Passionate Blog

Top ten tips for mumpreneurs - expert pointers hit the right note

A MUM who has been in business for 20 years at the helm of a flourishing pre-school activity group has offered some expert pointers to would-be mumpreneurs.

Karen Sherr of Musical Minis offers the following no-nonsense advice:

1. Research the market and competition.

2. Start small, let the business grow as and when you can cope with expansion.

3. Have a clear idea what you want out of the business

4. Try to separate work from home. If your business is based at home (as all the Musical Minis administration is) have a second phone line fitted.

5. Have backup. If your child is ill what will happen to your business?

6. Know your limitations. For example if you have problems with accounts, get someone to help you.

7. If there are not enough hours in the day to do everything, do the bits you like (with both work and home life) and get help with the bits you don't.

Inspirational tsunami survivor scoops Go-Woman! business award

AN ENTREPRENEUR who set up her own jewellery business after her life-changing experiences as a victim of the Asian tsunami has been honoured at the Go–Woman! Women in Business Conference.

Michelle Mills-Porter from Bromsgrove set up Cherish Jewels after returning from Sri Lanka with her husband, Stewart, where the couple had been caught up in the horrors of the disaster in December 2004.

They had been holidaying in Hikkaduwa, celebrating a successful year for Michelle’s company, Fizz Bang Marketing, when the tsunami struck.

“We spent a week without a roof over our heads, wondering if we had enough water to survive, surrounded by people who had lost everything – it made me re-evaluate everything that was important to me,” said Michelle.

Returning home, she began making jewellery as a therapeutic hobby whilst she recovered from her injuries, which quickly developed into her own business. She uses gems in their natural form, and does her best to support small businesses in third world countries, and also produces charity bracelets for a number of causes.

Optician warns not to turn blind eye to poor sight when driving

A leading optician is urging parents to get their eyes checked before they head off on holiday in their cars after research revealed millions are potentially risking lives by driving when their eyesight is not up to scratch.

A study earlier this year by the College of Optometrists revealed that one in five drivers aged between 35 and 55 has driven knowing that they have poor eyesight.

It also showed that more than a quarter of those admitted that they put off going for a sight test for up to six months after noticing their eyesight had deteriorated – with a worrying 21% putting it off for up to five years.

Clive Marchant, director of Colin Lee Opticians, which has practices across the Midlands, said that some people seem to prioritise the performance of their car before their own health.

How we've used Twitter for business - Birmingham Post feature

THINK social media is a waste of time?

Think again.

A number of West Midlands companies are featured in the Birmingham Post today, discussing how they have mastered Twitter as a brilliant business tool - and we're one of them.

Linda wrote more about how we've been able to use social media to diversify and survive here.

Given the choice wouldn't you rather find out how you can use such developments to boost your bottom line as opposed to sitting around moaning about it?

Do let us know if you'd like to find out more, we can work with your team on how you can maximise the use of social media for your business.

Don't forget you can follow Linda on Twitter here and Carol here.

Neil's 'Someone once told me': 'You are allowed to relax you know'

YOU'LL always find him in the kitchen at parties...

This is our new media director, Neil Aitchison, during our recent Someone once told me session.

And what an important message it is too!

Check out Carol's SOTM video here - dubbed one of creator Mario's favourites ever.

And then there was Linda, doing her best again to raise awareness about mental illness. She's not keen on the picture but the audio is powerful.

Various Passionate Media clients and contacts were also captured in pictures, video or sound. Watch this space for a fuller gallery as more are posted on the site.

Find out more about Passionate Media's podcast service

ARE you interested in podcasting but not sure about the benefits, how it would work for you and your company or what you could use a podcast for?

New media director at Passionate Media, Neil Aitchison, right, answers these questions and more in his latest podcast, just press play below.

You can also listen to Neil being interviewed by colleague Helen Moffat about the service.

You can listen to a selection of some Passionate Media podcasts here.

And please just get in touch if you have any questions. We'd be delighted to help.

Our new family travel blog - one to watch says Times Online

THERE'S a brilliant round-up of family travel resources available via Twitter in the Times Online here.

Oure new blog is included.

Heres' what Jennifer Howze says about us in her report of the best family travel tweeters:

KEEP WATCHING

twitter.com/Joner

This British feed, associated with the newly created www.havealovelytime.com, posts links to travel photo blogs, posts and lots of personal responses. The tweeter is plugged in to the UK mummy blogging world and already has a slew of followers.

So..watch this space for reports from globetrotting parents and reviews from closer to home.  Pieces lined up for imminent publication include reflections on Australia, Lancashire, EuroDisney, A Taste of Staffordshire and much, much more. Plus more travel news from Amanda Fazani and Tim Atkinson.

Don't forget to check out the other resources on Jennifer's list - there are some phenomenal resources included. Wow - how fantastic to be included!

Once again a massive thank you to everyone who has contributed, read us, commented or helped spread the word we are here. There's lots to do with the site and we are very excited at the potential it has. 

Challenging times for Compton Hospice as the crunch bites

We were dismayed to discover that Compton Hospice has been forced to scrap a fund-raising challenge to Mount Etna as the credit crunch appears to be taking its toll.

A relunctance by people to commit to the trip has been mirrored by a general decline in fund-raising revenue in April and May, as more and more people are feeling the pinch.

Sue Chance, the hospice’s head of PR and fund-raising, said it was disappointing to have to cancel October’s Sicily trip, but hopes some good will come of it as the hospice now plans to start promoting its 2010 big challenge, to give people time to raise the £2,350 minimum sponsorship.

“We had lots of interest in the Etna trip, so we know that people are keen to fund-raise for us, and up for the challenge of something like scaling a volcano, but people just seemed hesitant in committing to raise the money necessary within the time-scales,” explained Mrs Chance.

Mincher Lockett Opticians looking good at 40

WE all know that we have to take better care of ourselves as we grow older.

Well that's a message that Mincher-Lockett Opticians in Stafford took on board in a business sense.

The eye specialists are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year after they first opened the doors of the Stafford Street practice in 1969.

As part of a series of celebrations to mark their birthday the opticians launched a health campaign, Look Good at 40, emphasising the importance of getting your eye check from aged 40 onwards

Pictured right with the practice optician Jan Goodwin and dispensing optician Sarah Edge are customers Tracey Henney, who has just turned 40, and George Hewson who has been attending the practice for 40 years.

The business has recently undergone a major refurbishment to update the image of its practice, so it taking the message on board in a business and health sense.