Winter White Madness in Sauze d'Oulx - One Unique Holiday

Now when the winter is finally over (at least this is what I hope for), it is finally a good time to review some of the most precious moments from Winter.

In this whole global warming, the worst thing that could happen to the winter sports' amateur is that there is no snow (God forbid!). Luckily, there are still places in the world, where you can enjoy pure beauty of mountain tops covered in snow. One of these oasis of winter is, as beauty as its name sounds, Sauze d'Oulx located around 1,5h last of ride North from Turin.

Finding my way through the slopes' map

Based at the end of the renowned Via Lattea (Milky Way), "Sauze" seemed like a winter heaven on the earth when we first hit the city in March this year. Just few hours of the trip by plane and bus was really worth the effort.

Stunning view!

7 of us, good friends, adventure eagers and skiing/snowboarding hungry passionates started our week of winter madness in a beautiful Assieta Hotel with a bit of.....sleep. Don't be surprised - before their championships, even the sportsmen do build their energy efforts.

Playing with the snow flakes

The next days were filled with all the 'white madness' one can possibly imagine done within some of the Sauze's 400 km of pistes. First shy and cautious moves were soon replaced with more proffessional and free-style ones (no-one injured though).

Feeling the respect to the mountain

Personally, I have experienced one of the most stunning views one can possibly imagine in their live. These mountains covered in snow and touched by the Sun rays do really take the breath away and leave you feeling priviliged to be able to discover them on your own.

Not a surprise, then that Sauze d'Oulx is so eagerly visited by whole families and groups of friends - the pises are mostly intermediate and easy for the first-timers, so proudly I can say that we all managed to overcome the initial 'fear' and some of us have even did the Olympic experience.

Now, you need to know that for an unexperienced skier, like myself, skiing straight from 2800 m high mountain from a steep like a wall slope, it really is much of an achievement and personall success. Try it yourself! Unforgetable experience!

Happy Three Friends - Lukas, Tung and Mario

Bum boarding

M&M and the Santa's Rudolph

We aslo soon discovered, Sauze d'Oulx is a mecca for thse who equally enjoy treats for their belly - restaurants here offer really tasty, Italian pastas and other dishes and, at least us, could not resist it (the results of that we now try to treat with some excercising and not-eating-bread) :-)

Night life won't let you down either - local pubs not only have great selection of music, food and drinks, but also have great English-alike spirit...so we felt really like sitting in one of the Manchester's night pubs (with only difference that the next day we had 5 min to the nearest slope instead of few thousand kilometers).

Łukasz makes his moves

Overall - great fun and highly recommended place for whole the families, but also 'young and beautiful' ones (like us).

This is how one should enjoy one of the last remaining winters in this global warming world!

Avalanche of Success for SIFE SALFORD Team (press release)

In these winter, snowy days I can't help myself from giving my press release a nice title related to the weather outside my window.

I am really proud of SIFE SALFORD - my favourite student organisation! That's why I am sharing this press release with you.
Enjoy!

AVALANCHE OF SUCCESS FOR SIFE SALFORD TEAM

University of Salford Proves to Have Outstanding Entrepreneurial Students

Salford, February 2009

A sum of £400 from Enterprise-Rent-A-Car and $400 worth of grant from HSBC for community projects, plus a proud 1st place in the regional business competition, Flux500, organised by Manchester Metropolitan University came as an avalanche of success for The University of Salford’s SIFE SALFORD team (Student in Free Enterprise), proving that the University has truly outstanding entrepreneurial students. Over the last two months SIFE SALFORD team has been recognized for its achievements in the field of business by some of the most well know companies in the country.

“The recent amazing achievements of our SIFE SALFORD team prove that our hard work, passion and excellent team work is really working for us”, said Mariusz Andreasik, Vice President of SIFE SALFORD. “We are convinced that thanks to these recognitions we will be able to really make a difference to our community – and this is our main goal as a Salford-based team”.

The most recent achievement is a win in the student business competition, Flux500, over 8 teams from such established universities like: Manchester Metropolitan University, The University of Liverpool or University of Cumbria. SIFE SALFORD team was working there to solve a business problem using their knowledge, experience and creativity and presented their idea of developing an online-based golf booking business to the panel of judges.

Thomas Hurst, SIFE SALFORD’s President on that success: “We could not be more happier - as a new team working effectively only from this academic year we proved ourselves to be not only very good students but also a great team working together in a business and having a great fun as a bunch of friends.”

But University of Salford’s team successes do not stop there. A £400 accolade from Enterprise Rent-A-Car to the Business Ethics project means that targeted local entrepreneurs and businesses will be educated on the issues of copyright protection. Students are aiming to promote and support the open source and freeware software, as alternatives to expensive ones, that small local business cannot afford. “We are convinced that we are able to help businesses to develop themselves and this grant is really important to us to start running with the project”, explained Andreasik.

Entrepreneurial students from SIFE SALFORD will also compete with other universities for further £500 award and a trophy which will be awarded to the successful team at the SIFE UK National Competition in April this year, once the project outcomes are evaluated by the panel of judges.

On top of these successes comes an award of $400 from HSBC Bank dedicated to the Financial Literacy Project of SIFE SALFORD. This new project will change some of the 200 young people’s from 3 target groups ''spending'' culture to a ''savings'' culture and will help them become more innovative, prudent and knowledgeable in their handling of money and their finances. The programs within the project aim to be fun and entertaining, not boring and lecture-alike. Salford students will transfer the knowledge through lots of games and interactive materials: videos, books, nursery rhymes, to name but a few.

“We really can see this project making a big difference in these kids’ lives; our students will provide them with real life knowledge and understanding of the finance world which will help them in their whole future life - not only in business world, but also with their personal spending and saving decisions” – explained Hurst.

Entrepreneurial students from the University of Salford already keep on working on the future successes – they are now sharpening their presentation skills for the SIFE UK Regional Competition that will take place from the 16th to 27th of March this year and believe to make their way through to the National Competition in April 2009.

– Ends –

Match Made in Heaven - Story (Not) From The Above

The really good trips and adventures we have start at the airports. They are amazing places and I am sure you will agree with that....

I recently left a company, RDG Solutions and moved to Routes - the thing that links these two is the aviation industry and passion to if of people I work with.

Also recently, I wrote an article on airports' non-aeronautical (commercial) revenues. My previous boss, Ian encouraged me to do it and so now I present it to you.

Let me know what you think and ...enjoy flying with us ;)

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Having in place the passengers’ sophisticated needs and the most luxurious brands in the world, leading airports are pushing aside from the skies the storm-clouds of the industry’s downturn.

In the volatile times it is the global retailing business that seems to suffer the most from shrinking consumers’ spending. On the other hand, airport retailing performs surprisingly well, with global airport retail sales expected to grow to £15bn this year, up 11% from £13.5bn in 2007, according to Verdict Research, the leading authority on retailing markets. Also in the UK’s back-yard the trails of destruction are not so significant, with the world’s major operator and airport retailer – BAA - providing over 1 million square meters of commercial accommodation for more than 900 retail organisations and an impressive portfolio valued at £2 billion. BAA has recently expanded its capacity by adding 87 new shops and 25 catering outlets in Heathrow’s T5, as Mintel Report states.

In the difficult times, where the security is being tightened to the extreme, a specific environment has been created, surprisingly enabling airports to derive from the current situation. It is now or never for many airports to use this chance to maintain current position or to guarantee themselves future prosperity and sustainable business model.

Today, airport retailing is not an appendix to the main aeronautical activity anymore, but represents a true masterpiece of its own kind. Looking only at some of the leading European gateways – Charles de Gaulle, Amsterdam Schiphol or Copenhagen to mention but a few, it is hard not to be left with an impression that retailing in the airports’ version is a truly lucrative source of revenue for both airports and the retail operators. Those are expected to benefit from the commercial activity both today and in the future. Airports, therefore, need to start act as a high-street retailers and, as customers as becoming more affluent, sophisticated and realize how easily they can shop-around, they also need to be even cleverer than their industry peers.

However, there is a major obstacle in airports’ march to success in retailing. Today’s outlets are coupled with all sorts of goods from accessories, luxury clothes, to ‘first-need’ products. Those come ‘wrapped’ in an unique experience: general ambience, staff’s extreme attention and care of the customer, and details like merchandising and seasonal promotions. These are the trends that guarantee the competitive advantage to those who are able to implement them well.

On the other hand, for airports involved in retailing the uncertainty exists in almost every part of their business model, whether it is volatile customers (passengers) traffic, logistical difficulties, such as transportation and scanning procedures, or high operational costs. Retailing spaces being relatively smaller, than the high-street equivalents, and the hassle in hiring and equipping the staff with passes are also of a high importance.

Global airport retail leaders derive, however, from something that high-street retailers do not have – the ability to play on one of the most important factors in customers’ decision process – the sense of place and time. Lounges filled with a combination of longer dwell times, due to the security issues and boredom, while before the flight, play significant role in developing retail offer.

Leading airports understand that retail business is about the creation of unique passenger experiences and adding the value. It is also about understanding the customers’ profiles and the way that they are determined by the types of airlines and the routes they serve.

Dubai International Airport’s Duty Free, that is celebrating its Silver Jubilee this year, is surely one of the top examples of how the gateways should adjust their retailing strategy to match customers’ expectations. Operating more than 86,000 square feet retail space in T3, Dubai Airport have identified its target audience being a Fist and Business class passengers and successfully located the luxury zone on their routes; and it is all about the shopping environment there. While co-operating with specialist design company, Retail Concept Design (RCD), the Airport has created a strong sense of place in the Dubai Duty Free with its luxurious, open-space shops aiming to charm passengers with golden ornaments and the overall splendour.

Another example of deep understanding of the current trends is Copenhagen (CPH) gateway. The Airport expands and enhances its retail capacity to reflect the need of high-street offer. The store’s environment with high ceilings and stylish designs, as well as selection of top brands, like Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Versace and local companies, including J. Lindeberg or Sand, all together aim to create a sense of uniqueness to attract more affluent passengers. In fact, CPH reflects another trend in retailing - a demand for services and products grouped under the ‘well-being’ umbrella. Hence, the zones are created like the Optical Studio for passengers to check their vision and buy tailored branded glasses in just 15 minutes.

Since airports adopted the passenger’s personal experience model, the ‘details’ such as the

Personal Shopper or designated Men’s Lounge with luxury products and treatments just for men passengers, both offered by Charles de Gaulle Airport, act only as a cherry on this cake.
Clearly, today’s global airports not only appreciated their retailing activity, but are making a piece of art from it. The ideas here seems to be endless - a high-street offer, personal experience or literally following customers wherever they go, as Amsterdam Schiphol aims to do with its ‘Retail on Wheels’ mini-shops, last-minute arrival shopping stop in ‘Vizzit’ or advanced online shopping facilities.

The good news is for those who are still at the very end of this creative list that, looking at the current trends, it seems like there is a still a chance to make the first step to create this longed-for match made in heaven between airports and retailing business.

SIFE Salford in Student Direct

SIFE Salford Scoops £200 for Charity Project - Press Release

The very best journeys of ours are always the ones that are a challenge and adventure at the same time!

SIFE Salford, a great student organisation for youg entrepreneurs, creates that kind of challenging and thrilling environment where young business leaders can grow.

I am proud to be a part of this organisation and would like to share with you our latest success!

Read, enjoy and come along to visit us @Salford University in Manchester!

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Press Release
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SIFE SALFORD SCOOPS £200 FOR CHARITY PROJECT
Wilkinson Grant Accolade for Entrepreneurial Students

Salford, December 2009

SIFE Salford (Student in Free Enterprise), the new society for entrepreneurial students of the University of Salford, has been awarded a £200 worth grant in the Wilkinson Entrepreneurship Individual Topic Competition. SIFE Salford’s young entrepreneurs’ team will destine the money towards developing the Salford’s St. Sebastian Community Centre.

The Wilkinson Hardware Stores rewarded SIFE Salford for the best fulfillment of the SIFE international criteria – creating the economic opportunity by helping others to succeed as an entrepreneur and improve an existing business.

“We are delighted that we have been awarded the Wilkinson grant, it is great news for our young team and we did not expect that award,” said Mariusz Andreasik, Vice President of SIFE Salford and Project Leader. “We are a true mixture of students representing 19 countries and over 20 different courses, but we all live here in Salford and we want to give something back from us to the local community. The money we now have will be used to develop and implement a marketing strategy for Cafe Green owned by the St. Sebastian Community Centre.”

On top of this award, the SIFE Salford team has also a chance to win further £500 and a trophy to be presented during the SIFE UK National Competition in April this year. In order to do it, students will have to prepare a report demonstrating the results achieved thanks to their community project.

SIFE Salford’s Communication Director, Lukasz Szczekala on team’s further plans: “The year 2009 is going to be a very challenging year for the society, because our team is still growing with new members and we are involved in several projects, both charity ones, as well as related to economic and teaching financial literacy”.

Along with the cooperation with the local community, the society sets its aim for this year to improve the skills of its members in order to increase their employability. To achieve that, various workshops and seminars will be organized and will cover broad business and entrepreneurial subjects.

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Marta Karaś Marketing & PR Adviser

For further press information please contact:

SIFE Salford V-ce President and Project Leader, Mariusz Andreasik
SIFE Salford
Enterprise Zone
University of Salford
Salford
Lancashire M54WT UK
E-mail: mandreasik2@gmail.com
Tel.: +44 (0)161 295 3000
www.sifesalford.org

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