May 21, 2012

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The new fuel-efficient Civic – a great company car

January 30, 2012 By Daisy Lewis

If you’re looking for great company cars for your business then look no further. The latest Honda car to go on sale in the UK is the new honda civic 2012. And although it remains true to the Civic heritage, it has undergone a few changes that improve on the last generation.

As well as a few adjustments on the exterior like the reduction of the overly large rear spoiler that its predecessor had, Honda has also made some improvements on the inside, with better quality materials and greater room for both the driver and passengers. It has Honda’s ‘magic seats’ in the back – which can flip and fold over to face in either direction, or allow the transport of taller objects than the already roomy boot can manage.

The dash is driver-orientated with the rev counter at the centre, and a digital speedometer, but the mix of analogue and digital displays may not appeal to everyone.

The diesel can get from 0-62 mph in 8.5 seconds and has a maximum speed of 135 mph. So far, there’s been no mention of the possibility of a Civic hybrid making it to the UK, although there is one in the States, as well as a natural gas version. However, the diesel is the most environmentally friendly of the three engine choices in the UK. The 2.2 litre engine emits a very low 110g/km of carbon dioxide, which means that the first year’s road tax is free and that for subsequent years it will only be £20.

The 1.8 litre petrol engine has a top speed of 134 mph and can get to 62 mph in 9.6 seconds. There’s also a 1.4 litre petrol engine and the petrol engines average between 44 and 53 miles per gallon.

All the Civic 2012 range is better on fuel economy because they are equipped with stop start technology and an ECON button which instructs the car’s systems to operate at an eco-friendly, fuel efficient optimum.

It remains to be seen how popular the new Honda Civic will be in the UK, if previous Civics are anything to go by, they’ll be flying out of the showrooms.

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Things to think of when starting a business

January 30, 2012 By Daisy Lewis

Starting your own business is an exciting time, for anyone, but it can also be fairly stressful as there are so many factors to take into consideration.

If you are considering setting up your business, there are several things you will have to bear in mind before you begin and the things you will have to think about will be dependent on the type of business you are planning to set up.

 

For anyone planning on setting up a business that involves a premises, such as a shop, an office or a factory, there are of course building considerations to take into account. If you are setting up your own shop, office, cafe or anywhere that employees, colleagues or potential customers will have to enter, you will need to take into account accessibility considerations.

 

Ensure that the premises of your new business are compliant with health and safety regulations and they allow access for less able-bodied people, in the form of wheelchair ramps, stair lifts and stair rails, for example. This is an especially important consideration if you are planning to open a customer-facing business such as a restaurant, shop or cafe, as you could risk losing valuable business if your premises are not accessible. But it is also important that you offer accessibility to potential staff to comply with employment discrimination laws.

 

If you invest the time and money in ensuring these factors are all covered off at the beginning, you can save yourself a lot of stress and hassle further down the line. It is much better to ensure that your business is accessible from the start than to wait until you are losing out on custom or faced with the potential threat of discrimination lawsuits further down the line. You can find accessibility products such as stair lifts at Homelifestairlifts.co.uk.

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Start your own diy shop

January 20, 2012 By Daisy Lewis

If you are considering starting your own DIY shop then much of the advice you should follow is similar to that for anyone looking to set up any type of shop.

 

Firstly, consider whether you will be purchasing an existing DIY shop or starting from scratch. If you are buying an existing shop, it will obviously mean less work in terms of finding a premises and investing in the necessary shop fittings and equipment. It should also mean you have a customer base established, although this of course relies on the fact that the previous business owners were reputable and honest.

 

As well as a customer base and premises in place, choosing to buy an existing DIY shop will mean there are already relationships in place with suppliers (again, the previous owners’ reputations and practices are relevant here) and staff are already in place should you choose to keep them on.

 

Do your own research to determine whether the location is right for your business. If the previous owners are selling up because they failed to get enough custom, you need to determine that this is not due to the location of the premises to avoid making the same mistake. If the location is not ideal but you feel you can make a DIY business work where others have not, you may be able to bring the sellers down on price.

 

When starting any new business, money is usually a prime concern, and saving money elsewhere becomes increasingly important. You will probably find you need to save money in the home in order to fund your business before you start taking a profit, so consider money-saving techniques such as buying beds on finance and other vital household furniture from Bensons for Beds, rather than forking out for essential items in one lump sum.

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