Keep Time in Style with Oregon Scientific’s New Rainbow Clock

Oregon Scientific, specialists in luxury lifestyle accessories, have now added the stunning Rainbow Clock to their iconic portfolio of contemporary clocks.

Adding colour and style to any modern interior, the Rainbow Clock, with 4 soothing sounds, is innovatively designed to enhance your lifestyle and physical wellbeing. The elegant, crystal clear display reflects a rainbow of relaxing colours, whilst the functional line-in allows you to play all your favourite music from your ipod or MP3 player.

The Rainbow Clock can create a relaxing mood for a good night’s sleep or wake you up with energising colours. Ideal for Christmas gifting or simply a treat for the home, the Rainbow Clock is the stylish way to keep time this season.

To view Oregon Scientific’s extensive range of luxury lifestyle gadgets, from smart outdoor devices and sophisticated travel accessories, to the newly launched Wellness Collection and an iconic selection of weather stations, please visit www.oregonscientific.co.uk.

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Traders Can Celebrate As The 100th TradePoint Store Opens

Traders can celebrate as the 100th TradePoint store opened in Gillingham store in the UK.

Tradesmen will now be able to find all the materials they need under one roof as TradePoint has opened its latest store inside B&Q on Will Adams Industrial Estate in Gillingham in Kent. Aiming for 118 store openings by the end of the year, the 100th store marks a landmark in the £26 million investment, giving tradesmen over 12,000 products from bricks and blocks, to paint, bathroom and kitchens, plumbing, electrical, tools and fixings all in one place.

TradePoint is open seven days a week, up to 14 hours a day with guaranteed stock availability, fast service and open and honest pricing from trusted trade brands. Each customer must supply evidence of their trade status, and then will be issued with their own membership card and catalogue listing all the products available. Customers will also find separate parking with extra wide bays for vans at the new store. Heavy goods can be picked from the building yard, and over the counter products will be picked and ready for collection.

TradePoint is available for trade only and offers a huge range of goods from hundreds of quality brands including Dulux, Ronseal, Mira, Biasi, Bosch, De Walt, Makita, Fisher, Rothenburger, Lafarge, Wylex, Vent-Axia and many more. TradePoint also offers kitchens and bathrooms and appliances to order or to take away. All at highly competitive and discounted trade only prices.

Pete Bell Gillingham’s TradePoint store manager says; “We’re proud to be the 100th TradePoint store and our team is in place to meet our new TradePoint customers. We’ve got a huge range of products and the team is eager to show how quickly and efficiently we can deliver these for our local tradesmen.”

Celebrity builder Craig Phillips who opened the 100th TradePoint says; “I’m excited to be in Gillingham opening the 100th TradePoint store today. It’s great that traders in the area now have one destination for all of their trading needs and I’m looking forward to meeting some of them today.”

All prices at TradePoint are shown exclusive of VAT unlike many builders’ merchants. Proof of working in the trade is required in order to collect your new TradePoint membership card, which should be shown when placing any orders and paying for goods.

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Look After Your Boiler During The Summer Months To Avoid Nasty Bills

1st Action advises consumers not to abandon their boiler until the winter

With the summer months upon us, it may not seem like a priority to think about getting your boiler ready for the cold winter, but this is what Richard Clarke, chairman of 1st Action is calling for homeowners to do.

Every central heating boiler should be checked and serviced each year to avoid problems such as pump failure, heating circulation problems, a noisy boiler, leaking radiator valves or cold spots on the radiator. If these problems are regularly experienced then the heating system could benefit from power flushing. A regularly checked gas boiler could improve its efficiency and lead to smaller gas bills. It could also reduce fuel waste and highlight any safety problems.

Clarke comments, “It is not only less expensive but you are likely to get a better service if you have your central heating system sorted out in the summer. During the winter, when the demands on boiler engineers is at its greatest, they tend to spend most of their time carrying out emergency boiler repairs and solving urgent heating boiler problems. During the summer they are under less pressure as heating systems are switched off. This is the best time to service your boiler and heating system.”

Clarke continues, “We know that after months of cold wet weather when the sun finally appears, the last thing you want to prepare for is a winter that is several months away. However every year for the last twenty winters as we get the first few days of colder weather our phone lines are crammed with callers whose heating is not working properly. You are not likely to be one of those customers if you have taken the appropriate steps during the summer.”

Many gas safe registered plumbing and heating specialists have special offers during the summer months to encourage homeowners to take care of the heating boiler and be prepared for next winter.

For more information, please visit www.1staction.com and the ‘Boiler Offers’ page

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Small In Size – Maximum Performance

Everything in our world is getting smaller; laptops, phones, MP3s and the trend hasn’t escaped the bathroom. Mira has launched a range of showers which, while small in size, still deliver maximum performance.

As well as being ideal for smaller bathrooms and en-suites, the Mini range from Mira is environmentally friendly. By introducing the Mini range, Mira has to date, saved the brass equivalent weight of ten African elephants!

Minibelle with 360 showerhead
The new Minibelle is the world’s best performing upright valve with dual control and powerful thermostatic performance. Teamed with the Mira 360 showerhead it creates a blissful shower experience.
• Thermostatic temperature stability keeps showering safe
• Mira 360m showerhead with Flipstream™ technology: one flip action, four unique sprays
• Cool touch valve technology – valve does not get hot during use therefore safe for use by all the family.
From £351.33 inc VAT RRP

Mira Minilite (also available with Eco showerhead)
Available as a built-in valve (pictured) or external valve, the Minilite showers are beautifully compact, but with a powerful punch. The Minilite’s thermostatic technology and simple to use single control make it ideal for all the family.
• One single control for flow and temperature
• Works on all pressures and on all plumbing systems, making it an easy choice.
The Minilite Eco comes with Mira’s Eco showerhead so you reduce your water consumption even further when showering.
From £211.50 inc VAT RRP

Mira MiniDuo (also available with Eco showerhead)
Sleek and functional in design, the MiniDuo range is available either with a built-in valve, an external valve (pictured), or with a fixed showerhead (built-in valve only).
• Separate flow and temperature controls
• Works at all pressures and on all plumbing systems, so an ideal selection for all bathrooms.

The MiniDuo comes with a four spray showerhead with partial rub clean rubber nozzles, whilst the Eco showerhead reduces water consumption by 75%.
From £253.80 inc VAT RRP

Mira Miniluxe
Iconic design and powerful first class thermostatic performance. Fully integrated rigid riser and an 8″ deluge showerhead creates maximum impact in every way, it features:
• Separate flow and temperature controls
• Highest performing vertical valve on the market
• Single spray 8″ deluge fixed showerhead with rub clean rubber nozzles for easy cleaning
• Cool touch valve technology – valve does not get hot during use
• Complete with contemporary rigid riser.
From £368.95 inc VAT RRP

Mira Miniluxe with Diverter
Mira Miniluxe and Diverter provides all the features of the Mira Miniluxe, with the addition of a diverter. Both the overhead shower and separate showerhead can be used individually and simultaneously for an invigorating shower.
From £421.83 inc VAT RRP

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Limestone Gallery’s Warehouse Sale – With Up To 70% Discount – Starts Soon!

Limestone Gallery’s warehouse sale starts on Weds 30th June-17th July with up to 70% discount. In its first sale for 5 years, the supplier to exclusive residences and superyachts around the world, is clearing old stock to make way for a new showroom space with superb stonework on offer at bargain prices.

There is something to suit all budgets with batches of limestone flooring starting at just £20.00 per metre plus VAT, fabulous carved basins in white limestone reduced from £1400.00 to £300.00 plus VAT, elegant limestone firesurrounds reduced from £1400.00 to £700.00 and solid carved bathtubs starting at £3000.00 plus VAT ( reduced from (£11,000 plus vat).

“Our clients love what they see but the vast majority seek something made to measure and in a stone of their choosing. This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone seeking to create a luxury look on a budget”. says Carlos Zanarotti, MD.

The limestone and marble bathtubs are in both contemporary clean lines and classical roll top styles and all have the wow factor for a stunning bathroom or even a mediterranean style terrace. The company’s iconic Ellipse style bathtub in Ivory Stone featured in the Bridget Jones film ‘Edge of Reason’.One of these is available in the sale with a reduced price tag from £14,500.00 to £11,000.00 plus VAT.(Solid carved bathtubs start from £3000.00 plus vat in the sale).

The sale will be held in the warehouse adjoining the company’s showroom in Vauxhall.

Starts Wed 30th June – Sat 17th July 2010
Sale opening times Mon-Sat 8.30am-5.30pm Sun 11th July 9am-5pm

Limestone Gallery , Arch 47 South Lambeth Road, London SW8 1SS
020 7735 8555 WWW.LIMESTONEGALLERY.COM info@limestonegallery.com

Find Bathroom equipment & accessories nationwide.

1 Hour Shower is the Clear Winner

If you have been putting off resealing your shower because you can’t bear to have your bathroom out of action for hours or even days, then new 1 Hour Shower Clear Bathroom Sealant from Evo-Stik is the answer.

Its innovative, high performance formula allows it to dry in just one hour and now available in clear as well as traditional white, is perfect if you have a dark tiling scheme and want the seal to blend in rather than stand out.

And, as well having your bathroom and shower back in use within minutes, rather than hours, you are also protected from mould growth and have the reassurance of a lifetime guaranteed seal.

Priced with busy, cash-conscious consumers in mind, 1 Hour Shower Clear offers more for less – faster drying time at an affordable price.

1 Hour Shower is ideal for sealing around showers and power showers.  SRP is £7.99, available from B&Q and Focus.

For further information, please contact Evo-Stik on 01785 272 625 or log on to www.evo-stik.co.uk

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Liverpool’s Luxury Retailer Tools Up With Technology

TASKERS, the Merseyside homeware store with premises in Aintree and Wavertree, has begun its second stage of major IT improvements following the £500,000 of technological investment already made since 2005.

The changes have already seen new budgeting, forecasting and accountancy software rolled out; the development of a Business Intelligence System; and the introduction of bespoke customer ordering and Customer Relations Management systems. The improvements will boost productivity and cement the retailer’s reputation for excellence.

The current phase of future proofing will include VMWare’s legendary Vsphere4 virtual data environment and further enhancements to the Electronic Point of Sale system, including the use of Pacific Retail’s Storetrader till network. Meanwhile behind the scenes forklift truck drivers and warehouse partners will be kitted out with ‘wrist watch phones’ to enable hands free communication, driving efficiency and giving customers a truly 21st Century service.

Taskers has also engaged Datel, a member of Sage’s ‘Circle of Excellence’, who will now be on hand to deliver support for software such as the acclaimed Line applications. Qlik View- the world’s fastest growing Business Intelligence Software- will also be used to dramatically reduce time spent running reports.

Customers will experience the benefits first hand, with new touch points being installed in stores, allowing users to search for stock by simply stating: ‘I want a dinner service, I want it white, I want it for £50’. Once they make their selection they will be given confirmation the item is available before being shown a map of the store detailing where the product can be found and how to get there.

The human face of the technology drive is Aled Morgan, who recently joined the retailer as IT Manager. Morgan was previously at European giant EDS, a company with a strong track record for providing IT support to Government departments and major corporations.

Speaking about the investment proposals Taskers Financial Controller Paul Schwartz said: “We saw the recession as an opportunity to invest further in our infrastructure as we could get better deals on the hardware and consultancy, as well as reducing the amount of disruption due to the quieter trading conditions.

“Our goal is not for Taskers to be the biggest company in the world but for us to be the best at what we do. For a long time Taskers has been selling the best products to the best customers via the best employees, now we are putting the finishing touches to helping us achieve our goal of having the best technology too.”

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It’s Time to Get Playful with Sadolin

Summer is on its way and with it the school holidays! Keeping the kids entertained and occupied is never far from any parents mind, and this summer, Sadolin has the answer.

Keep yourself and the kids happy by building a fun and colourful hideaway from the Wooden Kiwi, and painting it with one of Sadolin’s many brightly tinted Superdec products – the perfect remedy to keep kids busy and make a beautiful feature in your garden.

Sadolin Superdec offers a collection of 45 shades, which can be used to coat all garden timber, without the need of an undercoat. Colours are en vogue and range from pretty pastels and soft hues to more vibrant shades – the perfect complement to summer blooms! It is touch dry in just one hour, easy to apply and its incredible flexibility means it moves with the wood. Superdec is priced from £14.99 for a 750ml can and protects your wood for up to 8 years.

Put fun and colour high up on the agenda this summer with Sadolin’s Superdec.

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77% of Public Trust Builders More Than MPs

London, UK, May 25^th 2010 – With the UK public left unsettled by the recent election chaos, politicians continue trying to win them over with promises of building a better Britain. However, recent research into trust, commissioned to launch the 10^th Master Builder of the Year Awards, found that 86% of the public have more faith in their local builder than they do in politicians to get a job done properly. A sign that it should be left to the UK’s trusted builders to fix broken Britain.

With parliament, policies and political parties the hot topic of conversation at the moment, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), organisers of the Awards, commissioned research to measure public attitudes towards trust and uncovered some interesting truths – 65% would like to see more real people, like tradesman, become MPs and 77% trust their builder more than their local MP. The FMB works hard to maintain the reputation of its members and does everything it can to ensure that the public does not lose confidence in the trade. This includes a website offering inspiration, advice, free contracts   and tips on choosing the right builder. Perhaps the new coalition could learn a thing or two from this trade body!

To coincide with the research and to celebrate ten years of showcasing the very best in construction, FMB is working with celebrity property guru Phil Spencer to search for Britain’s best builder, in a competition that aims to continue to raise the standard of British building, in innovation, client service, skills and sustainability.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to have seen some incredible building projects in my time, as well as some fairly ordinary ones. That’s why I am delighted to be working with the FMB in a bid to help inspire tradesmen and the public to build a better Britain,” said Phil Spencer, the presenter of C4 Location, Location, Location and Relocation, Relocation.

FMB Director General, Richard Diment said: “Our research reflects public sentiment, as politicians continue to chip away at public trust, and people realise that local people, like tradesman, can be trusted. However, bricks and mortar alone are not going to build a better Britain. We need to ensure that we are working towards a more sustainable Britain with a well-skilled workforce. The FMB is dedicated to raising awareness of these issues and through these Awards, we hope to continue to inspire the public and the building industry to push the boundaries in these areas.”

The 2010 Master Builder of the Year Awards require every builder to be nominated by a satisfied customer – a client who is so pleased with their finished project that they feel their builder deserves national recognition. The awards are designed to reward both builders and their clients, which means the winning builder not only enjoys the title of Master Builder of the Year and the Nissan Light Commercial Vehicle of their choice worth up to £20,000, but their client will enjoy a £3,000 holiday!

Each of the category winning builders and their clients also win luxury weekend breaks for two at the Barceló hotel of their choice in the UK.

The awards are open to all builders and specialist tradespeople. If clients feel that their builder has excelled in the quality of their work and their professionalism, then they can enter them for the 2010 Master Builder of the Year Awards by registering online at www.fmb.org.uk/awards or by calling 020 7092 3870 and an application pack will be sent by return.

The competition has a wide range of categories to make sure it is open to as many builders as possible. Categories include New Homes, Small/Medium/Large Renovation Projects, Energy Efficient buildings, Commercial Projects (up to £3m), a special Heavenly Builder award for builders who display outstanding levels of customer service, no matter how small the job they undertake and an award for the Apprentice of the Year.

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Football’s Coming Home With Focus DIY

With the World Cup about to kick-off and fans across England gearing up for a summer of fantastic football, now’s the ideal time to make sure your home is as patriotic as you are!  Give it a red and white makeover with Focus DIY in time for the first game on 12^th June.

From wallpaper to rugs, lamps to paints, Focus has everything a dedicated England fan needs to make their home the perfect place to watch the footie.  Run out of sofa room?  Your mates will be happy sitting on the Port Red Medium Shaggy Rug (SKU: 253562, £61.19) – it’s also water-resistant for all those spilled pints!  And show your support with the Football LED Light (SKU: 195428 £13.19), which changes colour from red to blue to green.

Or why not go one step further and share your passion with the world by turning your house into a giant England flag?  Using Weathershield Smooth Masonry Pure Brilliant White 10L (SKU: 849661, £33.99) and International Brick & Tile Paint in Red (SKU: 596671, £25.49) from Focus, show your colours and get behind our boys this summer!

For more information on where to find your local store, or to shop online now, please visit www.focusdiy.co.uk

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