Thursday, November 29, 2018

Throwback to party night…20 years ago this week!

We love a good party here at Coinadrink, so when I saw that we hosted one 20 years ago this week I just had to share such a fantastic throwback. 28th November 1998 was the date and the National Motor Cycle Museum in Birmingham was the venue, and it goes without saying that we once again managed to turn the party into a very successful charity event!

Check out our press release from 1998…

We managed to meet our £2500 target for the evening, to which all proceeds went to the National Institute of Conductive Education, first opened in 1995 in Moseley (it’s still open today!). Conductive Education is an education system for adults and children with motor disorders, to which individuals are given the skills

and motivation to overcome such challenges. Such disorders can be the result of disease or damage to the central nervous system, resulting in conditions such as strokes and Parkinson’s disease. The Conductive Education restores some purpose and pride, and motivates individuals to achieve more.

Each place at the National Institute was subsidised by the foundation up to £5000, so we were delighted to help out.

It was a great night and the throwback proves once again that Coinadrink certainly know how to throw a party. The Drifters were the main source of entertainment, featuring the legendary Johnny Moore and DJ Paul Burrell from BRMB.

 

The post Throwback to party night…20 years ago this week! appeared first on Coinadrink.



source https://coin-a-drink.co.uk/throwback-party-night-1998

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Charity update: Just Small Change – What is Table Banking?

Just Small Change is a microfinance charity that Coinadrink has been supporting for a while. Peter and Jane Donaghue are friends of ours and we are delighted to help make a difference in some of the poorest parts of the world. We were delighted to receive an update from Peter and Jane last week regarding the organisations’ progress, including the introduction of ‘table banking’…

What is Table Banking?

Women are often left out and unable to access loans from traditional banks, so table banking works to make things easier. It is a group based funding system that sees members pay in weekly amounts for others to borrow as and when they need it. The minimum amount they can donate is set by the group, so the members’ income can be factored in beforehand.

Every week there is a discussion into who owes what and how much money people can look into borrowing. A clear business plan must be displayed prior to borrowing any funds and the loans can either be repaid in the short term or long term. On a short term basis, the interest rate is 10%, whilst on long term it is set to 1%. Group guarantee means that members act as guarantors for each loan taken out. If one defaults then the other members cannot access finance, so it acts as motivation to keep up the repayments.

Table banking has countless benefits. As it is group owned, members gain a sense of pride that wouldn’t be available from a traditional bank, and all repayments go back into the groups’ kitty. The close interaction with members creates knowledge and skills needed to successfully invest, whilst it’s also a very convenient way to bank due to being close to where they live.

With the help of table banking, many women’s fortunes have been boosted.

Quinter.

Quinter has benefitted from Table Banking.

Quinter is a widow who took out a loan of 10,000ksh (£77), though in tragic circumstances she lost her 7 year old son to a nasty snake bite and had to pay for the funeral. Quinter was still able to repay the loan, but in doing so she would struggle to make ends meet.

Just Small Change were in discussions to allow Quinter some extra grace period, and she has used the loan to purchase a cooking bowl. She cooks maize and beans every night and sells them the following morning for 10ksh (0.08p) by the cone.

She makes around 11,000ksh (£84.61) a week and together with reduced living costs, she is now able to start an additional business with her savings – a second hand clothing store.

Alice.

Alice has always sold chapatti for a living, though upon receiving a loan of 10,000ksh she has managed to purchase extra meal bowls and stock. By adding bean stew to her sales, Alice is now selling more chapatti, too.

She makes an average profit of 600ksh (£4.62) every morning, which she uses to buy fruit and vegetables to then sell on her market in the evening. This brings in a further 150ksh (£1.50) profit.

Alice spends her additional income on supporting her children with food and better quality living arrangements and transport to and from school. At some point in the future, Alice wants to open her own kiosk with her savings.

Susan.

Susan saves 100-200ksh in the table banking scheme.

Susan is 28 and has three children of her own. She also has three siblings who also live with her. She borrowed 10,000ksh in March 2018 and now has only 2,500ksh outstanding.

Susan sells soap and disinfectant. The loan has helped her to bulk buy 20 litre drums of disinfectant to sell in 250ml and 500ml bottles, which has helped her profit margins rise to 3500ksh (£27) per week.

Susan spends her extra income on household expenses and clothes for her children, as well as school fees. She saves 100-200ksh (77p-£1.54) in the table banking and she is soon looking to expand her stock on the stall.

Clarice.

A widow aged 65, Clarice has 7 dependants. This includes the four children of her son who died in the AIDS epidemic. The 10,000ksh loan has helped Clarice to add stock to her to stall selling onions and tomatoes.

Having paid off this loan she then borrowed 20,000ksh (£154) and also managed to inherit some land by Lake Victoria. She used 8000ksh of this loan to purchase two goats and two sheep and plans to breed animals to sell.

After making a profit off her vegetable sales, Clarice has created an additional livelihood by employing someone to tend her land. All of her other money is spent on her children. She has also saved money in the table banking group.

Ruth.

Ruth is another person who has benefitted from the help of Just Small Change and table banking.

Ruth’s husband has been sick for 13 years so she is the sole provider for her family of 5 children. Her 10,000ksh loan has already been repaid, which was used to start raising ducks and selling the ducklings for 500-700ksh.

After having 49 birds in her flock, Ruth was able to take out an additional loan of 20,000ksh which she has used to diversify into bricks. The loan was used to purchase clay, a wheel barrow and a spade.

Ruth makes the bricks at home, for homebuilders to come and pick them up. The bricks sell at 15ksh each, enabling Ruth to make a profit of 10,000ksh every year. This has improved her living standards.

 

 

 

We’re delighted to again see steady success within the organisation and are thrilled to help!

The post Charity update: Just Small Change – What is Table Banking? appeared first on Coinadrink.



source https://coin-a-drink.co.uk/table-banking

Friday, November 23, 2018

Express Refreshments brings charity to Black Friday 2018!

Black Friday. You can’t fail to have noticed the shopping phenomenon that consumes the Nation every year. And now we’ve decided to get on board with Black Friday ourselves in the most charitable way possible. We have committed to donate 10p from each sale made in our Micro Markets, to a charity that has been nominated by each customer.

Express Refreshments has been making a difference to the wellbeing of workforces for a while, and it will now also make a difference to a wide range of charities that do some truly excellent work. The programme will begin today, Friday 23rd November, and run for 7 days until next Friday 30th. It is the first time our Express Refreshments division has got on board with Black Friday and we’re confident of it being a success.

Each customer has been made aware of the programme and are delighted to take part. We are thrilled to share their chosen charities with you below:

GENESIS CENTRE: Douglas Macmillan.

Douglas Macmillan aim to provide an excellent level of care to people approaching end of life. The hospice operates around the clock 365 days a year and they care for over 3000 patients with life-limiting illnesses every year in and around North Staffordshire. These include cancer, motor neurone disease and incurable lung diseases.

LONESTAR FASTENERS: To be confirmed.

Everybody at Lonestar are going to hold a vote as to which charity they wish to donate to. We’re looking forward to hearing who they have chosen!

SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS: Focus and James Hopkins Trust.

Focus is the charitable fund for the Gloucestershire Oncology Centre, who directly provide extra care, specialist equipment and improvements to facilities for local cancer patients. Their work in Gloucestershire and the surrounding counties reaches a population of over 1 million people!

James Hopkins Trust provide care and support for babies and children up to the age of 5 who have a life limiting or life threatening condition whilst also providing support for their families. James Hopkins Trust has supported over 500 children and their families since the organisation was founded in 1989.

SHAYLOR GROUP PLC: The Shaylor Foundation.

The Shaylor Foundation provides the freedom to support a wide range of charities throughout the UK. The foundation has helped raise thousands of pounds for dedicated organisations and they are committed to inspiring young people to build careers they can be proud of.

WHITTLE JONES (KEYS BUSINESS VILLAGE): NASS (National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society)

NASS supports patients who suffer with Ankylosing Spondylitis, a rare condition that causes fusion of the spine. The charity has branches up and down the country where they fundraise, support and exercise together. The organisation is especially special to Whittle Jones as their Centre Manager also suffers with the condition.

We’re happy that we are putting a different twist on Black Friday 2018 and we’ll be sure to let you know how much money has been raised for each charity in due course!

The post Express Refreshments brings charity to Black Friday 2018! appeared first on Coinadrink.



source https://coin-a-drink.co.uk/Black-Friday-2018

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

The link between your working environment and productivity.

How you design your workplace is more important than you think. It’s strongly believed that a workplace that puts employees first is key to improving both wellbeing and productivity. Employees require a better working environment to combat common, everyday issues such as stress and fatigue.

A genuine break time area.

What good is a break time if you return to work feeling no better than before? A break area needs to be open plan and equipped with equipment to leave you feeling refreshed and invigorated, such as hot drinks machines, water coolers or a Micro Market. Furthermore, you could also look into tying your break time area in to a recreational area. This will transform a typical working environment into one that is fun, lively, and one that your employees will want to be a part of. A recreational and break time area may spark further creativity from your staff.

Comfort takes priority. 

More and more employers are starting to understand just how important their staff are to their business. They are a real asset to your company. In a staggering fact that we’ve made you aware of before, we spend around a third of our working lives at work, so having a comfortable working environment is vital. Although it sounds silly to suggest a chair can improve this, there is some truth in it. A chair that offers firm back support that’s adjustable for different people will help, and may lead to stronger performance in the workplace.

It’s also the little things…

Elsewhere, it has been suggested that filling your workplace with natural light promotes a healthier environment. Many businesses, particularly smaller ones, have their offices in closed spaces and must therefore rely on littering their workplace with lights to brighten up the surroundings. Open areas at work can ease workplace stress, so try to implement as many of these as you can. It’s also been noted that adding greenery to your surroundings can help. Plants are good for your health and the likes of holy basil and jasmine can help purify the air and make your workplace more productive. Why not try it?

To tie up.

It’s fantastic to hear that employers are identifying issues in the workplace and are keen on taking steps to improve the wellbeing of their workforce. Coinadrink can help with our advanced refreshment solutions and innovative Micro Market concept, but ideas clearly stem much further.

The post The link between your working environment and productivity. appeared first on Coinadrink.



source https://coin-a-drink.co.uk/working-environment-productivity

Friday, November 16, 2018

Will you spot the Coca-Cola truck this Christmas?

The Coca-Cola truck has always been a tell-tale sign that Christmas is well and truly on its way, and the 2018 journey has now begun! Friday 9thNovember saw the festive truck depart from Glasgow, Scotland, and it will make its way down the UK right up until it reaches Croydon, London, on Sunday 16thDecember. When will it pass by you?

History of the Coca Cola truck.

The Coca-Cola truck is a familiar sight for almost all of us. It’s hard to believe that we have been seeing it on our TV screens for over 20 years now, with the advert first appearing in 1995 courtesy of W. B. Doner. The lorries, previously known as ‘Christmas Caravans’ were originally illuminated with special effects by the Industrial Light and Magic company, who were behind the Star Wars films. The twinkling truck amidst the snowy landscape really made us believe that holidays were on their way, enhanced further by Santa raising a bottle of Coca-Cola right at the end of the advert.

The Coca-Cola truck then jumped to life from our TV screens in 2011. In that eight years, the truck has travelled more than 737,000 miles well equipped with the magical ‘holidays are coming’ jingle.

Holidays are coming!

Everyone who visits the truck receives a free 150ml can of Coca-Cola zero sugar, Diet Coke, or Coca-Cola original taste. The company are also encouraging the public to dispose of their empty can in one of their recycling bins as part of their ‘World Without Waste’ campaign – to collect and recycle a bottle or can for each one sold by the year 2030.

So when is the Coca-Cola truck coming to your town? For us here in the West Midlands, it will be visiting Borehamwood, Sutton Coldfield and East Side Green, Birmingham, on Wednesday 12thDecember, Thursday 13thDecember and Saturday 15thDecember respectively. For everyone else, head to the Coca-Cola website for the full list!

The post Will you spot the Coca-Cola truck this Christmas? appeared first on Coinadrink.



source https://coin-a-drink.co.uk/coca-cola-truck

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Who will be able to handle the pressure of jungle life?

‘I’m a Celebrity’ is back on our screens this Sunday 18th November for series 18 and if you’re anything like us here in the office then it’s very big news! This years’ lineup is an enticing one to say the least, with the likes of Harry Redknapp, John Barrowman and Fleur East heading into the jungle. With maximum stress and limited food, brace yourselves for lots of excitement, lots of drama…and no coffee to see them through! 

Anyone who has the slightest interest in the show will know that home comforts are strictly forbidden in the harsh jungle environment. That even includes cups of tea and coffee! All us coffee lovers out there will argue that a hot drink is a need as opposed to a luxury, but clearly the producers don’t have the same idea. The campmates have to make do with cold and boiling water, though there was once a story from Jenny Eclair that the campmates were often bribed with tea, coffee and hot chocolate to do their chores…

I’m wondering who will declare that they’re missing their tea or coffee first. The slightly older personality of Harry Redknapp may require more of a boost (can you believe he’s 71?!) but on the other hand he has handled the stresses and strains of football management so he’s probably well equipped for the jungle! Maybe one of the younger ones will be in greater need. Emily Atack or James McVey, perhaps? It’ll certainly be interesting…

Who are you looking forward to seeing the most this year, and why not make a prediction as to who you think will win? Join the conversation below and on social media! Meanwhile, get a visual insight into this years’ contestants and remind yourself who they are!

The post Who will be able to handle the pressure of jungle life? appeared first on Coinadrink.



source https://coin-a-drink.co.uk/Im-a-celebrity-2018-jungle-life

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Check out this potato vending machine from 1962!

I’ve managed to find a vending machine from the same year we were born! A potato vending machine from 1962 was captured right here in the UK, and it’s very interesting indeed. It’s certainly causing quite a storm on the internet.

According to the social media site ‘Pinterest’, this machine was spotted in Chelsea, London, 56 years ago. It was the first ever vending machine to dispense potatoes, and did so around the clock to provide ‘top quality, washed, graded and pre-packed potatoes’.

Ideal if you’re missing a vital ingredient of your Sunday roast, isn’t it? What do you think about this machine, would you find a use for one if it was still around today?

The post Check out this potato vending machine from 1962! appeared first on Coinadrink.



source https://coin-a-drink.co.uk/2018/11/potato-vending-machine

Thursday, November 1, 2018

Do you remember the ‘drumming gorilla’ TV commercial?

I love reminiscing through old TV adverts. Over a month ago now I shared the dancing eyebrows advert with you and it quickly became clear that many of you feel the same. The reception the post received, particularly on social media, was incredible and the ad sparked fond memories. Now, I’ve found another Cadbury classic, this time with the drumming gorilla! 

This advert was two years prior to the dancing eyebrows one and I personally preferred it. The 90 second ad consisted of a large gorilla drumming to Phil Collins’ ‘In the Air Tonight’. It first appeared on our screens on 31stAugust 2007 and cost a rumoured £6.2 million to produce. It was the first time that Cadbury moved away from advertising their products directly and they hoped the drumming gorilla would appeal to a wider range of consumers and get their name pushed further afield.

Do you remember the dancing gorilla advert? Where does it rank in the best adverts for you?

 

The post Do you remember the ‘drumming gorilla’ TV commercial? appeared first on Coinadrink.



source https://coin-a-drink.co.uk/drumming-gorilla-cadbury