Author: Cat Tomalin

Rochdale’s Zen Internet, is marking 30 years at the heart of the UK’s digital revolution. What began as a small local start-up in 1995 has become one of Britain’s leading independent internet providers, championing sustainable, purpose-driven business from its Greater Manchester headquarters. The company officially opened its doors for business on 13 October 1995, following its incorporation by founders Richard Tang (CEO) and his brother Daniel on 13 September. It’s 30-year milestone makes it the UK’s longest-standing independent Internet Service Provider (ISP). Richard started Zen with just £5,000, a few Linux PCs, and six dial-up modems perched on an Ikea…

Perfume Direct has seen a huge uptick in demand for body mists over the past year – especially among younger consumers who are exploring fragrance in a more playful and personal way. “Body mists used to be the forgotten cousin of fine fragrance – now they’re front and centre. They’re a perfect example of how the fragrance industry is evolving to meet the needs of a more expressive, budget-savvy, and wellness-driven customer,” says Jonny Webber from PerfumeDirect.com. Jonny Webber explains why – highlighting the rise and fall and rise again of the body mist category in the overall fragrance market. …

Holiday giveaway, festive events, fabulous food and savings across the store If you’re looking to make your space extra cosy and stylish this season, a visit to Arighi Bianchi in Macclesfield is a must. Plus the furniture and home décor store is offering everyone the chance to win a seven-night cruise through the Norwegian Fjords in partnership with Henbury Travel. This winter, Arighi Bianchi invites customers to escape to the home of the Northern Lights with its latest destination-inspired campaign, Postcards From Norway, featuring new furniture and accessories collections. Drawing on Norway’s striking winter landscapes, serene design sensibility and quiet…

One of the North West’s largest independent used car retailers – Cartime – is further strengthening its long-term growth with a £500,000 investment into its Bury-based aftersales facility. The project will create up to 10 jobs and bring state-of-the-art servicing technology to the region. Established in 2012, Cartime operates across three North West locations, with sales showrooms in Bury, Rochdale and Nelson near Burnley, and a 70,000 sq. ft vehicle preparation site in Bury – which it is transforming into a more customer-centric aftercare centre. The car supermarket group stocks on average over 1000 vehicles. The investment comes as the…

Iconic Cheshire home interiors store, Arighi Bianchi, is stepping into the national spotlight this week as it features in a brand-new BBC drama, Film Club. The six-part rom-com series – starring Suranne Jones, Aimee Lou Wood, and award winning Adolescence actor Owen Cooper – launched Tuesday (7 October) on iPlayer and aired the same night on BBC Three at 10pm. The family-run store, a Macclesfield landmark for over 170 years, takes centre stage in episode three, where key scenes were filmed in its stylish bed department and much-loved Caffè AB. Staff watched as the store was transformed into a working film set, bringing a touch…

ROCCIA, the UK’s largest independent tile, bathroom, and kitchen showroom and a multi-award-winning brand, has appointed Andrew Grove as Commercial Manager to lead its expanding commercial division – ROCCIA Commercial. With 37 years’ experience in the industry, Andrew brings extensive expertise and a proven history of delivering major projects across residential, leisure, and multi-purpose developments. His appointment marks an important step in ROCCIA’s strategy to grow its commercial presence and build closer partnerships with developers, contractors, and architects nationwide. Established in 2014, ROCCIA Commercial was created to meet growing demand from house-builders and developers for premium, style-driven interiors delivered reliably…

For today’s Gen Alpha and Z, nothing hits harder than losing access to their devices or the internet – gone are the days when being sent to your room or grounded was the ultimate deterrent. With the new school year firmly underway, research from Zen Internet highlights how parental control has shifted for a digital generation. Survey Highlights While traditional punishments still linger with 32% of parents sending their children to bed early and 28% grounding them, the data shows that for modern families, restricting access to technology has firmly overtaken the “naughty step” or “time-out” methods of pre-internet days.…

Porcelain tiles are increasingly spilling out of bathrooms and kitchens thanks to award-winning designers like ROCCIA’s who are rewriting the rules on where tiles belong. Porcelain tiles aren’t just for splashbacks and shower cubicles anymore – they’re staging a bold takeover in Britain’s living rooms, bedrooms and entranceways. Inspired by the grandeur of palaces and five-star hotels, interior designers are using porcelain tiles to add architectural interest and instant luxury underfoot and overhead. Showing how you can use tiles to break up large expanses in an interesting way – here are three recent projects ROCCIA’s luxury tiles have been used…

“Heritage can be a superpower — but only if you evolve,” says Sara Hassan, Head of Marketing at Arighi Bianchi. “We’re using experiential retail, digital storytelling and lifestyle branding to break out of the category norms – and it’s already turned social buzz into 1,000% organic growth, increased footfall and doubled online traffic.” For all brands with a long history, there comes a time where you must regenerate or risk irrelevance. But attracting new and often younger audiences – while holding on to the values, visuals, and voice that made the brand successful in the first place – is one…

Brits are still spending on luxury fragrance despite the cost-of-living squeeze – and loyalty programmes like Perfume Direct’s Rewards Club are fuelling a new era of “savvy splurging”. Because consumers aren’t cutting back on perfume – they’re shopping tactically. Perfume sales in the UK are booming – proof that even with rising prices, we’re not giving up the feel-good factor associated with luxury scents. But it’s not reckless spending driving the trend; consumers are shopping smarter. Social media is playing a huge part in fragrance’s staying power. #PerfumeTok has now amassed billions of views and, thanks to Gen Z’s obsession…

Queues out the door, happy families, and an unforgettable day of animal-themed adventures – Arighi Bianchi’s Safari Fun Day with Chester Zoo was one of its most successful events yet! On Sunday 6th July, the iconic Macclesfield showroom was transformed into a wild wonderland as excited kids (and their keepers!) from across the region joined the Arighi team for a day packed with family-friendly fun, in partnership with the incredible Chester Zoo Rangers. A Wild Day Out for All Ages From 10am to 4pm, guests of all ages enjoyed a wide variety of interactive, safari-themed children’s crafts and activities, including pebble…

As UK homeowners increasingly prioritise quality of life at home, investment in outdoor living spaces is thriving. Recent figures suggest that households across the country are projected to spend more than £6.5 billion on their outdoor spaces this year, reflecting a wider consumer focus on creating environments designed for wellness and relaxation. “There’s a growing appetite for alfresco living spaces that extend the comforts of the indoors out, enhance property value, support mental wellbeing, and create a space to enjoy with friends, family, and even pets,” says Ashif Kazee at ROCCIA. Despite ongoing cost-of-living concerns, many homeowners are placing increasing value on…