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Shopstar Opens Online Doors for Small Businesses with UK Launch

Shopstar, a leading ecommerce platform for online shop creation, has officially launched in the United Kingdom. With over a decade of experience empowering creative entrepreneurs in South Africa, Shopstar brings its expertise to the UK market, targeting small and micro-businesses seeking an accessible and supportive ecommerce solution.

Unlike many competitors that cater to larger enterprises, Shopstar specialises in serving “mum and pop” businesses—small ventures with limited budgets, resources, and technical know-how. The platform offers personalised support and avoids the use of AI and bots.

“Our mission is to make ecommerce accessible to everyone, especially those who are new to the digital marketplace,” said Chris Edington, CEO of Shopstar. “We understand the challenges faced by small business owners, which is why Shopstar offers not just a platform, but a partner in building successful online businesses.”

“Shopstar walks the journey with its customers,” explained Edington. “Especially those who don’t have huge budgets to pay developers and fees, and don’t need all the bells and whistles – just something simple with a human touch to help them. The platform aims to provide a straightforward, human approach that empowers entrepreneurs to thrive in the competitive ecommerce landscape.”

Shopstar’s entry into the UK market comes at a time when ecommerce is booming, yet many smaller businesses struggle to find affordable, user-friendly solutions that meet their needs. By offering competitive pricing starting at £6 per month with a current promotion of 50% off for the first two months, Shopstar aims to lower the barriers to entry for aspiring online entrepreneurs.

The platform’s features include a drag-and-drop designer for easy shop customisation, seamless integration with social media platforms like Google, Instagram, and Facebook for enhanced visibility and sales, as well as tools for marketing, sales management, and dropshipping. This comprehensive suite of tools is designed to simplify the ecommerce journey for makers and creators who may lack technical expertise but want to start, manage, and grow an online business.

“We are not just providing a platform; we are fostering a community of creative entrepreneurs who want to turn their passions into thriving online businesses,” added Edington. “Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or a small team, Shopstar is here to support you in realising your business dreams.”

In South Africa, Shopstar has established itself as a market leader, known for its commitment to customer success and affordability. Now, with a strategic expansion into the UK, the company aims to replicate its success by empowering a new wave of British entrepreneurs.

For more information about Shopstar’s ecommerce solutions tailored for small businesses in the UK, visit their website at www.shopstar.io. New users can take advantage of the current promotional offer and 14-day free trial.

HS2 partners with pioneers to chart a sustainable future

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Digital Catapult, the UK authority on advanced digital technology, has today welcomed eight technology pioneers to the Made Smarter Innovation Sustainability Accelerator to improve resource and energy efficiency in UK manufacturing. Working with industry leaders BAE Systems, HS2 and Creagh Concrete, the participating companies will receive support from innovation experts at Digital Catapult to co-develop solutions that will establish a more sustainable industrial future. 

Delivered by Digital Catapult, the programme is funded by Made Smarter and Innovate UK, to build on the success of the Made Smarter Technology Accelerator, which paired UK manufacturers with technology companies to adapt and improve their approach to industrial innovation. The new programme will foster deeper strategic collaborations between tech innovators and industrial pioneers to advance sustainable manufacturing initiatives, including the application of digital twin technologies. 

BAE Systems, which provides some of the world’s most advanced defence, aerospace and security assets, will work with Digica Solutions Ltd to develop a digital twin of its Factory of the Future research centre. Digica’s solution will demonstrate how environmental factors affect manufacturing operations, while Quasir Ltd will combine physics-based models with data-driven machine learning tools to increase operational efficiency, whilst reducing energy consumption and resource waste.

HS2 is constructing Britain’s new high-speed railway, comprising 140-miles of track, four new, state-of-the art stations, two depots, 32 miles of tunnel, and 179 bridges. Construction is based at over 350 active sites between West Midlands and London, most of which will be converted to green sites in the coming years, with Infinitive Group Ltd and Material Index seeking to improve the sustainability of this work by optimising the planned deconstruction process. Both startups will develop digital software tools to integrate and analyse deconstruction-related data effectively to support informed decision making about material recapture and reuse, ensuring that when sites are no longer needed, they are sustainably deconstructed. 

One of the UK’s largest producers of concrete products, Northern Ireland-based Creagh Concrete, will collaborate with DataFlowIQ, Linearworks, Kinsetsu and Coraledge Ltd to gain accurate, comprehensive insight into its production process. Optimising and digitalising the manufacturing process, while improving energy and operational efficiency, will enable Creagh Concrete to maintain its competitive edge and achieve its sustainability goals. 

The programme will offer participants support in the form of sustainability masterclasses, technical monitoring, innovation expertise and peer-to-peer support, to grow each company’s capabilities. The programme will play a critical role in advancing industrial sustainability through the adoption of deep technology, and comes as it was announced that the country is halfway to net zero, with emissions cut by 53% between 1990 and 2023.

Participating startups and SMEs will each receive £75,000 funding to develop a proof of concept and a further £100,000 will be available for up to four companies to progress to phase two. Phase two will support the successful companies to develop pilot prototypes, culminating in a showcase in early 2025 to pitch their solutions to investors and industry leaders.

Man jailed after raping woman in hotel room while she slept

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A man has been jailed after raping a woman while she slept at a London hotel.

Ian Foster (41) of no fixed address, was sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment at Wood Green Crown Court yesterday. He was also given a restraining order preventing him from directly or indirectly contacting the victim.

He was unanimously found guilty of rape in April following a trial supported by extensive and damning evidence gathered by investigating officers.

The court heard that the victim, aged in her 30s was known to the suspect. They attended a hotel in Edmonton, in January 2020. A heated argument ensued in the hotel room between the two, where Foster displayed sexual jealousy.

Following the row, Foster (pictured) and the woman went to sleep and in the early hours of January 18, 2020, he raped her while she slept.

Officers attended the hotel later that day, after a concerned phone call from the victim’s mother following the argument. However, the victim did not disclose to officers that she had been raped because she was scared and just wanted to go home – her parents were en route to collect her.

In the early hours of January 19, once the victim was safely home, she reported the incident to police via her friend and detectives from the North Area’s Public Protection team launched an investigation.

The victim was supported by specially trained sexual offence officers in her own force area of Devon and Cornwall, on behalf of the Met.

Foster was circulated as wanted and was arrested in Devon on the afternoon of January 19, on suspicion of rape. He was recalled to prison in breach of his licence conditions following his conviction for two rapes in 2012 at Truro Crown Court. He had been released on licence in 2017.

He was subsequently charged on January 31, 2023 after an extensive investigation, which included taking witness accounts from hotel staff and family and friends of the victim and reviewing CCTV of the pair in the public areas of the hotel from check-in to check-out. This showed Foster following the victim around like a ‘puppy dog’ and trying to ‘reason with her’ in the foyer on January 18, following the rape.

Officers reviewed hundreds of communications on their phones, which highlighted Foster’s sexual jealously. There was also a message on January 18, with Foster saying he was unsure why he committed the act after he was challenged by the victim who said: “What go through ur head to have sex with someone when they are not even awake?”

Detective sergeant Myles Bossman, who led the investigation, said: “Foster is a highly dangerous individual, as reflected by his sentence, who has now been convicted of rape on two separate occasions. Foster appears enraged by sexual jealousy and insecurity, and chose to attack the woman when she was at her most vulnerable as she slept. Foster has showed zero remorse for his actions.

“Thanks to the years of hard work by the North Area’s Public Protection team, Foster is now back behind bars. We were committed to gathering enough evidence to ensure the victim got the justice she deserved,

“With the support of her family and friends, the victim showed immense courage and bravery in supporting a police investigation. I would like to thank the victim for her strength, and the many witnesses who provided evidence.

“This sentencing shows that such violence against women will not be tolerated and those who commit such offences will be dealt with robustly.

“I would encourage anyone who is a victim or witness to sexual assault to contact police immediately where you can access support from specially trained officers.”

King’s Speech delivers Labour’s plans for planning reform, housebuilding and more

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The King’s Speech has laid out the new Labour government’s priorities, following the party’s general election victory.

The speech outlined 39 draft laws that minsters want to pass in the next parliamentary session, after their party’s return to power.

Planning reform, devolution, clean energy and attracting investment topped the list, with reforms to the leasehold system, NHS, police powers and public transport also taking precedent under Sir Keir Starmer’s plans.

Delivery of more housing is to be accelerated and changing existing planning laws – which were major parts of Labour’s campaign – are set to take shape over the coming months.

King Charles said: “My Ministers will get Britain building, including through planning reform, as they seek to accelerate the delivery of high quality infrastructure and housing [Planning and Infrastructure Bill]. They will also pursue sustainable growth by encouraging investment in industry, skills and new technologies.”

More draft laws from the speech

  • Mental Health Bill to tighten rules on sectioning people, and change the rules on care for people with learning difficulties
  • Children’s Wellbeing Bill forces England’s councils to keep registers of children not educated full-time in school, and deliver breakfast clubs for England’s primary schools
  • Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill to let police to use counter-terror powers to tackle gangs who smuggle migrants into the UK
  • Planning and Infrastructure Bill will streamline the process for approving critical infrastructure, and overhaul rules on the compulsory purchase of land
  • National Wealth Fund Bill will set up a new five-year fund which will see £7.3 billion invested in infrastructure and green industry

Reaction

Simon Peacock, head of regions at property advisory business, JLL, said: “Changes to the planning system will be the lifeblood of the economic growth the Labour government is targeting, but also crucial to addressing health and wellbeing inequalities the country faces because of housing shortages. That it has been outlined as a priority in this morning’s speech will be welcomed by the property industry and those supporting people in need of housing. Now the impetus is on action.”

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the National Federation of Builders (NFB), said: “It is refreshing to have a government which views its primary role as enabling growth and removing barriers because this ensures business and communities know they can be part of the strategy.

“The continued focus on planning reform should also be applauded because it has been almost a century since any government understood its role in enabling business growth, better places and a healthier, well-functioning society. It does feel as though country is being put before party.”

Adam Sivner, managing director in Houlihan Lokey’s Industrials Group, said: “The UK drastically needs a coherent and long-term focused industrial strategy. The country has a long-standing pedigree in various critical industries and remains a world leader in aerospace and defence, flow control, satellite communications technology, and electronic components, amongst others.

 “Concurrently we are seeing significant investment in digitalisation and skilled labour on a global basis, which is making the UK less attractive to manufacture in. If the UK is to remain as a home to world leading manufacturers, then it will need a detailed investment strategy to help support these businesses in competing on the global stage and ensure they can resist being consolidated by larger acquirers.”

Image credit: Muhammad Aamir Sumsum 

The SaaSy People Attain Gold Partner Status with monday.com

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The SaaSy People, a premier provider of SaaS implementation and consultancy services, today announced that they have secured Gold Partner status with monday.com, a prominent Work OS platform that empowers teams to manage their entire business with confidence. This accolade highlights The SaaSy People’s steadfast commitment to delivering outstanding monday.com solutions and services to businesses globally.

The SaaSy People have consistently showcased their expertise in implementing, customising, and integrating monday.com to meet the distinctive needs of clients across various industries. Their dedication to client success and profound understanding of monday.com’s capabilities have earned them a reputation for excellence within the monday.com community.

“We are incredibly proud to have achieved Gold Partner status with monday.com,” said Reece Couchman, CEO of The SaaSy People. “Our journey with monday has been marked by countless successful projects, and we are thrilled to continue our partnership, driving innovation and helping our clients unlock the full potential of this incredible platform.”

The SaaSy People’s attainment of Gold Partner status is a testament to their team’s enthusiasm for empowering businesses to work smarter, not harder, with monday.com. Their impressive track record of successful projects and glowing client testimonials, all published on their website, underscore their ability to deliver transformative results.

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together, is a popular African proverb,” said Anna Chermyanina, Partnership Manager at monday.com. “The SaaSy People is an extended hand of us enabling our customers to unlock the power of monday.com.”

The SaaSy People’s Gold Partner status heralds exciting new opportunities for collaboration and innovation with monday.com. They eagerly anticipate continuing to assist businesses in unlocking the full potential of monday.com to streamline workflows, enhance productivity, and achieve customers’ strategic goals.

Gareth Southgate steps down as England manager

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England boss Gareth Southgate has announced it’s “time for change”, stepping down from his role after eight years.

Following England being pipped to Euros 2024 glory by Spain, the 53-year-old manager said that he was resigning.

Southgate has been England’s most successful manager in terns of consistency in major tournaments, having reached the European Championship final in 2021 but beaten by Italy. In 2018, the Three Lions got to the World Cup semi-final where they were beaten by Croatia, and in 2022, they were knocked out of the quarter-finals by France in Qatar.

His statement read: “As a proud Englishman, it has been the honour of my life to play for England and to manage England. It has meant everything to me, and I have given it my all. But it’s time for change, and for a new chapter.”

England’s next match is against the Republic of Ireland in the Nations League on September 7.

Among the favourites to take the helm are Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, former Chelsea boss Graham Potter, and ex-Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino. There has also been talk of ex-Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp going for the role, as well as Thomas Tuchel, who left Bayern Munich at the end of last season and current under-21 boss, Lee Carsley.

Photo credit: ph.FAB

Zeeelle Launches Revolutionary Contoured Hair Wigs

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Leading wig maker Zeeelle is proud to announce the debut of their revolutionary contoured hair wigs. Crafted to enhance and complement facial shapes, these wigs are an industry first and are set to redefine beauty standards.

Drawing inspiration from popular makeup trends, Zeeelle’s new wigs utilise a custom hair colouring technique that integrates freehand application and highlighting. This technique meticulously positions various tones and depths around the face to create a natural, contoured look. By playing with highlights and shadows, these wigs highlight specific facial features, offering a refined touch that enhances natural beauty.

“We believe hair can be designed to complement and enhance facial features just like makeup, which is why we’re thrilled to introduce our contoured hair wigs,” says Zeeelle’s Creative Director, Frey Necole. “Embracing the subtle art of shading and highlighting, these wigs offer a touch that enhances natural beauty. This is the first of its kind and we are looking forward to creating more unique pieces for our clients.”

Key Highlights of Zeeelle’s Contoured Hair Wigs:

  • Innovative Design: The first wigs in the industry specifically designed to enhance facial features through a unique hair colouring technique.
  • Custom Colouring Technique: Inspired by makeup trends, the technique uses freehand application and highlighting to create a natural, contoured look.
  • Artful Application: Careful positioning of different tones and depths around the face creates highlights and shadows that accentuate facial features.
  • Launch and Availability: The contoured hair wigs will be available starting 16th July 2024. Customers can purchase these unique pieces through Zeeelle’s official website.

Wellness Retailer Boosts Subscription Sales with 3PL Partnership

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Prior to collaborating with Zendbox, the technology-driven eCommerce fulfilment specialist, Awesome Supplements faced numerous obstacles that impeded their growth. Their prior experience with a 3PL provider was plagued by communication difficulties, damaged goods, stock management issues, and an inability to support their expansion into the European market. These challenges not only compromised operational efficiency but also threatened the brand’s reputation due to a poor customer experience.

The solution for Awesome Supplements emerged when they transitioned to Zendbox as their subscription fulfilment partner. Zendbox’s holistic approach addressed the shortcomings of their former 3PL by providing not only a robust third-party logistics solution but also a collaborative partnership. From the seamless onboarding process to ongoing support, Zendbox proactively assisted the sports nutrition brand. With Zendbox’s reliable systems eradicating previous stock and order problems, Awesome Supplements regained the confidence and peace of mind to focus on their growth journey. The partnership optimised their eCommerce operations, enhanced customer experience, and positioned the business well for future expansion into new markets.

Charlotte Thompson, Managing Director at Awesome Supplements, commented: “The fulfilment provider we were with before Zendbox was a small company that offered a degree of flexibility for our business, but also meant we experienced more challenges. For example, we had a lot of communication issues with the provider. There were also a lot of issues with damages, goods going missing, and goods not being booked into stock – the usual difficulties with that type of 3PL and the need to handle a lot of products. We also wanted to expand into Europe and beyond, which the provider wasn’t capable of doing at the time.”

“Unlike our previous pick and pack specialist, which felt like an outsourced operation, Zendbox feels more like an extension of our team. Their onboarding process was spot on, and we rarely have any stock issues like we did in the past. The ability to raise a Goods Receiving Order (GRO) on Zendportal is also really useful and eliminates issues we had booking goods into stock with our previous eCommerce 3PL. We were looking to grow as a brand and we knew Zendbox could help with that.”

The partnership has restored the high-quality fulfilment experience that customers have come to expect when they order from the brand, allowing Awesome Supplements to focus on the next phase of their growth.

With the brand now shipping orders seamlessly and cost-effectively across Europe from a centralised UK location, Charlotte believes the collaborative approach from Zendbox is key to ensuring success with any further expansion plans.

She adds: “As a small team at Awesome Supplements, partnering with Zendbox means we never worry about the state of our stock or about orders going out on time. The order turnaround rate has always been very robust and, therefore, gives me a lot of confidence and peace-of-mind. Zendbox is a big fulfilment provider that’s got their act together. I trust their processes and the team is great.”

James Khoury, Founder & CEO of Zendbox, concluded: “Proactive, collaborative, and customer-centric support from Zendbox means Awesome Supplements benefits from a fulfilment solution that meets their needs at every stage of growth. This ensures the brand can better manage its supply chain and continuously fulfil its promises to customers with a fast, accurate and reliable service.”

Demystifying Credit Scores: Understanding Their Impact on Your Financial Health

If you have ever tried to take a loan, rent a house, or are keen on your financial details, then you have probably heard of the term “credit score.” However, do you know what this term implies? A credit score is one of the key indicators of your financial health or well-being is your credit score. There is more to this term that we will be explaining on this post. Keep reading the next chapters for more information.

What is a credit score?

A credit score is a three-digit number that provides insight into your creditworthiness. There are different models for expressing a credit score. The most popular scoring model uses a range of 300 to 850. A credit score is normally an indicator of your financial life jotted in a few numbers. It indicates your history of borrowing and repaying money. The higher your credit score is, the more trustworthy creditors will consider you to be.

A credit score is usually calculated using your credit report. Your credit report contains information like how many bank accounts you have had and how long they have been open. Your credit report also contains information about your payment history, whether you make payments on time, your bank account balances, and every other important financial detail. All this information is used to come up with a number (credit score) that indicates how likely you are to repay a loan or make payments on time.

Why and when do you need to know your credit score and report?

Normally, your credit score will come in handy when you want to borrow money, rent a house or an apartment, or even when you are opening a utility account. In simpler terms, a credit score and report are normally required when you are asking an entity to trust you with the ability to pay your bills fully and on time. For instance, when renting an apartment, the owner or the renter would like to be assured that you will be able to pay your rent on time and fully. This is why renters and landlords will always take your credit score into account.

Lenders also use a credit score to determine if you qualify for a loan and what your loan terms should be, like the interest rates and repayment period. This is why most, if not all, lenders normally have a minimum credit score requirement that all borrowers must meet before they have a chance to get their loans approved. Credit card companies also use credit scores to determine if they can issue someone with a credit card and the terms of the card.

Norton for data protection

Your credit score and report are not details that should get into the wrong hands. However, it is information that you need to keep track of like you do your physical health. You need to know what your credit score is and keep track of important information that could affect your financial health. Even if you do not need an immediate loan, keeping track of this information will come in handy in the future.

Norton credit report and score tracker is the perfect tool for this. This program will help you keep track of your credit score and report information. By doing so, you can spot any inaccuracies and be able to catch any fraudulent activities on time. Additionally, it will help you take the necessary steps to protect your financial information. Some of the advantages of using this credit report and score tracker are:

• You can check your credit score and report using this tool.

• There is information to help you understand your credit score and how it is calculated.

• You can use the Norton Identity Advisor Plus tool to dispute any credit errors in your credit report.

• Thanks to credit alerts, you can monitor key changes to your credit report and score.

• You’ll get round the clock customer support.

Conclusion

While your credit score is very important, lenders also normally consider information like your income, existing debit, and your general credit report to determine whether to approve your application. Therefore, in addition to keeping track of your credit score, you also have to keep track of your overall financial report and details. This way, when time comes for you to rent a place, seek a loan, or even get a credit card, you are not met by any surprises. Before you even go to a lender, you should know that you meet the criteria to qualify for lending.

Petition Urges LTA to Reconsider Closure of Youth Tennis Programmes in London

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A petition has been launched, calling on the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) to reverse its decision to terminate all Youth Tennis Community Programmes (ages 5 to 16) at the National Tennis Centre (NTC) in London.

The LTA Youth Programmes have been vital in developing new talent, providing high-quality coaching and resources that many children would otherwise not have access to. These programmes have made tennis accessible to players from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, ensuring inclusivity and representation.

As a consequence of this decision, over 220 children will be compelled to find privately run tennis clubs and coaches to continue playing tennis and begin their careers as tennis players.

Evan Michaels, who is behind the petition, remarked: “After another year with no British players making it to the second week of Wimbledon, it’s clear that the LTA needs to realise that the future of British tennis lies with the young generation, not just the current elite.

“These programmes are the cornerstone of the LTA’s mission, fostering grassroots and youth tennis development, and are essential for nurturing future British and Wimbledon champions.

“The LTA management are refusing to reconsider their decision and they are harming the future of British tennis.

“We are urging everyone to publicise this petition and support our cause. Your coverage can make a difference in ensuring that the National Tennis Centre continues to nurture young talent and invest in the future of British tennis.”

The petition aims to persuade the Lawn Tennis Association and National Tennis Centre management to reconsider the closure of the junior programmes.

Evan added: “We want to ensure that grassroots tennis continues to thrive at the NTC, keeping the doors open to all ages, skill levels, colours, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

“It is crucial to embrace and develop future champions by maintaining these critical youth programmes and open up tennis to everyone, not just the elite and the wealthy.”

The petition page is available at www.change.org/p/stop-the-lta-closing-all-the-youth-tennis-programmes.