Apropos of absolutely nothing once again, we've just come across this website called www.419eater.com and since the world is full of annoying scam artists we thought we should share this and pass it on.
419eater is a website dedicated to people (with quite a bit of spare time on their hands apparently) who hunt and bait scammers, in their case Nigerian 419 scammers are their speciality.
419 scams are so called because of article 419 of the nigerian criminal code- dealing with fraud. What the "scambaiters" (there's a new word for my vocabulary today) do is fool the nigerian scammers into posing for hilarious photographs which are posted in their trophy room!
They explain in detail how the whole system works and there's a whole section teaching you how to scam them back - oh what happy days...!
Sunday, 17 May 2009
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
The best ever complaints letter (or close anyway)...!
i don't know if any of you have seen this..... its the best complaint letter i've seen - and it made me laugh out loud !
Not only is it funny, its personable and not vicious or nasty - but gets the point across - so well in fact that Richard Branson called the chap in question himself to talk about the complaint !
I find myself asking everyone at work to write a little less corporately and a little more humanly. Less of the "it has come to my attention" and more of the "I noticed" less of the " should you need further information etc," more of the " I'll call you, or you can call me" that kinda stuff......
so i felt vindicated when i saw this - humour works - way better than sarcasm or just being right !
enjoy
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/4344890/Virgin-the-worlds-best-passenger-complaint-letter.html
Not only is it funny, its personable and not vicious or nasty - but gets the point across - so well in fact that Richard Branson called the chap in question himself to talk about the complaint !
I find myself asking everyone at work to write a little less corporately and a little more humanly. Less of the "it has come to my attention" and more of the "I noticed" less of the " should you need further information etc," more of the " I'll call you, or you can call me" that kinda stuff......
so i felt vindicated when i saw this - humour works - way better than sarcasm or just being right !
enjoy
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/4344890/Virgin-the-worlds-best-passenger-complaint-letter.html
Monday, 4 May 2009
What's your story in 6 words...?
Apropos of absolutely nothing... just because we've been having so much fun with this on linkedin and triiibes, here's a kinda off beat blog post for you....
Legend has it that Hemingway was once challenged to write a story in only six words. His response? “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”
Starting in 2006, SMITH Magazine re-ignited the recountre by asking readers for their own six-word memoirs. They sent in short life stories in droves, from the bittersweet (“Cursed with cancer, blessed with friends”) and poignant (“I still make coffee for two”) to the inspirational (“Business school? Bah! Pop music? Hurrah”) and hilarious (“I like big butts, can’t lie”).
My question is : What would yours be...?
Mine is : still curious about people and stuff.
http://vimeo.com/335019
Legend has it that Hemingway was once challenged to write a story in only six words. His response? “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”
Starting in 2006, SMITH Magazine re-ignited the recountre by asking readers for their own six-word memoirs. They sent in short life stories in droves, from the bittersweet (“Cursed with cancer, blessed with friends”) and poignant (“I still make coffee for two”) to the inspirational (“Business school? Bah! Pop music? Hurrah”) and hilarious (“I like big butts, can’t lie”).
My question is : What would yours be...?
Mine is : still curious about people and stuff.
http://vimeo.com/335019
Sunday, 26 April 2009
Balagan starts twittering.....!
Ok, after our post a week or so, we've done it, joined the networking phenomenon of the year (apparently)
We just joined and we're still working it out - the Tweet grid's got us confused.com but we'll hang in there, because it looks like a lot of fun, and cute too !
If you want to follow us, this is our url: http://twitter.com/balaganlive, just when we thought we couldn't get more up to date than a blog along comes Twitter !
So we're off to learn about tweeting or twittering or whatever it is... see you on the tweet grid - we think?
Have a great week - sunshine on sunday, followed by rain on Monday - least it was the right way round this week !
We just joined and we're still working it out - the Tweet grid's got us confused.com but we'll hang in there, because it looks like a lot of fun, and cute too !
If you want to follow us, this is our url: http://twitter.com/balaganlive, just when we thought we couldn't get more up to date than a blog along comes Twitter !
So we're off to learn about tweeting or twittering or whatever it is... see you on the tweet grid - we think?
Have a great week - sunshine on sunday, followed by rain on Monday - least it was the right way round this week !
Friday, 24 April 2009
Congratulations Anna !
Anna our favourite Swedish accountant has passed her accounts exams. Which were, by all accounts a lot of hard work and numbers ! She quite likes numbers and keeps all of ours in order !
So we'd like to say a big well done to Anna on her achievement and that cookie has delicious icing in case you're wondering.
A nice weekend to everyone !
So we'd like to say a big well done to Anna on her achievement and that cookie has delicious icing in case you're wondering.
A nice weekend to everyone !
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Happy Earth Day !
Earth Day which is celebrated on April 22, is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment.
It was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in in 1970 and is celebrated in many countries every year. This date is Spring in the Northern Hemisphere and Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. Its goal is a healthy sustainable environment.
Since the millennium its goal has differed slightly and is now focused on global warming and a push for clean energy.
Through Earth Day Network, activists connect change in local, national, and global policies with 17,000 organizations in 174 countries.
Earth Day is the only event celebrated simultaneously around the globe by people of all backgrounds, faiths and nationalities which has got to be a good thing...
So, what can you do to celebrate Earth Day ?
It was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in in 1970 and is celebrated in many countries every year. This date is Spring in the Northern Hemisphere and Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. Its goal is a healthy sustainable environment.
Since the millennium its goal has differed slightly and is now focused on global warming and a push for clean energy.
Through Earth Day Network, activists connect change in local, national, and global policies with 17,000 organizations in 174 countries.
Earth Day is the only event celebrated simultaneously around the globe by people of all backgrounds, faiths and nationalities which has got to be a good thing...
So, what can you do to celebrate Earth Day ?
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Sukie Lau Spring / Summer '09 catalogue now live !
Finally, after what we freely admit has been more than a slight delay !
The new Spring / Summer catalogue is finished. Ta Da !
Its posted online today under out catalogue downloads section on our website - www.balagan.co.uk. If you are a Sukie stockist, please call or drop us an email to download it today. If you're interested in stocking Sukie Lau, please give us a call.
Its password protected, but its the same password that we use for the other catalogues....
If you get stuck - please give Kim or Charlie, our lovely girls on the phone a bell and they'll talk you through it.
In the meantime, we're soooooo pleased its finally finished, hope you like it....
The new Spring / Summer catalogue is finished. Ta Da !
Its posted online today under out catalogue downloads section on our website - www.balagan.co.uk. If you are a Sukie stockist, please call or drop us an email to download it today. If you're interested in stocking Sukie Lau, please give us a call.
Its password protected, but its the same password that we use for the other catalogues....
If you get stuck - please give Kim or Charlie, our lovely girls on the phone a bell and they'll talk you through it.
In the meantime, we're soooooo pleased its finally finished, hope you like it....
Thursday, 16 April 2009
Are you tweeting?
What’s all the fuss about Twitter?
If you haven’t heard all the media hype about Twitter recently then you must have been somewhere very remote… Its in the news, big retailers are talking about it and Stephen Fry loves it!
Twitter is a micro blogging website, and its this years internet phenomenon, but can it work for retailers? Well, ASOS think so, so do Carphone Warehouse and the guys behind the new Woollies online business and hundreds of others.
But for now, if you hate it, or refuse to do it - thats fair enough, but just think about this one thing…. Remember way back when websites just came out… and lots of big companies got bitten on the bum because someone saw the value in their brand name before they did?
Well, ahem, it could happen again here !
It takes no more than a minute to sign up and even if you never use it, it could save you lots of aggravation later. At least if you do decide to do it later you’ll have the name.
So, its good advice to pop over to twitter right now and register your username – that way no-one else can get it. There’s three compelling reasons why this is a good idea:
1. Even if you never tweet – this will stop someone else from stealing your brand. If someone buys your brand and has a rubbish avatar and does inane tweets – its not going to look good !
2. It prevents people from claiming your name – you can register as a business or an alias, or yourself.
3. Ikea and Sony apparently failed to register their own twitter names, and the people who do have them haven’t activated their accounts……? Hmmmm do you see big money in the horizon for the savvy tweeters there – I do !
and so far, its FREE !
If you haven’t heard all the media hype about Twitter recently then you must have been somewhere very remote… Its in the news, big retailers are talking about it and Stephen Fry loves it!
Twitter is a micro blogging website, and its this years internet phenomenon, but can it work for retailers? Well, ASOS think so, so do Carphone Warehouse and the guys behind the new Woollies online business and hundreds of others.
But for now, if you hate it, or refuse to do it - thats fair enough, but just think about this one thing…. Remember way back when websites just came out… and lots of big companies got bitten on the bum because someone saw the value in their brand name before they did?
Well, ahem, it could happen again here !
It takes no more than a minute to sign up and even if you never use it, it could save you lots of aggravation later. At least if you do decide to do it later you’ll have the name.
So, its good advice to pop over to twitter right now and register your username – that way no-one else can get it. There’s three compelling reasons why this is a good idea:
1. Even if you never tweet – this will stop someone else from stealing your brand. If someone buys your brand and has a rubbish avatar and does inane tweets – its not going to look good !
2. It prevents people from claiming your name – you can register as a business or an alias, or yourself.
3. Ikea and Sony apparently failed to register their own twitter names, and the people who do have them haven’t activated their accounts……? Hmmmm do you see big money in the horizon for the savvy tweeters there – I do !
and so far, its FREE !
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Retailrehab....
Retailrehab has been getting more press mentions this week, in the April issue of Fashion Extras !
A new section went live yesterday on websites and tomorrows release is on SMART goals, setting them, measuring them and achieving them !
we're also working on a section on SEO - thats search engine optimisation to you and me ! How to get the most out of your website :-)
So to jump over and have a look, just click on the apple....
Or maybe join the retailrehab blog?
an apple a day keeps the recession at bay !
A new section went live yesterday on websites and tomorrows release is on SMART goals, setting them, measuring them and achieving them !
we're also working on a section on SEO - thats search engine optimisation to you and me ! How to get the most out of your website :-)
So to jump over and have a look, just click on the apple....
Or maybe join the retailrehab blog?
an apple a day keeps the recession at bay !
Saturday, 11 April 2009
Happy Easter !
Well ok, we don't have the sunshine, but do we ever on a bank holiday, but we do have chocolate - every womans friend, so in honour of the occasion, here's some chocolate quotes to nibble on....
“Chocolate is cheaper than therapy, and you don’t need an appointment.”
"Hell hath no fury like a woman who has sworn off fudge and chocolate."
and our office favourite...... because its soooooo true !
"a man found a bottle on the ocean, and he opened it and out popped a genie, who gave him three wishes. The guy wished for a million dollars, and poof! there was a million dollars. Then he wished for a convertible, and poof! there was a convertible. And then, he wished he could be irresistible to all women... poof!
He turned into a box of chocolates."
If you don't celebrate Easter, then don't feel left out, join us in a celebration of Spring and chocolate...
Happy Easter everyone !
“Chocolate is cheaper than therapy, and you don’t need an appointment.”
"Hell hath no fury like a woman who has sworn off fudge and chocolate."
and our office favourite...... because its soooooo true !
"a man found a bottle on the ocean, and he opened it and out popped a genie, who gave him three wishes. The guy wished for a million dollars, and poof! there was a million dollars. Then he wished for a convertible, and poof! there was a convertible. And then, he wished he could be irresistible to all women... poof!
He turned into a box of chocolates."
If you don't celebrate Easter, then don't feel left out, join us in a celebration of Spring and chocolate...
Happy Easter everyone !
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
Indies group added today on linkedin
Morning everyone,
we've just added a retailrehab group on linkedin for topical discussion about the pressures that independent retailers are facing at the moment - if you're a member then pop over, join up and get talking ! we're looking for feedback and discussion - be gentle !
If you're not a member then you'll have to join first - sorry :-( But don't worry our own forum should be up and running soon on retailrehab so you can join us there -watch out for updates !
have a great day and enjoy the sunshine !
we've just added a retailrehab group on linkedin for topical discussion about the pressures that independent retailers are facing at the moment - if you're a member then pop over, join up and get talking ! we're looking for feedback and discussion - be gentle !
If you're not a member then you'll have to join first - sorry :-( But don't worry our own forum should be up and running soon on retailrehab so you can join us there -watch out for updates !
have a great day and enjoy the sunshine !
Sunday, 5 April 2009
An Inconvenient truth !
OMG i'm probably the last person in the western world to have seen this movie!
It was on last night, and I was in the mood for it, I mean I've heard about it, but i was never in the right place or it wasn't the right time. Anyway last night was the right place and right time, and i was shocked !
What a giant of a man ! I was blown away by him and his humility in the face of a crushing defeat because now i understand what winning the Presidency meant to him - more than just becoming President, it meant that he could have tackled this head on and made a difference - and we all know that he pretty much won - to have been so close and not make it, must have been - ah i can't imagine it !
Anyway, he obviously took a step back and thought, right then, how am i going to spread the word now in the face of this setback? So he made a movie, and he travels the world showing it to everyone and explaining it (here comes the science) and i was blown away by him, his movie and the facts it portrays, as every normal thinking human being would have to be....
So, i'm off today to see what we can do in our own small way and to spread the word about this incredible movie and this incredible man...!
Have a brilliant day x
It was on last night, and I was in the mood for it, I mean I've heard about it, but i was never in the right place or it wasn't the right time. Anyway last night was the right place and right time, and i was shocked !
What a giant of a man ! I was blown away by him and his humility in the face of a crushing defeat because now i understand what winning the Presidency meant to him - more than just becoming President, it meant that he could have tackled this head on and made a difference - and we all know that he pretty much won - to have been so close and not make it, must have been - ah i can't imagine it !
Anyway, he obviously took a step back and thought, right then, how am i going to spread the word now in the face of this setback? So he made a movie, and he travels the world showing it to everyone and explaining it (here comes the science) and i was blown away by him, his movie and the facts it portrays, as every normal thinking human being would have to be....
So, i'm off today to see what we can do in our own small way and to spread the word about this incredible movie and this incredible man...!
Have a brilliant day x
Wednesday, 1 April 2009
Crash course in PR
Good morning, we hope you're all enjoying the sunshine !
New on our retailrehab website this morning is our 14 page e-book on PR. Its basically a crash course in writing press releases and getting coverage for your shop. Click on the picture to jump over and subscribe today...
Retailrehab has been featured in Drapers this week and on the Pure website, as well as on the Springfair.com site, so if you're wondering what all the fuss is about, this is as good a time as any to check it out....
have a lovely sunny day !
New on our retailrehab website this morning is our 14 page e-book on PR. Its basically a crash course in writing press releases and getting coverage for your shop. Click on the picture to jump over and subscribe today...
Retailrehab has been featured in Drapers this week and on the Pure website, as well as on the Springfair.com site, so if you're wondering what all the fuss is about, this is as good a time as any to check it out....
have a lovely sunny day !
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
New Balagan Stars arrive !
We've been so busy with our orders recently we totally forgot to announce the arrival of some new people on our team ! Doh ! So, we're going to correct that right here, right now !
First up, there's Kim, our new Sales Manager, Kim is from sunny South Africa, just don't get her started on the British weather, apparently in Durban it never goes below about 25 degrees, shame huh ! Kim is upbeat and positive so she fits in brilliantly with our team + we're really pleased that she's joined us !
Team Ireland have just come on board with us, thats Paul, Jackie, Sandra and Michael, they live in four different corners of Ireland so there'll always be one of them in easy reach of you if you live in Ireland or Eire ! We're really happy to have them on board :-)
Team Wales, are Jemma, Steve and Tanya, some of you may already know them, or have met them at the Spring Fair, they just pointed out that we didn't send out a letter of introduction for them, so we're putting that right today.....
We want to say hi to them and welcome them on board too.... So now we've got complete coverage, except for a sliver down the middle of the country, but we're working on that too...
Have a fabulous day !
First up, there's Kim, our new Sales Manager, Kim is from sunny South Africa, just don't get her started on the British weather, apparently in Durban it never goes below about 25 degrees, shame huh ! Kim is upbeat and positive so she fits in brilliantly with our team + we're really pleased that she's joined us !
Team Ireland have just come on board with us, thats Paul, Jackie, Sandra and Michael, they live in four different corners of Ireland so there'll always be one of them in easy reach of you if you live in Ireland or Eire ! We're really happy to have them on board :-)
Team Wales, are Jemma, Steve and Tanya, some of you may already know them, or have met them at the Spring Fair, they just pointed out that we didn't send out a letter of introduction for them, so we're putting that right today.....
We want to say hi to them and welcome them on board too.... So now we've got complete coverage, except for a sliver down the middle of the country, but we're working on that too...
Have a fabulous day !
Sunday, 22 March 2009
Colour blocking spring trend
Fashion designers have been injecting colour into Spring 2009 clothes, and not in a shy and subtle way - more in a yeehawww its Spring kind of a way !
Check out the pink outfits, in wickedly bright colour blocks. There's two distinct looks going on here - Mixing fondant tones and vibrant brights in large colour blocks. Colour blocking with strong brights of hot pinks, orange, mango, tangerine and lime are popular. You will also see other brights such as lapis, blue, lemon yellow, lime, orange and aqua jade tones.
In conclusion, expect bright colours that pop, shock and electrify to cheer in the Spring - think daffodils, greens and yellows primarily. So, there's lots of new colours and shapes to get excited about for the Spring Season.
New colours and shapes are going to need some new jewellery to accessorise - Trends so far indicated are big, bold and contrasting, big textural rings, stacked bangles -thin or thick. Huge rings and necklaces, the statement jewellery trend continues unabated !
Check out the pink outfits, in wickedly bright colour blocks. There's two distinct looks going on here - Mixing fondant tones and vibrant brights in large colour blocks. Colour blocking with strong brights of hot pinks, orange, mango, tangerine and lime are popular. You will also see other brights such as lapis, blue, lemon yellow, lime, orange and aqua jade tones.
In conclusion, expect bright colours that pop, shock and electrify to cheer in the Spring - think daffodils, greens and yellows primarily. So, there's lots of new colours and shapes to get excited about for the Spring Season.
New colours and shapes are going to need some new jewellery to accessorise - Trends so far indicated are big, bold and contrasting, big textural rings, stacked bangles -thin or thick. Huge rings and necklaces, the statement jewellery trend continues unabated !
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