music, to which normally an establishment of a similar ilk would play that sort of hushed jazz music that makes me question my life choices. Happily they didn’t! Sitting down post work in the hot city, we only ate light with more of a focus paid to the Gin based cocktails. We were served by the impeccably attired waiting staff, who were
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incredibly friendly and knowledgeable on the drinks we should have to suit the time of day and our palettes. Prior to going to Jam, the Old Port Hotel website states that it is ‘the beating heart where guests and locals mingle’ did leave me falling into a kind of travel based PTSD. From my previous experiences when travelling for previous employers, the spite filled office drone whose role it is to book the accommodation, would often put me in a hotel proclaiming a similar ambience for the weary traveller. If ever there was a solid case of false advertising, these establishments ticked every box! Moreover, have you ever stopped to think which locals would frequent a hotel bar when they have the whole city to choose from? From my extensive knowledge it is only trainee serial killers, and ladies offering ‘services’ to people travelling away from home. On this occasion I was incredibly happy to see that the moniker was true with plenty of people coming for a drink after work, along with a healthy number of tourists enjoying the food and drinks whilst consulting the brilliant waiting staff on where they should head off to in the bright lights of Limassol. We stay there for a couple more drinks, then we pay the bill with that familiar post works drink buzz feeling of wishing you had ate a little more and maybe drunk a little less. It is well worth a visit to undertake the local sport of people watching, talk about everything and nothing whilst drinking a selection of cocktails skilfully crafted by their mixologists.
GC:DRINK NELION WINERY
Tel: 25 442445 Address: F616 Pretori, 8630, Pafos. Email: nelion@cytanet.com.cy
In the middle of a blazing summer, there is nothing better than getting out of the city heat and going up the mountains where the air is clear, and the views are spectacular. We took the famous Paphos - Trodos road up to a village called Pretori which is home of the world famous Nelion Winery, that produces some of the finest wines on the island. Although it’s fair to say that the Game Changers team will not be becoming sommeliers anytime soon, in fact the last time we drank wine as a unit at the GC Christmas Party, our intrepid GC photographer ended up in accident and emergency after drinking red wine out of carton with a kids curly straw. However, this was not Christmas and we fully intended to be the upstanding citizens of planet Earth that our mothers know us as. After a stomach lining late breakfast, we assembled on the GC family tour bus and took to the mountains, keen on
sampling Cyprus’s best fermented grapes and hoping to return with so much wine knowledge that we could beat Dionysus in a pub quiz. First impressions of any vineyard is always defensive as there is a lot of vino based snobbery when it comes to wine tasting. However it was great that Marinos had a real relaxed way about himself, and that there was zero pretentiousness. The GC team settled for the seated wine tasting which came with a very tasty cheese and salami platter. We sampled a nice mixture of the Nelion wares, where they gave us a really informative guide into each wine. Even for a group of wine luddites like ourselves we came away appreciating what goes into a glass, and how to tell good from bad. Moreover, Nelion also conducts a bar tasting or the vineyard tour, which by all accounts is great fun and very informative, and needless to say thirst quenching. The feedback from others regarding the tour is very positive, as the views are spectacular being so high up in the mountains. It is well worth a visit for a fun afternoon out of the city, and a great way to get out of the blazing summer heat. It is best to call a couple of days ahead to make sure that there is space due to huge demand in the summer.
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GC:FITNESS LUIS RIBEIRO
www.clubhealth.uk
The notion that physiotherapy exists to simply serve athletes is a lot like saying that you should only take your car for a service if it’s a Porsche, an Aston Martin or a Bentley. All cars require service and all bodies need physiotherapy. As annoying as this notion is, it’s perfectly reasonable that it exists. Why? Because common misconceptions are the result of misinformation and lack of proper, informed education on a specific subject matter. In the “Golden Era” of information, we’ve populated the web with so much information that we’ve made the truth hard to find. At Club Health, we don’t brag of knowing a lot, but we are confident in the few things that we know and one of those is physiotherapy. We specifically decided to kick off our blog with this subject, as one of our biggest goals in creating the Club, is changing the notions, beliefs and thinking around physiotherapy. Let’s dive into it.
Injuries Don’t Just Happen on The Pitch Physiotherapy is closely associated with injury recovery for athletes and this is where things start getting tricky. Athlete’s injuries usually happen due to the stress and duress their bodies are put through - from calves and strains and pulled hamstrings to ACL and Achilles tears, these injuries rank high on the pain and recovery threshold. Where the misconception was born, is when people started thinking that anything less than these injuries, is not considered an injury and therefore does not need the treatment or consultation of a medical professional. What we have ended up with is a belief that someone who is an accountant, or a stay-at-home mum, or does anything other than a professional sport, is not subject to injuries or physiotherapy. That couldn’t be furthest from the truth.
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Your daily routine is your pitch, your stadium, your battlefield. What most of you know as a “nagging back injury”, a “sore neck” or a “stiff hamstring” are the injuries you are sustaining on a daily basis and do not attend or treat. Our body’s output and performance adjusts to our daily routine and stress, attrition and friction cause these seemingly minor injuries. Just because you learn to tolerate the pain or find ways around the injury in order to get on with your day, that doesn’t mean the injury is gone. On the contrary, failing to attend to the injury will aggravate it and most probably turn it into a chronic issue that’s hard to cure. Injuries are a natural phenomenon and the sooner we start disassociating them with athletes and associating them to our bodies, the sooner we’ll find a solution. Talking of solutions, let’s segway to this.
Injury Treatment & Injury Prevention Are (Almost) The Same It goes like this: injury treatment is necessary in
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giving us immediate relief. If we just do that and never proceed to work on injury prevention, it won’t be long before we’re back at square one, visiting the physio for another treatment. Let us give you an example you’ll probably relate with - it’s like going to the dentist for a filling because your tooth is killing you, only to leave their office and start eating sweets all over again without brushing your teeth at night. At its most refined version, physiotherapy is strengthening and empowering the human body to fulfil its potential. It creates a strong, fully functional body that can go through its routine with more vigour and endurance, avoiding injuries. Physiotherapy is not a reactionary practice but a proactive lifestyle. It’s something you insert into your routine much like drinking water, showering and brushing your teeth. No, physiotherapy is not a daily habit like the ones we used as an example but it’s definitely a habit that belongs in your bi-weekly or monthly schedule. The benefits to physical therapy are countless but here are some that stand out:
Improving muscle length and flexibility Decrease stress Increase energy levels Address “every-day” injuries
Physiotherapy is a Holistic Experience Building on the “physiotherapy is just for athletes” idea, comes the notion that physiotherapy simply makes the pain and discomfort go away. Once again, that’s something that essentially underestimates and underplays the value of the practice to the human body. Physiotherapy is based on the understanding of the individual, their interests, routines, habits, diet, and overall lifestyle. The hip pain that made you walk through the doors might be the outcome of so many different scenarios. A physiotherapist’s job is not to make the pain go away. Their job is to locate a nd understand the source of the pain and help you change that. The approach to solving the problem is holistic, taking into consideration so many variables. From the way you sleep, sit at your desk, drive your car or watch TV, your body develops weaknesses and tendencies that eventually turn into injuries. A physiotherapist will help you reprogram your daily routine in such a way that you learn to protect your body from seemingly harmless habits.
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When you start piecing all of it together, you’ll see how it all starts making sense. You’ll realize that every action has a reaction. That sleeping on your right arm is probably the reason your right shoulder feels unstable. That looking down at your laptop makes your neck sore and bringing the screen to your eye level might actually relieve you greatly. There’s so much physiotherapy can offer you than merely removing the pain you’re currently experiencing.
“But My Body Feels Ok…” One of the core beliefs here at the Club is that life’s too short to just be ok. We don’t just want people to feel comfortable in their own skin, we want them to feel fantastic in it.
Ok is not ok and we believe that after visiting the Club, you’ll probably wonder why you allowed yourself to live a lesser life, underutilizing what your own body can do and achieve. We want to welcome you to our blog by busting one of the most common myths around physiotherapy and encourage you to take a small step in changing your life greatly. Feel free to pick up the phone and our staff would be more than happy to assist you with any questions you might have. To the athletes of the daily routine, Sincerely, Club Health
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BEHIND THE SCENES... MELEKKIS JEWELERRY ADVERTISING SHOOT
GAME CHANGERS Issue #28
ISSUE #28
THE JOURNAL FOR INDUSTRY LEADERS
www.gchangersmag.com info@gchangersmag.com
