website design, branding and marketing in Newcastle and Northeast

Blogging for Business Workshops

Vicki Stone Marketing are holding our next Blogging for Business workshop on: Friday 20th April 2012, 10am- 1pm Venue: Newcastle Business Village, 33 Bellingham Drive, Benton, Tyne And Wear NE12 9SZ We’ll be tapping into Richard Stone’s knowledge and blogging experience and he will be focusing on: Blogging – how to get started Driving traffic to [...]

What is an RSS feed and what is it good for

Have you ever heard of RSS or seen the symbol or even seen the statement “subscribe to our feed” Well what is it? RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication, which basically is a set of web formats for delivering regularly changing web content. Many news-related sites, blogs and other online publishers syndicate their content as [...]

How to backup your Facebook page

You make backups of pretty much everything, images, videos, documents, website favourites, mobile phone data, emails… you do I hope. Why should you back up your Facebook? You may well think that Facebook already does that already. Well yes they do, however here a few reasons why should make a copy for yourself. What if [...]

This time next year- planning for 2012

Well it’s here! December. The time of year we start reflecting on what we’ve achieved over the past 12 months and making plans for the year ahead. A new year can mean a new start, and whether you have big ambitions for the next year or plan to implement small changes that could make business [...]

Is your Twitter account sending out spam messages

Is your Twitter account sending Spam messages through the direct message system? Have you received a direct Twitter message from a follower or someone you follow, along the lines of? “Someone is posting nasty updates on their Twitter about you, here’s the post they’ve been making [some shortened url link.RU]. 1st thing If you are [...]

Donna swaps lab coat to promote her home region!

April 13th, 2012 user

Vicki Stone

It was a fresh start coming back to the North East after 3 great years in Leeds working as a Medicinal Chemist in Cancer Research. Now I was eager to get a Chemist position in the North East. Whilst I was waiting for replies I wondered if I could find something else to do that I would both enjoy and be good at?

I am a very socially active person and for the past few years I have been an Ambassador for Science involving Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, and volunteered at Newcastle and Manchester Science Festivals – the geeky side of me has to get out some way! Music is also a great passion of mine too and I have run and promoted a few music festivals, and even a friend’s band – I loved this and seemed to be good at it!

Then I attended a networking event at Sunderland University called ‘Informal Friday’, an event where anyone can turn up discuss ideas and also show their entrepreneurial side! It was here I came away with the idea of helping to promote the North East with an online organisation in some way! I had to ask myself a few questions:

Q. Who could my online organisation help? Answer – Anyone in the North East!
Q. How? Answer – Using Social Media, Blogs, tutorials and More!

The North East HUB was born! I quickly started by setting up several Social Media Sites and we now have a big following. Then I launched the blog site and went on the hunt to find a small army of guest authors who kindly contribute to our blog site each week.

Read more »

From corporate to cones!

April 13th, 2012 user

Vicki Stone

With over 40 years of corporate experience between them Mark and Sharon Greener decided it was time for something a little bit different…

Mark has worked in the automotive industry for the last 25 years and can proudly name BMW, Porsche and Audi as a number of his clients as a management consultant. Sharon’s background was in customer service for a leading telecommunications provider and has more, recently, enjoyed the lifestyle of a lady of leisure.

While Mark is a self-confessed workaholic after making millions for other people over the years he decided it was his turn. He’ll admit himself he’s had a couple of ideas in the past about businesses ventures, but none he has ever felt so strongly about as Archers Jersey ice cream. The beloved Porsche (that we hear rarely left the garage) was sold to fund the business, hairnets were ordered and the Greener’s ice cream adventure started….

Apparently, the person to blame for this whole thing is Mark’s mother in law who bought him an ice-cream maker for Christmas two years ago. In reality, those who know Mark will tell you it’s his passion for business, delivering exceptional customer service and truly believing in a product as the real reasons.

This whole story is a real family affair, as the location of the parlour is down to daughter Jessica. As a final year Marketing student at Newcastle University, Jessica had lived in Jesmond and knew that an Archer’s ice-crea parlour was just what Jesmond needed. A couple of other areas were looked at but nothing felt as right as 36 Acorn Road did, decision made!

From selecting the right type of chairs to the excitement when the Archer’s sign went up for the first time, there’s been no looking back for the Greener’s.

Mark still travels the country in his role as a management consultant, but longs for the weekends when he can spend them in Jesmond; some would say he gets the best of both worlds. Sharon has enjoyed 70 hour weeks from the beginning quickly becoming, according to some of our customers “the best ice-cream maker in Tyne and Wear”.

While the parlour is still very new, when you visit the corporate roots of the owners are evident. Whether it’s in the customer service delivered, the premium quality of the product or the attention to detail in the parlour décor.

The first summer in Jesmond is eagerly anticipated by owners, staff and customers alike.

Be sure to watch this space for more developments at Archers because we all know the corporate world doesn’t stop moving, and neither does Archers.

New Trend is the Missing Link for Home Business

April 13th, 2012 user

Vicki Stone

A trend for ‘co-working’ is gripping North East home-based businesses, providing that ‘missing link’ that makes home-working a great way to set up and run a business.

“Millions of people around the UK have chosen to set up and run their company from home, reducing costs and providing for an improved work/life balance”, explains Jayne Graham, Founder of Space on Tap, a company that’s been run from a home base since its start-up almost 2 years ago.

“Technology has made homeworking feasible for a vast range of businesses, however although it can be a sound business choice to set up from home there’s just one thing missing; other people! We introduced Colleagues on Tap Co-working days to recreate the buzz of a day in the office for homeworkers and the feedback from ‘co-workers’ has been phenomenal.”

The one-day events are run around the North East region in some great venues, and provide the opportunity to get plenty of work done as well as make new contacts, join colleagues for lunch and share business knowledge. For details of events already planned for April and May go to http://bit.ly/CoworkingCalendar or email jaynegraham@spaceontap.com

£10,000 of prizes and Global Recognition up for Grabs at Startup Weekend Newcastle

April 13th, 2012 user

Vicki Stone

Startup Weekend Newcastle – Global Entrepreneur Event Coming to Newcastle!

We’re excited to announce that Startup Weekend Newcastle is taking place in Newcastle Business School on 20th – 22nd April. Startup Weekend gives you the opportunity to create a business in 54 hours, with global recognition and over £10,000 worth of prizes up for grabs for the winning teams. Startup Weekend have inspired over 45,000 entrepreneurs in 35 countries to date. Do you think you have what it takes to be one?

Tickets are on sale now through: http://newcastle.startupweekend.org/tickets/

Ladies that network event 10th May 2012 – Michelle Taylor, Tallulah Love

March 18th, 2012 user

Vicki Stone

The next ‘Ladies that network’ networking event will take place on 10th May 2012.

Michelle Taylor from Tallulah Love will be taking our questions on setting up and running her Internationally renowned lingerie business from right here in the North East.

UK based Tallulah Love is the place to find detailed, well made luxury lingerie. The range which launched in Paris at the Salon International de la lingerie show in January 2010 in fast becoming the favourite of fashionistas globally. The range is sold in over 14 countries including Japan, the USA and soon the likes of India, Dubai and Australia will soon feel the Tallulah Love. For more information visit the Tallulah Love website.

Where’s the event? Summerhill Pavilion, Winchester Terrace, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE4 6EH - parking is extremely limited so we recommend parking at Blandford Square, next to the Discovery Museum – see location on Google Maps (walk up Westgate Road from St James’ Boulevard, then 3rd left into Summerhill Terrace where the African food shop is opposite the bike shops- or 2nd left if you are coming out of Blandford Square. Then turn right up to the top of the Square into Winchester Terrace.)

What time is it on? 10am-12pm

What does it include? The event cost is £10 which includes a Q&A with Michelle, lots of networking, teas, coffees and cakes (from Yum Yum cakes).

How do I book? Book & pose your questions to Michelle below:

Ladies that Network Newcastle launch was a success!

March 13th, 2012 user

Vicki Stone

: Cakes by www.yumyumcakes.co.uk

A big thank you to all the North East Women in business who attended our ‘Ladies that Network’ launch on International Womens Day on Thursday 8th March at Summerhill Pavilion.

And a big thanks to Space on Tap for finding us this fantastic venue! To View the story visit the Journal’s website

The next event is on May 10th 2012 from 10am-12pm. For more information and to be added to our e-invite please email vicki@vickistonemarketing.co.uk Thanks