Blogs | ESTV

2010.02.06 18:52:07

The last couple of weeks have been full on as we get closer to the launch of Best Deals Australia.

Last weekend we finished the second video update. I really have to thank Asish who not only shot the video but came in to the office to edit it the day before he was due to fly out to go home for a well earned holiday.

I know it is a little long coming in just under the 10 minute mark but it really does give you a good over view of why a business should participate. However our original intension was to make two shorter videos but we ran out of time and splitting it would have required some hours of work. I apologise but hope you will watch it as it could prove to be a big boost for your business.

I have two pieces of news. The first is that we have now added a virtual office tower so service businesses can also benefit from the marketing package we have put together. In fact when you look at the marketing package you will see that it is worth far more than the rent and you get a shop or virtual office as well.

The second item is that we have approximately 50 businesses involved so far. Some are one product shops and some have far more, Gernani's for example has over 150 items. There was a last minute rush at the end of last month (January) so we are pretty snowed under getting them all up but I look forward to launching in the next couple of weeks and from then on you will see more shops or offices being added weekly.

Tags: Best Deals Australia | ESTV | Virtual Office Tower | Online shopping mall

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A Not So Good Start to a Great Day

2009.10.18 15:09:57

Saturday was the opening of the World's Funniest Island and Derek Maitland our chief cameraman and me were excited to be going for ESTV. We both did all the right things in preparation for a big day.

Derek did his usual pre "big job" maintenance on the camera, cleaned the heads, charged the batteries and checked his kit to ensure nothing was missing.

I went home early on Friday and got a good night's sleep so I would be fit and fresh for a full day of interviews and filming. I was to pick Derek up early so we could film the crowds waiting to catch the first ferries across to the island.

I Slept So Well

The first hint I got that the day may not go as smooth as I expected was when I awoke to it Two Hours late! My good sleep had become a great sleep and while I may have needed it - this was not the time.

I have never moved so fast and Derek's frequent calls helped spur me on.

I was out of the house, in the car and speeding along the Sid Einfeld drive before you could pick up the bag I left at the front door (where supposedly I wouldn't miss it). So at the end of the by pass that skirts Bondi Junction I did a left turn and drove back through it to go home and get my bag.

The second time I left went without a hitch - other than being terribly late.

I picked up Derek who was remarkably placid and we made it into town with no problems.

I've Got Bad News

When we reached King Street Wharf he started filming while I picked up our tickets. Except that they had forgotten Derek's. As I got the news the first ferry docked and started loading passengers and Derek was waving to me to bring his ticket so he could go aboard and film the crowd from the roof of the ferry.

Disaster was avoided when Andrea from Access PR gave me her ticket and told me to go. Thanks Andrea.

We got some great footage of the early crowds and of the trip out to the Island and then started our interviews when Derek said he was getting a funny message in his view finder.

More Bad News

It wasn't really funny at all. Somehow he was getting a "Dirty Heads" message and he knew and I was about to find out that the camera does not record when the heads are dirty. We (He) checked and sure enough we hadn't recoded anything so far. And because Derek had done the maintenance the night before he didn't bring the head cleaning kit with him. We were stuffed!

We were the first customers at the First Aid tent and when the chap asked which one of us had a problem we both pointed to the camera and asked if he had a cotton bud and some pure alcohol. He had the bud but not the alcohol. We rushed around the Island asking other cameramen if they had a head cleaner with them but no, none did.

There was nothing for it but to return to the city and buy one. But the ferries were only contracted to bring people out to the Island, the organisers hadn't expected that anyone would want to go back this early so the ferries were refusing to take people back. However a little sweet talking goes a long way and we finally managed to hitch a ride back to King St where the waiting crowd all looked at us as we got off the ferry wondering why we were coming back looking so dejected. Sorry Folks, I hope we didn't scare any one off.

at-georges-camera-shop

A Fresh Start

We got a head cleaner at Georges on George St and had a good laugh with the helpful staff. Suddenly I remembered I hadn't had breakfast and we both realised we were starving. So we went to the restaurant above the Forbes Hotel on the corner of King and York St and had a spectacular lunch and a few drinks to celebrate the end of a bad run. Once again the staff were a barrel of laughs and the combination of bonhomie and a great lunch worked wonders. We left the lunch happy and the rest of the day went smoothly as you can see in our report. I hope you enjoy it.

derek_at_cokatoo_island