CURLY AND CANDID

Hand up if you would be lost without access to social media nowadays. I certainly would. Both for work and play I enjoy the benefits of Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn regularly. Many people now ask a question on Twitter or Facebook before using the Google search engine, especially when they want a more personalised opinion of something or a recommendation which just goes to show how versatile these platforms are.

It was recently brought to my attention that the clever folks at Townfish have set up an new kind of platform which revolves around social discovery. Being curious I have dug a little deeper and am glad I did.

TownFish is a clever site which is initially aimed at those living or visiting the London area. You will find events, new places to eat, accommodation, services and more all under one “roof”. The idea is that this network will enable people to grow the information available, share their experiences and make sure that when visiting or enjoying London, that no experience is missed!

The idea behind the site is that it isn’t a stiff directory or similar. The aim is to build a more human platform where people are able to connect and contribute on a more personal level and without any agenda. You may Google attractions or eateries anywhere and get hundreds of hits however how do you know who has written the info in these search engine results? Basically, what Townfish has set out to achieve is to build a real and person-based rather than corporate based site which gives visitors an authentic view of what’s what.

While the site is still in its beta stage you may already enjoy the benefits of some of the available features including their blog and their forum. The site currently covers London and the Greater London boroughs and district but who knows how far the site will expand as a love for social discovery takes hold. I’m certainly keen to see how the site works and continues to develop.

London businesses are welcome to become featured with a free featured profile however Townfish are only offering this to local and independent businesses. Their assumption is that large companies, chains and brands have enough money to advertise where the smaller business perhaps don’t and it is these small, new and hidden away gems of shops, cafes and attractions that Talkfish want people to be able to find.

Personally I think the idea is a very sound one and social discovery certainly seems to be the next big thing in terms of utilising personal resources to create real recommendations and more. What do you think? Is this type of platform the way forward?

*Consideration was received for the writing and publishing of this post

As most of you will already know, I have spent the past few months adding my own touches to our new home, making it truly ours. Of course, me being me, I have been doing it on the cheap. I love a real bargain and while new items look great there is something special about filling your home with pre-loved items.

I’ve hit Freecycle, the Facebook buy and sell groups that have sprung up locally and the numerous charity shops that we have here in town yet my best pieces to date have been from Ebay. I adore Ebay as a buyer for many reasons. Apart from the fact that I am able to spend hour upon hour browsing different styles, types and colours of home items, I am also able to browse within my price range (which saves me from spending a fortune!).

What I do loathe when shopping for bargains online is to then find myself paying a small fortune for delivery. Not only does this take the shine off having found that perfect item for a bargain price, it irks me because quite often I could have bought a whole other item with my postage and packaging money.

Like it or not, if I want to take advantage of the variety of items that I am able to buy online for pennies I am inevitably going to have to pay out to get it delivered to my door.

Having swallowed the fact that I am going to have to pay for delivery my second yet equally intense dislike is finding that I have spent money on having an item delivered only to receive it in bits. This is heartbreaking when you find the perfect colour and shape of vase or the ornament that will fit just perfect on your mantlepiece. While this could turn into a rant about the times I’ve been let down by postal or courier services (and sometime sellers who feel wrapping a glass frame in one layer of paper and popping it in the mail is ok) I’m instead going to concentrate on the positive.

Birdcage — A quite fragile (but gorgeous) Ebay purchase that made it to me intact, largely due to the courier staff that transported and delivered it.

Not being a driver I rely on couriers etc not only for my home project items but also for work. The one company that to date that have outweighed the competition in my eyes has been Parcelforce. For me their charges have been reasonable and I’ve never had an item left behind a recycling box (in wet weather on recycling day) or anything similarly daft. I have had one query with a delivery in the past eight or nine months which was dealt with brilliantly by their customer service team.

So, while having to pay for delivery is a pain regardless of who you go with, at least with Parcelforce you know there is a very good chance that you will receive your item in good time and in one piece (stupidly at the wrapping stage considered).

Now all I have to do is convince all Ebay sellers to use my postal courier of choice. Any ideas on how to do that??

Bargain Finds — Just one of my beloved bargain home buys.

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