TIME JUGGLER

[Karan]:  I was asked yesterday how, as a mother of two very young children, and a business owner, did I manage my time: how did I get everything done? 

I would hasten to point out that the question could have been equally asked of Ian, as a father of two young children and a business owner; as the dilemma is ours together and not mine alone.  Ian struggles as much as I do to make and find quality time with the children, whilst also focusing on our ambitions for the business.  Needless to say it's far from easy.

My answer to Claire's question yesterday began with me telling her I've given up on the crazy sleep habit I had become accustomed to prior to having children, and prior to our business really moving up a gear, and beginning to grow significantly. 

I then explained that, as I'm more productive in the morning, that I will get up as early as necessary to complete important tasks before "The Stuff of Days" kicks in.  By getting up early and before everyone else, I am able to apply concentrated effort for 90 minutes (2 hours maximum) - without interruption or distraction - and get a whole lot more done, as it really focuses the mind.  If you follow the principle that work will expand to fill the time available, you have to limit the time available with deadlines; and then stick to them!

I have learnt many new and more effective ways of working this year, thanks in no small part to Nigel Botterill, but one of my favourite methods is the following.  If you have a task to complete in e.g.: seven days, ask yourself this: if I had to complete this task in four days, or I would die, could it be done?  If the answer is "yes, but I'd have to work really hard, rescheduled this, postpone that and not watch TV for four days" well then, do it!  Nigel doesn't do flowery, but this method really works.  And remember, there's no point cheating, as you're only cheating yourself.  Push yourself harder and you'll be amazed by the outcome. 

The more routine and not-so-important tasks of the day can then be completed amongst "The Stuff of Days" like impromptu telephone calls and meetings etc.  I tend to leave the easier and not so brain-draining matters for the afternoon, when my energy levels are beginning to wane.  I do tend to have a second wind after the kids have gone to bed, but if I'm going to be up, about and productive early next day, there's no point burning the midnight oil.  But I do, as the routine and domestic stuff takes time too.

Claire and I swapped notes about how our houses aren't as clean as we'd like them, how in an ideal world we'd like more food in the fridge and who had the tallest pile of ironing.  At the moment Claire and I seem to be trading the same stuff, because with only one of us each, not everything gets done; we're prioritising on a day-to-day basis.  Throw in Christmas and we're both running around like our hair's on fire.  It can't all be done.  There are only 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week, and unless we're going to be cloned for Christmas, something's gotta give. 

Consider the VALUE of one of your working hours.  You can probably work out your hourly rate easily enough, but what value has it for you?  I attended a BNI meeting recently where a self-employed book keeper stood up and presented a case study: in essence, she had earned her client £10,000.  How?  By paying his book keeper £120 for keeping his books (funnily enough) and completing his quarterly VAT return, the client was able to dedicate his time to doing what he did best; sales and marketing.  As a result he was free to be in the right place at the right time to handle a sales enquiry that eventually became a £10,000 sale.  Would Claire's and my time be better spent growing our businesses and paying another entrepreneur to conquer the south face of our ironing piles, or ensuring we're not knee deep in dust when we get home?

Of course there is the expense of hiring someone to clean, iron and book-keep for you, but is it a false economy not to?  What else could you be doing, whilst this is being done for you?  Could these services be effectively earning you money, whilst assisting the growth of your business?  These are questions I am going to ask myself early in the New Year, as we have big plans for 2011 - which is going to take a lot of my time and energy - and I'm not going to allow pesky laundry to sabotage them! 

SCRABBLE'S LIFE LESSONS

My name is Karan and I love playing Scrabble.  They say the first step to recovery is admitting that you have a problem, although I don't see this as a problem; it's only some other people who think I'm uncool; but their opinion of me is none of my business, is it?

I generally play online, as it allows me to play with far flung friends and family, in addition to random strangers who may, or may not, become regular Scrabble buddies.  I love words (you may have noticed) and I love the challenge, whilst keeping my brain and vocabulary well exercised.  It's not as cool as being plugged into an Xbox 360 I grant you, but I don't care, as I'm learning new words all the time.

Recently I was involved in two games simultaneously, which were nearing the end, and both results were looking bleak for me.  In fact, I was certain I'd lose these games, as I had a single low scoring tile left in both games, and absolutely no opportunity on the board to place them well and win.  It crossed my mind fleetingly to forfeit both games, to save time, but my opponents both had their penultimate turns to take, before my seemingly inevitable loss.

Following the dictum "Don't quit. Ever. Do. Not. Quit", I decided to play on, hoping my opponents would hit the "Forfeit" icon themselves - in error if nothing else - stranger things have happened at sea.  And this is where Scrabble taught me a life lesson: as both opponents laid down their penultimate tiles they created an opportunity for me.  I now had somewhere to put my single low scoring tiles, which was basically at the end of the words they had just created.  Both single low scoring tiles landed on Double Word Score squares, which meant that I won both games, unexpectedly and from nowhere, by one single point, and within minutes of each other.  I laughed.

What I took from this bizarrely timed experience is this: in business you can never second guess what your opponents and competitors are going to do; in some ways it's none of your business what they do - you have to play your own game with confidence, until the end.  Don't quit. Ever. Do. Not. Quit.  Your opponents may make mistakes and create opportunity for you.  They may even be successful and create opportunity for you; you never can tell.  All that you can do is be patient, persevere, and actually be around to pounce on the possibilities when they eventually present themselves.  I'd have lost these games if I had quit, but I always had a chance (that led to eventual triumph) whilst I was still in the game.  Losing is not inevitable and you always have to play to win despite the odds.

If anyone fancies a game of Scrabble with me, please let me know via our Facebook page as I'll play anyone - but I'm obviously going to play to the death and would expect you to, too!  May the best uncool Scrabble geek win!

SHOWING MY AGE!

[Karan]:  Our daughter, Mia (aged 7), thinks dinosaurs roamed the earth when I was at school, and once asked me what we used before cars were invented, when I was little.  I kid you not.  It's a bloody good job you can't sell kids on eBay, is all I can say!  Cheeky little Minx.

I am keen to point out that I wasn't born in the Mesozoic, or any other prehistoric era for that matter, but I am a child of the 1970's; which is feeling more and more like the Mesozoic era the older I get.  To make matters worse, I saw an online article recently celebrating all the "must have" toys of my bygone age, and Mia took pity on me as though I was neglected as a child or something.  What I have tried to explain to Mia is that SIMON was our version of her Nintendo DS, and I was thrilled when I got it for Christmas in 1978: my parents may have lived to regret their repetitively noisy present choice, but I most certainly didn't.

Another of my all time greatest presents was the Stylophone.  Now, as a mother of two rampant and rambunctious children, I can only assume that my parents were clinically insane to have given this to me in 1976 - what were they thinking?!  Have you heard the God awful noise this contraption creates?  For those of you denied the special privilege of having heard the special tunes created by a tame Stylophone, I can only describe it as sounding like a bag of cats being slammed against a wall.  But I loved it as it allowed me to be "creative" - along with my banging wooden spoons on pots, pans and my brother!

My deepest regret, the one thing I always wanted but never got was the Raleigh Chopper bike, complete with a gear lever.  My friend Simon Hodge had a red one and I coveted it unashamedly, but I was bought a girlie Flyer instead (no, I hadn't heard of one until then either) - a brown one at that - BROWN?!  No nine year-old child asks for a brown bike, and you should see the groovy haircut I had at the time when photographed on said brown bike.  No, I'm not showing you.  The Raleigh Chopper was the epitome of a bike, it was the ultimate - you were somebody if you had a Chopper - everyone was your friend, mostly so they could get a ride on your bike.  I didn't get any requests to ride my brown Flyer [sniff].

May I also take this opportunity to register my utter disgust that when the Chopper was relaunched a few years ago it was sans gear lever - how could they do that?!  I know why they did that; on Health 'n' Safety grounds, but we children of the 70's survived, and there's nothing (much) wrong with us...I heard that!

My brother and I were not in the least bit neglected at Christmas, whatever Mia may think; we had great Christmas', where our parents went all out for a wonderful day, with great food, mountains of presents and our family around us.  Our parents subjected themselves to hours, days, weeks and months of Stylophonic Greensleeves, because that's what parents do at Christmas, isn't it?  It's in the children's charter that they are required, by law, to be noisy and rampant on Christmas Day, so that their parents are fraught and exhausted husks by nightfall. 

Stand by your beds fellow parents, the day is almost upon us.  This is where our own parents laugh at the memories of how we used to be, and delight in the deliciousness of karma, as our ears ring from the cacophony and our last nerve strains to hold out: I'm looking forward to it already.  Good luck people and please remember me fondly.

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN!

[Karan]:  And no, I don't mean Christmas.  Of course it is Christmas soon, (however hard I try and deny it), but what I mean is: it's that time of year when [gasp] it snows!

It never ceases to amaze me how this country comes grinding to a standstill at the first glimpse of snow.  Already we have had news reporters dispatched to Hemel Hempstead so they can crouch in the snow to show us how deep it is.  Already three major airports have closed, with no news as to when they might re-open, whilst disappointing thousands of travellers.  I've still to hear the AA advise us only to travel if it's important, but I'm sure that little nugget is on it's way soon.  Politicians have been "braving it into Westminster" to ensure our stocks of salt are adequate to keep the country moving, whilst my TV is now covered in muesli at the nonsense of it all.

I'm now sitting here, having threaded my way carefully into work this morning because the roads are icy, and fully anticipating having to collect my daughter from school before lunch, because the current snow flurry is expected to drift and the school must close!  How in God's name do they cope in Alaska, Russia and Norway - let's find out and copy what they do, because I'm pretty sure their schools don't close, their trains still run and their airports remain open, always. 

We have a serious obsession with the weather in this country, but whatever the weather may throw at us, it leaves us bemused and often times, scuppered with the wrong kind of rainfall (!) or leaves on the line.  In summer the very same news reporters were crouching next to a melting road surface, whilst the rest of us were unable to refresh our scorched patches of earth due to a hosepipe ban.  It's the current snow that really amuses me.  If we lived in Barbados, snow would be a genuine surprise, but we don't and it shouldn't be.  Have you noticed that the phrase "global warming" is always substituted at this time of year for "climate change".  Climate change my arse, it's winter, it snows; we just all need to be grown ups and learn how to adapt better, rather than be caught out by what we know is coming.

I saw a television programme earlier this week about the snow, road gritting and the likelihood that the UK will run out of salt before spring arrives.  A comment was also made that to import the salt we need is very expensive "at this time of year".  Hmmm, okay, well what can we learn from this?  Well, in the UK it snows in winter.  We experience winter weather from November to February EVERY YEAR, so why not buy/import salt in June when it's cheaper, hello?! 

As for melting road surfaces, I'll leave that for the engineers to work out, but perhaps they could observe how the roads in Arizona and Melbourne survive their searing temperatures.  There is a solution to every problem, and we in the UK need to respond better to what happens to us, rather than react.  And can the media please stop whipping these issues into more than they really are or need to be; it's only snow: keep calm and carry on!  

That is all.

  

FATAL SALES FAIL

Loss or Opportunity?

[Karan]:  I've had an interesting couple of days in which I have experienced two completely different attitudes towards exactly the same problem, and I'm now ruminating about the likely outcome of each.

We have been a customer of a local supplier, who I shall refer only to as Tired Incorporated, since we began trading in 1992; a very long time ago.  You might consider us a very loyal customer of Tired Inc after all these years, and we used to place quite a bit of business their way, as they were friendly, dynamic and helpful.  They might not always have been the cheapest supplier of their stuff, but they were pleasant to trade with and we always try to stay as local as we can.

On Tuesday I had a sales enquiry for a widget, and referred to Tired Incorporated's price list, which was still dated July 2007 despite repeated requests for the revised editions.  I thought I'd have another go and spoke directly with the new Sales Manager whose response was: "...every time we try to publish a new brochure, a manufacturer or two will change their stock and/or prices, rendering the brochure out-of-date and inaccurate, so we just [infrequently] email you the changes".  Hmmm, okay, fair enough point about the pricing etc, but what are the likes of IKD to do when trying to find the price and availablility of a widget?  The answer was: "...give us a call".   Hmmm, okay, but what if I need a price outside of your hours of business?  Well, we can all guess the answer to that, can't we?

On Wednesday Ian and I went to a trade exhibition, where we were introduced to a new supplier of  widgets, who now represent direct competition to Tired Incorporated. During our discussions, their Divisional Sales Director offered us a very large and heavy duty ring binder, full of professionally printed loose leaf pages, complete with all relevent stock, price and discount codes and product specifications etc.  It was explained to us that "...every time we try to publish a new brochure, a manufacturer or two will change their stock and/or prices, rendering the brochure out-of-date and inaccurate, so we created this in addition to offering you live online stock levels and a 24 hour online ordering facility".  Hmmm, now we're talking!  Obviously as stock, price and discount codes change in the future, Extraordinary Inc. will update the binder pages accordingly, but will also email us the changes as a fail safe catch all, ensuring that we are fully equipped with all of the latest developments to help us sell their products!

The online stock level checker and 24 hour ordering facility is just brilliant, and obviously affords us bang up-to-date information and greater ordering flexibility than ever before, from this section of the industry.  So who with me can now predict the future for poor old Tired Incorporated?  They've allowed themselves to be defeated by an easily surmountable problem; all it would take is a little ingenuity and willingness because, let's face it, a heavy duty ring binder with loose leaf pages is not rocket science, is it?  There may be costs incurred to activate this solution, but how much sales revenue are they loosing because they haven't - this is a false economy!

Tired Incorporated, and others I could mention who operate like them, would do well to remember that their customers, like IKD, are having to work extra hard in this climate to succeed, and are unlikely to work even harder than that, and unnecessarily so, when a better, faster, cheaper and more accurate alternative is available from their competitor(s).  My advice to Tired Incorporated is the same as it continues to be for ourselves, and something we are constantly mindful of: adapt or die, because if you're not growing your business, your business is shrinking - as a wise man (aka Nigel Botterill) once told me.

FOR THE FALLEN

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,

England mourns for her dead across the sea.

Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of spirit,

Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal

Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.

There is music in the midst of desolation

And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,

Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

They mingle not with laughing comrades again;

They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;

They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

By Laurence Binyon

PREMIUM DELUXE DADDY HEARING

[Karan]:  NOTE TO SELF: If you ever come back in the next life, be sure to order yourself the Premium Deluxe version of Daddy Hearing, which will enable you to sleep through almost everything, but particularly your young son having a restless night.  Premium Deluxe Daddy Hearing will almost always result in someone else getting up to tend to the infant, so that you may ping open your eyelids and scratch yourself in the morning, whilst feeling fresh as a daisy.

How do men do this?  I say men but only sleep with the one, but my friends all have the same experience with Daddy Hearing; which is how I feel qualified to use the term men, plural.  It's so bloody infuriating and exhausting.

On a primal level I can understand how hunter-gatherer man needed his sleep to go and kill a brace of wild boar for dinner, whilst stay-at-home woman could sleep when the baby did during the day (HAH! - this never happens by the way).  So if we assume all of that to be true (thousands of years later!), can someone please explain to me how Himself can sleep soundly through James' restless night, but will spring out of bed like a scalded cat should someone dare walk past the house and give the car a - silent - sideways glance?  What does this say to you?

All joking aside, Ian has actually slept through an earthquake.  Obviously we live in England so our experience of an earthquake is very different to those in parts of America or Japan etc, but they're still worth waking up for don't you think?  I'm not talking about tremors; even I'd sleep through one of those, I'm talking about the one a little while ago originating from Lincolnshire that shook the whole house.  And Himself slept on, thinking I was winding him up when I woke him especially.

Ian's defence for all of this is that he's tired, a point I don't dispute; but it sort of implies that I'm not.  So perhaps it's just a Mummy Thing, perhaps I'm just programmed to hear the baby so that Himself can go a hunting and a gathering at Wickes and Machine Mart.  Perhaps it's just another in the long, long list of Mummy-Only priviliges; like taking the direct hit when the little darlings vomit so as to protect the carpet, which you know you're only going to have to clean if you don't!  Having another shower, or showers, is always preferable at stupid O'clock.  Oh the joys.

This picture is not of Ian (or James) by the way and whilst tempted as I may be; if this rather lovely specimen of hunter-gatherer sleeps through crying babies too, there seems little point in me upgrading.

NOT A MOMENT TO LOSE!

[Karan]:  The 1st November already?!  Are you sure?  This time in a few short weeks we're going to be staring down the barrel of a New Year, and enjoying all of the wonderful opportunities it's going to afford us.

But what of 2010, have you achieved all that you had planned to achieve this year?  Well there's still time for you to finish strong - or stronger still - what are you waiting for?  There's not a moment to lose!

From my personal perspective, I cannot believe what Ian and I have achieved this year, so far - it's certainly more than we'd planned on 1st January that's for sure.  Earlier this year - April in fact - I wrote out a one year plan, detailing what I wanted to happen in each given month leading up to April 2011.  I reviewed this plan regularly to ensure we kept ourselves on track and, although some objectives were not completed exactly when I had anticipated them to be completed, they were nevertheless completed. 

I last reviewed this plan at the beginning of October, and was delighted to have found all of our objectives crossed off, but it wasn't until I was talking about this to a friend recently that I'd realised my cardinal sin: I hadn't replaced the list!  Where was my one year plan to October 2011?  Was I really going to be resting on my laurels from now on? 

We still have seven realistically productive weeks left of 2010, and so much can be achieved in that time, so this is me giving myself a massive - and very public! - kick up the arse for being complacent, whilst also setting myself new targets for the remainder of 2010, the New Year and to infinity  - and beyond!  Have definately been watching too many Toy Story movies!

LAST CHANCE TO BUY

This DID NOT fall off the back of a lorry!  I know you're going to think it did, but it most certainly didn't - it's just an amazing bargain is all.  The only problem is, is that there are only a small number left, so if you want one, you best get your skates on.

This is a Reginox single bowl stainless steel sink, and it can be yours - including waste, overflow fittings and VAT - for £50! 

It is not nicked, it will be in perfect condition and full working order, with all of the manufacturer warranty and guarantees you'd expect from IKD.

This is perfect for first time buyers, property developers, landlords, builders, DIYers and those on a budget. 

Generally speaking we have a couple of deliveries a week in respect of lead times, but I can't even guarantee that I can sell you one; Reginox have made only a certain amount amount available at this ridiculous price and it's going to be a bun fight over who gets them first.

Please let me know of your interest and I will do all I can to obtain one for you.  I can't stress this enough: this really is your last chance to buy this sink for £50. 

PS: Ask me about taps!

Price does not include delivery or installation & is seriously subject to availability

GRUMBLE ALERT!

[Karan]:  I'm going to have a grumble.  I've worked for it, I've earned it and nobody's going to stop me!  Are you ready?  Here goes:

What exactly is the fascination with misery?  How is it allowed to pervade almost every aspect of our lives?  The reason I ask is manifold.  I stopped tuning into EastEnders over ten years ago because watching people arguing, fighting and screaming and each other doesn't entertain me.  I can't bear X Factor for all the (fake) tears and the supposedly broken dreams of teenagers, who have their whole lives ahead of them to still achieve everything they want to.  And as for the news, urghh.

The news in particular is a huge bugbear of mine.  I used to be glued to the Channel 4 News and the BBC's Newsnight almost every night, but then the recession hit and I switched off.  All the media seemed intent on doing was running things even further down and, arguably, making things appear worse than they really were.  The TV journalist Robert Peston, who specialised in the economy's descent was even touted as a main cause of the recession, because of the determined pessimism pervading his bulletins.  I don't watch the news now and I'm about to cancel my newspaper subscription.

I get that bad news sells papers and airtime etc, but let's have an equal - or at least a representative proportion - of good news, because it is out there.  It completely baffles me why people want, after a hard day at work and/or looking after the kids etc, would want to relax in front of "gritty" and "realistic" soaps.  I've never been to the East End of London, but the people I know who have say the soap bears little relation to the actual place or the population.  Likewise the now defunct The Bill: very little comparison could be made to the real police force.

As camp and glitzy as it may be, Strictly Come Dancing gets our vote on a Saturday night because it can change the contestant's lives, fitness, self-esteem and even body shape for the better.  I would rather my kids learn that hard work, concentrated effort and determined application is what is going to help them achieve, over how hard they can cry, what they look like and who happens to like them.  Why can't we have more balance with the original educate, inform and entertain mantra of a free media?

Our own situation is a classic case in point.  We're a small local business who is working through the recession.  It's not been easy, we've had our problems and continue to work extremely hard to make a success of our family business.  We opened our kitchen showroom in August and invited the local press to write an article and take some photographs, but they weren't sufficiently interested, even after several repeated invitations.  It seems they wish to focus more on job losses and the negative news, which of course needs to be reported, but I go back to my original point about balance.  Yes, there are many job losses and crime etc in and around Kettering, but there is positive and good news out there too, and it may just inspire other people if they were able to learn what it is.  Our local paper is losing readers hand over fist and is gradually becoming thinner and thinner with every issue - and is it any wonder?!  Why not celebrate what's great about Kettering and highlight who's doing well and what the town can be proud of?  Do you really want to spend your life in a dark vicious circle going downwards, or would you like to come up for air and into the sunshine from time to time?

With the obvious exceptions of death, divorce, redundancy and illness etc, a great deal of what happens to us can be made better or worse simply by how we choose to respond to it.  And it is always your choice.  So ask yourself when watching Phil Mitchell smoking crack cocaine on EastEnders (pre-watershed!) if this is really entertaining you, and if it isn't switch it off or at least over!  Why not watch your all time favourite feel good movie, talk to your best friend or read a great book instead?  Life's too short to spend it in the company of misery and determined negativity.  Break free and smile, because it increases your face value!

WE WON!

[Karan]:  I am thrilled, delighted and honoured to announce that IKD Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms have won The Best of Kettering Business Award for Customer Service in 2010 - thank you to everyone who voted for us, we love you too!

This means a great deal to Ian and I, especially following our award in February as The Most Loved Business in Category (overall joint fourth place amongst 300+ other excellent Kettering businesses!). 

We have also enjoyed a huge amount of support and success since opening our kitchen showroom last month: which has left us busier than ever changing people's homes for the better and adding value as we go.  It's been one hell of a year, we've made a load of new friends, but we still have a quarter of the year left, we're not finished yet and we're going to finish 2010 strong and in style.

Thank you again to everyone who has voted and supported us during our 18 years trading, but especially this past few months - we couldn't have done it without you!

Karan & Ian xxx

SPECIAL OFFER!

We have a very limited number of these single lever, monobloc mixer taps with a non-return valve and finished in Brushed Steel available at £25 including VAT!

Call us now on 01536 415280 to order yours - whilst stocks last.

* Price excludes delivery and installation *

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THE MAYOR INVITES YOU...



The Mayor of Kettering
Councillor Shirley Lynch



[Karan]:  We were honoured to welcome the Mayor of Kettering, Councillor Shirley Lynch, to our kitchen showroom opening event on August Bank Holiday Monday.  It was the first time Ian and I had met the Mayor, but we were left with the lasting impression of a hugely energetic, passionate and determined woman, who would stop at nothing to achieve the enormous goals she had set herself to raise money and awareness for those in need and her many nominated charities.

Councillor Lynch takes her duties seriously and is happy to spend as much time as her hectic schedule will allow, in i.e.: the company of our senior citizens who may be in hospital over Christmas, and when visitors can be few and far between.  Whilst Councillor Lynch supports all the wings and wards of Kettering General Hospital, few are as desperate for funding or visitors as the senior wards, which is precisely why the Mayor chooses to visit. 

This is a Mayor who also goes out of her way to champion small local businesses, which is why she accepted our invitation last month, and spent well over an hour learning about our history and plans for the future.  Our Mayor is Kettering born and bred and loves our town with a passion; our Mayor is most certainly not a grey-suited pen pusher interested only in kudos, privilege and pomp; Councillor Lynch will seek out the smaller and less well known charities and causes, and use her public position to shine a light on their work and fund raising activities.

As such, the Mayor is hosting a Charity Dinner and Ball on the evening of Friday 12 November 2010, at the Wickstead Park Pavilion, and you are invited.  Tickets are available for £31 each and will be donated to two of the charities closest to the Mayor's heart: Kettering & District Prostrate Cancer Support Group and the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance service. 

MENU

Rich Tomato & Basil Homemade Soup served with a Crusty Roll

Roast Turkey with all the Trimmings and Seasonal Vegetables

Homemade Apple & Blackberry Pie with Custard

Coffee & Mints

Vegetarian Option: Goats Cheese, Tomatoes, Peppers & Herbs encased in Puff Pastry

EVENING DRESS

There will be dancing to the Sonny & The Honey Dippers, as well as the Bill Burton Disco.  Reception 7pm - 7.30pm, dinner served at 8pm and carriages at 1am.

If you would like to attend, please contact me on 01536 415280 - before Wednesday 3 November 2010 - and I will be happy to make those arrangements on your behalf.  If you are unable to attend but would like to donate a prize for the Tombola stall, or donate money towards the Mayor's charities, please forward your cheques and/or prizes - before Wednesday 3 November 2010 - to: Mayor's Secretary, Municipal Offices, Bowling Green Road, Kettering, NN15 7QX.  Please make cheques payable to: The Mayor of Kettering Charity Account

I'm sure you will agree the evening sounds abolutely wonderful and the proceeds are going towards two extremely worthy causes.  IKD Kitchens will be supporting the Mayor's charities, and we hope you will too.

 

Thank you x

 

APOLLO n. shorthand for EXCELLENCE

[Karan]:  IKD Kitchens have had a business Facebook profile for well over a year now, and we have had  the pleasure of making lots of new friends and acquaintances as a result.  We met our new stationery guru, Sheila from Knights & Hyde through Facebook, and now enjoy huge discounts on all of our office supplies, as well as having them delivered promptly and FREE to our door.  The potential from Facebook truly is limitless, if you know how to drive it properly.

One of the biggest connections we have made on Facebook however is with Tim and Jenny from Apollo Blinds of Northampton.  Tim is the owner of the business and responsible for all of the free design consultations and free installations, whilst Jenny (Tim's daughter) is responsible for practically everything else, in her capacity as Showroom Manager.  This includes organising Tim and managing his overflowing diary, whilst ensuring the first class customer service they have developed and are understandably proud of.

Jenny's also something of a social media whizz and first contacted me, via Facebook, way back in April I think: we hit it off immediately.  Jenny has a very dry and observational wit, is very clever and a tiny bit bonkers - all qualities I appreciate very much.  It also helps that Jenny studied economics and politics at university, has a son of roughly the same age as my own, and absolutely adores The West Wing.  Could we have been separated at birth I began to wonder, until Jenny firmly reminded me of the considerable age difference between us.  Charming.  So that would be "no" then?!

The more we got to know each other and how we ran our respective businesses, the more we realised we had something in common.  IKD has a "family" of supplementary tradesmen and suppliers who we work in very close association with, but they have to be more than good - they have to be damned good, as we're all about the excellence.  There is no point Ian and I working our socks off to build a solid 18 year-old reputation for excellence and then bring in third rate electricians, gas technicians or builders who are going to undermine everything we're trying to achieve.  So when we asked Tim to install two venetian blinds for our showroom window and they were subsequently made-to-measure and fitted without error or issue, we knew we had to invite them into the IKD family.  We are now proud to be official Trading Partners with Apollo Blinds of Northampton.

This is the "Cotton" venetian blind on the showroom side of the window.  You can see how exactly it fits and how beautifully it has been installed.  On the office side of the window we have a "Flint" venetian blind, complete with the Uniwand safety feature, and it's a brilliant idea.  To eradicate the risk of small children being hurt by loose blind cords, the Uniwand fully encloses all cords in a plastic wand, and this wand completes all of the blind functions (ie: up, down & tilt etc).  We chose to have two blinds because there will be times during a kitchen showroom demonstration, when we will want to effect a blackout, so we can demonstrate the various innovative lighting options available.  Tim understood what we were trying to achieve and was able to provide us with great professional guidance, which has afforded us two beautiful and functional blinds that we love.  You are more than welcome to stop by and test out the Uniwand for yourself.

As many of you will already be aware, we invited Tim and Jenny along to exhibit at our Kitchen Showroom Opening event last weekend, and I'm delighted to report that our trading partnership with Apollo Blinds is already paying dividends for them by way of sales enquires and design consultations.  Watch this space to see what Tim, Jenny, Ian and I are cooking up next for our future respective customers, it's very exciting and it's going to be great!

WHERE'S MY BLOODY GUN?!

[Karan]:  I'm living the dream baby!  This is it, this is what all the hard work was for.  Having opened the kitchen showroom to the public over the weekend and safely ensconced the children into school and nursery, I was finally able to settle down in my new showroom office and work.  It's true to say that I took a moment, and then smiled - I was here.  I'd made it.

There I was enjoying the novelty of being able to think a whole thought, all the way through without a barrage of interruptions, and then it began.  I had a planned and fully scheduled meeting with our Stationery Guru, Sheila from Knights & Hyde, which was fun and informative but after Sheila, I experienced an unending stream of impromptu "opportunities", and it was frustrating, to say the least.  I need to get me some extra strength Sales Rep repellent, because I can't go on like that.  I'm all for learning about new products, services & opportnities, but please make an appointment first - I'm not sitting here filing my nails you know, I'm trying to grow and market a business, whilst also ensuring a first rate, earth shattering customer service service.

I once saw a notice in my local Chemist that read: "I shoot every third Sales Rep. The second has just left" and I thought blimey, how unfriendly, but now I understand.  In lieu of an actual gun though, I may just purchase such a sign myself.

THE BIG BLOG OF THANKS

[Karan]: As many of you will already be aware, we opened our first kitchen showroom over the weekend and it was a triumph; we caught up with existing customers and old friends, whilst also making a raft of brand new acquaintances, who we hope to get to know better in the weeks and months to come.

It was an amazing couple of days and Ian and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, but now comes the best bit. This is where I get to tell the world what a wonderful collection of friends and relatives we have and how – and why – we simply could not have got our showroom open without them. Are you ready? Then I shall begin...

OUR CHILDREN: Our beloved and beautiful children (Mia 6 and James 2) deserve our biggest thanks and gratitude for putting up with a less than perfect family life over the past few months, whilst Ian and I have designed and installed the showroom. At exactly the point we needed as much spare time as possible to install the showroom, our day-to-day business life exploded, leaving virtually no spare time at all. We have therefore been stealing hours and days wherever possible to make the showroom happen, which has impacted on our cherished time with the kids. Mia in particular has had, without doubt, one of the most unimpressive school summer holidays since records began; but we intend to rectify this during all future school holidays.

We love our children dearly and will continue to work as hard as we can to offer them a full life of love, laughter and opportunity.

GRACE DENNIS: Without Ian’s Mum looking after the kids – a long way above and beyond the call of duty – none of what we have achieved would have been possible. I can imagine much head shaking and arguing with this suggestion, but the fact remains that our children were looked after exceedingly well, spoilt beyond all comprehension (as is a Nanny’s prerogative I’m told) and, above all else, loved to within an inch of their lives by their Nanny, who they equally adore. A weekend at Nanny’s is no hardship let me assure you – it’s all we can do to get a kiss and hug as we’re leaving, as they’re too busy running into the garden to play, or camp out in their new tents! Separation anxiety is just not a factor for Mia and James – it is for Ian and I, but not so much for them.

Where it all gets above and beyond the call of duty is, following a weekend of looking after two rampant and rambunctious kids who could easily exhaust Mary Poppins herself, Ian and I would return to collect them on a Sunday afternoon to enjoy a home cooked roast dinner with all the trimmings; which had been painstakingly prepared to save us having to cook when we got home. Now that is what you call love and support: so here on record, is our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to Mum for all that you have done, the care you have taken and the support you have given freely and in abundance; we really couldn’t have done it without you!

EDDIE McINTOSH: Eddie is IKD’s Electrician Extraordinaire and a fully-fledged leg-end, sorry I meant legend. It’s true that Ian and I have been friends with Eddie since 1992 (when IKD began and we were looking for an electrician to work alongside), but Eddie’s skill, experience and robust sense of humour, make him an absolute pleasure to work with.

The time, imagination, energy and expense Eddie has spent enhancing our showroom with all of the electrical and lighting wizardry that greet you upon arrival is no mean feat. Eddie has worked exceptionally hard to help us create a showpiece to be proud of, and no idea or expense was spared. Another essential component to having Eddie install all things electrical is that we are assured of ultimate safety for ourselves, our children, staff and visitors. Safety is of paramount importance and is the only time, when you’re working with Eddie that the joking stops. Thanks for everything Ed!

LISA BURTON: Lisa is my best friend of 30 years standing – we knew each other as eggs, obviously. My sincere thanks go to Lisa for the endless hours of listening to me burble on about what we’re going to do, are currently doing and have actually done in the showroom. I wouldn’t be surprised if I have spent these last few weeks in particular talking to the arm of her sofa, whilst she’s gone off somewhere to de-fluff her navel – who could blame her? My thanks too for knowing when to cajole, encourage or kick my arse; I’m only allowed to worry or wallow for so long before the boot is swiftly administered for the sake of her sanity. Lisa tells it like it is; the only problem is that it’s frequently via the medium of song, which is a whole other blog post for another day. Ask me about the nightmare that is “Amoureuse”.

Lisa, as many of you will know, was our Event Manager for the showroom opening and made sure everything ran smoothly, which it did. Thank you mate for a couple of very long days helping us enhance our business and reputation, you did an excellent job and Ian and I are grateful for all that you did – you’re a marble.

TREVOR ROBINSON: Trevor is IKD’s plasterer-in-chief who has spent many hours plastering the walls and ceilings of the showroom, and our home for that matter! Trevor takes a great deal of pride in his work, and for good reason too as his results are excellent. We would also like to thank Trevor for all of the encouragement and energy he has brought with him on any given working day; your positive “can-do” approach is very much appreciated and a joy to work with.

PHIL SMITH: For your services to friendship, also above and beyond the call of duty. You know why, and your help is never to be underestimated, and will never be forgotten. Thank you.

RICHARD SANDERS GROUP: Ian and I have been loyal customers of Richard Sanders Peugeot, Renault, Honda & Nissan since they arrived in Kettering in 2002, purely because we always get great service and a bargain. Ian’s Peugeot Boxer van was purchased from and is serviced by Richard Sanders Peugeot, whilst our almost exclusively Renault cars are always purchased there: more often than not Mr Sanders himself will come and thank us personally for another purchase, which is a nice touch.

The Richard Sanders Group is an official IKD Trading Partner and were kind enough to donate the highest value prize for our Prize Draw: a Supagard Car Care system which normally retails at £299.99. Ian and I would like to thank the Richard Sanders Group and James Labrum from the Peugeot division in particular, for all of their help and support during the installation of our showroom.

APOLLO BLINDS: Thank you Tim and Jenny for the fantastic “Flint” and “Cotton” venetian blinds you have installed in our showroom window, the wealth of choice was almost impossible to decide upon, your customer service is second to none and the installation was prompt, efficient and entirely problem-free. Thank you also for the very generous £50 OFF Prize Draw voucher, in addition to the valuable advice you have offered in respect of opening a showroom, and the friendship that has developed over recent months. Long live our mutual appreciation society!

SIMON MACKLAM: Simon, as many of you will already know, is Ian’s glamorous assistant and Man Friday and could be found helping us long into the night prior to the opening event. We would like to thank Simon for his help, when it mattered most – and for his own personal brand of humour, which is absolutely hilarious.

JANE GOWEN: Last but by no means least, thank you Jane for supplying the Play Doh for the children to play with during the showroom opening event. It was an exceptionally good idea (wish I had thought of it!), and it was a very popular activity throughout the whole weekend. Thank you for the time, materials and energy you spent on making the Play Doh, and for the support you have offered Ian and I in the months leading up to the event, it is much appreciated and you are a valued customer and friend of IKD.

Our thanks must also go to all of the people who attended our showroom opening event over the weekend, it was a humbling experience to have your support.  I would also like to say another big "THANK YOU!" to Ian's sister and brother-in-law, Lynn & Ken Gunston for travelling from Reading no less and for no other reason than to support our latest venture and take our kids for a fun day out - it meant a great deal to us that you were there, thank you.

I'm just about all thank you'd out now, but Ian and I will continue to feel blessed for a considerable time to come, Karan xxx

PRIZE DRAW WINNERS

It gives us enormous pleasure to announce the winners of our Big Birthday Party Bash Prize Draw, who we will - of course - be contacting personally over the next couple of days to arrange the collection or delivery of their respective prizes.  Here goes...

1st PRIZE (Professional Advanced Supagard Care Care Treatment, worth £299.99 from Richard Sanders of Kettering) - Mr & Mrs Patterson, Kettering

2nd PRIZE (£50 OFF Voucher from Apollo Blinds of Northampton) - Mr Sweeney, Corby

3rd PRIZE (BOSCH TWK6831GB Cordless Kettle, worth £49.99 from IKD Kitchens of Kettering) - Mr T. Marlowe, Irthlingborough

4.  Scented Candle (from Mitcheldean Soap) - Miss Doyle, Kettering

5.  Soap & Soap Dish (from Mitcheldean Soap) - Mrs Dawson, Northampton

6.  Black Rabbit Wine Bottle Opener - Mrs Plant, Kettering

7.  Kitchen Apron - Mr Bland, Kettering

8.  Bottle of White Wine - Mrs Mains, Northampton

9.  Bottle of White Wine - Mrs Holgate, Kettering

10. Bottle of Red Wine - Mrs Cooper, Naseby

11. Bottle of Red Wine - Mrs Tubb, Rothwell

12. Bone China Coffee Mug  - Mrs Davis, Corby

13. Glass Worktop Protector - Miss Holland, Desborough

14. Thorntons Chocolates - Mrs Rogers, Corby

15. Union Jack Coffee Mug & Coaster Set - Mrs Clutton, Kettering

Congratulations to all of our winners and thank you to everyone who took part and attended our Big Birthday Party Bash over the weekend.  Ian and I both enjoyed ourselves immensely and it was wonderful to catch up with old friends, as well as making a wealth of new ones.

BIG BIRTHDAY BASH (PART 1)

[Karan]:  We had the most brilliant and amazing day yesterday.  As you are probably already aware, IKD is celebrating its 18th birthday tomorrow, and we're hosting the Big Birthday Party Bash at our place - all are welcome, and we hope to see YOU there.

However, we thought it would be a good idea to host a pre-launch event for some of our all time favourite and most local customers, so that if we had any teething problems we could iron them out before our guests of honour arrive tomorrow: always best to hit your snags with a sympathetic audience, don't you think?  A pre-launch event would also serve as a huge personal "THANK YOU!" from Ian and I, for the many years of loyal custom and support we have received from these lovely, lovely existing VIP customers. And so out went the personal invitations.  And then we waited.  As we hadn't asked for a RSVP, we had no idea who would accept and who wouldn't.  It was a bit high risk as we could have been drumming our fingers on the table listening to the deafening silence, however...

From the moment we decided upon a date to launch the showroom fully to the public - it was Thursday 1st April, I remember it clearly - business has been brisk, to say the least.  Now, I'm not complaining that business has been brisk, I'm well aware there are plenty of people willing to trade places with us, but it has meant the showroom has been designed and installed during weekends only, and the odd evening after work.  This has proved to be a challenging and delicate balancing act, particularly when you consider Ian and I have two very young children, as well as a brisk business.  We have met ourselves coming back on many, many occasions.

We worked on the showroom until 2.30am Saturday morning, went home, got a couple of hours sleep and were up again with the kids at 5.30am.  Ian threw some water on his face and completed a basic set of ablutions, before dashing back off down to the showroom to polish and tidy - promising himself faithfully that he'd pop back home to shower, shave and change, once the preparations had been completed.  None of us involved really believed we'd see a soul until mid-morning at the earliest - there'd be plenty of time for Ian to shower, shave and change.  Or so we thought.

At 9.55am three of our dearest and kindest customers (friends really) stepped through the doors, at which point IKD became the official venue for the Mutual Appreciation Society as people just kept stepping through the door until it was time to go home and rest our weary feet and voice boxes.  Ian never did shower, change or shave, and no one seemed to care.  Everyone who stepped through the doors just seemed to be delighted to hear good, positive news about a strong thriving local family business, and Ian's attire or facial hair status seemed irrelevant.  Of course his embarrassment and predicament was hilarious to those of us who know how particular he can be, but it didn't detract from the joy he has given people - or the value he has added to their homes over the years!

Yesterday was a complete pleasure and education for me too.  I have an almost encyclopedic memory for who our customers are, what work we've completed for them, when and where etc, but I hardly ever get to meet them - I'm always lurking in the background.  It's not unreasonable for me to suggest that I know some of our customers almost as well as Ian does, but I'd walk past them in the street, not having the foggiest who they are. Well, yesterday I was introduced to a great many of them, and it was such a joy to finally put faces to a names - I loved it. 

And so now we await tomorrow with much anticipation.  Some of our VIP existing customers who couldn't make it yesterday have promised to attend tomorrow, but tomorrow is all about the new people who have been invited by leaflet, Facebook, Twitter, The Best of Kettering, and word-of-mouth, and Ian and I are beside ourselves with excitement.  Who are these new people?  What will they think to our brand new kitchen showroom?  Will they become our friends like so many in the past have done?  And, more importantly, will Ian be showered, shaved and changed this time?  Why not come and find out, click here for more information including a map and directions - we'd love to meet you.

BATTLE OF THE SEXES

[Karan]:  My friend Tracey loves sending me humourous emails and has just emailed me this, which I think you will find amusing too, particularly so from the woman's perspective. 

Don't worry though fellas as we don't get off entirely scott free.  Here we have eight words that have two meanings, entirely dependant upon your gender...

1. THINGY (thing-ee) n.

Female: Any part under a car's bonnet

Male: The strap fastener on a woman's bra

2. VULNERABLE (vul-ne-ra-bel) adj.

Female: Fully opening up one's self emotionally to another

Male: Playing football with only three defenders

3. COMMUNICATION (ko-myoo-ni-kay-shon) n.
Female: The open sharing of thoughts and feelings with one's partner
Male: Leaving a note before taking off on a fishing trip with the boys

4. COMMITMENT (ko-mit-ment) n.
Female: A desire to get married and raise a family
Male: Trying not to hit on other women whilst going out with this one

5. ENTERTAINMENT (en-ter-tayn-ment) n.
Female: A good movie, concert, play or book
Male: Anything that can be done whilst drinking beer

6. FLATULENCE (flach-u-lens) n.
Female: An embarrassing by product of indigestion
Male: A source of entertainment, self-expression, male bonding

7. MAKING LOVE (may-king luv) n.
Female: The greatest expression of intimacy a couple can achieve
Male: Call it whatever you want, just as long as we do it

8. REMOTE CONTROL (ri-moht kon-trohl) n.
Female: A device for changing from one TV channel to another
Male: A device for scanning through all 375 channels every 5 minutes

AND THE NERVES HAVE KICKED IN!

[Karan]:  We have only five days to go until our Big Birthday Bash and I'm working from home today, leaving Ian and the boys (i.e.: Eddie the electrician and Simon, Ian's glamorous assistant) installing all of the electrical wizardry.  I'm also taking this opportunity to revel in the company of our children, as their Nanny has been hogging them somewhat recently, and I need to catch up on some kisses and cuddles, as my reserves are low.

I have to admit to becoming more than a little nervous about the weekend, which initially didn't make any sense to me.  As I was an Events Organiser in a previous life, I had assumed I would take all the pressure and demands in my stride, but there's one significant difference about this weekend: this is our event, for our business and ultimately for our future - all of the events I have planned in the past have been for other people and their businesses and futures.

Progress is being made at an impressive rate, thanks mainly to us working with only the best in their respective businesses, but I can't help wishing it was all ready and completed, leaving us only to fling the doors open on Monday morning and uncork the wine.  No stone is being left unturned, and Ian and I have both exceeded the Perfectionism Limiter on more than one occasion, but we have to keep reminding ourselves that whilst the pursuit of excellence is motivating, the pursuit of perfection can be demoralising.

There is such an excited air about the place.  Ian and I are really looking forward to catching up with clients who have been with us from the very beginning. Every now and then Ian will ask if I've remembered to invite Mr & Mrs X, Mr Y and Miss Z, and of course I have as I've been working from an 18 year-old customer database that has been lovingly maintained, updated and nurtured.  As IKD has been trading almost entirely on word-of-mouth recommendations, I think Ian is hoping for something of a reunion amongst our customers, as they all know each other one way or another, and it's spooky how small the world sometimes appears to be.

We're also excited about the possibility of meeting new friends. colleagues and customers, and the prospect of a whole new chapter this event may offer IKD Kitchens and the future.  One thing's for sure, we are certainly blessed with great friends, unbelievably supportive family, and the energy and enthusiasm to get it all done on time, on budget and on spec, as ever.

Please come and say "hi", it promises to be a great event with lots of laughs and great kitchen gadgets and gizmos to look at - we'd love to catch up with you, and it really won't be the same without YOU!  See you soon x

THE SIX PHASES OF A PROJECT

[Karan]:  They say - whoever "they" are - that there are six phases to a project, and as we're only 16 days away from our Big Birthday Bash to celebrate 18 years of trading, I'm beginning to agree.  I had not heard of the Six Phases before last week, when one of our Twitter Followers was kind enough to send a Tweet listing them, but I'm amused to see the extent to which they pan out.  Here are the Six Phases of a Project:

1) ENTHUSIASM: Well, I can definitely agree with this one wholeheartedly and, in truth, Ian and I are both still hugely enthusiastic about our new kitchen showroom, and the celebrations surrounding its launch.  We're really excited about catching up with all of our VIP existing customers, some of which we perhaps haven't seen in a while, as well as meeting new people we may be able to help in the future.  Some of our VIP existing customers go way, way, WAY back to the beginnings of IKD in 1992, so it'll be our pleasure to pour them a glass of wine as we chat. 

Even though our enthusiasm is still high, that does not mean we haven't gone through deep, dark bouts of...

2) DISILLUSIONMENT: We've all been there.  You think up something exciting to do, ie: a party, a wedding, a night out with the girls/boys and it all seems like a good idea at the time.  Then things start to go awry and you start hearing yourself saying "whose bloody stupid idea was this anyway?!", only to realise it was yours!  I uttered these immortal words last weekend when Ian and I were working late - again! - putting the finishing touches to the showroom.  The odd thing didn't go according to plan and I threw my toys out of the pram demanding to know whose idea it was to open a new kitchen showroom during a Bank Holiday weekend, following weeks of school summer holidays.  Ian quietly reminded me it was, in fact, my idea.  So I shut the hell up after that and continued with what I was doing.

3) PANIC:  We're not there yet, but I do accept that we might be, the closer we get to the launch date and time.  Ian and I share the philosophy of proper preparation prevents a poor performance, and we always plan for the worst and hope for the best.  Whilst it's sometimes tempting to believe that life and/or the universe is out to get you when things go wrong, you just have to do the best you can in every given moment, as it sets you up to be in the best possible position for the next moment.  Panic is a waste of energy and thinking and reaction time - but feel free to remind me of this when and if you see me running around like my hair's on fire on the morning of the launch!

4) SEARCH FOR THE GUILTY:  If something has gone wrong, or someone hasn't fulfilled a promise, then it's probably a wiser use of energy and resources to overcome the problem.  There's always after the project to rip someone a new one!  Seemples.

5) PUNISHMENT OF THE INNOCENT:  As this is considered a humorous (?) list, I'll let this point pass as I don't agree with it at all.  It is true though, sadly.  I've seen it happen many times in previous workplaces, and it stinks.  Rest assured that IKD neither operates nor condones this crap; we prefer carrots to sticks.

6) PRAISE & HONOURS FOR THE NON-PARTICIPANTS:  How true is THIS?!  There's always someone - with very sharp elbows - pushing themselves forward for a share of the limelight - they know no shame.  Best to pity the fools, for theirs is an insecure existence, riding on the backs of the true achievers.  I once knew a woman who systematically married her way up into a life of money, global travel and success by association, discarding the spent husbands as she aged: she now attends her (current) husband's award ceremonies as though she'd been there through the early and lean years.  I often wonder who she's going to marry next.

It's therefore hugely important to us to ensure that the truly deserving receive their thanks and high praise and, in respect of the kitchen showroom opening, Ian and I are very clear about who has supported us above and beyond the call of duty; and equally, who hasn't.  I will write a Big Thank You Blog following the Big Birthday Bash so everyone can see who has been the most marvellous of eggs, how and why.  Watch this space....