• News & features • Fantastic competitions • Agents’ profiles FFindind it. Get it. ArArgosgos it. www.argos.co.uk.arwww gos.co.uk Issue 33 | May 2012 LifeifL e just got a little easier TToo spend your Christmas sasavingsvings in-storin-store,e, simply go to arargos.co.ukgos.co.uk to check stock and rreserveeserveeserv
WIN! A VIP MAKEOVER Page 10 No other online rretaileretailer lets you pick up so much, so quickly 101045 welcome May 2012 AGeNT SToRY welcome SHARE YOUR STORY Are you ready for summer? AND EARN VOUCHERS You’re around the halfway stage of the saving year, but before we all get excited about the countdown Parklife wouldn’t be the same without lots of news, stories and photos of our to Christmas, there’s the small matter of summer to Agents. That’s why we want you to share your story and star in a future issue of the magazine. Plus we’ll give you £20/€20 Love2shop vouchers if your story is featured! contend with! Check out the latest Parklife stories on pages 8 and 20. The weather can be a bit hit and miss, but summer’s looking like a scorcher for And if you’re stuck for ideas, here are a few examples Diamond Jubilee things to do. The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics mean there are of the stories you could send us… loads of chances to get the barbecue out. Send us stories and photos of your Parties Join Park summer parties and you could earn vouchers (p3). Are you and your customers Interesting, funny having a street party for the Bingo and Among the Agents who’ve been awarded vouchers for sending us stories or heart-warming Queen’s Diamond Jubilee? win big! recently is student Angharad Morris (p8) who saved for a dream Christmas Have you got plans for the present for her boyfriend. (page 16) It could be a story about you, your family extended bank holiday? Take It’s not just your stories we want – we want to find the or your customers. Maybe you do work for lots of photos and tell us about G News & features G Fantastic competitions what you get up to! star of the next issue of Parklife! Enter our VIP makeover G Agents’ profiles charity or perhaps you’ve got an unusual Issue 24 and photoshoot competition (p10) and you could | August 2010 Emily’s perfect hobby. Or it could be a story about an pamper day feature on the front cover of our next mag! Page 16 Fruit farmer loves interesting aspect of your life. our fruit & veg Page 10 I hope to hear from you soon! Miracle baby dazzles doctors Page 15 Sporting summer Dave Harland, Editor Inspirational Agent WIN! Child’s Piaggio The Olympics and Euro 2012 are just weeks away – Awards nominate yourself - Pages 6-9 Vespa GT Contents Page 30 are you going to any of the summer’s events? Or maybe you’re PARK AND Share your story Park Bingo planning sporting barbecues for family and friends? CHRISTMAS SAVING Earn Love2shop vouchers by telling your tale 3 Join now and claim a welcome bonus 16 If so, send us stories and pics! Tell us your favourite things Customer Care Letters All about your new detailed statement 4 The latest from the Parklife mailbag and inbox 18 about Park. Do you have Agents’ Profiles Happy comping fun or unusual ideas for Say hi to two of Park’s sensible savers 6 Agents share a love of entering competitions 20 how you’ll use your Prizewinner Yourlife commission? Or do you Questionnaire draw winner lands €500 in vouchers 7 Your poems, stories, hints and photos 22 run your Agency in a Dream makers Cute Pets unique way? We help a student grant her boyfriend’s wish 8 3 dogs, 2 cats and a bearded dragon called Spike 24 Makeover 10 Competitions Win a day of Win vouchers, an iPod dock and a doll’s house 25 pampering Earn £20/€20 Love2shop vouchers and see our Kid’s comps Send stories and photos to: Parklife Stories, former winners Win a garden swing set and toys for the kids 28 Valley Road, Birkenhead, CH41 7ED, UK Loyal staff Winners’ Corner Celebrating long service to Park 14 Find out who’s won what 31 or email [email protected]
2 | Parklife Parklife | 3 CUSTOMER CARE CUSTOMER CARE Your first detailed
Account Number: 12345678 Mrs J Jones, statement Team Number: 4 Address Line 1, Address Line 2, 4 Digit Pin: 1234 Address Line 3, The statement you’ve just received is your first full Address Line 4, and detailed statement of 2012. Postcode June Potts Head of Customer Contact It shows your (and any customer) order details, the payments you’ve made so far and details of the Dear Mrs J Jones, commission you can earn, based on your Top 5 tips current orders. Please check it carefully and to staying on track let us know if any of the details are wrong. When you stay on track with your savings your Stay on track for an easy Christmas regular savings amounts will be as small and Please check your new statement carefully The front of the statement is really helpful for you. affordable as possible and it’ll be much easier to The message board contains info and news updates reach your goal. Check out our top tips to help you relevant to your Account and the personalised keep on top of your payments... payment plan with the trains shows you what you need to do to stay on track with your savings. ➊ Set up a Direct Debit and make your regular payments without even thinking about it! Set it up online or over the phone with our Careline Team, Are you on or off track? The top train represents your savings to date and or fill out a Direct Debit Mandate and return it to the bottom train shows your target savings. The the address shown on the mandate. colour of the top train shows where you are with ➋Get into a routine – make your payments on the your savings plan. same day each week/month and you’ll get into the Red train off track (action required) £ .00 £ .00 £ .00 £ .00 habit of doing it. Amber train slightly behind your savings plan ⎧ ➌ Ask your customers to give you post-dated Green train on track for your target savings cheques for the entire year and you’ll always have ⎨ £ .00 £ .00 £ .00 £ .00 £ 44.63 £ 44.63 £ 44.63 £ 44.63 £ 44.63 £ 44.63 them ready to pay in when the time comes each Blue train ahead of your savings plan week/month – great for customers you don’t see In the example shown, the Agent is off track ⎩ that often. with their savings and needs to increase their ➍ Organise a regular meet-up with your customers. monthly savings amounts to the value shown in the chart beneath. Why not invite your customers round for coffee and biscuits, or all meet up at a cafe for lunch each 3Oth September? week/month - that way you can collect everyone’s The amount shown in the box above the stop sign payments and have a good chinwag too! on your statement is the minimum savings you need to have in your Account on 30th September, ➎ Keep records – be sure to keep track of yours and to stay on track. your customers’ payments so you’re always up- This is the date when we confirm with our Keep on track to secure your non-voucher orders! to-date with how much you’ve saved. Use the suppliers, orders for any NON-VOUCHER It’s really important that you are on track with your savings on 30th September – Customer Payment Record we sent, or if you’ve products you may have on order. If you are off this is the date that we confirm all NON-VOUCHER product orders with our suppliers. got lots of customers, set up a computer track on this date and have NON-VOUCHER spreadsheet. products on order, we will convert your entire If your train is red and you are still off track with your savings plan on order into Love2shop vouchers instead. 30th September, we will convert your entire order into Love2shop Vouchers instead. Over 400,000 people already save with Park! So don’t miss out – stay on track! 4 | Parklife Parklife | 5 AGENTS' PROFILES AGENT STORY
Valerie Binns from Lancashire Family life: Partner David, twin daughters Lizzy and Becky, grandson Kii JOHN’S €500 Work: I work at a medical centre issuing prescriptions How long have you been an Agent: 6 years Number of customers: 17 SURPRISE! What do you enjoy most about being an Agent: It helps make Christmas shopping more enjoyable as we Back in October 2011 we don’t have to worry about paying out all in one go sent all Agents a Hobbies: Working on my allotment and visiting my daughter and grandson who live in Ibiza questionnaire to help us Favourite food: Lasagne Awarded learn more about you and Favourite Drink: A nice chilled glass of Pinot Grigio €500 Love2shop the things you like about John with his vouchers vouchers Top tips for other Agents: Remind your customers a few Awarded saving with Park. days before you collect their money - they will be £20 Love2shop ready so you can stay organised and pay on time! vouchers Everyone who posted back a completed spree in Cork city centre. They all bought new outfits questionnaire or filled it out online was entered from Debenhams, Heatons and a few other stores. into a prize draw for £500/€500 Love2shop “By the time they’d spent the full €500 they were Michelle Sinclair from vouchers - the winner was John Walsh from Cork shattered and couldn’t wait to put their feet up at Northumberland in Ireland! home. I just loved seeing my family so happy after their John was delighted when he found out he had shopping trip. I felt truly blessed.” Family life: I live with my boyfriend Ivan, a dog called Hamish and a rabbit called Jack won because he never expected to hear anything back. It was the first Park competition he’d ever Classroom assistant Work: entered so he couldn’t believe his luck. John’s Profile... How long have you been an Agent: 11 years He said: “I gave my vouchers to my wife and Name: John Walsh Number of customers: 34 daughters so they could go on a huge shopping Customers: 4 Years as an Agent: What do you enjoy most about being an Agent: 1 When I see the smile on my customers’ faces as I give I was a customer but decided to become an Agent to help them their vouchers, knowing they have no money Questionnaire others save. worries about buying their Christmas presents
Complete this questionnaire and return to us
for entry into our FREE PRIZE DRAW Hobbies: Walking the dog, cooking, reading magazines
and raising money for charities FOR A CHANCE TO WIN Family life: Happily married to Betty with grown
500
up daughters Niamh and Carolyn Roast beef Sunday dinner with plenty Favourite food: £500/
of turnip and gravy! Love2shop vouchers Work: Chaplain to bikers in Ireland and overseas, Closing date: Friday 24th Februaryo you. 2012By answering these Awarded take you a few minutes and We’re always looking for ways to improve our service t Director of Unchained Ministries Europe Favourite Drink: Diet Coke questions, you’ll be helping us to help you. It will only £20 Love2shop every completed questionnaire that’sto WIN returned Love2shop to us willvouchers! be entered into our FREE PRIZE DRAW Hobbies: Minding our grandkids and all boxes which apply to you) 10 Do you have a bank Noaccount? (please Yes Advise customers to think about their vouchers 1 Gender: 11 Do you have a SAVINGS ACCOUNT with your bank? Top tips for other Agents: Female No photography Male Yes 2 Marital Status: 12 How secure do you feel your BANK SAVINGS are? weekly/monthly budget and only order what they can afford! Married Single (never married) Extremely Very Fairly Not very Widowed Living with partner Not at all Not sure Divorced/separated What I enjoy most about being an Agent: 13 Do you have a creditNo card (eg Visa/Mastercard)? 3 Age: 26-35 36-45 Yes 18-25 56-65 66+ 46-55 14 If yes, do you: Always pay off balance immediately Seeing my family not having to pay out high 4 Household Income: £10,001 - £15,000 Never pay off balance immediately Under £10,000 Pay off the minimum amount only £15,001 - £20,000 £20,001 - £25,000 Pay what I can, which is usually more than the sums of money at Christmas £25,001 - £30,000 30,001 - £35,000 minimum amount £35,001 - £40,000 £40,000 + 15 Do you have a debitNo card (eg Solo)? 5 How many children do you have living at home? Yes 0 1 2-3 4+ 16 Do you own a computer?No I give it to my 6 How I spend my commission: If you have children living at home, which age Yes groups do they fall into? Want to be profiled? 17 Do you have access to the internet at home? Under 5 yrs 6-11 12-16 16+ No Yes 7 Do you work: Part time Retired wife so she can treat herself Full time 18 If you answered no, where do you normally go to Send us your answers to the above questions and a recent photo and we’ll pay £20/€20 Love2shop access the internet? Housewife/husband Unemployed My local library A family member’s house 8 Do you live in: A friend’s house At work Detached house Semi-detached house An internet café I don't use the internet vouchers if you’re featured. Post to: Agents’ Profile, Parklife, Valley Road, Birkenhead, CH41 7ED, UK. Terraced house Flat Bungalow Other, please specify 9 Is your home:
Rented Own with mortgage
Own without mortgage Email [email protected] – put “Agents’ Profile” in the subject line.
6 | Parklife Parklife | 7 AGENT STORY AGENT STORY
Love2play The experience of a lifetime Ferrari V Aston Agent Details Experience the phenomenal handling skills of two of the world’s finest sports cars, the Ferrari F430 and Name: Angharad Morris the Aston Martin DB9. After a short briefing on safety procedures and driving techniques you’ll learn From: Aberystwyth, Wales the turns of the racetrack as a passenger in a BMW 3 Alpina D3. You’ll then take each exquisite vehicle on Customers: 4 laps of the track, feeling the awesome power of the Student Ferrari F430’s brand new 4.3l V8 engine and the Occupation: comfort and refinement of the DB9, whose rear wheels are powered by a hand-crafted V12 engine.
“thank you Park for helping me make my boyfriend's dream come true” Park catalogue, she stopped at the experiences like he did for me. I'd never have managed page and knew she’d found the ideal gift. otherwise!” Saving with Park helps “When I saw the experiences, I thought the This year, Angharad is saving for a Tinkerbell Aston Martin & Ferrari driving experience was Waterglobe for a relative and is even using Park perfect,” she said. “Tom loves fast cars and it to help save for her mum’s 40th birthday dreams come true would be something he would never forget. present next year! With money tight on her limited budget, law student Angharad Morris didn’t “On Christmas Day Tom couldn’t believe it when “I find the collectables are good as I can pay know how she was going to be able to afford Christmas 2011. I gave him the presentation pack – he was weekly and not all in one go. And saving with speechless. He was amazed that I’d managed to Park helps me budget all year round – as I don’t But when she saw our TV advert starring Coleen Nolan last year, she thought keep it a secret and we’ve booked to go in a few just get things for Christmas.” that saving with Park might be the answer. months time. She added: “Plus, I’ve got three customers and I She really wanted to treat her family at arranged it for me in secret. I was so happy “All I have to say is thank you Park for helping use my commission towards my final Christmas and buy a special gift for Tom, her when I found out and I will never forget my time me make my boyfriend's dream come true, just payment.” boyfriend of four years. Saving a little each with the dolphins. week with Park enabled her to do both. Share your story and earn “So I wanted to give Tom a Christmas gift that Angharad explained: “Since I was a little girl I would make him as happy as I was swimming £20/€20 Love2shop vouchers! had dreamt of swimming with dolphins but I with dolphins, but I couldn’t think of what to Tell us the reasons you love saving with Park. How has Park helped your family have an amazing Christmas? Have you or your customers got a funny, interesting, or heart-warming story? We pay £20/€20 Love2shop vouchers for never thought I would be able to afford to do it. get him.” every story we feature. Send stories and photos to: Parklife Stories, Valley Road, Birkenhead, CH41 7ED, UK or “Tom wanted to treat me for my birthday and When Angharad was flicking through the 2011 email [email protected] 8 | Parklife Parklife | 9 makeover makeover VIP MAKEOVER WHAT YOU WIN WIN A We arrange for you to visit the UK’s leading expert in makeovers and photoshoots where you’ll spend over three hours transforming & PHOTOSHOOT into a brand new you. You’ll receive... Since Parklife launched in 2006, we’ve • Consultation with beauty specialist chosen over 20 Agents to go on a luxurious SPONSORED BY makeover and professional photoshoot. • Professional make-up application Some just needed a pick-me-up from the stresses and • Professional haircut strains of life. Others have gone through tough Blow-dry and finish times and needed something • to look forward to. • Professional photoshoot Whatever their reasons, • Complimentary 12” x 8" print everyone deserves to be pampered • Complimentary drinks throughout from time
_ _ _ _ Plus... You'll star on the cover of a future to time! issue of Parklife and your photos will appear
in a special feature inside! G News & features ____ 20/2/09 11:02 Page 1 G Fantastic competitions Issue 18 | July 2009 G News & features G Agents’ profiles G Fantastic competitions G News & features G Agents’ profiles G Fantastic competitions Issue 24 | August 2010 G News & features G News & features G Agents’ profiles Susan gets the G Fantastic competitions G Fantastic competitions Issue 15 | January 2009 VIP treatment G G Page 14 Agents’ profiles Issue 16 | March 2009 Agents’ profiles Issue 21 | March 2010 Emily’s perfectPage 16 Kerry’s magic pamper day Get Fit Kim’s dream OutdoorsPage 18 2009 Agent Fruit farmer lovesPage 10 Awards makeover!Page 12 our fruit & veg Marilyn Monroe Page 3 makeover!Page 16 Celebrating in style Miracle baby is a Christmas Janice’s Making life easier Page 15 Saver! 2008 Agent Awards Pay into your Account dazzles doctors Page 8 Makeover A weekend to remember for at PayPoint outlets our top - performing Agents Page 3 BOOSTPage 16 Page 6 Agent’s baby is a little ‘miracle’ WIN! 30 Year Page 11 Home Cinema System Page 30 Agents honouredPage 20
Meet our WIN!a Sharp mini system 30 Year Agents Page 18 CappuccinoWIN! Page 20 Meet Love2shop’s Coffee Maker new recruit Page 4 Page 22 Giftavailable Cards for ChristmasPage 2010 27 WIN! Child’s Piaggio WIN!a digital Vespa GT photo frame Pages 25-32 Page 30 NEW RETAILERS ADDED Page 30 CHRISTMAS EXTRA Page 4 9 pages of new gift ideas to the HIGH STREET GIFT VOUCHER Inspirational AgentPages 6-9 How to apply nominate yourself - Awards OVER Send us a letter or an email telling us why you feel THE PAGE you deserve to win a makeover, along with a recent photo of yourself. we take a Maybe you’ve suffered recent heartache and want a special day to look back look forward to? Or perhaps you’d just like a bit of “me time” away at four from your hectic day-to-day life? makeovers Write to Parklife Makeover, Valley Road, Birkenhead CH417ED or from the past email [email protected] - put “Makeover” in the subject line, and few years remember to attach a photo of yourself! ➧ Only agents can win so please don’t nominate anyone else!
10 | Parklife Parklife | 11 makeover makeover
Allison Willmore Elaine Harper G News & features from Essex from West Midlands G G Agent storie Fantastic competitions s G G Lifestyle features Agents’ profiles Issue 14 | September 2008 G Lots of great prizes Issue 23 | July 2010 Mum-of-two Allison applied for our makeover Having lost over three stone in two years, competition because her hectic life as a working Allison’s Elaine said she wanted “a lovely boost for the mum was making her feel tired and run-down. day of new me.” As a mum-of-two she always put
Pageluxury 12 Working as call handler for East of England Page 12 her kids first but decided it would be nice to Family & Friends put herself first for a change. She had also Ambulance Service as well as helping out at her helped me beat September 2008 breast cancer lost her mum just a few months previous daughter’s nursery meant she never had a Page 22 Elaine Harper Allison Willmore and knew that a makeover would be an chance to get glammed up. So we decided to Create your own July 2010 Halloween amazing thing to look forward to. give her the pick-me-up she was after. costumes Page 32 Allison said: “It was such a lovely day from start to finish. I had my hair Elaine said: “I asked the stylist for some light shades to brighten my hair Win a up and the make-up artist went for lighter tones too. I don’t wear much washed, cut and styled, a head massage, my nails painted and my make-up 15” LCD TV Page 36 make-up even when I go on a night out so I was amazed to see the done. Smoky eyes are something I’ve always wanted to learn how to do, I was transformation. It really was such a drastic change from when I first walked shown how to cover the dark bits beneath my eyes that I get from wearing Win a in. I hate forcing a smile so the photographer helped me relax and pose glasses all the time. It just felt great to be able to relax while Page 42 Laptop! naturally, then when I saw my first photo, it simply took my breath away! everything was done for me.” I’m not a vain person so when I saw how great I looked, the tears flowed. I was overwhelmed. I just didn’t think I could look like that!”
G News & features Liz Slater G Fantastic competitions G Agents’ profiles from Warwickshire Issue 27 | March 2011 G News & features G Issue 17 | May 2009 Fantastic competitions Tania-Maria Wall G Agents’ profiles Stressed-out dinner lady Liz emailed in telling from Shropshire us about how much it would mean to have Liz’s “me time” some “me time”. She told us “I would love my makeover! Tania-Maria wrote in to see if she deserved friends and family to see a new hot look, not Page 14 a makeover after what she described as a Tania-Maria Wall this ugly dressy down person I have been COMMISSION “life changing” year. In 2010 she suffered How do you use yours? March 2011 accustomed to for so long.” We decided to Page 8 pressure on the brain which led to her Liz Slater grant her wish, and instead of having to look being in hospital for three months and off work for most of the year. She May 2009 after her husband and kids for the day, she underwent four operations and needed her head shaving for each one. Losing went on a VIP makeover. her usual long curly locks dashed her confidence and she wanted a makeover Park pensioner to help rebuild her look and feel good again. How could we refuse? Liz said: “I was made to feel special as soon as I walked through the door gets bravery award Page 12
of the makeover studio. The guy who greeted me as I entered even told me Tania-Maria said: “Having my head shaved for each operation was hard so ‘this is your day, it’s all about you’, which made me feel at ease right away. WIN! knowing I was going to have a makeover gave me a great boost! At the I had a chat with the hair stylist about the look I wanted and had it cut and TV with n DVD player studio I was given a glass of Buck’s Fizz before having my hair layered, WE LOVE2SHOP Page 30 styled in exactly the way I like it. She even told me about the best make-up done, nails polished and head massaged. I was nervous about talk vouchers Page 4 conditioners and other products to use on red hair like mine. The whole the photoshoot but the lady photographer made me feel at ease right away day was fabulous from start to finish.” and I loved how well my green eyes stood out in the shots. The whole experience helped me feel so much better about myself.”
12 | Parklife Parklife | 13 STAFF LOYALTY AWARDS STAFF LOYALTY AWARDS
Staff Loyalty The continued hard work of our staff allows us to provide you with such a great service year on year. So we feel it’s important to recognise their dedication to Park. Awards We recently honoured 29 members of the Park team for reaching their ten, fifteen, twenty and twenty-five year milestones. Each of them received a certificate and 395 years of loyal service loyalty gift at a celebratory lunch in Park’s boardroom.
1 19 23 1 12 21 25 26 11 22 4 13 20 15 3 5
14 18 9 2 6 8 24 7 17 10
16
With Park 25 years With Park 15 Years 8. Sue Diamond Production With Park 10 Years 18. Lucy Wycherley 23. John Thwaites Production 1. Chris Houghton Park Group CEO 4. Janine Murphy 9. Samantha Woods 14. Phil Gilroy Customer Care 24. Barbara Towers Production 2. Karen Lowey Customer Care High Street Vouchers Production Marketing 19. Roy Parnell Intake 25. Hugh O’Brien Production 3. Josie Borg Accounts 5. Steve Davies 10. Donna Dowdall Production 15. Linda Boden Buying 20. Fiona Hughes Production Electrician 11. David Smalley Production 26. Tony Manning Cold Store 16. Carol Hesketh 21. Myles Davies Payroll With Park 20 Years 6. Judith Thompson 12. Dana Taylor Travor Bailey (not pictured) Production Customer Care Paul Bentley (not pictured) IT Peter Griffiths (not pictured) Production Technical Services 17. Nicky Goldsmith Cold Store 7. Barbara McAllister 13. Kathy Chapman 22. Pam Courts Production All photographed with Customer Care Production Housekeeping Peter Johnson, Executive Chairman
Myles Davies Group Payroll Manager, HR Kathy Chapman Housekeeper Worked at Park since 2002 Worked at Park since 1997 My job involves: My job involves: ❝Cleaning offices, kitchens and toilets across the Park site, ❝Providing a payroll service across the Park site and hopefully keeping all staff on maintaining stock sheets for cleaning products, cleaning the tea machines and the right side of Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs.❞ preparing food for meetings and visitors.❞ Before my current role: Before my current role: ❝I originally came to Park as a temporary packer and ❝I was Payroll Administrator when I first came to Park. After two years I was worked here on and off whilst working in my local pub. Then a full time promoted to my present position where I introduced the current payroll system housekeeping role came up so I applied for it and I’ve been doing that since.❞ across the business - it was previously done by an off-site bureau. ❞ I most enjoy: I’ve stayed here so long because: ❝Preparing buffets for lunchtime meetings across the Park site. I also do ❝The Park staff are a really great group of people. I love working here and I’ve got collections for staff birthdays and retirements which means I get to meet everyone far too many great memories to list from my time here - most days throw up a who works at Park.❞ funny or memorable moment! ❞ I’ve stayed here so long because: Changes I’ve seen since I came to Park include: ❝I’ve made so many new friends in my time here. I came here for twelve weeks and ❝The development of the Love2shop voucher and the online side of the business.❞ I’ve stayed for fifteen years - no two days are the same.❞
14 life life |15 |Park Park 16 | Parklife Parklife | 17 YOUR LETTERS YOUR LETTERS
Hi Park I’d just like to say a very huge thank you for making my Christmas such a pleasure. I have four young children so it is a godsend! It’s marvelous to feel great about Christmas shopping and not have to worry. All awarded Love2shop vouchers Plus two of my daughters and my mum have their birthdays in December so it was usually a very expensive month… IT’S NOT ANYMORE! We love reading the letters and emails our Agents send in. Check out some of our favourites that you’ve sent us over the last few weeks… Thank you! Kelly Griffiths, Staffordshire Dear Parklife club, I have been an Agent for quite a few years now, and I love it! My family love choosing the things that they want for the From Laura Miller, From Lorraine Roeves, festive season and saving with Park is a lovely way to get South Lanarkshire everything we need for Christmas. Sunderland Dear Parklife, I will be with you for many more years to come! Hi Parklife, I've got the feeling 2012 is going Yours sincerely be a good year for me and my family I have been saving with Park for as I have just signed up to Park a couple of years just for myself Denise Cooper, Norfolk and started saving for Christmas. and started with a small amount of Love2Shop vouchers to pay for It’s the best thing I have ever stocking fillers. done as you get to pay for your items weekly at low rates - I have With finances getting tighter and even recommended my family join me. tighter, I've built this up and now pay for the whole of From Emma Smith, Manchester The commission you can earn for adding customers could earn you Christmas with what I save - it's Dear Park! vouchers, a cheque, a start to your been totally addictive. savings for next Christmas or even I just want you to know how excited we are the end payment of your products I now have one very happy to receive all our Park goodies this year. which is really good. customer, as my friend at work has been saving with me and is Last year I had my little girl and it was Saving with Park also means my looking forward to a worry-free a BIG struggle so I vowed never to let that son is going to have the best festive shopping spree too. happen again - thanks to Park it won’t! Christmas, so I would love to say big “thank you” to Park and all Here's to 2012 and more happy We can’t wait for a big Christmas and I of your staff for making such saving! hope to save with you for many years! a great savings club!
Here’s a photo of my little girl Ella who I am excited to spoil - she’s my little Santa Baby!
Thanks again Park, Send your letters to Yourlife, Parklife, Valley Road, Birkenhead, CH41 7ED, UK or email them to [email protected] - put “Yourlife” in the subject line and remember to include your Love Emma & Ella xxx name, address and Account Number, and a photo! We pay £20/€20 Love2shop vouchers for every one we feature! 18 | Parklife Parklife | 19 AGENT STORY AGENT STORY
TWO LUCKY AGENTS “I LOVE THE BUZZAwarded £20 Love2shop ARE HAPPY OF COMPING” vouchers Awarded Christine Plant from Stockport, loves the buzz she £20 COMPERS Love2shop gets when she wins something she really wants Maria Kenny on her winning photoshoot vouchers and always makes sure she writes it in her We love hearing about how our Agents and customers comping notebook. spend their spare time. So when two of you wrote in to tell us Christine told us: “Most of my prizes I have kept, about your hobby of entering competitions, it but I have donated many to various charities made for the perfect Parklife story... and raffles which has given me great pleasure. “Some years back, whilst recovering from Some of the prizes Christine has won “Comping” is an increasingly popular hobby Trip to London treatment for breast cancer I was lucky enough - and a great way of getting things for free that you to win a bottle of champagne and Thorntons wouldn’t necessarily be able to afford otherwise. chocolates after entering a competition in Parklife. TOP 5 COMPING TIPS People have been entering competitions for “I shared the chocolates with my work colleagues 1. Set up a dedicated email address just decades, but over the last few years more and and the Champagne was opened to celebrate my for comping more people are joining the comping craze. new beginning with my husband Robert, who Trip to Copenhagen was my rock through the tears and laughter whilst 2. Join a comping forum to find Some people are so successful that they class undergoing treatment.” competitions - Money Saving Expert comping as their full time job, whilst for others it website has a ‘Competitions Time’ Christine can still remember the first thing she is just a nice hobby they like to do while their kids board with lots of links are at school. won - a bottle of Zoflora disinfectant! Since then she has won lots of weekends away, an all 3. Visit comping websites such as From Copenhagen to Camelot inclusive trip to Wimbledon, mountain bikes, a theprizefinder.com or loquax.co.uk Maria Kenny from Stretford, Manchester has Bread for a year chocolate hamper, crates of beer, a bouncy castle Check out competitions and giveaways bagged some big prizes over the years. In her and many more prizes. 4. on the Facebook pages of big brands comping career, she’s won an all expenses paid photo shoot with Dove, to free bread for a year - Her 3 children have even caught the comping trip to Copenhagen (pictured) with spending it wasn’t all delivered at the same time, it came in bug from their mum, winning tickets to a 5. Keep track of the competitions you’ve money, a trip to London, tickets to Whipsnade vouchers which came in very handy. So in a movie premiere. entered in a notebook Zoo, Gulliver’s World and Camelot and many recession it is quite a nice hobby to have. more top prizes. “My advice to other Agents thinking about She confessed: “I have always entered becoming a comper would be to start small. Just Share What do you like to do in your spare time? Do you or competitions but last year I really upped my game. enter crossword competitions or local newspaper your your customers have an interesting hobby? Maybe I set up a little folder, bought stamps and competitions to win DVDs or days out. you’ve got an achievement you’re really proud of? postcards and I did every competition I came story! “I enter about four competitions a week - this We pay £20/€20 Love2shop vouchers for every story across. I started off with simple ones where you week I’ve entered competitions for a trip to New we feature. Send your stories, and photos to just have to answer a question and gradually built Zealand, vouchers for garden furniture and a ferry Agent Story, Parklife, Valley Road, Birkenhead, CH417ED. up to the odd slogan. crossing. I am always hopeful and never Or email [email protected] “I have won all sorts from a pamper day and disheartened. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!”
20 | Parklife Parklife | 21 YOURLIFE YOURLIFE
We’ll pay £20/€20 Love2shop vouchers for every one we print! PHOTO CORNER This is your section of the magazine, and we want you to fill it with your tips, letters, jokes, funny or embarrassing stories, poems, funny photos, short stories, sketches, drawings or anything else you’d like to share with your fellow Park Agents.
Kayleigh Peers from Wirral wrote about how she enjoys being an Agent. Poems The vouchers from Park I saved all year round, Sharon Jones from Liverpool For not much money, just a couple of pounds. sent us this short but sweet poem Family and friends said “that's a good idea,” Here’s a photo of my I was packing for a My husband Jimmy loves his about what she loves saving for. gorgeous son Kerry. He holiday when my garden and spends all the I replied “it’s great you can save without fear.” is 2 years-old and is grandson Cameron, age time he can in it. He plants Park is great, Park is cool, named after heavy metal 2, climbed in the all his own seeds from year When the vouchers came I feel like Santa himself, guitarist Kerry King suitcase and said "me to year and has been awarded Those Christmas hampers make me drool. All I need now is a little green elf. from Slayer. I think come too Nanny". Oh several cups from our Hampers, toys and vouchers too, the name suits him and he did make us laugh. housing scheme – last year Christmas day the children awake Can't wait for Christmas thanks to you! he is already a little he was given the Memorial “Mummy Mummy”, the delight on their face. heavy metal fan! Maria Atkinson from Cup for prettiest garden! He Staffordshire was delighted and at 71 he Laura Roberts from So thank you Park I’ll be back next year, still enjoys every moment of Stoke-on-Trent it! The family is all very Saving for a hamper, for our Christmas meal. proud of him. My husband Ken, who has spent a lot of time in hospital as he is quite poorly, Agnes Harvey from Glasgow asked our 5-year-old grandson Liam (pictured): “Have you had a nice day in school today?” When he answered FUNNY STORIES “yes”, Ken asked “Can I come to school Some funny stories of your little cherubs with you tomorrow?” Liam answered: For ladies who love to wear long necklaces and that made us chuckle… “You don't go to school struggle for somewhere to keep them – use a hook granddad, you go to hospital!” on tie rack. I found this (pictured) at my local store and Ha! Ha! June Jones from South Wirral I hang it from my curtain tie back in my bedroom. It Ha! Ha! has 4 individual hooks to hang my chains and beads and even tucks away behind the curtain! I was telling a lady who was due to have Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Hellen Linegar from Flintshire a baby about how Park is a great way to Handy save for next year as she will have a little Ha! Ha! one soon. Then we got on to the subject I look after my two granddaughters ✔ of what weight my kids were when they My mum was looking after my every day after school and give them Hints were born. I said “my youngest was nephew Daniel, and they were their dinner. One day I asked the Top tips to When you've done your food shopping, stick ✔ 7lb 8 and my middle one was 8lb 8”, having trouble building his train youngest, Elodie-Rose, “Do you want make life easier your receipt on the fridge and as you use things ✔ and before I could say another word, my set. Mum said: “Don't worry, fish fingers?” She replied: “I don’t like from the cupboards, tick them off your receipt. them grandma.” So I told her she was 8-year-old daughter asked: “what did I Auntie Suzie will be here soon Then you’ll have a ready-made shopping list for a lucky girl and that she could have the cost from Park mum?” I just laughed and and she'll know where the pieces next time you go the supermarket! said: “You cost me 6lb 6!” go - she's a mine of useless fish thumbs instead. She ate them all Don't you just love the information." He replied "Yes, up! Now when she’s out with mummy Amy Charles from Derbyshire way kids think! Suzie will know, she's a miner!" she always asks for fish thumbs – it Natalie Evans from Walsall Suzanne Rae from Castleford certainly made a waitress laugh at a recent wedding! Send yours to: Yourlife, Parklife, Valley Road, Birkenhead, CH41 7ED, UK Barbara Nutter or email [email protected] putting “Yourlife” in the subject line. Ha! Ha! £6.06 Ha! Ha! from Burnley Remember to include your name, address and Account Number! 22 | Parklife Parklife | 23