Nails on the Run 
Cartoon Shorelines Art Tesco has launched a quick manicure service from its store in Bromborough near Liverpool. Based on an American idea, where quick manicures have become a craze among shoppers, the new service aims to provide pampering at the affordable price of £5 per manicure. Manicures will take five minutes and no appointments are necessary. The nail bar is a partnership between Tesco and Sally Hansen nail care experts and if the new nail bar is a success Tesco aims to roll it out to other stores. Source The Grocer Marks and Spencer's Chief executive Stuart Rose had led the famous store into recovery. His plans for M & S continues with his now famous Plan A. Basically plan A is the five environmental and recycling commitments that M & S plans to fulfill in the next five years. The plan includes Maximising the stores use of renewable energy only using offsetting as a last resort. Reduce packaging, the use of carrier bags and to make more of recycled materials. Tuse raw materials from sustainable sources To make more of fair trade (see The Summit) To expand the healthy living range.
There is no plan B so Stuart Rose has set the company goals to achieve the commitments in plan A. Since he took over as Chief Executive Stuart Rose has used PR to its full potential turning negative PR to positive PR and plan A is no different. As well as is plans for the company and plan A appearing in the usual sources of national newspapers, TV and in the M & S in house magazine he has a full page article in the Womens Institute new magazine (May 2007). Unlike the prime minister Stuart Rose obviously knows his W.I. Back to the Top Web site News Some Internet experts predict that the future of the Internet and of computer software in general is set to change, with a move to more online use of software programmes. In other words no more software to download or install on our computers rather we will access our programmes through search engine like Google. As part of Google's drive to achieve this they have added a new free tool to their portfolio. This one is an online calendar which is simple to use and versatile. What's really clever is if you use the 'quick add' button you simply type in what you are doing and the date, in no particular format, and it magically find it way into your online diary. Last.fm Last week the U.S. broadcaster CBS purchased the web site business last.com for £141m. Why did they want it so badly? the three entrepreneurs behind last.com devised a program that tracks what you listen to on your computer and suggests similar music based on the listening habits of 20 million Internet music lovers. CBS plans to extend last.com to do the same for films, sport and news on the Internet. One of the men behind last.com is Britain Richard Jones who in the early days of the business was so short of money he slept on the roof of the firms business. Source The Week Back to the top The Apprentice The confrontational style of Alan Sugar as seen in the Apprentice has come under fire by the Times business Editor. He argues that Sir Alan's business style is the opposite of almost every successful business man and woman in this country. Certainly Alan Sugar's business Amstrad corporation is not one of this countries big hitter businesses. After pulling out of the computer business Alan Sugar launched in 2000 a phone and text messaging machine aimed a the mass market. It was not a success. Even the programme The Apprentice is a copy of an American programme which was presented by Donald Trump. The Times editor says that anyone wanting to have a successful career in business should not follow Alan sugars example. However Sir Alan has his supporters. Richard Lambert Director General of the CBI said ' Say what you like about reality shows like The Apprentice. At least it may suggest to young people that business doesn't have to be terminally boring' and Sir Gerry Robinson former chairman of Granada said ' Business seems to be fashionable at the moment and it makes great TV. Alan Sugar is brilliant in it. You can learn business but that nous to seize opportunities is a rare talent'. And whatever you think of Sir Alan sugar he is a very wealthy man mainly from property investments and according to The Times is very generous to good causes. And from the Apprentice - Where are they now? The winner of the first series Tim Campbell did well at Armstrad. He now runs a social enterprise aimed at giving entrepreneurs access to equity funding and business angels. The runner up from the first series was Saira Khan who has since written a self help book and makes media appearances. From the second series Michelle Dewberry now runs her own company Michelle Dewberry Ltd. Ruth Badger runs her own business consultancy and fronts a series for Channel 4 called Badger or Bust aimed at helping failed businesses. Also from the second series Syed Ahmed was sacked by Alan Sugar and since has been prosecuted for drink driving. He now runs a recruitment business and is filming a documentary for Sky. Source the Times Back to the Top And finally ....how to Land an Investor Angels Den is a new business run by partners Bill Morrow and Lois Cook. It's aims are to connect entrepreneurs to investors. The Internet based business has taken fifteen months to set up and makes it simple for both entrepreneurs and business angels to match up. To date 2100 business angels are registered and demand from angels for business investments outstrips entrepreneurs, with 518 registering so far. The web site has an interesting beginners guide to equity funding, but you will need to register to access any more information. Source Start your business Back to the Top If you enjoyed reading this newsletter please E mail it to a friend Return toTop of Page | 