Here at Provide Design we don’t like to think of ourselves as Party Poopers. We like to think of ourselves as Christmas Crackers – explosively good and containing lots of nice surprises (and the odd really bad joke). Today we just wanted to write about something which becomes very apparent this time of year.

We’re not being Party Poopers and there isn’t a humbug in sight, but as Christmas gets closer it seems a lot of us use it as a reason to panic and forget about what lies ahead until it is all over and we are comfortably in the New Year.

From a business perspective we have seen many Christmases where everything is rushed into the last few days. Suppliers drop the ball, clients ring expecting the impossible and there isn’t even time to think about the Christmas shopping! This is when detail is missed and our need to get the year over and done with can cloud our foresight and we forget about planning for the coming months.

This year we did it differently. We planned all our marketing activity, we booked our jobs in advance so there would be no need for Christmas Eve deliveries and we made sure that when January comes round it will be a solid continuation on from 2008. No drastic resolutions – just keep stuck to the business plan.

We also employed the assistance of marketing experts to guide us on what our next move should be. Designers and creatives we are, but as marketeers we have a lot to learn – always bring in the professionals to move this part of your business forward.

So this year we will be relaxed and comfy over Christmas knowing what is coming next. Nice feeling – works great with mulled wine.

So Merry Christmas everyone – have a great time. Unwind and if you’ve not done it already, at least mentally prepare for an awesome 2009 – it will be one!

FunkBunk Part 2 is ready! FunkBunk’s neighbouring office space has just been finished and is ready for carpet, cables and some new tenants. The commercial office space is available to rent from FunkBunk as desk spaces just like the original FunkBunk or if the right tenant comes along then they can snap up the entire space for an incredibly good rate.

Good parking, great location and high speed broadband are just some of the plus points.

Contact FunkBunk for more information. or call us on 0845 003 9559

We need bigger boots than the ones we currently have. Provide Design will shortly be moving to our new, freshly refurbished studio – FunkBunk.

We were seeking new premises to expand into when the perfect oppurtunity arose. Concieved by Provide Design FunkBunk is located in 2500sq ft of converted World War 2 Women’s Airforce base just 15 minutes from Milton Keynes.

As all of this space is beyond our needs, Provide Design and FunkBunk are looking for like minded creative roommates to share FunkBunk with.

Desk spaces are available to rent in this enthusiastic, creative, environment with free broadband, free parking and a very cool location.

If this sounds interesting and you fancy becoming a FunkBunker check out www.funkbunk.com

Provide Design are proud to announce that our racing team Forge Racing are back on the Dunlop TVR Challenge podium with a fantastic 2nd place at Brands Hatch on Sunday 15th June.

After a problematic start to the season this was the first race with a trouble free TVR (now set up by Top Cats Racing) and Sam made us proud.

It was an exciting race with a couple of spills and the lead car losing his entire front nose on the pit straight. Sam progressively increased his speed throughout the race, overtaking more experienced drivers, showing massive speed through the corners and moving from his grid position of 5th to an impressive 2nd place on the podium.

More images and an in car video (coming soon) of the race are on www.forgeracing.co.uk

In a small quiet village just outside of Milton Keynes lives a very, very fast car….

… This car belongs to Sam Head – owner of Forge Racing – a TVR Racing team on mission to make their mark on the 2008 Dunlop TVR Tuscan Challenge.

Sam was unbeaten in last year’s series, and had a 100% win record. This year he is back and Provide Design are proud to be supporting him in his efforts to take home some more trophies.

It has not been the smoothest of starts though. There has been mechanical dramas a plenty and one small incident involving a crash barrier but overall things are looking very likely that Sam will be teaching a few other TVR Racing veterans a new trick or two.

Provide Design Milton Keynes have been helping Sam out for 2 years now and 2008 sees Forge Racing furnished with a brand new website, new car graphics (waiting to be fitted) and even the beginnings of their own custom clothing line. We are very excited as if things go to plan Sam will be racing at the televised Silverstone event; PowerNights on June 19th 2008.

Sam Head is now keeping his race diary updated online and has all the details of the season so far:

http://www.forgeracing.co.uk/reports.php