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The BallKaddie - the unique golf ball dispenser
BallKaddie, the unique device which allows golfers to carry and access their balls at the touch of a fingertip, is receiving international acclaim.
This ingenious device, which was launched at the London Golf Show earlier this year, was also enthusiastically received at the Munich Golf Show in September.
Aphrodite Hills Resort, one of the Mediterranean’s most prestigious golf and leisure resorts, has been quick to realise BallKaddie’s potential. This award-winning sports complex, which is located near Paphos, on the Southern coast of Cyprus, has chosen BallKaddie as a branded gift for its discerning visitors. Stocks of BallKaddie are also available for sale in the resort’s Pro Shop.
Aphrodite Hills logo
Andreas Vasiliou, Aphrodite Hills Resort’s UK based director commented, “BallKaddie is proving to be the ideal corporate gift. It is a top quality, affordable product, and that’s important to us. As well as helping us promote the Aphrodite brand, it’s something practical our guests will be able to use for years to come. The level of sales in our Pro Shop is clearly demonstrating that BallKaddie is well on its way to becoming an essential golfing accessory for golfers of all abilities.”
Since its launch in April 2009, there has been a great deal of media interest in the BallKaddie. It has been featured on Sky Sports channels 1, 2 and 3. BBC Radio Sussex and Surrey hailed it as “brilliant”. Further information on media coverage of BallKaddie can be found at http://www.ballkaddie.com/press.htm.
Tony Read, inventor and Managing Director of BallKaddie Ltd said, “Golfers across Europe have embraced the BallKaddie concept. We’re now getting ready for the North American launch in January 2010. Because golf tournaments are such popular corporate sporting events, we’re getting a large number of enquiries from companies and organisations looking for branded gifts. Having only launched BallKaddie in Europe a few months ago, we’re delighted to see it is already a success at such a prestigious golfing venue as Aphrodite Hills.”
The BallKaddie is available to buy online at http://www.ballkaddie.com, priced at £12.49 + post and packaging. Corporate or wholesale enquiries, including bespoke branding, can be sent by email.
-ends-
Notes to Editors
BallKaddie is the invention of British businessman, Tony Read, himself a keen golfer. The concept was originally part of a radical new golf bag design. When the golf ball dispenser attracted a great deal of interest at the PGA Merchandise Show, it was decided to develop BallKaddie as a stand-alone product.
Today BallKaddie Ltd is part of the Business Car Contracts Group, headed by Managing Director, Tony Read. World-wide patents are pending.
For more information, please contact:
Tony Read, Managing Director, BallKaddie Ltd
Tel: from UK :0871 200 2417
Non-UK: 0044 1444 471000
Email: sales@ballkaddie.com
Website: http://www.ballkaddie.com
Raising money for charity with Gold Parties
With the huge surge in the price of gold during 2009, many charity fundraisers are cashing in on this lucrative market by organising ‘Gold Parties’ and ‘Pot of Gold’ appeals.
North London-based gold traders, YourGoldParty Ltd (http://www.yourgoldparty.co.uk) is seeing a substantial increase in the number of charities taking advantage of this simple fundraising concept.
Gold Parties work in a similar way to Tupperware or Ann Summers parties, with one significant difference. The guests at the parties go away with money in their pockets rather than being asked to spend it. When organised as a charity fundraiser, the benefiting good cause is paid 10% commission on the total amount of all the gold bought at the event. In addition, a referral commission is also paid if additional parties are booked as a result.
Many enterprising fundraisers are taking the opportunity to host gold parties as part of ‘double-fundraisers’. These events include ‘pamper days’ and clothes and accessory sales. The guests sell their gold for cash and go on to spend some of their gains on beauty treatments or new clothes.
As well as organising gold parties, charities are cashing in on the high gold prices by organising ‘Pot of Gold’ appeals. Most people have broken earrings, cufflinks or chains lying about, which they don’t know what to do with. While it isn’t worth the time and effort for an individual to sell an odd earring, by organising collections, charities can reap the benefits of the high gold prices.
Using gold as a fundraiser is becoming popular with local fundraising committees, and individuals who are undertaking charity treks. Oxfordshire’s Deb Hunt (http://www.twin-peaks.co.uk), one of a team of four women trekking up Kilimanjaro in September 2010 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer comments, “The gold party was a fantastic fundraiser for our appeal. It was absolutely minimal effort with a high gain, and that’s without the ongoing referral commission.”
YourGoldParty MD Howard Levy says, “The charity sector is embracing the idea of gold parties and gold appeals. With the high price of gold, there is a lot of money to be made. It’s another form of recycling … a bit like raising money from toner cartridges or the old milk bottle tops … except it is considerably more lucrative. We’re expecting a huge demand before and after the Christmas period. It’s a time when people want more cash in their pockets, especially in a recession, and charities are making the most of it.”
Charity fundraisers who would like to know more about organising gold parties or Pot of Gold appeals can contact Howard Levy on 0800 112 3185 or by email at info@yourgoldparty.co.uk.
Notes to Editors
Based in North London, YourGoldParty is an gold trader with more than 20 years’ experience. The company helps set up gold parties across England for both private individuals and charities.
The company buys gold at parties and can arrange private buying appointments for charities operating gold appeals.
For more information, please contact:
Howard Levy
Managing Director of YourGoldParty
Tel: 07973 348547
Email: info@yourgoldparty.co.uk
http://www.yourgoldparty.co.uk
I read an interesting blog this morning entitled ‘Customer service key to Christmas’. It was music to my ears! Is good service more important than discounted prices? Yes – every time. Of course we all like to get a bargain, but if a lower price means the level of service is compromised, it’s not a good deal. In my opinion, communication is the key to great customer service. What’s more, it doesn’t cost a lot in terms of time or money, but the rewards are huge.
As the executor of a will, I’ve recently had dealings with a fairly large firm of solicitors. If you were to look at this company’s website and listen to the recorded phone messages, you’d probably be delighted to hear that I, as a client, am the most important person in the world. At least that’s the theory … until it comes to communicating with me, that is. My emails have gone unanswered and phone calls unreturned. Eventually I couldn’t take any more and I made a complaint. After a couple of letters, the gist of the senior partner’s reply was … ‘it wasn’t their policy to communicate because it cost too much money!’
How many small businesses can afford to take that sort of attitude? WORD-right certainly can’t. Will I be recommending that firm of solicitors to anyone? Not in a million years! Will I be telling everyone about the poor service? Of course I will!
It doesn’t take too much imagination to work out that, if your client, customer or prospect sends an enquiry, it’s because they need information … ignore it at your peril. If you don’t respond and at least try to provide the answers, they’ll pretty soon find someone who will. And that someone might just be your competitor.
Imagine this scenario … you’ve just walked into a restaurant or a café. You find a table and sit down. If, after 15 minutes nobody has acknowledged your presence, let alone given you a menu or taken a drinks order, what will you do? It’s likely you’ll make a fuss or walk out, and you’ll tell everyone who’ll listen about the appalling service.
On the other hand, providing you’re welcomed with a smile … told they are very busy so there might be a delay in fulfilling your order … you’ll sit there quite happily. In fact, if they keep communicating with you and perhaps offer you a complimentary glass or two of wine, there’s a good chance you’ll wait for hours and still rave about the service!
Communication doesn’t cost a lot. If you haven’t got time to answer that email in depth, at least acknowledge it. Send a reply saying you’ll answer fully after lunch or the next day … and be sure you do! If you’ve promised to phone someone back at a given time, make that call. If you haven’t yet got the information they want, at least phone and tell them so. That way, you’ve fulfilled your promise, the client knows they are not forgotten, and you’ve bought yourself some time. Apart from being good practice, it’s just common courtesy.
And finally, if you have got it wrong and someone complains, hold your hand up … admit you’ve got it wrong and do something to put it right. Good communication skills will help you win new business, increase your professional standing, and most importantly … keep your existing clients and customers coming back for more.
Blog post by Joy McCarthy
WORD-right Copywriter's Blog 
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