Friday, 14 October 2022
That's Food and Drink: Grana Padano: It's An Italian Feeling
That's Food and Drink: Grana Padano: It's An Italian Feeling: Grana Padano, the world's most consumed cheese has launched its latest UK advertising campaign: “An Italian Feeling”, created by both an...
Something Very Magical is Landing at Wellington Country Park, Berkshire
“For the first time, our much-loved family attraction will open its gates at dusk to reveal a magical land, specially created for us by Zeal.” says Josh McGhee, who is the Marketing Manager of Wellington Country Park.
This event is suitable for all members of the family and it's available on selected dates running from the 17th of November through to the 23rd of December 2022.
Unlike other local light trails, this is a multi-sensory experience that plays on the senses to create a world of imaginative, vibrant storytelling. Guests will be able to explore, play and move through magical spaces for a one-of-a-kind adventure.
The installations are bespoke and specifically designed and fabricated for Wellington Country Park. State-of-the-art technology, studio programming and specially composed music will be designed to bring the darkness to life.
Visitors will be invited to travel through gigantic geometric shapes and an immersive portal to commence their journey to Neverland.
Playful shadows and percussive steppingstones pave the path forwards, whilst a winter spell enchants the magical grounds.
Prehistoric rumbles of the woodlands come to life within the Lost World of Dinosaurs and guests can wave hello to Father Christmas, for some extra festive cheer, too!
Steve Hough, who is the MD of Zeal said “We really wanted to create a different type of light trail, one that could take guests on more of a journey, one they can really interact with.
"We want guest to explore their child-like imaginations this winter and find out what Neverland Illuminova means to them.”
Don’t miss out, treat yourself and those you love to this imaginative experience. Book your tickets today.
When: Selected dates from 17th November to 23rd December 2022
Where: Wellington Country Park, Odiham Road, Riseley, Berkshire, RG7 1SP
Ticket Information: www.neverlandilluminova.co.uk.
www.wellingtoncountrypark.co.uk
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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.
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