Jo Riches: Specialist project manager for the design & marketing industry Cambridge based

I've Moved!

2010-12-13T15:09:00.000-08:00

Dear all
Now that my brand new spangly website is ready, I've moved my blog over to it. Look forward to seeing you there soon!

Christmas Thoughts

2010-09-14T06:44:00.000-07:00

Now that summer is a mere memory, it's time to start considering the more wintry options. Christmas, it comes but once a year but are we ever really ready for it?

Just some of the corporate goodies I shall be organising on behalf of clients, include the infamous freshly baked Grasmere Gingerbread, truly the most delicious gingerbread I have ever tasted. Minimum order quantity just 1 so no need to worry your order isn't big enough.

Or why not send a Sudoku cube, a quirky take on the 80's classic Rubik's cube that we all still have hidden away somewhere because we just can't bear to part with them. Hours of mind boggling fun!

Or how about some 'home brew', locally brewed beer branded with your own label. Now that really would be something to be proud of and something we'd all like to receive.

Or how about some Corporate Christmas fun for your staff, whether a truly spectacular Christmas party or maybe just a special meal. With still plenty of time to discuss the options, we will work out a totally bespoke event on your behalf. We take out the 'hassle factor' of Christmas, leaving you with the enjoyable bits!

Big Ass Burritos all Round Mr Ling?

2010-08-17T03:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon, the whole Cambridge Utd football team, manager Martin Ling, plus a few others came along to nanna mexico to launch the 'big ass burrito' giveaway. They all tucked in and certainly enjoyed their food!

The idea behind this year long promotion is to make people aware of nanna mexico, the independent Mexican restaurant on Regent Street. I organised the promotion with Cambridge Utd who immediately loved the idea. What a great way to introduce people to the restaurant and bring a bit more excitement to each of the home games. Look out for the featured player in each of the home game programmes, and if that player scores a goal, take your programme down to nanna mexico and get your free big ass burrito.

I had arranged for a number of press people to cover the story. Andy Burrows of Radio Cambridgeshire interviewed a number of players and manager and quizzed Josh Coulson as to whether he could win a burrito for all the fans!

To find out more, take a look at the official Cambridge Utd website.

Will Josh Coulson score tonight and feed the fans? We'll have to wait and see. Good luck Josh!

The Prospects Trust Charity

2010-05-14T02:18:00.000-07:00

The time is right, so I've decided to do some voluntary work at a local charity called The Prospects Trust . Having met two lovely and very dedicated people Rhian and Maz, we soon came up with a list marketing jobs I could be getting on with.

The Prospects Trust organise charity events throughout the year. The next fundraising event is on Friday 21st May at St Paul's on Hill Rd in Cambridge. 'Harmony in Harlem' the title, a 17 piece jazz orchestra will be delighting the crowds. Included in the ticket price will be a supper of bread and a selection of cheese.

This event is also being promoted by Local Secrets. You can buy tickets by calling 01223 421103.

Reach Fair in the making

2010-04-27T02:23:00.000-07:00

Exciting times ahead. This Bank Holiday Monday, here in the village of Reach is the 810th May Day Fair. For all the villagers, the fun and excitement starts a week early as we're entertained daily by the arrival of a new ride! Yesterday it was the Cake Walk and Helter Skelter and today it's the Octopus and Big Wheel.

Throughout the day we watch eagerly as each of the rides are positioned on the village green and the hours of assembly for each of the rides begin.

Can you spot what's missing on the Big Wheel?! No doubt the seats will be up by the end of the day!

The Fair really is a village affair. Everyone gets involved whether it is to lend a hand on the car parking for the 8000 visitors or busy baking cakes for the cake stall. It's madness and mayhem but everyone enjoys themselves. It always amazes me how many people come! Hope to see you there and let's hope this glorious sunshine stays for the day too!

Daffodils Appearing in Reach

2010-03-24T02:32:00.000-07:00

On yet another grey drizzly morning in March, I find the need to cheer myself up. What better way than to report on the progress of 'The Daffodils of Reach'. At the end of last week, we saw a few warm sunny days and the pictures here were taken on Sunday morning.

The harsh winter we've experienced has not only meant the daffodils are late in flowering, some are very stunted with the flower heads only just poking out of the ground! I'm wondering if the newly planted bulbs have suffered more than those already established?

The tulips are also very stunted, have no leaves and the flowers are nestled in the grass. Has anyone else had this problem I wonder?

Over the next couple of weeks, the village is going to be transformed with the 3996 daffodils still to open!

My Interview on Radio Cambridgeshire

2010-03-14T04:49:00.001-07:00

Sunday 14th March, Mother's Day!

Well I've just done my first live radio interview with Catherine Carr on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire. It was great fun, but I have to say a little scary! Lisen here, scroll along to 1hr 17 mins into the programme.

I was speaking about the great bulb planting party I organised, Reach Fair and what's on offer in the village of Reach.

Here are a few links to my previous blog posts about the bulb planting:

http://joriches.blogspot.com/2010/03/spring-has-sprung.html

http://joriches.blogspot.com/2009/10/daffs-crocus-and-primrose.html

http://joriches.blogspot.com/2009/11/thank-you.html

Watch out for my next blog, hopefully lots of sunny daffodils will be the topic!

How to persuade a very cool professional footballer to wear a very silly hat - feed him something yummy!

2010-03-12T01:44:00.000-08:00

The Mexican restaurant on Regent Street in Cambridge, (my new client by the way!), were especially busy yesterday afternoon when the entire Cambridge Utd football squad stopped by for lunch. Listen to what Danny Crow had to say about the great food and the big game ahead with his interview with Radio Cambridgeshire's sports guy Chris Osbourne.

It's a local derby game on Saturday for Cambridge Utd who are playing Histon at home. With this opportunity in mind I set about organising a 'big ass burrito giveaway' to all the football supporters. Here's how it works: Cambridge Utd striker Danny Crow (that's him in middle wearing the sombrero) has been selected to send the ball home. If Danny scores a goal, anyone who has purchased a match programme will be entitled to claim their free 'big ass burrito' from nanna mexico on Regent Street. Supporters will have until the following Saturday 21/3/10 to claim their free burrito. Don't worry if Danny doesn't score, nanna mexico love football fans so if you take your programme along, buy yourself a burrito they'll give you a Corona for free!

If you can't make it to the game, nanna mexico want to extend their offer to try their food. Sign up to them on twitter (twitter name: @nannamexico) and watch out for special offer tweets coming your way very soon!

Spring has Sprung!

2010-03-08T01:42:00.000-08:00

Although the mornings are still exceedingly chilly, we have had a few gloriously sunny days. Has spring finally sprung? If you take a stroll around our village there is plenty of evidence that it's definitely on it's way. I popped out yesterday to take a few snapshots of the snowdrops that we planted earlier this month.
The snowdrop and crocus ring planted under the tree has fairly like qualities! The little nodding flowers appeared almost over night, how magical!

The wild primrose are also doing their thing.

But with the severe winter we've had this year, it's meant all the daffodils are at least a month behind, so no pics in this blog to show their sunny faces! Infact it's not just here in Cambridgeshire, it's everywhere .... Spring has sprung but where are all the daffodils? I wonder if the daffodils will be out for the annual Thriplow Daffodil Weekend?

Joules Magazine

2010-02-24T10:50:00.000-08:00

8.30am this morning, a knock at my door. Who could it be and what did they want?

A parcel for me! Without further ado, with scissors in hand, I set about investigating. Low and behold a fabulous Cowshed goodie box sent by Joules just for me!

What a wonderful way of congratulating me on a community event I recently organised. Super packaging, lovely products and fabulous product names. Can't wait to see the article in their Spring Magazine.

Snowdrops Growing in Dappled Light

2010-02-01T07:40:00.000-08:00

Anglesey Abbey are famous for their beautiful gardens and at this time of year you'll find a host of dainty little snowdrops growing amongst the woodland. They thrive in dappled light under deciduous trees and shrubs.

This weekend I took a walk through the winter wonderland and although the recent snowfall covered the aconites, the snowdrops were standing tall.
Well worth a visit to the gardens.

Little Robin Red Breast

2010-01-19T08:14:00.001-08:00

Yes we've been baking again!

We have two beautiful little robins that come to our garden, one fluffed up and quite fat whist the other is really quite skinny! I've often seen them fighting each other, but on the whole they do take it in turns it seems to pay us a visit. I think they have to be my all time favourite bird!

What with more snow forecast for tomorrow, it seems appropriate that I direct all you fellow bird lovers to the BBC Autumn Watch website, where there are lots of helpful hints and tips on how and what to feed our feathered friends in this exceedingly chilly spell!

Incase you were wondering the biscuits are 'vanilla sugar robin cookies with red sprinkles' how lovely!

Snow, snow and more snow!

2009-12-20T08:42:00.000-08:00

With the last day of term cancelled due to all the snow, there was nothing left to do but toboggan. The whole village was turned into a picture postcard.

Festive Wreaths

2009-12-09T01:38:00.000-08:00

The Victorians decorated their houses with any greenery they could lay their hands on. From holly wreaths, to mistletoe balls, ivy swags and even peas dipped in red candle wax to create sumptuous holly berries.

I couldn't resist in collecting a few items of greenery and having a go.
The BBC are showing 'Victorian Christmas', to find out more take a look at:http://www.bbc.co.uk/victorianchristmas/

Advent Day 4

2009-12-04T02:35:00.000-08:00

What little gem lies beneath the little door today? A candy cane ....
The origin of the candy cane goes back over 350 years, when candy-makers both professional and amateur were making hard sugar sticks. The original candy was straight and completely white in colour.

Around the seventeenth century, European-Christians began to adopt the use of Christmas trees as part of their Christmas celebrations. They made special decorations for their trees from foods like cookies and sugar-stick candy. The first historical reference to the familiar cane shape goes back to 1670, when the choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral in Germany, bent the sugar-sticks into canes to represent a shepherd's staff. The all-white candy canes were given out to children during the long-winded nativity services.
The clergymen's custom of handing out candy canes during Christmas services spread throughout Europe and later to America. The canes were still white, but sometimes the candy-makers would add sugar-roses to decorate the canes further.

The Stripes
No one knows who exactly invented the stripes, but Christmas cards prior to the year 1900 showed only all-white candy canes. Christmas cards after 1900 showed illustrations of striped candy canes. Around the same time, candy-makers added peppermint and wintergreen flavours to their candy canes and those flavors then became the traditional favourites.

Sweet Secrets of the Candy Cane
There are many other legends and beliefs surrounding the humble candy cane. Many of them depict the candy cane as a secret symbol for Christianity used during the times when Christian were living under more oppressive circumstances. It was said that the cane was shaped like a "J" for Jesus. The red-and-white stripes represented Christ's blood and purity. The three red stripes symbolized the Holy Trinity. The hardness of the candy represented the Church's foundation on solid rock and the peppermint flavour represented the use of hyssop, an herb referred to in the Old Testament. There is no historical evidence to support these claims, quite the contrary, but they are lovely thoughts.

Happy Advent

2009-12-01T03:06:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a Happy Advent!

This is the nifty corporate chocolate advent calendar I was working on at the end of last month for my client Hexagon Consulting Ltd. http://www.hexcl.co.uk/ Hexagon are an independent customs consultancy dedicated to helping UK businesses minimise the cost of importing non-EU goods. With a prestigious client list, here are some of the comments passed onto me!

"I just wanted to say thank you very much for my advent calendar – it’s very funny!!"
Harriet Butler, Molton Brown

"Thanks! that is the coolest xmas card! I haven't even bought a advent calendar yet!"
Jo Martinez, Senior Footwear Developer
Animal

How lovely to have happy clients!

Read the book, now what?

2009-11-30T03:37:00.000-08:00

It was just the other day I was commenting on starting up a book swap, when I came across this. What a great idea, every village should have one.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/8385313.stm

To Twitter or Not

2009-11-26T01:37:00.001-08:00

Should be very interesting, the subject on everyone's lips tonight at Camcreative will be the social networking stream Twitter. Just how valuable is this new medium as a marketing tool? Looking forward to it.
When: 7pm tonight
Where: Arts Picture House Bar, Cambridge
Networking Group: Camcreative

Hope to see you there!

Happy National Freelancers Day!

2009-11-23T01:43:00.000-08:00

Meet in the upstairs bar and the evening will primarily take the format of a group discussion focused on the advantages and disadvantages of freelancing, how can freelancers overcome/manage some of the disadvantages and of course, drawing on the core themes of the future for freelancing and how freelancing can help UK businesses become more competitive. Over the evening we will try to tease out some key conclusions about issues that concern and are of most importance to today’s freelancing/contracting professionals.

The evening will also feature a keynote address from:

Prof Lester Lloyd-Reason, a Professor of International Enterprise Strategy at the Ashcroft International Business School in Cambridge entitled: “Academic research into the changing workforce and what the future could bring”

Start time: 6.30pm

The address is:
B Bar, 8 Market Passage, Cambridge CB2 3PF

Some light refreshments will be provided. See you there!

Best gingerbread man recipe in the world!

2009-11-15T12:15:00.000-08:00

As requested by many of my followers, here is the best gingerbread recipe as previously posted on my blog. The measure stated is a US cup which equates to 234g or 117g for 1/2 a cup.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup of butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup of molasses or black treacle
3/4 of teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
2.5 cups of flour
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon of crushed cloves
A dash of milk to help the mixture bind together
(1/2 a US cup = 117g)

Directions:
Cream butter and sugar together.
Beat in egg and molasses or treacle.
Sift flour, baking soda, salt, ginger and cinnamon and cloves into wet mixture and mix together. You might need a dash of milk to help bind to make a dough mixture.
Chill for at least half an hour in fridge, making sure the bowl is covered with cling film.

The fun bit:
Roll dough out to at least 1cm thick and cut out with cutter. Place the little chaps on greased baking sheets and bake for 5 mins at 192 degrees. Remember to give them space to grow whilst in the oven, they do spread out a little bit and you wouldn't want to have to slice them apart afterwards, ouch!!
Cool on a wire rack.

Enjoy with a hot cup of tea!
Please note, as these are so delicious, you might want to pop a few into the freezer to make them last a little longer.

Delivery, oh no now the fulfillment!

2009-11-13T11:38:00.000-08:00

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way ... the corporate chocolate advent calendars have arrived and I'm chuffed to bits with them, hope the client will be too! How lovely to receive a personalised gift from a friend or client.

Now it's just the task of fulfillment to get cracking with, only 249 left to pack! The next few days are going to be busy, busy, busy!

And I do things like this!

2009-11-13T11:27:00.000-08:00

What better way to banish the autumn blues with a lovely splash of colour like this. The finishing touches are just as important as the planning.

The pesonal touch to being a supplier!

2009-11-10T13:17:00.000-08:00

I read an interesting blog yesterday, advocating the use of smaller more personal companies over the larger and perhaps more well known. It basically comes down to a few key points that we either consciously decide to consider or choose to ignore!

My ethos, be fair on price, offer a reliable service and make sure there is always plenty of homebaked wares on offer. Surely that gives me an edge?

Mmmm gingerbread men my favourite, they never seem to last that long.

Thank you

2009-11-09T02:38:00.000-08:00

The children from Little Windmills Pre-School thoroughly enjoyed their gardening last week. In connection with the Reach Village Daffodil Planting Day that took place on 25 October, groups of children planted crocus and daffodil bulbs outside the village hall. It was lovely to see so many budding young gardeners!

They even gave me a present to say 'thank you!'

Christmas Networking Event - Venue Changed

2009-11-06T09:31:00.000-08:00

It looks as though the Christmas Networking Event Weds 16th Dec is going to be a busy one! The event has changed from Bottisham to Scotsdales Garden Centre. For more information about the event click on the link.

A little extra!
Scotsdales Garden Centre has very kindly offered everyone who attends this event a 10% discount if you shop there between 5pm and 6pm that evening. You will need to present your ticket to get the discount.

http://theinspiredgroup.com/inspired-events/

Horrible house guests!

2009-11-02T08:49:00.000-08:00

Imagine my horror, when sometime early Saturday evening a knock at my door revealed a knarly, nasty witch with very poor dental hygiene, her crafty black cat and her one-eyed side kick! And this used to be such a sort after village.

Perhaps they were attracted by the lantern?

Post anyone!

2009-10-30T14:37:00.000-07:00

http://www.theroyalfail.com/

Because my pen samples didn't arrive in the post today, I felt this appropriate!

How many can you deliver?

Visitor to Wigloo

2009-10-30T02:08:00.000-07:00

Very excited, we had a visitor to the Wigloo this morning. Now that the chilly nights are drawing in, perhaps he's looking for suitable accommodation. Very attractive, garden Wigloo, or is that Twigloo available to rent! He must have seen the sign!! If you don't know what a Wigloo or Twigloo is, look back through my previous posts.

Daffs, Crocus and Primrose!

2009-10-27T03:39:00.000-07:00

With an extra hour in bed after the clock change, we were all clearly feeling super charged and suitable energised! The five wheel barrows containing the 4000 bulbs and 240 primroses, yes you read correctly(!), were lined up and ready for their willing drivers to go forth and plant!

A fancy quadrant affair was going on under the chestnut tree for 'Blue Pearl', a pretty little crocus. The snowdrops will come later in February, when we plant them in the green.

Clumps of daffs and primroses were planted in locations that over time will allow for them to naturalise and create carpets of colour. Despite all the rain from the day before, the ground was still very dry!! Time for refreshments, homemade cake and lashings of steaming tea!

A fantastic community event that everyone enjoyed, young and old!

A big thank you to all that helped, especially David!

I've posted some more photos on my posterous site: http://joriches.posterous.com/

National Freelancers Day 23rd November

2009-10-23T02:55:00.000-07:00

In celebration of National Freelancers Day (November 23rd), freelancers and business owners are invited to a special event at B Bar, Cambridge starting from 5.30pm. It will be an opportunity to network, listen to a great guest speaker supported by panellists (speakers tbc) and hear about the membership benefits of the Professional Contractors Group who are sponsoring the event.

Worth a visit I think!

http://www.nationalfreelancersday.org.uk/cms/index.php

Daffodil Day Event Planned

2009-10-21T02:59:00.000-07:00

Sunday 25th October is daffodil day in Reach. It's been several months in the organising with the sourcing of bulbs and spring plants, raising of funds and cajoling of planting volunteers! Not to mention the all important cake contributions that are required to keep the workforce happy!

The good new is that it's raining again which will hopefully soften the soil so we can dig down to the 20cm or so that we need to!

Another event organised successfully! Will update after the event.

It goes without saying but 'I can't wait for spring!'

Letter in Joules Magazine

2009-10-01T03:29:00.000-07:00

I've been published!

Check out the Autumn 2009 Joules Magazine. Having been shortlisted from hundreds of applicants, our homemade 'Wig-loo' or should that be 'Twig-loo' has been included into their 'Pass It On' section on how to live the good life!

I think even Felicity Kendal would like one of these to escape to!

Will consider comissions in you think your little ones would like this environmentally friendly playhouse in their garden too!!

Christmas Network Event

2009-09-30T03:18:00.000-07:00

It is with much glee that I look forward to the next Cambridge Women's Networking Group get together. An opportunity for networking with Christmas nibbles and wine all for free. What more can you ask for?
Hoping to meet some more intersting local ladies!

See you all on the 16th December.

Recession Buster!

2009-07-20T05:18:00.000-07:00

In a market where most of your competitors are battening down the hatches and removing adverts, it makes sense that you up the ante so your business will be more exposed to the marketplace. The work is out there, you just have to do a little more about getting it to come to you.

Don't just be a survivor of the recession, be a thriver - someone who's making sure they really hit home their marketing message even more than ever.

You don't have to be better, just be different. Why not send out a postcard mailer, they're simple, noticeable and very cost effective. Multiple mailouts get you noticed and what better way than with an eye catching design and message. I handle everything from the design and print to the fulfillment of the mailing. Absolutely no hassle for you!

Call or email me to discuss ideas further.

Christmas is coming!

2009-07-08T12:50:00.000-07:00

Christmas is coming .... today I have just sold my first Christmas project, a luxury chocolate advent calendar. How nice to be working on a project with a long enough lead time and not just a few weeks to go before the delivery is required! More clients like this please.

New promotions out soon for other Christmas related goodies, parties and events that need managing.

If you're thinking about Christmas parties, Christmas cards, diaries please ask me soon, not at the end of November. Thanks!

How should design and marketing agencies market themselves?

2009-06-10T13:33:00.000-07:00

I've spoken to a couple of designers and agencies recently who are thinking about how best to re-do their website or marketing collateral.

All of them have the same concern about this one chance to get across what it is they do and how they do it.

Do we go super cool and risk putting off someone looking for a more standard site?
Do we go standard and corporate and risk looking boring?
Something else............

I don't know the answer of course. It's a tough call. But I found this site and think it's possibly my favourite approach so far...

Click here for the Boone Oakley page

Let me know what you think and of course if you need someone to help you with your site I'd be delighted to help.

Posting on Posterous

2009-06-09T14:03:00.000-07:00

I've set up my new Posterous account. It's very clever how it all works, nothing could be simpler. I've decided to use my account as a personal and non-work related showcase, but please take a look here

If you'd like to get into blogging, twittering, facebooking or any of the others available but feel you're just not up to this technology, or perhaps don't have the time, then Posterous is for you. Once it's set up, which in itself is easy to do, you simply email your account and if by magic, your post, or picture or movie appears and it looks fab!

If you'd like to know more about it, get in touch.

Tweet tweet

2009-05-15T14:43:00.000-07:00

I now Twitter too.

Follow me: http://twitter.com/jorichesltd

The Power Of Advertising

2009-05-11T03:17:00.000-07:00

What makes a good tv ad? Is it the product we like or would aspire to having or is it the way in which they advertise or showcase the product?? For me, the new Audi ad where they make a car out of a cardboard box pushes all the right buttons.

A fantastic product advertised by an ingenious cardboard engineer. It's amazing how step by step a somewhat boring piece of cardboard is transformed into a stylish and very sleek automobile. WOW I want one of those!!

What's your favourite tv ad and why?

'Wig-loo' or 'Ig-wam'

2009-04-20T01:07:00.000-07:00

Space management project for Easter Holidays! When two (little!) clients came to me with the question 'how to create that extra special outdoors room', I was surely going to be put to the test. But oh no, being resourceful and all always on the lookout for a freebie, I came up with an outstanding result! The clients were ultimately happy as well, so alls well that ends well.

The only dilema that we find ourselves left with is what to call it. Should it be a wig-loo or ig-wam, the former is the winning choice at the moment but there's still time for you to cast your vote.

Wig-loo or ig-wam it's your choice!! VOTE NOW PLEASE!

Great promotional gifts, or are they?

2009-04-14T03:03:00.000-07:00

I've just finished a project for a management consultancy, the brief was to supply a trendy postcard give away with a little something extra. The little something extra was a cute pack of jelly babies stapled to the postcard and guess who ended up with that job!

But hey they looked cool and if anyone goes to the exhibition in London next week and gets one let me know!

And this lead me to wondering, what is the coolest freebie or giveaway you've ever received? And do these gimmicks really make 'us' as an organisation more memorable and gain us more work?

The most interesting response to this post will receive a free gimmick of my own! Try me .....

Another 'magic' event a success

2009-04-07T14:04:00.000-07:00

Just finished working on a corporate event with a client. Re-introducing their presence into the marketplace with a little magic made for a fantastic event that all the delegates loved. I found a top magician to entertain and thrill and entertain throughout the day. Then a fantastic prize draw to the casino hotel in Monte Carlo to the winning delegate. How cool is that? The client loved it, another resounding success.

What's the coolest event you've ever been to and what made it so memorable?

Welcome to my blog... the idea!

2009-04-01T02:50:00.000-07:00

It was about time my blog was up and running. Over the coming weeks, I'll hopefully be keeping you all informed as to what I've been up to with Jo Riches Project Management.