Solar Aid - what an incredibly simple idea

Solar Aid is a marvellous charity that this business supports.

It has a defined goal to provide solar lighting to people in Africa who rely on polluting kerosene lamps. Access to light is a key way of helping people out of poverty.

It's a sobering thought as I write this on a laptop powered by mains electricity, bathed in the lights of a Christmas tree that a small contribution can make such a major difference.

If your business doesn't support a charity, please consider Solar Aid. Please see what Richard Branson has to say.

These shoes travelled more than Santa

Ordering a Christmas gift illustrated how integrated Europe is and how just in time works.

A pair of Camper shoes was ordered online in Manchester last Saturday.

DHL's tracking tool showed the order was processed in Barcelona the same day. Also on Saturday, the shoes were dispatched to Camper's sort facility in Madrid then forwarded to Leipzig, arriving on Sunday.

The next leg of the shoe's journey on Monday was to DHL in Manchester and four hours later, they were delivered to Camper in Manchester ready for me to collect. Hugely impressive, or would it have been better to hold stock at the store? Probably not a cost effective measure to sit on stock in store; just in time must be more profitable.