Another speaker is the conference sponsor,  Simon Glanville from Store in Chester whose online website of useful storage and organising items is called A Place for Everything.  I’ve bought various items for clients from Simon’s store for a while  now and most recently bought some crystal shoe boxes, and drawer organisers for a client after we had weeded her wardrobe and saw what items would help her keep everything in order.

On this particular occasion I’ve been asked to talk about being more organised in business with lots of hints and tips for the audience. I’ve called my talk  ”Planning, your route to success”
I’ve also been asked to take along some copies of my organising manual ” My Life Pack … Your Life at Your Fingertips® “  to show to APDO UK members and guests.

I do speak at all sorts of other events on a range of topics  on subject of professional organising and decluttering.  Popular topics include “Tales of the Unexpected” -  which includes hints and tips for decluttering , “Time Flies” which includes organising tips and time management tips for you at home. So if you are looking for a speaker in the Manchester and Cheshire area on the topic of decluttering and organising do get in touch.

Short of time

Diane, Busy Mum “It saves me such a lot of time managing our daily life – juggling work, home, the children’s activities and our pets. I’ve found it so useful I’ve now bought some copies as gifts for friends.”

Stressed …. can’t find information quickly
Disorganised

Eric, Business owner and family man “It’s like a sat nav for my life”

Declutter your life

Nigel, Entrepreneur “I love my gadgets but I had information kept on so many of them plus some of it was paperwork and some in the cloud. My Life Pack is a great product and I now certainly do have my life at my fingertips”

Get your affairs in order

Angela, single person, moving home ” It’s fantastic and has been so helpful for me organising my move and sorting out my finances. It would be a great gift for anyone setting up their first home too.”

Peace of Mind
Look after your loved ones

Beryl, OAP “I bought it because I wanted to get all my information together so it’s easier for my family to sort things out for me as I get older. In the meantime I know I’ve got everything in one place – so helpful especially as my memory isn’t what it used to be”

Looking for the perfect gift?

My Life Pack makes a lovely and thoughtful gift for all occasions – Christmas or birthdays/ anniversaries. As a wedding present or for someone who has moved house or had a baby or as a gift for a client.

Jen, Working mum ” I’ve bought one as a xmas present and another as a baby shower gift for a friend “

My Life Pack  …. giving the gift of time & getting you organised for life. My Life Pack is available online and from selected distributors anmd you can read more testimonials here.

Enquiries or for information on becoming a distributor : louise@mylifepack.co.uk 0161 456 8009

I now had to complete my awards entry. The EVAS2012 organisers had made the process easier by providing a framework. They wanted to know the inspiration behind the business creation; achievements and challenges to date; future plans and the drive and passion behind the business. They allowed a set number of words to answer the above within the following sections:

• Business Description
• How Business Started
• Future Plans
• About Me
• Why should I win?

We were also requested to submit a photo and one supporting document. I chose a photo of me receiving my Small Business Sunday Award from entrepreneur and Dragon’s Den judge, Theo Paphitis. Also I had been interviewed on BBC News 24 in May 2012 talking about the challenges of setting up a business over 50. I though the photo might intrigue them and the video fitted the judging criteria well.

A few days after the deadline had passed I received a telephone call from the EVAS2012 organisers – I was on the shortlist for New Business of the Year!  Well that was a call that made my day – I was through to the next round!  Family, friends and business contacts were delighted for me too.

The next round was a trip to Blackpool to do a 5 minutes presentation to a panel of judges followed by a Q and A session – like Dragon’s Den but a lot friendlier and an adjudicator was present to ensure every business was asked the same questions and had the same amount of time.

I found it a really positive, affirming experience where I was asked to share my background, present activities and future plans. It is very powerful to tell other people, strangers indeed, what you plan to do. It makes it seem more real than “it’s just my plans” and in some respect you feel much more accountable having spoken about your intentions in public.  I am proud to say that I am one of the 6 finalists in New Business of the Year.

All finalists have been sent a lovely logo in recognition of their achievements by EVAS2012

The final round is a public voting round and finalists are listed alphabetically by first name.

Thank you for the whole experience to the Pink Link Ladies Network, Rae Stephenson and Coral Horn, for creating and organising the EVAs  and thank you to the interviewers, the adjudicator, the sponsors and finally to those anonymous admirers who nominated me in the first place.

Twitter is busy with EVA2012 fever and great support between the finalists across all the categories. I have been on BBC Radio Manchester too and in the local and regional press. It’s lovely to have something positive to talk about and great to find the local community is right there behind me.

What have I learnt from entering my first business award?

• It makes  someone’s day if you nominate them for an award if you are impressed by what they have achieved.
• Treat awards seriously and use all the resources you have to enter; celebrating your success in business – large and small.
• Win  or lose being chosen as a Finalist is a major achievement and can attract publicity.

So good luck to all those businesses chosen as finalists in EVAS2012. We will all get to meet at the Awards evening on 14 September 2012. If you haven’t voted already then you can cast your vote here

The next stage  in the process is in a few weeks time.
All the finalists make a 5 minute presentation  to the judges panel
followed by a question and answer session.
Then it’s a nail biting wait until  the winners are announced at a
gala dinner in September.

Here is a section from the E.V.A. website about the award we have
been shortlisted for:-

New Business of the Year is open to any sized business that has been trading up to three years. Regardless of employees we are looking for a New Business that has launched within the last three years and flourished despite the economic downturn. If your business achievements are impressive then this award is for you

The judges will be looking for information around the following aspects:

• The inspiration behind the business creation
• Achievements and challenges to date
• Future plans
• The drive and passion behind the business

Wish us and all the other entrants luck!
Whatever the outcome it lovely to find that all our hard work and acheivements over the past
2 years are acknowlededged. It’s made our day and our clients are delighted for us also.

As a concierge and lifestyle management service  we assist private clients of all ages as well as
businesses with professional organising and practical help using in house expertise or trusted,
vetted tradesmen and professional associates. Where we have acted as clutter consultants ( we
are members of APDOuk ) with clients at home or in business we have helped them make more
of their resources – space, time and money. So essentially we provide the gift of time to our
clients  – by doing the things they have to do whilst they do the things they want to do.

From providing a range of solutions for our private and business clients and from reading and
research  it would appear that time is something that everyone would like more of. People have
such busy lives,  juggling work and home commitments – there never seems to be enough time
to do everything required in a day.  They may have children and pets to look after and all the
organisation and paperwork that that seems to bring. With an aging population others are
finding that they also have responsiblity or need to assist their elderly relatives with their admin,
finances and general paperwork. They face life events such as moving house, getting married,
dealing with probate, changing finances.

So we got to thinking  - what if we could help more people save time?
How?  By helping them to have their life at their fingertips!

So coming soon to a place near you   …….. drumroll  ………

If you would like to receive more information about this new product when it is launched please send an email to louise@silverconcierge.co.uk

We will send you an update in due course giving you more information about the product.
My Life Pack saves you time and stress by having your life at your fingertips.
Just where you need it!
.

Would the weather be as good in 2012? Silver Concierge includes companionship services within the wide variety of practical assistance we offer and this Tuesday we were out and about with one of our clients who wanted company whilst they visited Cheshire Show …ReadMore

Louise spotted a media request on twitter and following a telephone interview was invited to go into the new BBC studios at Media City to talk about her experience of being made redundant and setting up her own business in a recession…Read More

As a concierge company we have built up a list of reliable and excellent suppliers that are very useful for our clients. One of our contacts, Richard and his team have developed a fantastic reputation for fast, friendly, efficient but above all professional work throughout the Manchester and Cheshire area. The service covers domestic and commercial properties from shops right through to prestigious homes. Windows can also be cleaned for apartment buildings or premises up to 5 floors…Read More

It can be hard going through your own clutter but you feel a sense of freedom when the clothes are hung neatly together or the shelves, cupboards or your office are all tidy and you know that you will use the items you have kept and those that are going will be useful to others. Such a time saver having things that you need easily to hand. This article which appeared in the Daily Express – “Wave goodbye to bad clutter habits forever” includes useful tips on decluttering…ReadMore

We have been busy behind the scenes planning  and developing a new look for our website and content.

As we, together with our trusted vetted suppliers and connections can provide such a wide range of services to make your life easier; we have started to add some case studies so you can read practical examples of how we assist our clients. More case studies will be added over time and over the range of our services.

Please bear with us whilst we adjust how some of the content  is displayed ( specifically the news/ blog and testimonial pages. )  but please feel free to contact us with your feedback on our new site.