Friday, 14 October 2022
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Spring can help you get cash for Christmas by recycling old tech
The Co-op has expanded its trial with tech-recirculation outfit Spring, to help consumers cut e-waste and unlock the value in their old and unwanted phones and electronic devices.
Spring first partnered with Co-op last October with the launch of its high-tech, self-service Pods in 20 of Co-Ops retailer’s convenience stores in London.
The aim? To make recirculating electronic devices which can be reused or recycled more accessible. Thus keeping valuable materials in use for longer and avoiding e-waste, while allowing consumers to turn their unwanted devices items into cash.
Following the launch last year, the initiative has now been rolled-out to selected Co-op stores in: Birmingham; Brighton; Leeds and Manchester.
The service sees Spring’s high tech kiosk-style ‘Pods’ in store, enabling shoppers to quickly, easily and conveniently sell their old devices such as phones, tablets, e-readers and smartwatches, which then get repaired, refurbished, reused, or recycled.
Spring’s Pods accept almost 14,000 different devices and customers receive payment to their Spring account within 1-3 days. The money can be simply transferred to a bank account or to charity.
Where devices cannot be re-used, Spring will ensure all components, which include materials like gold; copper; aluminium and, steel, are recycled. Usually, these resources are traditionally discarded when phones are thrown away and so the trial with Spring ensures nothing goes to landfill or for incineration.
Mark Matthews, who is the Co-op’s Director of Innovation and Format, said: “Co-op’s partnership with Spring will enable more communities to recycle or reuse their electronic devices locally, unlocking the value in forgotten phones and other unwanted tech and, importantly, preventing unnecessary and avoidable e-waste.
"If we are going to have a natural environment which we are proud to pass on to future generations we need action to be taken now. By making it easier for consumers to make small changes to their everyday lives, together, it can add up to make a big difference for our environment.”
Spring co-founder, Tom Williams, said: “Leaving an unused device in a drawer means that rather than it being reused by someone else, it’s taken out of circulation and needs to be replaced with something new. Spring, together with Co-op, are making it easy for people to recirculate unwanted tech, which not only puts money in their pockets but also has a positive impact on the environment. We've already made a huge impact with our first pods in London and we're excited to bring this to more local communities".
Research has found that UK households and businesses produce 1.45 million tonnes of electrical waste each year and, almost half of UK households have between two and five unused electronic devices sitting at home, with the issue expected to grow.
More information is available at Spring.co.uk.
Incidentally, we at That's Christmas have used a Spring Pod to recycle a load of old mobile phones which generated rather more money for than we would have thought possible. Certainly more than with other recycling services that are on the High Street.
You can do the same too and you'll be able to use that money to spend on Christmas presents and the like this Christmas.
As well as at some Co-Op branches you'll also find Spring Pods in some Morrisons stores.
Australians "cautiously optimistic" about festive season shopping
The data which comes from InMobi’s “ 2022 Holiday Shopping: What Brands and Retailers Need to Know ” research report, also shows 49% of Australians have already made concrete shopping plans, a three-fold increase in 2021.
Buying is expected to peak in November during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales for 58% of shoppers, while 18% will buy before ‘free shipping day’ on the 15th of December and 28% will buy in the two weeks before Christmas.
The report finds mobiles are second only to the TV when it comes to product discovery by consumers. But when it comes to exploring and researching products, mobile is the dominant channel, with 56% of Australian shoppers preferring mobile over in-store visits (31%).
Richard O’Sullivan, who is the VP and General Manager for Australia and New Zealand said, “As shoppers continue to turn to mobiles as their primary channel for purchasing, brands must think carefully about how they can leverage the rich signals available to drive contextual advertising at scale.”
While shoppers are being described as cautiously optimistic about their festive season shopping, just 26% of Australians intend to increase their spending compared to last year’s holiday season budgets. Some 46% plan to spend about the same as they did in 2021.
E-gadgets, jewellery, apparel, and accessories are the categories most likely to be purchased via mobile devices, while groceries, home appliances, and home décor or furnishings will most often be purchased in-store.
Convenience (64%), availability of shopper reviews (62%), loyalty programmes (59%) plus easy returns and exchanges (57%) have been identified as the main reasons why mobile apps and websites are gaining significant momentum as a purchase medium.
Bargain hunters are again the main category for Australian shoppers at 51% of all shoppers, a decline year on year as 44% fewer Australians will rely on offers alone to make their purchase decisions. 48% of bargain hunters plan to spend $1,000, the same as in 2021.
The number of Australian shoppers who are category shoppers increased 3.5x from 2021 with almost half of these shoppers, who have decided on categories but not the products or brands, planning to spend more than the $1000 they spent in 2021.
Brand lover shoppers have also increased 3.5x year on year and 38% of respondents plan to spend more than the $1,500 they spent in 2021.
The “ 2022 Holiday Shopping: What Brands and Retailers Need to Know ” report is based on a survey of 500 mobile users in Australia between September 8th and 10th 2022.
Looking for affordable mobile phones for your Children this Christmas? Swycha has the answer
A new study published by refurbished mobile phone website, Swycha, which interviewed 2,000 parents with children aged 4 – 22, uncovered purchasing habits on children’s phones in the UK.
Fewer parents now gift second-hand phones to their children as they face pressure to buy the new devices their children ask for to keep up with their friends and with trends, says the research.
71% of UK parents say they have bought a brand-new phone for their child in the last two years.
According to the research, 1 in 3 parents say paying their child’s mobile phone contract has become difficult due to the rising living costs in the UK.
A third of parents in the UK currently pay over £50 a month for their children’s phone contracts (on top of other direct debits), the research found. Although some parents have multiple children, 15% of parents were found to be paying over £100 a month on their children’s combined phone contracts. 5% of parents are paying between £80 - £99.99 a month on their children’s phone contracts.
Only 14% of children in the UK now have a pay-as-you-go phone sim card according to the survey.
The study also found that children are now on average age 10 when they are gifted their first phone (typically just before beginning secondary education in the UK).
But why such high expenditure on children’s phones?
As an explanation: It seems the days of passing down second hand phones to kids (like used iPhones or the iconic Nokia 3310) are over.71% of parents in the UK say they've bought a brand-new phone for their child in the last two years.
Only 15% of parents choose to gift a second hand phone to their child from a family member or friend.
39% of parents said they paid over £200 upfront for their child’s phone in the last two years.
With a limited number of parents gifting second-hand devices, most parents in the UK (37%) say they bought brand-new handsets for their children from mobile network providers such as Vodafone or EE. 22% of parents buy brand-new handsets for their children from electrical retailers such as Currys or Argos. 14% buy direct from manufacturers (i.e., the Apple Store).
24% of parents have upgraded their child’s phone more than 3 times in the child’s lifetime. Only 7% of parents purchased from a refurbished mobile phone website offering refurbished Iphones.
Buying phones for children has become more a fashionable present and less a necessity.
41% of parents say they bought a new phone for their child’s most recent Birthday or Christmas.
Half of parents buy the exact model their children want because they say the financial cost outweighs the emotion of disappointing them.
46% of children ask for a particular model of phone to fit in with their friends or keep up with the latest fashion trends.
43% of parents say they bought new phones for birthdays or Christmas despite knowing “they can’t really afford them”, as opposed to gifting second-hand devices.
Increased spend on children’s phones coincides with a time where parents are facing increasingly squeezed incomes due to the UK cost of living crisis.
Three in four parents in the UK say they are finding it hard to manage rising living costs and still afford food, clothes, clubs, presents etc for their children, according to Swycha’s research.
An anonymous father of two told researchers: “I am having to tell my kids they'll have to do without as the latest models of phone they ask for. I can’t afford them right now. I know new models come out and that children want the newer models when it’s time for an upgrade, but I can't afford them every time. Right now, I'm having to cut back on my own hobbies and certain clothes. Affording things is getting ridiculous.”
An anonymous mother of two said: "Because of costs skyrocketing, we have cut back on absolutely everything at the moment. We witched food brands to cheaper store brand alternatives and buying second hand clothes instead of new. We're rationing the heating also.”
Tom Newbald, CEO of Swycha, said: “From our research it’s clear to see that as a parent right now, it’s increasingly hard to buy affordable, yet quality phones for children and still manage all of the other costs that are skyrocketing. More parents are buying brand-new devices as opposed to opting to buy a refurbished mobile phone for their children from alternative websites.”
To save money when buying a mobile phone for your children please visit https://swycha.com.
Fantastic Christmas Decorations from Robert Welch
Top family-owned, British design business, Robert Welch is counting down to Christmas with the third series of 12 Days of Christmas Decorations, priced at a very reasonable £18 for a set of three.
Made with stainless steel, each circular decoration provides a Christmas nod to the world-renowned traditional Christmas season song "The 12 Days of Christmas."
Tied up with a very appropriate red ribbon, each piece has an intricate cut-out design of days seven, eight and nine.
The set of three decorations includes:
Day 7: - Seven swans a-swimming
Day 8: - Eight maids a-milking
Day 9: - Nine ladies dancing
The trio of decorations are a perfect addition to the Christmas tree, or a show-stopper detail on a beautifully wrapped gift, a hanging decoration in the window or part of the Christmas table setting.
Series One (days 1-3) and Series Two (days 4-6) will also be available.
12 Days of Christmas are now available from robertwelch.com.
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A Cracker of a skincare Christmas gift!
And they actually are served up in the shape of some pretty nifty looking Christmas Crackers!
And what’s more, neither of them will break the bank, thus making them perfect gifts for stocking fillers and for secret Santa, teenagers, teachers, family or friends.
You can even sign up for the brand's newsletter too and get 20% off your first order - making them even more affordable.
Natura Siberica
Face Glow Beauty Set
https://naturasiberica.co.uk/collections/gift-sets/products
£11.99
With Organic Altai Oblepikha Oil, a rich natural source of vitamin C. Suitable for all skin types.
Organic Altai oblepikha oil hydrates skin and promotes the formation of collagen, a structural protein essential for youthful skin. The super Siberian berry is the richest natural source of Vitamin C.
Certified VEGAN by the Vegan Society
Contains:
Cleansing Face Foaming Gel 75ml tube: This gel is perfect for everyday use! It gently cleanses the skin and gives you a feeling of freshness. Organic Altai oblepikha hydrolate promotes the improvement of the skin’s overall condition by boosting elasticity and hydration.
Vitamin C helps to enhance your skin's natural defence system, speeding up the skin's natural repair process. AHA Acids improve skin texture, tone and leave you with a brighter-looking complexion.
Antioxidant Face Serum 30ml with pipette: This face serum helps to improve skin’s appearance, gives a fresh complexion, and awakens skin's natural radiance.
Toning Light Face Cream-Fluid 30ml tube: This cream gives your skin energy for the whole day! It protects skin from external environmental influences, providing freshness and smoothness.
BLUEBERRY SIBERICA. Anti-Ox Face Beauty Set
https://naturasiberica.co.uk/collections/gift-sets/products
£11.99
With Organic Volcanic Wild Blueberry Hydrolate for all skin types. Wild volcanic blueberries, growing in the Taiga wild plains of Siberia, contain a huge amount of valuable antioxidants called anthocyanins. Anthocyanins accelerate skin renewal processes, improving skin tone and elasticity, restoring a healthy complexion.
Blueberries are naturally rich in beta carotene and B vitamins, which add radiance, leaving skin hydrated and smooth.
Certified VEGAN by the Vegan Society
Cream-to-Foam Face Cleanser 75ml tube: This creamy foam gently removes dirt and makeup from the skin, deeply moisturising, soothing and smoothing the complexion.
Super Hydrating Eye Patch-Effect Mask 30ml tube: This patch effect mask is super-hydrating for the undereye area. It restores skin tone and elasticity, refreshes, erases signs of fatigue and relieves swelling and dark circles.
Overnight Renew Face Cream-Mask 30ml tube: This mask is an overnight superhero, hard at work while you sleep! It helps smooth fine lines and even out skin tone to leave your face looking refreshed and radiant when you wake up.
Igloo Books announces new CoComelon licensing deal for Advent Calendars and more
The new deal sees the launch of a new CoComelon format added to their popular Storybook Advent Calendar range including the Disney Storybook Advent Calendar, Princess Storybook Advent Calendar, and Marvel Storybook Advent Calendar from Igloo Books.
Each Advent Calendar includes 24 brand-new story books to unwrap every day in the run-up to Christmas, featuring popular characters from the CoComelon franchise. Stockists are recommended to put their orders in now, as these are hotly anticipated to be good sellers.
CoComelon is part of the award-winning global entertainment company, Moonbug Entertainment which was founded in 2018 and has TV shows on over150 platforms worldwide.
CoComelon is one of their many popular titles which sees the main character JJ, joined by friends and family on adventures featuring catchy songs.
Paul Gregory, the CEO of Igloo Books said: “We're incredibly excited to partner with Moonbug and their fantastic brand, CoComelon.
"The brand is a firm favourite with children, and we hope our best-selling Advent Calendar format will see strong success and form the foundations of a long-running partnership with the brand.”
Katie Wilkinson, Head of Publishing at The Point.1888 said, “We’re thrilled to welcome Igloo Books to the ever-growing list of CoComelon licensees. This is a fantastic opportunity to create a new publishing offering to the millions of CoComelon fans in the run up to Christmas.”
The Comelon Story Book Advent Calendars are available now for major stockists to order by contacting the Igloo Publishing sales team at
customerservices@igloobooks.com or available for general release to consumers on 1st November 2022.
Expert shares Christmas-focused decluttering tips
As the company behind the clutter-clearing HIPPOBAGs, waste removal firm HIPPO joined up with TV star Dilly Carter earlier this year in a bid to encourage more of us to get decluttering and to do so in a way that’s kinder to our environment.
Organisation expert, author of Create Space and TV presenter, Dilly is the best ‘go to’ expert for those looking to transform their cluttered chaos into an organised oasis. And, as an eco-friendly, hassle-free alternative to the cumbersome metal skip, HIPPO’s HIPPOBAGs are just one of the resources that Dilly would recommends employing.
Dilly says: “Now is a great time to declutter ahead of Christmas before you start filling your home with more decorations, gifts and no doubt the odd house guests too! This is why I’m delighted to collaborate with HIPPO and their genius HIPPOBAGs in encouraging more of us to get decluttering! These are my Top Tips for clearing the clutter before guests come round:
1. Go through your crockery
Is your fine dining crockery kept separate from your everyday sets? Should you be using your fine dining sets more often, instead of it sitting there unused all year round?
Don't save the best for the best! Go through the plates and make sure all dining sets are together, matching styles and sizes. Even making sure a set is grouped together can change the aesthetic of your cupboard and help you distinguish what you can do without.
2. Sort your linen and towels
What is the linen cupboard and towel situation like in your home? When you have guests staying over, could they easily snag a towel to use? When did you last go through your towels? How long have you had them? How are your towel sets organised? Do you have too many or maybe you don't have enough? You can stash your sets inside a pillowcase belonging to that set so it’s easier to find. And try and separate them into baskets for single, double, king size, etc.
3. Borrow don’t buy new cutlery or furniture
So many of us buy items we use for one day that then take up space we don’t have. Only buy what you have room to comfortably store.
4. Organise Christmas decorations
If you shoved everything away last year then let’s organise our decorations this year so it’s a doddle when it comes to decorating our homes next year.
Buy storage boxes or use employ shoeboxes to separate different types of decorations. Label every box with a pen, labeller or just use white stickers. It’s always helpful to separate decorations by style or colour. The more we split our decorations the easier they are to find and use what we need or don’t each year. It also helps to wrap your lights around a hanger to keep them from getting tangled up. Make certain you use one hanger per set.
5. Get rid of your Christmas clutter
After Christmas Day, sort through the inevitable pile of rubbish by grouping items together according to how and where they can be safely disposed of.
Remember sticky tape, glossy wrapping paper and broken glass decorations can't be recycled, unlike Christmas trees or old toys and clothes that have now been replaced by a new gift.
If you don’t have the time or energy to work through your rubbish then HIPPOBAGs are a brilliant fix. These fully recyclable skip bags are a hassle-free, greener alternative to the metal skip. Once you’ve filled your bag, HIPPO will simply take it away, contact-free, and ensure over 95% of it is recycled for you, with the remainder disposed of safely and ethically.
Available to buy online at hippowaste.co.uk or through the HIPPO App, HIPPOBAG prices start at £13.99 for the MIDI Bag or £189.99 for the MIDI Bag with collection. These clever skip bags come in three handy flat-packed sizes so they don’t take up valuable space outside your home until you need to use them.
For more information, please give HIPPO a call on 0333 999 0 999 or visit hippowaste.co.uk.
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