Southport companies invited to take part in recession busting initiative.

COMPANIES in Southport selling consumer products nationwide are being offered the opportunity to take part in a free national mailing saving them thousands of pounds. The recession busting initiative being organised by Response Direct Publishing seeks to eliminate marketing risk for companies operating in difficult economic conditions. All the costs for postage, printing and distribution of the mailing will be carried by RDP.

Stuart Keyte Managing Director of RDP said:- ‘recognising that organisations are facing extremely difficult times at present, RDP has developed a national mailing programme that will only charge for enquiries generated at a pre-agreed rate per enquiry, moving the entire risk from the company to ourselves.

We are inviting companies to take part from certain parts of the UK as a test and will ultimately compare statistical response rates to see how it performs. The only stipulation for companies wishing to take part is that they are able to supply the consumer both locally and nationwide as this will be a national mailing to over one million profiled consumers. Printing, distribution and postal costs will all be paid by RDP’. 

He continued:- ‘this is a much safer proposal for companies to market themselves in difficult times and hope it will prove profitable in generating quality enquiries at a time most needed’

Companies wishing to take advantage of the initiative or would like more information should contact RDP on 0208 812 4200 or email freemailing@rdp.info.

Media Opportunities For Liverpool Teenagers

THIS summer, the BBC are offering hundreds of teenagers, who are passionate about creative arts and media, the chance to take part in work experience on the Blast National Tour.

The tour gives young people (aged 13 to 19) an opportunity to explore a wide variety of free multi-media workshops at 27 towns and cities around the UK over the next 7 months. After the success of last year’s event in Sefton Park, the tour returns to Liverpool on Friday, 22 May 2009.

Your work experience could see you working with a local Event Organiser to plan and manage this event, coming up with ideas for promotion based on your knowledge of youth in the area, helping with production schedules and working with local facilitators and youth arts organisations to promote the free workshops, master classes and showcases.

When the Blast truck arrives in town, you'll be signing people into sessions, supporting facilitators, photographing the event or even filming or stage-managing a showcase.

You will also have the opportunity to contribute to the running of “Blast out Loud”, Blast’s on-site radio station.

For anyone interested in working in the creative industries, these opportunities with the BBC will be an invaluable experience and could be the first step on the career ladder.

"I took part in the Blast WEX scheme at the Serpentine Gallery last year and loved working with the mix of true industry professionals and young people at the event.  I'm now at De Montfort University in Leicester doing a degree in photography and video.

The experience that I gained on Blast has allowed me to get a part time job at a local media company, Channel 2020.

Working on Blast was one of the most inspirational and insightful experiences that I've had the chance to partake in." said Steven Seniw from Leicester

If you are interested in work experience, please visit:- www.bbc.co.uk/workexperience/blast for more information.

MUST-HAVES

SENSITIVE Brits voted spending time with their partner as life's biggest 'must-have'.  25% of people polled placed the company of their other half above more material possessions such as computers, mobile phones, radio and car.  And incredibly, in this modern age of technology, reading was 2nd beating television, the iPod, internet and broadband.  Children, partners and family time all appeared in the top 5, while having a cup of tea came 6th in the poll of 1,214 adults for The National Lottery.

A spokesman for The National Lottery said:- ''It seems that it is the little things in life that we couldn't live without. Time with family or little treats like a cup of tea or sitting in the sunshine are best for boosting everyday happiness.  'Research into Lottery winners reveals that they value the simple things in life that don't cost a fortune too, long soaks in the bath and watching TV were the treats they value most.''

The study revealed the NHS in 7th place followed by water - the only thing on the list which we couldn't physically live without.  And a healthy dose of caffeine made the list in the shape of the 1st cup of coffee in the morning.  10th was the words; 'I Love You'.  Further down the top 50 list, life's little luxuries start to take over - including a hot bath full of bubbles, a freshly made bed and enjoying a pint of beer.

Even chores appear on the list of things Brits couldn't live without - cooking and gardening appear at numbers 26 and 27 respectively.  Mum was deemed more important than dad, securing 11th place while fathers only made it in at number 37.  Best friends (24) came higher than siblings (38) while surprisingly money only made it to number 49.

TOP 50 MUST-HAVES:-

1. Spending time with my partner
2. Reading
3. Children
4. Partner
5. Family time
6. Cup of tea
7. Health services
8. Water
9. First coffee of the morning
10. Hearing the words 'I love you'
11. Mum
12. Internet / Broadband connection
13. Sunbathing
14. Watching a football match
15. Hot bath with bubbles
16. Getting into a comfy bed with fresh sheets
17. A good meal with friends
18. Computer / laptop
19. A long walk by myself
20. Television
21. Energy suppliers
22. Bottle of wine on a Friday night
23. Shopping trips
24. My best friend
25. Watching films
26. Cooking
27. Gardening
28. Going to a music gig
29. A pint of beer
30. Music
31. Sunrise / Sunset
32. Going to the gym
33. Trees
34. My kids waking me up in the morning
35. Radio
36. Football
37. Dad
38. Siblings
39. iPod
40. Washing machine
41. Emergency services
42. Animals
43. Rain
44. Christmas Day
45. My morning shower
46. Gin and tonic
47. Mobile phone
48. Car
49. Money
50. The dentist.