Ferndown Business Network

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Ways to take more care of your eyes

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When you consider the fact that you only have one pair of eyes your entire life and that poor vision can make it harder to read, drive and many other things we take for granted on a day-to-day basis, it becomes apparent just how important it is to take care of your eye health.  

Whether you’re blessed with perfect vision or already wear glasses or contact lenses on a daily basis, why not put a few things into practice to minimise the pressure you’re putting on your eyes? Ferndown Business Network member ‘Dr Peter’ of Wessex Aloe would recommend: 

Visit an eye care specialist regularly 

It’s important to ensure you get your eyes checked regularly by an optometrist to test for visual impairment and ensure you have good overall eye health. Your vision can deteriorate over time. Therefore, even if you had perfect vision at an appointment ten years ago, you shouldn’t assume that you still do; regular eye tests are recommended. Having no prescription when you need one, or the wrong prescription (for example, continuing to use a pair of glasses you were prescribed three years ago that are no longer right for you) can really damage your eyes.  

Furthermore, if your optician finds that you need a prescriptive lens, you should ensure that you’re wearing your glasses or contact lenses whenever you need them to prevent eye strain and further damage. Finally, it’s important to remember to take your contact lenses out every night and to follow the appropriate cleaning instructions, in order to reduce the risk of drying your eyes out or getting an infection.  

Remove your make-up every day 

We’re often told that removing make-up is important to let our skin and pores breathe, but it’s equally important to get rid of eye make-up, such as eye liner and mascara, to prevent irritation, eye infections or styes. You can use a product like our Sonya Refreshing Gel Cleanser (Code 605) to gently melt away make-up in a way that doesn’t tug or pull on the delicate skin around your eyes.  

While we’re on the topic of make-up, never share your eye make-up with others! Doing so puts you at risk of sharing bacteria and infections.  

Wear UV protection sunglasses 

We all know how important it is to protect our skin by ensuring our sunscreen has both UVA and UVB protection, e.g. Aloe Sunscreen (Code 617), but have you ever considered the UV protection in your sunglasses? A cheap pair may seem like a bargain, but they often don’t do the trick when it comes to eye protection. If you’re going to be spending a lot of time in the sunshine, it’s especially important to make sure your glasses are blocking 99 to 100% of all harmful UV rays from reaching your eyes.  

Get plenty of sleep 

Ah, there’s nothing quite like a good sleep to help your body rest and repair itself. There are some things that your morning cup of coffee just won’t fix and they are the health issues that can often come hand-in-hand with a consistent lack of sleep. This is true for keeping your eyes healthy, too. If you’re not getting enough sleep, you may find that you struggle with dry, irritated and itchy eyes, and you’ll be tempted to rub at them. This in turn usually contributes to more bacteria entering the eyes and puts you at a higher risk of infection. It’s important to aim for seven to eight hours of sleep per night for optimum all-round health and to avoid those side-effects.  

Limit your screen time 

Grandma’s warnings about getting square eyes from sitting in front of the TV all day may not be literal, but she certainly had a point; staring at a screen all day can be really bad for your eye health, and in this digital day and age we’re often staring at them for upwards of ten hours a day!  

While it’s advisable to limit your screen time, we know that work obligations as well as the draw of smart phones and TV streaming services can sometimes make it difficult, so it’s important to put a few protective barriers in place. For example, you could implement the 20/20/20 rule at your computer while you’re working. Every twenty minutes, look away from your computer and focus on something at least twenty feet away for a minimum of twenty seconds to help refocus your eyes.  

You can also minimise harmful blue light by changing your desktop or mobile phone screens to take on a more sepia tone, or by purchasing a pair of blue light minimising glasses. It may also be worth making it an aim to limit your television viewing time to give your eyes a rest in the evening or to put your phone away several hours before bedtime – something that will help with your sleep quality, too.  

Taking the right vitamins 

We all know the benefits of eating a well-balanced diet with regards to our fitness and weight, but did you know that there are also lots of foods that contain eye-supporting nutrients?  

Some of the nutrients that are really key to eye health include vitamin A, zinc and copper. Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoids which are pigments found in plants and in your retina. They’re often found in greater amounts in leafy green vegetables, such as cabbage, kale and spinach, which is where you’ll also find high quantities of copper. Zinc helps to protect cells from oxidative stress and is often found in eggs, dairy products and meat, but for the vegans among us, legumes and seeds can be a good source too.  

You can also supplement a well-balanced diet with our new Forever iVision (Code 624)which contains the antioxidant vitamins C and E to protect cells from oxidative stress, as well as beta carotene from vitamin A and zinc which contribute to the maintenance of normal vision. 

Happy gazing! Don’t forget that these products are available via ’Dr Peter’s’ online shop (www.wessex-aloe.com) or by calling him on 07947 685785. 

Winter Skincare Routine for Men

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Men should never shy away from daily skincare, as like women, their skin is susceptible to age spots, blemishes and uneven skin tone that deserves to be kept under control especially during the winter when temperatures drop.  Your skin’s health should be considered just as important as your health in other areas, so put aside any reservations you have about skincare and complete this winter skincare routine on a regular basis to avoid rough and dry winter skin. 

CLEANSING

Many men start their skincare regime off badly by choosing to wash their face with a bar of soap.  Although this removes unwanted dirt and oil from your face, it can be very harsh and drying on the skin.  A great cleanser should not contain harsh chemicals or detergents that strip away essential moisture. 

Ferndown Business Network member ‘Dr Peter’ has two different cleansers – Infinite Hydrating Cleanser (Code 554) and Sonya Refreshing Gel Cleanser (Code 605) – both are excellent cleansing solutions for men, and the decision on the one you use should be determined by your skin type (dry, oily or combination) and whether you have ageing skin.  Once you’ve chosen which skincare collection you’re going to follow, it’s time to start using the products daily so that you instil a habit.  Always start with the cleanser, cleansing morning and evening, then follow through with the rest of the products.

EXFOLIATING

The next step after cleansing is to exfoliate the skin.  This will remove dead skin cells to make sure your moisturiser is penetrating your skin and working as effectively as possible.  Aim to do this two to three times a week with Forever’s Smoothing Exfoliator (Code 559).  This gentle exfoliator uses natural jojoba beads and bamboo powder to remove dead skin cells without harming the skin and added lemon essential oils which work as a rich moisturiser to hydrate the new skin beneath the surface.

MOISTURISING

Once you have removed dead skin cells, you need to add moisture back into your skin.  Gentleman’s Pride (Code 070) is a great moisturiser to use each morning as it doubles up as an aftershave balm that’s extremely soothing on freshly shaven and sensitive skin.  Feel the icy exhilaration of this unique blend of lubricants and moisturisers combined with pure, stabilised Aloe Vera gel.  With conditioning agents like camomile and rosemary, this popular aftershave will leave behind a fresh and clean masculine fragrance that’ll last all day long.

Ideally you should aim to moisturise twice a day after cleansing but obviously an aftershave balm isn’t the best moisturiser just before bed.  Instead we’d recommend you give Infinite Firming Serum (Code 555) a go.  With powerful natural ingredients and our patented aloe, this cutting edge and rich moisturiser will make your skin feel smooth and firm, and your complexion appear visibly younger.

Whatever products you choose, consistency is key.  Establishing a regular routine for the winter months is necessary for long term skin health so try to stick to your skincare schedule daily for noticeable results that last the test of time.

Don’t forget that these products are available via ’Dr Peter’s’ online shop (www.wessex-aloe.com) or by calling him on 07947 685785.

Just Ask Juli

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Just ask Juli started as an idea; I wanted to do something different; to work for  a variety of people; to make peoples lives a little easier … so Just ask Juli was created.

Small businesses are under a lot of pressure at the moment and do not carry any extra staff so, when things become very busy, staff take holiday or go off sick, the implications are felt very quickly. This is where Ferndown Business Network member Just ask Juli comes in. Due to my extensive employment experiences (more about those later) I can help with a variety of tasks ranging from answering the phone, responding to emails to planning an event or managing social media campaigns. All you need to do is Just ask Juli! I’m happy to work for just a couple of hours to help you catch up, a couple of days or a couple of weeks … whatever you need to make a positive difference to you.

Many small companies are aware of the benefits of social media but many do not have the time, knowledge or inclination to “post”, “like”, “tweet” or “re-gram”. I can take all of this off your shoulders and manage your social media on an ongoing basis.

Due to my employment history (yes more of that later) I can also help small charities. They, like businesses often run with the very minimum of staff and rely on volunteers so when something extra needs doing there isn’t always the personnel able to do it. Just ask Juli, and I can come in and help. I can complete funding bids for specific projects, help with preparation of documents, policies, role descriptions or plan a major funding event.

Finally, I would like to be able to help local people. People who have hospital appointments often have to face these alone but would prefer a bit of company. I can pick people up from their homes, take them to their appointment, stay with them while they wait and even have a cuppa with them before we head for home … all you need to do is Just ask Juli.

Now my employment history … I worked for a national publishing company in Poole for 18 years as a senior Production Manager, I’ve worked in several local charities and have been a Samaritan, am a presenter on a local radio station and am an avid dog lover!

So what can Just ask Juli  help with? (list is not exhaustive)

  • Event management
  • Social media management
  • Website updates
  • Creation of newsletters
  • Answering the  phone
  • Email management
  • Diary management
  • Inputting invoices onto accounts system
  • Data entry
  • Spreadsheet creation / updating
  • Updating systems (reducing paperwork)
  • File management
  • Charity fundraising
  • Charity documentation
  • Project research
  • Lifts to / from appointments
  • Shopping companion
  • Online shopping
  • Dog walking
  • Clearing out (recycling) unwanted items

So could I help you or someone you know? ….

Enhancing our clients digital footprint

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Irwin Edgehill Training approached Ferndown Business Network member e-nexus LTD to help them develop their marketing. They wanted to work with an agency that could help them enhance their profile and reach new customers. 

Irwin Edgehill Training has been supporting individuals and teams for over a decade.  Founded by Irwin Edgehill, a Bournemouth based trainer and personal development coach, they have helped hundreds of people build their confidence and resilience empowering them to transform their personal & professional lives.

Building on their existing marketing efforts, our initial phase of activity was focused on enhancing their digital footprint to make it easier for potential clients to find them and ensure there is a consistent narrative.  To date we have:

  • Built a new company website (irwinedgehilltraining.com) focusing on content, design and SEO
  • Set up new social media channels and refreshed existing ones
  • Written & posted content for the company’s new Blog and social media channels based on our Social Media Management programme
  • Updated and supplied content to business referral sites
  • Grown social media followers, blog followers and engagement with followers
  • Identified, joined & engaged with other social media communities

Irwin Edgehill Training’s feedback on what we at e-nexus have delivered to date has been: “The best things come to those who wait. Having finally attracted the right company to market my business, I am infinitely pleased that Richard is now helping me move my business to the next level. A straight up guy who professionally delivers on everything he creates, the feedback I have and continue to receive from others on the work e-nexus has produced is fantastic. A very good professional and a nice man, highly recommended.”

Interested in discussing with e-nexus how we can support your marketing needs then email: info@e-nexus.co.uk or call Richard Milton on 07535 612652

‘Dr Peter’ recommends …. “Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise!”

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This time of year is hard on your skin, but help is at hand from Ferndown Business Network member ‘Dr Peter’!

Have you noticed that in autumn, almost as soon as you’ve switched on your central heating, your skin becomes unhappy and thirsty, to say the least?

If you, or anyone else in your household has problematically dry skin, you should review your everyday ‘bathroom products’ as these can actually be contributing to the problem. ‘Dr Peter’ recommends the following action:

1. Don’t use biological washing detergent or fabric conditioner. These usually irritate sensitive skin. Try Aloe MPD (Code 307), an environmentally friendly, biodegradable, all-purpose detergent that effectively lifts grime and cuts through grease to remove stains. Its versatile cleaning power can tackle your laundry, floors, bathrooms, tiles, carpets, windows and dishes! This highly concentrated formula only takes a few drops to get many jobs done, so you don’t need a cupboard full of other cleaning products. Incredible value for money long-term.

2. Here are 3 of ‘Dr Peter’s’ moisturising recommendations:

Aloe Lotion (Code 062) This finely-textured moisturiser helps to condition your face & body and contains nourishing ingredients like jojoba oil, vitamin E, collagen & elastin to keep the skin smooth and supple. This softening lotion also includes apricot kernel oil which locks in moisture and creates a lightweight barrier on the skin. Contains lanolin.

Aloe Moisturising Lotion (Code 063) A thick, velvety moisturising cream containing nourishing aloe, jojoba oil, collagen & elastin to leave skin feeling soft & supple. This lotion moisturises your face, hands and body whilst maintaining the skin’s natural pH balance. Its easy-to-absorb formula also makes it a great base for makeup application. Does not contain lanolin.

Aloe Propolis Creme (Code 051) A rich, creamy blend of aloe vera, bee propolis and camomile that helps maintain healthy, beautiful skin tone and texture. Its moisturising and conditioning properties make for an excellent everyday moisturiser and helps to soothe irritation. Particular suitable for those with eczema, psoriasis & dermatitis. Contains lanolin.

Don’t forget that these products are available via ’Dr Peter’s’ online shop (www.wessex-aloe.com) or by calling him on 07947 685785.

Let me introduce myself

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I’m a new member to Ferndown Business Network so it was great  this week to have had the opportunity to present to the group telling them more about my personal and career life as well as my company,  e-nexus that I founded 18 months ago.  

So I’m Richard Milton, founder of e-nexus. We are a Bournemouth based marketing consultancy focused on Strategic Marketing Planning & Performance Measurement.  As well as being a career long marketeer, I’m a keen runner and a family man. I love networking, live music and I’m also a huge AFC Bournemouth fan.

My career to date has all been about helping businesses flourish & thrive through effective marketing.  Our approach being to help clients review their marketing efforts and utilise data to understand its impact on their business success.  

All members of Ferndown Business Network get regular chances to update the group on what they have been up to whether that is through our weekly ‘one minute updates’ or our presentation slots.  It helps us all support each other as well as refer each other to others outside the group if they are looking for support, services or goods that members provide.

Thanks to Ferndown Business Network for giving me the opportunity to present.  I’m loving being a member of this really friendly and welcoming group. 

 If you are interesting in finding out more about FBN and joining us at a forthcoming networking session then please get in contact.

‘Dr Peter’ recommends …. advice on travelling abroad.

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Ever been on holiday abroad and suffered with an upset tummy? 

It’s common to blame foreign bugs in either the food or the water, thinking that the local hygiene standards are not the same as ‘back home’, but in fact, this is rarely the case (unless you’ve had a really dodgy meal) because it’s largely due to the difference in the mineral content of the local water.  Sure, most of us will drink bottled water, but what about the ice cubes in your drinks?  Your sensitive gut tends to react with symptoms ranging from mild indigestion to chronic diarrhoea.

People who are susceptical to gut problems abroad usually take various potions with them of course – things that help put them right after the event.  And that’s fine.  However, there is a preventative alternative.  If you build up your gut’s ‘good bacteria’ before you travel, you are far less likely to be stricken during your holiday.  So, how does this work?

‘Dr Peter’s’ recommendation is a 4-week regime of PREBIOTIC (Aloe Vera drink – code 715) and PROBIOTIC (Pro-B tabs – code 610).  The prebiotic creates the correct gut environment for the proliferation of all the ‘good’ bacteria, and this Probiotic contains the 6 most important & beneficial strains of friendly bacteria in a tablet form, not requiring refrigeration, which is designed to bypass the stomach and be released in the large intestine, where it does its work.

So, ‘Dr Peter’s’ prescription is this: – One week before your holiday departure, start taking a daily dose of one Pro-B tablet and 100ml of Aloe first thing in the morning and continue for 4 weeks – i.e. take them with you on your 2 week holiday, and continue for one week after your return.

You’ll need one tub of Pro-B (30 tabs) and three litre bottles of Aloe to last you for 4 weeks.  Orders can be placed directly on the Wessex Aloe website shop or by calling Dr Peter on 07947 685785.”

The value of ‘Print Advertising’

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I have had several people tell me that I will “have to keep up with the times” and that, “print advertising will go out of fashion”. Well, I beg to differ. There have been many studies on how we buy, why we buy and what we buy. Print advertising, especially of local companies and those companies wanting to be seen as family, friendly and service orientated benefit hugely from a print presence in the local community. People trust print.

Digital, online advertising can be untrustworthy and unknown. How do you know that company will still be there tomorrow when you have a problem with their service or product? Are they real? Do they have experience? Will they give you a good product?

While a good website and some social media is a must to back up any print advertising, it is often the printed advert which leads the customer to look at that website. Here at Dorset Publications we have been helping companies grow year in, year out. Each magazine has a local feel for that area and we include community data for free. This gives a voice to local, small groups that otherwise have a hard time making themselves known and heard. From this they have gained new members and support for their important causes.

Everyone wins. The advertisers gain work, that keeps the local economy thriving, the charities and small independent groups gain support and the resident has an easy guide to find exactly who they are looking for to help them. It is a win win situation all round.

Please Click here for an independent view.

Signs Express Bournemouth link with local businesses

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Industry professionals and local business owners gathered yesterday evening for the Digital Décor Opportunity workshop, hosted by Richard Morris, Managing Director of Signs Express Bournemouth.The evening explored the revolution of bringing digital art, which was until recently only available online and in galleries, into the liveable space.

An insight to the endless opportunities around us kickstarted the evening, before attendees enjoyed a live demonstration and showcase of the technology available in branch, taking away their very own bespoke artwork printed onto specialist substrates.

The atmosphere on the evening was one of a keen desire for knowledge from an enthusiastic and interactive audience. Overall the workshop was a success with much positive feedback having been received from the audience. Deborah Jones, of Deborah Jones Design Ltd said:

‘I have nothing but praise for Richard in the visionary approach to both his products and the service he offers. He has taken time to reflect, consider and really examine his offering in order to elevate it above his market at large. He is looking to see what will give his business the edge in light of what is a saturated market. He has invested both in his people and his technology to ensure he is delivering the best product possible to his customers whilst also caring about their customer journey and experience. Last nights workshop still further demonstrated Richard’s obvious passion and commitment to his business. I very much look forward to working with this innovate company in the future on some of my interior design projects.” Deborah JonesDeborah Jones Design Ltd

Based on the success of this first training workshop, plans are currently underway to host another event at our unit based in Christchurch.

Richard Morris comments,

We are very pleased and inspired by the enthusiasm shown at our first event. We are passionate about bringing art lovers, interior designers and technology together to create and enjoy the new art forms of tomorrow. Digital printing means wallpaper can be whatever you want it to be, and to take tradition into the future is a very exciting time

Should you wish to be notified of these future events, email bournemouth@signs-express.co.uk or go to www.signsexpress.co.uk/branch/bournemouth

8 ways to measure, monitor & enhance your marketing

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There are so many readily available systems and processes for you to use when measuring, monitoring and enhancing your marketing impact. Some examples include:

• Adding a web analytics tool e.g. Google Analytics to your website to track and monitor your website performance. Are you reaching the right audience and are they engaging with your site?

• Monitoring the performance of your keywords for your website to ensure your Search Engine performance is optimised. Do you appear high enough in google so that your customers will find you?

• Using an email based system e.g. Mailchimp that allows you to monitor your email open rates, click through rates, unsubscribes etc. Do your subscribers respond to your emails or one type of email campaign compared to another?

• Monitoring your social media demographics and engagement levels. Do your followers match your target audience? Which channel is more effective for brand building vs sales generation? What posts are more effective than other posts e.g. image driven vs video based?

• Conducting Net Promotor Score (NPS) research to understand your customers loyalty to your business. Are they willing to recommend your business to their family and friends?

• Adding UTM tracking codes to your digital advertising, social media activity or email campaigns. How do the different channels drive traffic to your website? Which channel is more effective? How does one advertising media e.g. Google paid ads compared to ads you run for example on Facebook?

• Using a CRM system to record and monitor customer engagement and sales. What approaches generate the most leads and which of these turn into paying customers?

• You can use the same CRM data to explore which customers are the most important to your business? What characteristics do this customers share and how can you find more businesses or individuals who share the same characteristics to help drive forward your business?

Want to discuss more how to measure and monitor your marketing efforts then contact Richard Milton from e-nexus Ltd by emailing richardmilton@e-nexus.co.uk

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