A group of the UK’s most prestigious libraries have put their heads together to select a list of 100 websites which will be essential reading for future generations trying to understand the UK in 2013. That means they are probably good reading for those in other countries trying to learn more about the UK.
Camberwell, London has a lively online community
Recently I had the privelege of interviewing Malaysian author Tash Aw for the review site Bookmunch.
Fifteen months ago Sabrina Trionfera realised her dream of opening a Bed and Breakfast near Rome in Italy. She runs her B&B Magic Garden B&B by herself, and we asked her a few questions about it.
My name is Sabrina, I’m 40 years old, I was born in Rome. I’ve worked for 17 years as travel consultant and supervisor in a travel agency in Rome, and 1 year in London.
Sabrina
Continuing our local business series on People of the World, today we’re talking to Guillaume Lyons, founder of Kaigami Ltd, a UK company which produces innovative folding lampshades. Kaigami’s designs are loosely inspired by the Japanese art of origami, but the company also aims to “maintain Britain’s reputation for producing classic designs”.
Guillaume in his workshop
From a young age I have always been a creative person, I can remember whilst in primary school picking up elastic bands and other bits from the playground and arranging them to form some kind of mechanical toy.
I studied art at GCSE level and at A-level I chose art and C.D.T. (Craft, Design and Technology), from this point in my life it was clear to me that I would study design to the end of my educational life and that is what I have accomplished. I would like to be involved in education later in my career to give seminars about design in business.
Kaigami designs houseware items and offers laser cutting services to other professionals. We currently have a collection of 8 designer light shades for sale on the high street and online.
Kaigami is based in Lewes, East Sussex. The company is dedicated to reducing its carbon foorprint and we produce all our designs in the UK, using laser technology in our own production facility .
Kaigami attends trade shows to reach potential clients, we also advertise through Google Adwords, also we have a great web presence so clients find us that way.
A typical day consists of replying to emails from clients requesting information on Kaigami, processing orders. Managing the student interns and writing invoices.
Kaigami's Nautiply lampshade
The best thing about what I do is creating new designs and having the freedom to do so.
The hardest thing about what I do is creating structure so that the business runs with efficiency. Since I am a start up and have limited cash flow it’s hard trying to grow the business.
Making sales, because that means having the cash flow to develop new designs.
Read more:
Meet Sevcan, working mum bringing organic skin care to Turkey
5 fun facts about the UK
Giuseppe Boschetti, portrait of the artist
This interview is the first in a new series on People of the World where we’ll meet locals from all over the world who run small businesses. Hope you enjoy it! If you know a small, local business you think we should profile then please write to us!
Today we’re meeting Sevcan, who was born in the UK but has lived in Turkey since the age of 13. She’s a mother of two who runs a natural cosmetics company together with her husband, using her cross-cultural savvy to bring new products to the Turkish market.
Our company’s name is Burmino, our aim is to bring certified, high quality, eco friendly products, to improve the quality of our lives and the world we live in. We are the exclusive distributor for Skin Blossom UK who are a skin care company who make safe, affordable, effective organic skin and hair care, because we believe everyone is entitled to healthy, beautiful skin.
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Last week Caterina, PocketCultures contributor from Italy, wrote about some things she found strange when she lived in England. As an English person who has spent a lot of time in Italy (I am married to an Italian!) I thought it would be fun to look at it the other way round – things I did not expect when I visited Italy.
Italian food is famous in many countries around the world, and one of the most famous Italian dishes in Britain is Spaghetti Bolognese. Or so I thought. It turns out in Italy each sauce is normally combined with a particular shape of pasta – spaghetti with clams, penne with arrabiata (spicy tomato), … Bolognese sauce, or ragu as it’s usually called in Italy, is rarely served with spaghetti.
Italian breakfast
And whilst we’re on the topic of food, let’s talk about breakfast. The typical Italian breakfast in a bar is a cappuccino with a ‘pasta’ – a croissant, doughnut or other pastry. As Caterina wrote, it’s very different to the traditional breakfast served in British cafes. At home Italians might eat biscuits, or even a piece of cake, to go with their coffee. I have to admit I was surprised – In England we might eat a couple of biscuits mid-afternoon, but only as a treat, and definitely not as a meal.
Books from around the world, recommended by our contributors
Picture Postcards: A chalkboard in Kazakhstan
An introduction to Chinese calligraphy
From our contributors: week of May 20, 2013
100 websites to learn about the UK
From our contributors: week of April 7, 2013
An Italian in Europe
Author Tash Aw on moving to China and the South Asian novel
Meet Sabrina, Italian guest house owner
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