Friday 12th September 2008 – Christmas approaches

Friday 12th September 2008 – Christmas approaches

Sep 12

Mike Nightingale is back in the chair and for his 60 seconds wants introducers as the commissions they pay can be a useful source of passive income (if you have not read Robert Kiyosaki’s book Rich Dad, Poor Dad that is what the book is all about).

Several people mention Christmas. Jamie did an animated Advent Calendar for PwC two years ago who want it again. It is an environmentally friendly alternative to Christmas cards. Neera Menon from educo gym reminds us we might want to get in shape before Christmas so we have that extra muscle to burn up that extra food intake we get in the festive season. Her before and after photos of Gavin M-H at 48 Harley Street impress with the loss of inches round the waist and pounds, but strangely he is away on holiday in France – presumably piling them back on. Kirsty Joly’s artisan chocolates will certainly help here – for the guilty, unloved or under-nourished,

Justin has traction – not from overdoing it at educo gym, but rather from potential World Dive Centre investors in the middle east where he will be visiting Abu Dhabi, Dubai & Saudi. Yours truly talks to people about money.

Richard Houldsworth informs us that the way they work is like making love to a beautiful woman i.e. it’s a bit > just getting out the equipment. Continuing this theme, Maurice Press has been brailling documents for the International Fetish Festival to be held in the Barbican 7-10th October but modestly omits telling us if attendees can feel the exhibits as well – for those of you who were away this morning, I am not making this up.

David Coburn is expanding BRX into India and in two of the smaller groups, there are no IT people.

Louise Hassett of Delfont Mackintosh theatres has buyers over from Asia and the USA wanting to do something different while Atul Patel, subbing for Mike Segall asks us to think intelligently and ask “Who really is your client?”

Karelia Scott-Daniels’s company is now Mans & Garrett Property Selection. Mans being a Scottish name for a nice house – think mansion, and showing that they cover the whole property spectrum. When people move in, they like to have someone at the receiving site all day and are looking for occasional workers here (perhaps retired) but above they must be honest and will have to sign various confidentiality agreements because of the market they are in.

Sayers Butterworth tugs our heart strings with a tale of the interesting view that the public at large have of accountants generally. Fiona Gale will give us 3/4 page advertorial in The Guardian Business pages with three profiles of experts in your business, for the derisory wedge of £5,000.

Gavin Hirst has some info from Simon Dickens this week and the latter wants intros into the rag trade in general and tee-shirt distribution in particular. Mike Chan of Abbey Alliance Mortgages announces he should have a stand-in next week so he can have a lie-in Friday mornings and points out the difference between what one of his BTL clients thought was the best mortgage with a 4.99% interest rate, but the 4% Arrangement Fee hardly made it the most suitable.

Caroline Hampstead succinctly shows the power of words where changing dark mild to nutty brown increased one particular beer brand sales by 90% – just what you would expect from a good copywriter.

Paul Marmor of Sherrards reminds us of the importance of good employment contracts and making wills followed by Christian Ingerslev donning his undertaker’s black jacket to tell us about his website content management systems.

Alexis spoke to the HR Director of Harley Davidson last week and reminds us that mediocre performance caused by stress perhaps, can be expensive.

Mike Nightingale’s 10 minutes with slides keeps up the high standard. The insurance cost for a property is the reinstatement or rebuilding cost. This bears no relation to open market value and difficult site access for example, can make a huge difference to the rebuilding cost. His clients are handled by one point of contact (no call centres) and give worldwide all risks cover, so taking a nice painting, laptop and jewellery to their home on France would be covered. Underwriting and valuation are done at outset. He does not mention it, but cheap insurers sometimes underwrite at point of claim i.e. looking for an excuse to avoid paying out. Cheapest can be very poor value.

George Emsden