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The new manufacturers The new manufacturers

A great British renaissance has been taking place. From Aberdeen to the West Country, the zing is back in manufacturing. It’s about time this spectacular story was told.

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This is the section of persuasion: getting your customers to spend more - as well as finding and developing new ones. These Daily Insights bring you stories from entrepreneurs who are increasing their sales, improving their marketing and doing what it takes to build their business.

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Digital publishing entrepreneur sweeps the board
img 1 By Kate Pritchard
Richard Stephenson's London-based digital publishing firm Yudu has scooped five industry awards in the past year – and won £140,000 of new business as a result.

July 03, 2008 11:14am
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Manufacturer drives a hard bargain
img 1 By Rebecca Burn-Callander
Mark Crosier has a hard time winning new business. Not because of the competition: there is none. No, the technology he sells is so new that companies don’t know they need it.

July 01, 2008 5:32pm
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"Walkers is irresponsible"
img 1 By Kate Pritchard
“A couple of years ago, Walkers tried to hit back at claims that it was responsible for rising levels of obesity," says Alex Albone, the founder of Pipers Crisps. "Well, it sure as hell deserves some of the blame."

June 27, 2008 1:29pm
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Stationery firm ramps up sales
img 1 By Rebecca Burn-Callander
Unfazed by the current economic climate, Bola Akinseye, founder of Makeover Designs, is scaling up her print and design firm, aiming for a 2010 turnover of £1m.

June 20, 2008 4:42pm
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Top five email marketing tips

img 1 By Rebecca Burn-Callander
Spam. Junk. At best a scattergun approach to marketing. Mailshots have been given a bad name. But all is not lost. Mailvivo's MD Mark Gooding has come up with five killer tips to put the oomph back in your mailings. 

June 17, 2008 11:21am
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James Caan: "Don't leave entrepreneurs out of the Olympics"
img 1 By Kate Pritchard
Dragons’ Den star James Caan today hit out at the authorities behind the London 2012 Games, saying the event had been “poorly communicated to businesses” and wrongly labelled as a London-only opportunity.

June 11, 2008 12:54pm
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Olympics tenders are available to all
img 1 By Catherine Woods
Businesses outside of London have been reassured they won’t be discriminated against when competing for contracts for the 2012 Olympic Games.

June 11, 2008 11:03am
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Housing crisis demolishes construction industry
img 1 By Kate Pritchard
Wienerberger, one of Britain’s biggest brick makers and the latest casualty of the housing market slump, hit the headlines today as it prepares to close two of its factories. Entrepreneur Gerard Abbott-Drake says his sector – the finishings trade – is next on the hit list.

June 09, 2008 12:40pm
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Supercar company seeks brand ambassador
img 1 By Rebecca Burn-Callander
They’re not after the likes of Daniel Craig or Clive Owen. Nope, the founders of supercar leasing firm Quadriga have their sights set on a woman.

June 03, 2008 2:11pm
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"Am I using my colour to sell sausages? Damn right"
img 1 By Kate Pritchard
The Black Farmer, Wilfred Emmanuel Jones, took inspiration from Virgin tycoon Richard Branson when he launched his sausage business, using shock tactics to create a memorable brand.

May 30, 2008 12:38pm

BUSINESS NEWS >>

Grass Roots entrepreneur receives an MBE for social responsibility

By Kate Pritchard - July 03, 2008 5:24pm GMT

David Evans set up Herfordshire-based performance improvement firm Grass Roots in the eighties. Today, he turns over a whopping £247m, employs over 1,000 people and has just become one of only three people in the country to receive an MBE for services to CSR.

Foresight invests in Silvigen

By Real Deals & Real Business - July 03, 2008 3:45pm GMT

Silvigen, a supplier of biomass fuels for use in the power industry, will use £1.75m from Foresight to finance the development of a processing plant in Goole, North Humberside.

Countdown to Human Capital Awards

By Catherine Woods - July 03, 2008 3:38pm GMT

At last year’s CBI/Real Business Human Capital Awards, prison administrator Vicky O’Dea was crowned the ‘people’s champion’.

Farmer focuses on versatile local product

By Catherine Woods - July 03, 2008 3:10pm GMT

Farmer Andy Fussel has turned a low-value crop into a product that appeals to those who want to lower their carbon footprint, the health conscious and even Michelin-star chefs.

Nine ways to grow your business through franchising

By Rebecca Burn-Callander - July 03, 2008 2:28pm GMT

Brian Duckett, MD of Howarth Franchising, gives his top tips on franchising your business.


BUSINESS COMMENT >>

Lee McQueen pulls a sickie

By Rebecca Burn-Callander - July 02, 2008 2:55pm GMT

First day on the job and Apprentice winner McQueen has been struck down by a flu-like virus.

Look out Boris! Sir Alan for Mayor?!

By Ally Papasodaro - June 27, 2008 4:10pm GMT

Sir Alan Sugar has been mooted as a possible labour candidate for Mayor of London, and the grizzly entrepreneur is up for the challenge.

The world's first Tibetan consumer brand?

By Matthew Rock - June 26, 2008 4:41pm GMT

Bizarre.

Elnaugh Vs. Paphitis. The Dragons are at war

By Rebecca Burn-Callander - June 26, 2008 2:45pm GMT

When Theo Paphitis suggested all women’s brains “turn to mush” when they get pregnant, fellow Dragon Rachel Elnaugh, entrepreneur and mother-of-five, breathed fire and brimstone.

I’m so excited. And I just can’t hide it.

By Rebecca Burn-Callander - June 25, 2008 11:09am GMT

Anyone else gearing up to go wild over the new domain name changes? No? Just think of the wit, variety and confusion it will bring to the world wide web.



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