Monday 26 September 2011

Better choice for customers as Tesco Compare and Tesco Bank work closer together



Tesco Bank and 
Tesco Compare work closer
Tesco Compare is pleased to be working with Tesco Bank to provide customers with even greater choice and transparency when they compare car insurance or home insurance quotes.

The new arrangement will give customers who have come to Tesco Bank for a car or home insurance quote the option to compare it against a wide range of providers through the price comparison site. Tesco Compare will also be able to provide further quote options for customers who the bank cannot cover due to their risk profile.

How does it work?

Within the Tesco Bank quote process, customers have the option to visit Tesco Compare at various stages when applying for car or home insurance. Importantly, they do not have to enter all their information on Tesco Compare; the system remembers their details, saving them time and hassle of starting the process from scratch.

Tesco Compare Commercial Director, Vikki Macleod, said: “We are delighted to be working with Tesco Bank so we can give customers more choice when searching for insurance. Both companies strive to do the best for customers. This co-operation demonstrates our transparency and determination to achieve a great deal for customers.”

Launched in 2007, Tesco Compare can find deals for customers from leading car and home insurance providers; it can also introduce people to many comparison services for products, including insurance, money, utilities and telecoms.

Tesco Compare intends this autumn to continue to help people search for deals so they could save money. In addition to comparing by price, customers can compare by features and benefits through the quick and simple comparison service.

Summing up, Vikki Macleod, said: “We are sure the new arrangement will embody the Tesco Bank spirit of treating customers fairly. During these tough financial times we appreciate that Every Little Helps can make a difference when finding deals on insurance and other financial products.”

Why not search to see if you could save money this autumn? Visit the Tesco Compare website

Sunday 25 September 2011

Countdown to Tangletree Interiors Design Event/11

Tangletree Loves Interiors
Tangletree Interiors will be hosting their first Design Event at their Newcastle Showroom. Each day from Friday 30th September till Thursday 6th October, guest speakers from the most supreme companies in Interior Design will be presenting, there will also be some very special in-store offers.

Friday 30th September from 2pm
Designers Guild
- This is an exclusive opportunity to meet with Designers Guild and view their new Autumn collections, followed by a Q&A session with drinks and canapés.

Monday 3rd October from 11am
Fionda Furnishing
- This is a fantastic opportunity to take part in a master-class with one of the North East's leading soft furnishings experts Nikki Fionda. Followed by a Q&A session with drinks and canapés.

Monday 3rd October from 4pm
Newcastle Furniture Company
- Exclusive presentation from Newcastle Furniture Company. Followed by a Q&A session with drinks and canapés.

Tuesday 4th October from 4pm
Osborne & Little
- Your chance to meet the people from O&L, receive design advice, plus be the first in the North East to see the new Autumn wallpaper and fabrics collections. Followed by a Q&A session with drinks and canapés.

Wednesday 5th October from 4pm
Cole & Son
- An insightful history behind the company, along with your chance to see their new Autumn 2011 collection which has just been showcased at the London Focus/11 at Chelsea Harbour. Followed by a Q&A session with drinks and canapés.

Thursday 6th October from 4pm
Farrow & Ball
- This is a North East first. Your chance to be part of the legendary F&B Colour Talk! Including an introduction to the brand and what makes it so special, and a chance to win £150 worth of F&B paint. Followed by a Q&A session with drinks and canapés.

Book your FREE place today. Spaces are limited, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Register your place/es online at -

http://www.tangletree-interiors.co.uk/designevent11

Call - Tangletree Design Event hotline FREEPHONE 0800 917 8726

E-mail - designevent@tangletree-interiors.co.uk

Tangletree Interiors Limited
21 Rutherford Street
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE4 5DP

Wednesday 21 September 2011

New study reveals confusing energy landscape for consumers


Energy providers are falling short of consumer expectations and keeping them in the dark over the benefits of smart meters.That's a new and worrying claim by a new report.

The UK’s energy providers are falling short in providing energy efficiency initiatives that meet consumer demands and failing to educate on the money-saving benefits of the smart meter rollout, according to a new study from Navetas Energy Management. The study also uncovered a confusing energy landscape for consumers, with the approaches to energy monitoring from energy providers varying widely, making it difficult for consumers to make informed choices when trying to reduce their energy consumption.

The report, ‘Time for smarter thinking’, available to download at www.navetas.com/corporate/pressreleases/energyaudit, follows research from Navetas that showed 96% of British adults are concerned about energy prices and 88% want to better understand how they are using energy and would value information at an appliance level.

Against this backdrop, and with the government’s rollout of 53m smart meters looming, the Navetas report studied ten UK energy providers, including the “Big Six”. Through email communication, telephone calls and website reviews, it looked at whether energy providers are meeting consumer demand for energy efficiency initiatives and doing enough to convince consumers of the benefits of the smart meter rollout.

Energy efficiency initiatives

Energy saving is a key message for energy providers, but the products and services offered varied widely. At the time of the study, British Gas and Southern Electric were promoting energy efficiency prominently, while EDF Energy, E.ON and Scottish Power focused on fixed pricing deals, and npower on services such as boiler care.

Smaller companies Good Energy and Ecotricity looked to appeal to customers by focusing on renewable energy, while new entrant Co-operative Energy highlighted pricing promotions – putting them in direct competition with the bigger players in the market.

With 88% of consumers saying they would value energy monitoring at an appliance level, the study also looked at the energy monitors on offer. Only 50% of energy providers assessed provide an energy monitoring device and these varied considerably, with some requiring plugs, some with in-home displays, others online displays, some monitoring at appliance level and others only providing top-line energy data.

Smart meters

Overall, energy providers are providing some information on the government’s smart meter rollout, but offering little evidence of tangible benefits that will help consumers. British Gas was the only energy provider to put a figure against the savings that smart meters could give consumers, of 10%.

Calls to customer service teams painted a particularly worrying picture, with many agents not knowing when the rollout of smart meters will start or whether consumers would be charged. Only agents from British Gas, E.ON and Scottish Power were clear that the consumer would not have to pay for their smart meter and few could cite the key benefits of smart meters outside of accurate billing and automatic meter readings. One customer service agent from a Big Six utility even stated: “it’s all a bit sketchy at the moment”.

Chris Saunders, CEO at Navetas Energy Management, comments: “The UK energy industry is entering a challenging phase, with strict carbon reduction targets, implementation of the smart grid and an £11.7bn smart meter rollout. But for the consumer, saving money is the key concern and energy providers have a lot to do to rebuild their trust following recent high price rises.

“The smart meter rollout is an initiative that will impact every household in the UK and it offers the opportunity for energy providers to deliver customers the services, cost savings and added value they want. .The smart meter rollout can be a win-win for both energy providers and energy users, but smart meters need to be smarter.

“Energy providers need to transform these devices from simple displays for consumers, to intelligent energy measurement and management systems in the home that will engage consumers and help them save energy. It’s time for energy providers to find new coherent and purpose-driven ways of motivating and engaging consumers in their bids to become energy efficient.”

Navetas has developed unique energy disaggregation technology that can accurately measure energy consumption at an appliance-level, from a single point in the home, without the need for additional sensors. The technology is currently being trialed with some of the UK’s leading energy providers.

The full Navetas report, ‘An audit of UK energy providers’, can be downloaded now at www.navetas.com/corporate/pressreleases/energyaudit.

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Sunday 18 September 2011

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Thursday 8 September 2011

Top Hungarian Interior Design House, Lima Europe, Launches in the UK

Domestic and commercial interior designers, Zoltán Madosfalvi and Alíz Ördög, behind award winning design house, Lima Europe, are now bringing their customised services to clients in the UK following the opening of their London office.

After working for 19 years between them across the design, architectural and construction industries, Zoltán and Alíz created Lima in 2007 so together they could offer a holistic service, including consultation, project management, construction and manufacturing.

A specialist in developing creative concepts from large family homes to city apartments, multi-national hotels to reception areas, Alíz also has the freedom to design bespoke furniture and work with unconventional materials thanks to Lima’s fabrication facility in Hungary. Zoltán particularly likes to work on projects that require an element of renovation so he can creatively and effectively bring together a range of modern techniques and materials that suit the needs of the client.

Already famed for high profile projects across mainland Europe, such as re-designing five Arteus Capital offices across four countries and the palatial home of Hungary’s Turkish ambassador, it was important for Zoltán and Alíz expand further into Western Europe and in particular to reach out to the UK market.

Zoltán Madosfalvi , managing director and co-founder of Lima Europe, explained: “London is a very important city when it comes to innovative architecture and imaginative interior design so we couldn’t resist bringing our European design influences, environmental building products and Lima’s fully customised way of working to the UK. Already, we have fully redesigned and completed CT Dent’s dental scanning surgery off Harley Street and are currently undertaking an extension, loft conversion as well the full design for a home in Clapham Common.

“We’ve hit the ground running in London but both Alíz and I cannot wait to get started on even more UK based projects; all of us at Lima want to meet every practical requirement whilst combining style preferences to create very personal and beautiful concepts.”

Lima is particularly passionate about using eco products and environmentally sound methods; it is the only licensed UK supplier of ProKoncept, a polystyrene formwork construction system that has an inner and outer layer of insulation.

Zoltán continued: “As an architect and construction professional, as well as an interior designer and project manager, I am very excited about bringing the environmentally friendly ProKoncept building system to people in Britain because it’s an innovative, durable and cost effective material. From an office extension to a luxury home, ProKoncept is an outstanding piece of eco technology to use.”

If you are searching for the right UK interior designers for your home or business, please visit www.limaeurope.co.uk or telephone 0207 884 0504 - Lima’s London interior designers are on hand to discuss your needs and arrange an initial consultation.

Sunday 4 September 2011

Exclusive New Products Unveiled at UK Oak Doors

UK Oak Doors (www.ukoakdoors.co.uk) are delighted to announce a selection of brand new products that have been added to the existing portfolio of solid oak doors.

New products include a traditional style 1930s oak door and a 'shaker style' 5 panel oak door. The 1930s style door features a large flat panel in the top section with 3 vertical panels underneath, hence they are sometimes referred to as '1 over 3' doors.

This style of door is found in many 1930s homes up and down the country and is popular with those looking to maintain the period features of their property. The flat panels are removable so if you're looking to add light to an area of your property then you can try swapping the panels for glazing.

Another new addition is the shaker style 5 panel door. The shaker style has been around for years and is used in many homes regardless of era. There are no raised mouldings in these doors, just simple, clean flat panelling. The five panel door is contemporary in design, yet strong, sturdy and exceptionally durable.

Traditional construction methods are used in both of these doors with mortise and tenon joints and 35mm thick solid European oak. These oak doors are made from PEFC certified sustainable wood; helping the forests and keeping your conscience clear.

You might expect that you'd have to pay over the odds for solid oak doors, but not when you shop with UK Oak Doors. Their doors are competitively priced, offering a superior product at great value for money.

UK Oak Doors cater for traditional and contemporary home styles (and everything in between), and continually strive to add high quality new products to the existing lines and firm favourites - all at the same quality their customers have come to expect from them.