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Eurocell Rally Team Secure Podium Finish

Eurocell is now in its second year of sponsoring the Flat Out Rally Team and number 1 driver James Rotherham recently finished second in class in the Lightening Stages Rally in Binbrook, Lincs.

James and his co-driver / father Alan were determined to do well in this event as problems had scuppered a winning chance on their last outing. They now aim to build on this success at their next event in Wales.

Tel: 01773 842 100.
Web: http://www.eurocell.co.uk

Veka Long Servers get a German Treat

Another group of long service employees from Veka plc have just returned from a three-day expenses paid trip to the company's birthplace in Sendenhorst, Germany as a thank you for loyal service to the company.

The Burnley based window and door system extruder started the visits two years ago as a reward for staff with over 10 years of service. The weekend, which was organised by Veka's Lynda Calverley and Helen Clarke, began with a trip to the Sendenhorst plant where Veka Chairman Hubert Hecker welcomed the group.

Andreas Hartleif then conducted a guided tour of the facilities, including the PVCu powder mixing facilities and sheet extrusion sections. After lunch the group returned to Dusseldorf for the rest of the weekend's activities.

Lynda Calverley, who accompanied the long servers, commented 'We always have such a good mix of people from various sections throughout the company so the weekend is a great way to build up staff rapport. The team enjoyed visiting the plant and seeing the work being carried out by our German colleagues. It is also nice to have a taste of how our German colleagues work and live'.

Tel: 01282 716611
Web: http://www.vekauk.com

The Marketing Investment Payback Calculator - How Much More do you Need to Sell to Pay for your Marketing?

The Marketing Investment Payback Calculator, an online business tool available free of charge from Michael Rigby Associates, lets companies calculate how much more they need to sell to pay for marketing activities. Simply enter the cost of the additional marketing activity and your gross margin profit. The Payback Calculator will then tell you how much extra you need to sell to pay for your investment in advertising, salesmen, showrooms etc. before you make any money.

'This is very good at calculating a projected market budget. It's OK listening to those selling advertising space, who say this space will only be this price on special offer at X amount of pounds. But this device calculates how much more you have to earn to make advertising profitable.'
Mr Roger Woodward, Co Director
Apex Windows

'The marketing tool is very good and I would use it for any new one-off marketing ventures. Again you can see how much you needed to sell to make it a worthwhile exercise.'
Mr Chris Reeks, Trade Sales Manager
Modplan Ltd, Newport

Web: http://www.magicmachine.521621.com

Truckfest is an Activ Vehicle for Pilkington

A 40 tonne Pilkington Float Liner vehicle became one of the stars of the show at this year's Yorkshire Trucking Spectacular, with the help of Pilkington Activ™ self-cleaning glass.

The event is part of Truckfest, a touring exhibition that encompasses four separate events in Driffield, Peterborough, Somerset and Edinburgh and is the UK's leading showcase for the road transport industry. Attracting a total audience of around a quarter million visitors across all four regional events, Truckfest not only showcases trucking innovations from fuel developments to accessories, but is also a popular family weekend event, with many people camping in the showground or nearby to soak up the atmosphere.

Pilkington's David Wignall saw the Driffield leg of the Truckfest tour as an ideal opportunity not only to show off the vehicle itself but also to spread the word on the company's Pilkington Activ™ self-cleaning glass. Says David:

'The idea to take a Float Liner to Driffield was put to us by Nijman Zeetank, our haulage company, and we thought it would be great to participate. Arnold Pye - a driver for Nijman Zeetank and an old colleague - drove the vehicle down and several of us joined him at the showground. The hydraulics on our purpose built vehicles are sophisticated and very impressive, so we knew that the Float Liner would attract attention. But we also thought it would be a great place to promote Pilkington Activ™ to the general public.

'I was encouraged by the genuine enthusiasm that many people demonstrated for the product and the difference it could make to their lives. The bottom line is that the more people hear about Pilkington Activ™, the more they want it in their homes. Truckfest was a really buzzing, fun event and it proved to be the perfect place to talk to people about the product.'

Web: http://www.pilkington.com

Global Sample Cases Worth £70,000

Synseal is sending special sample cases worth almost £70,000 to fabricators and installers across the UK, to support the launch of the new Global roof.

'Over 2500 fabricators will receive either the case containing sample components, or one of the smaller cases containing literature demonstrating all they need to know about the roof,' explains Nick Dutton, Sales and Marketing Director of Synseal Extrusions Ltd.

'The smaller cases also have a virtual tour of the roof on CD. We did a similar thing with Shield, and at no cost to the customer. We believe it's important to provide the marketing support fabricators and installers need to be successful. This is just a taster of what we can offer anyone not yet benefiting from working with Synseal.'

Tel: (01623) 443 200
Web: http://www.synseal.com

James Harcourt Demonstrates Faultless Service at Wimbledon

Window, door and conservatory brand James Harcourt has been holding court with potential customers at this year's Wimbledon tennis tournament.

The company identified the annual event as an opportunity not to be missed and set about raising awareness of its products and service offer with a wildcard entry.

Marketing manager Jason Currall said: 'We decided to use guerrilla marketing tactics to exploit the only two things guaranteed to occur at Wimbledon - rain and Henmania. We therefore designed and distributed branded merchandise that would appeal to queuing visitors and effectively turn them into eye-catching walking advertisements for the James Harcourt brand.'

Branded umbrellas prominently displaying the James Harcourt website address - through which product prices and more information about its service can be sourced - were produced to act as advertisements to the 40,000 visitors that travel to SW19 each day and on any resulting television coverage of rain-soaked crowds.

In addition, hats featuring the St George's cross and the slogan 'Faultless Service' above the James Harcourt website address were created. These allowed the huge number of visitors supporting British tennis players, like Tim Henman, to show their encouragement as they competed for up to £575,000 in prize money.

Jason Currall added: 'Wimbledon attracted over 450,000 visitors last year and receives over 160 hours of television coverage in the UK alone. Our highly visual merchandise was developed to reach target audiences both in the grounds and watching play at home.

'Because there are few opportunities for product placement, unless you are a sporting goods or soft drinks manufacturer, James Harcourt will quite literally stand out from the crowd.'

The 2003 Wimbledon tennis tournament is the 117th championship that has been held since the event was first established in 1877. The event plays host to players from over 60 countries and ran from 23rd June until 6th July.

KTF Racing Heads for the Finish Line with Hallmark's Help

When Hallmark fabricator and motorcycle enthusiast Kent Trade Frames of Sittingbourne set up its own motorcycle race team - KTF Racing - to compete in a nationwide championship organised by the British Motorcycle Racing Club, the newly founded team knew they had to look for sponsorship in order to compete at regular race meetings - and supplier Hallmark was only too happy to step in and help.

KTF Racing was set up last year by brothers Nick and Robbie Sketchley, whose father Bernie is the Managing Director of Kent Trade Frames. Both brothers have long had a passion for motorcycle racing, with 23 year old Robbie having already completed his first race season competing in last year's BMCRC National Championship. Elder brother Nick, 27, will compete for the first time this year, but already has ambitions to finish in the Top 10 of the National Rookie 600 Championship on his Suzuki GSX-R 600. KTF racing has already competed this year at Brands Hatch and Silverstone.

Hallmark decided to offer Kent Trade Frames - a regular customer for over three years - sponsorship for the team as a mark of support both for the Sketchleys and for British motorcycle racing hopes. Comments Hallmark's Sales Director John Rolland: 'A sport such as motorcycle racing is fiercely competitive both here and overseas, and we are pleased to be able to offer our support to two very talented young riders at the start of what I'm sure will be a long and successful career for them.'

The Hallmark logo will feature on both KTF Racing motorcycles during the new season. Sponsorship funds will be put towards race entries, new equipment and the purchase of more competitive motorcycle models. Bernie Sketchley is delighted that Hallmark has been eager to help:
'We have a great relationship here with Hallmark and we are very appreciative of the company's support for the team. Everyone at Kent Trade Frames is really looking forward to seeing how KTF racing will progress this season and beyond.'

Tel: 01482 781111
Email: mailto:hallmark-panels.demon.co.uk

Football Craziness in Tale of Two Teams

You've got to admire Shepley's bravery in bringing together in one box two of the country's most passionate football fans - Manchester United and Manchester City.
And that's exactly what the trade fabricator does for the Maine Road home matches in a guest box, hired for the season.

'Different customers come with us each time,' says Tim Walker, sales director of Shepley. 'We wine and dine them and enjoy a game of football. Even die-hard United fans like me have a really good time! Manchester City's Maine Road ground will soon be moving to Eastlands, last year's Commonwealth Games venue. We hope the fun and more than a little rivalry will continue next season too!'

Tel: 0161 339 2433
Email: mailto:james.brisbane@shepley.com
Web: http://www.shepley.com

Corrie Star Launches New MPH Windows Show Room

Coronation Street star Jonathan Wrather, who plays the soap's latest villain, Joe Carter, was guest of honour recently when he opened a new street style showroom at MPH Windows in Preston.

Members of the local community had the chance to meet Jonathan when he cut the ribbon on the 'Clear View' showroom and awarded a lucky winner with a conservatory worth £10,000 during a day of family fun and entertainment.

Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) graduate, Jonathan, comments, 'I am honoured to be involved in the opening of this unique showroom. It's like being back on Coronation Street, but without all of the trouble!'

'We are delighted that Jonathan Wrather has opened our new showroom, which will help our customers to choose the best windows, doors and conservatories for their home,' says MPH contracts director, Greg Kane.

MPH Windows is one of the region's success stories and expects to create a significant number of new jobs as a result of its expansion over the next two years.

'Clear View', which is based around the concept of an indoor street can be found at Sherdley Road, Lostock Hall, Preston. It offers a wide range of PVCu conservatories, roofline products, windows, doors, patio doors, sliding doors and French windows all made to order on the premises.

Tel: 01772 463694
Web: http://www.mphwindows.co.uk

Aztec Backs International Cycling Champions

World Masters and national championship-winning track cyclists will be able to bid to retain their titles free from financial worries, and bring on the cyclists of the future, through support from Aztec Conservatory Roof Systems.

The Lancashire-based company has signed a three-year sponsorship deal with Yasumitsu-Schlapp, the UK's most-medalled and UK record-holding track cycling team, based at Manchester Veldrome.

Under the arrangement, Yasumitsu-Schlapp will receive financial support towards its competition costs in track and grass sprinting and endurance, and towards training novice and junior riders for national honours. Last year, the team won nine national and five World Masters titles; already this year, the team's Ellen Hunter has bettered the world record for visually impaired tandem 200m sprint.

Aztec Conservatory Roof Systems and Yasumitsu-Schlapp originally began working together last year, when Aztec used the team in an advertising campaign to illustrate its system's speed, technology and lack of components.

Commented Aztec managing director Colin Bennett, 'Cycling, particularly the variants by Yasumitsu-Schlapp, can be an exhilarating sport, but one which lacks the profile, and therefore financial support, of others like football or rugby. Yet we as a nation are among the best, if not THE best, in the world. We felt it worthwhile to invest in the Yasumitsu-Schlapp team, to help them gain even greater success now, and in the future, and, as importantly, to help give them the financial support needed to develop our riders ofthe future, so in this sport we can continue to be world champions.'

Added Andrea Ingram, co-founder of the team, 'The backing from Aztec will enable us to concentrate on developing novice riders, and to compete without compromise at international level.'

The Yasumitsu-Schlapp team can be seen in action at cycling events across the country, and regularly training at Manchester Velodrome.
(Visit http://www.geocities.com/Colossem/Arena/9468/ys/yasumitsu.htm for further information).

Tel: 01942 720044
Email: mailto:enquiries@aztecsystems.co.uk
Web: http://www.aztecsystems.co.uk

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