Wow, I'm just starting on a journey through the complex world of marketing and boy is it scary! There's so much to think about and there's information coming from every angle - do I go for Twitter, Facebook, Linked In? Should I be concentrating on the media? How do you I word an affective press release? The information all seems to contradict each other. So I've decided to try a bit of everything and also get some quotes for professional help (marketing not psychological, although that might help too!)
If you've got any tips do let me know.
Monday, 18 January 2010
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
Exhibiting at the Fine Food Fair at Olympia in London
I'm taking the brave and scary step of deciding to have a stand at the Speciality and Fine Food Fair this September. It will be my first exhibition and I must admit it's all rather daunting; but the possibility of sourcing buyers for the chocolate holiday is really exciting!
http://www.specialityandfinefoodfairs.co.uk/
I'm now sourcing banners and where I can hire furniture for the stand. Then I've got to work out what samples I will need to take. It's really motivated me to get back into the swing of everything as I'd lost some of my drive over Christmas.
Has anyone got any tips on exhibiting?
http://www.specialityandfinefoodfairs.co.uk/
I'm now sourcing banners and where I can hire furniture for the stand. Then I've got to work out what samples I will need to take. It's really motivated me to get back into the swing of everything as I'd lost some of my drive over Christmas.
Has anyone got any tips on exhibiting?
Friday, 18 December 2009
It's been a long time!
Wow, tomorrow it will be a year since I posted here. I feel very embarrassed about that!
A lot has been happening - mainly converting to a limited company so that I can run Holidays From Home as a social enterprise.
It's been an eventful year for Holidays From Home. We completed the Lottery funded pilot study with over 450 people taking part and receiving virtual holidays.
Now the voluntary organisation has been converted into a social enterprise so that I can sell the holidays and use the majority of the profits to produce more destinations and increase access to the world for people who are unable to travel due to health, financial or environmental reasons.
You may have seen us in the news, as we've had some incredible coverage in the media, including local radio, newspapers and television.
We are also in the Reader's Digest this month (December), in the Power of One section - page 22 if you've got a copy, or look out for it the next time you visit your doctor or dentist!
FREE Virtual Daytrip
If you go online now you can sign up to receive a FREE virtual day trip. This month it's a visit to Iceland - You will be spending the day visiting a spectacular geyser to see one of nature's most dramatic shows, then you'll take a ride on a sleigh, pulled by a reindeer, before relaxing in your own, private log cabin.
New Chocolate Holiday!
Do you like chocolate? Is someone you know a complete chocoholic? Well then you have to find out more about the new Virtual Chocolate Holiday!
It's just been launched and it takes the virtual traveller on a journey round the world following chocolate from bean to bar.
Starting in Saint Lucia seeing the beans being grown . Then it's on to Mexico to learn about the historic roots of chocolate and how it came to be a world wide favourite. Next you go to a factory in Belgium to see the cocoa beans being transformed into liquid chocolate, before visiting a chocolatier who will make it into mouth-watering chocolates.
Along the way you'll learn about every stage of the chocolate process. There's even a chance to taste samples and try some delicious chocolate recipes.
The holiday comes as a gift set and includes a selection of chocolate truffles and other chocolate products. It's the perfect excuse to escape the cold outside, snuggle up in the warm and eat chocolate! What could be better?
Visit the Chocolate Holiday page to find out more.
A lot has been happening - mainly converting to a limited company so that I can run Holidays From Home as a social enterprise.
It's been an eventful year for Holidays From Home. We completed the Lottery funded pilot study with over 450 people taking part and receiving virtual holidays.
Now the voluntary organisation has been converted into a social enterprise so that I can sell the holidays and use the majority of the profits to produce more destinations and increase access to the world for people who are unable to travel due to health, financial or environmental reasons.
You may have seen us in the news, as we've had some incredible coverage in the media, including local radio, newspapers and television.
We are also in the Reader's Digest this month (December), in the Power of One section - page 22 if you've got a copy, or look out for it the next time you visit your doctor or dentist!
FREE Virtual Daytrip
If you go online now you can sign up to receive a FREE virtual day trip. This month it's a visit to Iceland - You will be spending the day visiting a spectacular geyser to see one of nature's most dramatic shows, then you'll take a ride on a sleigh, pulled by a reindeer, before relaxing in your own, private log cabin.
New Chocolate Holiday!
Do you like chocolate? Is someone you know a complete chocoholic? Well then you have to find out more about the new Virtual Chocolate Holiday!
It's just been launched and it takes the virtual traveller on a journey round the world following chocolate from bean to bar.
Starting in Saint Lucia seeing the beans being grown . Then it's on to Mexico to learn about the historic roots of chocolate and how it came to be a world wide favourite. Next you go to a factory in Belgium to see the cocoa beans being transformed into liquid chocolate, before visiting a chocolatier who will make it into mouth-watering chocolates.
Along the way you'll learn about every stage of the chocolate process. There's even a chance to taste samples and try some delicious chocolate recipes.
The holiday comes as a gift set and includes a selection of chocolate truffles and other chocolate products. It's the perfect excuse to escape the cold outside, snuggle up in the warm and eat chocolate! What could be better?
Visit the Chocolate Holiday page to find out more.
Friday, 19 December 2008
2008 Update
Hi Everyone, since 2008 is coming to an end I thought now would be a perfect time to bring you up to date with everything that’s been happening with Holidays From Home — there’s been a lot!
The first half of the year was spent setting up the Norfolk Pilot, using the Lottery funding we achieved last December. This involved having the holidays printed as books and recorded onto audio CD. We launched the pilot in August and so far have 40 people taking the holidays and getting some really positive feedback. We still have holidays available so if you know anyone who lives in Norfolk and might like to take one please get in touch. The holidays don’t require internet access so are accessible for a wide range of people. We’re now working with NHS Norfolk to find ways to directly provide the holidays to those that need them. We are also developing some new destinations, including Japan and India.
In November we updated the website and then launched the holidays nationally, allowing free access to the holidays online, for anyone who can’t go on holiday because of ill health, disability or age. If you know of anyone that may benefit please pass on our details. We also made some additions to the online holidays by way of sound effects which people can listen to while they take the holiday. Visit http://www.holidaysfromhome.co.uk/page.php?id=4 for an example day.
We’ve had amazing amount of interest from people as well as a lot of media coverage. We were featured twice in the Evening News and I was nominated for a Local Hero award; which was a lovely surprise. I was also interviewed live on Future Radio, a local radio station and wrote an article for Disability Now. We’ve had a lot of contacts because of that piece including Radio Four, not once; but twice! First a show called Travellers Tree were doing a programme on Virtual Travel and wanted to include us. I had to go into the Radio Norfolk studio and record an interview. It went out in November and 20 people from across the UK joined within days. We’re still getting new members on a regular basis because of it; which is fantastic. We were also contacted by You & Yours, who also wanted to do a piece on Holidays From Home. It’s due to go out at 12pm (noon) on Friday 9th January, so if you’re around please have a listen, or you should be able to listen again online during the following week.
I’ve been filming again for Inside Out, I was contacted by the man who filmed my original piece on severe ME who wanted to do a follow up. It was a perfect opportunity to promote Holidays From Home, so I agreed and we’ve been filming on and off for the past six months. It’s going to be shown on Wednesday 14th January on BBC1 East or SKY 981 at 7.30 pm, if you would like to watch it. I’m hoping we get lots of new members and opportunities from it.
We’ve had several successful and fun quiz nights which have helped us raise much needed funds and we are now working on ways to sustain our projects through the following year.
People have been so kind in volunteering their time to help Holidays From Home this year, we’ve had advice from some of the top business people across Norfolk who have really helped us develop our services, we’ve also had amazing people helping us research and write holidays, donate photographs, support us at events and generally spread the word about Holidays From Home.
Thank you so much for the continuing support which you have given us. We wouldn’t be where we are without you, it’s truly appreciated by myself and all the users of the holidays. We’ve been very blessed in 2008 and I hope that 2009 brings more great things for Holidays From Home.
I want to wish you a Happy Holidays, from Holidays From Home.
Best Wishes
Claire
The first half of the year was spent setting up the Norfolk Pilot, using the Lottery funding we achieved last December. This involved having the holidays printed as books and recorded onto audio CD. We launched the pilot in August and so far have 40 people taking the holidays and getting some really positive feedback. We still have holidays available so if you know anyone who lives in Norfolk and might like to take one please get in touch. The holidays don’t require internet access so are accessible for a wide range of people. We’re now working with NHS Norfolk to find ways to directly provide the holidays to those that need them. We are also developing some new destinations, including Japan and India.
In November we updated the website and then launched the holidays nationally, allowing free access to the holidays online, for anyone who can’t go on holiday because of ill health, disability or age. If you know of anyone that may benefit please pass on our details. We also made some additions to the online holidays by way of sound effects which people can listen to while they take the holiday. Visit http://www.holidaysfromhome.co.uk/page.php?id=4 for an example day.
We’ve had amazing amount of interest from people as well as a lot of media coverage. We were featured twice in the Evening News and I was nominated for a Local Hero award; which was a lovely surprise. I was also interviewed live on Future Radio, a local radio station and wrote an article for Disability Now. We’ve had a lot of contacts because of that piece including Radio Four, not once; but twice! First a show called Travellers Tree were doing a programme on Virtual Travel and wanted to include us. I had to go into the Radio Norfolk studio and record an interview. It went out in November and 20 people from across the UK joined within days. We’re still getting new members on a regular basis because of it; which is fantastic. We were also contacted by You & Yours, who also wanted to do a piece on Holidays From Home. It’s due to go out at 12pm (noon) on Friday 9th January, so if you’re around please have a listen, or you should be able to listen again online during the following week.
I’ve been filming again for Inside Out, I was contacted by the man who filmed my original piece on severe ME who wanted to do a follow up. It was a perfect opportunity to promote Holidays From Home, so I agreed and we’ve been filming on and off for the past six months. It’s going to be shown on Wednesday 14th January on BBC1 East or SKY 981 at 7.30 pm, if you would like to watch it. I’m hoping we get lots of new members and opportunities from it.
We’ve had several successful and fun quiz nights which have helped us raise much needed funds and we are now working on ways to sustain our projects through the following year.
People have been so kind in volunteering their time to help Holidays From Home this year, we’ve had advice from some of the top business people across Norfolk who have really helped us develop our services, we’ve also had amazing people helping us research and write holidays, donate photographs, support us at events and generally spread the word about Holidays From Home.
Thank you so much for the continuing support which you have given us. We wouldn’t be where we are without you, it’s truly appreciated by myself and all the users of the holidays. We’ve been very blessed in 2008 and I hope that 2009 brings more great things for Holidays From Home.
I want to wish you a Happy Holidays, from Holidays From Home.
Best Wishes
Claire
Monday, 1 December 2008
You and Yours on Radio 4!
Well the media coverage just keeps on coming which is fantastic! I've just organised an interview tomorrow with a reporter from You and Yours who are going to broadcast a piece on Holidays From Home over Christmas. I hope we get more members after this one as we did really well after the Travellers Tree.
Monday, 24 November 2008
Interview for National ME Magazine
I've just completed an interview for the ME Association which is going to appear in their January magazine. I can't believe how many people are getting in touch at the moment. Word really seems to be spreading!
Saturday, 22 November 2008
All go an the media front!
Yesterday was a busy day. I finished filming for the Inside Out East show on Holidays From Home. It's going to be going out on Wednesday 14th January so make sure you keep an eye out on BBC1.
We also got a call from You & Yours the Radio 4 show who also want to do a piece! I'm really excited about the coverage as it all helps to spread the word about Holidays From Home!
We also got a call from You & Yours the Radio 4 show who also want to do a piece! I'm really excited about the coverage as it all helps to spread the word about Holidays From Home!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)