Category: Business News

THAME businessman, Alun Rowe, doesn?t normally take calls from unfamiliar numbers on his mobile. But on this occasion he?s extremely glad he did. Two weeks ago the web developer was told by the on-line supercar competition company ?Best of the Best? that he had won the top prize in their online spot-the-ball game. Prizes on the site range from iPods to netbooks – or in Alun?s case, a Porsche.

How he won

?When I got the call from BOTB, I initially thought it was just a marketing call,? Alun admitted. ?I first saw ?Best of the Best? at an airport stall in 2003, but the cost of a ticket to play back then was too expensive – around

THAMENEWS.NET and THAME.NET, conscious of the current need for hard pressed local businesses to cut their outgoings, are offering them the opportunity to advertise job vacancies at a fraction of the cost of other local media, on both sites.

A banner advert across any news page, including an image and a link to the business’s own website, will cost as little as

A Thame Technology company is putting the final touches to plans for a 500 mile gruelling chartiy bike ride from Holland – including one employee who will do it on a 1930s tandem!

Box Technologies, based in Thame, have put together a nine strong, dedicated team of amateur and novice cyclists will cycle between Holland and Oxfordshire in 10 days, covering 800kms of North European terrain, to raise money for three charities.

The Prime Movers Against Disorders 2010, charity bike ride will start in The Hook of Holland on September 03, and end at Box Technologies? offices in Thame on September 12.

The European leg will pass through the Netherlands, Belgium and France, and then on to sections of the North Sea Trail and The War Trail. The UK leg starts at Dover and passes through Central London, ending in Thame. Box Technologies? Production Manager Graeme Laws will be celebrating his 40th birthday in style by travelling on a reconditioned 1930?s Eagle tandem bicycle.

The team have chosen three charities, each one striking a chord with their friends and families: Diabetes UK, Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research, and The Dyslexia Association.

The team can be sponsored through Virgin Money Giving, and donations will be quickly processed and passed to charities. Virgin Money Giving is a not-for-profit organisation and will claim gift aid on a charity?s behalf where the donor is eligible.

?The event should be hard work, great fun and is a brilliant way to keep fit, but it is important to remember the main reason we are doing it,” said Dave Taylor, Customer Services Manager at Box Technologies.

?If the donations can make even a small difference to our three chosen charities, then that would be fantastic. Our colleagues have been very generous with sponsorship money and we are focusing all our efforts into raising a total of

REPRODUCED FROM: http://www.discountvouchers.co.uk/news
CARPHONE Warehouse founder and Chairman, Charles Dunstone, has announced his support of the re-launch of the Interceptor, the classic car made by Jensen International Automotive (JIA). Mr Dunstone said that he has backed the initiative with an undisclosed financial sum, as well as agreeing to join the JIA board of directors, which will oversee the manufacture of 18 of the classic autos each year, all of which will be made entirely by hand.

According to a representative of JIA, Mr Dunstone was one of the first individuals to own an Interceptor S when it was first released. The representative went on to say that after hearing of the move to re-build the classic cars for the modern age, Mr Dunstone was extremely keen to be a part of the project, and has given tremendous support, both personal and financial.

The Interceptor will cost

KAREN Moore, who opened Powder, in Buttermarket, Thame recently, had always been struck whilst travelling abroad, by how many small towns had their own perfumeries.

With a background in Consultancy, she had always wondered what it would be like to open a shop. Living in Thame she could never find the cosmetics and products that she really wanted to buy and more often than not, found herself having to go to London to find what she needed. So, when an empty shop became vacant at 17a Buttermarket, Karen saw her opportunity to offer something a bit different locally in Thame and indulge her dream.

Powder is about quality products such as natural skin care products like Dr Hauschka, Afriteque and the cosmeceutical range, Medik8.

Powder?s cosmetics range from the very affordable Guys or Dolls makeup to professional make-up by Art Deco from Germany and Susan Posnick from USA.

The wide range of fragrances available from Powder includes those from Crabtree and Evelyn and Miller Harris. New for this season are Mavala nail polishes in bold, glitzy colours, from Switzerland and the must-have self-tanning products from Xen-Tan. For mums and babes there is the natural range, Bloom and Blossom.

Other make-up products are available for all ages and skin types ranging from oily, acne-prone skin to products to help older skin, and Powder doesn?t ignore the men. For the guys Powder stocks two ranges, Speick from Germany and Skinn from Australia.

Powder?s unique selling point is undoubtedly a personal service that aims to guide the customer to buying something they really need and will benefit from, rather than just making a sale.

?I want to create an experience that customers will want to come back for,? says Karen.

ONE of the Developers behind the ithame iPhone App. will see his latest venture launched at a star studded charity event in the garden of Bee Gee, Robin Gibb.

Against Breast Cancer is launching its own iPhone App, the first of its kind to be created for a charity fundraising event. The App will showcase the Splash of Pink Fashion Show and Couture Tea taking place at The Prebendal,in Thame, the home of Bee Gee Robin Gibb and his wife Dwina Murphy-Gibb, on September 25, 2010. Dwina is a patron of the charity.

Andy McDonald, Managing Director of Lifelyte iPhone and Android applications, has developed the new App for the charity following his successful launch of the ithame App with former colleague, Simon Ralphs, in association with Thame.Net.

Andy explained how he became to be involved with the charity: “Against Breast Cancer approached my wife Anna from Anna McDonald Bridal Gallery for some input to the Splash of Pink Fashion show and I saw the potential that a dedicated Splash of Pink iPhone app would have on the promotion of the event. This will be the first of its kind for a charitable event and I am delighted to be involved in such a great cause right here in Thame”.

Celebrities from the world of sport, broadcasting and fashion attending the event include Jimmy Choo, Julie Cowell, Honorary President of the charity and mum to Simon, broadcaster Ben Shephard, entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne and X Factor winner Shayne Ward.

For more information and how to apply for tickets, go to:
http://www.againstbreastcancer.org.uk/get-involved/fundraising/events/293/the-splash-of-pink-fashion-show-couture-tea/

PHOTO: (Copyright Sonja Francis) Dwina Gibb pictured at a charity event for a Bomber Command Memorial, held in the garden of Robin and Dwina Gibb in 2008

AS The Late Breakfast Club’s Thame venue, The Spread Eagle Hotel, is still being refurbished so Thursday’s event, June 17, 2010, is cancelled.

The next meeting there will be Thursday July 22, 2010.

THAME businesses have welcomed a new initiative to use branding tools to help promote the town and create synergy and cohesiveness among clubs, groups and businesses.

Following consultations and workshops to investigate Thame’s distinctiveness and to use the town’s heritage, market town ambience and everything else it has going for it to attract new visitors and business to the town, South Oxfordshire District Council has, with Miller Research who oversaw the work, produced an on-line marketing tool to help design posters and other promotional tools using the new town branding.

Businesses and local groups met at The James Figg last night (July 19) to discuss the web tool and see it demonstrated.

Mary Rumsey, the proprietor of Rumsey’s, the cafe and Chocolaterie in Thame, said: “I am very impressed with this web tool and the branding idea is a good one that should benefit Thame. I will certainly be visiting the web site and using the tools within the next couple of days.”

Visit: http://www.southoxontownmarketing.co.uk/thame4me/

for the free marketing tools.

COME and find out more on Monday, July 19, 2010, at The Stables (behind the James Figg)between 6 and 8pm

FREE marketing tools available! What’s the story?

South Oxfordshire District Council has been working with local businesses and community groups to develop some marketing tools to help promote Thame and raise awareness about its unique offer. The material is now ready to be used including free logos, local photography and poster templates, all downloadable from a dedicated website.

The website is accessible to businesses and community organisations wishing to advertise their goods and services, special offers or events, either individually or as a collective. Using the tools will help you to show your customers how individual your business really is whilst raising awareness about the breadth of what Thame has to offer, thus attracting more visitors, more customers and more investment and prosperity into the area.

To help you on your way to advertising success, we have organised a free workshop so you can learn the easy steps to producing professional posters that will attract customers. We are also distributing window stickers of the brand to business premises, which you should start to see around the town.

You don?t need to bring anything ? only your enthusiasm!

Please contact Alison Isherwood, Market Town Co-ordinator for Thame, to confirm your attendance.

E-mail: alison.isherwood@southoxon.gov.uk

Mobile: 07717 224984

15/07/10

Status: Press release – OXDORDSHIRE County Council is urging local businesses to seek advice about a national energy saving scheme being rolled out later this year.

From September, all businesses using more than 3,000 mega watt hours of electricity per year will have to register for the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme – aimed at providing a financial incentive for businesses to save energy.

With the sign-up deadline looming, businesses can visit www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/crcsos to find out how the CRC will affect them and use the council?s online carbon calculator www.carbonaccounting.org.uk to work out their carbon footprint.

Permits
Under the scheme, businesses and organisations will have to buy Government permits or allowances to cover the CO2 they produce. Over time the number of allowances available will be reduced, and their price will rise, making it cheaper for businesses to reduce the amount of CO2 they produce than to buy allowances.

The starting price for allowances will be