Services Archives | Page 5 of 9

TLM Monthly Edit : June 2017

So many new brands to bring to your attention this month. It astounds me how many talented people there are out there and how there is never a drought of original and clever ideas.

My Paper Tote

These bags are genius. Chloe the founder sums them up more articulately than I can. I can just agree with her!

Our bags are tear resistant, reusable, washable and beautifully crafted from strong paper in a modern and functional way. It can be hard to choose a bag for every day with so many options out there. Our go to material is more often than not leather, chosen for it’s strength and looks, but this often gives us a heavy bag with the unfriendly environmental issues associated with the material. The paper we use is strong and flexible which makes it a rival to leather in feel, look and durability.

I love the ‘Mummy & Daughter’ ones too!

It can carry a great weight and fit a lot in! Here is mine in action!

KidStart

Who doesn’t like shopping and now there is a way to justify it. Every time you spend when you buy through KidStart, you can actually save real money for your kids. All the big brands are involved so you can start by doing your weekly shopping through it knowing you are saving the coppers for little Timmy!

For every sign up they are offering a free child’s ticket for Chessington World Of Adventures with every adult ticket bought (maximum of 2 per unique code). To claim them you need to sign up to KidStart which is free and then head to the Chessington World of Adventures page and click to claim the offer which then takes you to a page to download your unique code.

See you on the new Gruffalo ride!

Joanna Archer Garden Design

Total overhaul or little tweak, Joanna can do any job at hand with her highly skilled green fingers.

Joanna studied Garden Design at the prestigious Inchbald School of Design gaining a distinction in her diploma and winning the Director’s Top Student Award in 2008. Before that, she had a career in the television industry overseeing the launch of some much loved children’s programming. She is an RHS qualified horticulturalist and enjoys being amongst flowering plants and butterflies, exploring combinations of texture and colour to use in her next design. Contact her here

Little Wooden Painting

Pete Hawkins is a highly acclaimed artist who has turned his hands kids paintings on drift wood. A really original gift or if you have a space on your wall – you could order a bespoke one and have it personalised too!

Manyatta

We went to a cricket match at a school the other day and one if the masters was selling gorgeous belts.

They are made by women in the Masai and as consequence does great good among impoverished Maasai families. They are exceptionally high quality and come in a wonderful array of colours.

I particularly like the Scarlet & Gold, which depending what size you buy is between £65 and £75.

So buy for a good cause and look stylish at the same time!

Alexa Kidd May Photography

Alexa is a natural and creative photography and is currently running a special offer for people who are prepared to have their photos for her portfolio. I love her relaxed style.

Email her hello@alexakidd-may.com

My Pocket Money Toy

The boys were excited to open their bespoke ‘Pocket Money’ boxes that are now even bigger and still only £30 each. They are perfect if you are going a long journey and need something to help the journey go better. They are mixed with top quality educational games and long lasting toys, aswell as a few garden games to get them running around. Shirley has very kindly offering TLM a 10% discount – just use LONDON10

Amazing! Magazine

This is a wonderful subscription magazine for children ages 7-11 that is both educational and fun. Check out a sample magazine here.

My eldest loves it and has asked when the next one will be arriving.It is monthly so in our busy lives they have a month to reedit, although H whipped through it in a couple of days!

Coco-Belle

Some of my favourite dresses are from Sophie at Coco-Belle and the fantastic news is you can now buy online.

The beauty is they are only £37!! You can buy this one here

Slacks & Co

Pregnant? Hating your clothes? Have an event that you have to brush up your act? Look no further than new maternity brand Slacks & Co. Their clothes actually make me want to be pregnant again (not really – especially in this heat, but they really are gorgeous)

Hamptons Canvas

Looking for something slightly more comfortable than espadrilles but that also work on your summer holiday? Their limited edition Liberty Prints sold out pretty quickly but you can still buy the kids version.

I love my Watermelons! (tee tee)

Mimosa Baby

New brand alert and it is pretty sweet! Mimosa Baby does cute kids clothes, appliqué, Liberty print etc but what caught my eye are the ‘Mummy Jumpers’ that you can subtly twin with your kids. For example this sweatshirt for you with these pantaloons for him/her

You can see my new one here! I love it!!

The Modesty Company

This is genius. You know when you are doing your hair or make up in the shower with a towel wrapped round but you cant do it properly as it keeps on falling down? Well, you need one of these! After I dry myself, I throw this on and go about my morning, without worrying the kids will pull my towel down in front of the builders! It’s super luxe and beautifully presented and would make such a lovely gift – especially for a bride to be!

Have some gorgeous new items over on TLM Edit that will give you new spring in your step and help you nail that summer wardrobe with bright accessories, pretty dresses, funky espadrilles and festival chic jewellery.

Jewellery

Kids

Dresses

If you don’t know what you are looking for, why not just take a little peruse!

Have a lovely day everyone xx

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Services Spotlight

Spotlight & Giveaway on Spare My Time : Outsource Your To Do List

Right, the kids are back at school (the youngest has just started nursery!) so it is time crack on with the to do list. We have so many jobs in the house that need doing – decking laid, curtain rails fixed, new loo seats put on and the windows cleaned to name a few. Everytime I log onto Facebook, I see numerous requests on various groups for a recommendation for a handy man, electrician etc. It is like the bind leading the blind and so time consuming! Melissa Gauge has cottoned onto this and started a website SpareMy Time as a one stop shop for of recommended tradesman for all your DIY needs!

Melissa is offering one lucky winner a £50 voucher to use on Spare My Time. Follow the simple instructions below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

On Spare My Time you can search, book and pay for hand-picked, top quality local services, whilst effortlessly striking off jobs from your to-do list. I have had a go and absolutely love it.

It is so easy to use and knowing Melissa, I knew I was in capable hands.

Her goal is to take the hassle out of getting things done and help you every step of the way. They believe feedback is king, so all her service providers are rated and reviewed by past customers.

If you are finding it tough to choose, get in touch and she would love to help you find the right provider for your job. All of her service providers are small, local businesses who believe in quality and customer care so you won’t be disappointed. She also know’s that admin is a hassle and there are just not enough hours in the day, so all booking and payment is online and simple.

Why Did Melissa Set Up Spare My Time

The idea for SpareMyTime started in our real-life situation – trying to juggle work and kids whilst managing our never-ending to-do list.

Every time we needed something done we inevitably ended up paying way too much and getting frustratingly mediocre results in return. Furthermore, our hard-earned weekends were spent trying to catch up with the practicalities of life, rather than enjoying time with our family and friends.

She soon realised that there are a number of great smaller businesses operating within her local community: friendly, reliable and trustworthy with a focus on great quality. These companies are often overlooked by customers who don’t have the time to make an informed choice, opting instead for bigger firms on the basis that, as they are more expensive, they “must be ok”.

Who It Is Aimed At

SpareMyTime is aimed at anyone looking for quality, looking to support local and looking to tick some of those jobs off their to do list.

What It Covers

SpareMyTime covers most jobs that any busy home dweller may find on their to do list and many more besides – painters, plumbers, pointers, window makers, carpenters, gardeners, builders all the way through to waste removal, bike services, PAs, dog walkers, hairdressers, singing teachers and beyond!

The list grows each time we meet a brilliant service provider that shares our values of quality and customer care!

What Area It Covers

At present they cover South West London however a number of their service providers will service other areas of London, so it’s always worth checking.

How It Works

Search: fill in a search form and select a service provider based on past customer reviews
Connect: click ‘connect’ and discuss your requirements with the service provider of your choice via a dedicated chat channel
Quotes and booking: your service provider will send over a quote and booking form – accept you’re good to go (payment details are only taken once on your first booking)
Payment: your service provider will send you an invoice which you can either ‘pay now’ or leave it and funds will be transferred after 24 hours
Keep in the loop: text and email alerts will keep you on top of your job every step of the way
It’s all about making life as easy as possible!

It was so easy to sign up and book someone in. Here is Jason cleaning our windows (and this photo makes me realise we need the house painted too, thank goodness for Spare My Time to help me find someone quickly!)

Melissa’s Favourites

Shop : I love Indian Summer (in Fulham) and am always a sucker for small start ups on Instagram (try Daisies and Dinosaurs for beautiful kids décor). Little Heroes on the Fulham Road is great for kids birthday presents.

Website : I guess I can only answer www.sparemytime.com to that one… (but I’m probably on Instagram more 😉

Restaurant : Pappa Cicca is a go-to for all of our family.

Hotel : We went to Martinhal Beach Resort in Portugal last summer which was a perfect holiday for both us and the kids (they still talk about it a year on).

Holiday Destination : On the slopes (with or without kids).

Parenting Tip : Fresh air seems to be the secret ingredient for our kids so we try to get them outside as much as possible.

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Gift Guides Services Spotlight

The Mother’s Day Gift Guide with Sentebale

After a couple of months of planning and plotting, I am so excited that I am finally able to bring you a wonderful Mother’s Day Gift Guide from 6 wonderful brands. The difference with this Gift Guide however, is that every purchase or booking you make will support the charity Sentebale!

What is Sentebale?

Sentebale is a charity founded in 2006 by Prince Harry, together with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, that supports orphans and vulnerable children in sub-Saharan Africa, many of whom are victims of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Through programmes of education, psychosocial support, and care, Sentebale is supporting the mental health and wellbeing of these children so they can lead healthy, happy lives.

Find out more about Sentebale here

Why Am I Involved?

I am so delighted to be partnering with Sentebale as I spent 6 months in Sub Saharan Africa working with children affected by HIV in 2007. My time spent in South Africa and Uganda really enabled me to see how vulnerable these children are. Now that I am a mother myself, I understand even more how hard it must be for children who don’t have a mother and really want to do something to help.

I am sure you will love all the choices below, shopping in the knowledge that you are supporting the most vulnerable children in Lesotho and Botswana, many of whom are living without their mother.

You can make a difference by choosing a gift for your own mother or perhaps you can forward this onto your husband or partner who is choosing a gift for you on behalf of the kids!

So, here they are…

Any Items from Harry Rocks London

Runs Between 17th – 29th March, 2017

Harry Rocks is one of my favourite jewellery brands. She is so on the money with her pendants and bracelets, it is no surprise she is stocked in Harvey Nichols!

I am delighted with my new necklace – my 3 kids initials all on one pendant with a little diamond on it (representing whoever is being the best behaved that day!)

Harry Rocks are offering 20% off their entire collection between 17th and 29th March. with the code . They will donate 20% of these sales to Sentebale

Buy here using code SENTEBALE20 at checkout.

A Beautiful Bouquet of fresh flowers from Moyes Stevens

Runs between 17th – 29 th March, 2017

My house if filled with faux flowers and so my husband doesn’t see the point of buying me flowers ‘as I already have so many’. However when he saw this bouquet, he had to agree that they were beautiful and a massive treat to have in the house.

Not only are Moyses Stevens the Royal florist, they have a flare for colour and the smell is sensational. Sentebale means ‘forget me not’ in Lesotho, so it is fantastic to see these represented within the arrangement.

What’s In The Bouquet?

White Anemones
Pink Tulips
White Hypericum Berries
Viburnum/ Guelder
Forget-me-nots
Sweet Avalanche Roses
Rosemary and Eucalyptus

There are 3 different sizes for you to choose from –

Standard: £70.00

Large: £104.00

Deluxe: £136.00

This one is a large! Can you imagine a deluxe! Wow!

Moyes Stevens will donate 20% to Sentebale from every ‘Sentebale Bouquet’ ordered

Order yours here

Any Items from Willa The Bear

Runs from 17th – 29th March

This is a perfect gift for a new mother or mother to be. Willa and the Bear is a lovely brand selling beautiful bedding and nightwear. It will last forever and become a keepsake for the next generation.

They are donating 100% of proceeds from the sale of all cot quilts sold between 17th and 29th March to Sentebale!

Willa and The Bear are offering you 30% off any other product when you use the code SENTEBALE30, and will donate £5 to Sentebale for every sale that uses the code!

Buy here and please use SENTEBALE30 at checkout.

The Gallery Mess at The Saatchi Gallery

Runs from 17th – 29th March, 2017

Gallery Mess are adding a discretionary £1 donation in support of Sentebale to ALL diner’s bills between 17th and 29th March.

Set amongst a plethora of interesting sculptures and art works, the food is as good as the setting. Not only very generous helpings, utterly delicious.

Why not have a wander around the shops in Sloane Square and then stop here for lunch? It is a real treat and a favourite amongst the locals. And 2 year olds..

Book your table here and they will donate £1 from every bill during the 17th and 29th March.

Mother’s Day Champagne Afternoon Tea at The Bulgari Hotel

Runs Between 17th – 29th March, 2017

What mother doesn’t need some time off once in a while? However, unless it is booked for you, it easy to feel guilty about leaving the little darlings, and you literally need to be sent.

With this in mind, I would love to be sent with a girlfriend into the centre of London to have an Afternoon Tea with Champagne. Where is more opulent and spoiling than the Bulgari Hotel?!

Set in pure opulence, you will be waited on hand and foot and actually have an uninterrupted conversation. Bliss!

The Bulgari Hotel will donate £5 to Sentebale every time a Champagne Afternoon Tea (47pp) is booked between 17th – 29th March.

Book online here and please be sure to reference ‘Sentebale Afternoon Tea’ in the ‘special requests’ section!

Any Items from ME+EM

Offer is on for 24hrs 22nd March, 2017

Fashion brand ME+EM are donating £5 to Sentebale for every sale over £50 on Wednesday 22nd March. I am so excited they are participating in this campaign. Their pieces are a great price point, beautifully made and uber cool. If you haven’t heard of them yet, take a look and I have no doubt you will find some great pieces for your Spring Wardrobe.

However, please hold off until Wednesday 22nd before you buy anything – don’t worry I will remind you in a post on Wednesday morning (including my top picks!)

NO CODE – JUST SHOP ON THE 22ND!!!! (You can plan your purchase here)

I would be so utterly grateful if you dug deep and blessed a mother with one of these thoughtful gifts. Not only will it make them a very happy lady, but you really will be making a difference to the lives of children affected by HIV in sub-Saharan Africa.

Thank you so much and have a very Happy Mother’s Day

Love from

Lucinda xx

PS: If you’ve already got your gift sorted but would still like to show your support, you can donate to Sentebale here

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Reviews Services

Quiqup : Shop, Pick Up & Drop Whatever You Need

When it comes to new technology, I am slightly adverse to trying anything new as I am aware that it may become another thing to distract me from my day job (being a ‘good’ Mummy). However, Quiqup will actually help you to be a more productive and subsequently happier Mum, as it will free up more time for the enjoyable things in life.

The beauty of Quiqup is that once you have downloaded it on your phone (IOS and Android) and entered your details there is no subscription – you only pay when you need it.

Not only is it perfect for a busy mum who can’t just nip to the local florist for the dinner parties flowers in 4 hours time or has no time for a ‘proper’ cafe in the local cafe, get it delivered to you!

These are all the different options.

After getting the bank this morning I realised my cards with my husband over in the city, so I simply booked ‘my own personal courier’ to go and collect them and bring them home.

Then I got slightly carried away with the ease and reasonable price of the service and ordered some donuts for pudding this evening!!

I don’t want to wax lyrical to anyone who has just had a baby or is about to have a baby or for those of you who are poorly – you need this now!!! A Mocha frappacino light with less ice? Yup, coming straight up quicker than you can get to the front door to receive it!

WHERE DOES IT COVER?

Basically the whole of London but could be coming to a county near you soon…

HOW MUCH IS IT?

They can’t put a price on time, so they simply charge for distance travelled.

My Credit card being collected from St Pauls and back to Fulham was £11.50 and the donuts were £7.50. Not bad eh?

Click here is more detail on pricing but these are worth their weight in gold surely?

Still not sure whether it is for you? Take a look at the little video I put together of my experience using Quikup!

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n7pQLPlCEk[/embedyt]

Have a lovely day!

quiqup.com

This post is a collaboration with Quiqup, however all options are my own.

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Services

Tech Support To Your Door with Scooter Computer

How are you with technology? I like to think I am pretty techy, but just because I am on my computer and phone the whole time, it DOES NOT MAKE ME TECHY. I am actually a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to many aspects.

Recently – let’s just say I had a little accident with my iPhone – I lost 4000 photos as I hadn’t backed them om up on iCloud. I don’t want to talk about it too much as it makes me feel slightly dizzy, but hey, it is what it is and it doesn’t matter that I have lost 2 years worth of photos of the kids… gulp. #reachforwine

So, who do you turn to on the technical front in an emergency?

Let me introduce you to Scooter Computer. They are mobile ‘computer fix’ guys that come to your door and can help you with every type of problem (also knowledgable about phones/sound systems/music systems). Book a slot in increments of 1 hour (I would recommend atleast 2 – it will be the quickest hour of your life) and have a list of questions/problems that you need to tackle. Chris arrived on his scooter and got to work straight away, updating, deleting, signing me up and giving me some great recommendations.

I now feel very 2017.

FullSizeRender(28)

These are a couple of other websites he recommended.

Refurbished Macs – authorised by Apple.

Protect Your Bubble – Gadget insurance (PC’s/phones etc) for a low monthly fee (including liquid damage)

Stormfront – Apple Accessories

Now there is no excuse not to be up to date!

Scooter Computer

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Property Services Spotlight

Move To Surrey with Property Potential

‘So, is it time to ‘move out?’ Go to the sprawling countryside. Somewhere bigger? We will have to compromise somewhere. Large property, smaller garden. No, massive garden and smaller house? Hmmm. Not sure. Perhaps in a country village, perhaps on the outskirts of a town. Ok, let’s leave that. What’s our budget? Eek. What can we even get for that? You want old but I don’t want anything that is going fall down on me! And we haven’t even registered for schools!! Are there any schools that are decent in that area (that we don’t even know have any houses for sale) and first and foremost we need to check that they actually have places! ‘

Sound familiar? If you have ever discussed the BIG MOVE with your other half, it is enough to make you want to go and inhale that familiar London pollution.

Anyway, help is at hand. I have a couple lovely ladies who will be able to give you much needed clarity, information & insider knowledge on this very subject!

Maranda and Jen are professional home search consultants who run Property Potential Surrey specialising in helping families moving to the area to find their dream family home.

We cover Surrey, North Hampshire and West Sussex.

Many of their clients focus on the areas around Farnham, Guildford, Godalming and Haslemere as they are lovely towns surrounded by rolling countryside, but it’s easily accessible back into London.

The process starts with them meeting prospective clients to really get to grips with what they’re after from commuting needs to schools to the style of house that they prefer.

Based on their needs, they take them on an orientation tour of the areas that they think would work best for them. During the tour they will share lots of local information such as best nurseries, schools, pubs, restaurants, shops, the best stations to commute from etc. and will send them home armed with the knowledge that would normally take years of living locally to gain.

Once they have narrowed down the search area we then hit the ground running leaving no stone unturned to get into the very best properties, more often than not before they hit the open market.

Due to their excellent relationship with local estate agents, they also get access to those houses being marketed ‘quietly’ which will never come onto the open market. This gives their clients a competitive edge over other buyers. Once they’ve found the right house, they then work with the estate agents to negotiate the best possible price for their clients.

Once the deal is done, they act as house moving ‘concierge’, and can organise surveyors, removals quotes and get quotes from other professional services. After their clients move in they don’t just disappear but are at the end of the phone to offer advice and information on the local area.

MEET THEM YOURSELF IN LONDON!

Maranda and Jen are setting up shop in South West London on Friday 3rd March to meet anyone who would like to explore the possibility of moving to Surrey.

What you can expect to learn –

House style:

“We have a special presentation, which helps clients think about house styles, what the love and hate about different houses. It is amazing how often a client hasn’t quite decided what they are looking for and depending on what they like, we know where you are most likely to find that style of house.”

House prices:

“Even if they are unsure of their end budget, we can give them an idea of where you are most likely to get what you want for your money.”

The area:

“We will have a huge map and can discuss the area in general. Talking though villages they may have heard of and what is available in different areas, from schools, to nurseries, to cafes to shops”

Travel:

“We will have commuting timetables and discuss best stations to commute from”

Schools:

“We will have a list of all the schools in the area and will provide them with a list of the next open mornings”

The meeting is strictly confidential and absolutely no pressure to use their services (although they are so nice, I am thinking I want to up sticks and move to the country, just so I can have them look after me!)

Call them to book a time!

Maranda Jones 07776 779993
Jen Butcher 07776 779998

They met in the way that many of us meet new friends when we have young children – at a local toddler group.

It was (and still is) a real social hub for local mums with little ones and it’s where we met the ladies who have gone on to be our great friends still today.

When our youngest children started school we, like many mums, wanted to go back to work but in a more flexible way where we could be our own boss. I built my own house when I moved into the village six years ago and developed a real passion for property. I also found that I was informally advising many friends and friends of friends about the area and what it’s like to live around here. I was also informally keeping an eye out for properties for them.

Jen and Maranda got talking about their future plans and decided that it would have been invaluable, when they had moved a few years earlier, to have had somebody to hold their hand through the entire process – from finding the dream family home to being able to pass on the local knowledge that can only be gained from living and breathing an area for a number of years.

This seed of an idea then snowballed into an actual business which they’ve been running successfully now for nearly four years. They both have a background in PR and marketing which really helped to promote their business and get it off the ground.

I can see why. When I spoke to them it was like speaking old friends. What a dynamic duo!

Their Favourite’s

Website: Houzz which is like an encylopaedia of interior design ideas

Shop: Bardoe & Appel, Guildford and The Packhouse for amazing home décor finds

Hotel: The Dormy House Hotel, Cotswolds – beautiful, cosy home from home boutique hotel

Restaurant: The Noah’s Ark in Lurgashall, West Sussex – picture perfect village setting and delicious food after a long Sunday morning walk.

Holiday destination: Cape Town – my parents live there half the year and Jen’s just been there on holiday – such a beautiful city.

Parenting tip:

Don’t stress about challenging behaviour – everything’s a phase and they (and you!) will come out the other side!

Contact details –

Property Potential Surrey

hello@propertypotentialsurrey.co.uk

Maranda Jones 07776 779993
Jen Butcher 07776 779998

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Services

17 New Businesses To Have on Your Radar in 2017!

I have had such a great response since my last post on how to work with bloggers. It is so important to get your new business out there and be seen. I promised that I would include those that emailed me in my ‘2017 New Business’ round up and here it is!

I hope this will encourage you to fire off a few more emails. Don’t be disheartened if you don’t hear back or they can’t help, move onto the next one!

There are so many wonderful business. Please have a read below – there really is something for everyone.

Like Minders – Childcare and Elderly Care & Companionship

Like Minders is run by two mothers, Bryony and Georgie across London and Surrey. They have been so successful with their childcare service that they have branched out into care and companionship for the elderly. They have a very good work ethic, are responsive, polite and give a very personal service. They are also able to help out last minute too.

Boo’s Baby Bites

If weaning is upon you but you are so tired/ busy / working that you aren’t able to prep fresh food yourself – this is for you. These pots are cooked and frozen on the day so all the goodness is still in them. They deliver across London (and I looked at the price – so so reasonable!)

Book It Becki – Personal Holiday Planning Service & Lifestyle PA

If you have no idea where to go on holiday, give her the location and requirements that will suit your needs i.e. swimming pool/creche etc and for a small fee she will return with 4, 7 or 10 ideas so you don’t have to trawl the internet!

Tantrum X Y Z – The Toolkit for Modern Parents

This website is wide-ranging – from clothes, to forums, to articles but my favourite thing… the amazing photo filters! They have a range of milestone cards. For example you can upload a photo of your new baby to ‘week 1’ for example and download it!

Babynizer – Planning For Your New Baby

If you are expecting and don’t know where to start, this is a fantastic new website that provides you with personalised recommendations on what & where to buy.

They also can recommend –

Planning and monthly to-do-list
Organisation at home
Essential items picking
Nursery set up
Antenatal classes
Pregnancy/Newborn photo shoot
Hospital bag
Baby showers
Sourcing local medical professionals
Mum-to-be pampering
Maternity concierge
Private chauffeur

Honey Rocks London – Online Interiors Boutique For Children

Honey Rocks London is an exciting new boutique brand specialising in children’s clothing and interiors. Founder India Hares has used her retail buying experience to bring together a range of cushions, blankets and baskets, and fun, unisex clothing and accessories for children who are ready to rock. Expect explosions of colour, lashings of embellishment, and unique pieces to make your home pop. The brand has motherhood at its heart as symbolized by its Queen Bee emblem, and is serious about giving back to children who are less fortunate. Watch this space for its first collaboration with children’s charity FARA – coming soon.

LH Property Services – Cleaning Services

Lucy and her team run a high quality professional cleaning service for both domestic and corporate customers. Whether it is end of tenancy or you just want to get your windows clean, Lucy is your girl!

Ele Grafton – Light Boxes & Collages

Ele is an artist based in Somerset in the UK. She creates intricate little light boxes from old books, and mixed media illustrations using her original drawings. She also paints and draws watercolours of a variety of animals and birds.

Muklet – Americano & Vintage

Muklet was born after Laura realised she was unable to easily find Clothes and Homeware for her cheeky Muklets that was original and authentic. Drawing on her love of American Vintage for inspiration (her husband could also be termed as an American Vintage!), she has created a range of Clothing, Homeware’s and Gifts that are truly unique, beautifully made and most importantly fun!

Brox Rocks – Handmade Jewellery

Bro Rocks is run by a lovely duo in Surrey who handmade every piece. I have this necklace below and it receives a lot of compliment as it is fine but packs a punch. This Long Star Necklace is £40

Katy Brennan – Oil Paintings

When Katy emailed me this week, I was totally bowled over by her beautiful pieces.

She is just in the early stages of starting a business of affordable oil paintings – painted by herself in an impressionist style and focusing on a variation of light and colour. Her business to date has come from commissions, working from photos that people have given her, which generally represent a very happy memory for them.

I think you may be buying a collector’s item!

Words For The Web – Professional Copywriting and Copyediting Business

Acclaimed journalist, Becky Ladenberg has started a business casting her professional eye over your website, article, blog post (yes, I know, I so need her!)

Her aim is to help people get the most out of their websites by providing them with the sharpest, most elegant, most concise copy possible. Boom. What an awesome service, especially if you are in the throes of constructing a new website. Get it right the first time with Becky!

Outside The Lines – Affordable Clothes For Girls

This website is a beauty and right up my street! The clothes are incredible so only go and look if you are prepared to part with your cash!

Craft Horse UK

Craft Horse sell bespoke rocking horses made from birch plywood and chemical & toxin free cardboard. They can also be personalised!

Pramstead – Online Platform for Mothers in North London

This a very informative website for those of you that live in Hampstead, Primrose Hill, Belsize Park and beyond. It includes, local services, venues, events, classes and even restaurant, nursery & school recommendations.

The website now receives so much traffic, Charlotte is open to a bit of advertising if you are a local business!

Julia Cameron – Wellness Coaching and Jewellery

Julia posts her musings and sells a range of pretty jewellery. I am loving her healthy recipes!

Rachels Villa Holidays – Free Villa Finding Service

Becoming a mother was the catalyst for starting to work as a private travel consultant in 2010 for Rachel. She works with some of the best villa holiday specialists based in the UK and offers a personal and knowledgeable villa holiday booking service.

She has also been assisting private villa owners and other villa specialists by giving guidance on how to promote their villas successfully.

Which business did you like the look of?

For more wonderful business and services, be sure to check out my Directory!

Have a great day,

Love Lucinda xx

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Family Life Services

10 Ways to Build Your Brands Relationship With Bloggers

Right, you have just started a business or are planning on launching one this year.

You have a great product/service and a snazzy new website. (If you haven’t got a website yet, I highly recommend these guys).

You have set yourself up on social media. (Facebook & Instagram have personally been the best 2 resources for driving traffic to The London Mummy but people rave about Pinterest which I haven’t quite mastered yet).

Your friends and family have been supportive but you can’t rely on them forever. You have used your wider network.

Now you need to get yourself out there and market yourself to… your target market!

We are all getting used to the new wave of media that has taken the world by storm in the last few years. There are Bloggers, Vloggers, Instagrammers, Blogazine’s and Microbloggers (who ‘blog’ on a social platform) to name a few.

Bloggers are becoming popular with businesses and PR companies as it is now apparent that an audience is more responsive to a personal recommendation than an old school advert.

I have worked in PR and am now on the other side. The former is much harder let me tell you. If you have your own business, you have to do your own PR.

I am coming up to 18 months of this blogging lark and I absolutely love it. I love that I am free to do what I want, free to research, read, shout about and give exposure to people, products and places that I have chosen. So how do I hear about these people? Most often they contact me and that is what you have to do. Reach out!

How to build a good relationship with bloggers (if you want to use them) and how to maintain that relationship –

Research some blogs that reach your target market (ie fashion, parenting, travel blogs?) When you approach them, make sure you use their name and get the spelling right. It is also obvious when it is a generic email (I understand that sometimes it’s a numbers game) but you are more likely to get a good response if you make it personal. Have you actually read their blog?
Better yet, say why you like it (not for the ego) and even follow on 1 or 2 of their social media channels.
Why not organise a small launch in a local cafe with a few local bloggers. If a blogger says they can’t make it – don’t get the cyber pip! You have to think about building a long term relationship, so reply with a ‘I understand’ etc (if you reply at all – sometimes not necessary…)
Some bloggers receive a lot of requests. If you want them to differentiate between requests, give them an incentive – whether that’s a coffee, pay the taxi ride, offer a goody bag or send a sample. If you don’t have a budget, a good incentive would be that you share the post on your own social media or ‘press page’ on your website.
If a blogger has agreed to give you exposure and sent you a list of questions and requirements i.e. types of photos, links etc rather than send over 10 different emails, send just one email with all the information. It makes it so much easier!
Send loadable images! Don’t send thumbnail images but on the other hand don’t send too high res (as it is a massive hassle resizing photos!).
I can’t say I am a fan of Dropbox. I prefer being sent pics in an attachment but perhaps that’s just me. Don’t send every marketing photo you have ever shot either!
Be polite. Nothing worse than suck up central when wanting something and then you hardly hear from them when it’s done. Manners maketh man and all that.
Not only should you say thank you if you want them to include you again, share the post on your social media and make sure you tag them correctly. (You press the ampersand @ then write the ‘handle’ and it should come up in bold).
It’s also polite to comment on the post if you are tagged in it and it is about you. If a PR company has arranged the exposure for you, it is still a good idea to reach out and makes you relatable.

If you are starting a new business and are thinking of doing so this year, I hope you have found this post helpful. There are some excellent resources under ‘Careers’ on The Ultimate Directory. I will also be putting a series together of my favourite websites & bloggers in all the different sectors, so watch out for that too.

Lastly, if you email me with your new business, I will put together a post all of you who have asked!

Remember, if you don’t ask, you don’t get!

Have a great day xx

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