Jim Ward: Body Jewelry Goes Mainstream
The granddaddy of the modern body piercing movement is Jim Ward. Looks like an average looking guy, right? He started doing body piercing in his home in the 70’s. Now? Get this: Body piercing and body jewelry has grown to $1 billion industry in the US. But don’t think that body piercings and body jewelry are a new trend. It’s actually an ancient practice. How ancient? The first known piercing dates back over 5,000 years when “The Ice Man” was found in the Italian Alps in 1991. What was pierced? His ears.Piercings can show off social standing, sexual status, superstition, or just because it looks great. Who else did piercings…
Read MoreSMEs need to start SEPA preparations now – Perry
Irish SMEs need to start their Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) preparations now to ensure they’re compliant before the 1 February 2014 deadline, Minister for Small Business, John Perry TD, said today. He was speaking following a presentation to the Advisory Group for Small Business on the implications for businesses if they are not SEPA compliant by that date. SEPA is an initiative within a 32-country European zone, which will mean a common way of processing electronic credit transfers, payments and direct debits. It will change the way euro electronic payments are processed across Europe. It will mean that businesses can make and receive payments seamlessly, collect a direct debit…
Read MoreProvidence sponsoring Irish sailing team in the run up to Rio 2016
The Irish Sailing Association has announced today that Providence Resources plc is to sponsor the Irish sailing team for the run up to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. This sponsorship follows a six month deal in 2012, which provided the team with additional resources in preparation for the London Games. The Irish sailing team will be named Providence Team IRL for the period and joint branding will be rolled out over the coming weeks. “Providence Resources were so proud of the Irish sailing team at the Games in 2012 and we know they can achieve so much more,” said Providence chief executive Tony O’Reilly. “We want…
Read MoreElectric Ireland using Instagram in festival marketing activity
Electric Ireland is using Instagram Video to create “a virtual dance-off with a social twist” as part of its sponsorship of Electric Picnic, which is now in its fifth year. Using the platform for video sharing, the ‘Electric Ireland Dancergy Competition’ gives festival goers the chance to showcase their dance moves to be in with the chance to win tickets to Electric Picnic. Its running from 11 to 16 August and 30 tickets are up for grabs. Entrants have to follow three steps: sign up using Instagram, make a video of them dancing and then tag it and submit it online with a hashtag. “At Electric Ireland we are constantly evolving…
Read MoreInsolvencies 17pc lower in first half – Vison-net
So far this year, 182 companies in Ireland have been declared insolvent, which is 17pc lower than the same period last year, according to business and credit risk analyst Vision-net. Of the 812 insolvent companies, 559 were liquidated, 243 entered receivership, and an examiner was appointed to ten. Dublin accounted for most insolvencies (41pc), followed by Cork with 12pc, and Kildare with 5pc. Kilkenny, Carlow, Cavan, Leitrim, Roscommon, Laois, Sligo and Longford all recorded company insolvency rates of less than 1pc. The professional services sector accounted for 18pc of insolvencies so far this year, followed by construction with 17pc, wholesale and retail with 14pc, real estate with 13pc, and manufacturing…
Read MoreAOL creating 40 software engineering jobs in Dublin
AOL Ireland said today that it is planning to create 40 new software engineering roles over the next 12 months at its Dublin Development Centre. The 40 new positions are within AOL Networks, a team that is leading the delivery of AOL’s programmatic advertising solutions for brands and publishers globally. AOL Networks brands include Adtech, Advertising.com, The AOL On Network, Be On and Pictela. The open roles include junior and senior positions. Candidates, who need industry experience, will work with programming languages such as Java, Erlang and C++. “AOL is a globally recognised brand and the choice of Dublin for these roles is a vote of confidence in the quality…
Read MoreStarbucks pays up £5m in UK corporation tax
Starbucks has made its first corporation tax payment in the UK since 2009, handing over £5m to HM Revenue and Customs. While the coffee chain has maintained that its UK business is running at a loss because of high rental rates, it said this weekend that it had listened to its customers and would be making a further payment of £5m this year. “Six months ago, we felt that our customers should not have to wait for us to become profitable before we started paying UK corporation tax,” said the company in a statement. “We listened to our customers in December and so decided to forgo certain deductions which would…
Read MoreVodafone to buy Kabel Deutschland for €7.7bn
Vodafone has announced its intention to buy Kabel Deutschland for €87 per share, giving the German triple play cable provider’s entire share capital a value of €7.7bn (£6.6bn). Vodafone said the transaction will be implemented as a voluntary public tender offer by its wholly-owned subsidiary Vodafone Vierte Verwaltungsgesellschaft for €84.50 per share in cash plus the payment of the €2.50 dividend announced by Kabel Deutschland on 20 February 2013. Subject to their review of the formal offer document, Kabel Deutschland’s management and supervisory boards intend to recommend shareholders accept the offer. Following completion of the transaction, Vodafone will have 32.4 million mobile, 5 million broadband and 7.6 million direct TV…
Read MoreNearly half of consumers are “socially conscious” – Nielsen
Consumer Willingness to Pay Extra for Socially-Responsible Companies Nearly half of global consumers (46pc) are willing to pay extra for products and services from companies that have implemented programmes to give back to society, according to a new study from Nielsen. Resonance of Corporate Social Responsibility Efforts Sixty-three percent of these individuals, which the company defines as “socially-conscious consumers”, are under age 40, they consult social media when making purchase decisions and are most concerned about environmental, educational and hunger causes. “It’s clear that corporate social responsibility efforts resonate with a specific group of consumers,” said Nic Covey, vice president of Nielsen Cares, Nielsen’s global corporate social responsibility programme. “Marketers…
Read More‘Sligo – Who Knew?’ taps into social media in a novel way
A new €170k marketing campaign called ‘Sligo – Who Knew?’ is urging people to share their experiences of the county through social media. Through various online social channels – including Instagram, Facebook and Twitter – it asks locals and visitors alike to share their take on hidden gems, share snapshots and insider tips, using the hashtag #SligoWhoKnew?. Those tips, videos and unique experiences will then be featured on the campaign website whoknew.sligotourism.ie. As well as social media the marketing drive encompasses PR, print, radio and television. The campaign is targeting the weekend getaway, activity holidays and family breaks’ markets looking for unique and diverse experiences.The work is driven by research…
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