HomeandgardenGifts.co.uk - NEWS

Home and Garden Gifts get fundraising!

Thu, 08 May 2008 14:12:17 GMT

Here at Home and Garden Gifts, we like to do our bit for charity. This summer is no different! Apart from donating to the Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance throughout the year, our staff our involved in events for other charities.

*The Everyman Snowdon challenge*

Mark Goodwin, our resident computer whizz, is taking time out this weekend to support the Everyman cancer charity. His challenge is to join 20 of his team mates from ‘Rugby Balls’ to climb Mount Snowdon on 10th May 2008 and to raise as much money and awareness as possible in the process. The group ranges between the ages of 13 and 65 years old.

Two members of the group have either been tested for, or have been diagnosed with, testicular and prostate cancer. One member had his testicle removed at the age of only 31 years old after having several operations. The other member had tests several years ago for prostate cancer which thankfully came back negative, although his brother has been diagnosed with prostate cancer since and is still being treated with drugs for this.

It’s very frightening to know that testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer among men between the ages of 15 and 45. One man every hour in the UK will die from prostate cancer. This is why they need your support.

Donating through this page is simple, quick and secure. It is the most efficient way to give – so every donation goes further – and if you are a UK taxpayer and give Gift Aid consent, the charity will receive an extra 28% at no cost to you.

*Cancer Research Race for Life*

Boss lady Sophie Pearson is running not one, but two Races for Life in aid of Cancer Research over the next few months: on Sunday 8th June in Coventry and Sunday 6th July in Leicester.

Sophie is hoping to contribute to the Coventry War Memorial Park’s £162,000 fundraising target, while running up a bit of a sweat in the process! The course is 5km round the War Memorial Park, and the surrounding areas.

Sophie is also hoping to add to Leicester Western Park’s fundraising target of £192,000, this time walking the 5km course.

Please sponsor Sophie online or see the Race for Life website for more information.

May Competition and April Competition winner!

Thu, 08 May 2008 11:21:04 GMT

It has been a busy week here at Home and Garden Gifts, but now we can reveal our brand new May competition and our April competition winner.

*May Competition*

The sun is shining and it’s definitely getting a bit summery outside, so what better time to get thinking about those little practical essentials you need for the beach and other days out?

The Moonbagis not just any bag. It’s a multi-functional changing mat and bag in one. Any parent will remember the school swimming days of their youth, and the unsteady balance they tried to strike between keeping themselves covered up while changing, and keeping their feet dry. With the Moonbag, you just open it out and stand in the middle, which acts as a changing mat (37" in diameter) on any surface to keep your feet clean and dry - no need for hundreds of towels! All your changing paraphernalia goes inside the bag when closed again, in a handy drawstring style.

The Moonbag is ideal for adults and children for swimming, surfing, canoeing, dog walking, climbing, fishing, triathlon, and all outdoor activities.

For your chance to win one of our Moonbags, just answer the two questions below:

Question 1:

What is the name of the new security gadget (product) that has recently been added to the Home and Garden Gifts website?

Question 2:

In no more than 25 words, tell us why you like the Home and Garden Gifts website. Please be aware that we will use your comments in question 2 along with the first letter of your first name and your surname on our website.

Please use the boxes below, or email your answer, name and contact email to competition@homeandgardengifts.co.uk and mark 1Moonbag’ as the subject by midnight 31st May 2008.

Competition rules:

1. There will only be one winner for each prize.

2. The winner will announced in the newsletter following the closing date of the competition.

3. The winner will be judged by the Home and Garden Gift Management Team and their decision is final.

4. The judges will not communicate with any entry enquiries.

5. By taking part in this competition you accept to be bound by the above rules.

Good luck!

*April Competition winner*

Congratulations to our April competition winner, who correctly answered that we use 6 Billion jars and bottles every year in the UK.

Fizbags prize winner

J. Douglas from Leeds who said:

"I like Home and Garden Gifts because it helps me to save the planet without costing the earth". Ms Douglas wins the 6 pack of eco-friendly Fizbags.

Fun Pods featured on ITV 1's ‘Too Fat to Toddle’

Thu, 08 May 2008 10:51:39 GMT

If you saw ‘Too Fat to Toddle’ on ITV 1 on Tuesday, you will have seen our Fun Pods. Fun Pods are a fun and totally safe way to help prevent your child falling into unhealthy lifestyle habits.

It makes sense that if you involve children in the preparation of food from an early age, they will develop a keen interest in food and eating healthily. Having your child help rather than hinder you before mealtimes can also enable you to spend longer cooking, allowing you to bond with them while safe in the knowledge that your little monster is not up to mischief!. This engenders a healthier approach to more relaxed mealtimes.

The programme focussed on a ‘Fat Camp’-style regime for under 5s in an effort to look at the causes and solutions to childhood obesity.

Wolvey pre-school 40th Anniversary celebrations

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:08:01 GMT

Home and Garden Gifts will be supporting the Wolvey pre-school 40th Anniversary Spring Fayre tomorrow 26th April at Wolvey C of E school from 12pm. If you're in the Warwickshire area and have some spare time, why not come and join us? We will be selling a small range of products from our website, so come down and take advantage of the special offers!

Easter competition winners!

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:16:19 GMT

Congratulations to our two Easter competition winners, who correctly counted up 24 individual products on our website from Aroma Home.

First prize winner

J. Kenny from Liverpool who said:

"I like Home and Garden Gifts because the bargains make me richer but value and service complete the picture".

Ms Kenny wins the family of white painted antique ducks from DCUK.

Second prize winner

I. Friend from Cornwall who said:

"I like Home and Garden Gifts because it sells everything I could want and more without me having to go out the door!"

Ms Friend wins over one and a half pounds in weight of handmade Belgian chocolate.

For more chances to win, please see our competitions page!

Amazing new range of kids products on Home and Garden Gifts!

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 10:26:49 GMT

We’re always adding exciting new products to our website across all our ranges. This week, we’ve added a fantastic new range of Children’s toys and gifts.

ZeeBeez

ZeeBeez are the latest TV advertised craze to hit the playground, and it's not hard to see why! ZeeBeez fit in your pocket when not in use, so they're ever-ready entertainment. All you need to do is flip, twist and drop your ZeeBee onto any hard surface, and watch as your ZeeBee launches itself skywards (up to 6 feet in the air) as it snaps itself back into shape. Just push the ZeeBee inside out using both of your thumbs in its centre. Once you have done this, hold the post between your thumb and index finger, spin and drop onto a hard surface. Catch it, and repeat!

High School Musical Pix Micro Digital Camera

The High School Musical Pix Micro Digital Camera comes with a battery strap and simple to use software that lets you create customised photographs and graphics to give you and your child hours of photo fun! The camera is small enough to hang from a rucksack or handbag, so your child can carry it with them wherever they go. It has VGA digital resolution and memory storage for up to 40 photos.

Specification:

suitable for children aged 5 and above

6.5" w x 10" h x 2.5" d

180g

Scuttlebugs

We currently have two types of Scuttlebug in stock: the Blue Scuttlebug and the Ladybird Scuttlebug. Scuttlebugs are ideal for toddlers from 18 months upwards. Its three wheel design is very stable and safe for your little monster's expeditions! They also have a unique folding mechanism to make them easy to carry and transport.

*April Competition*

There’s still time to enter our Fizbag competition to win a set of Fizbags. Just go to our competition page or email competition@homeandgardengifts.co.uk with your name, answers and contact details by midnight on Wednesday 30th April 2008.

Order now to enjoy your garden furniture over the May Bank Holiday

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:48:33 GMT

The Easter Bank Holiday may have been a touch on the chilly side, but with the May Bank Holiday fast approaching, it’s the perfect time to get clicking around the Home and Garden Gifts to figure out your garden furniture wishlist. With products as diverse as barbecues and log cabins, you’re bound to find a summer luxury to suit your budget. Our special May Bank Holiday offer also means that when you purchase any log cabin, you will receive a special discount on all our garden furniture.

We have a massive range of cabins of all sizes and shapes from manufacturers such as Finnforest, Rural Leisure, Grange Fencing and Eurovudas. Log Cabins are a brilliant alternative to an expensive bricks and mortar extension to your home, while still making the most of the space that you have. They are suitable for more or less any purpose! Whether you want some extra space to indulge in your hobbies, a home gym, an entertaining space, an office, an additional space for relaxation, or just about anything else, there is a log cabin solution for you.

To go with your new cabin, try one of our top of the range barbecues from Barbecue Chef and BeefEater, a Spa, Patio Heater, Trampoline, Parasol or a Garden Bench.

Order before Friday 19th April to ensure that you receive your cabin and furniture in time for the May Bank Holiday!

*Easter Competition*

There's still time to enter our Easter Competition to win a family of white antique finish painted wooden ducks from DCUK or one and a half pounds in weight of fine handmade Belgian chocolate!

Just go to our competition page or email competition@homeandgardengifts.co.uk with your name, answers and contact details by midnight on Monday 31st March 2008.

3D Secure comes to Home and Garden Gifts

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:15:58 GMT

Home and Garden Gifts has just become a 3D secure website, which means improved security for you as the customer, and us.

What is ‘3D Secure’?

‘3D Secure’ is a brand new fraud prevention initiative, launched by the card providers as an increased security method for authenticating your card details at the time of transaction. This results in better security for the websites you buy from as well as yourself, as fraudulent transactions made in your name can be flagged up much sooner.

‘3D Secure’ stands for “3 Domain Secure” because there are 3 parties involved in the process: Home and Garden Gifts, our Bank, and Visa or MasterCard. It is a culmination of two existing systems: Verified by Visa (VbV) and MasterCard Secure Code (MSC).

Why 3D secure?

3D secure has been incorporated into our website payment systems. The page you will be redirected to is actually from your card-issuing bank, NOT from Home and Garden Gifts. At the moment, you do not have to use our 3D secure authentication process if you have a Visa card as it is not automatically applied to your card, however we understand that MasterCard have brought in a rule which states that all International and Domestic Maestro cards MUST have a full 3D Secure Authentication in order for the transaction to be authorised.

This gives you extra protection because correctly entering your security code during a purchase confirms that you are the authorised cardholder. If an incorrect security code is entered, the purchase will not be completed. Even if someone knows your credit or debit card number, the purchase cannot be completed without your security code. Essentially the process works in a similar way to a PIN number for your card.

How do I register?

In order to register for 3D secure, you will need to sign up for the service with the bank or organisation that issues your card, or sign up when re-directed to the 3D secure page during a transaction through a participating website (e.g. Home and Garden Gifts). You will be asked to choose a password (security code) and a personal message.

Once you have done this, you will be automatically prompted by your card issuer to type in your security code each time you make a purchase at Home and Garden Gifts. Your security code will be quickly confirmed by your card issuer to complete your purchase. Your security code will never be shared with us.

How will this affect your checkout process?

1) You will add products to the shopping cart and complete your order as usual

2) At the checkout stage, if you select to pay by Visa, Visa Delta or Visa Debit, Maestro or MasterCard, then you will be redirected to your issuing bank (to a new page not hosted by Home and Garden Gifts) where you will need to enter your password

3) The bank will verify the password and the transaction will continue as normal

What do you see during 3D Secure Authentication?

Once you have entered your card details on the payment page as normal, you will be prompted on the confirmation page to register your card for 3D Secure (if you have yet to do so) or proceed with the transaction and enter your password/security code.

1) If you have yet to register for 3D secure, you will have the option to register your card before completing the purchase. Please be aware that you do not have to register, but your card issuing bank may decline the transaction if you do not sign up.

2) If you have already registered your card, you will be redirected to the Verified by Visa/MasterCard Secure Code website to enter your password.

Once you have submitted your password, the transaction will continue with the authorisation process and then either direct you to our success or failure page.

What are the system requirements for 3D Secure?

Verified by Visa and Mastercard Securecode work with most browsers. Please be aware that software which prevents pop-up windows may interfere with your use of 3D Secure.

Because 3D secure is so new, not all cards are compatible with the process. Please see below for a list of cards currently covered.

Cards that are covered by 3D Secure:

VISA

VISA DELTA

MASTERCARD

UK MAESTRO

SOLO

VISA ELECTRON

Cards not covered:

American Express

JCB

Diner's Club

For further information about these schemes visit:

Verified By Visa: www.visaeu.com/verified

Mastercard Secure Code: www.mastercard.com/securecode

Beat the Budget!

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 10:33:37 GMT

If you’ve managed to avoid the news of last week's Budget altogether, we salute you!

Among the ‘green’ changes is the intention to levy a Tax on plastic carrier bags if shops do not do more to charge for their use by 2009.

At Home and Garden Gifts we are always trying to find new and practical ways of being green, and we think we might just have this one sewn up!

Fizbags are an inexpensive alternative to buying those slightly thicker ‘green’ plastic bags from the supermarket. The difference is that they are larger and last longer, so you only need to use an average of 4 on your weekly shop. Fizbags can be folded easily into a co-ordinating pouch around the size of a mobile phone, so are simple to carry when not in use.

Fizbags also give you options. Instead of having to carry your shopping by hand, you can carry it in a shoulder bag instead. The shoulder bag design is comfortable to carry and sturdy enough to cope when fully laden with groceries! The range of colours and designs available is constantly being updated, so check back for new additions to our range! As a result, Fizbags are a very stylish way to reduce your impact on the environment.

At such a reasonable price, the economic advantages of buying Fizbags instead of plastic bags match the environmental benefits! To make doubly sure we are actually reducing our carbon footprint, all Fizbag packaging is biodegradable and/or recycled and no excess packaging is used.

Here are just a few plastic bag facts you should know...

• 13 billion plastic bags are given out annually in the UK

• If everyone in the UK tied their annual plastic bag consumption together, the chain would go around the earth 500 times!

• Plastic bags take over 1,000 years to degrade, eventually breaking down into small toxic particles contaminating the soil and waterways

For your chance to beat the budget and win a multi gift pack of three carrier and three shoulder Fizbags, just answer the following question:

How many glass bottles and jars do we use each year?

a) 1 billion

b) 4 billion

c) 6 billion

Please email your answer, name and contact email to competiton@homeandgardengifts.co.uk and mark ‘'Fizbags' as the subject by midnight 31st March 2008.

Good luck!

An Exciting Easter on Home and Garden Gifts

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 11:02:17 GMT

Bored of the obvious rigmarole of buying Easter Eggs? At Home and Garden Gifts, we have a few alternative solutions to keep your loved ones happy this Easter.

Chocolate is still a brilliant Easter time treat, but why not go for a luxurious twist with Handmade Belgian Chocolate? You can choose from our specialist Easter section, as well as our Funky selection to find the chocolate best suited to your chocoholic!

If you’re still experiencing the chills of the British weather, look no further than our range of gifts from Aroma home. Hot Hugs and Warm Cuddles are the ideal alternative for a little Spring warming, especially if you team them with a pair of Fuzzy Feet! Embrace the season of new birth with a pair of Lamb, Frog, Pig, or Dog Fuzzy Feet and have a bit of a giggle at the same time!

For the keen photographer, have a look at our Photo Gift Packs. Your chosen picture can be printed onto an excellent Canvas or Cushion to immortalise that moment in an imaginative and fun way.

For something altogether different, try our range of Unique Gifts. These are absolutely essential for the loved one who seems to have everything! Imagine gifting them their very own acre of the Moon, Reindeer, or title.

If you’re looking forward to the long hot days of summer, have a gander at our Outdoor and Garden Gifts sections. Whether it’s a log cabin for the whole family to enjoy, or a reclining outdoor chair, there’s something for all sizes of garden and budget!

Have your new year’s resolutions gone to pot? Try some financial discipline by saving with a Terramundi money pot. To make doubly sure you keep on saving, you can have it personalised with the event or item you’re saving for, so whether it’s your ‘Holiday Fund’, or your ‘New Car Jar’, you can atone for slacking a bit with your resolutions!

*Easter Competition*

There's still time to enter our Easter Competition to win a family of white antique finish painted wooden ducks from DCUK or one and a half pounds in weight of fine handmade Belgian chocolate!

Just go to our competition page or email competition@homeandgardengifts.co.uk with your name, answers and contact details by midnight on Monday 31st March 2008.