Calling all jam makers! BBC Television Business Opportunity

I have had an email today from Howard Mills who is looking for entrepreneurial jam and preserve makers for a new BBC Television programme _ it could be you! I have copied the email for you below together with the contact information. Why not get in touch - you have nothing to lose!




ENTREPRENEURS, INVENTORS, DESIGNERS
BRITAIN’S HIGH STREET WANTS YOU!

Do you believe you’ve invented the next Dyson? Concocted a successor to Innocent Smoothies? Discovered the next Protect and Perfect face cream? Then the BBC wants to hear from you!

In a groundbreaking new series, some of Britain’s biggest and best loved high street stores are clearing some shelf space for YOU – the great British public – to sell YOUR products.

Whatever your product, this could be your unique chance to break into the big time. Under the watchful eye of retail expert Theo Paphitis of Dragon’s Den, the most influential buyers in retail want to meet Britain’s undiscovered design talent AND will stock the best of what they see.

Whether you have created a range of garden tools, a fabulous food product, a ‘must have’ accessory or anything else worth selling, this is your chance. If you believe your ORIGINAL product could be successful, but has yet to find its market, apply now.

Email address: highstreet@mavericktv.co.uk
Or telephone: 0207 874 6617

It's marmalade time!

Happy New Year to everyone - hope it was all good for you.



We managed a few days off and had a happy time with our families and new grandchildren -magical to experience Christmas through the eyes of children who are seeing new things for the first time.

We spent a warm and fun New Year's Eve with friends from the village, travelling from house to house until we brought in the New Year with fizz and fireworks. Now we are turning our thoughts to the first preserves of 2010. Marmalade. If you have never made marmalade before do have a go. It seems time consuming and complicated but if you follow our instructions on the website you will soon find yourself hooked - and I promise that you will never want to eat shop-bought marmalade again.

To help things along we have two great offers for you - 24, yes 24 16oz jam jars with our brand new exclusive red spotty lids for just £9.95 - are we mad? You can buy as many packs as you like, there's no limit. Also, pick up some packs of our retro orange and lemon labels, each with a FREE square of muslin PLUS instructions for tying a muslin bag from the square. All for just £3.95.

The labels have been designed for Jam Jar Shop by talented artist Marek Jagucki and they will not be available from any other source. Marek designed our Christmas labels and we are now extending this range of retro style labels throughout the year so if you have any special requests then send us an email. We are very happy to respond to ideas and to make Jam Jar Shop what you would like it to be.

Our vision is for the website - and indeed the business - to become a community. There is so much to explore and to present to you but there seems to be so little time! We are going to be looking for some more help in the Spring but that all takes time as well! Interviewing, selecting, waiting for notice periods to be worked, training - all the while hoping you have chosen the right person plus trying to keep on top of all of the other work. Ours staff all work very hard and they deserve more help so we will have to find the time to attend to it somehow.


Finally, if you feel you would like a little more practical help check out our range of classes on the website. A great day out - why not make up a group of your friends and come along together to a workshop. Contact Lynne for more details and to discuss requirements.


Happy New Jam Making Year!

Spot the Difference!

Our custom designed lids will be here from Italy in the morning! Exclusive to Jam Jar Shop they are red with white spots and in the most popular size to fit a range of our jars. You will be able to order them at no extra cost - how good is that! It will take us a couple of days to get them onto the website but check back soon and you will be able to be the first in country - no, the WORLD - to be able to buy these lids.

Spots before your eyes

They'll soon be here. Friday. What will you use yours for? They're fun, they're unique, they're only at Jam Jar Shop.

Oh dear . . . .

Oh no! You're all waiting for the new delivery of swing-top bottles - which we said would be in this week - and where are they? Still across the Channel because all of the ferries are cancelled due to the storms. Doh! Rosie should have kept quiet . . . they are on the way though. To make it worth waiting we shall be repeating our amazing Buy One, Get One Free offer with a twist - Buy Six Get Six Free. (The boxes take twelve . . . .). I know, I'll never be able to retire if I keep doing things like that but it's only money.

The good news is though that the printer has finally delivered The Jam Maker's Journal which has gone straight onto the website at the introductory price of £8.99 for a while - Trev insisted this time- I argued that I'm already doing a crazy deal on the bottles but he dug his heels in. Hey ho.

Each Journal will end up being unique as there is plenty of room for you to record your own ideas and recipes alongside the useful information we have gathered together. The month by month pages don't have year so the Journal will still be relevant for many years to come. The Journal is in A5 ring binder format so you can easily add extras such as recipes from magazines and there's even a page on different lid sizes with a measurement guage, seasonal recipes, hints and tips, weight and jar conversions - as well as some of our lovely labels that you can use on your own preserves. We think it makes a great Christmas present - especially for you!

Christmas is coming!!!!!

Which I am sure you are all too well aware of!

We have been very busy at Jam Jar Shop finding lots of lovely packaging for you to make your preserves look really special as we know many of you are hard at working making gifts for Christmas. We have some great hampers which come complete with the woodstraw fill in a choice of colours, lovely trugs and crates plus a more modern looking card tray - very exec! And bows. Hundreds of bows. Elegant bows. Again, a great choice of colours, there's our own custom-designed labels plus all the fantastic range of jars and bottles of course.

We are busy making our yummy yummy mincemeat - May has another batch on the go today - I think this year we will use the 12oz Marmalade Jar as it is a very pretty shape and is looks generous without giving too much away, if you know what I mean. ( Note to self, re-name it the 12oz Mincemeat Jar . . . ) I must also tell May that we shall be starting the equally yummy Cranberry Relish any day now. Look out for fresh cranberries in the shops - making the relish couldn't be easier. That needs to go in an 8oz jar as it is the sort of preserve that you tend to open and use the whole jar. If we talk to Trev nicely and feed him chocolate biscuits he might put our secret recipe on the website - just this once ( but you mustn't tell anyone 'cos it's secret.)

Have you seen our bargain Mystery Box on the site as well? Every time I read those words on an order, Toyah Wilcox comes to mind - it's a mystery etc etc, I hate that song . . . I don't know what is in each box as Melanie packed them, but I know they are good value especially if you like surprises!

Best of all news, our own, our very own Jam Maker's Journal will be on site next week - the very best Christmas present ever for any jam or preserve maker. We are just waiting for the ink to dry and then you will be able to order lots and lots of copies at a special price - for a limited time - to get a few more presents ticked off of your list. I must drop a few hints myself, oh, no, - I wrote it. Doh!

They're here!

At last! The new swing top bottles are in - ideal for sloe gin as Christmas presents. We have the popular 250ml size for that, plus 500 ml and 750 ml. The very best news is that the 250ml and 500ml are both on a buy one, get one free offer as a thank you to all of you who have been so patient. So get ordering as soon as to avoid the rush! They are great value, and look good too. We also have tie-on labels and printed Christmas labels which we have had designed for us. They are not expensive but really finish off that hand-made gift.