Gazetteer: Old heads on young shoulders

Published on Thursday 27 November 2008 20:31

MOVIN' ON UP

IN BUSINESS, things don't always go according to plan – a lesson that the founders of start-up company Move2 have already had to learn.

The Edinburgh-based firm was set-up this year to help people in the Lothians move house or office.

But, with the property slump forcing people to stay put, Move2's founders have had to change their business plan and diversify into deliveries and distribution instead.

It isn't all bad news though for the fledgling company's founders – all of whom freely admit to being too young to remember the last recession – Move2 has recently been awarded a 2,000 grant by the Craigmillar Business Incubator, which it says it will use to fund marketing.

Michael Millar, 20, one of the founders, said "We're now distributing goods for firms like the Futon Company and the Yellow Pages. Earlier in the year, we were carrying out many full house removals, this has died down now because of the credit crunch."

Good luck to Move2 and all the young firms like it as they find themselves diversifying to cope with the Big R.

FACT OF THE DAY

1,000,000

BARCLAYCARD has issued its one millionth contactless payment card in the UK.

The group, which recently said it planned to spend a seven- figure sum on developing the technology, said all newly-issued Barclaycard Platinum cards would include a contactless payment function. The cards enable people to pay for items costing 10 or less, simply by touching the card against a sensor.

KILLER QUOTE

"CHAMPAGNE houses are reasonably worried due to the economic circumstances. It is possible that Christmas 2008 will be a bit less good than last year, with a small decline in volumes and a flat turnover"

David Chatillion, managing director of champagne trade body UMC, on orders declining

GOOD DAY

The Gleneagles Hotel

GLENEAGLES has become the first hotel in the UK to receive a gold award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme under its latest selection criteria.

The hotel, which holds a five red star rating from the AA, was assessed by the scheme using more than 145 tests.

BAD(ish) DAY

Holidaybreak

FEWER hit theatre shows and cuts in consumer spending have dented city-break bookings, according to travel group Holidaybreak. But it's not all bad news – the group said bookings for budget family camping trips were increasing.