Despite the difficult economic climate and financial downturn, many businesses in the UK are booming and an art, craft, toy and stationery manufacturer and distributor in Kent is evident of this.

West Design Products currently has its headquarters in Folkestone but is moving to larger trading premises in Plymouth after a surge in business.

The company has clinched a £1 million loan from its banking partner NatWest and is moving the business to 79,000 sq. ft. of office, manufacturing and warehouse space at Lynher House, Bush Park in the South West of England.

This follows funding of £1.8 million earlier in 2011 when the firm expanded its present premises.

The business removals are to accommodate an increased demand which has grown over the past year but it will still keep its HQ and warehouse facilities in Kent.

West Design currently manufacturers stationery products for brands like Stephens and Blick as well as children’s products in high street stores and commercial labels. The organisation purchased stationery factory RD Industries last year after it went into administration.

Mike Bray, Managing Director of West Design Products, said: “When we bought the RD business we saw growth potential in linking the two businesses. The secret was to reclaim the customer base and I feel we have done that but there remain further opportunities.”

Robinsons International Removals specialise in home removals as well as commercial relocations, so if you need help in moving all the furniture and making the staff as comfortable as possible, get in touch today.

As experts in the industry, we offer the complete business relocation service. We understand that downtime has to be kept to a minimum and this is why you can be confident that Robinsons International Removals are the perfect choice for your removals.

Many families are reportedly drained of the on-going repairs and costs to run their old home and instead are hiring removal services and moving to brand new properties.

Some new findings show that Brits are ditching the DIY and opting for a new house that is easy to maintain and efficient to run.

There are several advantages and disadvantages to living in an old or a new house. Here Robinsons UK International Movers makes the comparison.

OLD HOMES

With regards to an old house, the positives are that with archaic properties they do have character, historic features and stories behind the walls. Older structures have stood the time for decades.

The downsides however are that they do need a considerable amount of maintenance due to old heating systems and pipe work. The floors may slope, the chimney foundation may require tuckpointing and it can be very expensive to replace or repair the wiring and plumbing. Generally the homes from hundreds of years ago were smaller and had smaller closets and rooms so if you have a large family, it may become crowded.

NEW HOMES

New houses on the other hand can have their advantages in that they have spacious layouts, brand new décor and are ready as soon as you walk through the door. Some new homes allow Brits to specify features such as the kitchen cabinets and bathroom tiles and personalise them in a way.

What is more, new homes have built-in top-of-the-range fixtures, fittings, kitchens and bathrooms as well as double glazing and energy efficient boilers. Overall, they are more economical to run as they are insulated and have fewer drafts.

However, it can be said that modern homes have no character and that each one is exactly the same and is therefore not distinctive or offers individuality. Homeowners may be able to put their own stamp on it in terms of colour schemes or furniture but the general structure is generic.

Many new houses settle regardless of the type of soil and therefore cracks appear in walls. Furthermore, you won’t find mature trees or vegetarian because trees take years to grow so the garden may not be as picturesque.

OLD V NEW

It all depends on the homeowner- do you want to put the time, money and effort in to build something up from scratch or do you want to walk into something ready-made?

Whatever type of house you decide to move into; make sure you ‘contact us’ today to move all your belongings.

The UK Energy and Climate Change Secretary has vowed to help poor countries fight and cope with global warming by introducing a tax on shipping.

Chris Huhne has reported that the world has agreed on new ways to raise money for the most vulnerable and that the solution for progress revolves around plans for a tax on ocean cargo and cruise ships.

Representatives have been talking about a Green Fund being set up that will acquire £60 billion per year and will go into helping developing countries adapt to climate change and cut carbon emissions. Shipping would raise around $25 billion per year but it is still not clear in how the institutions would distribute the funds.

The British politician said: “We certainly think the aviation and shipping areas are the most likely areas to yield early dividends when it comes to funding finance.”

All parties need to agree with the proposal but if they do, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), which regulates the shipping industry, would then need to look into ways to set up the tax. The fuel levy would mostly affect cargo ships, like the ones Robinsons uses for shipping to Australia etc., but it would also affect cruise ships.

The new shipping tax would reportedly not be on smaller ships that travel between island states or fishing crafts.

Tim Gore, Climate policy adviser for Oxfam, commented: “Delegates are starting to see that international shipping is the most promising new source of finance for the Green Climate Fund.”

Robinsons overseas removals have a dedicated International division which focuses only on moving abroad to any country worldwide with regular shipments to and from countries like New Zealand, South Africa and Europe.

We strive to stay up-to-date on the latest industry news that would affect our shipping to USA services, or shipping to anywhere around the world.