Blog Entries

SPECIALITY & FINE FOOD FAIR 2010

sales@girlingsupplies.co.uk — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Having booked a ticket to London, discovering that there is a tube strike on the day of travel is not the best preparation to visit a food fair. But I got there using London Overground!

The first meeting after arrival was a networking event organised by Jane Milton. She is a lady who has energy and presence. During the networking, I met a number of people who were either food manufacturers or businesses working within the food industry. Questions [...]

Holiday in France

sales@girlingsupplies.co.uk — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0100

As Francophiles, Ann http://www.onthethreshold.co.uk and I have spent many years on holiday in France. After this years trip and staying in a house surrounded by vineyards in the Languedoc, I decided to list some places where I have stayed, eaten or tasted a little wine. They are all my and Ann's personal views. If readers visit these places and do not get the enjoyment we have, please remember they are just our suggestions.

Some 30 - 45 minutes [...]

Summers here!

sales@girlingsupplies.co.uk — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

What did June 2010 mean to you?

Mini budget from the new coalition government, World cup and all the expectation of England showing the rest of the world how the beautiful game should be played, Wimbledon and the British hopes for a mens champion, or hot days and the chance to light the barbeque?

The month started well and then had a dip [...]

Coalition or Collaboration?

sales@girlingsupplies.co.uk — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The early days of May were dominated by the General Election. The electorate didn't want the incumbent party to form a new government, were not sure about the main opposition and made great noises about the party in 3rd place. Within a week after polling day we had a coalition or was it a collaboration.

The OED definitions of both as follows:
Coalition: Temporary alliance of combined action
Collaboration: Work jointly especially in a literary or artistic production.

We [...]

A General Election is Announced

sales@girlingsupplies.co.uk — Thu, 06 May 2010 00:00:00 +0100

April: Spring is here and the illusion of peace and calm is shattered after a general election is announced on 6th April. The month was taken up with extended news on radio and television, party leaders told us how they would be the most competent at running the economy and trust us , we are MP's working for you! We even had volcanic ash clouds stopping all flights over British air space. Did not read of any MP's getting stuck outside the UK. All busy canvassing!

Amongst all the hype a [...]

Why Go To The Middle Man?

sales@girlingsupplies.co.uk — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In the business world where buyers are constantly trying to get more with less, why is it that most companies rely on resellers for a vital part of their sales turnover? Most of the companies I buy from openly admit that resellers are often closer to the smaller account than their own sales force and the reseller sells a wide range of products.

Maybe I should not have been surprised by an advert in British Baker last month which whilst extolling the virtue of their pricing also ad [...]

Communication Or Lack Of It!

sales@girlingsupplies.co.uk — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Ring a mobile phone and the message you will often hear is ‘The person you are calling is not available, please leave your name, number and message'

Why have this message or a mobile phone, if you have no intention of responding to the call. At the risk of upsetting people, are we all to busy to respond, or have we lost the art of communication? As a salesman, I contact businesses and individuals because I believe I have something different to offer. If knowledge is power, are we a [...]

And the snow arrived

sales@girlingsupplies.co.uk — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Amid all the hopes for 2010, people forgot that sometimes in the UK, it snows. The country did not grind to a halt, but slowed down dramatically. Many people could not get to work. Exhausted, after hours spent in traffic jams and all because we forgot how to cope when the snow fell. It was pretty, the country ran out of salt and the snow and ice lasted for over 2 weeks in some places.

The affect on work was huge. I found many business's struggling to manufacture and get the goods [...]

The end of 2009

sales@girlingsupplies.co.uk — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

For many business's 2009 has been one that will only linger in the memory for bankers bonuses, M. P's expenses, business failure and cash flow. Most of us have come through the year relatively unscathed.

The end of November saw un upturn in business and while December has not produced a high volume of orders, I am still waiting on decisions from 2 companies 48 hours before we all start the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Orders from butchers, bakers, sandwich manufactu [...]

What motivates you?

sales@girlingsupplies.co.uk — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

I ask the question as during the last 2 weeks, I have been to 3 networking events/meetings and listened to ‘Motivational speakers'. All have made their mark and have ideas to offer the employer and the self employed.

The dictionary definition of motivation is ‘stimulate the interest of a person in an activity'. The speakers ranged from all action in a business to a sports coach who may [...]

It's the silly season (or the party political season)

sales@girlingsupplies.co.uk — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

After a faltering start to the month, sales and enquiries started to pick up as the month progressed. The weather was unpredictable which mirrored the political party conferences. Who made the best speech and was rightly critical of their opponents depended on your political persuasion.

Orders for pie tins, racks, plastic containers, ingredient containers and pallets. [...]

Schools back - Autumns on the horizon

sales@girlingsupplies.co.uk — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

We have gone past all bank holidays for 2009 (except Christmas) and now hoping that ‘Green shoots' will materialise and enquiries will turn to orders.

Since my last blog, I have had a number of enquiries which has given me a high value of quotations. Converting them is my next objective.

A chocolatier, meat processor, sa [...]

What happened to the barbeque summer?

sales@girlingsupplies.co.uk — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100

A month since my last blog, centered around Girling Supplies.

Business has been eratic. Good one week and poor the next. Plus I was encouraged by the boss (wife of 31 years) to take a holiday. Two weeks off and in the middle a visit to Germany.

But I digress. Orders for plastic crates, nest/stacking containers, metalware and bread pans helped to pay the suppliers and tax man. Also enquiries for pallet containers/Dola [...]

A Challenging Time

sales@girlingsupplies.co.uk — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

First of all this blog was originally written last Monday. Gremlins within the web site meant that instead of saving, the item disappeared into space. Telephone calls to those in the know to solve the minor problem.
I have had 2 contrasting weeks. One with telephone enquiries, which resulted in orders and then very little telephone or e mail interest, during the last working week. The web site continues to get hits. Now need those looking for equipment to fill [...]

Oswestry Food & Drink Festival

sales@girlingsupplies.co.uk — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The intention was to visit on the Saturday, but it never happened. Instead I visited this morning (Sunday). Oswestry was quiet and part of the festival had moved. Evidently some companies were only there on Saturday. It was so successful for them that they ran out of produce. Either planning for lower sales or as I believe more people want quality food and are prepared to pay a little more for it.

One of the early calls was to 'The Old Trout'. A [...]

Urgent call!

sales@girlingsupplies.co.uk — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Received a telephone call from a London Borough. Needed gastronorm trays as had a demonstration the following working day. Able to supply where their regular source was unable to help.

Big is not always beautiful. Sometimes people want the personal service