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Interesting Stuff

Basically, this is where you’ll find everything we haven’t told you already. It’s mainly news about some of the new and interesting things we’ve been working on.

Articles

Beauty is in the eye of the… website

15.12.20

Last year, we used Shopify to create a neat website for Dee’s Beauty, a small but perfectly-formed beauty salon based in Kilrush, Ireland. We initially built the site as a showcase and price list for treatments with the idea to expand into selling products later. So when Dee had to shut the doors due to Covid restrictions, we had everything in place to quickly set it up as an online shop. We edited/proofed the owner-supplied copy and took care of all the back-end CMS work. The business – like many others in Ireland and elsewhere – has been hugely disrupted (and continues to be) by the various lockdowns, so the site has proved a much-needed source of revenue.

Technical AND accessible?

09.10.20

Don’t you just love it when an enquiry comes in out of the blue. That’s exactly what happened when Matterhorn Languages, a German-English translation agency, got in touch a little while ago. This business has a fabulous line-up of clients. We’ve been helping copy edit and proofread press releases and press kits for companies in the automotive/engineering sector. It’s an exercise in balancing highly technical information with accessible and engaging language. The fact that many pieces are translated from German means it’s important that we have an eye on the tone as well as the detail.

Ever heard of an egg cosy?

05.08.20

Always enjoy writing the copy for homewares boutique stylechapel. The brand’s unusual and often playful products cry out for a quirky and humorous style, so we love letting our imagination run riot. The emphasis of the business has shifted a bit recently and the owner is now making more of her own products – Stylechapel Knits. These include all sorts of items from beanie hats and wrist warmers, to egg cosies and Santa pantaloons. So you can imagine the fun we have writing the website entries. We established the copy style when the business was first launched and it’s great to see it still as strong as ever.

Something to tickle the taste buds

22.05.20

For some time now, we have been editing/proofing copy for Taste Buds, a Devon-based bi-monthly food magazine that’s all about local ingredients. Each edition includes recipes, restaurant and hotel reviews, features on producers and chefs, and competitions. The magazine is beautifully-produced, both online and in print, and the photography is really stunning. We have personally tried several of the recipes (albeit with produce from East Sussex rather than Devon) and we can vouch for the fact that they are truly delicious.

The delights of the West Country

07.02.20

We are loving the editing/proofing work we’re doing on Devon Home magazine. Published by a family-owned company, it’s the only specialist interiors magazine for the county. The content includes articles on homes, gardens and interiors, with input from local designers, architects and craftspeople. The features are interesting to work on as it’s always nice to hear the views of experts in their field. They’re also great for inspiration, whether you’re about to redecorate right now or you’re compiling a scrapbook for that move to your dream home.

Shaken, not stirred

15.11.19

What better way to start getting into the Christmas spirit (literally) than editing a Martini manual. This project is for Jensen’s Gin, a fabulous small-batch distillery in Bermondsey, London, that does things the traditional way. ‘Gin as it should be’ is its mantra. The manual features a fascinating history of the famous cocktail, details on how to make the perfect pour, then nine of the very best recipes, including the Nick & Nora, Fifty-Fifty and Roosevelt. It’s a beautifully produced piece. Can’t wait to get on our hands on the finished product to add to the library.

A truly mouth-watering job

14.09.19

We can’t wait for that time of year when have the enviable task of proofing the Taste of the West Country recipe book. This is such a lovely project to work on, not least because each of the locally-inspired recipes looks so delicious. In fact, we spend the entire time perpetually peckish. The book is a great concept as it pairs award-winning chefs and producers from the Taste of the West Awards. Each pair comes from Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire and together they create a unique recipe using only locally sourced ingredients. We particularly love the book’s production values and photography.

Plastic waste: an issue close to our hearts

11.07.19

Walking on the beach most days, we see the huge amount of plastic litter that washes up. And compared to a lot of countries, the UK is relatively clean. So it’s great to see a company like Unilever doing its bit to tackle the problem. This includes bottles made using PCR and concentrated formulas that can be diluted at home and therefore require less packaging in the first place. This piece is particularly interesting as it’s about reuse and refill – solutions that will only work if consumers change their behaviour too. In researching and writing the piece, it was great to hear all about Unilever’s ambitions, initiatives and plans.

A bright future

11.02.19

Delighted to be working with MyKindaFuture, a social enterprise start up that helps employers reach the next generation of talent, ranging from school leavers to university graduates. The company specialises in placing overlooked and diverse individuals, including those returning to the workplace. It’s a really interesting business with a great purpose. We proofread quite a few different types of content for the team including ezines, demographic reports, questionnaires and award entries.

Transforming lives

23.06.18

Just finished work on a series of case studies for TRANSFORM. This is a fascinating joint initiative set up by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, EY and Unilever. Its aim is to improve the lives of low-income households in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia by supporting social enterprises. These include one that makes portable sinks designed to change handwashing behaviour in Vietnam and Bangladesh, and another that delivers affordable clean and efficient cook stoves in Myanmar. It’s great to hear – and write – about businesses that do such incredible work.