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I’ll blog when I have business

I'll blog when I have a businessA few weeks ago, I was chatting to someone about their business. They had big plans and great ideas, but a line that they said had me confused. And that was a line about blogging. And when they were going to start blogging.

See, part of their marketing plan was to use their blog. I liked that. It ticked my content marketing box. The thing that I queried was when they were planning to put the time into blogging. And that was when their business had become a success. Not before. The line ‘I’ll blog when I have a business’ stuck with me. I didn’t really get it. Here’s why.

Let’s look at why we blog

There are plenty of reasons to start a blog. I mean, I could rattle a load off to you now. SEO, brand awareness, social media content, exclusive content, thought leadership, promotion, etc. etc. etc. All of these elements work for established business. I have absolutely no doubt about this – they’re one of the reasons why I put so much time and effort into blogging and why it’s an important part of my marketing strategy. But do you think that all these things could also help new businesses? Yep. I do too.

Another major perk of blogging

Another major bonus of blogging against other forms of marketing is the cost of entry. That would be zero. You can get a blog on a platform like WordPress for £0 if you’re happy to have wordpress in the URL, and we’re talking pounds if you aren’t. So, something that is FREE, that can allow people – customers, partners, collaborators and more- to find out more about you, and it goes to the bottom of the pile? See… I just don’t get that.

I get that blogging can be tricky

I understand that some people struggle with blogging. In fact, I’ve written an article all about it and ways to help overcome some of the common issues. I also understand that some people will never ever ever blog. That’s fine too. It’s not something I would advise or suggest (as in, I think everyone should blog), but that’s fine. Everyone has their own beliefs and quirks. But if you’re looking to integrate blogging into your marketing plan in the future to help promote your business, then please PLEASE consider starting sooner rather than later. As you get busier, your time will be more stretched, especially as your business grows, and blogging might find itself at the bottom of your list. But what if you could put in some of the legwork now, when you have more time, and have this content continuing to generate leads and interest now and in the future? If you’re new to your business and you’re trying to build one, and blogging is part of your plan for the future, then I would really really urge you to consider starting it now. It could help you to reach where you want to be quicker at the same time as helping to support you moving forward.

How I embraced blogging

I’d blogged for clients for a long time, but my own blog got knocked to the bottom of the list for a long time. I know. Pretty shameful given my line of work. I was determined to do a better job, so I decided, in my infinite wisdom(!) that writing a blog every day for 40 days was a good idea. Yep – I doubt my sanity sometimes too. However, it was the ‘baptism of fire’ that I needed and I really haven’t looked back since. I would urge you to try blogging, You don’t need to do one a day, or even one a week, but start. Write something relevant and authentic, promote it, and see where it leads. And keep doing that over and over again. And if you’re stuck, I have some blogs that might help you…

End of the 40 day blogging challenge

How dictation software can make blogging a whole lot easier

Should you bother with a blog?

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Why I love… Twitter

Why I love TwitterYes, today it’s a big one – why I love Twitter… and why you might love it too… even if this love for Twitter has eluded you before!

What’s Twitter? And why should you care?

Well, I am sure you know what it is, but just to recap, it’s a micro-blogging social media platform. There are a few things that make Twitter different. The first is the length of the posts or updates. They’re limited. And limited to 280 characters (although it used to be 140). You might think you can’t say anything in that many characters, but you’d be surprised. It teaches you to be concise. Anyway, there are other differences too. The Twitter algorithm is different to Facebook, although it isn’t quite what it used to be. Historically, your timeline was a very very fast moving feed that was more chronological than anything else. This was great in some ways, but there was the possibility of missing tweets from your favourite people, and that’s what the Twitter algorithm aims to avoid. This shouldn’t happen as much now. Which has got to be good. Well, I think it is. Personally, I have noticed the changes on Twitter, but I haven’t felt it’s hindered my user experience. But maybe that’s just me?

I should say that, quite off piste, that I do have a bit of a thing about when social media networks announce changes in the algorithm. You know everyone goes into a panic, creates really naff blog posts and content about how Facebook is screwing us over, or Instagram has turned into the devil? Yeah. I like to wait and see. And even then I know it’s a borrowed platform, by which I mean I don’t own it. So I can’t control it. I just need to work with what I have. But that’s a whole different blog…

Why do I like Twitter?

I like Twitter. Yep. I said it. I recently asked my followers on Facebook and Instagram whether they preferred Twitter or Facebook. And Facebook won hands down. But the people who came forward and said they preferred Twitter did really love it. I like it because I enjoy the chatter and the fast moving pace, and I really like the conversation. Unlike Facebook, I think Twitter is ALL about the chat. The tooing and froing. The chatter. With Facebook you make a statement and then address comments (in general), but with Twitter, you can say something and that can lead to more of a chat. I also like the hashtag function. You want to see what’s going on in the Great British Bake Off (I know it’s finished!), you type in the hashtag and you can see and join in the conversation. In some ways it’s higher maintenance than Facebook or Instagram, but it’s a lot more interactive and a lot more friendly. I also think that, as I’ve been on Twitter for so long, I kind of love it. Like a jumper I’ve had forever.

From a business point of view, I have made really good connections through it, responded to the #journorequest hashtag and been featured on various websites, and I have also got clients and work through Twitter. But these things don’t happen overnight. they take time.

Why should you like Twitter?

To be honest, you don’t have to, and that’s fine. At this stage, Snapchat isn’t my favourite platform. And that doesn’t bother me, it’s just the truth. I’m not saying it’s a bad platform but it’s not my favourite. I understand it and I’m on it, but others have a bigger space in my social media heart. You might feel the same way about Twitter. And that’s fine. However, if you fancy giving it a go, then you might just love it. Here are a few tips…

  • Get yourself an account – it’s free
  • If you have a business, do your best to make sure your Twitter name is the same (or as close to the same) as your other social media profiles
  • Follow some people you’re interested in. These might be celebs, websites, magazines, friends, etc. And it’ll help you find some people you might like to follow too.
  • Get involved. Respond to people’s comments, put your own tweets out there, share some pics.
  • Give it time. If you’re serious about Twitter, give it time. It gets more interesting as your following grows, you get the hang of it, and the more really interesting people you follow.
  • Search by hashtags. This will help you find content that might be of interest to you. #horsebloggers is a great one for equestrians, as is #247equestrian, but events and shows also have their own hashtags you can follow and participate in.

And, if you’d like to get more involved and are looking to follow some people, then you can find my Twitter profile here. 

 

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Do you need to write press releases for your equestrian business?

Do you need to write press releases for your equestrian businessHave you heard people talk about press releases? Do you know how you could use them for your equestrian business? I’m here to give you a few ways a press release can work for your business, to help you further your reach, your exposure and to help you keep the press and more fully informed with what you’re up to. And do you know something else? You can actually create your own press releases AND send them out really easily. Yep. You heard it here first.

So, what’s a press release?

A press release is, quite simply, a document that should concisely explain what is new or newsworthy in your business. The idea is to make it as easy as possible for journalists, bloggers, influencers and editors to read, understand and process. Your press release should help them quickly establish whether your equestrian business is of interest to them on this occasion. It might not be, and that’s fine too. But if you don’t tell them, you don’t really stand a very good chance of being featured. If you tell them, you’re stacking the odds in your favour.

How does this relate to equestrian business?

In exactly the same way as any other business. The equestrian industry is made up of all sorts of people who could help you to promote your brand, service or product. This might be editors at magazines, freelance journalists, roving reporters for websites, bloggers or influencers. the list goes on. As with any business, if you don’t tell these list of people what you are doing, they won’t know that they’re interested in it… you’re not giving them the chance, and this means that you are making it much harder for people to find out about your eqiestrian business.

What should you include in a press release?

There’s a bit of an art to writing a press release, but it’s an art that can be learnt and improved upon as you go. You should always make sure that the reason you’re writing the press release is a good enough reason. The fact that you have a load of product to sell is not a good enough reason to clog up an editor’s inbox with a press release. NEW or NEWSWORTHY are the two words I always consider when I work with clients on creating their press releases. Is it new – so a new product or service? If yes, it gets a tick and we move to stage two. If not, is it newsworthy? This might be something like a charitable donation. Or maybe a collaboration? Or maybe a sponsorship or an award. These are great subjects for press releases. If you have something that is new or newsworthy, that you think the equestrian public at large (or even just a specific area of the equestrian market) would like to know about… then a press release is a great way to get that message out there.

Do you need to do it yourself?

Nope. You can work with equestrian PR and marketing consultants or copywriters to help you craft a press release you’re proud of. But don’t be fooled. They’re not that hard to write. The most challenging bit is building up your list of contacts, but effort in this area can pay massive dividends in the short and long term, so it’s not something that I would shy away from at all. By just thinking about the problem and spending an hour on the internet, you can start a really good press list that you can build on. And this will then allow you to inform the press of what you’re doing. And if you provide them with the right content, in the right format, at a relevant time, then they might just decide to tell their fans, followers and readers all about your equestrian business.

So, do I need to produce press releases for my equestrian business?

Yes. In one format or another, I would strong advise you do. Press releases can be a hugely effective way of getting your message out into the world, whether you write about your equestrian business yourself or you work with an equestrian PR. To bridge the gap you could always work with someone to help you create a press release, so you start to build up your own contact list and learn the skills you need to promote your business well.

As for the shameless plug…

Through my equestrian business coaching service, I teach people how to write press releases, build press lists and get their products featured. And I do a lot more too, depending on the coachling’s needs and wants. You can find out more about equestrian business coaching here if you need a hand or a bit of help developing a more strategic approach.

 

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Why I love… Your Press Release Is Breaking My Heart – Janet Murray

Your press release is breaking my heartIt was Emma Warren, who first told me about Janet Murray. She’d been travelling up to our meeting at Daylesford a few months ago, and she told me she’d been listening to podcasts by Janet Murray. I like podcasts and regularly have a video or podcast rumbling in the background during the day. She recommended a couple in particular, so I duly listened. And they were brilliant. And with nearly 200 to listen to (a time of discovery!) I was pretty much hooked… and continue to be. That’s how I ‘met’ Janet. The author of ‘Your Press Release Is Breaking My Heart’, founder of Soulful PR…and a whole lot more…

So what has ‘Your Press Release Is Breaking My Heart’ got to do with anything?

Well, Janet is known as a PR expert and draws on her journalism experience, working with magazines and newspapers, to help people get coverage. There’s a lot more to it than that, but in summary, that’s what she does. Have a look at her website to find out more. She’s incredibly knowledgeable without being cocky and doesn’t shout about her excellence… you see it through her actions, and I like that. I can’t really tolerate the other kind. So she ticked another box in my world. Janet does a lot of things, the podcasts are a teeny part. She also has groups, courses, offers products and one to one. And she’s written a book called ‘Your Press Release Is Breaking My Heart’. And I bought it.

Why would a press release break anyone’s heart?

I have to say that I do write quite a few press releases, and I think I do them pretty well. They achieve the desired results when I send them to people I have spent years building up relationships with. I have also honed and tweaked the format, length, style and construction of these press releases, through speaking to editors, to make them as user friendly as possible. However, I see a LOT that are, well, pretty awful. They’re long, they’re boring, they don’t focus on the point – actually – some don’t have a point… I could go on. The book confirmed this to me. It actually made me a lot more confident in what I do and why, but that’s an aside. It was easy to read. It was helpful. It was accurate and the techniques Janet suggests work. They really do. Badly written press releases break my heart a bit… and they’re just the ones I see that waft into my inbox. If I was working as an editor or as a journalist at a newspaper where I was barraged with them every day, they would completely break my heart too! The thing that comes to the fore, as Janet explains so well, is that editors and journalists are really busy people. This means the format you present the information in matters A LOT, but there’s more to it than that. And, actually, you might not need a press release at all to get your message out there.

So you’re saying Janet’s book says I don’t need press releases?

Yes and no. It’s a genuinely brilliant read for anyone interested in getting press and column inches for their business, and it’s a really refreshing read for PR and marketing professions as it shows the proper way to deal with the press. As much as PR people and businesses want to get those important column inches, journalists have space to fill. Presenting the information correctly, doing your research, putting the time in can help solve both of these issues. And that’s what the book will help you to realise.

Why do I love ‘Your Press Release Is Breaking My Heart’?

Because it echoes what I have found from speaking to editors and journalists and honing my style over the years. And anything that reinforces what we feel to be true (even if it’s a break from convention!), is always nice. However, Your Press Release Is Breaking My Heart does more than this. It’ll challenge your thinking, encourage new ideas and additional exploration and is bursting with practical tips to help editors and journalists take your press release and stories more seriously. It helps you form real connections that will serve you and them better, to help everyone win. And if you’ve followed this blog for anytime at all, you’ll know I do like win/win situations.

 

Find out more about Your Press Release Is Breaking My Heart on Amazon.

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A few minutes with… Alec Lochore – Musketeer Event Management

Alec LochoreI’m really excited about today’s ‘a few minutes with…’, all about Alec Lochore. Alec is well known in eventing circles and has an incredible CV. He’s also one of the speakers at this year’s Farm Business Innovation Show.

In addition to running Alec Lochore Event & Equestrian Consultancy and Musketeer Event Management (the company responsible for Burnham Market International and Houghton International, amongst others), Alec has held many notable positions in the sport. But he can tell the story much better…

Tell us a bit about Alex Lochore Event & Equestrian Consultancy and Musketeer Event Management?

A.L.E.C is an Event and Equestrian Consultancy business which over the past 15 years has been involved with the design and running of sporting events. Predominantly but not exclusively equestrian projects and covering a complete spectrum of the different levels from grass roots through to Olympic Games.

As an equestrian consultant, I look at the design, strategic and operational planning and the management and delivery of projects and events from the small-scale farm diversification to the large scale international facilities focusing on maximising efficiency and profitability.

As well as working as a consultant, Musketeer Event Management was established in 2001 running equestrian events up and down the country including Houghton International, Burnham Market International, Whitfield Horse Trials and Cholmondeley Castle Horse Trials.

What makes your business different to others?

When working with clients both as a consultant and through Musketeer, I always try to maintain a ‘yes’ and a ‘can do’ policy. Working with and to the client’s objectives, being reactive in trying to pippa funnellfind solutions to any problem encountered in order to reach the end goal. To have an idea, go for it and make it happen.

What area of business are you talking about at the Farm Business Innovation Show and why?

At the Farm Business Innovation Show I am going to be examining the opportunities available in the diversification into equestrian events. Making the right choice in the type of enterprise and then turning the plan into a reality. I am also going to look at the different types of opportunities and the benefits they can bring as well as the possible threats that might have to be encountered.

When are you speaking and why should people come along and listen?

I feel that the equestrian events market has a growing potential, and is a good opportunity for land owners to diversify into a different area of business that they might not have considered. My intention would also be to stimulate investigation and provide some context and understanding for those people who are interested in an area of diversification which can be very complementary and work well running alongside already established farming business and other area of rural land management.

 

Who inspires you?

I am inspired not by a particular person but sports men and woman who have achieved global success on the world stage.  My belief is that no matter what sport or what the athlete’s background, whether rich or poor, a man or a woman, and with no consideration for ethnicity or religion, this person has achieved through the grit, determination, sacrifice, hard work and huge strength of character to persevere through the tough times in order to reach success.

You can find out more about Alec and hear his take on the above at the Farm Business Innovation Show. 

To find out more about Alec Lochore, his consultancy or Musketeer Event Management, follow the links below…

Musketeer Event Management website

Musketeer Twitter

Musketeer Facebook

Musketeer Instagram

Alec Lochore Event & Equestrian Consultancy website

Alec Lochore Twitter

Alec Lochore Facebook

 

Did you miss last week’s Farm Business Innovation Show themed ‘a few minutes with…’? Read about Emma Collison from Moor View Alpacas and Debbie North from the Outdoor Guide.

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Liked posts to liked pages on Facebook

liked posts to liked pages on facebookDid you know that you can invite people who like a post of yours on a Facebook page to like your actual page too? Yep. Honest. It’s a really nifty Facebook page feature that can significantly grow your following over time. And it’s free and REALLY easy to do. I used this as a Tip Tuesday on my Facebook page and on Instagram too and it got a really positive reaction… so I thought I’d share it here too…

How can people like posts and not pages?

If someone engages with your Facebook post, their Facebook friends could see when it appears on their timeline. If one of their friends likes the post, then they could well like your post, but not necessarily the page. This doesn’t mean that they don’t want to like your page, it’s just another step that people don’t always think about. Don’t be offended, this is life… but there is something you can do about it…

You can ask them to like your page

When people ‘react’ to your post, you can click on the number of people who have engaged and Facebook will kindly show you a list of all of those who have liked your Facebook post. But more than this, on the right of the list, it’ll show you whether these people have already liked your page, AND it’ll also give you the chance to invite them. All you do is click the ‘Invite’ button. Facebook will invite them to like your page, and the button will turn to light grey and say ‘Invited’. And that’s that!

And will they then like your Facebook page?

The short answer is they might do… but they might not. You can invite them but like when you ask friends to like your Facebook page, some will, and some won’t… and that’s just life! But if you invite them, Facebook will give them a little nudge and suggest that they do in the form of an invite. It might not work, but I have genuinely grown my following using the next method.

 

Have you tried it? Did you know about this function? Let me know!

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A collaboration with… Fairfax & Favor – Imperial Explorers | Rhea Freeman

Fairfax & Favor Imperial ExplorersLet’s be honest, you know I love Fairfax & Favor. Not just the products that the company produces, but the branding, the team, the prosecco… I mean ideas. No. There are a few companies in the equestrian and country industry I admire, and I have to say that Fairfax & Favor fall well into this category. So you can imagine my delight when the opportunity to collaborate with them on a project involving the Imperial Explorers came up.

How did the collaboration start?

Well, it all started at Blenheim Horse Trials, although I didn’t realise it had started then! I was having a chat with a friend of mine about the Imperial Explorers, Fairfax & Favor’s award winning boots. I’d had these on my wishlist for a while but was really on the fence. Why? Because I was sure they were water resistant and not waterproof. And my friend thought they were waterproof and not water resistant. Umm. I’m a complete product geek, and I was pretty sure, but still, if they were waterproof, my dilemma was over! Anyway, I wandered past the Fairfax & Favor stand and Ben (if you’ve been to any Fairfax & Favor stand, Ben is the head of brand and retail and is usually clad in tweed) was there. So I went over for a glass of prosecco and took the opportunity to quiz him about the Imperial Explorers…

And what did I find out about the Imperial Explorers?

They’re water resistant. So you might be thinking that that wasn’t a good thing, but actually, after my chat with Ben, they moved from wishlist to must-have. Why? Well, although they are water resistant, actually, when you really delve into how these boots are water resistant and why, you might realise, like I did, that you don’t actually need a waterproof boot. And when you do need a waterproof boot (as in, wading through and standing in water for prolonged periods of time), you should probably opt for wellies, because leather, being a skin, doesn’t really love being submerged in water for long periods of time – even if it is has waterproof membrane behind it. When I spoke to Ben and thought it all through, it actually made a lot of sense. I think we’ve been ‘trained’ to believe waterproof is the only option in a country boot, and in some situations it 100% is, but think about when you’d wear the boot. Are you hoping to stand in water for long periods of time? If so, you’re going to need a waterproof boot – get some wellies. And I’m not saying that in a dismissive way. The boots, at £375, aren’t cheap, in fact, I haven’t met that many high quality leather boots that are cheap. So why spend your money on them and then treat them in a way that could limit their life? You’d be much better investing in wellies too, and using both for their ‘best’ jobs, and both will last longer.

So – about this collaboration with Fairfax & Favor?

Oh yes – I made a video about everything I’d learnt from my chat with Ben. Well, actually, I made two. Being a product geek, I also made a video about the Vibram soles. It was another feature of the boots that ticked a box and one I wanted to tell people about. Both videos below – please enjoy and feel free to comment and subscribe too (!).

 

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A few minutes with… the Farm Business Innovation Show speakers

Following my blog on Wednesday, you’ll know that I’m very excited to be on the marketing panel of the Farm Business Innovation Show next month. What you might not realise is the diversity of the amazing speakers and stands you’ll find there, so I’m using this week’s ‘a few minutes with…’ to introduce you to two of them. And if you’d like to see them in person, make sure you attend the Farm Business Innovation Show!

A few minutes with… Debbie North – The Outdoor Guide

More than one in six people in England and Wales have an ‘activity limiting’ health problem or disability. British and international visitors from this market segment currently spend over £3 on tourism trips in England each year. In short, improving accessibility could improve your business.

Debbie North and Julia BradburyTell us about your business…

I run the access part of The Outdoor Guide with Julia Bradbury – an online resource relating to everything to do with walking and the outdoors. I am responsible for developing the access and mobility section, promoting walks with wheelchairs. Our aim is to encourage people to get outdoors.

What makes your business different to others?

The Outdoor Guide totally embraces accessibility to provide inclusivity in tourism.

What area of business are you talking about at the Farm Business Innovation Show and why?

I am speaking about access to the countryside, sharing my own experiences and hopefully I will be opening up people’s creativity on how they could promote wheelchair access into their businesses. I use a range of all -terrain wheelchairs and speak about how different chairs can offer different experiences. Like walking boots, it is not one size fit all. Wheels are my boots and there are different chairs for different activities. I will be showing the types of adventures people can have in different wheelchairs.

Why should people come along and listen to you at the Farm Business Innovation Show?

I have a wealth of experience in accessing the countryside. I will be showing other business how accessibility Debbie North - The Outdoor Guidecan be incorporated into their business to encourage more disabled visitors.

Who inspires you?

I have a huge respect for Alfred Wainwright.

Where can we find you online?

www.theoutdoorguide.com

Twitter: @AccessTOG

Facebook @AccessTOG

A few minutes with… Emma Collison – Moor View Alpacas

Tell us a bit about your business 
Emma Collison - Moor View AlpacasMoor View Alpacas rears alpacas for their yarn for our knitwear brand Moor Baby, and for their meat. We also rear rare breed Valais blacknose sheep.
We have a varied and unique style of business which promotes grow your own and local business.
What makes you business different to others?
We are a very diverse business. What makes us different is our ability to find new and unique ideas and push the boundaries, being at the forefront of the industry, making new and exciting movements in the farming industry.
What area of business are you talking about at the Farm Business Innovation Show and why?
I will be talking about diversification and how to get your idea from paper to launch and how to get your product out there.
When are you speaking at the Farm Business Innovation Show and why should people come along and listen?
I am speaking at 1.15pm on Wednesday the 8th. It will be an interesting seminar about USP and business and, if nothing else, some super cute photos on my power point.
Do you have any business blogs you follow or any podcasts you listen to?
I am quite interested in Lord Sugar and Deborah Meaden so follow them and some of there advice. I don’t really have time to read blogs or listen to podcasts – I do run a farm!
Emma Collison - Moor BabyWho inspires you?
I don’t get inspired generally by people. But what pushes me to succeed is people who tell me I can’t do it. I like a challenge and I use the negative people to help me succeed, turning it into positives.
Where can we find out more about you and your business
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The Farm Business Innovation Show is coming… and I’m on the marketing panel

Farm Business Innovation ShowThis week’s Wisdom Wednesday post is a teeny bit different. It’s not so much about the wisdom I’m giving in this post, but more where I’ll be sharing tips and tricks in person, and where you can get a lot more knowledge too. The Farm Business Innovation Show.

What’s the Farm Business Innovation Show?

I’m d-flipping-lighted to be able to share that I am on the marketing panel discussion at the Farm Business Innovation Show. This event, which is held at the NEC on November 8th and 9th, is brilliant for all rural businesses including equestrian, and also takes in glamping, country homes and a few other bits and bobs too. It’s a lovely event – it’s FREE to attend (visit the Farm Business Innovation Show website to find out more), and it’s easy to get to as, well, even I can find the NEC!

Last year I attended the event to watch my friend, client and all round legend, Emma Warren, speak as part of the glamping panel discussion. Emma owns and runs award winning glampsite Dimpsey. Dimpsey is a beautiful shepherd’s hut, based in the Blackdown Hills of Somerset. Build by Blackdown Shepherd Huts, it’s a truly stunning example of what glamping could and should be. In fact, Emma and her lovely husband Andrew have won awards for Dimpsey. But I digress – you can find out more about Dimpsey, its wood fired hot tub (oh yes!) and other facilities on their website. Now. Back to the show…

Why is the Farm Business Innovation Show different?

I have attended a number of events, and a number of trade events too, and each has its own charm. The Farm Business Innovation Show was unlike any other event I have attended, and I really, really liked it. The diversity across the exhibitors was really interesting. One minute I was chatting to the lovely people at The Equestrian Index, then I walked into the Tipi Theatre and Anne Clark from Connected Thinking was giving a talk to a packed tipi full of people. A little further along there was a wooden shepherd’s hut, then there was a stand with alpacas (and they had real ones there), topiary, outdoor play equipment for children, I had a chat with Tally from the fabulous Open Air Magazine. It’s so diverse. And that is just the tip of the Farm Business Innovation Show iceberg.

And this year…

If you’re coming to the Farm Business Innovation Show on Thursday, I’ll be chattering away as part of the marketing panel discussion. I’m really, really delighted to be working with the organisers and rest of the panel for this, and can’t wait to see what questions the assembled group throw at us.

Should you come along to the Farm Business Innovation Show?

If you’re connected with the country and equestrian world in any way, then I would say yes. It’s a really lovely event – I found it quite relaxed (in that there was plenty of space and the layout meant it didn’t feel crowded) and utterly fascinating. They have an excellent timetable of speakers for the two days, there are some great panel discussions, lots of lovely exhibitors and, did I mention it’s free to attend? Yep. I think you pay for parking but there’s no entry fee to enter the show. So you have very little to lose by coming along and a LOT to gain!

Find out more and get your free Farm Business Innovation Show Tickets here.

And there’s more…

Keep your eyes peeled for a new mini blog series all about some of the brilliant speakers. First blog goes live on Friday!

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Why I love… the CZ Roller Bead from Hiho Silver

Hiho Silver CZ Cherry Roller BangleMy Instagram, Youtube channel, Twitter feed and Facebook page regularly feature my Cherry Roller Bangle. I flipping ADORE this piece of jewellery from Hiho Silver. So much so that it hardly ever leaves my wrist, And when I say hardly ever, I mean I sleep, shower, cook, clean, work, dog walk, run (in a fashion), manage toddlers… everything, In this bracelet. And now the CZ Roller Beads add a little bit more sparkle to all of the above!

What’s a Cherry Roller Bangle?

I wrote a blog about the iconic design of the Cherry Roller not all that long ago because it’s a cracking story. The piece is unique to Hiho Silver and was designed by the team there. The original design combined sterling silver and rose gold vermeil to mimic the tones of the cherry roller snaffle. A bit created from stainless steel and copper. But you can read more about it here. Needless to say that this pretty bangle has become iconic in equestrian and country circles. More than that, it has inspired and entire collection of necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings with roller bead detail, But it’s also inspired a range of other beads too. Including the CZ ones.

What’s a CZ Roller Bead?

The CZ Roller Bead is Hiho’s way to bling up (is that even a phrase?!) your Cherry Roller… or even Foxtail Bracelet. These sterling silver rollers are encrusted in CZ crystals that add shine and sparkle to the piece in a range of gorgeous colours including white, navy, pink, purple, turquoise and more. These beads can be switched for sterling silver or gold vermeil beads at the time of purchase, or can be retrofitted if you fancy it. Actually, Hiho has just introduced a create your own Cherry Roller feature, which shows all the options in more detail.

Why do I love them?

I’m not a huge fan of bling, I adore silver and diamonds but I find a lot of ‘bling’ rather cheap and tacky. And I don’t like that. I’ve had a Cherry Roller Bangle for about a year. Mine had a solid rose gold bead in the centre to start with, solid sterling silver beads either side, and 18ct rose gold vermeil beads beyond that. And I loved it. Bling hadn’t crossed my mind until I met up with Emma Warren, Hiho’s Queen Bee, a few months ago. She was wearing a beautiful cherry roller with a hint of a bling and it looked so special. I think because of the way the rollers have been designed, they add a touch of colour and a bit of sparkle, but they’re not ‘in your face’ – even the bangles with five CZ Roller Beads are still really classy and elegant. I’ve had the two sterling silver rollers replaced with purple CZ Roller Beads (see the pic) and I adore it. I love the way the crystals catch the light and the way they look different colours at different times of the day. And I love spinning them around the bangle’s ‘mouthpiece’ (also known as a shank I think?) too. They’re great for busy fingers!

Are the CZ Roller Beads robust?

Another thing I want to mention is how robust the CZ Roller Beads are. I’m not saying ‘smash them off anything – they’ll be fine’, but I bet they would be! Mine have a really hard life, despite my best efforts, but the way the bead has been designed means it’s really resilient. A bead with a true Hiho pedigree. It’ll take you from mucking out to going, play areas (yep – welcome to my life as a mum of toddlers!) to the pub, and it’ll look great in any situation.

I’d urge you to go and have a look at the Cherry Roller Bangle, and have a look at the CZ beads too. If you already have a Cherry Roller, you can get the beads switched and changed by sending back to Hiho (small fitting fee applies on top of product cost). Just contact them and have a chat with the Countess of Contentment.

 

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