advent small business showcaseThis Advent 2017, we wanted to share some of the wonderful people we work with. We’ve had a wonderful 2017, growing our new business, and want to say Thank You to our clients.

We have the privilege of working with small businesses in a variety of different sectors, who offer wonderful products and services to their customers and clients.

As excitement mounts towards Christmas, whatever your religious or spiritual beliefs, most people get tied up in some sort of excited atmosphere at this time of year. Advent is a time of preparation for Christians, but it’s also a time of preparations for the season of Christmas festivities, parties, families catching up. For many children, it’s a time of expectation that Father Christmas will visit them.

It’s a time of giving and receiving, of love and laughter, and sharing gifts with each other across our world.

Advent 2017

We want to share some of our clients with you, to showcase what they do. December also brings us Small Business Saturday, a day of focus on small businesses, and encouragement that using small businesses is important to our communities. It’s all too easy sometimes to think, oh I’ll just pick that up when I go to the supermarket; or, I’ll pick it up on Amazon; when all these lovely people are making their livings from serving us with their skills and talents, and don’t always shout about what they do.

Running your own business isn’t always easy, and whilst business owners often love the freedom of running their own business, it brings challenges to their families and friends, especially at this time of year where some of them are doing back to back events, and working long hours to fulfill customer orders.

So, we’d simply like to say “thank you” to those clients who chosen us to work with them, to help them grow their business in some way this year. We’re honoured to work with you, and see your growth. Your growth has inspired our growth, and we celebrate that as business owners we can support each other, through all business (and life)’s ups and downs.

Happy Advent!

Tracey-Jane & the Manage Those Things team x


Every day we’ll add one of our clients to this Advent Calendar, and showcase their product or service. It may not be for you, or in your area, but you may know someone who would be interested in finding out more. Please share the business with them. Share this page as a whole, or share each business from their own page. Whichever way, thank you for getting involved, and sharing in our happy Advent season in the run up to Christmas 2017.


Day 1 Created4U

created4u

I make gift shopping for personalised hand painted and handmade ceramic gifts easy for you. By creating unique bespoke one off gifts for you to give to whoever you wish to.

I hand paint your personalised design on to ceramic pottery items in colour, along with a name and a personalised message from you if you would like one. This saves you the frustration of trawling around the shops unable to find something unique and saving you precious time in your busy life for you to spend in a happier way.

What can be better than a personalised gift created for you?

Learn more about Created4U

 Day 2  bras4mums

bras4mums

 

Maternity and nursing bra specialist with wide range of styles across the widest size range available.

Emma gives bra fitting advice to women across the country by phone, text, email or private message on social media, as well as stocking a wide range of bras on the website. If you are local to Cambridgeshire, Emma also has a home bra fitting service.

If you need advice about sizes or styles before ordering, Emma  will help you choose the right bras. With unlimited exchanges, Emma wants to make sure that you are comfortable and supported, so will keep working with you to make sure that you are wearing the right size and style bras for whatever stage of pregnancy or breastfeeding you are at.

bras4mums is here to Support You…through pregnancy & beyond!

 Day 3  Astro Innovation

 

astro innovation

Astro Innovation …..draws upon the ancient astrological database, mythological/archetypal patterns, and the New Physics to empower through insights and new perspectives on your life – and to make practical sense of today’s complex issues……

Personal Consultations – my in-depth approach to astrology reveals the core issues of your life, your strengths, talents and capabilities, your long and short-term learning lessons, your purpose and highest potential, including practical, helpful strategies, current challenges and areas of growth.

Group activities, such as the Practical Astrology Workshops are a fun introduction to using astrology in the everyday.

Learn more about Astro Innovation

 Day 4  Karen Peddie Holistics

karen peddie holistics

 

I’m Karen, I am a Usui Reiki Master Teacher, Accredited Emotional Freedom Technique Practitioner and Essential Oil Wellness Advocate and I love to share my skills and knowledge to help people live their lives to the full once again.

Holistic therapy has been used effectively for centuries and modern science is now beginning to recognise the important part holistic therapy plays in maintaining health and general wellbeing.
Studies have shown that an holistic approach can help manage stress, anxiety, aid relaxation and improve sleep and mental clarity.

My aim is to guide my clients towards self-awareness to allow them to lead their own journey through self-discovery and healing.

Learn more about Karen Peddie Holistics

 Day 5  Chic Glassware

chic glassware

 

I love creating unique gifts for people to give away to loved ones, or for special occasions. I love the challenges some people give me, and whilst I don’t (can’t) share all the work I’ve done, I love everything I create. I often don’t want to hand them over to the client!

I hand paint, then seal the paint, onto glassware. If you have your own glasses you’d like me to make unique, I can do that too for you. Bespoke hand painted glasses are perfect for parties, christenings, weddings, retirements and of course Christmas.

Learn more about Chic Glassware

 Day 6  Stay Fit and Healthy

stay fit and healthy

 

 

Health is such an important gift to us, that we often take it for granted. We want everyone to explore how to stay fit and healthy their way, and find the activities they enjoy most, and the foods they like to eat with their friends and family, that will maintain their good health. We promote, share, support and encourage those around us to stay fit and healthy, and encourage people to join us on our mission to help others.

Whether you’re just needing someone to talk to about where you are now, or what health and fitness improvements you’d like to make, we can help you.

Learn more about Stay Fit and Healthy

 Day 7  One2One Listening

one2one listening

 

What is One2One Listening?

  • It’s a space to share anything that is on your mind.
  • It’s a space for you to talk in private to a trained listener who will not interupt, advise, or judge you
  • It’s a space where you will be encouraged to find your own way forward

Who is One2One Listening for?

  • Anyone over 18 who wants to talk about life issues such as bereavement, loneliness, anxiety, financial concerns, relationship and family problems, unemployment, health concerns

A listening space is a private confidential time between you and a volunteer listening in a comfortable safe room for both of you. You’ll have up to 50 minutes with the volunteer listener to talk about anything you want, and they will simply listen to you and let you say whatever you want. The process of saying your thoughts out loud will help you put your thoughts in a little bit of order, and help you decide if there’s anything you want to do after you’ve been listened to.

Learn more about One2One Listening

 Day 8  Confident Business Owner

confident business owner

 

CONFIDENT BUSINESS OWNER –

DOING BUSINESS YOUR WAY

By the end of our 6 months together:

  • you’ll be clear about the direction of your business, your involvement in it
  • you’ll know what systems will help your business run smoothly by itself
  • you’ll have a plan for yourself and the day to day running of the business
  • you’ll be doing the things you love in the business, leaving the [staff], systems and procedures of the business to do the rest.
  • you’ll be confident your business will be running the way that’s best for you

Learn more about Confident Business Owner Programme

 Day 9  Online Visibility Academy

online visibility academy

 

Marketing your business as an entrepreneur can be tough at times. You’re not just an entrepreneur; you’re a parent, a sibling, a partner, the chef and the bottle washer… You have some many capes and masks, it can be hard to remember who you are at times! And then there’s business you. You need leads, you need products and services to launch and then of course you desire leverage in order to live the life of your dreams. In fact, it can seem like you’re from outer space, that everyone everyone else is a digital native or speaking another language at times.

Don’t worry, we’ve got your back. We support business focused superheros, like you, in growing your business using digital marketing. You’ll love how your time is freed up, your influence increases and your bank balance grows.

Learn more about Online Visibility Academy

 Day 10  Seatpost Man

seatpost man advent

 

My business specializes in professionally removing tight or seized seatposts from bicycle frames using a totally unique method which will withdraw the post (intact if possible) in a safe and frame friendly way. 

Over twenty years ago a friend asked me to attempt to remove a seized seat post from an old BMX frame. My method was successful and was my inspiration when more recently another friend asked me the same thing.

As this seatpost was in great condition I designed and fabricated a tool to remove it, with little or no marking, to allow it to be reused and have since used this method to great effect on more customers bikes. I have now increased my tooling and can remove damaged or fully seized seatposts from most frames.

Learn more about the Seatpost Man

 Day 11 Tech Support Mama

tech support mama

 

 

 

I am a  troubleshooter, programmer & web developer by profession and a mother of 3 kids in my chosen career – motherhood.

My aim is to provide a human touch to the traditional technical support you get from technical service providers. This helps lessen the stress and worries that you go through, knowing that you now have a partner. Your co-mama is still awake and online working with you and your business.

We find a way to make your online technical challenges easier,  make your online presence more visible and keep your business more secure.

Learn more about Tech Support Mama 

 Day 12 KCJ Gifts

KCJ Gifts give a gift and change a life

 

 

 At KCJ Gifts, we pride ourselves on sourcing a wide range of high quality jewellery, gifts and accessories from our select suppliers, which enables us to offer a beautiful selection at an affordable price.

KCJ Gifts are supporters of ‘Stir the Fire Ministries’ in Zambia. By buying a gift from us, you will be helping us to fund various projects, which will help with the building of new schools alongside a daily feeding programme where around 300 orphaned children are fed everyday. By buying a gift from KCJ Gifts, you really can give a gift and change a life.

Learn more about KCJ Gifts

 Day 13 Monks Astrology

monks astrology

 

 

 Monks Astrology specialises in creating beautiful astrological charts, all hand drawn, laser etched to a high standard then adorned with Swarovski crystals. Each one is uniquely different as the chart is a direct reflection of the planetary motions in the sky above.  Some are fitted with a clock mechanism. Each chart comes with it’s own interpretation and are a not only lovely works of art but conversation pieces as well.

Learn more about Monks Astrology & Monks Fine Art

 Day 14 Josie Dom

josie dom author

 

 

 Josie began writing stories as a young girl.  The stories were mostly based around her passion for horse-riding.  Since becoming a Mum in 2006, Josie wrote stories as a way to entertain first her son, and a couple of years later her daughter.

Josie published her first book “Lum” in 2016, which is illustrated by her husband. The next joint publication will be “Lum’s Mum” which will be available from Spring 2018.

Josie loves nonsense and creates personalised limericks, running workshops in schools, and sharing her passion for words and writing.

Learn more about Josie Dom.

 Day 15  Glenbreck Health Ltd

glenbreck health advent

 We are a group of highly skilled Occupational Health Professionals with many years experience who specialise in managing all aspects of workplace health for small to medium sized businesses.

We can advise on and help with policies and procedures, statutory health surveillance, COSHH compliance, pre-employment assessment, sickness absence and the management of long term health problems which affect people at work. We have special expertise in stress management, mental health issues, musculoskeletal problems and health assessments for off shore workers.

Learn more about Glenbreck Health Ltd

 Day 16 Bra Lady

bra lady advent

 The Bra Lady network have been supporting women in their own homes since 2004. Offering a home bra fitting service, each Bra Lady runs their own business, offering bra styles and ranges of their choice. Most bra fitters in the network offer mastectomy bras, maternity bras, nursing bras, soft cup bras, sports bras, and teen bras, alongside a small range of underwired bras for everyday wear.Each Bra Lady holds her own stock, but as a network we work together to find the right bras for you, whatever you’re looking for.

Learn more about the Bra Lady network

 Day 17  Mercury Model

mercury model advent

 A new and original cognitive model for the 21st Century, the Mercury Model focuses on mental uniqueness. It easily identifies and accurately describes how our individual minds tick. It can improve learning and kick-start mutually respectful communication with people of all ages, both genders, from any culture, on any topic, in any situation – from classrooms and living rooms to boardrooms and bar rooms.

Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.

Albert Einstein

Learn more about the Mercury Model

 Day 18  Wisdom Oracle

wisdom oracle advent

 You may be feeling stuck, confused, frustrated, at a crossroads in your personal or business life and not knowing which way to turn or which direction to take.

As the Wisdom Oracle, I help you gain Clarity on any issue that you are struggling with in your life.

I can help you overcome feelings of overwhelm, procrastination, confusion, worry, anxiety or even a health issue that you cannot shift or get to the bottom of.

Learn more about the Wisdom Oracle

 Day 19  Utility Warehouse

utility warehouse advent

 

 Utility Warehouse provides over 600,000 customers throughout the UK with substantial savings on a wide range of utility services including home phone, mobiles, broadband, gas and electricity.

You may not have heard of Utility Warehouse before, as they don’t advertise. Instead, they rely on satisfied customers and Independent Distributors letting their friends and family know about the great value services they deliver.

They share the money they save with their members, which means you benefit from the best value in the UK!

Learn more about Utility Warehouse

 Day 20  Sarah Jane Lee

sarah jane lee advent

What’s your story? We all have one of course. I am fascinated by stories. I love the fact that, no matter what, we can find a connection through story.

I use drama to teach humanities, RE and literacy. Many children, (especially those struggling with traditional methods), connect through the drama process. I work in a very structured way, scaffolding the work carefully unravelling the subject matter through stories. I never say, “Make up a play”. I ask, “How do you think the girl in the factory feels at this moment? Let’s ask her”.

It’s intricate work – not drama games – and it is very liberating.

Learn more about Sarah Jane Lee & Education through drama

 Day 21  WP Fiddly Bits

wpfiddlybits advent

Here at WP Fiddly Bits we work with people like you to keep your website safely up and running, fix those niggly issues that occur and enable you to keep your site and your online marketing up to date.It’s a wordpress maintenance service with a twist.

Each plan comes with free hosting, website theme and plugin updates done for you and daily website and wordpress database backups.

You can then choose to add either one or two hours of support each month – and you can use this time to take care of even more of those fiddly bits you don’t have the time, knowledge or inclination to DIY.

Learn more about WP Fiddly Bits

 Day 22  Selling made Easierselling made easier advent  So what is it being an entrepreneur?  You want it but there is no drive.  It’s what you have always dreamed of.  The time freedom and to work whenever you want to.  And it would be even better if you just had consistent cash coming in but currently it’s probably up and down like a roller coaster.

That’s why accountability helps.   I know you have heard about accountability before but what about specific sales accountability?  

It’s totally different.  It just keeps you on track.  It actually improves your sales.  It leaves you feeling better about your business, about your life, about your sales, giving you increased income because you are actually getting down to it.

Learn more about Selling made Easier

 Day 23  Mindset Metaphors

mindset metaphors advent

 Mindset Metaphors believe that everyone has the right to live to their full potential in all areas of their life, and we support them to make that happen in three key ways:

  1. Training coaches and trainers to facilitate life changing Mindset Metaphors with their clients, including glass and fire walks
  2. Hosting events and retreats for individuals who are seeking deeper connections and conscious living.
  3. Working with organisations to develop their teams, allowing each member to experience empowerment, whilst exploring their vital role within the team. Creating a mindset for success.

Learn more about Mindset Metaphors

 Day 24  Network for a Better World

n4bw advent

Network for a Better World:

Reach the most marginalised, poorest families and provide sustainable, long term, routes out of that de-humanising & avoidable poverty.

N4BW do this through:  community health education, distribution of life enhancing items, improvement of primary school standards, action on primary school attendance, after-school clubs and provision of secondary school teacher to improve standards, micro-business schemes, micro environmental/agro schemes – and other projects which the trustees agree meet the objective.

Learn more about N4BW & the work of Marian Kearney in Malawi

 Day 25

 


What is Advent