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Is 2011 the DIY comeback year?
The new year is a time when many households decide to make some improvements to the home which can range from buying new pieces of furniture to extensive refurbishments.
However as Christmas can be an expensive time of year as well, January is a month which might involve a lot of window shopping and discussion. Retailers will inevitably do as much as they can to be competitive which also means there will be some fantastic deals to be found.
The fragility of the economy is still a major concern for many consumers and might stop some shoppers from ordering a whole new bedroom, bathroom or kitchen. However, everyone is different and some people might prioritise the furniture or the electrical appliances such as new TV’s and sound systems.
Other consumers might look at the situation and think that now is a good time to invest in the property with new additions such as double glazing or loft insulation. Features such as these can significantly reduce energy bills and over time you easily cover the cost with the savings made.
For shoppers the biggest news of the new year is rise in VAT from 17.5% to 20%. This is going to make certain things that little bit more expensive which may result in families having to rein in the spending which could be very damaging for retailers. Thankfully VAT does not apply to the vast majority of food items so it should not make feeding the family any more expensive.
Decorating the home with small additions or perhaps some DIY are likely to be popular in 2011 with consumers trying to get as much as they can for their money. If this is your choice then it is advised that you also invest in some cheap blinds or temporary blinds because maintaining the privacy of your own home is important.
As 2011 gets underway it is clear that many people are apprehensive about the future but there is also some room for optimism that things will improve. Fear is a powerful and infectious force. However if you think carefully about what you are spending your hard money one and make the right choices then there is nothing to fear.
Arizona turns to private detectives
Private detectives, particularly in the US and in the UK, will often work with the police. This is because their training and experience is required in certain investigations. Private detectives who specialise in specific fields such as DNA, behavioural science or fingerprints can make a big difference in a case.
Arizona, in the US has taken this concept a little further. In the city of Mesa nine civilian private investigators are doing work usually carried out by uniformed officers. This includes processing crime scenes, fraud investigations, finding missing persons and other every day petty crime.
It is easy to see why at first the Mesa police officers were reluctant to hand over any responsibilities to a group of private detectives. However the effectiveness of the private detectives has won the support of the local law enforcement community.
Figures show that the private investigators handled 50% of all burglary calls and wrote 1 in 10 reports which freed up time for uniformed officers. Sadly the Mesa police department has had to go through budget cuts and the police have lost about 80 uniformed officers over the last five years.
The nine private detectives have carried out an immense amount of work for and with the Mesa police. The uniformed officers who were once highly sceptical have now come to realise that they investigators do an incredibly job and for about 30% less pay.
Private detectives are no replacement for the police. The police force in America and other countries around the world is a key institution which maintains law and order and protects civilians. A uniformed police officer represents the law and therefore they cannot be replaced.
Nevertheless it is encouraging to see that private detectives are able to help keep the peace by working closely with local law enforcement and building relationships and trust in communities.
NO LETTING GETS SOCIAL IN 2011!
No Letting Go, the UK’s first and longest established property inventory management franchise is stepping up its marketing activity and harnessing the power of social media. The company has appointed a dedicated external consultant – Zoe Cairns – to enable the No Letting Go network to fully exploit the massive potential represented by the growing portfolio of social media channels.
With traditional advertising tactics in decline, under the guidance of Zoe Cairns, No Letting Go will use various social media networking techniques to boost its marketing function. Given a recent survey by top management consultancy McKinsey, – which revealed that 63% of 3,000 businesses surveyed claim that using the likes of Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn et al has increased the effectiveness of their marketing – an enhanced knowledge of social marketing tactics is destined to reap positive rewards for the brand. By using social media to connect with, and build the trust of key marketing targets, No Letting Go will capitalise on the unique and increasingly relevant lure of social networking to drive franchise recruitment. In addition, the 22 strong network of franchisees will be given training which will enable them, to access this potent business tool to communicate with both current and prospective clients. And with the McKinsey survey also revealing that 45% of respondents claim a reduction in marketing costs as a result of utilising social media channels, franchisees are destined to profit not just from the flexibility afforded by social marketing campaigns (franchise owners can go online in the evenings to upload their planned marketing activity) but will also enjoy clear financial benefits.
Commenting on the appointment, managing director Nick Lyons says “We have always prided ourselves on being an innovative, forward thinking brand and embracing the concept of social marketing is a natural move for us. Whilst we are already using some of the accepted tried and tested social media vehicles, we are keen to develop a strategic, planned programme of activity, which will ensure a sustained online presence commensurate with an established, highly credible national brand. We are also keen for our franchisees to capitalise on the opportunity to strengthen their share of the local inventory services market by exploiting the currently under utilised social marketing resource, which has been proven to deliver tangible results by building relationships and encouraging trust with key business targets. We look forward to working with Zoe to help achieve this goal’.
For more information on No Letting Go, visit them on stand 216 or go to the No Letting Go web site www.nolettinggo.co.uk / call 0845 659 9980. No Letting Go will also be exhibiting at the ARLA (Association of Residential Letting Agents) show, 1 March, Hammersmith, London.
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For more information please contact
Carla Wessel, Blueberry Communications tel 01227 700 175 / m 07970 252566
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