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Kasco helps to capture the perfect shot

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Kasco helps to capture the perfect shot: Waterton Park Hotel, in West Yorkshire, has recently benefited from a set of new decorative Kasco water fountains which were supplied by Water Garden UK.

The stunning Waterton Park is a 4-star hotel in a scenic setting of rolling parkland with its own lake, a backdrop of ancient woodland and surrounded by a championship golf course. It also has a luxury spa and extensive conference and banqueting facilities.

Kasco helps to capture the perfect shot

Kasco helps to capture the perfect shot

The hotel is a highly popular venue for weddings and boasts an idyllic lakeside setting – the perfect backdrop for photographs. This lakeside setting has recently been aesthetically enhanced by the installation of two Kasco 4400EJF decorative fountains with Redwood Nozzles.

The Kasco 1HP 4400EJF decorative fountains are a perfect way to beautify any larger pond or water-garden. The fountains have recently been improved through the enhancement of the housing, impeller and nozzles to create an even better product.

Both flow rate and pattern size have been improved without increasing amp draw. This dramatically improves aesthetic appeal without increasing operating costs or fountain pricing. In addition, assembly, as well as nozzle changes are faster and easier.

This versatile fountain comes with six interchangeable nozzle heads, giving you the option to choose and change the spray pattern as you wish. There are also optional lighting packages available.

The Kasco range of products are extremely popular with hotels like Waterton Park and also with theme parks, stately homes, country parks, or other venues looking for a stand-out water feature.

Commenting on the fountains installed at Waterton Park, Jack Wooller from Water Garden UK said: “The fountains look incredible. As you walk over the bridge you are now greeted by these wonderful fountains either side which have a high-rise effect. They offer an opportunity for a bride and groom to get that perfect picture.”

As importers of the Kasco brand, KAR UK has seen a huge increase in the demand for the products and so too has Water Garden UK. It has been a fruitful partnership to date and recently KAR UK awarded Water Garden UK with the 2019 top sales award after its impressive distribution of Kasco products.

“The business relationship with KAR UK is going really well, and it is growing year on year,” said Jack. “In fact, each year we’ve been working with KAR UK we have beaten the last in terms of sales. Long may it continue.”

For more information, please visit www.karuk.com

You can also follow KAR UK on Twitter @KARUK_LTD for much more news, reviews and insightful views

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Makita’s third generation of accessories

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Makita’s third generation of accessories: Makita UK has launched a new and improved collection of belts and pouches to its extensive and popular range of accessories.

The newly designed range makes it even easier for tradespeople to safely and easily store and transport their tools and accessories. The collection includes belts, braces, pouches, holders, bags, cases, gear and equipment, and offers users the durability and reliability needed for everyday use.

Makita's third generation of accessories

Makita’s third generation of accessories

It is important for tradespeople to have easy access to their tools wherever they are on site to ensure they are equipped for the job in hand. Makita’s new and improved range of belts, bags and pouches means users can safely and securely transport tools to and from the van and around the work area. Each product in the range has been designed for longevity and durability, as well as ease of use and comfort.

With over 40 products in the range, Makita has a solution to suit every task; the pouches and holsters are available in a range of designs, depending on the end use. Each has the benefit of Anti-Slip Technology, which is used on all friction points and pocket edges, to tightly grip tools, stopping them from sliding around and keeping them securely in place to help prevent accidental falls. This is also ideal for those working in awkward positions where they need both hands free. Due to its rigidity, Anti-Slip Technology also helps to extend the lifespan of the item by allowing it to retain its shape. All belts and pouches are inclusive of 3L Technology, a unique three layer combination of polyesters and foam, to provide additional cushioning and improve user comfort.

For ease of use, Makita’s innovative Strap Belt System allows users to effortlessly connect Makita belts or shoulder straps to pouches, holders, bags and cases for trouble free carrying. The belt loop holders (which are compatible with all Makita work belts) can also be used to hang anything with a carabiner – their light weight, flexibility and strength make them suitable for carrying a wide range of products.

In addition, a heavy load support system has been incorporated into products such as the Ultimate Padded Braces, which works by distributing the weight between the waist and shoulders to reduce hip and lower back pain – thereby reducing fatigue on these areas and allowing users to continue to work in comfort for longer.

To store tools easily, almost all of Makita’s bags, pouches and holders include elastic loops that can be used to organise tools and essential items, keeping them secure during transportation. In addition, the innovative Tool Loops System, which is available in the new tool cases, allows the user to store numerous tools without having to make any adjustments. The system can hold a wide variety of tools thanks to a combination of loop sizes, with a single or twin row formation to maximise capacity. Makita’s new tool cases also give users the flexibility to customise the internal compartments using the new Rail Guide System – the perfect combination of plastic side rails and light separating walls.

Lyndsey Bailey, Assistant Product Manager at Makita said: “To complete the range, Makita has also launched a range of handy additional accessories – including smartphone holders, flasks, a work vest with adjustable pockets, knee pads, a guide rail protective holder, lunch bags and a thermal mug. Makita has designed each product with its end use in mind and has introduced a number of new technologies and innovative features to guarantee suitability. These fantastic new products offer users increased comfort, ease of use, flexibility and reliability.”

To find out more about Makita and its products visit: www.makitauk.com

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Local Derby business acquires intellectual property of Internet Gardener

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Local Derby business acquires intellectual property of Internet Gardener: ARB & Grounds, a garden machinery business in Derby has recently acquired the intellectual property of The Internet Gardener Ltd meaning they now own the website www.internet gardener.co.uk.

The site had been running since 2006 by a family owned business before going into liquidation at the end of 2019. The online retailer used to sell garden furniture online from various retailers bringing in over 6 million in turnover in 2019. Nottingham based entrepreneur Elliott Davidson, 25, who owns ARB & Grounds Equipment Ltd has already been making local headlines with his recent acquisition of Y Frame Discounts Ltd and is now working on this new venture. Elliott is also the founder and director of Contrast; an eCommerce digital marketing agency in Nottingham’s Creative Quarter.

Local Derby business acquires intellectual property of Internet Gardener

Local Derby business acquires intellectual property of Internet Gardener

The young entrepreneur has road-mapped plans to bring the site back up and running and also ensure he brings the revenue levels back in his two year business plan for Internet Gardener. Not only will Elliott be looking to build relationships with past suppliers, but also looking to expand the product range to include garden machinery and equipment.

The gardening sector is now more popular than ever before. Official statistics showed that 45% of Britons coped with lockdown by gardening as many were spending more time at home. Sales in gardening products and equipment has also seen a rise, according to the HTA study, companies are seeing a rise in consumers purchasing horticultural goods online, it is estimated that the sector is worth 7.5 billion each year.

Elliott comments; “I can’t wait to start building the site back up again and getting it back to its full former glory. I know that other similar UK businesses are doing over 20 million in the sector so there is plenty of room to grow this business further. This was an opportunity I couldn’t miss and I have major plans for Internet Gardener. Being an owner of an eCommerce digital marketing agency and also another seven figure eCommerce business has its perks, as I am able to take all of these past learnings, both successes and failures to help maximise our chances of moving forward.”

Elliott is also preparing to document his journey and as such is launching a behind the scenes video series of scaling an eCommerce company from £0 to £1 million in ARR (Annual run rate) within 12 months. This series is going to be called “Building a Business”.

“Launching this video series means we are able to empathise with our clients more and publicly put our skills to the test! We’ll be able to look at problems differently that are out of scope to help our clients succeed; this is what will help us stand out as an eCommerce agency. I have also launched an online community called “Insider”, so if you are an eCommerce founder, operator or marketer you can apply to join here, where you will be able to further develop your eCommerce skills, network and business”.

For more information or to keep up to date you can visit www.contrast.digital.

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Thieves target Kirkstall Cricket Club

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Thieves target Kirkstall Cricket Club: Thieves have stolen more than £20,000 worth of equipment from Kirkstall Educational Cricket Club (KECC).

The club, off Queenswood Drive, was targeted by thieves between 5pm Friday and Sunday lunch time.

Greenkeeper retires after 47 years

Greenkeeper retires after 47 years

Items take included a Lloyd’s Paladin, a Groundsman Spiker, plus three rotary mowers, a strimmer and a Sisis Auto Rotorake.

KECC’s groundsman David Hodgson said on social media:

“We are a small community cricket club providing for not just cricket but for the community in many other areas including youth group, music venue, a community hire venue. In a period of about five years we have been victims of similar break ins some 18 times. As if it hadn’t been hard enough this year.”

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A new deal for Newquay Golf Club

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A new deal for Newquay Golf Club: Dan Kendle, head greenkeeper at Newquay Golf Club, says it is great being back at work after lockdown with his full team, on a busy golf course, with the added bonus of using several new John Deere course maintenance machines supplied by local dealer Masons Kings at St Columb.

Newquay’s scenic seaside location on the Cornish coast overlooks the world famous surfing venue of Fistral Beach, with the golf links guarded by pot bunkers and fringed with marram grass dunes – so when the wind is up, as it often is, it’s a course to be reckoned with.

A new deal for Newquay Golf Club

A new deal for Newquay Golf Club

Dan managed the course on his own during lockdown before the club opened again for play in May, mainly cutting grass and doing a bit of spraying to keep the course as tidy as the pandemic restrictions allowed. Since the rest of the greenkeeping team returned to work, he reckons they were just about on top of everything again by early September.

“And we needed to be, as we’ve been getting twice as many visitors compared to a normal year, as well as picking up new members,” says Dan. “On some days the club’s taken double the usual amount of green fees, which seems crazy but the demand has been there from the off.”

The first of the club’s new John Deere machines, a 2500E hybrid electric triplex greens mower, was delivered in September last year, with the remaining machines arriving this spring and summer. These included a second 2500E plus a 7700A PrecisionCut fairway mower and a new 4049R compact tractor plus front loader.

The compact replaced a 30 year old John Deere 1550 utility tractor, and the club had bought a number of Gator utility vehicles from Masons Kings before, but this was Newquay’s first John Deere fleet deal. The mowers have been bought on a five-year John Deere Financial operating lease, while the tractor is on hire purchase, and all service and maintenance operations are carried out on-site.

“Our previous mowers were coming to the end of their lease period, and for this new deal we were looking at new options, particularly in terms of dealer support,” says Dan Kendle. “Masons Kings is a very local dealership with a good reputation for reliable service and back-up, so it made sense for us to speak to them and have some machines in on demonstration.

“Everyone in the team had a go on the new machines, and we were all impressed with their operator comfort and user-friendly features. The quality of cut in particular sealed the deal for me, and I like the password protected TechControl system on the 7700A, which allows me to set the mower to get the same consistent results whoever is operating, in all conditions.

“The hybrid electric 2500Es also come into their own when cutting the practice putting green and the greens closest to the houses that surround three sides of the course. Their quiet operation keeps the neighbours happy while also reducing fuel consumption and the chance of any hydraulic leaks.

“As with all new machines, there were a few issues during the initial set-up but they were all sorted out very quickly by John Deere and Masons Kings, which was important. We’ve continued to receive great support and back-up from the dealership’s salesman David Barnes and technician Gavin Hearne, even during lockdown, so we’re very pleased all round as it shows we made the right decision.”

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