NEVER - EVER - GIVE UP!

[Karan]:  Bloody hell, what a day!  Not only is it Friday, but the kids break up for half-term today, other families are rushing off for their Whit' Week away, it's hot and I have been thwarted at every thwartation all day!  I will be glad when this bugger is over.

Just about everything that could go wrong today, has gone wrong.  I have been less than 50% productive in all the time I've been awake - which in itself feels like forever - and having little to show for my efforts, is enough to drive me crazy.

The whole week has been manic and we have achieved a lot, but still have a lot to achieve.  It would be so easy to walk away and do something that didn't always require so much effort, but nothing worth having is achieved easily; that much is obvious. 

When the going gets tough though you must dig in and never - ever - give up!  Do you like the cartoon?  Well, we all have to adopt the frog's aattitude when things look grim - at least the frog has a chance of survival, it may be a slim chance, but it's a chance.  If the frog gave in to its situation pictured here, it would almost certainly be game over for the frog, and Cuisses de grenouille on the menu for the heron (is that a heron?).

Motivation and an indefatigable will to succeed against whatever is thrown at you is the key, but how do you keep it all inflated to useful and helpful levels?  One device Ian and I use, to keep our spirits up when the hurdles seem insurmountable, is music.  We have various lists on our iPods, or CDs we listen to in the car and van, that help restore our faith in ourselves and life in general.  Some of the tracks are ancient, and will possibly make some of our peers smile knowingly from their first time out on vinyl, but they're still great, however old they may be.  Here is our recommended playlist, some of which are official IKD Anthems - see what you think, see how many you remember, and see how many will lift your spirits when you're trekking uphill through treacle, particularly the self-employed entrepreneurs.  I hope you enjoy them if nothing else, here goes:

> Rome Wasn't Built In A Day - Morcheeba - Parts Of The Process

> Working On It - Chris Rea - New Light Through Old Windows

> I Want It All - Queen - The Miracle

> All Fired Up - Pat Benatar - Wide Awake In Dreamland

> Hold On - KT Tunstall - Drastic Fantastic

> Don't Stop - Fleetwood Mac - Greatest Hits

> Hold On Tight - ELO - Greatest Hits

> Ready To Go - Republica - Republica

> Proud - Heather Small - Proud

> Rule The World - Take That - Beautiful World

And one last thing, in the words of the great Napoleon Hill: ...opportunity has a sly habit of slipping in by the back door, and often it comes disguised in the form of misfortune, or temporary defeat.  Perhaps that is why so many fail to recognise opportunity.

HOTPOINT INTEGRATED DISHWASHER - £305!

We are delighted to offer you a Hotpoint 60cm fully integrated electronic dishwasher for £305 including VAT.  Yes, you read that correctly - £305 including VAT, which saves you more than £70!

But hurry because this is a "whilst stocks last" promotion, and at this price they're not going to last very long at all!

This is the cheapest branded integrated dishwasher available today, so order yours now for £305 to avoid disappointment.  We know it sounds too good to be true, but it is true, so call us now on Kettering (01536) 415280 and we'll get one reserved for you.

Here are 12 reasons to snap up our latest bargain:

> This dishwasher comes with a 5 year parts and 1 year labour warranty

> 12 place settings & 4 programmes

> 3 wash temperatures

> Residual drying

> A concealed heating element for extra safety

> 16 litres of normal water consumptions

> An adjustable upper basket

> AAA energy rating

> 1.05kW energy consumption

> 51dB noise level

> Dimensions: 82 x 59.5 x 57 cm

> You can buy online if you wish by visiting the Special Offers page on our website, or by clicking this link: http://bit.ly/IKDoffers

The price does not include delivery or installation, although delivery and installation services are available;  please see website for details: http://bit.ly/IKDoffers

Terms and Conditions apply, please see website for details: http://bit.ly/IKDoffers

Please contact Karan on (01536) 415280 should you have any questions in respect of this amazing Hotpoint LFT04 Integrated Dishwasher offer.

WHY I FELL OUT WITH SUMMER

[Karan]:  Yesterday was so warm during the 8.30am school run, that we all set off in T-shirt sleeves; no coats, jackets or school cardigans required.  The in-car temperature reading reported faithfully that the temperature outside was 23 degrees, and my heart sank with the inevitability that we were all going to get a lot hotter as the day went on.

For those of you lucky enough to have escaped a moment in my presence to know what I look like, I'm of Northern Irish descent which dictates my dark hair, blue eyes and very, very pale skin.  Who I think I'm kidding with the dark hair description is anyones guess, as it's clear to a blind man on a charging horse that Dulux would consider me more Distressed Grey than Winsome Brunette; but I digress.

Having such pale skin is a curse, because I fry in the heat.  I'd love to be more exotic and interesting to look at, all olive skin and gorgeousness, but I'm stuck with anemic Albino skin tones.  My DNA suck and I blame my parents!  When I was much younger, I once fell asleep sunbathing on the beach and emerged from the sand like a Rock Lobster - but only on the one side, as no one had thought to turn me over half way through!  It was stupid of me and I was in agony, not able to sleep, shower - or take part in any other activities that begin with "s", for a very long time.  From that moment forth I swore to myself that I'd never be careless in the sun again and dedicated my life to being pale and interesting.  This decision has left me open to much ridicule...

In a previous life I worked for a motorsport engineering company, and toured the UK with the team who competed in the British Touring Car Championship: happy days.  Part of my job was the procurement of the team kit, which included shorts to wear during high summer.  I arrived at sunny, glorious Thruxton one weekend, in my shorts, and my boss asked me to go and stand near the first corner so that my lily white legs would distract our opponents.  He was convinced they'd take their hands off the steering wheels to protect their eyes from the glare and crash, allowing our poorly qualifying drivers to take up position and lead the race.  How rude!  It was, of course, all said tongue in cheek, and I took it in the spirit in which it was meant - none of us should ever take ourselves too seriously.  Besides, I had the last laugh, as I still have a full head of (greying) hair; I can fake tan my legs, but he will always be follically challenged.

Upon our arrival in the playground yesterday, the other mums gawped and gasped in disbelief at my reluctant and public acknowledgement that it was, indeed, very warm - "...just how hot is it?!" exclaimed one playground friend.  The consensus of opinion seemed to be that if I had foregone one layer of clothing, perhaps they should all be attired in swimwear.  Oh, how we laughed.

Another friend has recently become entranced in the Twilight novels (about vampires), and now believes this has helped her to know me better, whilst another says she has an overwhelming urge to purchase milk upon departing my company.  I have so few ribs left to ping.

I am writing this blog from home this morning, enjoying the peace and solitude whilst the children are off leading Nanny a merry dance, and whilst Ian continues his work on the showroom.  An idle day for me is unlikely I fear, as I have all the windswept and interesting chores to complete before, my weekly sojourn to Tesco for supplies and refreshment (mmmm, Costa Coffee).  Upon my A4 double-sided and laminated To Do List, rests "Laundry", which requires regular excursions OUTSIDE, in 27 degree heat, to hang out washing.  As it is so hot, and I'm alone in the house without children to terrify, I am wearing shorts and a vest top, but my skin is screaming like souls damned to hell under the tropical Kettering sun.  So I must put up with the urine being extracted for all eternity, and not subject myself to all things solar; I just don't like it.

In the wise words of Adam and the Ants: "...ridicule is nothing to be scared of", so do your worst playground mummies!

MAGIC CORNERS

[Karan]:  Who hasn't been on their hands and knees head first into a blind corner base unit? Haven't we all? Isn't it a rite of passage?  Well now there's an app for that!

This sexy little beast is called a Blind Corner Optimiser in the trade, but we call it a Magic Corner here at IKD.  To be clear, there is no magic involved, but it is very clever and impressively easy to operate.

This is obviously an image of the Magic Corner fully optimised and extended, but there is an interim option too; let me explain.  Once you open the door, you pull the handle on the right side of the central divider (you can just about see it here above the two blue boxes in the top right basket); this will initially pull out the right side baskets only.  To fully extended the Optimiser, you need only pull the handle to your right and the other two baskets emerge from the blind corner effortlessly, guided on rails.

To put it all away again, you simply push the handle to your left (and the left hand baskets are pushed back into the carcase), and then you push the handle away from you (and the left hand baskets are guided into the blind corner, whilst the right hand baskets take up their position directly in front of you) - easy!  No weight training is required, however many goodies you may have stored in your baskets.  The Magic Corner has been designed and engineered specifically to be easy and effortless to use; it's beautifully smooth.

The Magic Corners can be installed into any 1000 blind corner base unit and currently retail for £325 including VAT.  If however you are a (UK based) Friend of IKD Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms on Facebook, then you may deduct 10% from the cost of the Magic Corner: installation & delivery not included.  If you'd like to purchase a Blind Corner Optimiser/Magic Corner, please contact me on (01536) 415280 and we'll make one appear, just like that!  Please note however that this exclusive Friends of IKD offer expires at midnight on 30 June 2010.

PS: If you'd like to become a member of the Friends of IKD Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms group, then please click this link: http://bit.ly/FriendsofIKD - you are very welcome!

HOW TO FIND REPUTABLE TRADESMEN

We've all seen the BBC's Rogue Trader and ITV's House of Hell programmes, and they can be truly horrifying, especially if you're on the cusp of having some work completed in your home - be it correcting a dripping tap, an electrical fault or even planning a kitchen installation.  It absolutely infuriates us how many Bodgit 'n' Scarper merchants there are out there, and how they get away with ripping people off for so long. 

Sadly scams and fraud are on the increase, so how can you find a reputable tradesperson, with high integrity and ability, to work respectfully in your home?  Well, we have come up with 6 key steps you can follow, which will help you find such a tradesperson - because they do exist - you just have to know how to look for them!

Word-of-Mouth: This is usually a very reliable means of finding a tradesman; if a friend or relative has had a good experience and are raving about the excellent sales and service they have received, then your search is, quite possibly, over.

Never underestimate how much time, hassle and money a word-of-mouth recommendation can save you.  There's even a website who champions the finest companies, venues and products in your area, why not give them a try?  Our local website can be found at www.thebestof.co.uk/kettering - give it a whirl - you'll be pleased you did!

Address & Contact Details: Does the business have a trading address, landline phone number and a website? Companies who trade only via a mobile phone number and/or without a stated trading address, might best be avoided, as it could prove difficult to track them down and contact them should things go awry. This may also signal that they don’t pay tax, VAT and/or public or employer liability insurances, which could have repercussions for you in the worst case scenario. Always double check and ask for their VAT registration number and have sight of their public liability insurance certificate if you’re in any doubt whatsoever. You may also consider visiting the stated trading premises to verify it’s actually there, and to also see what you think – does it represent the company well? Are you more or less favourable towards that company now?

Trade Associations: Does the business belong to any trade associations, such as The Federation of Small Businesses or The Guild of Master Craftsmen? Membership to these associations does not in itself guarantee that a company is reputable, but if you can verify the business does belong to a trade association, then you will have a means of redress should something go off course, as they will mediate and seek a satisfactory resolution to any complaints on your behalf; they may also expel the errant business from their association. You can contact the Federation of Small Businesses via 01253 336 000 or http://www.fsb.org.uk/. To verify a Guild of Master Craftsmen member, contact them via 01273 478449 or http://www.guildmc.com/. Membership to these associations requires consistently high levels of sales and service, so to belong to them is a very good indication of the company’s resolve and intent.

Testimonials: Does the company have any current customer testimonials available for you to read? Do they have very many? Any website the company may have is an ideal place to display customer testimonials – check it out. It might also be wise to ask to see the original copies too, just to be sure. An honest and legitimate business owner will have no problem supplying you with this information, if they’re truly confident of their past and their customer’s satisfaction.

Google: If you’re online, Google them and see what comes up, or ask a friend or relative to do it for you – you’d be surprised what may show itself during a search.

Instinct: Never underestimate yourself! If your instincts are telling you something isn’t right or doesn’t add up then trust and listen to those instincts. Your instincts are there to protect you, so don’t disregard them.

We have loads more money and hassle saving advice in our 20 THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE REFURBISHING YOUR KITCHEN guide, and what's more, it's entirely FREE to download! 

Follow this link for your free copy: http://bit.ly/FreeExpertAdvice and save yourself time, money and hassle.

MORE THAN BUBBLES!

[Karan]:  I have recently had the pleasure of being introduced to Sara, who owns a small business in the Forest of Dean making the most divine soaps, bath salts, moisturisers, shampoos, shaving lotions and candles.  Sara's business is called Mitcheldean Soap Ltd, and you heard it here first, as I'm certain Sara is going to be in all the big stores soon.

Mitcheldean Soap make the sublime hand-made luxury soaps and goodies, using traditional processes, and they can all be personalised too!  Here are a couple of examples of what I'm talking about...

Now I would never recommend anyone's products or services without having tried them out myself, and I am delighted to report that Sara's products and customer service are first class, and you know that I've never knowingly said that lightly.

I purchased some soap from Sara last week and the speed in which my order was delivered was professional as it was impressive.  Each bar of soap had been individually hand wrapped, which makes Mitcheldean Soap the perfect place to buy presents - and we do have Father's Day coming up...  I'm sure if you were to ask Sara for an "I love you Daddy, love from ______", or something similar, it would be no problem at all.  My personalised soaps were perfect.

Why not check out Mitcheldean Soap's website, which can be found at http://www.morethanbubbles.co.uk/ and see for yourself all the other gorgeous goodies Sara has available for you.  It is so refreshing and rewarding to find another small business as dedicated to exceptional customer services as IKD, and I would like to wish Sara every success for the future.  I for one will be in touch again very soon.

ANTICAMPINGITIS

[Karan]: Oh God, is it really that time again already?! Every year, when the weather starts warming up and the days start to last forever, the onset of Ian's camping itch begins, and so to with it, my annual headache.

Now, for the avoidance of doubt, let me be clear: I HATE CAMPING!  I see no reason to sleep on a gradually deflating bubble of air, when there are perfectly good pocket sprung super king beds available.  I'm not as young as I used to be, my back goes out more than I do and demands that I treat it with respect; or else.  Why, why, WHY would I also want to encase myself in a sweaty polyester bag to add to the ever increasing unpalatable bargain?!

 

Ian's modus operandi starts slowly and cautiously every year, hoping to remain uncovered for as long as possible, but we've been together nearly 21 years now, so I'm pretty clued up on how his mind works.  As soon as the temperature rises above -2 degrees, we have the sunny Sunday afternoon detours around camp shops, looking for anything that we don't already have.  This is ludicrous because over the years we have accumulated a vast array of stuff, that tends to every possible need imaginable: well, almost.

Here is a photograph from the Dennis-Towers archive, showing the enormous plot of planet Earth we inhabited for a long weekend last summer, on the south coast.  What you can't see from the photograph is the en suite facilites, the plunge pool or the butler's quarters, but you can see clearly how bloody big the tent is - we could be seen from space!  The benefits of such a large camping abode is obviously lots of space and freedom for the children to play in and around.  The downside however is that it takes a four man crew, working six eight hour shifts to put it up and then take it down again, so a quick weekend away camping is out of the question.  Pity that.

My idea of camping (but still not my idea of a perfect holiday) is one of those 40ft static caravans, complete with power showers, en suite bathrooms and full mod-cons.  During the early months of our relationship, Ian and I went camping during a heatwave, in a two-man tent from which we were duly sweated out of by 6.30am every morning.  We were also bitten to buggery by midges and I suffered from heat stroke, so it's easy to analyse why I'm not so fond of camping, but camping with children takes it into another league of you have got to be kidding me!

A tent this size absolutely needs at least two pairs of hands.  Okay, Ian + me = two pairs of hands.  So, how do you keep two very young children safe, entertained and within a mutually agreeable perimeter in the process?  It's my worst nightmare: both hands full holding up a magnificent erection, whilst the fruit of my loins totter off into the sunset!  Why, why, WHY would I willingly put myself through that again?  

It's started already.  The temperature has started to warm and Ian has been shaking the wintery cobwebs from the children's garden play tents and taking part in their campsite games.  In the meantime however, I have been rocking backwards and forwards in a darkened corner, desperately trying to conjour up a season long monsoon - because not even Ian would go camping in a monsoon.  Golf yes, camping no.

So there you have it, I suffer with anticampingitis, but I'm not alone.  A great many of my female friends share the same afflication, but none of my male friends do, interestingly enough.  If you're a man reading this, who hates camping too, please let me know, because I'm currently almost certain men have a hunter-gatherer thing going on.  For what other reason(s) do you have for sharing toilets and showers with 300+ other men (ewww!), allow yourself to be eaten alive by a varied assortment of critters, eat burnt food off a BBQ and drink warm beer for days on end? What is so wrong about super king size beds, Egyptian cotton sheets, beautifully prepared meals, room service, air conditioning and spa treatments?  I just don't get it...

A LAUNDRY EMERGENCY

[Karan]:  It is very clear that even though we're in the business of selling kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms - and all the accompanying components thereof - that we are not immune to the occasional domestic appliance failure. 

Neither do we receive special privileges in respect of the timing of these failures either.  Our Ye Olde Beloved washer dryer rolled over and died yesterday afternoon, and it ceased to be.  It is a dead washer dryer.  As emotional as all this  was we had to put our throbbing grief to one side and act quickly, because we are an active family of four, with a penchant for clean and fresh clothes.  There was no time to lose!

Thankfully Thursday is a designated delivery day for one of our very best suppliers and, whilst they tend to specialise more in integrated appliances, they were still able to offer us a replacement free standing washer dryer, from their vast stocks around the UK - at a jaw dropping price too.  Phew!  Perhaps on this occasion we were blessed to be in the right business at the right time - no waiting for four weeks for a delivery for us, oh no!  And we recycled Ye Olde Beloved, as we recycle all decrepit, defunct domestics, for which Planet Earth gives us a nod and a wink of thanks.

It has to be said though that removing Ye Olde Beloved, and the act of installing Sexy New WD was no mean feat!  Because we essentially have two machines in one + a condenser etc for the dyer aspect, they weigh a ton!  I have definately had more fun with my clothes on than trying to persuade Sexy New WD into it's new home - and it was Ian (obviously) doing all the heavy lifting!

Thankfully all is well now.  I had spent most of yesterday sweating blood at the prospect of having no washing machine for any notable period of time - we have a son after all and, for those of you with sons out there, you understand perfectly well what I'm saying here!  I love him dearly and, as much as I'd love him to sit quietly and read a book for an afternoon, he's 20 months old, and reading is not high on his agenda - but going backwards down a slide, scampering behind the sofas and climbing all over the furniture, is.

Sexy New WD is really rather lovely.  We find a timer delay invaluable with the amount of laundry we generate, as it allows us to wash at 2am when the Economy 7 has kicked in.  Did you know that a load of washing washed at 2am is half price, compared to the same load of washing washed during the day?  Hmmm, neither did I until a little while ago and now I do a little dance and make a little love every time the electricity bill comes in and shows me how much we've saved!

Another bonus is that Sexy New WD has Shh Super Silent Technology, which makes 2am washing easy, as there is absolutely no chance of the final spin waking the children.  Bless it; Ye Olde Beloved's bearings had gone (amongst other things), and it truly sounded like we were washing breeze blocks when it went into final spin mode, so 2am washes have been out of bounds of months just recently; which means a bigger electricity bill for us.  Now however, we're back on track, saving money, sleeping well (sometimes) and smelling divine!  Thank you Hotpoint - I love you!

HOW TO DRIVE A DEADLINE

Deadlines. Don't you just love them?  No, me neither, but they're a way of life.  In some ways though deadlines are a good thing, and can be used to your full advantage - if you know how to drive them.

Everyone knows what it's like preparing to go away on holiday.  Aren't you amazed by your capacity to get everything done in the days and weeks before your plane takes off, your boat sets sail or the ice starts to melt in your drink?  The sense of urgency is tangible because you have a non-negotiable immovable deadline to meet; your choice is simple: get your stuff done, or you don't go.  It's a wonderful motivator, and invariably your deadline is met and your plane takes off with you on board.  Fraught and exhausted you may be, but you're on board.

In the weeks and months prior to your holiday, you have applied concentrated effort to getting yourself out of the rat race for a fortnight; and concentrated effort is infinately more valuable than ordinary effort.  So why not apply this pre-holiday concentrated effort to your everyday deadlines?  You'd be sure to meet them then.  I don't doubt you would probably be just as fraught and exhausted, but you would have achieved your deadline.  Aren't the rewards worth the concentrated effort?

Another great motivation technique I have learnt recently, courtesy of Nigel Botterill, is this.  If your life depended on it, could you achieve _____________ by ______________ ?  Be serious.  If you had to achieve X by Y or you'd die, could you do it, could it be done?  If, under such extreme conditions, you could do it, or it could be done, well then go and do it!

Napoleon Hill gives us another deadline driving lesson in Think & Grow Rich, which is this.  Burn your boats.  Burn your bridges.  Win - or perish.  Stake everything.  Give every breath.  Fight to the last inch.  Refuse to fail.  Expect to succeed. 

These two philosophies, from Nigel Botterill and Napoleon Hill, are the main driving forces behind the deadline Ian and I have set ourselves, for opening our kitchen showroom to the public during August Bank Holiday weekend.  In 15 short weeks [gulp].  And open it shall be, because we have said so publicly - and even more publicly since this blog was published!  We have burnt our bridges.  We have committed ourselves to Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 August 2010, and we will meet that deadline with bells on.

We have been promising ourselves a kitchen showroom for more than three years now and it just hasn't happened.  We didn't give ourselves any sense of urgency, until a few weeks ago when we decided it would be in the best interests of the business to get this done.  We had been guilty of being world class at getting ready, and the business needed us to apply concentrated effort.

There's a hell of a lot of work to complete before Saturday 28 August, in addition to our daily work schedule, evening sales appointments and family commitments, but it will be done because we expect to succeed and will refuse to fail.  We may be fraught, exhausted and propped up on brooms during our Grand Showroom Opening, but we'll be proud and happy too.  This entirely self-imposed deadline is going to help us achieve a long-standing goal, we just had to clear the head trash and get on with it.

So, there you have it.  IKD Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms will be opening a new kitchen showroom on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 August 2010.  Please drop by and say "hi" as we'd love to see you - why not bring a friend along?  We may even have some wine and Horlicks on the go!  Click here for directions and we'll look forward to seeing you in August!

In the meantime however why not see your deadlines as challenges rather than chores - have you seen what Jack Bauer can achieve in 24 hours?!  What do you mean he's not real?  For God's sake no one say that in front of Ian - he's something of a fan(atic).

PS: Jack never gives up either, does he?

WHY IKD?

As IKD has been trading since 1992, we are very proud to have grown and nutured a huge and loyal Customer base, with wonderful Clients who return to us again and again, because they are assured an exceptional service from us.

A great many of our returning Customers are kind enough to recommend us to their friends and family, which is fantastic, but how can brand new Customers - who have no prior knowledge or experience of us - be sure their new kitchen, bedroom or bathroom is safe in our hands?

Well, our membership to The Guild of Master Craftsmen is one means in which we endeavour to assure new Clients of our purpose and resolve, but we thought there was more we could offer in pursuit of your confidence and peace of mind.  We have published the IKD Mission Statement, in which we detail how we intend to provide our Customers with the best possible service, and which is detailed below:

THE IKD MISSION STATEMENT

IKD will endeavour to provide the highest standard of products and services to all of our Clients, from the initial point of contact through to the completion of the project, and beyond.

We will continue to recognise that every Client has their individual aspirations, and will listen to establish what it is they want, rather than tell them what they can have.

All Customers will be treated courteously with honesty and respect, with a view to establishing a close working relationship, based on trust.

IKD will remain committed to the principle of continuous improvement and will invest in the best training, equipment and materials to ensure that every potential is fulfilled.

We will work strenuously to ensure that budgets and timescales are adhered to, whilst every effort will be made to enhance our work by clearing up after ourselves and leaving the premises in (at least) a similar level of cleanliness and order.

Our quotations and invoices will continue to be clearly written and comprehensive in detail, with any administrative queries being handled effectively and professionally.

Any after sales queries or problems will be dealt with as quickly, fairly and efficiently as possible. IKD wish to enjoy the continued pride we have in our after sales customer care.

IKD will endeavour to recommend or co-ordinate only fully qualified and highly experienced third parties (i.e.: electricians, Gas Safe registered gas installers, plasterers etc) wherever possible. We have no interest in jeopardising our own hard-earned reputation on questionable (sub-contracted) tradesmen.

It is the long held ambition of IKD to be the benchmark by which our competitors are judged - and to continue trading for a generation, upon our good reputation alone.

FOUR SEASONS SALE ENDING SOON!

Here's your final chance to bag a bargain before the prices go up again.

The highly regarded Four Seasons kitchen range is now available at IKD Kitchens, and we have a full compliment of sample doors for you to look through either in our (currently being refurbished) kitchen showroom - or in the comfort of your own home if you prefer.

25 YEAR GUARANTEE

All Four Seasons cabinets are manufactured to the highest standards in the UK, and are supplied with a 25-year guarantee on every kitchen in the range.

Please find included below a handful of images to show you how diverse and beautiful the Four Seasons kitchen range is, but please remember there are more door styles and finishes availble.

For more designs, sale discounts and information about our Four Season kitchen promotion, please click this link to visit our website: http://bit.ly/FourSeasonsSale.  Alternatively, please contact Karan or Ian on Kettering (01536) 415280 to discuss your requirements.

Sale ends 31 May 2010 - hurry!

NETWORKING A-GO-GO!

[Karan]:  Naturally, I'm quite a shy person.  That sound you just heard was of my friend's ribs pinging with merriment in response to that statement.  No, really, I am quite shy, and can find meeting new people a bit of a challenge - it certainly can take me out of my comfort zone.  But this is starting to change.

In a previous life I worked for a motorsport company and would regularly stand up in front of a room full of people and espouse the virtues of our sport, team and sponsors etc, but it was all so huge and corporate.  Ian had a theory that I became someone else whilst wearing the team kit; reverting back to my true self once home.  And he may have been right. 

Meeting new IKD Customers was initially much harder because it's the start of a much longer relationship and, oftentimes, even friendship.  Working in someone's home, and designing them a room they will live with for a very long time, is a big responsibility, and so we like to get to know our Customers as well as possible.  This involves a lot of time, discussion and listening, but it really bears fruit because the Customer always gets what they want, and we acquire another glowing testimonial.  But not only that....

As you are probably already aware, IKD have been trading since 1992, and we now have a very large Customer database, of which we are very proud.  What we have found in our (almost) eighteen years of business is that it can surprise you who knows who; it's a small world - and this is where networking comes into its own.  From a commercial sense, if you have one satisfied customer who recommends you to all of their friends, who recommend you to their friends etc, you have enough work to keep you busy and to grow a business.  This works in the negative sense just as well, where you can find yourself out of business in a hurry thanks to the ire of dissatisfied Customers.  Ian and I are always mindful of this trusim: a satisfied Customer will recommend you to five friends, but a dissatisfied ex-customer will disparage you to anyone within earshot.  You know it's true.

Nowadays, it's all networking a-go-go with other small business owners, but not necessarily to sell more kitchens, bedrooms or bathrooms (although we do, and that's great), but more for support, advice and development.  With Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin making connections with new people (you would never have met otherwise) so much easier, the pool of support and information is infinate.  The new connections I have made since Christmas have changed my thought processes, marketing strategy and general outlook on life, so I have therefore decided not to participate in shyness any longer.  From now on I will attend every networking event that'll have me, and strike up conversations all over the place because, one way or another, it's good for business!

PLEASE VOTE FOR...WHO YOU WANT TO!

[Karan]:  I'm fed up with everyone telling me how to vote, and in particular that I should vote Labour! 

By everyone I'm referring to some of those I follow on Facebook and Twitter, some of whom are in the public eye and should know better than try to influence people by using their elevated public position.  There is of course one quick, easy and painless solution to my problem - I have stopped following the culprits, but it's the principle that has got my goat - who the hell do they think they are?!

As we're in the midst of a general election I can just about tolerate weeks of party political activists urging me to vote their way as opposed the evils that await me if I dare vote the other; it's their job.  But I draw the line at feeble TV personalities and D-list celebrities Tweetpic-ing who they have in their helicopter whilst on the campaign trail over the weekend!  Champagne socialists should definately be doomed to Room 101 if you ask me, they're a scourge.

Can I just ask a question to the celebs who repeatedly insist I vote Labour?  If Labour were truly the great saviours of the universe you believe them to be, why are you taking every opportunity to influence me?  Surely their greatness would be obvious, and you'd be confident of a landslide majority on Thursday?  But you're not confident of a landslide majority are you; you're not even confident of coming in as Her Majesty's Opposition, are you?  Why should you when Labour have taken us into an illegal war, failed repeatedly to supply our troops with even the basic equipment to keep them alive - and don't get me started on the NHS, education, immigration and the economy! 

And before you ask, please do not assume to know who I am voting for, as I am not a dyed-in-the-wool anything.  You may be surprised to know who I have supported in past elections, but at the end of the day, who I vote for is none of your business, and who you vote for is none of my business. 

My only concern is that people should vote.  Like I said in an earlier blog entry not so long ago, people have died and continue to die for the privilege of democracy.  The Suffragettes battled like hell to win the right for women to vote, and were routinely imprisoned for their efforts.  Many died on hunger strike and Emily Wilding Davison threw herself under the King's horse so that women would eventually be permitted the vote; it wasn't always our entitlement.  I therefore believe that we all have a duty to vote with our consciences - what if everyone shrugged their shoulders?

Decisions are made by those who show up!  Please vote on Thursday.