Blog

How do you tackle a ladybird infestation?

27.03.10

Have you had a recent infestation of ladybirds? Have you had a problem with flies?

Despite the recent cold weather, we have found quite a few properties around Winchester have had problems with infestations of ladybirds or flies. I suggested trying an old wives tale of putting fresh bay leaves on the window sills, amazingly it works. Bay trees are evergreen and in abundance around Winchester, so why not go out today, collect some leaves and give it a try? You'll be amazed at the results.

---

How Does Your Marketing Measure Up?

22.03.10

22.03.2010 Part 4: The TLC Business Marketing Formula

Here we are, it's part four of the TLC Business Marketing Formula.

It’s results time.This is what it all boils down to. Has your preparation, inspiration and perspiration paid off? Has it delivered a return on investment (ROI)? Surely you want to know where all the time and money has gone and what it has achieved?

Well, it’s amazing how many businesses don’t ever find this out. Sadly, very little marketing is actually measured, with the success of far too many campaigns simply rated according to gut feeling and assumption.

This is where businesses seem to get stuck in a cycle of marketing that doesn’t work or achieves very little. It’s usually because they’ve never spent any time evaluating why, and taking steps to avoid making the same mistakes again.

Like preparation, evaluation is critical but all too often neglected. Many small businesses seem to overlook it because they deem it too costly and time consuming, or see it as something that only applies to the ‘big boys’ with their multi million pound marketing budgets. Wrong! Measuring results should be doubly important to small businesses because success, and often survival, depends on their marketing delivering a return.

It’s all about being rigorous, organised and putting systems in place to do the job. It needn’t cost a great deal of time or money. Google Analytics is free. Putting a code on a piece of direct mail is straightforward. Asking your customers for that code shouldn’t be common practice. Tracking who’s opening your emails is all down to using the right software and taking full advantage of the tools available to you.

There you have it – results! We love them and you should too, because nothing beats seeing your hard work, time and money pay off.

Rebecca Pash, Marketing Manager, TLC Business

---

What do you have under your sink?

15.03.10

What do you have in the cupboard under your sink?

A spray bottle of this, a squeeze bottle of that. Kitchen cleaner for cutting though grease, a bathroom cleaner for limescale, another for shine.

A fabric softener, a stain remover. A bottle for removing the tarnish from metals, a drain cleaner. Bottles, bottles and more bottles!

Why have we forgotten about the 95p bag of Soda Crystals hidden on the top shelf of our supermarkets?

A 1kg bag of Soda Crystals can replace almost all those bottles.

-       In areas where we have hard water, Soda Crystals are a must.

-       Adding half a cup of Soda Crystals to your wash load will soften the water, no need for fabric softener. It will also prevent limescale build up in your machine.

-       It will remove heavy stains such as grease, blood, ink, tea and coffee.

-       It works wonders to remove tarnish from metals, put the sparkle back in gold and silver jewelry, but please take advice before immersing precious stones or valuable items. Place tin foil in a dish, add soda crystals and pour on boiling water. Immerse the item, leave for a few minutes, rinse, dry and polish.

-       It gets rid of those brown stains in mugs and can descale your kettle.

-       A strong hot solution of Soda Crystals will help keep waste pipes clean and fresh. A regular flushing will help keep waste pipes clear of blockages.

-       Relax in a soft soothing bath by adding a tablespoon in your bath water.

It is worth trying.

---

Pages:

• 1
• 2

---