Ladies, Ladies, Ladies

We need volunteers!

I want to hold a ladies night in the shop to allow women to look at some of the clothing we have to offer and see what you think about everything from sizing, colour choice, fit etc, possibly with small groups of 2 or 3 folks, so do it in a group of friends.
We don't have a date set yet but once we have about 10/15 names we'll start to organise when the evenings will be, but it will happen between the end of August and the end of December.

To apply:
Send an email to us at online[at]pinknikdesigns.com (switch [at] to @) or phone the shop on 0845 263 6584, message us on facebook
Tell us your name, a contact number and your dress/blouse size

To qualify:
You'll need to be able to come to the shop in Polmont, details will be sent out to you.
You'll need be able to spend about an hour max and give lots of feedback.
We want all shapes and sizes, as that's kind of the point of this.

We'll provide a few refreshments for the evening and as a thank you we'll provide everyone with a t-shirt with their choice of design, we'll get the details from you on the night, as well as a 10% voucher off your next order with us.

There's no closing date just now for applications but we'll update this post once we've had enough feedback.

Advertising - We Need Your Help

Advertising online is something that I'm quite passionate about! I really enjoy designing an advert or a spot for my company to sit in! I'm well up for linking websites with other business's to help share the love! But what really grinds my gears is these Internet directories that will try to snare you into ridiculously priced advertising spots to be the best posted, highlighted or whatever else they wish you to do.

But what i have found is that there are a few places out there that are totally worth the cost with out signing your business into some bizarre contract that leeches money from you on a slow and painful basis. The only real down side to them is that they have a rating system that puts you in the ranking order based on who is best rated.

So here's the appeal... anyone that would be willing to say that you have dealt with us, whether it be an enquiry or used our service, but I'm looking to get some rankings put on the the sites for us without me cheating and using my googlemail and yahoo mail accounts to lie! Coz I would like this to be realistic! Even if it's just coz you met me at a networking meeting and thought i was polite! that would be great!

And in return we'll do the same for you, if you have a business we'll rate you and put you on our links page. If you have a bebo we'll give you some love! and if we get enough ratings we'll even offer everyone that's done it money off their next order but only if we hit 50 ratings! Good news is to be tops we only got to beat 2 reviews but we still gotta have goals! :D

So come on don't waste any more time reading this click the link below and get rating.

Much Love!! xx

Pink Nik Designs on the FreeIndex 

See how we're getting on check the widget on the side!

competitive etiquette

Question - what is good competitive etiquette?

Well I work alongside other businesses in the same sector as me, both locally and further afield. We all get on great and I respect these guys. I won't do anything to these folks or their business that would be considered foul play or dirty pool. I am happy to seek help from these guys and to try to do my best to help them if I can. I feel it’s only fair and I know there is plenty of business for all of us so I am happy and they are happy.

But the thing I am debating over just now is what good competitive etiquette is? For example is it the done thing to ask someone at a networking meeting who their suppliers are? To say well I’m starting a business doing the same or something similar thing can you tell me what do I do as I can’t find anything online about it? I couldn't do it to someone I didn't know, I’d even struggle to do it to someone I did know, and only then I would have to really know them and hope they trusted me enough to not abuse anything they told me.

This isn't really much advice or a huge revelation I’ve had, this is just something I’m pondering.... any thoughts?

Who you gonna call?

I was at the PSYBT Elevator event in Edinburgh at the end of October and it was really interesting, not that it isn't normally but last night the theme for the evening was 'talk to the experts'. They had 5 guests that we had 15 minutes to talk to each of them and ask any questions.

This got me thinking... i know i'm surprised too! When you set up a business, who should you call?

Now even though i'm 2 years in, this recent event with PSYBT made me realise that i still don't know the complete list of who's out there, but hopefully i can help a little with this.... (oh and these may be a little bias towards Scotland)

• Scottish Enterprise - http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/
  
• PSYBT - http://www.psybt.org.uk/
• British Chamber of Commerce - http://www.britishchambers.org.uk/
• Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce - http://www.edinburghchamber.co.uk/
• Cultural Enterprise Office - http://www.culturalenterpriseoffice.co.uk/website/
• Business Gateway - http://www.bgateway.com/
• Business Link (England) - http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/
• HM Revenue & Customs: Self Employed - http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/selfemployed/index.shtml

This is only a few but a great resource, these places will be able to help you source funding, networking, get advice on things like National Insurance, employers duties and more.

Check them out and let me know if you find any others that are of interest! :D