Martin Cid's Blog: Martin Cid Magazine, page 1039

Office Christmas Party Weight Loss Guide

It’s that time of year again – the countdown to Christmas has begun; meaning plans for your annual office party will undoubtedly be set in motion. Whether you’ll be dining at a fine restaurant or going out for drinks, Christmas parties allow colleagues to bond and relax away from their desks, creating memories (and some regrets) that’ll be the talk of next year.

However, amongst all the festivities, did you know you could actually be burning quite a few calories? Check out these Christmas party classics that can surprisingly shed your seasonal calories from the health and fitness advisors at Discount Supplements:

How Many Calories Are in the Average Christmas Meal?

Let’s face it, we all love tucking into a Christmas dinner; making a restaurant an ideal choice for a work’s gathering. Typically, whilst we’re indulging in our festive feast, we seem to forget the amount of calories we’re consuming, in fact – studies show we gain between 1lb – 13lbs over the Christmas period.

These statistics aren’t too surprising, for the average Christmas meal contains 1992kcal, with most of them coming from starchy favourite roast potatoes (3=520kcal), protein packed turkey (208kcal) and the classic Christmas pudding (330kcal). Overall, this amounts to almost an entire daily calorie intake for men and women in one meal and 4 slices of Yule log! Considering you’ll be eating a second on Christmas day with family and friends away from work, these numbers are certainly a cause for concern…

How Much Exercise is required to Burn these Calories?

Once the New Year rolls in, several of us set a resolution to shed our winter weight gain. Last year, weight loss came top for the most popular New Year’s resolution, amounting to 38% in total. However, with our Christmas meals overloaded with calories, burning this amount certainly seems a challenge.

According to the NHS, adults aged 19-64 should do a minimum of 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of moderate aerobic activity (cycling or fast walking) and strength-related exercises (weight lifting or yoga) on two days or more. Sadly this target isn’t being met, for less than 5% of adults participate in 30 minutes of physical activity each day, with time limitations being the main cause.

The above research indicates that in order to burn 1992kcal – the average Christmas dinner, you will need to run for 125 minutes, cycle for 175 minutes or walk for 250 minutes; with us failing to schedule enough exercise to lose the excess weight gained from overindulging at Christmas, it seems unlikely a dramatic transformation will occur. Although, with dancing a possibility to burn calories, perhaps you could use your Christmas party as an opportunity to burn calories whilst enjoying yourself?

Dance off the Calories:

Dancing is a Christmas party fundamental; especially once the drinks start flowing. There’s nothing better than seeing your usually quiet and sensible colleagues showing off their embarrassing moves to cheesy music. However, amongst all that entertainment, you could actually be burning an astonishing amount of calories. After all, who’s to say exercise can’t be fun?

Remember – the amount of dancing required to burn off the Christmas pounds will differ from a high-intensity activity, so expect to be dancing for long periods. Swing dancing for 1 hour can burn 300-550 kcal, which is equivalent to three roast potatoes; whilst the more intensive break dancing will burn 400-650kcal per hour, amounting to three glasses of mulled wine. Unfamiliar with these highly skilled routines? Try the running man to burn 475-600kcal after 30 minutes or the robot to burn 60-75 kcal after 30 minutes.

Alternative Ways to Burn Calories at Your Christmas Party:

When it comes to burning calories, we usually indulge in a form of high intensity exercise followed by post workout snacks. Aside from this, there are surprising ways you can shed calories without hitting the gym – even at your Christmas party. Naturally the numbers won’t be as high, but every calorie lost counts!

Kissing a Colleague under Mistletoe:

Things couldn’t possibly be more awkward after this, especially if it’s someone you aren’t close to or have never spoken to before. Look on the bright side though – kissing a colleague for 30 minutes can burn 120kcal! Maybe you can explain these benefits when you return to work and face the dreaded embarrassment?

Laughing at Christmas cracker Jokes:

Christmas dinner wouldn’t be complete without crackers, despite their cringe-worthy jokes and disappointing gifts. Thankfully, all the hysterics will pay off, 15 minutes of laughter will burn 10-40kcal. Laughter is considered the best medicine after all.

Singing Classic Christmas Hits:

Murdering Christmas songs on karaoke is a great source of amusement for all, even if your voice is left strained afterwards. Surprisingly, singing for 30 minutes can burn 68kcal, so start practicing your favourite Christmas hit!

Author: Gina Hutchings at Discount Supplements

Limited drama series Big Little Lies to debut Feb. 19

HBO has confirmed the February debut date for BIG LITTLE LIES, with the seven-episode limited drama series scheduled to debut SUNDAY, FEB. 19(9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

            Based on Liane Moriarty’s bestselling book of the same name, this subversive, darkly comedic drama tells the tale of three mothers of first-graders whose seemingly perfect lives unravel to the point of murder. Starring Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Alexander Skarsgard, Laura Dern, Adam Scott, Zoe Kravitz, James Tupper and Jeffrey Nordling, BIG LITTLE LIES is directed by Jean-Marc Vallée from scripts by David E. Kelley. The series is executive produced by Reese Witherspoon, Bruna Papandrea, Nicole Kidman, Per Saari, David E. Kelly, Jean-Marc Vallée, Nathan Ross and Gregg Fienberg; Barbara Hall and Liane Moriarty produce.

Stop Selling, Start Serving Your Customers

Customer Services Expert Dario Cucci

Many retailers are preparing for the busiest shopping period of the year, but how do you keep the customers coming when Christmas is over? Sales and Customer Services Dario Cucciexplains how making a simple change to your customer communications will keep business flowing through 2017.

Dario Cucci based in Balham, London works with businesses by identifying problems with their current sales strategy and focuses on generating long-term revenue. Over the last 15 years he has developed and refined a relationship sales system that teaches businesses how to improve communications with customers and sustain sales.

Dario Cucci explains, “The mistake which several businesses make is the belief that customers will return purely based on their experience of the product. The reality is that customers will always remember the service they have experienced and how their problems have been handled. To continue your sales, you should grow your relationship with a customer and increase repeat sales.

“Research has shown that people are more likely to buy on the seventh or eighth point of contact. It can be a mixture in the ways you communicate but ultimately you should not expect to make a sale the first time you speak to a customer. Once someone has purchased a product the groundwork has been done, you’ve built trust and you need to maintain it. A customer who loves your product is likely to tell others about their experience in store or online and recommend you to others.

“Imagine you have been on a fantastic first date and then do not speak to them for six months. You then call up and ask to borrow some money. They will question why they should give you money and are likely to say no. It’s the same with businesses – why would someone buy from you again if they experienced bad customer service and you were only in touch to ask for payment?

“After selling a product it would be wise to invite a customer to leave a review and ask what they would change. You could even call them and see if they are happy with their purchase and learn what else they are looking for. If it is an online purchase, follow up with an email.

“However, do not rely on automated services to continue your sales. Although they can be helpful, they are killing your business. If a customer experiences a problem they would want to speak to someone who can help instead of listening to a pre-recorded message or filling out a form. This could be a turning point for potential return customers and impact your business negatively.

“The timing and nature of the follow up is crucial. If a customer has a great experience but no communication, they will start looking elsewhere. A suitable Customer Relationship Management (CRM)system will be able to help trace the history of conversations and show when the customer was last spoken to. This also gives a good indication as to what a customer may be looking for in the future. It is helpful to have an expert identify the best system for your business and see where improvements can be made in your sales process.”

Dario Cucci is well-accomplished in the psychology behind sales and has extensive experience in the industry. His process has helped businesses grow their profits three-fold through training in leadership, negotiation, management, service, selling and customer service skills. He is currently writing his first book which will reveal the best customer services and it will be released next year.

Dario will be hosting his Serve and Sell Masterclass event at Crown Plaza, Kensington, London on Saturday 26 November. Tickets are £49 and include a one-on-one Skype Coaching call with Dario Cucci.

Links

Dario Cucci website: www.dariocucci.com

Event Link: https://serveandsell.co.uk/sales-page

SMEs and Autumn Statement: UK200Group Verdict

James Abbott

Earlier today, Chancellor Philip Hammond announced his Autumn Statement to Parliament, and the wider implications of his policy changes are sure to affect SMEs across the UK. But will those changes be beneficial or detrimental to conditions for the UK’s owner-managed businesses?

The UK200Group is the UK’s leading membership association of chartered accountancy and law firms, whose members act as trusted business advisers to over 150,000 SMEs. A number of the UK200Group’s members have given their initial views of the Autumn Statement’s impact on the SME community, spanning industries as varied as agriculture, fintech, charities and sole traders.

Liz Ward, Principal of Leeds-based UK200Group member and specialist IP law firm Virtuoso Legal said, “The statement is of great interest to our technology clients as the government seems to understand that they have to actively assist in the generation of IP in order to grow the economy. So far, spending has been promised for universities and also to help technology companies to scale and grow.

“One of the biggest problems is that, whilst the UK generates lots of great start up and SME technology businesses, once they grow they tend to be snapped up by overseas investors. We need to support these companies and help the UK retain talent and ownership of businesses.”

Francis Whitbread, Tax Partner at Chelmsford-based UK200Group member Edmund Carr said, “The announcement of a crackdown on the promoters of tax avoidance schemes is welcomed by those of us who have been trying for years to make sure our clients do NOT get involved with arrangements that are artificial and have no commercial reality.

“Going into a tax avoidance scheme can result in an entrepreneur losing focus on his business as a result of the ‘tax tail wagging the dog’. However, it is disappointing that the Chancellor did not make it clear that the dictum laid down in the Duke of Westminster case in the 1930s, that ‘it is the right of every man to organise his affairs such that he may legitimately pay less tax than might otherwise be the case’ still applies.

“We tax advisers who have taken that to mean tax planning around timing of expenditure, timing of disposal of assets etc. would welcome government clarification that this is not frowned upon, and distinguished from the much more aggressive schemes. Our ability to continue to provide this kind of tax planning advice to our SME clients is essential to their continued financial success.”

Jonathan Russell, Managing Partner at Oxfordshire-based UK200Group member ReesRussell said, “Rural SMEs will benefit with the permanent relief for business rates in rural areas giving tax breaks worth up to £2,900 per year.

“There will be possible help for growth firms with £400 million being pledged to venture capitalist funds for small businesses. However, what the government views as a ‘small business’ is yet to be seen.”

Andrew Jackson, Chair of the UK200Group’s Tax Panel and Head of Tax at UK200Group member Fiander Tovell, based in Southampton, said, “On the plus side, Philip Hammond acknowledges that certainty is welcome, and is largely giving certainty by not tinkering too much with Budget 2016 announcements.

“Having an Autumn Budget in future will also help, as we may have laws coming into effect after they’re made rather than before, as is all too often the case at the moment.

“There were some encouraging suggestions that the Office for Tax Simplification recommendations over aligning tax and National Insurance will go ahead. However, it is discouraging to hear suggestions that employment / self-employment is to be targeted. This is a grey area and there is scope for people on the borderline to be hit hard.

“Similarly, employee expenses and benefits are to be scrutinised. This may mean more detailed rules that employers have to be aware of, and may mean that people getting the same reward package get taxed differently, which seems unfair. The problem is that tax and National Insurance aren’t aligned: if the Chancellor would do that – as suggested by the Office of Tax Simplification – then these problems would go away and employers and employees could just get on with things without having to look over their shoulders all the time.”

Will Abbott, Partner at Cheltenham-based UK200Group member Randall & Payne, said, “From our strategic work with SMEs, we know there is a productivity problem in the UK and the Chancellor was at pains to repeat oft quoted information to emphasis this – we are even less productive than the Italians! It will be interesting to hear more about the £23 billion productivity fund, support to turn R&D into commercial products and the overall aim to lift employee skills in the UK to drive increased wages and living standards.”

John Painter, Managing Partner at Worcestershire-based UK200Group member firm CB Chartered Accountants, said, “My initial thoughts are that the property and construction industries should, as a whole, be delighted with the news that there is an extra £1.4bn towards the cost of building 40,000 new affordable homes, and a further £2.3bn on infrastructure to help move towards the target of 100,000 new homes, especially as there were only 32,000 new homes built in 2015/16.

“If we get the infrastructure and construction moving then the economy should always benefit.

“The restrictions on tenants paying agents fees will probably result in higher rents being charged, which would be counterproductive to what the Government is trying to do.”

James Abbott, Founder of Abbott Moore and President of the UK200Group, said, “Although there weren’t a huge number of changes to tax, I was pleased to see the government’s commitment to lowering Corporation Tax to 17%. This will directly affect a lot of my business clients, who were hit earlier this year by a rise in personal tax on dividends.

“The government’s stance on research and development is also important, and the figures that Philip Hammond gave for our productivity show that we are lagging behind our main competitors. Competitiveness is especially key in the wake of the EU referendum.

“Employees, the self-employed and limited company owners all face different tax and national insurance burdens and this is clearly still very much on the government’s agenda. I genuinely expect some significant changes here, but it is impossible to say with certainty what those changes will be.”

Give the gift of hope this Christmas with a My-Wishbone Spinner Pendant

Rose-Gold Spinner Wishbone Pendant

The My-Wishbone Spinner Pendant holds a secret message this Christmas, of love, hope or joy, which comes to life when spun. Plus 10% of the profits from each pendant bought will also give a much needed gift to War Child UK to help protect the world’s most vulnerable children.

The pendant comes in three classic metals: rose-gold, gold and silver. The pendant hangs very nicely on the smart 24 inch chain. It’s great worn on its own or with another piece and layered; it is very versatile. It also hangs by the heart chakra too, aiding wishes and manifestations which are personal to the wearer. A truly special Christmas gift and great way to give to those in need.

To order go to www.my-wishbone.com

My-Wishbone Spinner Pendant is priced at £85-£100.

Bloom & Wild wins Good Web Guide Website of the Year 2016

Bloom & Wild Win GWG Website of the Year

After much anticipation and excitement, The Good Web Guide Website of the Year 2016 was announced at The Royal Institution of Great Britain on Monday 21st November. It was a tight call this year as there were many excellent sites to consider but Bloom & Wild, the online and mobile flower gifting service, pipped all others to the post. Despite some of the evening’s key players being absent as a result of Storm Angus, Sam Crocker, Digital Director at the missiontm (headline sponsor) and Anna Bance of Girl Meets Dress.com were rooting for the winners.

Anna Bance commented, “I am delighted that Bloom & Wild has won. I have been following them with a keen interest since their launch and have admired their “innovation in the current flower-buying experience” – a traditional market, which hasn’t seen much innovation in the past twenty years.”

Ciaron Dunne of Genie Ventures, one of this year’s expert judges, kindly stepped in to announce the winners.

On accepting the award, Aron Gelbard, co-founder of Bloom & Wild said, “It’s a huge honour to have been chosen as the GWG Website of the Year. We are committed to creating the best possible experience for sending and receiving flower gifts, and a seamless online journey is right at the heart of that. We think it should be a joy every time someone gifts flowers and our team is working hard to make this a reality. We are flattered to be in the company of some past winners whom we hugely admire. “

Launched in 2013 by co-founders Aron Gelbard and Ben Stanway, Bloom & Wild is the UK’s top rated online florist across 10k+ reviews on all major review platforms. The team has raised three rounds of funding, are backed by MMC Ventures and have grown by twenty times in the last two years. They now send out several 1000 bouquets each week.

From The Box Office picked up the People’s Choice with the most votes from its fans. Arabella Dymoke of The Good Web Guide said,”It was clear from the minute that voting for the People’s Choice category went live that From The Box Office has a very engaged community who clearly love what it does.” The site provides a simple way for fans to access a wide range of events and a great booking experience by being informative, reliable, fast and secure.

Other category winners included Coco Bay, who won the Excellence in Customer Service category, sponsored by FEEFO. ART UK, More Than Words, Housekeep and Jonny’s Sister were other sites that picked up trophies. To see the full list click here.

ABB event explains how UK Food & Beverage sector can boost its productivity

ABB robot in bakery application

ABB’s forthcoming Food & Beverage Solutions event(http://bit.ly/FoodBevSolutions) will explain how robot technology and other automation solutions can help the industry boost its productivity and become more competitive on a global scale. Taking place at ABB’s Milton Keynes site on Wednesday 23rd November 2016, the event will highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the UK Food & Beverage industry today as well as introduce a step-by-step approach to devising a successful automation strategy.

In order to overcome common issues such as health and safety risks, the rising cost of labour and increasing raw materials costs, UK Food & Beverage manufacturers must consider automation as part of their overall business strategy. A study of automation, labour productivity and employment by Copenhagen Business School found that if the UK were to match Finland, the most automated country within the Food & Beverage sector, the industry could boost productivity by 13.7%. This could be achieved through the combination of many benefits such as increased flexibility, reduced operation costs and higher speeds leading to a higher output of products with reduced wastage and greater profitability following the installation of automation.

ABB’s UK Food & Beverage Solutions event will explore these factors in closer detail through a series of presentations given by ABB experts. There will be a presentation given by an experienced robot user from the Food & Beverage industry as well as a tour including demonstrations. The event will provide UK Food & Beverage manufacturers with the opportunity to see the latest robot technology, including ABB’s RobotStudio offline programming software. ABB’s RobotStudio offline programming software helps to greatly reduce the time and cost of setting up a robot system by enabling robot cells to be modelled and tested offline.

“Misconceptions about the cost, flexibility and complexity of robot technology and other automation solutions are stopping many UK Food & Beverage manufacturers from realising their true potential,” says Mike Wilson, General Industry Sales Manager for ABB Robotics in the UK and Ireland. “Our Food & Beverage Solutions event has been designed with this in mind and aims to educate the Food & Beverage community about the steps to take in specifying and installing the best automation technologies for their requirements.”

Sean Donaldson Promoted to National Director of Sales

Sean Donaldson – Director of Sales

November 2016, Mayflex the distributor of Converged IP Solutions has promoted Sean Donaldson to the position of National Director of Sales for Infrastructure.

Sean Donaldson joined the business in June this year with the responsibility for the management and expansion of the companies’ field sales team in the South of the country with specific focus on growing the companies, cabling infrastructure and IP Security sales and customer base.

Andrew Percival, Managing Director commented ‘During the last few months Sean has really proved himself as an effective leader and with his great experience, market knowledge and customer centric enthusiasm and he has made significant progress with driving our Southern sales team. As a result we feel that we will achieve far greater consistency and drive by having one person running both the Southern and Northern infrastructure sales teams.’

Sean Donaldson commented ‘I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time so far at Mayflex, there’s a great team ethos and a desire to move the business forward. I’m also delighted to be selling the Excel range rather than selling against it, as was the case for many years. The Excel brand signifies great quality, extensive choice and a brand that I can see has massive potential to reach a far wider audience in both the UK and the rest of the World. I’m excited about driving this forward and getting out to see customers across the UK and not just in the South.

Sean concluded ‘In 2017 Mayflex will achieve 100 years in business and I’m looking forward to a year of celebration and helping to meet our growth ambitions particularly around Excel and our security product set.’

For further details about Mayflex visit www.mayflex.com

Documentary Eagles of Death Metal: Nos Amis (Our Friends) to debut in Feb. 2017

Jesse Hughes, Josh Homme, Colin Hanks. photo: © David Wolff – Patrick

DOCUMENTARY EAGLES OF DEATH METAL: NOS AMIS (OUR FRIENDS), CHRONICLING THE BAND’S RESILIENCE IN THE WAKE OF THE PARIS TERROR ATTACK, TO DEBUT  EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO IN FEB. 2017; COLIN HANKS DIRECTS

NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2016 – The HBO Documentary Films presentation EAGLES OF DEATH METAL: NOS AMIS (OUR FRIENDS) follows the American rock band as they recount their experiences before and after the tragic terrorist attack at their concert in Paris that claimed 89 lives on Nov. 13, 2015. Directed by Colin Hanks and produced by Live Nation Productions and Company Name, the film spotlights the group’s deep bonds with each other and with their fans, which inspired them to return to Paris to perform once again in Feb. 2016.EAGLES OF DEATH METAL: NOS AMIS (OUR FRIENDS) marks the first film produced and financed by Live Nation Productions and will debut domestically in Feb. 2017, exclusively on HBO.

Colin Hanks’ relationship with the band pre-dates the film by seven years, when he became close to them while working on his first documentary, “All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records.” Hanks felt compelled to document the band and their fans to try and make something positive from something truly unfathomable.

The film begins with the 2015 Paris attack at the Bataclan Theatre and delves into the deep bond between charismatic singer Jesse Hughes and band co-founder Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), which began in childhood and became an important source of inspiration for the band. NOS AMIS also features Bono and The Edge of U2, who invited Eagles of Death Metal to return to Paris and perform with them in solidarity shortly after the attack.

Several months later, on Feb. 16, 2016, dressed in one of his infamous capes, Jesse Hughes and Eagles of Death Metal took the stage in Paris once again. The film shows the band and their fans reunited in an attempt to heal and celebrate the spirit that has always brought them together as a community.

HBO Documentary Films presents EAGLES OF DEATH METAL: NOS AMIS (OUR FRIENDS); directed by Colin Hanks; produced by Sean Stuart through Company Name; produced by Heather Parry; executive produced by Michael Rapino through Live Nation Productions; edited by Darrin Roberts; cinematography by Boyd Hobbs; original music by Alain Johannes.

Workbooks strengthens senior management with appointment of Christelle Fraysse as Chief Marketing Officer

Christelle Fraysse, CMO Workbooks