A. Bentley Cushions Blog
Welcome to the A. Bentley Cushions Blog. We hope to give you a view into the running of our business, major events in our trading year and most importantly new product ranges as they arrive with us.
5th March 2007
We have meetings with a new supplier of house hold accessories. The products include Oven Gloves, Tea Towels, Peg Bag Holders, Aprons, Seat Pads, Tea Cosies, Placemats and Tablecloths. We have placed an order as excellent products and good prices. They also have a range of cushions which may be of interest at a later date. We contact our web designers and instruct them to implement the changes to the web site so we can retail the products on line.
6th March 2007
A new range of Flemish Tapestry Cushions arrive with us. They are based on original artwork held in the RHS Lindley Library London and manufactured under licence granted by the Royal Horticultural Society. The new products are Camellia Tapestry Cushion, Lilly Tapestry Cushion and Yellow Orchid Tapestry Cushion. Proposal made to target Floral Magazines and Gardening Magazines to advertise the products. They can be viewed in the floral area of our Tapestry Cushion section.
7th March 2007
Work completed well ahead of schedule on the two new sub sections of the web site. The two new categories are entitled ´home accessories´ and ´fabrics and trimmings´. The new products have not arrived in stock yet! A new feature has also been added to the check out procedure to try and capture the gift market. A customer can now send a product to a different address and add a message to a complimentary gift card. The service will be free of charge. Proposal to promote the two new categories plus new check out feature using a promotional email within the next two weeks.
8th March 2007
A few minor errors found regarding the new additions to the web site. Web site designers contacted and errors corrected.
12th March 2007
Low resolution pdf of advert for the May edition of Your Dog Magazine arrives via email attachment. The advert is to promote sales through our web site and advertise our range of dog design throws, cushions and wall hangings. We approve the advert and authorise publication in this edition.
13th March 2007
The april edition of Your Dog Magazine arrives on our door step. We have made slight changes to the advert with an enhanced border and also changed the images. Advert located on page 62 of the magazine and it looks great!
14th March 2007
A new Yorkshire Terrier Cushion Panel and West Highland Terrier Cushion Panel has arrived in stock as well as a range of Horse and Dog fabric. We aim to have these available to buy on the web site by the end of the week. Arrange for photography to be taken and also new text will have to be written.
15th March 2007
The final part of the Flemish Tapestry Floral Cushions selection are delivered. The new products are Musk Mallow Tapestry Cushion, Tibouchina Tapestry Cushion, Oncidium Tapestry Cushion and Pink Orchid Tapestry Cushion. These are photographed and available to buy on line.
18th March 2007
Promotional email sent out to inform customers of our new range of Floral Tapestry Cushions. Problems have occured with Hotmail accounts. MSN seems to be blocking emails sent to customers on our mailing list. Problem to be discussed at our next meeting.
20th March 2007
Visit our new purpose built warehouse which is still under construction. Completion date May 2007. Looking forward to moving in although the move will be hard work especially getting everything out of our exisiting premises!
21st March 2007
The range of home accessories is delivered. The designs include Royal Doulton Tablecloths, Tea Towels, Tea Cosies, Placemats and Oven Gloves and also a co-ordinate range entitled Itsy Bitsy Dogs, Itsy Bitsy Cats, Gardeners World and Hens. The matching sets include Oven Gloves, Seat Pads, Peg Bag Holders, Aprons and Tea Cosies. There are errors made by the supplier as we are missing various products and the invoice does not fully match the packing note. Supplier contacted and missing items are to be sent.
22nd March 2007
Work begins on photographing and uploading the new range of home accessories.
26 March 2007
Discuss new secure payments system with web site designers. Will discuss proposal at our next meeting.
27th March 2007
Date fixed for moving into our new premises, 1 May 2007.
30th March 2007
Work completed on uploading products into the new ´home accessories´ and ´Fabrics and Trimmings´ sections. Will review sections in a months time and also look to increase volume of products within the Table Runners and Tablecloth sections.
1st April 2007
Promotional email sent out to inform customers on the mail order list of our new sections and also a 10% discount code to use for the whole of April.
2nd April 2007
New products arrive in stock. I said I Was Sorry (Bull Dog) Wall Hanging and Throw; Deux Papillon Wall Hanging and Throw; Japanese Chin Throw, Cushion and Shoulder Bag; Tibetan Spaniel Throw and Cushion; Black Poodle Throw and Cushion; Bloodhound Cushion and Shoulder Bag; English Foxhound Cushion, Throw and Shoulder Bag; English Pointer Throw, Cushion ad Shoulder Bag; Irish Wolfhound Cushion, Throw and Shoulder Bag; Coon Hunters Wall Hanging and Throw,; Night Song (Doberman) Wall Hanging and Throw, Akita Shoulder Bag and Throw; Yellow And Black Labrador Wall Hanging and Throw; Welsh Springer Wall Hanging and Throw; First Light Hounds Throw and Wall Hanging; Variations On A Breed Wall Hanging and Throw; Common Scents (Springer Spaniel Pups) Wall Hanging and Throw.
3rd April 2007
New Throwovers, Wall Hangings, Cushions and Shoulder Bags photographed and work started on adding to web site.
4th April 2007
Error discovered on web site. Problem seems to occur when viewing an individual product and then using general search feature. Web site designers contacted.
5th April 2007
May edition of Your Dog arrives. The last in the row of three adverts placed in this magazine. Will discuss success at our next meeting, proposal to restart campaign in Your Dog in September to capture Christmas market. Will also discuss other magazine advertising campaigns that will benefit our sales.
Error fixed on web site and also photographs removed from site map page to encourage new visitors to the site to proceed to main site.
9th April 2007
May edition of Your Cat magazine arrives. A one off advert placed to test the cat merchandise market. The advert features our range of cat products and can be found on page 61 of the magazine. Sales will be monitored and discussed at our next meeting.
Preperations for Catton park outdoor event start. First outdoor trade event of the year.
10th April 2007
New products arrive in stock. The Board Meeting Wall Hanging, Max in the Stacks Wall Hanging, First Light Deer Throw, Pheasant Lodge Throw, Bear Hugs Throw, Exiting The Ark Throw, Stealing Seconds Throw, I Have Got It Throw, Havenese Throw and Remington The Well Read Placemats. Items to be photographed and to be added to the web site as soon as possible to maximise the product range for new customers accessing the site from current range of adverts in magazines.
11th April 2007
New items photographed and added to site.
Seat pad supplier contacted regarding problems with different shades of simply green, simply terracotta and simply blue seat pads. They are aware of the problem caused by using different suppliers of fabrics and have hopefully addressed the issue. This has historically caused us major problems with customers orders, situation to be monitored. If problem not resolved possibility of removing these ranges from our collection. Discuss at next meeting.
14th April 2007
Catton Park event.
15th April 2007
Catton Park event.
18th April 2007
New premises nearly complete and moving in date confirmed as 1st May 2007. Requirements for new racking systems, mail order packing tables etc discussed at meeting.
28th April 2007
Norfolk Game Fair
29th April 2007
Norfolk Game Fair
1st May 2007
Move into new premises.
8th May 2007
New range of decorative cushions arrive in stock. Designs include Yukon Chenille Cushion, Peony Cushion, Nevada Cushion, Fleur Cushion, Hydra Cushion, Lotus Flower Cushion and Polo cushion. All are available in a variety of colours.
9th May 2007
New range of decorative cushions photographed and added to site.
12th May 2007
Pickering Game Fair
13th May 2007
Pickering Game Fair
23rd May 07
New range of decorative cushions arrive in stock. Designs include Nature Cushion, Boucle Cushion, Broadway Cushion, Clematis Cushion, Hollywood Cushion, Jasmine Cushion, Lilly Cushion, Ohio Cushion, Orleans Cushion, Petula Cushion, Rose Garden Cushion, Starburst Cushion and Zigzag Cushion.
2nd June 2007
Tabley Estate Country Fair
3rd June 2007
Tabley Estate Country Fair
11th June 2007
Three Counties Championship Dog Show
12th June 2007
Three Counties Championship Dog Show
13th June 2007
Three Counties Championship Dog Show
14th June 2007
Three Counties Championship Dog Show
18th June 2007
New range of slate coasters and slate fridge magnets arrive in stock. The designs include Bernese Mountain Dog, Border Collie, Border Terrier, Boxer, Bull Terrier, Cavalier King Charles, Cocker Spaniel, Dachshunds, Dalmatian, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Greyhound, Jack Russell, Black Labrador, Yellow Labrador, Poodles, Pug, Rottweiler, Scottie, Springer Spaniel, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, West Highland terrier, African Grey Parrot, Kittens, Shetland Pony, Horse, Donkeys, Seal, Sheep and Lambs, Geese, Goat, Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Kingfisher, Robin, Wren, Red Squirrel, Hedgehogs and Wild Rabbit.
24th June 2007
Broughton Game Fair - Cancelled due to heavy rain.
29th June 2007
Scottish Game Fair
30th June 2007
Scottish Game Fair
1st July 2007
Scottish Game Fair
14th July 2007
Great Eccleston Show
15th July 2007
Great Eccleston Show
21st July 2007
Leeds Champioship Dog Show
22nd July 2007
Leeds Champioship Dog Show
23rd July 2007
Leeds Champioship Dog Show
1st August 2007
Bakewell Show
2nd August 2007
Bakewell Show
13th August 2007
New products arrive in stock: ´French Bulldog Throw´, ´All Burned Out Shoulder Bag´ and ´Too Pooped To Participate Shoulder Bag´.
17th August 2007
New tapestry cushions arrive in stock: Ladies Tapestry Cushion, Gentlemen Tapestry Cushion, Westies Cushion, Chihuahua Cushion, Pug Cushion and Jack Russell Cushion.
20th August 2007
New product ranges arrive in stock which include ´Clocks´ and ´Mugs´. The clocks are on welsh slate and feature the following designs: ´Border Collie´, ´Bernese Mountain Dog´, ´Border Terrier´, ´Dachshund´, ´Greyhound´, ´Jack Russell´, ´Black Labrador´, ´Poodles´, ´Pug´, ´Westie´ and ´Yorkshire Terrier´. The mugs feature the following designs: ´Border Collie´, ´Border Terrier´, ´Cairn Terrier´, ´King Charles Spaniel´, ´Cocker Spaniel´, ´Flatcoated Retriever´, ´Greyhound´, ´Jack Russell´, ´Labrador´, ´Poodle´, and ´Rottweiler´.
15th September 2007
Midland Game Fair
16th September 2007
Midland Game Fair
17th September 2007
Web site designers contacted regarding changes to the web site. New section to be added called ´cushions with sayings´. This is to have three sub-sections entitled ´family and friends´, ´general´ and ´pets and animals´. The home accessories section is to have five new sub-sections added, these will be entitled ´coasters´, ´fridge magnets´, ´mugs´, ´clocks´ and ´greetings cards´. This work to be done as soon as possible in time for Christmas.
Also discussed changes to debit card payment system and received quote, this work will proceed after Christmas 2007 to avoid any possible disruption and down time to web site.
21st September 2007
New mug mailers received for packaging dog design mugs.
2nd October 2007
New design Cat Draught Excluder arrives in stock.
5th October 2007
New sections added to the web site as detailed.
6th October 2007
New products uploaded into ´fridge magnet´, ´coasters´, ´mugs´, ´greetings cards´ and ´clock´ section. Fridge magnets and coasters to be photographed again as site images not suitable. Promotional images uploaded into ´cushions with sayings´ section awaiting arrival of stock.
8th October 2007
Link error found on web site and web design team notified and error corrected.
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