A model business for selling on line!

There is no disputing that the future for many industries is to move to on line sales. The benefits of an expanded market, lower costs and improved technology reducing barriers to entry make on line sales an extremely attractive proposition.

Many agencies such as Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices consciously support digital marketing campaigns directed toward on line selling. It results in business growth, export growth and increased employment.

This is why the start of 2015 is a perfect time for Emma-Jane Power, co-founder of PicStash to give her ‘Top Ten Tips for selling on line’ on Thursday January 29^th. 

Following on from the success of these lunches with speakers such as Des Whelan of WLR fm, Louise Grubb of Q1 Scientific, Ronan Mulligan of Mulligan’s Pharmacies and John Noonan of Flahavans, Emma’s tips are sure to be eagerly received by Waterford businesses keen to develop their on line sales.

These ‘Top Ten lunches’ are a series of networking events on the theme of ‘My Top Ten Business Tips’ delivered by successful local business people and occurring once per month. Each lunch will outline a speakers’ views on a specific topic and take place in the Bistro in the Tower Hotel from 12.30pm to 2pm.

There is a considerable pool of business talent and experience in Waterford and the Local Enterprise Offices hopes to harness this expertise to inspire Waterford’s new and existing business communities.  

As a former model for international brands such as Nike, Riverrock Water, Escada and Paco Rabanne, Emma decided to set up her first business in her late 20's. The idea was to change how brands interact with both traditional and digital media. Making PR more affordable and relevant to brands and media in the Digital Age is a key aim of the company. “Our goal is to be the first go-to resource for any brand to get huge media exposure,” says the Waterford local.

From humble beginnings in her attic, the PicStash now employs over 13 people in Ireland and has a presence in over 7 countries worldwide. It has a list of over 40 international clients including Harvey Nichols, Littlewoods, Sony, Philips and Harvey Norman. Many indigenous companies are also represented, including Meadows & Byrne, Butlers Chocolates and Dubarry.

The cost of this event is €8.50 and booking is essential. For more information or to register your interest please contact your Local Enterprise Office in Waterford on 051-849905 or email info@leo.waterfordcouncil.ie

NAS Training Centre and Alphazone offer personal and business enhancement courses

New Year usually heralds the adoption of one New Year resolution or other.  It’s not uncommon for people to enter the New Year with a set of goals for a healthier lifestyle and a healthier worklife balance.

If you are facing into the New Year dedicated to making a change for the better in your personal or business situation, the latest courses at the NAS Training Centre, Cleaboy Business Park, may be the solution to suit you.

The NAS Training Centre has partnered with Alphazone to launch its Change and Enhancement series of workshops which take place over the coming months.

The courses, LifeSkills4U, Personal Change and Enhancement and Business Change and Enhancement are delivered by Michael Connolly, Licensed NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) Master Practitioner and life coach.

According to Michael, “NLP is a powerful system of thinking that can accelerate the achievement of your personal and professional goals.  In effect, NLP is a powerful change management tool that transforms the way people think and act to have the greatest impact both professionally and personally.”

“These courses have been developed to allow people to realise their full potential, to understand the workings of NLP and to effectively make the changes that will make the difference, not only in one’s personal life, but in the workplace too.”

This latest addition to the NAS Training Centre portfolio copper-fastens the Centre’s reputation as one of the region’s leading training venues.  Danette Connolly, Director NAS Training said, “At NAS Training we are continually working with strategic partners to develop new training courses.  Partners such as the Irish Times, U.C.C., I.I.T.D and now Alphazone provide a training agenda that has a broad appeal to individuals, groups and businesses.”

If you would like to find out more about the courses on offer at the NAS Training Centre call 051 333960 or check out www.nas.ie

Merry Christmas from B2B Communications!

Padraig goes top in Google rankings!

 Colin Goulding, Head of SMB Publishers, EMEA, Online Partnerships Group, Google Padraig O'Scanaill, Fund Recs, winner of Best Online Promotion of a Business Award and Valerie Legrand, Ads Quality Operations Vendor Manager, EMEA, Google (Keogh Photography)

Padraig O’ Scanaill, a young Waterford entrepreneur and finalist in Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) competition, picked up the award for the ‘Best Online Promotion of Business’ and won €1,000 worth of Google Adwords for his company, Fund Recs.

Of the 24 finalists from 17 counties competing in the inaugural national competition, the special award was presented to Padraig and was judged by Google to be the best at promoting business online.

Paddy Flynn, Director of Product Quality Operations at Google Ireland said: “The Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition is a natural fit with the existing ‘Google for Entrepreneurs’ programme, which aims to foster entrepreneurship and empower the next generation of innovators to be successful. The ‘Best Online Promotion of a Business’ Award is an extension of that, offering one young entrepreneur the opportunity to find their audience, extend their reach, and grow their business both locally and internationally.”

Padraig was delighted to receive the award for his company, Fund Recs, which provides cloud based software to the Investment Funds Industry.

He said, “From start to finish the IBYE journey has been a rewarding experience for me and for Fund Recs.  We participated in invaluable business boot camps, received great mentoring from established practitioners, won best Waterford and Munster start-up titles and to top it all off were singled out by Google as having a national award winning online strategy.”

“The #TeamWaterford campaign was instrumental in driving visitors to our website. The content was engaging and interactive and it certainly increased our company’s profile.”

Padraig added, “Despite the much heralded economic difficulties, there has never been a better time to start a new business.  There are plenty of support services available to start-ups, particularly through organisations such as the Local Enterprise Offices to enable new companies to grow and become successful.”

Ciaran Cullen of Waterford Local Enterprise Office said, “Padraig was a deserving winner of the best online promotion award.  The Fund Recs online campaign has allowed them to grow their business and put them on an equal footing with some of the world’s more established software providers to the global funds industry.”

“Waterford LEO engaged the services of Waterford marketing company, B2B Communications, to implement and manage the highly effective #TeamWaterford social media campaign, which not only built links to support Fund Recs SEO efforts, it gave a wider audience access to the whole IBYE process and particularly, Padraig’s journey.”

Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition is an integral part of the Action Plan for Jobs 2014 and is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through the 31 Local Enterprise Offices around the country. 

For further information about the Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition, visit www.ibye.ie, www.localenterprise.ie or search #TeamWaterford or #IBYE on social media.

Top Christmas gift ideas for Waterford Grandparents

As Christmas approaches, many people struggle to find the perfect gift for grandparents and elderly loved ones. To help make gift-giving for grandparents easier, Home Instead Senior Care, Ireland's trusted source of home care for seniors, has studied over 12,000 senior requests for presents and compiled a list of the most popular items, which includes:

·        Gift certificates to restaurants, pharmacies, grocery stores or fuel cards for people who drive.

·        Vouchers for or a delivery of coal, briquettes or oil

·        Personal items such as hand and body lotions and creams

·         Blankets, robes and slippers

·        Books and magazine subscriptions

·        Crossword and puzzle books
·        Hats, mittens and gloves
·        Towels and washcloths
·        Boxed chocolates, or sweets
·        Stamps and stationery
·        Nightlights, smoke or carbon monoxide detectors
·        Bird feeders or plants.
·        Payment of an annual bill / subscription, e.g. TV, phone, broadband.

Wishing Ireland's seniors a happy Christmas, Danette Connolly, Director of Care at Home Instead Senior Care Waterford said, "At Home Instead Senior Care we encourage younger people in the community to remember their elderly loved ones during this festive season.

Giving a small gift like a box of chocolates or comfortable slippers is a simple gesture can really make senior feel loved and remembered. Of course the best gift you can give a senior is your love and time so remember to spend some time with elderly loved ones during the holiday season". 

A “plane” and simple solution to overcome the fear of flying!

You’ve booked your summer holiday flight or you have to attend a business meeting in the UK and all you feel is fear…fear of boarding a plane, fear of taking off, fearing of being in the air and fear of landing!

European Aviation College (EAC), a new pilot training college based at Waterford Airport, will host a series of one day courses from January to alleviate the fear of flying, a phobia that affects one in five people.

The course is the brainchild of Gillian Chiavacci, Head of Training at EAC. “We decided to develop and offer fear of flying courses to the public, as it is a phobia that affects almost 20% of the world’s population.  It is a common condition which can be debilitating.  In its most moderate form, it makes flying uncomfortable and unenjoyable, but an extreme phobia can lead people to become overwrought, stressed, anxious and more often, avoid flying at all costs.”

The course is practical and hands-on, delivered by experienced airline pilots.  Waterford pilot David Flynn, Course Instructor with EAC, has over ten years’ commercial flying experience.  He commented, “Evidence suggests that the main fear of flying stems from lack of knowledge, basically we fear the unknown.  The premise of the Fear of Flying course is to familiarise attendees with the workings of the aircraft, the causes of turbulence, an explanation of in-flight noises, dealing with anxiety and flight preparation.”

“The course is conducted over one day at Waterford Airport and gives attendees practical and hands-on knowledge, which empowers them to overcome their fear of flying,” David said.

“There has been a huge amount of interest already and in fact, we have seen an increase in referrals from G.P.s.” Gillian added.  “Many with aviophobia who can’t avoid flying, perhaps due to work or necessary overseas travel commitments, will either medicate or take alcohol, both of which can have adverse consequences. Alcohol can cause dehydration, particularly at an altitude of 35,000 feet.”

If you want to find out more about the European Aviation College’s Fear of Flying course, visit www.europeanaviationcollege.ie, call 051 843436 or email info@europeanaviationcollege.ie.

Rotary Memorial tree aglow!

Cllr. Lola O' Sullivan, Chief SuperIntendent Patrick Murphy, Anne Marie Caulfield and Danette Connolly

Yesterday evening (Thursday) the Rotary Club of Waterford launched its 17^th   Annual Memorial Christmas Tree at John Robert’s Square in Waterford City.

The Memorial tree will as always be a central feature in Waterford City’s Winterval Festival.

The Memorial Tree Appeal was officially launched by Her Worship the Mayor of Waterford Metropolitan District Cllr. Lola O’Sullivan.

As well as raising much needed funds in Waterford for the Hospice Movement, the Memorial Tree Appeal provides people with a means of remembering their loved ones in a dignified and meaningful manner.