Isleofdeals.com is a deal-a-day website that features one deal at a time offering a minimum of 50% off on every deal it features all thanks to the power of group buying. Excellent deals are offered on a wide variety of services & products the Isle of Man has to offer including restaurants, salons, spa’s, golf, gyms, karting, horse riding etc.

Isleofdeals.com is a brand new marketing concept for local businesses. Previously, a local business has advertised in the local paper or radio station with a large up front investment required and often they see little gain in the numbers of customers that walk through the door. IsleofDeals is a 100% performance based marketing concept with NO up front costs and no long term commitment. Isleofdeals guarantees to put large numbers of new customers through the door of a business, if not, the business receives free marketing.

Consumers simply receive a great deal on every offer featured – at least 50% off or more and there are no catches. The consumer has the option to register their email address with Isleofdeals in order to be the first to find out the new unbeatable deal. IsleofDeals has a huge consumer base of contacts throughout the Island with new subscribers every day.

How does it work?

Right from the very outset, Isleofdeals works closely with a business to formulate a successful deal. The business is in total control of the promotion such as the minimum and maximum number of new customers it wants through the door, how long the promotion is valid for etc. The deal is then featured on Isleofdeals.com and consumers complete the entire process through the website.

If IsleofDeals meets the minimum number of sales set by the business, it takes a portion of each voucher sold and sends a redeemable voucher to the consumer, if it doesn’t, consumers are given a refund and business receives free advertising for the day on the website and the free mailshot out on the morning of the deal to all of Isleofdeals subscribers. At the end of a successful deal IsleofDeals sends a cheque to the business for every voucher it sells.

It’s a win win for consumers as they always receive an excellent deal and it’s a win win for businesses as they receive a cheque for each new customer that actually walks through the door. It is 100% performance based marketing and businesses are actually taking money for each new customer that walks through the door instead of paying out to traditional advertising.

Further Development

IsleofDeals is currently featuring deals over a few days, this will reduce to a deal a day very shortly.

IsleofDeals has already featured deals with high profile local business including:-

• Duke karting
• Palace Health Club (the Sefton Group)

Several other local businesses have already signed up to feature a deal on the website.

The Manx Executive Challenge is held every two years and is widely regarded as the premier development opportunity for the future leaders of the Isle of Man. It offers the opportunity to demonstrate senior management potential by working in a team to address an issue which is topical, relevant and of strategic importance to the Isle of Man. In November last year the Manx Executive Challenge was awarded the Isle of Man Award for Excellence for People Management and Development.

Participants are drawn from a cross-section of the Island’s private and public sector and formed into teams. Each team is allocated a project related to the economy or social infrastructure of the Isle of Man and has 8 months in which to research the issue and present solutions which are realistic and capable of implementation.

Teams are tasked with compiling a report summarising their findings and the competition culminates with the Final where the teams present their recommendations to a panel of judges and an audience which includes Government Ministers and business leaders.

Chair of CMI Isle of Man branch, Craig Allen, commented:

The Manx Executive Challenge represents a unique personal development opportunity and many past participants have felt that completing the Challenge has given them an advantage in their career. I would urge those people who feel that they have the potential to become a senior manager to apply. Similarly I would ask Isle of Man employers to encourage their senior managers of the future to look at what the Challenge can off them.

The Manx Executive Challenge sounds like a fascinating opportunity for anyone who is working in management or intends to in the future. It’s a great way to meet others in the same profession, to share ideas and experiences and gain valuable insight from a mentor with lots of experience in the field. So, if you think this might be right up your alley, or even if you’re curious if it can help advance your career, get in touch with the Manx Executive Challenge.

Software development and IT services firm, PDMS Ltd, launched its own dedicated web

For Digital Design, great web design is much more than just getting a website up and running.  They specialise in building websites with content management systems (CMS), which means clients can maintain and update their own websites without the hassle (and cost!) of using a developer to make changes.

Client Relationship

From the project initiation, to analysis of requirements, to design iterations and user training, clients benefit from the Digital Design’s team depth of experience, and the ability to have a real face-to-face relationship with all members of the team.  With an assigned Project Manager to deal with queries, and being able to talk to the developers and designers working on their website build, clients feel really involved in the whole process.  And when it comes to handing the new website over, Digital Design will make sure that clients have been trained and feel comfortable updating their site on their own, at home or at work.

Further development

As part of PDMS, Digital Design is also lucky enough to have the support of the Island’s largest team of software experts.  If clients need  to expand their site to meet the demands of their growing business or organisation, for example to include a shopping cart, event booking facility, or member’s area, Digital Design are well-equipped to handle it.

Digital Design have built many local and off-island websites;

• Adventurous Experiences
• Junior Achievement (IOM)
• Small Countries Financial Management Centre

For more information about Digital Design and to see examples of previous work, please visit www.digitaldesign.co.uk

The idea of this market was borne out of collaboration between four local companies, working together in during the ‘Crossroads Charity Christmas Market, which was held in a unit within the Strand Shopping Centre, last November & December 2010.

Roberto contacted the company owners and asked if they would be interested in continuing their business relationship on a more permanent basis and the rest just came together with the help of The Strand Shopping Centre’s Manager Mr John Shakespeare, who with his open and forward thinking attitude to business, along with the co-operation and agreement of Strand Owners have leased one of the units on a temporary basis to trial attitudes locally to this New Artisan Concept in the Isle of Man’s Capital, Douglas.

So come along to…The Art Market, Strand Shopping Centre, Ground Floor, between Mothercare and The Early Learning Centre. This Unit, will play host to our Saturday Only Artisans Market.

Here is a list of just some of the products available via this specialist Market place.

• Originals & Ltd Edition Prints
• Fair Trade products
• Celine Appleyard Ceramics
• Flotsam – Designer Jewellery
• BOHO Sky – Designer Bears and soft toys
• Murano Glassware
• Netsuki – Japanese Carving
• Blank Greeting & Art Cards designed by Local Artists
• Specialist Photo Editing services via ArtworkX of Mann
• Mini Art exhibitions
• Pyrography from the United States
• Hand Painted frames from India & parts of China

If you want further details you can pop into the store on a Saturday, give them a call on 01624 616700 or email them at TheArtMarket@gmx.com. You can even find them on Facebook.

Using locally sourced ingredients where possible, all her products are made on the Island. When putting together her business idea in 2009, Ellen realised that not only were her recipes adapted to suit a gluten-free diet, but there was also a gap in the market for this kind of product. “Being Coeliac is boring”, and yet you don’t have to be wheat- and gluten-free to enjoy her foods! Best sellers include savoury Garlic Crab Spread, slightly sweet Cranberry Pecan Spread, mildly spicy and perfect with crisps Delicious Curry Dip and heavenly Creamy Delight.

You can find my Canadian products at the Farmers’ Markets from April to November, at Tynwald Mills, Thursdays, 11am-3pm; The Villa Marina Colonnade, Douglas, the first Saturday of each month, 10am-2pm, and at special events such as Tynwald Day, The Southern Show and The Food and Drink Festival. Ellen has also participated in both North Quay markets in Douglas. Over the Christmas period, my Canadian were at The Villa Marina Colonnade on Saturday, December 18th for a special Christmas Farmers’ Market and at Tynwald Mills on Thursday, December 23rd. The first Douglas Farmers’ Market of 2011 was on Saturday, January 8th and the next on will be held on the 5th February. From this year you can also find them at the Castletown Farmers’ Market which is the 3rd Sunday of every month.

Here are some photos of my Canadian products to feast your eyes on:

Creamy Delight

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Ellen is a strong supporter of the Farmers’ Market and believes that we should all support our local Manx farmers as well as all producers of good quality food and products made here on the Island. You can reach her on the web at www.mycanadian.co.uk.

Our website www.artworkxofmann.com is now regarded by most outsiders as ‘The Home of Manx & Celtic Art’ within the British Isles and it is constantly growing and so too are the number of Artists being represented via our website. The site itself offers each artist their own webpage profile and mini gallery to display and sell up to 20 images of their artwork as Originals or as a prints. The Artists each sign a 12 month contract and then pay a modest fee to have a webpage created and help cover some of the associated costs of running the site, advertising, promotion in newspaper, Internet, radio and other media. In addition, to this We actively seek out commissions for each artist offline and liaise with other off-island galleries and Art fairs to help promote, display and market their work.

The main aim behind ArtworkX of Mann is to help raise awareness of Manx artists both on and off Island. They even aspire to create and nurture the possibility of Art Tourism on the Isle of Man. The Island already has a number of Festivals that help draw visitors to our shore, whether these be racing or music; an Art Festival could be another option and ArtworkX of Mann believe that the Island certainly has enough local talent to make this a possibility. Roberto added:

It always makes me smile when I think of the amount of Artistic talent there is on this Island. When you express it in percentage terms to the actual number of Island Inhabitants, the number is simply staggering. I’ve spoken to over 200 Artists and Crafts-people on Island and I consider this only the tip of the iceberg. We’re proud to say that we now represent over 20 local Artists but look forward to increasing that number.

You can currently see some of the talents they represent by visiting the Art Exhibition being held at Villa Marina on the first floor gallery space. This Exhibition is a follow up to the first island Exhibition they held back in June this year at the St.Ninian’s Parish Centre, during the TT race period, which had an estimated 1800 visitors over a ten day period. It’s free to the public and showcasing art till 11th January. They also have a number other exhibitions planned which can be seen on their Events Page.

You can learn more about them from their promotional video:

If you’re an Artist interested in displaying your work with ArtworkX of Mann, just head down to their website and sign up with their Artist Registration Form

Victoria tells us,

I really want to extend a warm welcome to anyone who would like a cup of cheer in this time of doom and gloom. I will have models to show the various treatments and products available from 20 December at special introductory prices if booked before the end of 2010. I hope every female out there (or the person who loves her) will allow herself to be pampered for Christmas, to really look her best from finger to toe–for the festive season! Fabulosity believes in fabulous customer service, so I do hope that people will brave the winter winds and check us out on 18 December!” 

You can already contact them to make a booking for when they’re open. Call or text 07624 231166

Fabulosity Nail Boutique

This is just one of the many types of trips that can by organised by Chauffeur Drive, a Manx company that specialises in high quality transport that can be booked for trips, parties, outings or airport pick ups. Whether you’re collected with the top-end Jaguar or with their stretch limousine you can be guaranteed a pleasurable trip, in the highest quality transport available on the Isle of Man.

The limo is the ultimate in luxury on wheels. It can accommodate 8 people and boasts laser and mood lighting, 2 TVs, CD, DVD, PS2 and Karaoke. All these can be configured to your liking and can be adjusted to suit any mood and occasion. The vehicle can also be rented for a booze cruise around the Isle of Man. This is a 4 hour trip around the Island stopping anywhere you wish. Complimentary bubbly, ice and glasses are provided as part of the package. It’s also available for weddings, parties and any other occasion that you may require.

If you don’t want to splash out, the company also has an executive Jaguar available for private hire at standard taxi rates. This has a really smooth ride and offers a luxurious journey which won’t break the bank. It’s fully air conditioned, with a tasteful leather interior and a really comfortable ride.

Chauffeur Drive are always happy to adapt their services to whatever you need, so if you are looking for a stylish ride, send them a message on their website or give them a call on 07624-472658.

This website was originally started as a blog where we could post views and reviews about the Isle of Man, but it has the potential to grow into an exciting source of information and opinions. To this end, we took the decision to open up the website, asking other people to contribute in order to make the site more interesting to a wider audience. We would like to give a Voice to anyone who would like to use this medium to publish their own content, as long as it relates in some way to the Isle of Man.

We’re also planning on trying to bring together other resources from all around the Internet. Whether it’s a collection of feeds from Manx bloggers, links to other Manx websites, photos of the Isle of Man from Flickr and anything else that the Web allows us to mash into this website. Once again, if you have any ideas of things you’d like to see, we’re always happy to listen to feedback. Together we can turn this into an amazing website.

At this point in time, we’re not planning to stick to a regular schedule in the same way traditional magazines operate. Instead articles will be published on an ad hoc basis so there will always be fresh content on the website. If you want to be notified when this happens, you can subscribe to our RSS feed or subscribe to email alerts in the top right corner of this page.

We hope you enjoy reading ManxVoice and will take the opportunity to contribute some material. If you have something to share, please contact us and we’ll set you up as an Author on the site.