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NICE N NAUGHTY CELEBRATES AWESOME FOURSOME!
Fast growing adult
retailer Nice n Naughty is celebrating a '4-midable' success
after being named the best in the business by their industry peers
for a record 4th year running.
The Chester-based company that has 11 stores across the North West
of England, Wales and the Midlands including Liverpool was named
Retailer of the Year at the Erotic Trade Only Awards – the industry
equivalent of the Oscars. At a glittering Birmingham awards
ceremony, Nice n Naughty secured the coveted crown in an
unprecedented run of success, beating rivals such as Ann Summers and
the Private chain of sex shops – to mark its 9th anniversary in
spectacular style.
Delighted company founder, Simon Prescott said the ceremony took
place almost to the day since he started the company in 1999 from
humble beginnings. “To win this award for a 4th
consecutive year is unheard of. As usual, the competition was very
strong .It was the perfect was to celebrate our 9th birthday.”
In a double boost Nice n Naughty also won best oversees R18 film for
Supernatural which is produced by the world’s leading adult movie
maker, Wicked Pictures.
Simon emphasised:- “We have come a very long as since I
started the business with one retail outlet in Chester. Nice n
Naughty is a massive success story, built on a very dedicated and
committed workforce. Customers from Liverpool can be assured that
when they buy from Nice n Naughty they are buying from the best in
the business.
I am so very very proud of the retail team and would
particularly like to thank our National Retail Manager Richard Allmark and his team for their total commitment, support and sheer
hard work over the last 12 months. They never cease to amaze me. This award is voted for by the industry
itself so is extremely gratifying to realise we are so well
respected and acknowledged by our peers.”
Nice n Naughty is the 1st licensed adult retailer to achieve
Investor In People status and sells lingerie, sex toys and hard core
DVD’s.
Simon continued:-
“Our staff get good wages, conditions, health benefits and even
gym membership, so it’s easy for us to attract high calibre workers.
Hopefully our business philosophy and continued awards success will
help break down barriers and change people’s perceptions of sex
shops as seedy back street premises with boarded up windows. Our
shops are nothing like that. They are clean, professionally-run, fun
environments. We want to create relaxing atmospheres in which
couples especially feel comfortable.”
He pointed out:-
“We want to send out the message that sex isn’t shameful, we
are playing a vital role in helping people sustain healthy marriages
and relationships.”
Simon runs the growing business with his partner Trish Murray and
added:- “Nice n Naughty continues to go from strength to
strength, helped in a significant way by winning high profile
industry awards such our latest success. We have a great
relationship with all our suppliers and friendly rivals and are
grateful for their ongoing support whilst we have continued to grow
and develop the business. We are determined to move the company onto
even further levels of success.
We have created a winning formula, which consists of highly trained,
enthusiastic male and female staff, comfortable shopping
environments and an enormous and varied product range varying from
hosiery and lingerie, and kinky outfits, through to R18 DVD's,
magazines and adult toys.
Receiving this highly acclaimed award again, gives reassurance and
confidence to all our existing and potential customers that Nice N
Naughty is both reputable and recognised as having the best adult
shops across the UK and is definitely the place to shop.”
Simon’s successful retail empire is complemented by a user friendly
online store at
www.nicennaughty.co.uk as well
as a growing wholesale division where it exclusively distributes R18
films from Wicked Pictures on DVD across the UK and Eire – forming
the basis of its second ETO Award this year.
Wicked Pictures president Steve Orenstein paid a glowing tribute to
Nice n Naughty as he remarked:- “They are the perfect partner
for us. They are an award-winning company, distributing an
award-winning brand, as demonstrated by their double success at ETO
2008. Simon and his team fully deserve their achievements. Their
professionalism and commitment to customer excellence are second to
none.” |
A
light right foot will do more to reduce CO2 than retrospective road
tax
PROPOSED
Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) changes intended to reduce CO2 emissions
from cars will have little impact unless driving behaviour changes
as well, according to research from the IAM.
Although many manufacturers have highly efficient eco
versions of their cars available, many drivers will unwittingly lose
the benefit of the technology through poor driving habits. The
following examples of common errors by drivers increase fuel
consumption significantly:-
Under inflated tyres - tyres that are 20% under inflated use
3% more fuel
Roof storage - wind resistance causes use of up to 20% more
fuel at 70mph
Air conditioning - uses up to 10% more fuel
Aggressive driving - uses 15% more fuel
Speeding - travelling at 80mph uses up to 15% more fuel than
70mph
Short journeys - the 1st 2 miles use up to 100% more fuel
Taken together, all these items can increase fuel consumption, and
CO2 emissions, by up to 45%. This level of increase would mean that
even the most economical and eco-friendly car, such as Ford's new
Focus ECOnetic, may emit as much CO2 as a seven-seater people
carrier like the Ford Galaxy, in spite of the Focus' class leading
Band B VED (road tax) rating. The extra fuel cost for the
Focus would also wipe out the savings in road tax. If the Focus is
driven efficiently for approximately 10,000 miles a year, the fuel
bill will be around £865. Poor driving habits would increase this by
more than £330 per year, far outweighing the proposed reduction of
£90 in VED.
IAM Head of Technical Policy and Advice, Tim Shallcross, said:-
"If the government is serious about getting motorists to reduce
CO2 emissions, the IAM says more investment in driver education and
information is needed, rather than extra taxes that motorists
suspect are more about revenue-raising than improving the
environment."
CAR
KEY TO LOVE?
A well
maintained car could be the key to a revved-up love-life, after
research from Kwik-Fit found that 14 million Brits say they can tell
much about a prospective partner from the state of their motor.
Interestingly, females are slightly more likely to judge a partner
by their car - with 44% compared to 40% of men.
The findings also reveal that a staggering 250 million women have
even dated a chap just because they liked his car. And a further
250,000 turned down a date with a guy they liked, because they
didn’t rate his motor. But perhaps more extreme is the 330,000
Brits that claim to have stayed in a relationship just because they
liked driving their partner’s car, or the 230,000 that went as far
as dumping their other half because their motor didn’t meet their
high standards.
David White, customer services director at Kwik-Fit commented:-
“Whilst many people strive for a honed appearance to attract the
opposite sex, it seems this can often count for little if their car
is unreliable and has filthy paintwork, an oil leak and bald tyres.”
He continued:- “Making a date for a service at Kwik-Fit
will not only keep you and your loved ones safe on the road, but may
also cost less than a new outfit or gym membership and still help
you attract the opposite sex too!”
FSB calls for more
support for apprenticeships so employers can say "You're Hired"
THE
Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is calling for greater
awareness and access to financial support for smaller firms taking
on apprentices. Responding to a consultation on National
Minimum Wage (NMW) exemptions for apprentices, the FSB today told
the Low Pay Commission that trainees should be paid the same as
16-18 year olds in ordinary employment but called for better support
to ensure training completion rates are vastly improved.
A recent FSB survey revealed that only 5% of respondents were aware
that compensation was available for giving apprentices time off to
train; 78% of members said they would employ apprentices if there
was financial support on offer from the government while 82% backed
raising the wage of an apprentice from its current level.
Colin Willman, FSB Education and Skills Chairman, said:- "The
FSB believes in apprenticeships and their value to the economy which
is why exemptions from the NMW are not critical to small businesses.
The NMW levels for apprenticeships must be the same as a 16 to 18 year
old in ordinary employment, an increase in completion levels are of
the greatest concern. Small businesses place great value on an
apprenticeship and are prepared to invest in them. But they are
often impeded by lengthy administration and the costs of providing
training. Many are not aware about wage contribution for time off to
train. We would like to
see greater efforts to make small businesses aware of financial
support for providing training and a reduction in the bureaucracy to
receive it. This should enable employers to tell the next generation
of apprentices, 'You're Hired'." |
