seek it out

Grim Reaper or Superman - whatever, small business goes on!

2009-02-01T12:04:00.010Z

We are being bombarded with negativity, everything we are told is a gamble, and if the press were to be believed the end of the world is upon us.

Our Prime Minister stands in Davos stating that there is something so different and new about this downturn we cannot possibly find any solutions in economic world history. Therefore, we can only read two conclusions into that, either we are all doomed and our island is about to sink into the sea or that he is to once again don his Superman role and save the world! So what next Grim Reaper or Superman!

While the politicians decide which it is to be the rest of us have to continue to function while being beaten up by negativity. We have two ways to look at this situation, is the cup half full or half empty?

Motivation and a positive attitudes are vital in business and as people run businesses not robots they will have to be re motivated before businesses can regain a positive outlook. Yes it is bad with some sectors wiped out but those still working (23 million + of them) have spending power and that means customers.

It is a time to fight back and refuse to accept the negative, strive for the positive and realise that the world has recovered from many shattering economic collapses. Small businesses must band together to lobby through organisations such as the FBS or we will become the acceptable 'waste' product of this recession.

Small businesses must get imaginative, look for new or altered markets, open their eye's wide, and make the most of being small, the flexibility, the reduced overheads, and the close touch they have with their markets! Small really can be beautiful and a positive attitude is essential.

Credits -

Grim Reaper © AlienCat - Fotolia.com

Superman © Christos Georghiou - Fotolia.com

2009-01-02T12:48:00.006Z

Happy New Year to you all.

Frosty it maybe but what a stunning site it makes to see the world covered in a magical dusting of ice.

The Seek It Out offices are swinging back to life after the festivities with a new vigour. 2009 might be a challenging year but even more reason why we must make our marketing work hard for us, look to new markets, and most of all keep pace with the changing market place, changing trends, and so much more.

Read Seek It Out member Rosie Consulting in the latest Border Business Magazine answering a question on customer retention - one of many ways in which Rosie Consulting helps customers to maximise their businesses potential.

Watching the birds on our bird table is a good lesson, times are tough for them as it is cold so they do not sit back they actively seek out food, making them our inspiration to make our businesses happen, even if things are scarce.

© Govert Nieuwland - Fotolia.com
© cornelius - Fotolia.com

2008-10-27T16:57:00.008Z

WINTER BLASTS

The garden outside the Seek It Out office has certainly turned to autumn giving us a glorious show of colour. The temperature has dropped and that makes you thing of log fires and wrapping up warm. With the tough months ahead for all in business wrapping up warm might be a great way to save some pennies. Seek It Out as always can put you in touch with those that sell warm winter wear, such as Perilla and their wonderful socks. How about a stunningly designed cardigan, wrap, or jumper, those can be found on Judith Bishop's showcase. Something zany then a hat from Peru or Kathmandu, for those have a look at Peruse. So no need to be cold with all these divine woollies on offer, might be a greatly appreciated Christmas pressie!

Simply B at the Yoga London

2008-10-07T16:05:00.008+01:00

Seek It Out member Simply B is going to be teaching at The Yoga Show 2008 - London

Yoga teacher Barbara Lyndley, of Simply B Yoga, is honoured and thrilled to be teaching an open yoga class at the YOGA SHOW this year. The show takes place at Olympia, London from Friday 31st October until Sunday 2nd November 2008. Tickets for the show are available on the Simply B website via this link http://www.simplybyoga.co.uk/index.php?pageid=312

Advent - brings the family back together

2008-10-06T09:02:00.006+01:00

Autumn comes so quickly we hardly notice and for those selling for Christmas its a real race to catch the public eye in just 2 short months. Traditional advent calendars seem to be making a real come back as an important part of the December celebrations. A light weight gift that can be sent around the world to much missed grandchildren. In this age of the extended family often being hundreds or thousands of miles away it's a way to bring the family together for more than just a
day.
Making home seem so much closer.
Orchard cards sell a wide range of Advent calenders for you to order online.
http://www.orchardcards.co.uk

Learning about bees started me thinking... of alternatives to the humble guinea pig as a family pet!

2008-09-05T09:42:00.011+01:00

A man called me today to ask about Bee Keeping Courses - nothing strange in that as we have a member Assington Mill that runs many courses on country and small holding crafts, including Bee Keeping.

Often people approach Seek It Out as a first port of call, when stuck trying to source something.

It did seem odd that a gent from Aussie was asking about UK courses but that led me to dwell on a couple of things. Firstly the UK crisis in Honey Production, a hot topic in the news at the moment which the Aussie chap seemed blissfully unaware of. The UK is in the midst of a national shortage due to a terrible disease killing colonies here and in the USA plus the wet weather, bees are vital to this country not only for the honey but for polinating many crops. The second thought was that of the the hell arable farmers are going through with golden fields of wheat and barley which cannot be harvested due to the rain - from our offices we can see this sad situation first hand, its a cruel blow as finally we see grain prices rise and the crops are the years income for the farm, lose them and they lost their income, made worse by soaring fertiliser and feed prices - troubled times continue for our hardworking farmers.

Conclusion - why would anyone wish to get into the world of small production or farming in these dire times - well maybe not full scale farming, however that is the only valuable land at the moment. However, small scale production has a greater appeal now, think of how you could reduce your budget, eat well, and have the pleasure of your very own produce or meat. As we hear that food has rocketed in price in the last 8 month perhaps growing or rearing your own is more attractive than ever.

Chickens - thanks to clever inventions by the likes of Omlet are a viable option for anyone with even a tiny garden, growing fruit or veg in pots, in windows or in your conservatory - scraps of unused space could suddenly become little food factories with little effort or outlay. It can become something you can share with the family, would a chicken laying eggs not be just as cuddly but more productive than a guinea pig or goldfish - it's a thought next time the children pester you for a pet!

However, nothing is learnt over night so it would be wise to ensure you learn or buy through the experts, especially if dealing with animals - there is a huge range of skills courses available nationwide and one of the most established and respected is that of Assington Mill. Omlet is the perfect answer for those keen on fresh eggs - they are highly knowledgeable and provide all you need.

So perhaps its time to beat the big boys prices and grow/rear our own.

Assington Mill - specialists running short courses in a huge range of country and small holding crafts - from Bee Keeping to Straw Bale building and so much more, all in stunning surroundings. http://www.assingtonmill.com

Omlet = expert providers for those wanting to keep chickens, ducks or rabbits even on the smallest scale - http://www.omlet.co.uk

Central Association of Beekeepers
http://www.cabk.org.uk/

Hen Keepers Association
http://www.henkeepersassociation.co.uk/

Royal Horticultural Society - Grow your own
http://www.rhs.org.uk/vegetables/

Photo credits - cartoon chicken = © vectorgirl - Fotolia.com / cartoon bee =© Dean Murray - Fotolia.com / chickens=.Shock - Fotolia.com

Nicki Lewis Smith - Further pictures of her 2008 win at Shrewsbury Flower Show

2008-09-05T08:58:00.010+01:00

Nicki Lewis-Smith, MI Hort Dip GLDD - Garden Designer & Horticulturalist takes Silver at Shrewsbury 2008 - now we have the official pictures of her Lupus Show Garden 2008 - supporting the great work of the Lupus Charity
Nicki won Silver for her delightful garden - congratulations to Nicki.

Nicki magically managed to create a garden, using plants she had grown herself, that pulled you in, the feeling of relaxation and restfulness was so strong, yet this small garden was in the middle of a frantically busy show ground - it takes a true designer to achieve that! Luckily there was a rope around the garden or I am sure before long a weary visitor would have taken root in that chair!

Below just gives you a taste of the garden but it had to be seen to be appreciated - Nicki's garden was visited both this year and last by the top gardener Chris Beardshaw

See below for another post on Nicki and her 2008 show garden.

Seek It Out Member Nicki's garden wins again

2008-08-15T20:35:00.008+01:00

Fantastic news - Nicki Lewis Smith, Seek It Out's horticultural expert member has done it once again. Today (first day of the prestigious Shrewsbury Flower Show) see's Nicki stomp home with Silver for her Lupus Garden, supporting the Lupus Charity. The simple tranquil design - a garden designed for a Lupus sufferer, as Nicki is, is a true delight, something all of us could enjoy. The delicate and natural planting, the lack of fuss or over planting gives such a strong statement. The wicker chair carefully placed in a quiet corner under the living willow arch by the simple brook is a tranquil and heavenly retreat that most of us can only dream of.

Sadly I had to leave before this years visit from the famous gardener Chris Beardshaw but last year (Nicki's first ever exhibition) saw her receive great praise from Chris for her plant knowledge, well deserved as Nicki has work and studied hard to pass her RHS exams, she is not just a landscaper but a true horticulturalist, something not every garden designer can claim.

So we are proud to support Nicki and her charity Lupus UK.

Visit Nicki's Seek It Out Showcase
Visit Nicki's website
Visit Nicki's charity Lupus UK site

See the post above this one for further pictures of Nicki's 2008 garden

Its hard to keep up!

2008-07-31T14:16:00.007+01:00

Technology races ahead and yet we can be left behind, missing out on great ways to make life easier. When visiting a member of Seek It Out the other day, deep in the Cheshire dairy farmlands, it was fascinating to learn all about how something traditional & visual has gone e-commerce. Orchard Cards supplier of an exciting and special range of greeting cards priced to match the high street - more and more people are buying on line, not one card but a few at a time to make life so much easier.

So I decided a while ago to try buying on line personally from Orchard Cards and found it a fantastic way to buy greetings cards - I flicked through my calendar while on line at Orchard Cards and I picked a nice selection to suit the very varied events ahead from children's birthdays to emigrating goodbye cards. How please I was just the other day when I looked at the calendar and realised I have 3 very different birthdays to sort out this week and the cards are already there in the draw.

Now only pressies to get and thanks to Seek It Out or Fine Fayre that is rarely a problem and something I never have to leave home for!

Buying is still a visual experience and you know what is inside the card - it's just a virtual shop, all that is left to do is wait for the cards to arrive and then send them out as and when needed. You can still support small local UK businesses if you buy from the right sites and by doing so get an new and exciting selection of cards or even bespoke handmade from some sites. The ultimate bonus is that you do not get caught out, as you will always have a spare card or two for the unexpected.

Living rurally anything that avoids my driving 15 miles each way just to be able to see a reasonable selection of cards is a winner in my book!

Thanks to Seek It Out I discovered a ready source in Orchard Cards.

Escape to the hills

2008-07-08T21:34:00.006+01:00

Sick of being reminded it's all gone wrong, tumbling house prices, credit squeeze, and worse to come - it's enough to make anyone run for the hills - why not you, we already have!

News getting you down - it certainly is enough to depress even the toughest person! Time to escape and immerse yourself in something different away from the rat race!

We at the SIO team discovered a hidden gem - holiday cottages in deepest Wales where not only can you truly escape you can also learn things - relaxing while painting. How nice does that sound, stunning countryside and a talent discovered. This hidden gem is the tiny village of Llanthony, deep in the Brecon Beacons where you can stay in delightful farm cottages and if you want, learn to paint. Llanthony Art Course seem the perfect tonic to the credit crunch - go explore.|

http://www.llanthonyart.co.uk

Squeeze the pound copyright of Paul Fleet via Fololia

Another year another Garden..........

2008-07-06T21:14:00.005+01:00

The  Lupus Garden

Wouldn’t it be lovely to sit beneath a willow arbour, with fingers of dappled sunlight playing across a dark, still pool next to you. To have butterflies flitting from flower to flower and to feel safe, calm and relaxed...

This is ‘The Lupus Garden’ which is being designed and built by Garden Designer and Horticulturist, Nicki Lewis-Smith for the 2008 Shrewsbury Flower Show.

Lupus is a debilitating and little known disease, yet worldwide it is more common than leukaemia and multiple sclerosis. It affects more that 50,000 in the UK, 90% of whom are women - and one of those is Nicki.

Nicki explained - “I meet too many people who still have no idea what Lupus is and thought that with over 60,000 visitors to the show, what better way to spread awareness. Furthermore, it will also be a first, as Lupus has never been represented with a show garden before, particularly one created specifically for the lupus sufferer.”

She has, of course, the full support of the national charity, Lupus UK, but will receive no sponsorship or outside funding. And as last year, (when she won a Silver Gilt Award for her show garden ‘Synchronicity’) she will be designing and building ‘The Lupus Garden’ herself. Plus, many of the plants will have been raised in her own garden.

For details of Nicki’s work visit her website - www.nickilewissmith.com and for more information on Lupus visit - www.lupusuk.org.uk

The Shrewsbury Flower Show takes place at The Quarry in Shrewsbury on August 15th & 16th.

Nicki's award winning garden of 2007

Time for the Prom

2008-06-24T20:23:00.004+01:00

Seems summer now hails the prom season - all the local dress shops are a wash with gowns of every size and style, wonderful to see. Something quite new to the UK school year but something that has taken off so it all adds to the glamour. I watched today as two girls pondered over some off the peg jewellery in a shop, could not get the right colour, and look in one. My mind sprang to a fantastic workshop I attended a while back with a talented jewellery maker in her rural studio in Staffordshire - Angela Smith. I learnt how to make lovely bead necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. Amazing what I achieved and even made some myself which I still wear to this day, even to important meetings! So if only those girls could had gone to Angela (in good time one would hope) they could have ended up with exactly what they wanted, made it (with help) themselves and had the most unique memorable keepsake they could want from their prom. So not always is high street best and nor is it always the best value!
Angela Smith Bead Jewellery

Lawn peckers at Seek It Out HQ

2008-06-21T15:56:00.015+01:00

Life at the Seek It Out HQ

The male woodpeckers must be feeling left out, new brood in the nest and so they are not No 1 where Mrs Woodpecker is concerned. They have lost it and taken to pecking furiously at our lawn and the odd root area on the cut back geraniums - now our bird book does not say anything about this strange behaviour so we can only assume they are doing it for attention as we cannot see any bugs in the lawn where they peck!

Sparrows and blue tits swinging wildly back and forth as they dismantle the red hot pokers and the squirrel scaling the side of the office like spider man to give him the height to launch into next doors trees to get at feeders is normal, but lawn peckers!

Save on Fuel - Go Eco

2008-06-21T14:07:00.007+01:00

In these times of ever increasing fuel costs and our need to save our planet we have to look to alternative ideas. How about building a strawbale house - learn the basics at Assington Mill! As a nation we love to watch house programmes such as Grand Designs or Britain's Best Homes and amongst those it is interesting to see 'alternative green' homes proving a massive hit with the public. We see finished cob, wood, or stilt houses and realise that green does not need to cost twice the price of a standard one off build. So how about a little taste of how it's done - why not venture the lovely Suffolk countryside to the the private nature reserve of Assington Mill for a fun and informative taste of what you, yourself could achieve.

Even if building a house is not what you want to do, how about making your own cider or learn how to keep a few hens, all would save you money over time, let alone the fun of learning and doing. So why not investigate the eclectic mix of affordable courses that can be found at Assington Mill.

Happy house building - go on a course and you might be the next Best Home in Britain!

http://www.assingtonmill.com

Finally the missing business link!

2008-06-16T08:16:00.015+01:00

Smaller businesses need all the help they can get when they start out and there is a fantastic new book that provides a stepping stone from the dream to the reality. The books author is the renowned small business champion E mma Jones, the founder of the home business website Enterprise Nation. Her new book Spare Room Start Up immediately made it to W aterstone's Business Book of the Month and in celebration a book launch and signing was held at Waterstone's flagship London store!

The book is easy to read and follow, so far from traditional business start up manuals. The book uses case studies to help highlight what can be achieved and Seek It Out member Noolibird, designers of stunning printed children's bedroom linens & nightwear, appear. Noolibird are a perfect example of just how much can be achieved in your spare room and with the help of your family when you put your mind to it.

The Seek It Out team feel anyone thinking about the big step of starting their own business should go out now and buy this book. The Seek It Out team see this book being a popular stocking filler this Christmas, as that is the time when more people decide to go into business than any other!

Happy reading!

SPARE ROOM START UP - EMMA JONES
Paperback -Published: 01/05/2008
Publisher: Harriman House Publishing
ISBN: 9781905641680

SEEK IT OUT HQ Nature Update

2008-06-12T13:57:00.003+01:00

Summer comes in with a rush here at Seek It Out HQ - the garden and fields beyond are a sea of green with plants seemingly growing by the minute. Our bird feeders are offering us our own little Spring Watch with several visits a day from two female Greater Spotted Woodpeckers, clearly busy feeding young. Not being the most friendly of animals they carefully avoid each others visits. Colours, undulating flight, and call all add to make this a wonderful bird to have around. They visit the feeders all year but much less often normally, and then mostly it's the males but they are no where to be seen just now! Babysitting we might hope!

The perfect place to work - in the midst of nature!

FORDHALL FARM DRAMA CONTINUES!

2008-06-12T11:42:00.009+01:00

FORDHALL FARM -
Plays host to Arthur's Plough

The farm that has been organic (chemical free) for over 65 years and was saved from the clutches of the developers by the brother/sister team Ben and Charlotte Hollins through selling shares and tireless fund raising. They have been helped along the way by people such famous people as David Bellamy and Prunella Scales along with thousands of ordinary people from across the globe. People who want to keep the farm and its principals alive.

One of their latest projects to raise awareness is the brand new version of the county's legendary play about Fordhall Farm - out door event at the farm from 25th June - 25th July 2008.

There is so much going on at Fordhall Farm - a new book of the story of their epic struggle, the farm shop, farm trail, eductional schemes, open days, and now a play! Its never ending. Something for everyone.

However, their tireless struggle is not over - they have borrowings to pay off and projects to enhance so they continue to need our support - everyone can help, from buying through their online shop or at the farm shop, buying shares, volunteering for special project weekends, attending / supporting events to just telling everyone you know of this fantastic project.

TO LEARN MORE - CLICK BELOW

FORDHALL FARM LAND INITIATIVE

FORDHALL FARM SHOP

FREE What's On - helping you find great days out!

2008-04-07T12:02:00.008+01:00

Our What's On lists events submitted by both members and non members providing you with a great way to discover places to visit, things to do, and new experiences! Have a look at our What's On, tell us about a great days out that you know of - let's make sure all these wonderful small and rural businesses get the events they attend the publicity they deserve.

Close to SIO HQ is Powis Castle a fantastic National Trust property and despite the snow yesterday when I popped there to visit the shop it was busy, with people enjoying the magic of the snow covered hills and the stunning castle grounds - a great day out and what a pearl to have to close so base. Now they may be a big organisation but they are fantastic is supporting local arts and craft professionals who provide wonderful items for the shops and the restaurants - so even the big boys help the small businesses. Thank you National Trust for giving them a chance!

Our great announcement of Spring was a little early it seems as we woke to snow on Sunday! So back to the winter clothes such as the snuggly Alpaca socks from Perilla.
However, have a feeling this won't last too long and now that the nights have stretch out we will be looking for great days out - we have some adventures to try out through Seek It Out such as Hoar Farm Park and Craft Village.

So go have a look at Seek It Out today!

Spring with Seek It Out

2008-03-31T11:23:00.005+01:00

SPRING HAS ARRIVED
Finally we get to put the clocks forward and it's official, SPRING is here. Seek It Out's rural HQ is perfect for watching spring arrive, seeing the birds busy building nests, listening to the lambs calling to mum and watching the frogs sploshing about in the pond.
So with all this newness in the air it gives the Seek It Out team a renewed passion to spread the Seek It Out message and to try and help smaller and rural business across the UK.
Spring for many signals the start of a new trading year and so many will be busy gearing up for the months ahead, especially tourist related businesses. Seek It Out has house and pet sitters to personal travel agents amongst the showcase members. Imagine not having to queue in a high street travel agent but get it all done over the phone or in person at your leisure, still accessing the same wide range of choices. How easy would it be to combine the pet sitting with the house sitting, saving the upheaval for your beloved pets and knowing your house is safe too. So visit Seek It Out if you want to make your life a whole lot easier.
Personal Travel Agent view THE SITTING SERVICE
House and Pet Sitting view FUTURE TRAVEL

Images by kind permission of http://www.freeimages.co.uk

Time to Spring Clean

2008-03-12T15:52:00.004Z

Seek It Out welcomes the newest member to our family Junk Busters - they are a Shropshire based company selling unwanted items on behalf of others through eBay, auctions, and privately locally. Run by a young mum from her offices in Oswestry, the business is booming already despite being quite new. Georgina has a wealth of experience selling with eBay and so this is proving the key to the business.

So as spring time is upon us and thoughts turn to clearing out and cleaning, then what better a time for Junk Busters to come on board. The business has taken off and it just proves that selling something is hardwork and most would rather hand the hassle to people with the right experience and knowledge. So visit their showcase to get a better idea and see if you cannot start your spring cleaning with a real spurt! I know this is a popular one with the SIO team!

Craft courses in Suffolk

2007-12-23T13:27:00.000Z

Deep in the Suffolk countryside there is a gem of a find, a place of learning, of fun, and of interest.....Assington Mill

Assington Mill announce their programme of rural and craft courses for 2008. In a time where people want to put something back into the environment these course at Assington Mill in the stunning Suffolk Countryside close to Sudbury seem more important than ever. Assington is set in the perfect location to see some of the finest architecture Suffolk and Essex have to offer.

Many want to learn how to build using less toxic methods, or traditional crafts and this surely has to be the perfect way to learn. Fantastic surroundings, like minded souls but with all mod cons - could not be better.

There are 45 different courses to choose from. The choice ranges from beekeeping to cider making, furniture restoration to team building. The list is endless and amazing. So if just using up the apples from your tree or going to the other extreme and learning bush craft its all possible. Even corporate team building is catered for.

Why not explore the possibilities, amaze yourself by booking something totally different...
Visit Assington Mill at Seek It Out today

B and B Wins another award.

2007-11-23T14:03:00.000Z

Churton Heath Farm has won yet another award for their stylish farm B and B in Cheshire. Already winners of Best Bed and Breakfast 2007 in Visit Chester and Cheshire Awards, they have now been awarded Highly Commended (runners up) in Best B and B in the North West Tourism Awards. Amazing when they have only been open a year. It shows how hard work, a determination to succeed can make it happen. However, Vanessa herself said to me its about not taking it all to seriously that makes it work. Having seen the farm and the beautiful rooms I would say they take it very seriously indeed but maybe not themselves too seriously and that is the winning formula. Congratulations!
Visit their showcase now!

Spoilt for Choice

2007-11-04T15:57:00.000Z

Just the other day I was contacted by a Seek It Out member to add an event to their showcase. It made me realise how many events are being lovingly arranged across the country. Hard not to know its Christmas coming up! It was lovely to see simple and traditional along side the high street commercial. A Victorian Fair caught my eye at Hoar Park Craft Village and Farm, just the perfect picture, nippy winters night stood around the fire, with a glass of warming mulled wine, the smell of roasting chestnuts in the air and the sound of excited children waiting for the visit to Father Christmas in his grotto and all set amongst historic buildings. What a wonderful winter scene.

Enough nostalgia I hear you say but why not after all its fun to embrace the past, well the good bits at least as I am not keen on small boys being made to go up chimneys!

It is amazing how sounds, smells and settings drift you off into another world. Every December in Shrewsbury's stunning historic square they have Christmas Carols with false snow, and despite being surrounded by classy shops selling designer goods out of medieval buildings - the scene is set. The smell once again of chestnuts wafting through the air, the mass of people singing their hearts out and despite the DJ from BBC radio and the false snow you soon start to believe somehow its all real, carried away by the atmosphere and the scene that greets you.

So maybe there are still some aspects of Christmas that are not ruined by commercialism.
Go to one of the traditional events and see if you too are not at least a little taken by the moment.

Have a great run up to Christmas !

Fordhall Win Again!

2007-10-21T13:03:00.000+01:00

Fordhall Farm - Market Drayton Brother and sister have been crowned the UK's Young Rural Entrepreneurs of 2007.

Ben and Charlotte Hollins raised nearly £1.5m to save their late father's organic farm near Market Drayton from the threat of development. The won that battle and now they receive very justified recognition.

Read the full story of how they came to be crowned UK's Young Rural Entrepreneurs of 2007 at the BBC website

Visit their showcase, learn about how you can be involved in this fantastic on going process.

Or visit their showcase to discover how you can shop on line with Fordhall - fine foods straight from the farm.

Recently publication of a fantastic book tells the full amazing story of their fight to save years of family history and keep their farm alive.

New Home Page Goes Live

2007-10-12T20:19:00.000+01:00

PRETTY AS A PICTURE
http://www.seekitout.co.uk/ has a new pictorial front page which changes every time someone visits. It is another way to help the public to understand the site content and showcase the products and services from the wonderful members. Below you get a taste of what I mean - have a look for yourself - much the best idea. Go visit the site today......