Features

‘Jingle bots’ are artificially ramming online shopping baskets to use up stock

I have my reservations about this story because we spend a lot of time in our office poring over the news for interesting stories and takes, and we haven’t seen it reported like this before. But it comes from a company called Radware, which is a publicly traded web app…

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The latest business data is bad news, but the reasons given spell a good omen

This morning there was some bad news for business, but which definitely comes with a silver lining. So, the bad news first: the ‘Flash UK Composite Output Index’ from data firm, Markit, which tracks private sector business activity, found that it shrunk during the month of December. It has dropped…

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The election is over – time for the Tories to deliver for small businesses

It now looks as though political stasis and all the damage that does to business will be lifted in 2020. Boris Johnson’s victory in the election is the Tories’ strongest since the Thatcher era, and gives him great scope to implement bold policies. At this juncture it’s worth taking a look…

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Small business owners dip into personal wealth to survive? Of course they do

We are living through an era where there is much discussion about capitalism, taxes, executive pay and so on. Is Philip Green a monster for raiding the BHS coffers when they were his to raid? Is the pay of a city CEO morally acceptable when his lowest paid workers are…

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Want to know who will win the election? Watch the pound

In recent years there has been a lot of talk about how badly wrong pollsters can get it. Nobody thought Trump would win, nobody thought Leave would win the referendum, indeed even elections have been too close to call. Though it now feels like a different historical epoch to look…

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The Lib Dems want to abolish business rates, but don’t hold your breath

Over the weekend the leader of the Lib Dems, Jo Swinson, visited Hertforshire to discuss her party’s approach to SMEs. The timing was important: it was Small Business Saturday, an idea imported from the United States, the purpose of which is to promote buying local, and to draw attention to the…

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The importance of quality ingredients in fish feeds

Poor formulation in fish feeds can lead to incorrect quantities and low-quality ingredients being used, which can affect the health of the fish in an aquarium or pond but will also have significant impact on water quality. Why is fish food so important? When directing customers on how best to…

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Pet owners guide to safe treats and chews for their pets

As treats and chews come in a variety of types and sizes, it’s important for owners to choose a chew appropriate in size and shape for their pet. Advise them they should always supervise their pet when eating it. Some owners choose to feed their dogs raw bones. Smaller, softer…

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Helping puppies to get into the grooming groove

It goes without saying that welcoming a new puppy into the family is an extremely exciting time. However, introducing a new pet into the home requires training, setting boundaries and starting new habits for your customers and their furry friend.  With this in mind, it’s important that customers understand their…

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Taking a look at the Emerald Green Starling

As we have seen over this ongoing explanatory series, bird keeping as a hobby is almost as diverse as the species that are actually kept. I use the same descriptive statement each month and that is because I really believe it, there really is ‘a species of captive bred bird…

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