One week left to go before the influx of visitors to SW19 for the best tennis tournament in the world! Sadly for me I have no tickets. I did enter the public ballot but was unlucky this year. My parents however, were more successful and will be on Court 2 on the 29th of June. Lucky them!
Spareground now has its first tennis related listing, some lovely private accommodation available just a ten minute walk from the All England Club.
It’s no secret that one of the problems with this tournament (and I would imagine many others) is the lack of closely available parking or accommodation. Each year, residents within Wimbledon and nearby areas have placed their properties in the hands of local estate agents for rentals to visitors during this time. Nothing wrong with that of course and for some people to have someone to ‘manage’ the rental of their property or parking would be the preferred option anyway.
However, not everyone can afford to pay or wants to pay, the handling fees involved, especially when there can be no guarantee that it will be leased out at all.
Spareground offers an alternative source. We do not charge for people to register and create listings, nor is there any charge for users to contact advertisers. All we ask is people register to the site. Using this method means that it is entirely down to the user to manage their own listings and arrange the rental terms as they see fit. Spareground plays no part in this aspect, we only provide the introductory aspect.
This great tennis tournament at the All England Tennis Club attracts visitors from all over the world. Not all will have the same budgets so the broader the range of pricing options for accommodation, hotels, B&Bs or even camping locations then the better. So even if you have a single room available, a space for putting up a tent or a 7-bedroomed detached house, all will be welcome on the Spareground site.
Parking options is also another aspect for people to consider, whether its listing a driveway space in front of a house, a business premises car park or that of a school or church, list them on the site,. There are other websites too which allow you to list parking so by all means use those as well.
Don’t forget that if you are visiting Wimbledon for the tennis, you can create a listing to ask for what space you need, whether it’s parking or accommodation.
The site is there for those who are looking as well as for those who can provide.
To finish off, congratulations go to Andy Murray for his win at the AEGON championships at the Queens club last week. Also to Roger Federer for his French Open win, putting him toe to toe with Sampras on his number of Grand Slam tournaments won. If either of these two men lifts the trophy at Wimbledon this year, you will be watching sporting history in the making!
www.spareground.co.uk
Monday, 15 June 2009
Monday, 8 June 2009
Tweeting, test matches and Take That!
It’s happened again! Once more, I disappear from the desk for a few days chill out by the sea and Spareground has another influx of high hits!
Clearly, I should spend most of my time messing about by the seaside if this is the effect. Its great news and very welcome!
It’s nice to have had some very positive feedback on the Spareground concept and good to see that people can see how useful such a site can be. A website than most people could probably benefit from at some stage in their lives.
Other news, Spareground is now a-tweeting on twitter! @spareground
I must admit I was rather hesitant about twitter, I couldn’t see how it would be any different to facebook or other social websites but I am happy I am there and looking forward to seeing where it may take me.
For those of you who read this blog regularly, you will undoubtedly realise that as a passionate rugby fan, I am engrossed by the goings on with the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa. It’s been a bit of a mixed bag for me, two 'average to below par' games with one sublime one sandwiched in the middle. If only I was there!
I was fortunate enough to go on the Lions tour to Australia back in 2001 and to this day, that first test match in the Gabba at Brisbane, still holds number one spot for the best match I have been to! There is nothing like a Lions tour and I sincerely hope that the powers that be never decide to call time on them. I can’t think of any other sport where players from different countries, normally used to pulverising the living daylights out of each other, can for a period of six weeks or so form one team. I already have my test team forming in my head so will be interesting to see if I am right in a fortnight’s time.
(There’s an unused rugby pitch near my house, which was once part of the Ministry of Defence property, I’m not sure who owns it now but it would be nice if people or organisations who have unused land like this could put them on Spareground. What a waste of a good pitch!)
Anyhow, please keep passing the word of Spareground on to your friends, family and colleagues. The more and the quicker it grows, the more benefit people can gain from it.
Tomorrow sees me off to the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, Take That are playing! Woohoo!
www.spareground.com
Clearly, I should spend most of my time messing about by the seaside if this is the effect. Its great news and very welcome!
It’s nice to have had some very positive feedback on the Spareground concept and good to see that people can see how useful such a site can be. A website than most people could probably benefit from at some stage in their lives.
Other news, Spareground is now a-tweeting on twitter! @spareground
I must admit I was rather hesitant about twitter, I couldn’t see how it would be any different to facebook or other social websites but I am happy I am there and looking forward to seeing where it may take me.
For those of you who read this blog regularly, you will undoubtedly realise that as a passionate rugby fan, I am engrossed by the goings on with the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa. It’s been a bit of a mixed bag for me, two 'average to below par' games with one sublime one sandwiched in the middle. If only I was there!
I was fortunate enough to go on the Lions tour to Australia back in 2001 and to this day, that first test match in the Gabba at Brisbane, still holds number one spot for the best match I have been to! There is nothing like a Lions tour and I sincerely hope that the powers that be never decide to call time on them. I can’t think of any other sport where players from different countries, normally used to pulverising the living daylights out of each other, can for a period of six weeks or so form one team. I already have my test team forming in my head so will be interesting to see if I am right in a fortnight’s time.
(There’s an unused rugby pitch near my house, which was once part of the Ministry of Defence property, I’m not sure who owns it now but it would be nice if people or organisations who have unused land like this could put them on Spareground. What a waste of a good pitch!)
Anyhow, please keep passing the word of Spareground on to your friends, family and colleagues. The more and the quicker it grows, the more benefit people can gain from it.
Tomorrow sees me off to the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, Take That are playing! Woohoo!
www.spareground.com
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
Spend the Summer Outdoors!
I don’t know where the time is going at the moment!
Since my promises to update regularly were uttered in April, we are now fast approaching the end of May already and soon it will be summertime.
At Spareground, we are in the throws of thrashing out some new promotional ideas and ways to encourage people to use the site to their advantages during the summer months.
Summer means the festival season for many people (Glastonbury, The Reading and Leeds Festivals, the V Festivals, the Isle of Wight festival and the Cambridge Folk festival to name only a few) and with the dates quickly bearing down on us, we are keen to encourage people who attend these festivals and those who live nearby to use Spareground to find or advertise their spare space.
The camping in close numbers experience may not be ideal for some people and with people wanting to keep vehicles close by, Spareground can act as the mediating facility to find what you want; whether its accommodation, camping space, parking or storage space. If that’s what you are looking for then why not place a listing.
If you live in these areas and can offer anything of this sort then advertise it free of charge on Spareground.
I only wish I was heading down to Glastonbury this year but alas I didn’t get a ticket. Nevermind, I will try again next year!
http://www.spareground.com/
Since my promises to update regularly were uttered in April, we are now fast approaching the end of May already and soon it will be summertime.
At Spareground, we are in the throws of thrashing out some new promotional ideas and ways to encourage people to use the site to their advantages during the summer months.
Summer means the festival season for many people (Glastonbury, The Reading and Leeds Festivals, the V Festivals, the Isle of Wight festival and the Cambridge Folk festival to name only a few) and with the dates quickly bearing down on us, we are keen to encourage people who attend these festivals and those who live nearby to use Spareground to find or advertise their spare space.
The camping in close numbers experience may not be ideal for some people and with people wanting to keep vehicles close by, Spareground can act as the mediating facility to find what you want; whether its accommodation, camping space, parking or storage space. If that’s what you are looking for then why not place a listing.
If you live in these areas and can offer anything of this sort then advertise it free of charge on Spareground.
I only wish I was heading down to Glastonbury this year but alas I didn’t get a ticket. Nevermind, I will try again next year!
http://www.spareground.com/
Monday, 27 April 2009
London Marathon
Yesterday’s London Marathon was great!
I must say I enjoyed it from the comfort of the armchair but with an annual promise to enter the ballot next year. I will do it today. Unfortunately the website is busy at the moment,…honestly.
My friend Alan competed yesterday and finished with a respectable time of 3 hours 25 minutes, equally impressive as it was a rather warm day and he was dressed in a velvet effect Wonder Woman outfit! He has raised a considerable amount of money for the Countess Mountbatten Hospice in Southampton but very sadly, his friend who was a patient there, passed away only a few days ago.
http://www.justgiving.com/alanmiddlebrook
London attracts thousands of visitors each year for this event and the numbers of people who apply increases year by year. Equally the amount of people who come to support naturally increases too.
As with any major sports event, Spareground can be a good resource for finding the car parking or the accommodation that is needed. No doubt there are events which happen whereby it is very difficult to almost impossible to find anywhere to stay nearby or park the car. If you live in areas where there is a sporting event being hosted, (whether it happens weekly, monthly or once a year) you could consider renting out your parking space or even a spare room for the night to help accommodate the higher numbers of people. I know of people who compete in the Great North Run in Newcastle every year and on each occasion, they have a torrid time finding accommodation close to the event.
So if you are a private individual, a business, school or any other organisation that can offer car parking or accommodation (even if its camping space) to help out whilst there is an event happening near you why not list on Spareground. It’s all extra funds or if you so wish you could donate the proceeds to a charitable or fund raising effort.
www.spareground.com
I must say I enjoyed it from the comfort of the armchair but with an annual promise to enter the ballot next year. I will do it today. Unfortunately the website is busy at the moment,…honestly.
My friend Alan competed yesterday and finished with a respectable time of 3 hours 25 minutes, equally impressive as it was a rather warm day and he was dressed in a velvet effect Wonder Woman outfit! He has raised a considerable amount of money for the Countess Mountbatten Hospice in Southampton but very sadly, his friend who was a patient there, passed away only a few days ago.
http://www.justgiving.com/alanmiddlebrook
London attracts thousands of visitors each year for this event and the numbers of people who apply increases year by year. Equally the amount of people who come to support naturally increases too.
As with any major sports event, Spareground can be a good resource for finding the car parking or the accommodation that is needed. No doubt there are events which happen whereby it is very difficult to almost impossible to find anywhere to stay nearby or park the car. If you live in areas where there is a sporting event being hosted, (whether it happens weekly, monthly or once a year) you could consider renting out your parking space or even a spare room for the night to help accommodate the higher numbers of people. I know of people who compete in the Great North Run in Newcastle every year and on each occasion, they have a torrid time finding accommodation close to the event.
So if you are a private individual, a business, school or any other organisation that can offer car parking or accommodation (even if its camping space) to help out whilst there is an event happening near you why not list on Spareground. It’s all extra funds or if you so wish you could donate the proceeds to a charitable or fund raising effort.
www.spareground.com
Friday, 17 April 2009
Spareground the Sellsumer!
Time is flying under my nose and I’ve just realised that it’s nearly three weeks since I last crunched bone on keyboard to write a blog entry.
As well as the upsurge in interest following the write up on springwise.com in March, this month sees Spareground mentioned in www.trendwatching.com as one of a few named ‘Sellsumers’. (A phrase to describe enterprises or businesses that help people make money instead of spending it!...not sure who coined that phrase though).
Spareground nicely fits under the category of “Space” alongside other UK web-based Sellsumers such as ParkAtMyHouse, YourParkingSpace and some US entries as Homstie and Roomorama.
Once again, this has reflected enormously in the site hits and hopefully will continue the increase in momentum.
Coverage such as this goes a long way in encouraging people and businesses to consider how they can maximise their space. A large number of people either have (or are looking for), storage space, driveways, garages, parking spaces, empty land or empty garden space, or other types of property they can lease or rent to someone else.
Or of course, let someone use it for free or for a charity donation.
Many people are looking for potential allotment space, camping space, cheaper and easier parking options, accommodation for short term rental such as when near a major sports or music event.
It goes on and I am aware I probably sound like a broken record but it makes so much sense to use what we do already have! All for our own benefit too!
Progress is still being made to take Spareground overseas and there are some exciting prospects in the offing.
Time is pushed as the moment with keeping the drive on Spareground and continuing with my other work (a consultant patent searcher offering a range of patent search services just in case you were interested……..*wakey wakey at the back*) but I hope to update this blog a bit more often than three week intervals…....must do better.
Some good rugby matches on over this weekend and of course next Tuesday is the announcement of the British and Irish Lions Rugby Squad. Can’t wait!
www.spareground.com
As well as the upsurge in interest following the write up on springwise.com in March, this month sees Spareground mentioned in www.trendwatching.com as one of a few named ‘Sellsumers’. (A phrase to describe enterprises or businesses that help people make money instead of spending it!...not sure who coined that phrase though).
Spareground nicely fits under the category of “Space” alongside other UK web-based Sellsumers such as ParkAtMyHouse, YourParkingSpace and some US entries as Homstie and Roomorama.
Once again, this has reflected enormously in the site hits and hopefully will continue the increase in momentum.
Coverage such as this goes a long way in encouraging people and businesses to consider how they can maximise their space. A large number of people either have (or are looking for), storage space, driveways, garages, parking spaces, empty land or empty garden space, or other types of property they can lease or rent to someone else.
Or of course, let someone use it for free or for a charity donation.
Many people are looking for potential allotment space, camping space, cheaper and easier parking options, accommodation for short term rental such as when near a major sports or music event.
It goes on and I am aware I probably sound like a broken record but it makes so much sense to use what we do already have! All for our own benefit too!
Progress is still being made to take Spareground overseas and there are some exciting prospects in the offing.
Time is pushed as the moment with keeping the drive on Spareground and continuing with my other work (a consultant patent searcher offering a range of patent search services just in case you were interested……..*wakey wakey at the back*) but I hope to update this blog a bit more often than three week intervals…....must do better.
Some good rugby matches on over this weekend and of course next Tuesday is the announcement of the British and Irish Lions Rugby Squad. Can’t wait!
www.spareground.com
Saturday, 28 March 2009
When the cat's away
..Spareground goes mad!
What a pleasure it was on return from a week at Center Parcs to find the stats on Spareground had gone through the roof in my absence! I clearly need to go away more often!
And the cause of this sudden rise in the Spareground stats? A feature on the Springwise website (www.springwise.com).
This website scouts through the world for new and enterprising business ideas and thankfully for me, Spareground has been picked up and featured.
As a result of this, I have now received a few emails about taking the business idea of Spareground beyond the borders of Blighty into the States and New Zealand to name a few, and as you would expect this has been an enormous boost to this entire project.
I will be speaking with the web designer (the fabulous Marcus at www.binarydrive.com) in the coming week to discuss how we will move forward with these enquiries.
The key thing is to maintain and keep pushing this sharp rise in interest both here and overseas. It’s very encouraging to know that people can see the obvious benefits and uses of Spareground on an international basis and can see its relevance to all sectors of the community. Long may it continue!
The downside for me, is my return from holiday has also seen me develop some horrible lurgy so my energy levels are somewhat sapped at the moment! That’s what happens when you’re 40 going on 14 and insist on riding the wild water rapids over and over again! I really should have learned my lesson by now…
www.spareground.com
What a pleasure it was on return from a week at Center Parcs to find the stats on Spareground had gone through the roof in my absence! I clearly need to go away more often!
And the cause of this sudden rise in the Spareground stats? A feature on the Springwise website (www.springwise.com).
This website scouts through the world for new and enterprising business ideas and thankfully for me, Spareground has been picked up and featured.
As a result of this, I have now received a few emails about taking the business idea of Spareground beyond the borders of Blighty into the States and New Zealand to name a few, and as you would expect this has been an enormous boost to this entire project.
I will be speaking with the web designer (the fabulous Marcus at www.binarydrive.com) in the coming week to discuss how we will move forward with these enquiries.
The key thing is to maintain and keep pushing this sharp rise in interest both here and overseas. It’s very encouraging to know that people can see the obvious benefits and uses of Spareground on an international basis and can see its relevance to all sectors of the community. Long may it continue!
The downside for me, is my return from holiday has also seen me develop some horrible lurgy so my energy levels are somewhat sapped at the moment! That’s what happens when you’re 40 going on 14 and insist on riding the wild water rapids over and over again! I really should have learned my lesson by now…
www.spareground.com
Thursday, 12 March 2009
It's all for charidee!
Red Nose Day is here!
Charity Organiser Comic Relief (http://www.comicrelief.com/) raises millions of pounds from this biannual event with the proceeds going towards projects here in the UK and Africa for the reduction and relief of the effects of poverty. Even small amounts of money can make a difference to disadvantaged people supported by this charity.
However, in 2009, the effects of the economical downturn in the UK are a worry not only to Comic Relief but to all charities in the UK.
People do not necessarily have the levels of disposable income in previous years and the hit on donations to charities is likely to be hardest.
Take That member Gary Barlow reiterated the need in this particular year for an even harder effort towards fund raising, hence his idea of the (now successful) climb of Mount Kilimanjaro. People need way more enticing to part with their cash!
There is no reason whatsoever why people and organisations cannot use the Spareground website to raise money for charities and other fund raising causes.
Create your listing and put the term “charity” or “fund raising” in the description. Add in what it’s for and see what happens. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Schools, clubs, churches etc who have parking facilities for example can raise money by leasing out their parking spaces over weekends or evenings. This would be particularly welcome when they are in busy areas (city centres, airports, train stations etc) or close to major sports, music or recreational events.
So if you have the space, whether it is parking, storage, land, unused gardens or other accommodation, make some money for charity and other fund raising efforts by listing it free of charge on Spareground.
http://www.spareground.com/
Charity Organiser Comic Relief (http://www.comicrelief.com/) raises millions of pounds from this biannual event with the proceeds going towards projects here in the UK and Africa for the reduction and relief of the effects of poverty. Even small amounts of money can make a difference to disadvantaged people supported by this charity.
However, in 2009, the effects of the economical downturn in the UK are a worry not only to Comic Relief but to all charities in the UK.
People do not necessarily have the levels of disposable income in previous years and the hit on donations to charities is likely to be hardest.
Take That member Gary Barlow reiterated the need in this particular year for an even harder effort towards fund raising, hence his idea of the (now successful) climb of Mount Kilimanjaro. People need way more enticing to part with their cash!
There is no reason whatsoever why people and organisations cannot use the Spareground website to raise money for charities and other fund raising causes.
Create your listing and put the term “charity” or “fund raising” in the description. Add in what it’s for and see what happens. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Schools, clubs, churches etc who have parking facilities for example can raise money by leasing out their parking spaces over weekends or evenings. This would be particularly welcome when they are in busy areas (city centres, airports, train stations etc) or close to major sports, music or recreational events.
So if you have the space, whether it is parking, storage, land, unused gardens or other accommodation, make some money for charity and other fund raising efforts by listing it free of charge on Spareground.
http://www.spareground.com/
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