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Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software is designed to facilitate strong client relationships and customer loyalty by providing businesses with the tools to improve customer service levels. A successfully implemented CRM solution allows a business to update customer information, schedule regular communications and better utilise available resources. Having a single location where customer data resides allows each user to have the same view of a client’s history, enabling a quicker response to changing customer needs and requirements.

Neil Slater, professional services manager at DMC Software Solutions, a leading Sage and Microsoft CRM solution provider, explicates, “We are currently in the thick of a recession and the best way for companies to keep afloat and reduce expenditure is to focus efforts on retaining business and not acquiring it. CRM is an essential tool for any business regardless of size because it enables you to know your customers businesses, based on this information you can recommend the right products and services to help them to grow. By providing customers with sound advice and good products they will return to you when their needs change, or they need further support down the line.”

CRM Software is quickly becoming the essential business tool with industry experts proclaiming CRM is ‘an imperative not an option during the downturn’. However, there are many CRM solutions and deployment options to choose from. The Sage CRM solution and Microsoft Dynamics CRM solutions are well established names in the world of CRM providing different ranges to suit different business needs and budgets. Sage CRM products include ACT! by Sage, Sage CRM and SalesLogix.

CRM is quickly becoming more accessible to businesses at the small end of the spectrum with the introduction of Software as a Service (SaaS.) SaaS is a cost effective solution engineered specifically to provide small and medium sized businesses with full access to CRM software, updates, maintenance and technical support for a small monthly fee. Both ACT! SaaS and Microsoft Dynamics Sofware as a Service (SaaS) offer businesses comprehensive CRM functionality at the fraction of the cost and demands of a traditional on-premise solution.

About DMC Software

DMC Software is a company that is experienced in providing Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Accounts and integrated business solutions for businesses of all sizes, across a broad range of industries including ACT! by Sage, Sage CRM, Sage SalesLogix CRM and Microsoft Dynamics CRM. With advanced development abilities DMC can tailor a solution to meet the exact requirements of a business, providing the tools and supporting services to increase efficiency and profitability.

For more information on the CRM solutions and professional services available from DMC Software visit www.dmcsoftware.co.uk. Alternatively, email info@dmcsoftware.co.uk or call FREEPHONE 0800 6522 423 to speak to a member of the sales staff

ENDS –

Press Contact:
Jade Dixon-Winters
Marketing Executive
Email:    jadewinters@dmcsoftware.co.uk
Tel:         +44 (0)1733 362120

Website:  http://www.dmcsoftware.co.uk

Postal address
Churchill House, Isis Way, Minerva Business Park, Lynch Wood,
Peterborough, PE2 6QR

Red Gate Gallery presents

Blessed Heritage/Tamra

A Live music gig of a fusion of traditional and contemporary Senegalese Music

Live Gig: Saturday 13th of June 2009
Doors open: 7.30pm: Reserve Seats early
Gig start: 8 pm – 11 pm
Admission: £7

About Blessed Heritage / Tamra

Tamra means shining drums. Tamra’s origins date back to 1994 when former Youssou Ndour drummer Magatte Dieng & father of Babacarr Dieng where working together. During this time the band consisted of sabar drums led by Magatte.

Magatte then added kit drums to the arrangements which added a rich mix between European and Senegalese rhythms. He toured France with Tamra ensemble with great success. Now Babacarr, in collaboration with Silvan Ndiaye, has taken up the reigns of his father’s traditions along with band members Ali Seck, Karim Mbaye and guest artists.
Babacarr is keen to share the process of making music with a pan-African vibe with the roots stretching across his motherland. The ensemble consists of Sabar, Tabala, used in religious ceremonies.

Djembe’s and the Tama (talking drum), with the addition of the Kora and Xalam stringed and harp like instruments create a fusion of sound that is unforgettable.

Add to this… singing, dance and drama and wonderful vibrant costumes.
Tamra …..share, experiment & love……………..
For further info: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=337204518

Beat Treats provides producers throughout the world with inspiration in the form of a new sample construction kit delivered each month for one year. All for just £2!

www.beattreats.co.uk is a cutting-edge service that offers yearly subscriptions to 100% original, professionally produced sample packs covering multiple styles of music including Afro-House, Breaks, Chill-House, Deep-House, Hip-Hop, Jerk-Beat, Nu-Soul and Tech-House.

The service was established by a collective of veteran beat producers, including Martin ‘Atjazz’ Iveson, Clive ‘Clyde’ Astin and the mysterious Fireworm, amongst some other big-name guest contributors. “Sample CD’s can be expensive and somewhat unoriginal, but we have created a series of unique, raw beats and broken them right down to unique individual hits. With unrestricted usage, we feel we are arming producers with a quality, value for money and deadly product”, stated co-founder Iveson.

“Also, we think the service will be a ray of sunshine for beat heads the world over, as our subscriptions deliver one new beat construction kit to their inbox on the first Monday of each month for a year, quite literally a beat treat”, added Astin.

Each sample pack is delivered as a zip file containing a one to two bar sample of the complete arrangement, along with 16bit, 44kHz quality samples of the individual elements for producers to either remodel the or use in their original productions. Read more…

Seven reasons why switched-on SMEs are seeking serviced office shelter during the current economic downturn.

Abbey Business Centres Ltd, the award-winning UK serviced office provider, reports a 37% increase in enquiry numbers over the last 12 months. Julie Calder, Managing Director, explains why she believes savvy businesses are increasingly choosing the serviced office option.

1) Flexibility – 2014 is a long way off…but 5 years is the average length of time businesses commit to in conventional space. Can anyone confidently predict what their business priorities will be in 2014? Smart businesses stay ahead of the game and switch to serviced accommodation so they can mitigate their risk.
Julie Calder says: “A serviced office enables businesses to commit to much shorter time scales, starting from just 3 months. However our average client actually stays for over 3 years. As the gap between average serviced office residence and the duration of conventional leases narrows, businesses are becoming less willing to commit to the more restrictive conventional terms”.

2) Cash Flow – Serviced agreements allow for better budgeting. Unlike conventional space where tenants pay quarterly in advance, serviced office clients ‘Pay as they go ’on a monthly basis and only for services they use.

Julie Calder comments: “Our latest survey of recent move-ins showed that 100% agreed that the actual cost of the office and services matched what was negotiated. We’ve banished the myth that serviced office providers hit businesses with hidden costs after they move-in’. Read more…

Take these steps from Young London (www.younglondon.co.uk)
to make the best of a difficult situation: In the current economic climate, unemployment has become an unexpected reality for many. Hopefully it will never happen to one of your tenants but if it does and they can’t pay the rent, what are your options as a landlord?

Maintain a good relationship with your tenant
If the worse does happen and your tenant loses their job, you need to know about it! If you’re approachable then they’re more likely to let you know what’s happened. At the same time it makes sense to keep an eye on your tenant; make sure the rent is being paid on time and if isn’t, ask why sooner rather than later. If they have been made unemployed then paying their rent may not be high up on their list of priorities when faced with credit card bills and other debts. Make sure they understand early on how important it is to pay the rent.

Look at taking out insurance cover
Insurance cover is available to guarantee your rental income and legal expenses. For a regular monthly premium, these policies can be taken out when signing up a new tenant.

Find out if Local Housing Allowance is an option
Your tenant may be eligible for Local Housing Allowance. Landlords should speak to their local council to see if it’s an applicable option for the tenancy – and ensure they familiarise themselves with the additional responsibilities it may entail. This may seem like a lot of effort but it could mean you keep the tenant until the end of the tenancy agreement. Read more…

French self-catering accommodation specialist P&V is offering a range of affordable accommodation on the French Riviera, for those who want to experience the glitz and glamour of the Cannes Film Festival whilst staying within a tight budget. Accommodation includes centrally located properties just 50m from Cannes Beach, with prices starting from as little as £32 per person, per night.

The Cannes Film Festival takes place between the 13th – 24th May 2009 and many of P&V’s properties are ideally located for both celebrity spotting at the ‘Palais des Festivals’ in Cannes and exploring the beaches and towns along the French Riviera, including the lively harbour of Antibes and picturesque Mandelieu.

Weekend breaks in Cannes

The below properties have availability for the opening night of the Cannes Film Festival (13th May 2009), giving guests an ideal opportunity to spot their favourite stars on the famous red carpet.

Residence Pierre & Vacances Cannes Beach
Three nights in a studio apartment sleeping two people starts from £328 per apartment from the 13th – 16th May 2009 – just £55 per person, per night.
Located just 50m from the beach and with stunning sea views, the Pierre & Vacances Cannes Beach property is in an ideal location for a short break on the French Riviera. The ‘Palais des Festivals,’ where the Film Festival takes place, is less than ten minutes away and the Cannes-La-Bocca shopping quarter is on the property’s doorstep. All apartments are equipped with terraces or balconies and the accommodation also includes a fitness suite, Jacuzzi and restaurant. For more information, please visit: http://www.pv-holidays.com/cote-d-azur/cannes/cannes-beach-holiday-apartments_rental_228-2_fp Read more…

Teknomek Ltd. is a constantly evolving company which manufactures and supplies high quality stainless steel equipment and furniture for the food, catering and kitchen environment, as well as other sterile industries where hygiene standards are the top priority. Teknomek’s core focus has always been on its customers by providing innovative and cost-effective stainless steel solutions with a rapid and efficient next-day delivery service on 100s of stock items.

As customers all have slightly different requirements, Teknomek has the experience and resources, including a knowledgeable sales team on hand to discuss your requirements, its own in-house Computer Aided Design (CAD) team using the latest technology from Solid Works and a manufacturing facility to produce innovative, state-of-the-art custom-made products.

An example of Teknomek’s latest custom-made furniture is this hexagonal table designed for canteen use and manufactured by Hygienox™ at Teknomek. Manufactured from 304 quality stainless steel, with inset standard gastronorm trays makes this ideal for the dispensing of condiments and cutlery. It has 3 shelved and lockable cupboard units for safe storage of restock items. The top is removable from the base and is fitted with castors for ease of transportation. Teknomek’s stainless steel products conform to the highest food standards, meeting all food safety and microbiological safety regulations.

Teknomek can customise designs to suit the customer, giving them confidence that they can meet your most challenging hygienic kitchen equipment requirements. Read more…

With the excitement of the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest fast approaching, fans around the world are familiarising themselves with entrants’ music videos in the annual warm up to the biggest music competition on Earth.

This year’s entry from Iceland is the enigmatic Johanna Gudrun Jonsdottir (often known simply as Johanna), whose smooth yet powerful voice has been earning her fans for over a decade – not bad for someone born in 1990.

Johanna’s slow-burning ballad ‘Is It True?’ is proving very popular among European audiences – in no small part due to the fresh and dreamlike music video that accompanies it.

The newly released video was created by Digital & Sons and by Z Productions. The computer generated video is simply and attractively put together, and features Johanna singing her song in an otherworldly, colourful environment. It bears a slight resemblance to a white fluffy cloud at sunset, encircled by lazy and indistinct butterflies and fairies – but not quite. Whatever it is, the video’s gentle and soothing effect fits perfectly with the song’s lilting strings and upfront vocals. Read more…

The Port of Hafnarfjordur is located in the southwest of Iceland, in easy reach of the capital Reykjavik. It has excellent facilities for many types of vessel and offers the highest possible service at low prices.

Hafnarfjordur is one of the largest ports in Iceland with excellent facilities for visiting fishing ships – including cold storage, maintenance and repairs, and top quality unloading facilities. The town of Hafnarfjordur is also an idyllic stop over for any crew.

Hafnarfjordur is more than just a port for fishermen though. Containers and cruise ships are equally welcome, as well as oil unloading, bauxite suction and dry storage.

The Port of Hafnarfjordur is split over two sites: in Hafnarfjordur and at Straumsvik 4 kilometres away from the town itself. The Straumsvik site is located next to the Gasfelagid hf liquefied petroleum gas depot and the Icelandic Aluminium Company (ISAL) smelter site and therefore has facilities for unloading bauxite.

Hafnarfjordur’s sheltered harbour provides comfortable berthing options for cruise ships up to 350 metres long with 8-10 metres draught. The pretty town offers plenty for visiting cruise ship passengers to do – and that’s before they even realise that the nation’s capital is only a 10-15 minute drive away!

Ports in Iceland are increasingly taking advantage of the country’s strategic location right in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean – still one of the most important shipping routes in the world. Iceland ports also stand to benefit from the likely existence of oil in Icelandic waters and from the opening up of new shipping lanes in the High North.

Hafnarfjordur Harbour is free of ice all year round and is therefore able to maintain the same level of service in the winter and summertime alike.

For further information on your ideal Icelandic port partner, visit www.portofhafnarfjordur.is

Worcestershire business woman Amanda O’Brien has written and published a new information packed book that could help people survive the credit crunch. Titled ‘The £2,500 Per Week eBay Powersellers Secrets’, it provides a step-by-step guide to setting up and running a successful full or part time eBay business from home that anyone can start in their spare time and make extra money.

Amanda, from Broadway was motivated to write the book after giving up her 9 to 5 job four years ago in favour of working fewer hours, spending more time with her family and earning a better income. Since then she has quietly been earning a generous full time income from her successful eBay business and felt that her knowledge could now help others do the same.

Amanda said, “In the current economic climate, everyone is feeling the pinch and are always on the lookout for a bargain. One of the first places people look to is eBay and I am in a position to be able to share with people the best way to take advantage of this. ‘The £2,500 Per Week eBay Powersellers Secrets’ is a complete guide to setting up your own home-based business. Even if you have no business experience and have never looked at the eBay website before, it doesn’t matter! There is the potential for anyone to earn a full time or second income, working just a few hours a day, simply by following this information.”

‘The £2,500 Per Week eBay Powersellers Secrets’ shows exactly how to start an eBay business from scratch and make a serious income from it. The simple step-by-step instructions are easy to follow and cover all the details needed to get started straight away. Full information and order details are available online at www.profitwithebay.co.uk Read more…

Aiming at the savings market, Abbey International has just introduced a new fixed rate account paying a guaranteed 3.00% gross/AER over 12 months. The new account has a minimum balance requirement of £50,000 and is a limited offer account designed for new monies only. It is expected to be highly popular, given the combination of an attractive interest rate and the stability of Abbey International and will be withdrawn once fully subscribed.

At the end of the fixed rate term, clients can close their account or let the capital and interest roll over into a new fixed rate account of their choice.

Jane Matthews, Head of Client Experience at Abbey International, said: “With UK Base Rate remaining unchanged this month at their record low of 0.5%, this account offers a very attractive 3.00% gross rate of return. We understand today’s investors need high quality service, value and security and this account offers all three. Many people are rightly concerned about the stability of their bank, so it will reassure clients opening this new account to know that Abbey International is part of the Santander Group, which has more than 150 years’ experience in banking and has clients all over the world. Santander has an AA stable credit rating from both Fitch and Moody’s credit rating agencies.”

For further information on banking with Abbey International on Jersey call + 44 (0)1534 885055 or log onto www.abbeyinternational.com Read more…