I 1st fell in love with networking at 4N#. Plus reading Brad Burtons GOYA, if you don't know what GOYA stands for its Get off your Arse, a truly brilliant business book . I suppose Networking appeals to the part of me that believes that kindnesses are rewarded, that honesty and hard work pay off, and that determination and dedication are things to be proud of.
I wouldn't give up my 4N breakfasts for love nor money. They are fun and Ive learned so much from attending them. Ive made great contacts who I'm happy to pass work too, Ive only been a member for about 5 weeks. So I'm not expecting the referrals to come flooding in yet, but already Ive met loads of great people I'm happy to work with. Plus had loads of free advice that's saved me loads of money. Want to join 4N start here or join me at one of Crewe's meetings dates and booking info here
Ive always wanted to help people, I'm that person that old lades ask to reach things from the top shelf in supermarkets. I was also a member of Join Me. A group based on the idea of Pass it on. That you could make the word a better place by being nicer, kinder, and doing random good deeds secretly.
So I decided that I would like to do something to combine my organisational skills, with my love of networking and help an under supported Charity.
Missing People http://www.missingpeople.org.uk/
So I decided to GOMA and organise a quarterly business tweet up with extras.
Its called BizTrain You may wonder why, 2 reasons well the biz bit is obvious , but the train well a train is a vehicle that takes you and others to your destination. Plus it also tied in nicely with Virgin Training Academy venue
So we're going to have free workshops and a speaker. A charity auction, food, and a laugh.
We will both get to meet loads of great businesses, and also meet up with many of the local tweeters who make tweeting such a joy . Can't wait to meet you!
It will be held on the 23rd Feb at Virgin Trains Training Academy.
You can book Here
http://biztrain.eventbrite.com/
The speaker is an inspirational lady called Sally Inkster @DivaDressing from Diva Dressing
Shes going to show you how your clothes can work for your business.
We have excellent workshops
from
Amanda Daniels @koogar The creative director of Koogar Digital Marketing "What your brand says about your business"
and from Mhairi Gordon @CoachMhairi who specialises in Business coaching start up creative businesses "Your business workout."
Plus if you want to talk to me at any time during the event on how you can get more from your twitter account. I'm quite willing to help where I can.
If you'd like us to send an Invite to a company you'd like to work with but aren't sure about approaching directly. If they attend we will introduce you and your business to them. The rest is up to you.
As soon as you sign up. Ill tweet a bit about your business, inviting people to come and meet you!
Hope to see you there. and help you promote your business to my followers.
Booking link http://biztrain.eventbrite.com/
Id like to finish with a big thank you to Brad Burton @BradBurton for showing me that business can be done the way I hoped. Honestly fairly and by building friendships, and for his great book Goya buy Paperback here and new Kindle version here
Monday, 17 January 2011
Saturday, 8 January 2011
So what has Rattytatty been upto over Christmas
Well, other than having a truly fantastic Christmas, loads of fantastic food, and a brilliant cocktail party with great friends. I have also been working. Completing a set of wedding stationery for a client , Her wedding dress is a shade of Oyster, Bridesmaids are in purple and the ring is white gold. So these are the colours I used to design the set
Wanting to keep the tables fairly uncluttered we went for a 3 sided tall thin combined table number and menu
Unfortunately the photos of the table plan didn't come out very well. But I am getting some photos from the venue so I will replace this image at a later date.
If you'd lke to know more about our stationery please visit us at
I also have designed 4 sets of stationery for Haslington Hall's, Haslington open days which are on the
15th January 19th February and 12th of March.
This set was based on the theme Easter. Love the yellow and orange gingham check. The favors have yellow mini eggs in them bedded in iridescent orange cellophane nests
The black and white set features an image of Haslington Hall drawn by our Artist. The set was designed around the Tudor buildings front.
This set was designed to go with gold candelabra and gold beaded mat, cream table cloths and chair covers adorned with gold chair bows.
I was then inspired to create a Gold and Cream paper bouquet to finish the set.
If you want to know more about our event management and venue dressing services
please visit
Can't wait till I get photos, of all the complete sets adorning the tables of my clients wedding. and Haslington Halls open days
Thursday, 16 December 2010
Why a professional photographer, and why you should insure your event.
Two pieces of information that will help you get great wedding photos, but not fall foul of the expensive traps used by some companies.
Don't rely on friends and family to photograph your wedding, do get a professional photographer.
They know exactly what to do to get the pictures you need, they are used to getting people to stand in the right place for the all important group shots without to much hassle .They understand the light conditions and have the right equipment to ensure great pictures on dull and overly bright days.
The day only happens once, make sure you have the day recorded properly.
Check out the reputations as bad professional photographers do exist. Also look for a photographer who offers you a CD of your images, not a DVD to music, but a CD of printable images and the right to print them. This will enable you to send photos to anyone you want, and put them on Facebook or get a professional or friend to make you a scrapbook and will save you a lot of money if you plan to use a lot of photos.
Photographers I recommend in the North West and who fit my criteria are Steel Orchid
Lawrence Clift Photography and George and Gleyns Dawber all offer CDs of your images. all take excellent photos and both record your wedding whilst remaining unobtrusive. Steel Orchid however will if required dress in gothic outfits if that suits your wedding theme.
Don't rely on friends and family to photograph your wedding, do get a professional photographer.
They know exactly what to do to get the pictures you need, they are used to getting people to stand in the right place for the all important group shots without to much hassle .They understand the light conditions and have the right equipment to ensure great pictures on dull and overly bright days.
I was asked recently what was the most money saving advice I can give to a bride and groom, in fact it also goes for anyone planning a large event.
Insure your event!! With weddings and events costing so much, you have to ask yourselves could you afford to pay for it twice. If the answer is no, or you wouldn't want to, then you really should insure your event. What would you do if the bridegroom broke his leg at his stag doo, or your Mum or Dad are taken ill, close to the wedding ? Or if you find yourself in hospital a few days before the wedding.
There are many things that can go wrong including flooded venues and snow blocked roads but if you are adequately insured it will mean that you can make your alternative plans without undue stress or worry.
For a £30,000 event it should cost you less than £180.00 to insure it
. My recommendation for a wedding insurance company in the Uk is Ecclesiastical mainly due to the fact that when a large wedding list company went bust a few years back, Ecclesiastical had the best record for paying out claims. Check out reputations of event insurance companies before you decide which one to use.
There are many things that can go wrong including flooded venues and snow blocked roads but if you are adequately insured it will mean that you can make your alternative plans without undue stress or worry.
.
Saturday, 11 December 2010
The way a business should be run!
Whilst eating my breakfast I decided to write this post and discussed it with my husband.
Its always very busy at Katsouris, but no matter how long the queue. it always surprises me how quickly we are served, not only that, but once we are being served, other staff members, come and check we are being served.
2 full English breakfasts with 2 sausages. 2 eggs, 3 bacon, beef mushroom, beans. 1/2 inch slice of Bury black pudding. 3 slices of toasted ciabatta and 2 coffees comes to the grand total of £10.45. Not just great value, but each item on that list is great quality. Its fantastic food.
Everything we have ever tried at Katsouris has been the same, from the stunning cakes and deserts, to sandwiches and items from the deli. Great quality and value throughout.
We take our traditional seats outside. yes outside in winter. They have gas heaters, and almost as soon as we are seated, staff come and turn the heater near our table on. Its always been warm enough, but this year we noticed an improvement in our surroundings , they have put in screens to protect you from the wind.
Our breakfast as always arrived quickly, and were perfectly cooked. However the manager apologised for how long we waited, as he felt it wasn't as quick as it should have been.
Every time we have been a member of staff always wanders by and asks if the food is OK. As soon as you finish your breakfasts, the plates are cleared so you can sit and enjoy your coffee.
Empty tables are cleaned almost instantaneously.
I always believe in giving praise where praise is due. I told the manager the breakfasts were even more outstanding than the last ones we had. (and that in my book was no mean feat)
I also believe that we should all point out less than adequate service, when it happens, as how are companies to improve if no one says, That's not good enough. However there just were no issues. From start to finish it was as always a lovely experience.
I don't know how much the staff are paid, or how they are treated. I have seen the manager remind staff who aren't busy to check this or that. So I know that they are expected to work, at delivering a perfect service. The staff always seem friendly and smiley when you talk to them, and when you don't they are quietly, unobtrusively and efficiently tidying up around you.
I noticed today that they had a sign saying they did outside catering, Now normally I would get refs for outside caterers before using them for an event. But if I get an event booking near Bury and they need great food and great value. I wouldn't hesitate in going to Katsouris.
Its definatly not an accident that everything is always excellent, you have to push to keep improving, like they have, and to keep service quality so good. I do not doubt that they run every aspect of the business to the same high standard, so Id recomend them without hesitation.
So why this blog.
I was thinking, that Katsouris represented what I believe a good business is about. Giving great service, great quality and always striving to improve and if that wasn't enough giving it at a great and more than fair price. It is one of the reasons why I started my business, to offer the same values to my customers, as Katsouris do to theirs.
So all you companies struggling out there, losing customers. Nip to bury market, have a breakfast, and if you watch carefully you'll recieve a free lesson on how to run a business and how to keep your customers happy.Ensuring, that people like me tell others about your fantastic. value, quality and service.
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
The most expensive wedding mistake.
This may seem a strange post, from someone who makes a living from people getting married, and thinks that marriage is brilliant. Being very happily married myself.
But and it is a big but,
Someone recently asked me what was the most expensive wedding mistake, and I replied honestly. Marrying the wrong person. Is by far the most expensive mistake you can make both financially and emotionally.
Which made me realise, that in the past your priest or vicar, would at some level question your commitment to marriage and your partner, these days that rarely happens. The wedding industry as a whole wants you to get married. Your families and partner wants you to get married. Before long you get carried away and the event becomes more than just a celebration of your relationship. In some cases it can become the driving force, the money and effort invested almost forces you to go through with your wedding, despite having serious doubts.
I personally know three people who knew on their wedding day and for months before, that the marriage was a big mistake, but felt obliged and under pressure to go through with it.
As a wedding co-ordinator its not my role or right to influence your matrimonial decisions.
However I do feel that some impartial advice now, before you start on your journey together could stop you making the most expensive wedding mistake.
Here are some questions that may help you decide, if you have serious issues in your relationship.
Does your relationship make you happy most of the time? We all have little hiccups, but if your relationship makes you unhappy most of the time. Then you really need to question if you should get married.
Do you trust your partner to be honest and faithful in your relationship? I’m not saying that you can trust anyone 100%. In fact if you do, then you’re more likely to take your relationship for granted. I’m asking if you feel that they are basically honest with you. If you know that they are not, then you really should question why you are marrying them.
Do you trust yourself to be honest and faithful in your relationship? Again I don't believe we can trust ourselves 100%. We all do stupid things occasionally and wonder why we did them. I am asking
Do you already regularly lie to your partner, have you already been unfaithful? If the answer is yes, then you really need to think through your decisions to marry.
Forget the great things about your relationship for a moment. Great things about a relationship rarely are the reason marriages break up. It’s those things that you can't stand, the things that irritate you, the things that make you unhappy, that break up relationships. Can you live with those for the next 20 years, if the answer is no, chances are you won't change them, and will have to live with them. So you need to sit down and work out why you are continuing along this path.
Do you feel superior, or inferior to your partner? Do you feel that you are doing your partner a favour getting married, or that they are doing you a favour marrying you? I'm not talking about the feeling that you are lucky to have found that perfect soul mate. I am asking if you have respect for your partner, if you think they are inferior to you, before you marry, then it won't be long before you take them for granted.
If you feel inferior to your partner, is it because they make you feel stupid, or is it something that you feel anyway. You need to work out why you feel inferior, and make sure that you put this right. Otherwise you may become a doormat or suffer from jealousy, always waiting for your partner to find someone, who is his or her equal.
Unless these issues are addressed, then the marriage is doomed to be very rocky, until they are addressed.
If either you or your partner are violent in your relationship, that issue really needs addressing before you even consider getting married.
If you have ready through this blog, and none of these questions have any relevancy in your relationship, then congratulations and you will have a long and happy relationship, as long as you remember, that honesty and respect, are the cornerstones of happy relationships.
If you read through this blog and one or more of those sections were recognisable. Before you book your wedding venue, or caterer, you need to work on that issue.
If your venues booked, and your caterer is booked, and reading those sections made you feel sick with worry, and brought on the feeling of complete panic. Then you really need to think about stepping backwards,
Going through with the wedding knowing that it’s a complete mistake, may seem the easier thing to do at this moment. But if you really feel that you’re making a huge mistake, in the long run it’s much easier and less destructive to get out now.
If you need to find a councillor try here http://www.pinkfridge.com/lal_marriagecounselling/premarital.htm
I would really appreciate any comments from people who made the most expensive wedding mistake, about any other worrying signs and if they feel that this is a useful post.
For those of you who made it through the questions unscathed, I would be more than happy to work with you on creating the perfect engagement party or wedding for you the very happy couple.
Rattytatty http://www.rattytattydesigns.co.uk/
But and it is a big but,
Someone recently asked me what was the most expensive wedding mistake, and I replied honestly. Marrying the wrong person. Is by far the most expensive mistake you can make both financially and emotionally.
Which made me realise, that in the past your priest or vicar, would at some level question your commitment to marriage and your partner, these days that rarely happens. The wedding industry as a whole wants you to get married. Your families and partner wants you to get married. Before long you get carried away and the event becomes more than just a celebration of your relationship. In some cases it can become the driving force, the money and effort invested almost forces you to go through with your wedding, despite having serious doubts.
I personally know three people who knew on their wedding day and for months before, that the marriage was a big mistake, but felt obliged and under pressure to go through with it.
As a wedding co-ordinator its not my role or right to influence your matrimonial decisions.
However I do feel that some impartial advice now, before you start on your journey together could stop you making the most expensive wedding mistake.
Here are some questions that may help you decide, if you have serious issues in your relationship.
Does your relationship make you happy most of the time? We all have little hiccups, but if your relationship makes you unhappy most of the time. Then you really need to question if you should get married.
Do you trust your partner to be honest and faithful in your relationship? I’m not saying that you can trust anyone 100%. In fact if you do, then you’re more likely to take your relationship for granted. I’m asking if you feel that they are basically honest with you. If you know that they are not, then you really should question why you are marrying them.
Do you trust yourself to be honest and faithful in your relationship? Again I don't believe we can trust ourselves 100%. We all do stupid things occasionally and wonder why we did them. I am asking
Do you already regularly lie to your partner, have you already been unfaithful? If the answer is yes, then you really need to think through your decisions to marry.
Forget the great things about your relationship for a moment. Great things about a relationship rarely are the reason marriages break up. It’s those things that you can't stand, the things that irritate you, the things that make you unhappy, that break up relationships. Can you live with those for the next 20 years, if the answer is no, chances are you won't change them, and will have to live with them. So you need to sit down and work out why you are continuing along this path.
Do you feel superior, or inferior to your partner? Do you feel that you are doing your partner a favour getting married, or that they are doing you a favour marrying you? I'm not talking about the feeling that you are lucky to have found that perfect soul mate. I am asking if you have respect for your partner, if you think they are inferior to you, before you marry, then it won't be long before you take them for granted.
If you feel inferior to your partner, is it because they make you feel stupid, or is it something that you feel anyway. You need to work out why you feel inferior, and make sure that you put this right. Otherwise you may become a doormat or suffer from jealousy, always waiting for your partner to find someone, who is his or her equal.
Unless these issues are addressed, then the marriage is doomed to be very rocky, until they are addressed.
If either you or your partner are violent in your relationship, that issue really needs addressing before you even consider getting married.
If you have ready through this blog, and none of these questions have any relevancy in your relationship, then congratulations and you will have a long and happy relationship, as long as you remember, that honesty and respect, are the cornerstones of happy relationships.
If you read through this blog and one or more of those sections were recognisable. Before you book your wedding venue, or caterer, you need to work on that issue.
If your venues booked, and your caterer is booked, and reading those sections made you feel sick with worry, and brought on the feeling of complete panic. Then you really need to think about stepping backwards,
Going through with the wedding knowing that it’s a complete mistake, may seem the easier thing to do at this moment. But if you really feel that you’re making a huge mistake, in the long run it’s much easier and less destructive to get out now.
If you need to find a councillor try here http://www.pinkfridge.com/lal_marriagecounselling/premarital.htm
I would really appreciate any comments from people who made the most expensive wedding mistake, about any other worrying signs and if they feel that this is a useful post.
For those of you who made it through the questions unscathed, I would be more than happy to work with you on creating the perfect engagement party or wedding for you the very happy couple.
Rattytatty http://www.rattytattydesigns.co.uk/
Sunday, 14 November 2010
Christmas planning service launched with local radio ad and free gift search for 3 lucky readers
Hi
Its been a brilliant week with our Christmas planning service launching with a local radio ad on This is the Cat radio
Finding the perfect Christmas presents
Beautiful sterling silver flower cuff designed by Julia Foggin and available at The Jewellery Room
We know that finding the perfect presents can be a time consuming and highly stressful obstacle course. We offer a Personal christmas shopper service, to help you obtain the perfect gifts.
Now as part of our launch we are offering to find 3 lucky readers some perfect presents. 1 will recieve a full online personal shopping experience and two will recieve1 perfect gift suggestion each. So if you have an awkward person to buy for or just really really want to get it spot on let us help.
Comment below and we will contact 3 readers for their budget details and a few details about their recipients and we will find you the perfect gifts available online, so that no matter where you are, you can purchase them and solve your Christmas present dilemmas.
We look forward to helping you impress at Christmas
Its been a brilliant week with our Christmas planning service launching with a local radio ad on This is the Cat radio
Finding the perfect Christmas presents
We know that finding the perfect presents can be a time consuming and highly stressful obstacle course. We offer a Personal christmas shopper service, to help you obtain the perfect gifts.
Now as part of our launch we are offering to find 3 lucky readers some perfect presents. 1 will recieve a full online personal shopping experience and two will recieve1 perfect gift suggestion each. So if you have an awkward person to buy for or just really really want to get it spot on let us help.
Comment below and we will contact 3 readers for their budget details and a few details about their recipients and we will find you the perfect gifts available online, so that no matter where you are, you can purchase them and solve your Christmas present dilemmas.
We look forward to helping you impress at Christmas
Thursday, 28 October 2010
1st 25 comments , We'll find you the perfect gift.
Christmas is approaching and we at Rattytatty Designs are offering a selection of Christmas Planning Services to take away the stresses of Christmas.
We can Decorate your house. provide you with a Chef on Christmas day, write and despatch your Christmas cards and also provide you with a Christmas shopping service.
Now to get ourselves warmed up and raring to go we are going to accept Christmas Shopping challenges from you our readers. If your having problems selecting a gift for someone. just leave a comment stating the recipients age, gender, any personal style preferences, ie classic, modern and the budget for the gift. We will select 3 options for you complete with where you can purchase the items.
We will provide selections for the 1st 20 comments
Look forward to meeting the challenges
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