Monthly Archives: February 2013

Pippa Middleton to write column for Waitrose magazine

 

Pippa Middleton to become new columnist for Waitrose

 

By Hannah Cook

 

 

Pippa Middleton is set to become the new columnist for the Waitrose monthly magazine.

 

Pippa Middleton to write for Waitrose magazine - Douglas Stafford Mystery Shopping

The upmarket food outlet has announced that Pippa, sister of The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, will be appearing first in the April issue of the magazine, which will be on sale from March 28.

 

The column entitled Pippa’s Friday Night Feasts will contain casual dining ideas and recipes and will advise on the best meals to start off the weekend with friends and family.

 

A picture of a smiling Pippa features on the front cover of the latest edition of the Waitrose Kitchen magazine.

 

Pippa said: “I’m delighted to be writing for Waitrose Kitchen, a magazine that’s always been a source of inspiration to me, for its extensive spectrum of food and beautiful style.

 

“My column, Pippa’s Friday Night Feasts will be an exciting opportunity to share my own passion and enthusiasm for food and entertaining and I can’t wait to get started.”

 

Editor, William Sitwell, said his latest signing would be ‘an excellent contributor..bringing with her a wealth of experince of entertaining.’

 

Published by John Brown Media, Waitrose Kitchen is available in stores and has 1.4 million readers monthly.

 

 

 

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Advice on what to do after a road collision

 

Tips on what to do if you are involved in a road collision

 

By Jamie White – Head of Communications

 

Being involved in a road traffic collision can be a scary and traumatic experience.

 

It can often leave a driver hurt or shaken, and you can go into a state of shock and not be fully aware of what’s happened.

 

Advice on what to do after a road collision - Douglas Stafford Mystery Shopping

Advice on what to do after a road collision – Douglas Stafford Mystery Shopping

Road safety charity the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) is offering tips from Britain’s top advanced driver and IAM Chief Examiner, Peter Rodger, on what to do following a collision.

 

Mr Rodger suggests:

 

  • If you have the option, stop your vehicle where it is safe.
  • Turn the engine off and put your hazard lights on (if appropriate).
  • Check that you are unharmed first, and then check any other people.
  • If you need the emergency services, dial 999 (112 will also work from a mobile if you are used to that) and explain the position to the operator.
  • Stay calm. Be careful about your own safety – it’s easy to be focused on your collision, and to forget there is still other traffic about.
  • You must swap some details with any other driver(s) who are involved in the accident – unless that isn’t possible due to injury, or because they have driven away. Give your name, address and registration number, and the name and address of the owner of the vehicle. You should get these details from the other driver(s) also.
  • If you don’t, you must report the accident to the police straight away – this must be within 24 hours.
  • If someone is injured, or if there is damage to any vehicle involved, ensure you also exchange insurance details.
  • Report the incident to your insurance company as soon as you can.
  • Get the contact details of any witnesses, and take photos of the scene and any damage to the vehicle(s).
  • Note carefully how many people are in the other vehicle(s).
Advice on what to do after a road collision - Douglas Stafford Mystery Shopping

Advice on what to do after a road collision – Douglas Stafford Mystery Shopping

Mr Rodger added: “Nobody wants to think about the possibility of being involved in a crash. It’s not a nice thought, but it happens. Knowing what you must do can make things far easier and less stressful afterwards.”

 

 

 

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Ramsdens and Middlesbrough FC agree lucrative new deal

 

Ramsdens and Middlesbrough FC have signed a shirt sponsorship deal until 2018

 

By Jamie White – Head of Communications

 

Ramsdens, the UK’s largest independent pawnbrokers, have signed a new five-year sponsorship deal with Middlesbrough Football Club.

Ramsdens and Middlesbrough agree new deal - Douglas Stafford Mystery Shopping

The lucrative contract, which will run until the 2017/18 season, will make Ramsdens the longest-running official shirt sponsors in the club’s history.

 

Ramsdens began their existing Boro deal in March 2011 following an initial four-month spell as shirt sponsors from October 2010.

 

Ramsdens Executive Chairman Stewart Smith, said: “Like the Boro, Ramsdens is a proud Teesside success story and we’re excited to extend our association with the football club through to 2018.

 

“By then, we aim to have doubled the size of Ramsdens through ambitious expansion plans that will see us significantly increase our branch network across the UK.

 

“Our existing sponsorship deal has not only helped to substantially raise the profile of Ramsdens and our wide range of financial services here on Teesside but has also gained more recognition for the Ramsdens brand in the many other areas in which we have branches, including Leeds, Sheffield and Cardiff.

 

“We want to help the club as much as we can, enabling Middlesbrough FC to be as successful as possible.”

 

Middlesbrough FC Chief Executive Neil Bausor said: “We are delighted to be extending our hugely-successful partnership with Ramsdens through to 2018.

 

“This new contract is testament to the successful relationship both parties have enjoyed while working together over the last two seasons.”

 

Ramsdens branches are located throughout the North-East of England and Yorkshire, plus South Wales and Scotland, having increased in number from 39 in 2009 to their present total of more than 120.

 

In addition to being a pawnbroker and jewellers, Ramsdens are key players in the gold and silver-buying market, while other services include cheque-cashing, short-term loans and a commission-free foreign currency exchange as well as buying unwanted mobile phones.

 

 

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Maplin to spend £2m on store revamps

 

Electronics company Maplin will invest £2m in its stores

 

By Hannah Cook

 

Electronics specialist company, Maplin, is set to spend £2 million revamping it’s UK retail outlets.
The overhaul is initially taking place in four of the Maplin stores, which will then lead to all of the retailer’s 204 stores being updated by July.
Maplin to invest £2m in its stores - Douglas Stafford Mystery Shopping

In a bid to maintain the company’s improving sales trend, the work will include improved store navigation, lighting, and merchandising, as well as more video demonstrations on screens in store.

 

Maplin’s information desks, which feature computer terminals and catalogues, are being put at the front of stores to allow shoppers to browse its full range online, while signage has been revamped throughout the trial stores in Maidenhead, Rotherham, Andover and Crewe.

 

 

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Vauxhall Ampera joins ambulance service

 

Vauxhall Ampera to be trialed by Yorkshire Ambulance Service

 

By Jamie White – Head of Communications

 

Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust will be the first to trial a Vauxhall Ampera – the revolutionary extended-range electric vehicle – as part of its emergency fleet to help reduce carbon emissions.

 

Over the next few months, the Ampera will operate as a rapid response vehicle in the York area as part of the NHS Trust’s emergency fleet, to see how low carbon vehicles might be incorporated into the Trust’s fleet of more than 900 vehicles.

Vauxhall Ampera joins ambulance service - Douglas Stafford Mystery Shopping

 

Yorkshire Ambulance Service is committed to reducing its carbon footprint by 30 per cent by 2015, as well as reducing its spending on fuel. The E-REV technology in the Ampera, which won European Car of the Year 2012, makes it a good option for use in the emergency services as it benefits from both an electric motor and a petrol engine.

 

The Vauxhall Ampera is the first electric vehicle to be trialled by an ambulance service on a long-term basis.

 

Richard Smith, Fleet Manager for Yorkshire Ambulance Service, said: “We are very excited to be the first ambulance service to trial an electric vehicle that will respond to incidents, reduce our emissions and provide significant savings on fuel costs. As it has both electric and petrol power we are confident that it is a viable alternative.”

 

City of York Council has agreed to support the trial by making plug-in electric charging points available across the city.

 

Dick Ellam, Manager, Vauxhall Special Vehicles, said: “We are delighted that the Ampera was chosen to be the first electric vehicle to be trialled as a frontline ambulance vehicle by the NHS Trust, and we are confident that the Yorkshire Ambulance Service will be impressed by the Ampera’s durability, performance and economy.”

 

 

Follow mystery shopping and performance improvement company, Douglas Stafford:

 

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YSL launches Facebook app

 

YSL Creates Facebook app to promote Radiance Range.

 

By Hannah Cook

 

Designer brand Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) has created a Facebook app which will allow users to upload and beautify photos of themselves, create photos and claim samples of a Radiance product.

 

The Radiance app was created by the agency PMA Digital. It lets users upload a photo and then enhance it by adjusting their skin’s glow and vitality, and erasing blemishes. They can then add the digitally manipulated image to their Facebook page.

 

YSL creates Facebook app - Douglas Stafford Mystery Shopping

Consumers can also use the app to download a voucher that can either be printed or messaged to a phone, which they can then redeem against a two-week free trial of two products from the YSL Radiance range.

 

Mark Cluer, PMA Digital’s managing director, said: “Facebook is a great place to engage with new and existing customers and to create a strong reason to visit a YSL counter.”

 

The Radiance range includes cosmetics such as Forever Youth serum and Le Teint Touche Eclat foundation.

 

 

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Lana Del Ray teams up with Jaguar

 

Jaguar’s new F-Type teams up with star Lana Del Ray for music video and feature film

 

By Hannah Cook

 

The new F-Type Jaguar is starring alongside Lana Del Ray in the singer-songwriter’s music video for her latest single, Burning Desire.

 

The song is also being used as the title track for a short feature film which has been produced by Jaguar.

 

Lana Del Ray teams up with Jaguar - Douglas Stafford Mystery Shopping

The mini-feature is called Desire and has been written and directed by Adam Smith and features Damian Lewis, star of Homeland. The song will feature on a video produced for Jaguar by Ridley Scott Associates as another form of the partnership.

 

Lana said: “Film has always been so precious to me and I’m so proud to be a part of what Jaguar have envisioned for their new car with Damian Lewis.

 

“Making art means making tough decisions. I do believe you create your own life path and that you will be rewarded for following your passions – and sticking to it. It’s just good to know now, with people like Jaguar and working with them, that I’m not the only one out there with such strident, creative beliefs.”

 

Ian Armstrong, Jaguar’s Global Marketing Communications Director, said: “Lana Del Rey is a world-class singer-songwriter. In this video, she has used her unique ability to conjure, reflect and then reinterpret an aesthetic from a different era both for herself and for the F-Type.”

 

Lana Del Ray teams up with Jaguar - Douglas Stafford Mystery Shopping

Lana’s collaboration with Jaguar was first announced last September, with the singer performing the song for the first and only time to an exclusive and intimate audience at Paris’s Musée Rodin at the global reveal of the F-TYPE.

 

The F-Type is the first two-seater sports car from Jaguar since the iconic E-type was launched 50 years ago.

 

You can see Lana Del Ray’s video here

 

 

Follow mystery shopping and performance improvement company, Douglas Stafford:

 

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Starbucks is latest to open at 1000 Lakeside complex

 

Starbucks is the latest company to open an outlet at 1000 Lakeside, Portsmouth

 

By Jamie White – Head of Communications

 

Starbucks is the latest company to open an outlet at the thriving business hub – Lakeside North Harbour, Portsmouth.

 

The American coffee chain joins other businesses, which include Southern Co-operative, Co-operative Flowers, hairdressers OTT Hair and Pressing Needs dry cleaners, to open outside the 1000 Lakeside building, which is home to the headquarters of Douglas Stafford Mystery Shopping.

 

Starbucks opens at 1000 Lakeside, Portsmouth - Douglas Stafford Mystery Shopping

The site, located just off the M27, is rapidly turning into a sought after location for businesses – it already houses around 75 companies, plus shops.

 

Porsche opened its new Portsmouth Centre on the outskirts of the complex last year and there are plans to build a luxury De Vere Hotel towards the end of this year.

 

It has also been suggested that Subway will be the next food chain to open outside the 1000 Lakeside building, which sits next to the UK headquarters of IBM.

Starbucks opens at 1000 Lakeside, Portsmouth - Douglas Stafford Mystery Shopping

Douglas Stafford moved offices to a larger space last year after outgrowing its previous office on the ground floor of the building, following a successful 2012, which has continued into 2013.

 

Portsmouth’s first electric vehicle charging stations have also been installed at the Lakeside North Harbour Business Park.

A Type 2 fast charging station together with a 13-amp, three-pin charging station are now also available in the park and ride area, for use by the public for free.

Starbucks opens at 1000 Lakeside, Portsmouth - Douglas Stafford Mystery Shopping

 

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Help support BEN charity ball

 

Just a few tables left for the BEN Scotland Ball

 

By Hannah Cook

 

There’s still chance to grab a table at the BEN Scotland Ball which helps raise money for the automotive charity.

 

The popular event is taking place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Glasgow, on Saturday March 2.
Help support BEN charity ball - Douglas Stafford Mystery Shopping

 

A highlight of the Scottish automotive calendar, the ball is now in its 15th year and promises superb food and sparkling entertainment in the company of friends, colleagues and customers.

 

Ray Diggins, BEN’s Head of Marketing, said: “The BEN Scotland Ball is one event I would never want to miss. We are all so busy these days that opportunities to catch up with industry friends and colleagues are few and far between. It’s going to be a great night!”

 

BEN is the automotive industry’s only dedicated charity. Founded in 1905, BEN offers practical and financial help, support, advice and friendship to those who work, or have worked in the automotive and related industries and to their family dependants.

 

BEN operates a number of care centres at various locations throughout the UK and a day care centre in Coventry.

 

Standard tables are for 10 or 12 and individual tickets are available. For more information and to book go to www.ben.org.uk/benscotlandball2013.

 

 

 

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New Volkswagen Golf GTD is unveiled

 

New Volkswagen Golf GTD expected to go on sale in the UK in April

 

By Jamie White – Head of Communications

 

More than 30 years after the first Volkswagen Golf GTD roared onto our roads, the German manufacturer has announced details of the brand new version.

Volkswagen Golf GTD is unveiled - Douglas Stafford Mystery SHopping

The new GTD, based on the seventh generation Golf, is the most powerful ever, and like the original it blends performance with fuel-efficiency to make it a great long-distance touring car.

 

The six-speed manual gearbox version of the Golf GTD is powered by a 2.0-litre common rail turbodiesel engine and produces 184 PS, and 380 Nm of torque from 1,750 rpm. It consumes just one gallon of fuel every 67.3 miles, making for CO2 emissions of only 109 g/km.

 

The optional six-speed DSG version has fuel consumption of 60.1 mpg and boasts a 0-62mph acceleration of just 7.5 seconds, while the top speed is 142 mph.

 

Volkswagen Golf GTD is unveiled - Douglas Stafford Mystery Shopping

The Golf GTD will come with a host of features, including smoked LED rear lights with LED licence plate illumination, chrome dual tailpipes, 17-inch alloy wheels, side skirts, a rear diffuser, sports suspension and a roof spoiler.

 

Distinctive GTD features distinguish the interior, which will include tartan sports seats, black roof-lining, sports steering wheel, stainless steel pedals and a GTD gear lever, trim strips and instrument cluster.

 

Comfort is guaranteed thanks to features including progressive steering, white ambience lighting, ‘Climatronic’ climate control, front and rear parking sensors and a winter pack.

 

Volkswagen Golf GTD is unveiled - Douglas Stafford Mystery Shopping

UK sales of the Volkswagen Golf GTD are expected to start in April, with deliveries in the summer. Pricing and full specification will be confirmed nearer its UK release date.

 

 

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