The BUSINESS
Takes the Biscuit
SANDWICH
Online shopping site IceLab has sorted the best from the rest among Kentish retailers on Web. The Sandwich-based company awarded biscuit retailer Biccies (
www.biccies. com) the top prize of a stay at the Wallet’s Court Country House Hotel & Spa in Dover. Nominations were picked by the public and the fi nalists were judged by a panel of independent business people – Graham Seymour (Shopper Anonymous Kent), Steve Gooding (TheBunker. net), Sam Anderson (Post & Packing Warehouse), Hayden Sutherland (Ideal Interface), Sezen Zeki, (Channel Chamber of Commerce) and Paul Andrews (Jobs In Kent). Second place, as chosen by the judges, was www.
shoponyourdoorstep.com of Broadstairs in Kent. Coming fi rst in the eyes of the 700- plus public votes and awarded third place by the judges was Ben Barratt's website www. billandbenthecartoonmen. com. In fourth place was www.tshirtwonderland.
co.uk, in fi fth was www.fentonsofkent.
co.uk and in sixth www.
theperfectcardcompany.co.uk The awards were presented as part of the iShopKent 2011 event, which brought together local online retailers.
"Many people enjoy the ease and convenience of shopping online but would also like to keep their money local," said Alan Noake, the owner of IceLab. "Instead of driving to a shopping centre, one click of the button online opens the door to access businesses the buyer knows are based in Kent." The awards were
presented by last year’s winner, Georgette Hewitt, from
www.thepresentclub. com, who went on to appear on BBC’s Dragon’s Den.
The ceremony was held at Pines Calyx, St Margaret’s Bay near Dover.
www.indexmagazine.co.uk
France to Fortnum & Mason CANTERBURY
Patriana, a producer of fi ne hams, cheeses and sausages based at Canterbury's The Goods Shed, has cracked Fortnum and Mason with seven products, and another to be introduced shortly.
Its range includes
Basque Kintoa ham, which won 3 star gold at this year's Great Taste awards.
Every Tuesday Tune in weekly from 1pm- 2pm on Tuesdays to the Kent Business Bunker radio show, featuring Tenterden entrepreneur Paul Andrews and Canterbury Index Business Editor Jules Serkin.
www.kentbusinessradio.co.uk
To market, to market WHITSTABLE
IMK, a Whitstable based internet marketing company, is keeping money in the local economy through a free business directory and website
www.made-in-kent.co.uk. "The service is aimed at the great local food and drinks producers, engineering and manufacturing companies and those that may be of assistance to them," said Mark Smith of IMK. "We're passionate about getting Kent's profi le raised. It's a great place to live and work."
Paparazzi at
Saturday 25th February Lord Mayor’s Annual Ball Canterbury College (free parking). Starts 6.45pm with free glass of bubbly courtesy of Shepherd Neame. Three course dinner, tables of up to 12. Music by Local Band, Maize. Tickets £50. Contact: 01227 862080 or fi ona.
balchin@canterbury.gov.uk
Your Service FAVERSHAM
A collaboration between Kent Creative Arts and the Deeson Group of Faversham has resulted in a website offering local businesses Kent-based images to use in promotions at www.
kentphotolibrary.org. Photographers – amateur
or professional – are encouraged to submit their images to the website and they will receive a payment when the pictures are purchased. The only requirement is that the images have a connection with Kent – they can be on any subject from the iconic to the quirky. Nathalie Banaigs, Founder
of Kent Creative Arts, said: “The cost of using rights- managed photographs are often prohibitive for small businesses which need images but cannot afford a bespoke photo shoot. The website offers quintessential images of Kent.”
Oil discovered in Canterbury CANTERBURY
Mixing oils to treat her childrens' skin condition turned into a business for Canterbury mother-of-two Liat D'Elia of L.Oved Essentials.
Liat says: “When we moved to Kent, we were really affected by the harshness of the water. My toddlers’ skin became raw even with the most ‘delicate’ of cleansers so I started researching. I studied aromatherapy and massage here in Canterbury and began to develop blends of oils that I used to apply to myself and my children. Then friends started asking if they could try some.
"I soon saw the
potential. I started with about £500 initially which was basically for ingredients and some printing. Everything we make is natural. It hasn’t been easy as people have been tightening their belts, and not outsourcing means long hours, but word is spreading and the local networking groups have been invaluable.”
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The company, set up by Patrick Dear six years ago, has also clinched some customers in France's Nord Pas de Calais region.
INDEX business EVENTS
Thursday 19th January Meet and Tweet at the Hotel Continental, Whitstable, 10am on every third Thursday of the month.
www.whitstabletweetup.co.uk
Wednesday 1st February Its 4 Networking meets every other Wednesday. See
www.4networking.biz
The INDEX magazine January 2012
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