Looking for a last minute holiday? Visit crowdfunding site Travelstarter
For avid travellers with a bit of extra cash, TravelStarter is well worth a look. It’s a crowdfunding site with a twist; a unique project that offers people free stays, tours or meals in the places around the world that they choose to invest in.
The idea was born in early 2014, and the platform launched several months later. TravelStarter aims to support individuals and local businesses by helping them raise funds for their tourism and travel related projects.
Like traditional donation-based crowdfunding platforms, each project offers rewards; however, unlike the usual free t-shirt or free ticket, TravelStarter offers options to stay, eat, tour, or learn with the projects that they support. Essentially, instead of booking a traditional hotel or restaurant for a holiday, people have the option to lend the money to the business and then claim their reward once the business is up and running. Not only are you getting a holiday, but you’re boosting small businesses and tourism projects by doing so. Supporting one of these projects not only supports that business, but the tourism industry as a whole.
Once the project is successfully funded, you are free to claim the reward for your trip. It could be a nice dinner in Paris, an overnight stay at a guesthouse in Prague, a daily bike rental in Amsterdam, an authentic tour of Rome, or maybe a flamenco lesson in Madrid.
Guide Like You is one of the projects currently listed, which aims to promote travelling like a real tourist by getting locals to take visitors on tours and show them the best local places to eat, drink and explore. The rewards are great; for giving $50, you receive a hald fay tour of Paris or Toulouse with one of the company’s founders, and for $200 or more you receive 3 days stay in Toulouse with car hire.
Another project, Hostaria 239, wants $3,000 to refurbish a small, eco-friendly bed and breakfast in Koh Lanta, Thailand. For a donation fo just $30, you will receive one night in a double room, half board. For $50, you get 5 nights and for $300, one weeks stay, half board and two tours as well as a “big hug and a lot of good tips!”
According to Dan from Cardiff, who successfully crowdfunded $13,000 to refurbish a hostel, the site is perfect for tourism related projects as “all of the rewards appeal to people interested in travel or tourism.”
Although the site is American, based in Boston, it aims to fundraise for projects all round the world. The team behind it are five passionate travellers, who hope that TravelStarter will become “the number one platform for all travel related projects, and help bring tourism back to the people.” Together, the team have expertise in all areas to make the site successful; from social media ad digital marketing to database and sustainable tourism knowledge.
The site itself is branded brilliantly, with a modern feel and easy navigation. The idea of a platform that swaps travellers’ cash for holiday based rewards, to the mutual benefit to both parties, is clever, unique and has plenty of potential. A tree house hotel in Slovenia, complete with hot tub, is one of my favourite projects listed on there; as a keen traveller myself, I can absolutely see the attraction of the site. If you’re looking to donate to a worthwhile project and receive some great rewards yourself, TravelStarter is the place to visit.
Pearson “in talks” to sell Financial Times
Education and publishing group Pearson has confirmed that it is in “advanced talks” about the sale of its Financial Times newspaper.
The Financial Times has been a leader in financial journalism for 130 years, 60 of which have been under Pearson’s ownership.
In a statement, the group said that “it had noted recent press speculation and confirms that it is in advanced discussions regarding the potential disposal of FT Group”.
“There is no certainty that the discussions will lead to a transaction. A further announcement will be made if and when appropriate,” it added.
Reuters reported earlier that Pearson had decided to sell the FT to a “global, digital news company”; this decision would reflect their recent aim to focus purely on education.
Pearson shares are currently trading up 2.5%at the news.
Greek parliament passes second batch of reforms
The Greek parliament have passed a second package of reforms, meaning negotiations can begin for an €86bn European Union bailout.
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras managed to contain a rebellion by members of his left-wing Syriza party, passing the reforms with the backing of 230 votes in the 300-seat chamber.
Tsipras appealed to parliament before the vote:
“We made tough choices, and I personally made difficult, responsible choices. Today we must all redefine the possibilities ahead of us given the new circumstances.
We chose a difficult compromise to avert the most extreme plans by the most extreme circles in Europe.”
Further violence erupted on the streets of Athens as Parliament debated the bill, which was passed at approximately 4:00 local time.
The government has said it hopes negotiations on the bailout deal can start this week and hope to have them wrapped up by Aug. 20.
Aberdeen Asset Management reports 7% drop in assets
Aberdeen Asset Management (LON:ADN), Europe’s largest listed fund manager, reported a 7% fall in assets under management; with total net outflows of £9.9 billion during the quarter as institutional investors continue to reduce exposure to Asia and emerging markets equities.
In the same quarter last year, Aberdeen saw outflows of £8.8 billion, raising concerns at the increasing rate investors are cashing in looking to re-allocate in the strong dollar environment. This brings total assets under management as of the 30th June down to £307.3 billion, from £330.3 billion on 31st March.
Aberdeen Chief Executive Officer Martin Gilbert said:
“Market and FX movements together with low margin outflows from certain fixed income and solutions clients accounted for a large proportion of the decline in assets under management. In addition, macro-economic factors and investor sentiment towards Asia and emerging markets continued to weigh on equity flows.”
ADN has now lost over a quarter of its market cap since peaking at 509 on the 13th April this year. It is trading at 372p per share, down 7% on the day, as market participants digest the news.
DMGT falls due to decline in advertising
DMGT Plc, the owners of Daily Mail, the Mail on Sunday and The Independent, fell 8% this morning after releasing their third quarter trading report.
The company has been hit by a decline in the print advertising sector, with advertising revenues across DMG media newspapers down 13% compared to last year. However, advertising for companion websites and other forms of digital advertising were up, bringing total advertising revenue down 6% altogether. Due to this tough market, total revenue declined 5%.
However, market share grew for both the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday, with 23.4% and 22.1% respectively.
Due to the disappointing third quarter results, the company have directed their outlook for the Group’s Full Year results towards the lower end of market expectations.
Unilever show positive figures for second quarter
Unilever (LON:ULVR) are up 2.2% this morning after delivering their second quarter results.
They reported a 12% increase in turnover, with underlying sales growth up 2.9%. Core earnings per share were also up 16%.
CEO Paul Polman commented:
” [These figures] demonstrate again the progress we have made in the transformation of Unilever to deliver consistent, competitive, profitable and responsible growth, now in the seventh year.
We plan for another year of volume growth ahead of our markets, steady improvement in core operating margin and strong cash flow.”
Strong sales were led by savoury foods, including soup in Europe and Hellman’s mayonnaise in South America, and personal care products including the Dove deodorant line.
Retail sales suffer unexpected dip
British retail sales dipped in the second quarter according to figures released today.
According to the Office of National Statistics consumers bought fewer household goods, pushing the annual rate of spending growth for the quarter to its lowest in more than two years.
Sales volumes dropped by 0.2 percent in June, and retail spending up just 1.3% on a year earlier. Both figures were well below analysts’ forecasts.
The disappointing figures fuel concerns over whether Britain is bouncing back the first quarter’s economic slowdown as quickly as initially thought.
Economists expect consumer spending to be positive in 2015; official data last week showed the fastest wage growth in more than five years.
Suffolk-based Giffords Hall Vineyard starts crowdfunding campaign
With the summer sun having a positive impact on UK-produced alcohol sales, now is the perfect time for Giffords Hall, a small Suffolk-based vineyard, to kick off a crowdfunding campaign.
English produced alcohol is having a great summer season, with UK produced sparkling wine sales doubling over the last four years. English wine production has grown from 1.3 million bottles in 2007 to 6.3 million bottles in 2014. Giffords Hall Vineyard produces award-winning rose, white and sparkling wines and are hoping to capitalise on growth in the UK alcohol market as well as expanding their export market. The company is seeking to raise £58,000 from investors, in return for 5% equity.
As well as a booming vineyard and wine shop, Giffords Hall have a small cellar, open during the summer months and for Christmas, and hold regular open days where they exhibit the work of local artists, sculptors and potters. They also produce their own lavender products, fleeces from our rare breed sheep, juice from our orchard, vinegars and a range of liqueurs. This company
The company’s directors, Linda and Guy Howard, have a wealth of knowledge between them. Linda has a proven track record in running businesses and is responsible for the marketing, advertising and maintaining the wholesale relationships, and
Guy has supervised 9 growing seasons and is responsible for the farming operations and finances of the company.
Gifford Hall wines are stocked by Laytons and Waitrose, as well as several specialist wine merchants around London and the South East, and exports to Asia, Switzerland and the USA account for around 10% of sales.
Giffords Hall are hoping to use the money raised to expand the business. £10,000 will be spent on marketing and increasing the brand’s awareness, with another 15,000 to facilitate the growth in production to 30,000 bottles. The rest of the money will be spent on more storage facilities, additional wine making equipment and upgrading the office and shop.
Head over to Crowd2Fund for more information on Giffords Hall’s investment opportunity,
GoPro launch website selling user videos
GoPro (NASDAQ:GPRO) are planning to expand their business, by launching a website to help users make money by selling home videos recorded on their GoPros.
Following a similar model to copyright photo sites like Shutterstock, the US company have announced that videos will start at $1,000 (£640) for six months’ use. They said they were planning on taking a percentage – but did not disclose how much.
“Some of the clips that are being produced on GoPro devices are almost professional broadcast quality,” Ian Maude from the research firm Enders Analysis told the BBC.
“This new licensing portal creates a platform for creative GoPro users to market their videos and may also encourage a new generation to pick up the firm’s camcorders and get filming.”
The new website will be an effective advertising stunt, proving the quality of GoPro videos and producing a better awareness of the brand – all whilst making money.
A GoPro spokeswoman also told the BBC that: “We have a lot of athlete-generated content and some other very exciting footage, so the ability for marketers and creative professionals to just be able to search for the content that they want and get it that rather than having to shoot it themselves [should be] a no-brainer.”
GoPro make action cameras, popular due to their high quality, durability and fish eye lens option. GoPro recently reported their last quarter earnings, with net income of $35m, compared with a loss of $19.8m year earlier. Revenue rose 71.7% to $419.9m.
Budget airline Flybe soars
Budget airline Flybe is up 12% today, after publishing their trading statement for the last quarter.
The positive start to the year is good news for the company, who are undergoing a three year transformation to keep up with competitors easyJet and Ryanair.
Flybe saw a 9.8% growth in passenger numbers in the last quarter, with a 1.6% decrease in revenue per seat and a 3.4% reduction in cost per seat
Revenue was at £147.7m, up 11% on the year before.
Looking forward to the next quarter, the company are improving their winter timetable in order to keep growth steady with an increased frequency on popular routes.
Saad Hammad, Chief Executive Officer, said:
“As we enter the next phase of our transformation, Flybe has again delivered revenue and passenger growth in the quarter, demonstrating the strength of our core business. We carried significantly more customers than the same time last year and maintained our industry-leading punctuality levels.
We remain focused on tackling the surplus E195 aircraft, our final legacy issue, and are actively pursuing a range of solutions.