Even the fact that you are able to consider a physical expansion of your business is exciting. Of course, the reality is that it can be a costly affair, and many people will seek ways to reduce the financial outgoings. While doing that, it is essential to ensure that not
A polytunnel makes an affordable and effective alternative to a greenhouse. They’re cheaper, more flexible, more mobile, and, since they’re soft, they aren’t vulnerable to damage from errant footballs. As such, they’ve found their way into gardens and allotments across the UK, where they allow the growing of fruits and
There are a few businesses that are pretty much recession proof. Though the construction business can slow down considerably during a financial downturn, the paving business is usually still going strong even in the worst situations. Roads need to be paved to keep traffic moving. Not only that, but generally
If you are hoping to refurbish your office, then you may find it difficult to know where to start. It may be that you have a specific look in mind, but you are overwhelmed with the amount of choices that are available. On the flip side, if you only want
There’s no denying the fact that games occupy an important place in our society. From the humble grandparents still playing Wii Fit to the young teens owning someone in Destiny 2 right now, games have a unique way of connecting us all. When it comes to playing games, every gamer
Music can transform you, physically and emotionally. A variety of experiments have been done to validate how music affects us at a neurological stage. It can shape our understanding of reality, influence our actions and influence our psychology. There is so much influence in music, so much so that the
The online gambling market is constantly growing and developing to satisfy the needs of new-age players. If you equate the early days of online casinos with some of the most respectable providers in the sector you will notice how far they have come along. With so many online players flocking
Today, when we think of casinos, right away the first association most likely is Las Vegas. The commercialized picture of Las Vegas that most of us got from the Hollywood movies are flashy spotlights illuminating roads to the biggest lavish-styled casinos where the crowd from all over the world is.
As many baby boomers begin to prepare themselves for retirement, one of the most common things they are now considering is seeking equity release advice to give themselves a nice retirement package. Now is quite comfortably the right time to strike, as, despite the housing market going into lockdown this
From the days of flyers and telephone calls to the evolving world of social media content and tailored online advertising, brands and businesses are constantly thinking of new ways to gain exposure and sell their products to customers. Thanks to the power of social media, almost every company includes platforms
Even the fact that you are able to consider a physical expansion of your business is exciting. Of course, the reality is that it can be a costly affair, and many people will seek ways to reduce the financial outgoings. While doing that, it is essential to ensure that not all corners are cut. Continue reading for our advice on the matter. Go out to tender Everyone knows that you are supposed to get at least three quotes for any building work and then go for the middle one (or the one that sounds decent), right? What about if we said that this doesn’t always work out as well as you would imagine? Of course, we always advise going to tender and ensuring that you find out precisely what building firms are planning to charge you for. However, it is not always as straightforward as it seems. Many applications usually end up being dismissed after time has been spent reading them simply because they do not possess the necessary expertise. For this reason, many businesses are choosing to adopt a pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ) to ensure that the required criteria are met, and only those are then invited to tender. Employ your team wisely and fully informed Once you have narrowed down your options, it can still be tricky to choose which team’s services you wish to employ. We would also that you check out references and testimonials. Most businesses these days have their own websites and social media accounts. Although the reviews on their website may be cherry-picked, Facebook recommendations, for example, tend to be more accurate. Ask to look around recently finished developments, especially including those with design and within an industry similar to yours. Use decent materials It can be tempting to choose the cheaper options when the tradespeople approach you and ask for your choices. However, the least expensive choices can sometimes be hugely inferior. In the long run, spending a little extra could actually save you money. Materials, such as metals, that will last longer mean that you will not have to redo an area as early as you potentially would with cheaper choices. When you are looking round other recently expanded businesses, you could ask them if they are happy with their choices and what they would have done differently if they had the opportunity. Think big(gish) How often do you visit a brand new or expanded building and think, “Wow! Look at all that space!” Nine times out of ten, just a few short months down the line, the space has all been used up and there is no more room for growth. Before any building work begins and you are creating your masterplan, be sure to think a bit bigger than you ordinarily would have. Of course, conversely, it is important not to go overboard and build a warehouse when a shed would suffice, but it certainly is beneficial to look to the future. Yes, it will cost you more, but if you need to expand or move again in a year or two’s time anyway, it will be worthwhile.
A polytunnel makes an affordable and effective alternative to a greenhouse. They’re cheaper, more flexible, more mobile, and, since they’re soft, they aren’t vulnerable to damage from errant footballs. As such, they’ve found their way into gardens and allotments across the UK, where they allow the growing of fruits and vegetables of a sort that might require careful temperature-management. But, for all of their mobility, these are at least semi-permanent structures? Don’t they therefore need planning permission? The short answer is that, for most domestic gardens, you do not need planning permission. However, there are a few exceptions that you might need to worry about. If your polytunnel falls foul of any of the following rules of thumb, then it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll need to obtain planning permission – but it does mean that it’s a good idea to get in touch with your local planning authority to clear things up. Is Your Polytunnel too Tall? If your tunnel is more than 3m tall, then people in neighbouring gardens will be able to see it, and it might feasibly block out the sunlight for them. Get to four or five metres tall, and this problem becomes even worse; you don’t want to create an eyesore and annoy everyone, after all. Is Your Polytunnel too close to the Boundary? If your tunnel sits right next to the boundary, then height concerns will be even more pressing. If it’s taller than 2.5m and you want it flush against your fence, then it’s time to pick up the phone. Is your Polytunnel too Big? There are rules against appending an enormous extension to the rear of your home. If it’s covering more than half of the area around your house, then you might need to start worrying. Is your Polytunnel at the front of your House? A polytunnel that’s facing the street is going to be much more visible, and therefore (in theory) more objectionable. Sometimes, this is a necessity; in these cases, you’ll likely need permission. Is your Polytunnel on an allotment? In the case of allotments, you’ll probably have more to fear from the allotment committee than the planning restrictions. After all, sometimes the installation of a polytunnel can suck in energy which might otherwise reach neighbouring crops. What about Agricultural Land? If you’re running a farm, it might seem that you should be granted greater leeway. And most of the time, you are: if you want to keep sheep in a tunnel, you should be fine. However, if you’re altering the purpose of your farm (you’re clearing out all of your arable crops and keeping livestock instead) or applying for a grant, then you’ll probably need to seek planning permission.
There are a few businesses that are pretty much recession proof. Though the construction business can slow down considerably during a financial downturn, the paving business is usually still going strong even in the worst situations. Roads need to be paved to keep traffic moving. Not only that, but generally cities and towns have their paving projects budgeted from the year before so the money is already there even if there is a crisis happening. If you’re trying to decide on a business with lots of upside then read on for the tips on how to start your own paving business. 1 – Have your equipment ready Your biggest expense is going to be your machinery to do the work. From the trucks to bring the machines to the site, to the pavers themselves. It is a huge expense to buy them and also to maintain them. You can buy some of these at auction to get you started if you are on a budget, but make sure that you have a plan to replace them once the jobs are coming in regularly. After all, older equipment will cost you more in the long run through maintenance and also in terms of lost work if they don’t perform well. You’ll need to shop around for the best insurance plans to save money and look for the best red diesel suppliers that will give you the best price on your fuel for the machines. 2 – Create a business plan Whether you plan to open a paving business or a lemonade stand, a business plan is essential. A business plan not only will help you secure loans from a bank but it serves as your roadmap to success. It will provide you with a step by step guide on running your business. Each section is essentially a milestone that lets you know what to do after having surpassed each one. Without a business plan, you are simply flying by the seat of your pants and taking things as they come. 3 – Start small Your ultimate prize should be getting contracts for city and state projects that pay a lot of money and usually last for years. This is the ideal situation, but don’t expect these huge contracts off the bat. First, you’ll need to start out doing smaller jobs like driveways and patios for residential projects. Then, you can gain a reputation and start going for bigger commercial jobs like a restaurant or store parking lot. Then, later on you can start bidding on larger projects. 4 – Be insured Construction is a dangerous job for you, your staff and even the general public. And you need to cover yourself against any injury claims. Have good liability insurance that covers an injury and even damage to property. There is always the possibility that your equipment or workers damage somebody’s lawn or home and you don’t want to pay out of pocket for that.
If you are hoping to refurbish your office, then you may find it difficult to know where to start. It may be that you have a specific look in mind, but you are overwhelmed with the amount of choices that are available. On the flip side, if you only want to change a couple of details in the workplace then you may still find it hard to know what’s going to benefit your team and what isn’t. Open up your Space It doesn’t matter how big or how small your space might be because you can always end up making the most out of it by introducing a more open-plan layout. If this means knocking down your office partition taking down cubes or even rearranging desks, then you need to make sure that you do this. If you do, then you will soon find that your open-office layout is way more efficient and that you are also able to capitalise on a much bigger space too. Adding More Light Another thing that you can do is try and add more light to your space. There’s no better workspace than one that is super bright and airy. Natural light has proven time and time again to make people way happier and much more productive. This can be useful if you have the ultimate goal of building an efficient workforce. It’s helpful to make sure that your office space allows as much light in as possible, and there are a few ways that you can do this. You can either add some skylights, or you can try and install some artificial lighting. Adding more windows could also be an option. Remember that any changes you do, may require you to make changes to your insurance policy, so look up business insurance quotes if you can. Consider Glass Partitions One of the best and the easiest ways for you to keep your office up to date would be for you to try and install some glass partitions. They are often seen in glass-fronted sky-scrapers that are in city centres. Glass partitions are ideal if you want to maximise the amount of natural light, not to mention that it’s a great alternative when compared to solid walls and doors. The great thing about this is that they won’t disrupt the design of your space, in fact, they can actually enhance it. Create some Break-out Spaces Most modern offices are more than just rooms filled up to the brim with desks and computers. If you want to give your team the help, they need to stay calm and collected at work then break-out spaces are ideal. You would be surprised at how much they could help your team to stay focused and they can also help you to give them the mental break they need from work. Break-out spaces could include having games consoles, or even bean bags so they can relax. Either way, you need to make sure that you incorporate this into your new building design.
There’s no denying the fact that games occupy an important place in our society. From the humble grandparents still playing Wii Fit to the young teens owning someone in Destiny 2 right now, games have a unique way of connecting us all. When it comes to playing games, every gamer has a different choice. Some love the immersive worlds of games, while others enjoy the social and competitive aspects of gaming. Some tend to play mobile games at https://www.theonlinecasino.co.uk/mobile-casino/ and other mobile casinos on the go, while others enjoy playing video games from the comfort of their home. Though there are differences between the gamer and the game, one truth runs through many, if not all games – And that is players get tense. Difficult or competitive games tend to be stressful sometimes, and when life deals you stress, it can be helpful to use a little bit of CBD as it will give you the benefits of a calmer body and mind while gaming. Here are the top four games to play on CBD. Teamfight Tactics Teamfight Tactics (TFT) is a round-based strategy game that pits you against seven opponents in a free-for-all race to build a powerful team that fights on your behalf. In TFT, new and stronger champions are released on the buying market to allow you to customize and create the best team possible. But the game gets frustrating when you are riding at the top of the rankings and slowly fall to the bottom as stronger teams spring from your opponents. In that case, having a CBD gummy and taking a deep breath can really help you. Knights of the Old Republic Developed by BioWare, Knight of the Old Republic (KOTOR) is a role-playing video game set in the Star Wars universe. This old game is a masterpiece and might arguably be the best Star Wars story ever created. In KOTOR, you start off as a random Joe Everyman, who wakes up on a ship in the middle of a galactic space battle. You need to escape and defend yourself quickly because there is an empire of enemies looking to kill you. There are some tough spots in the game, so a dash of CBD won’t hurt. Call of Duty: Mobile Call of Duty has been a triple AAA series for decades now, owing to its multiplayer functionality and the amazing customization features. If you’ve played Call of Duty before, you might be aware of the fact that knowing the maps better than your room is vital to performing better against top-tier players. Also, even a slight finch while turning a corner can leave you dead, so it is probably going to build stress. And this is where the role of CBD steps in. Fortnite Combining classic third-person-shooter gameplay with a clever sandbox building mechanic, Fortnite is one of the most exciting video games to play right now. In an attempt to attract gamers of all ages, Fortnite features game characters doing dances in various sequences, and various other things. In Fortnite, you have to indulge yourself in a stress-inducing fight for your life. And this is where CBD will help you. *** BONUS GAME – Should you like to play a more strategy game them why don’t you try SpiderSolitaireMasters and enjoy your time.
Music can transform you, physically and emotionally. A variety of experiments have been done to validate how music affects us at a neurological stage. It can shape our understanding of reality, influence our actions and influence our psychology. There is so much influence in music, so much so that the casinos use it to inspire customers to spend more time in the establishments. Music influences every person differently and can be used to have a psychological effect on what one thinks, feels and does. The Use of Music in the Background Different types of music elicit different emotions in a person. For example, some playlists may encourage a client to walk faster or slower in a shopping centre. Some playlists can encourage one to spend more money like a casino. Today, given the variety of choices, this effect is particularly prevalent. Some businesses often use music to minimize the time that customers spend waiting in line. Music in Casinos Music is primarily used to create a certain atmosphere or to maintain a mood. The objective of the music is to make patrons feel as relaxed and comfortable as possible during the gambling experience so that they spend long periods playing their favourite casino games. The more time one spends enjoying their experience at the casino, the likelihood of them spending more money ultimately increases. The music played in casinos can either amplify gambling behaviour into a fast-paced frenzy or lull patrons into a soothing sense of comfort that makes them forget about time altogether. It’s not just used in land-based casinos either, the soundtracks that accompany online casino games have also been given plenty of thought, and are used to great effect. Music impacts on casino gamblers in the following ways: Creating an environment for the players. Influencing betting habits & turnover The sound effects with music influence the players to continue playing. The Different Tempos of Music and their Effect Quick tempo music raises the betting pace considerably, which translates into casino turnover. However, this leads to a substantial reduction in the time a player spends gambling. The use of slow-tempo music has the opposite effect on players. It inspires players to consider when they place bets and make their next moves, e.g. during competitions or tournaments. This computing activity has motivated players to prolong their stay at the casino considerably, regardless of whether they win or lose. The music played in the gambling halls often depends on the prevailing crowd at that particular time. If it’s the older crowd, there might be jazz music playing in the background. The younger crowd prefers the night and most likely the casino will be playing rock and roll. Online Casinos and Music The effect of casino music is such that even online casinos have not been able to stay away from using it to improve user experience. In reality, there are a variety of online casinos that are inspired by popular music bands and have their graphics and designs based on them. This is not only a welcome break from the proliferation of online casinos with the same old video slots and table games but also a breakthrough in the technology used to build these online casino games. Many UK online roulette games also use smooth and tranquil music to set the mood of the players and give them a calm mind. To sum up Casinos are wonderful places that create illusions and prey on the emotions of their customers. They know how to cater to the emotions and intelligence of the consumers, and that’s how they succeed in keeping their customers hitched. Music plays a crucial role in this sector, and casinos use their customers’ musical sensitivities to promote the desired consumer behaviour.
The online gambling market is constantly growing and developing to satisfy the needs of new-age players. If you equate the early days of online casinos with some of the most respectable providers in the sector you will notice how far they have come along. With so many online players flocking to play on the online platforms, the industry is growing and developing rapidly with each passing year. Casino games have become more appealing and interesting to fans, and access to online casinos has never been simpler. Let’s have a look at some of the key developments that have changed the online casino industry. Mobile Casinos The launch of the mobile casino model on the market has fully revolutionised the online gaming industry. This was partly because when Net Entertainment made their big comeback to the world gambling scene, their video slots were built using the HTML5 protocol. Thanks to this, players could now navigate casino games on the go easily by using their smartphone browser, regardless of whether the system was powered by Android or iOS. This led to a major expansion of mobile casinos, as a substantial majority of players simply opted to play on the go. Better games and mediums The new video slots that we’re used to playing today are much more enjoyable and satisfying than the older slots. Still one of the big innovations to online casino games was the launch of live dealer games. This service has forever transformed the face of the online gaming industry. Thanks to their creativity in live dealer playing, the online gaming experience is the nearest that players can come to a brick and mortar casino. You can experience this live casino gaming at the Winissimo – New Casino Sites. Bigger, Better Bonuses In the past, the promotions of almost every online casino offered were confined to the first deposit of the player and sometimes a few more for subsequent deposits. But today that’s not the case. Since rivalry on the online gambling market is very intense, every casino competes to draw as many players as possible with better promotions. We will see a rise in incentive quantities that has greatly decreased wagering conditions over the last two years. E-wallets and Instant Payouts Players will now select from a variety of payment options and select those best suited to their needs. E-wallets like Neteller and Skrill are one of the most common payment options in the industry today, simply because most online casinos handle e-wallet payments very easily. In certain casinos, you’ll have your winnings on your e-wallet account within minutes of making your withdrawal order. Better Casino Rules Online gambling is being more conveniently regulated in many countries around the world, so many players can play online casinos for the first time. Although we can see a rise in tighter rules which requires all casino sites to have equal and transparent terms. This way, the player can know what’s going on and have more clarity, particularly when it comes to welcome bonus deals. The goal is that, shortly, all online casinos will follow strict rules for fair and open transactions. Skill games Casino games are inspired by the millennial generation and the effect PC and MMORPG games have on their lives. Several gaming developers are still working on it and have managed to introduce a few skill casino games that are already available in several land-based casinos. The idea behind these games is that the player would require both a talent and a luck factor to maximise his odds of making a profit in the game. Many advancements to follow Nobody knows what the future could bring when it comes to online gambling, but one thing is clear. The online gambling market is constantly evolving and keeps track of the new trends in the world. We expect to see more fantastic developments for improved online casinos and satisfied gaming players in the future.
Today, when we think of casinos, right away the first association most likely is Las Vegas. The commercialized picture of Las Vegas that most of us got from the Hollywood movies are flashy spotlights illuminating roads to the biggest lavish-styled casinos where the crowd from all over the world is. But is Las Vegas actually the biggest and only noteworthy casino project out there? Las Vegas and Its Casino Projects The life of Las Vegas is relatively young and over the period of half a century, Las Vegas transformed form a town with illegal gambling industry to one of the world’s best-known gambling cities. The development of Las Vegas has roots in partnerships of mafia lords and local businessmen. Step by step and Las Vegas is now the first association of the gambling industry. There are several casino projects currently happening in Las Vegas which will mark the further expansion of the casino industry. Circa Las Vegas Hotel-Casino, the property of Virgin Hotel Las Vegas with 60,000 square foot (5,574 sq m) casino and 130,000 square foot (12,077 sq m) convention areas in the plan worth $200 million, or the $1.66 billion-worth construction of MSG Sphere casino resort are only some of the casino projects to expect. The Year of 2021 will also be marked by the opening of Resorts World Las Vegas and the current COVID situation hasn’t stopped the ongoing construction worth $4.6 billion. The resort will contain 3,500 rooms with three hotel brands, space for meetings and banquets, spas across more than 600,000 square feet (55,742 sq m) space. Finally, a 110,000 square foot (10,219 sq m) casino is in the plan. The casino is expected to have slot machines, poker room, table games, private salons, as well as high-limit gambling areas. When speaking of Las Vegas, the MGM Grand project must be mentioned. The 170,000 square foot (15,794 sq m) space for gambling, entertainment, and hotel marks this casino project as one of the most noteworthy in Las Vegas. Casino Projects Outside Las Vegas Some may find it surprising but the world’s biggest casino resorts are not located in Las Vegas. The number one biggest casino project is WinStar World Casino in Oklahoma spread on 600,000 square feet (55,742 sq m)! As we said, Las Vegas is not the only casino center in the world. Macau has a long history of the gambling industry, a lot longer than in Las Vegas too, and is known as the ‘gambling capital of the world’. The Venetian Macau Casino is the second-largest casino in the world. If you ever travel to Macau, your visit won’t be genuine if you don’t stop by this casino which has a 550,000 square foot (51,096 sq m) gaming space with more than 3,500 slot machines, 800 gaming tables, and areas for sporting events. Europe is also where you can find other grandiose casino resorts. Portugal is where you can find the largest casino construction in Europe called Lisboa Casino. It stretches along 165,000 square feet (15,329 sq m) and features more than 700 slot machines, more than 20 gaming tables along with a big theater. Online Casino World Of course, to the world’s biggest gambling markets, the online gambling industry must be added. In the sea of gambling companies online, there are several that stand out. Some that must be mentioned is 888 Holdings featuring a casino, poker, sport, and bingo brands; then the UK GVC Holdings is another in the group of the largest sports betting and gaming groups. For particular casino games, there are also numerous big online platforms where players can enjoy favourite games. For example, GG Network is a fast-growing online poker platform. GGPoker as the part of GG Network group provides an excellent poker experience. Numerous unique features and 24/7 availability is what attracts thousands of players all around the world to this big name in online poker entertainment. And the fact that Daniel Negreanu (and poker enthusiasts will know the name) is the face of the GGPoker team speaks a lot about the success of this online poker network. Final Words On Biggest Casino Projects All in all, when we think about all the casino projects all around the world as well as in the online market, there are almost limitless options. The biggest casino projects will be hard to track as there are many ongoing plans for building new enormous casino resorts and each company competes with one another. And this only leaves us with magnificent casino resorts to visit today and in the future. Get new experience with europe online casino choose the best option with verified brands with HEX.
As many baby boomers begin to prepare themselves for retirement, one of the most common things they are now considering is seeking equity release advice to give themselves a nice retirement package. Now is quite comfortably the right time to strike, as, despite the housing market going into lockdown this year alongside the rest of the economy, over-65s saw their property wealth increase by more than £6,000 each on average in the past year. Indeed, the total property wealth owned by over-65s who have paid off mortgages is currently valued at a staggering £1.124 trillion according to Key’s Pensioner Property Equity Index. There are certainly regional considerations here, with many of the bigger gains coming in London (almost £26,000 better off over the last year) as opposed to the South East (gains of just £7,600). In the West Midlands, meanwhile, there was actually an average decrease of around £235 in value. Still, generally speaking, house prices are currently at an all-time high and with COVID and the fallout of a no-deal Brexit on the horizon, that could all change very soon indeed. So, is now the right time for baby boomers to start thinking seriously about equity release? It is, after all, the most logical way for older homeowners to not only pay off their debts but give themselves a nest egg that they can use to fund a truly decadent retirement. Will Hale, CEO at Key said: “The property market has suffered along with the rest of the economy during the coronavirus crisis and effectively shut down for months. Coupled with the ongoing political and economic uncertainty of the past few years, it has gone through a turbulent time. However, property values seem to have remained relatively buoyant and with the current stamp duty exemption, we are likely to see continued interest from buyers.” There are quite literally millions of over-65s who have repaid their mortgages and are sitting on considerable unencumbered property wealth but might find that their retirement pots are not quite as heavy as they had hoped for. For these people, they might be inspired to learn that the estimated property equity in these homes is as high as £212.119 billion in the South East alone and a total of £1.124 trillion in the whole of Great Britain. In such an environment, Hale believes: “It is vital to get specialist advice and consider all assets when it comes to planning your finances through retirement as making smart choices can significantly improve your standard of living throughout later life.” The equity release market might have seen a slowdown as people take their time to decide how best to use their wealth in retirement and negotiate this terrible virus. However, the number of customers looking to explore their options remains high and equity release remains a decidedly flexible and lucrative option.
From the days of flyers and telephone calls to the evolving world of social media content and tailored online advertising, brands and businesses are constantly thinking of new ways to gain exposure and sell their products to customers. Thanks to the power of social media, almost every company includes platforms like Facebook and YouTube. From TikTok to Instagram, it’s all part of a strategy to reach new audiences and increase sales. You’ll already know that “influencer marketing” has been the way forward for many marketing professionals. Tapping into the success of everyday people who’ve taken the internet by storm has been seen as the logical way to go about it. But, with high follower counts comes the high price you’ll have to pay to get social media users—who are bombarded by brand deals—to pay attention. Even if you opt for an influencer with fewer followers, you can never guarantee a return on investment. Today, we look at how new tactics are being used to corner the social media market, including User-Generated Content and the phenomenon of “unboxing”. Unique touches over fake presence The traditional use of influencer marketing, where you pay a social celebrity to post your product on their platform, is a dying art. The facts and figures certainly back this up, especially around the use of fake followers. According to a report in 2019, fake followers cost advertisers $1.9 billion, with companies “ripped off” for the price they paid for sponsored posts. It’s no small cost for a market said to be worth $8.5 million in the same year—based on advertising spend. But it’s not just fake followers that point to influencer marketing being less effective than it once was. In the same year, American internet sensation Ariana Renee had to cancel her own clothing range after failing to sell the minimum 36 T-shirts required to start her first shipment, despite having a following of 2.6 million on Instagram. Examples like this has got brands thinking. How can they promote their products in a way that people on social media will share it, without having to be paid a small fortune for the pleasure? The answer in a nutshell—User-Generated Content (UGC). In simple terms, UGC is any content, whether it be videos, text, or audio, that’s shared by social media users. For brands, it’s a means to get creative and add personal touches to their products and packaging. This will have people reaching for their phones to post about it without hesitation. Personalisation has boomed in recent times, with everything from personalised wrapping paper to personalised candle holders available online. It’s a trend that even celebrities are on board with. David Beckham’s 45th birthday celebrations saw Victoria give him his presents wrapped in paper printed with his own face! It’s more than plausible to say that people want more unique, personal items these days, with the world of social media playing a key role in the desire for personalisation. If you think about it for a second, what is more likely to be shared on social media, a shopping bag with a brand name on it, or one that’s been designed to feel like it’s special to a specific individual and nobody else? To quantify this from a financial point of view, it’s estimated that the global market for personalised gifts will rise to $38 billion by 2021. This provides a closer look at what direction things are heading in. Unboxing–the never-ending phenomenon With a continuous conveyor belt of products to choose from, there comes the opportunity for trends to emerge on social media. One of the most popular ones right now is known as unboxing. Recognised in the Oxford Dictionary, ‘unboxing’ is defined as: ‘An act or instance of removing a newly purchased product from its packaging and examining its features, typically when filmed and shared on a social media site.’ Search for ‘unboxing’ on YouTube and you instantly get a sense of how popular it’s become. A channel known as ‘Unbox Therapy’ has amassed 17.1 million subscribers since its creation in 2010, with over 3.7 billion views in that time, with viewers tuning in for the excitement of unboxing the latest products. Not only do unboxing videos fuel anticipation of what’s inside, but it always gives key information on the product itself. This is a big deal for consumers, and a recipe for success when brands think of new ways to present their latest craze. Unboxing is not some sort of look into the future, it’s an established way to present and digest content right now. As of 2019, YouTube channel Ryan’s Toy Reviews, where youngster Ryan unboxes the latest toys and reviews them with his parents, was worth a whopping $26 million. Personal reviews, not just views It’s clear to see that the days of brands relying on social media megastars to post about how much they love the product they’ve just been paid handsomely to share are over. It just doesn’t yield the same results that it used to. Now people want to see more personalised branding and opinions from the people in the position to blog, vlog and talk about. Not only that, but the everyday person also wants to share what they buy on social media. Making simple changes to packaging, adding unique touches, and even handwriting a note to fit inside the box are all ways for companies to up their UGC game. Gary Peeling, CEO at UK commercial print company: Where The Trade Buys, currently producing PPE for UK education spaces, workplaces, hospitality venues, retail stores, charity shops, the NHS and more. The company has also been involved in manufacturing face visors for NHS essential workers in the fight against Covid-19. Sources: