1. issue no. 3
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Biz in Biz o u t
Welcome to Bizin-Bizout
Bizin-Bizout is a new kind of advertising service
to new and existing businesses.
It is designed to assist new businesses to
advertise their products and services through the
media and the internet.
Featured Companies
opencollege.ie
venueshop.ie
go2mobile.com
noobru.com
chinesepod.com/ireland
Inside:
• The venueshop.ie will be a useful website for everyone organising an event. Pg2
• All ROI Residents to Learn Chinese Free. Pg5
2. live online classes
Our Teaching Style
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The Open College of Ireland specialises in the
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use of live online classes, which is a version of
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colle agues mazed.
based teaching, modified to suit online delivery.
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This approach allows trainers to broadcast
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video, audio, whiteboard and slides live as well n Pilkin
Stephe
as allowing remote learners to ask questions
both during and between classes. For learners
who miss classes or wish to revise materials,
classes can be recorded. Learners can be given
access to materials for access between live
classes and also have access to communication
tools to interact with their trainer and fellow
learners.
The advantages to students is that they are very
comfortable with the teaching method and are
reassured by the facility of getting support from
a real trainer at any time.
The advantages to trainers is that they have to
learn very few new skills and can put their
courses online with a very low level of “This on
line cou
investment. want I n rse was
eeded. I just
If you would like to discuss this with us in more and trav work lat
el a lot e
detail, please feel free to contact us.
learning . With o
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Sligo, Ireland live whe tend cla
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Phone: +353 (0) 71 9145813 the road
at a lat or
Fax: 1 800 123 5342 er time
me.” Sarah that sui
email: info@opencollege.ie
Mc
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Gloin, L
imerick
1
3. wh at now?
Ireland’s One Stop Shop for
Every Occasion
M
ilford based Dubliner Jennie Byrne is in the
process of launching The Venue Shop.ie,
the country’s ultimate venue finding
website. The website will list venues across Ireland
for all occasions, from Wedding & Conference
Venues to Party & Family Venues, Hen & Stag
ideas to Restaurant & Nightclub
Venues The website will launch end of September 2009
The venueshop.ie will be a useful website for and will have many unique features such as:
everyone organising an event. • An event guide
According to Jennie Byrne, Owner of The Venue • A venue shopping bag for short listing venues,
Shop.ie, “Before when people where looking for or email them to a friend or use for comparison
researching a venue they had to jump from purposes
website to website, all I have done is made it
• Discussion forums and
simple and easy for them by providing all the
information necessary to arrange their perfect • Customer review section.
event for every occasion under one roof”
In addition to listing venues for all occasions The
An added extra special feature which adds to the venueshop.ie will provide listings of suppliers
uniqueness of The Venue Shop.ie is a Local located near venues, suppliers will consist of
Information Point where each town in Ireland will Hairdressers, Bridal Wear, Photographers, Florists,
have its own dedicated section on the site where Party Accessories and much more, along with full
customers can find out information on their chosen listings of “Things to do” in the area.
venue location, listing the areas full amenities,
The Venue Shop will also feature “Your Home” as
maps, public transport facilities and much more.
a possible venue for an event, featuring full listings
“The location and local amenities of the venue is of marquees, caters, tips and ideas for using your
one of the most fundamental elements when the home as a party venue. For further information on
customer is choosing a venue, they should getting your business listed please email
compliment and sell each other. The Venue info@thevenueshop.com
Shop.ie aims to promote both venues and
Jennie Byrne is a Dublin native and a first class
locations across Ireland providing a very useful
honour degree student from the Limerick Institute
and informative tool for both national and
of Technology (BBS Marketing). Jennie is a
international consumers” Said Jennie.
marketing specialist with a wealth of experience in
2
4. media, publishing, hospitality, tourism and that integrated all occasions, here Jennie saw a
information technology. Jennie relocated to gap in the market for such a site and has been
Donegal two years ago with partner Donegal man developing her idea and creation, The Venue Shop
Shaun Peoples and has been developing The ever since.
venueshop.ie for the last couple of months.
The venueshop.ie
The idea for The Venue Shop came about when Forquar, Milford, Co Donegal
Jennie was working in the hospitality industry. Tel: 086 7373235
email: Jennie@thevenueshop.ie
With loads of excellent sites dedicated to wedding
venues, conference venues etc there wasn’t a site
Go2mobile Solutions Launch
SMS Weather
T
his service is available to anybody wishing to to find there was
report the weather in their area via SMS, so pockets of rain
others travelling there can be alerted to it. along Valentia.
Very useful for the likes of people organising
So, we are
outside events, activities etc.
providing a
Go2mobile Solutions Launch SMSWeather- An web portal at
Irish First: User Generated Localised Weather no cost for all
Reporting System using Mobile Technology Irish people to generate and report the
weather from their local areas. People can then
Go2mobile aims to build a daily picture of weather
search weather updates within the web portal
in every area of Ireland for real-time user generated
using Smart Phones, Net books,Laptops etc.
forecasting using SMS, MMS and SmartPhone
technology. This system will be free to use, just the Everybody in Ireland talks about the weather. This
cost of sending a SMS from the recipient’s network just allows them to reach a wider forum!
provider.
It is very simple to do
The benefits are varied such as:
Send Weather Updates To 353866055506 Include
• Safety In SMS “SMSWEATHER” and your Area
• Journey Planning
eg. SMSWEATHER Sun shining, 1.1 swells,gentle
• Event planning
breeze- Fenit.
For example, how many times have you thought
To avail of this system, please use the following
about going to the beach that is 40 minutes away,
link: http://post4.go2mobile.com/weather/
because the sun is shining where you live but on
arrival you find that it has being raining there all For more information about the service:
day? www.go2mobile.com/weather
Have you planned picnics, rambling events only to More Information: John Ahern, Managing Director
be thwarted when you get there by weather that Contact: 353 61 305 300
just wasn’t reported? You saw a large sun over email: johnahern@mail.go2mobile.com
Kerry on the weather forecast so off you went, only Website: www.go2mobile.com
3
5. new website connects
homebrewers nationwide
T
he deepening recession has seen a surge of The site has attracted much attention since its
newcomers and the return of old hobbyists launch, appearing on TV3’s Ireland AM and
to the world of home brewing. NooBru.com gathering a following on sites such as Facebook
intends to help connect them all, in the name of and Stumbleupon.
great beer!
It takes an average of 3 weeks to brew a 40 pint
In a time where purse strings are tight and a trip to batch of beer and with prices starting as low as 25
the pub can burn a hole in your pocket faster than cents per pint it’s not surprising to learn that
ever, Galwegian Eugene Burke is bringing the pub homebrewing has seen a surge in interest due to
to the people, in the name of homemade beer, with the recession since the start of the year. Says
the launch of NooBru.com. Intended as a social Eugene of the hobby: “Home brewing is a craft
community-based website where home brewers of and a constant learning process. There are so
all levels of expertise, including beginners, can many factors that affect the final taste of your
seek and give advice, organise gatherings, read home brew yet it’s not a difficult process to
articles and discuss all things home brew related, understand. A lot of my customers are new to the
the website as boasts an online store, blog and hobby and have told me that they are in love with it
information centre. already. The fact that you have to wait for the brew
to ferment builds your anticipation and makes the
The idea came to the 24-year old engineering
first mouthful all that more enjoyable.”
graduate when he saw that many of his friends
wanted to brew beer, but were put off by the lack “Ultimately though”, says NooBru’s founder, “I just
of support available. “Brewing beer can be a want to help people learn a little about the origins
dumbfounding process when you first try it out, so and craft involved in the production of the worlds
it’s important to have good support and clear oldest alcoholic drink, a drink which is too often
direction from the beginning in order to save taken for granted. If my website can play some
yourself time and effort.”, says Eugene. small part in addressing that problem, whilst
“NooBru.com does just that by filtering producing great tasting beer at the same time, I’ll
information, connecting brewers together and be happy.” As part of their launch, NooBru is
providing an online social space for them to offering a 10% reduction on all orders for the first
interact, encourage and share with each other, 100 customers.
regardless of their experience.”
For more information on how you can brew your
“Brewing your own beer is very rewarding. It’s a own beer at home, visit www.noobru.com.
great conversation starter and there’s something
very wholesome about drinking homemade brew.
The bragging rights that come with being a home
brewer don’t do any harm either! ”
As well as the online community NooBru.com also
boasts a store, a blog and an information centre,
containing articles on all things homebrew related.
Members can look for home brew gatherings in
their area, advertise their own gathering, or even
organise group tours of local breweries.
4
6. All ROI Residents
to Learn Chinese
Free
Irish Entrepreneur’s Education
Stimulus Package
chinesepod.com, the leading online destination from 1 September 2009 to 1 May 2010, when the
for Mandarin Chinese learners, announced today Shanghai World EXPO opens.
that it will offer its award-winning service free of
The ‘Learn Chinese in Ireland’ campaign
charge to all residents of Ireland, from 1
www.chinesepod.com/ireland, led by
September 2009 to 1 May 2010, when the
ChinesePod’s Irish co-founder Ken Carroll, offers
Shanghai World EXPO opens.
to Ireland’s four million residents access to
chinesepod.com, the leading online destination ChinesePod’s audio and video lessons, mobile
for Mandarin Chinese learners, announced today study tools, and online teacher support.
that it will offer its award-winning service free of Subscription usually costs between US$9 and
charge to all residents of Ireland, $199.
5
7. “We are offering an introduction to Chinese for About Ken Carroll
everyone in Ireland who might be interested”,
Ken Carroll is originally
explained Carroll. “The service has been designed
from Dublin, Ireland,
to cater for absolute beginners of the language,
but has lived in China
and literally anyone in the country can try it out for
since 1996. He speaks
free. Lessons are short and lighthearted, and can
Chinese plus four other
be consumed using a computer, iPod, or
languages. As well as
smartphone (iPhone etc.).
Co-founding
“We believe this is a good time to raise awareness ChinesePod, Ken hosts
in Ireland of the rich possibilities that China ChinesePod’s Newbie
presents – economically, linguistically, and and Elementary
culturally. Hopefully, too, it will contribute to the podcast lessons with
discussion on how innovation can assist recovery Jenny Zhu, his native
from the current global economic downturn. It also Chinese co-host. He
dovetails with the 30th anniversary of Sino-Irish also runs Kai En, a
diplomatic relations.” leading chain of
Shanghai-based
Anyone living in Ireland can activate their free English language
ChinesePod subscription. To do so, simply text schools.
‘ChinesePod’ to 57199 from an Irish phone to
receive a voucher code (texts cost €1 each), then Ken has been invited to Dublin in September to
visit www.chinesepod.com/ireland to complete attend the Global Economic Forum at Farmleigh in
the sign-up process. Offer ends October 31st 2009. Ireland, where business leaders from around the
world will discuss ways to assist in the economic
With full support from the Irish Ambassador to recovery.
China, Declan Kelleher, and Xu Lin, Director of
HanBan (affiliated to the Ministry of Education of
China), ChinesePod is hoping to highlight this as a About HanBan
great chance for Irish residents to learn more about Hanban is the executive body of the Chinese
China. Language Council International,
(http://english.hanban.edu.cn/hbsm.phpa) non-
governmental and non-profit organization affiliated
About Learn Chinese in Ireland
to the Ministry of Education of China.
Details of the campaign can be found at
www.chinesepod.com/ireland Hanban is committed to making the Chinese
language and culture teaching resources and
services available to the world, to meeting the
About ChinesePod demands of overseas Chinese learners to the
Based in Shanghai, ChinesePod.com was founded utmost, to contributing to
in 2005 and was the first language learning the formation of a world
product launched by Praxis Language Ltd. The of cultural diversity and
first website to teach Mandarin Chinese through harmony.
podcasting, ChinesePod now has over 250,000
users globally and an unrivalled archive of 1200+
online lessons.
A free 7-day trial is available for non-Irish learners
on www.chinesepod.com/ireland
Further details can be found at
praxislanguage.com
6
8. k to basics
irish consumers get bac
according to consumer
website saveafewbob.ie
C
onsumer website, saveafewbob.ie, has • Half the population claim to be clothes shopping
revealed that consumer behaviour has less often than they were at the same time last
altered significantly within the past year. The year. 55% of women and 44% of men are clothes
Vices and Indulgences survey, conducted by RED C, shopping less frequently.
details how consumers have re-examined their
• One-third of survey participants claim to visit the
spending habits and cut back on non-essential
hairdresser less often than this time last year, with
items.
this increasing to over 4 in 10 (43%) for females.
Many Irish consumers are no longer able to • 40% claim to purchase take away coffee less
financially support ‘life’s little luxuries’ such as often than at the same time last year. For under
playing the Lotto, clothes shopping, eating out, 35’s the decrease is most evident, at 45%.
drinking alcohol or buying take away coffee,
• 1 in 3 claim to have decreased frequency of either
amongst others.
gambling/betting or playing Lotto compared to the
Commenting on the survey findings, Niall Mc Henry, same time last year.
Founder of SaveAFewBob.ie says:
Notably, eating out and clothes shopping are the
Today’s consumers are motivated to obtain value for areas of personal expenditure that have been most
money and if they don’t believe that they are affected. Interestingly, a substantial number of
receiving value they are voting with their feet’. survey participants continue to play the Lotto. In
fact, 12% are playing the Lotto more often than the
The Vices and Indulgences survey reveals that 87%
same time period last year. The survey results also
of survey participants indicated that they have
highlight what purchases the consumer views as
reduced the frequency of at least one of the listed
either a luxury or a necessity. While gross
activities, while more than one-third of survey
consumption appears to have fallen by the weigh
participants have reduced the frequency for at least
side, addictive habits such as smoking are
4 out of the 8 activities listed. Some key findings
apparently harder to kick.
include:
• 53% of participants claim to be eating out less. Research was conducted by independent market
This decrease in activity is especially prevalent research agency, RED C Research. Results are
among those aged 25-54, at 62%. based on a nationally representative sample of 1,005
adults, with research conducted via telephone
• 40% claim to be drinking alcohol less often. The
omnibus between 5th & 7th September 2009.
decrease frequency is highest among the 35-54
age category with 46% claiming to drink less To view the survey results in greater detail, visit
often. www.saveafewbob.ie
• 16% claim to be smoking less. The number of For further information, please contact Niall Mc
individuals who claimed to smoke less often was Henry, Managing Director or Grace Carroll, Comm
higher among those under 35 (23%) and lower Officer at: email: niall@saveafewbob.ie or
among those over 55 (7%). grace@saveafewbob.ie Tel: 01 415 1253
7
9. Local Businesses
Encouraged to Sign up
for Free to Receive
More Custom!
T
he answer to the country’s economic
woes may be over with the help of a
soon to be launched localised discount
card which will promote local businesses to
natives and tourists alike all over Ireland.
localdiscounts.ie, the brainchild of Cork
woman Gr·inne Sherlock will allow
businesses in towns all over the country to
advertise for FREE OF CHARGE when they
offer a discount on their product or service
to prospective customers.
LocalDiscounts.ie offers is a discount card
that consumers can use to save money off
all local services and shops with discounts
doubt,
ranging from 10 % to 20 %. Each participating
generate new business for all participants and
store will be supplied with a special stamp so they
reintroduce old customers back to their local
are identifiable to card holders so all the customer
shops. Everyone loves a bargain and now you can
has to do is look out for the stamp to avail of
achieve lots for just €10! We will also be donating
discounts in their local shops, restaurants, hotels
a percentage of the card sales to local charities
and other service providers.
nominated by participated businesses.”
The cost of the card is a bargain €10 and will be
The Local Discounts card will be rolled out across
valid for 12 months from date of purchase. A
towns throughout the country in the next 8 to 12
special card for online shops can also be
months and all participants will be listed on the
purchased on the website by means of a code for
website, making it easy for locals to see where
just €5.
they can receive their discounts.
Speaking of the venture, Grainne Sherlock said www.localdiscounts.ie
“Now more than ever keeping business local is
Grainne Sherlock
vital. I believe that local businesses can be at the
Mobile: 086 2119326
heart of reviving the economy but people need the
www.localdiscounts.ie
encouragement to shop local again and the
discount card promotes this. This card will, without
8
10. Digital Media
Awards Ireland
now open
L
et the battle begin! Nominations and voting Design/Development Agency, Best in Media and
open for the Satellite Broadband Ireland Mobile Internet Innovation. Also open to public
Digital Media Awards 2010 nomination, and back by popular demand, is the
Best in Blogging Award, to recognise Ireland’s
Ashville Media Group is delighted to announce the
most informative and entertaining bloggers.
launch of the Digital Media Awards 2010, and
officially welcome its new headline partner Satellite In July this year, Eamon Ryan, Minister for
Broadband Ireland. Communications, Energy and Natural Resources,
and Conor Lenihan, Minister of State for the
The Awards, now in their 8th year, recognise and
Information Society, unveiled the Government’s
reward the most stylish, creative, and pioneering
plan to create 30,000 jobs over the next 10 years in
work within the digital media industry in Ireland.
the Irish digital media industry, in order to
For 2010, there are 21 categories awarding the
encourage Ireland’s economic recovery and job
innovation and talent of individuals and companies
creation. Given the challenges currently facing
in areas including viral marketing, web design,
industry in Ireland, these plans further highlight the
financial services, animation, digital advertising, e-
importance of the Digital Media Awards in
business and pod casting.
promoting and honouring the new and innovative
Commenting on their partnership with the Digital digital media technologies and industries in Ireland.
Media Awards 2010, Kevin Ryan, CEO, from
For further information on the Satellite Broadband
Satellite Broadband Ireland said, “The Digital
Ireland Digital Media Awards 2010, and to
Media Awards is a great opportunity for new and
nominate, please visit the brand new website
established companies within the Digital
www.digitalmedia.ie.
Telecommunications sector to get recognition for
their hard work and commitment. Choosing to Winners will be unveiled at a black-tie gala event,
sponsor the awards was an easy one for us. As a hosted by Radio DJ, Ian Dempsey, on 25th
new company we were profiled at last year’s February 2010 in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry.
awards, so we know first hand just how important The Satellite Broadband Ireland Digital Media
these awards are in rewarding and recognising the Awards 2010 are also supported by Blueface,
amazing work that takes place within the industry.” Connect-World, Enterprise Ireland, Eset, Lightbox,
NewsAccess, Sony Ericsson, The Digital Hub and
For 2010, four new categories have been added to
the Irish Times.
reflect changes and new trends in digital media.
These are Best Viral Event, which will reward the Hannah Bates
best viral campaign of 2009 as nominated by Events Executive, Digital Media Awards 2010
members of the public, Best Web hannah.bates@ashville.com or 01-4322205.
9
11. Tenders
Redevelopment of IHRC Website By InterTradelreland
Ref: 16/09/2009, Deadline:07/10/2009 Document Type: Invitation to tender
By the Irish Human Rights Commission
Document Type: Invitation to Tender Web Content Filtering & Reporting Solution
(WFS) for HSE
Interactive household expenditure tool Ref: 21/08/2009, Deadline: 14/09/2009
Ref: 15/09/2009, Deadline: 05/10/2009 By Health Service Executive
By The National Consumer Agency (NCA) Document Type: Contract Notice
Document Type: Invitation to Tender
Press Clippings Service
I.T. Hardware Support Services Ref: 10/09/2009, Deadline: 09/10/2009
Ref: 15/09/2009, Deadline: 12/10/2009 By The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI)
By Office of the Ombudsman Document Type: Invitation to Tender
Document Type: Invitation to Tender
RFT for Supply, Installation and Maintenance
Oracle Database Administration Assistance of Duplex Printing System
Ref: 03/09/2009, Deadline: 16/10/2009 Ref: 28/08/2009, Deadline: 13/10/2009
By Department of Education & Science By Office of the Revenue Commissioners
Document Type: Contract Notice Document Type: Contract Notice
Tender for website and intranet development
and maintenance
Ref: 10/09/2009, Deadline: 02/10/2009
Tender for website and intranet development and
maintenance Interactive household expenditure
tool Press Clippings Service Redevelopment of
IHRC Website I.T. Hardware Support Services
Web Content Filtering & Reporting Solution (WFS)
for HSE RFT for Supply, Installation and
Maintenance of Duplex Printing System Oracle
Database Administration Assistance
10
12. Directory jdldigital Photography
John Lowes
opencollege.ie Tel: 087 9456446
Sligo, Ireland Email: info@jdldigital.com.
Phone: +353 (0) 71 9145813
Fax: 1 800 123 5342 chinesepod.com/ireland
email: info@opencollege.ie saveafewbob.ie
Henry, Managing Director or Grace Carroll,
venueshop.ie at: email: niall@saveafewbob.ie or
Forquar, Milford, Co Donegal grace@saveafewbob.ie
Tel: 086 7373235 Tel: 01 415 1253
email: Jennie@thevenueshop.ie
www.localdiscounts.ie
go2mobile.com Grainne Sherlock
John Ahern, Managing Director Mobile: 086 2119326
Contact: 353 61 305 300
email: johnahern@mail.go2mobile.com
www.noobru.com
NooBru Supplies
Cregville
Hazelwood
Castlegar
Co. Galway
Biz in Biz o u t
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