The Best of British Comedy Lunch - February 2011

Hosted by multi award-winning British comedian, author, and triple world record holder Sir Tim Fitzhigham, this year's Lunch was a resounding success and featured in attendance some much-loved names such as Stephen K. Amos and Ian Stone.
The Best of British Comedy Lunch is a semi-annual event held to raise money for the Cinema & Television Benevolent Fund. The event includes performers from the Comedy Store and a charity auction.

The Comedy Store performers were:
Rufus Hound - a regular M.C. at The Comedy Store, Rufus is a comedian, presenter, actor, and now-infamous dancer of "Let's Dance for Sports Relief" fame. He has appeared on Keith Lemon's "Celebrity Juice", as well as starring as the Blue Team captain on panel show "Argumental."
Rob Deering - one of the best-loved headliners on the British comedy circuit, Rob has taken six shows to the Edinburgh Festival, and toured with Paramount Comedy's "Edinburgh and Beyond" as well as his own show "Charmegeddon." He is currently the host of comedy music quiz "Beat This."
Ian Stone - ranked among the top ten stand-up comedians by newspaper 'The Independent', Ian's humour - equal parts provocative, easy-going and self-deprecating - is rocketing him to the top of the comedy circuit. He was the first British stand-up to perform in Moscow and the first performer to appear for The Comedy Store in Mumbai.

This year's charity auction generated just over four thousand pounds for the Charity, and the whole event raised a net income of £11,800 - a brilliant result!

The London Party - July 2010

For many years Absolutely Publishing & Media has supported the CTBF. Since 2008 we have been one of the main sponsors for The London Party. The London party is quite simply the industry event of the year: each year at the event, a significant amount of money is raised for the charity.

The Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund (CTBF) is the leading UK charity for people working behind the scenes in the film, cinema and television industries, whose careers cover all aspects of pre-production and beyond, from script to screen, in a variety of roles. For creatives, production professionals, marketers and administration staff, the CTBF exists for those with a need.

Through donations, membership subscriptions, the sale of grand draw tickets and monies raised from events including The Royal Film Performance™, the CTBF are able to help more than 1,000 beneficiaries and their families every year.

The CTBF offer practical and financial assistance to those who have worked in a paid position within the industry in the UK for at least two years, and who have been affected by illness, bereavement, accident or unemployment. This may include help with utility bills, living expenses, childcare, back-to-work grants and housing support. They also help with the emotional support that so many people need.

13/12/2001 New Member of the Absolutely Family!

Name : Caolan Thomas Doyle
Born : 25th July 2001
Weight : 9lb 10oz
Time : 2:37am

The Absolutely Trading team are happy to promote the newest member of our family to Chief Baby Tester!

Caolan Doyle, joined the team on 25th July 2001 and his proud mum is said to be over the moon with his recent promotion. Shanell has since been heard on several occasions to say, 'I am so proud.'

We would like to ask you to join us in extending our congratulations to Shanell on the birth of her beautiful son, Caolan, and wishing them both the happiest of times to come.

02/11/2001 Absolutely Trading at Mother & Baby Awards

The Absolutely Trading team were pleased to be one of the sponsors of this year's prestigious Mother & Baby awards held in London on Thursday 1st November.

Absolutely Trading would like to extend its congratulations to all of those companies who entered into this year's awards, with a special congratulations extended to those who received the Gold awards.

Of course the Absolutely Trading team and their guests could not let the evening pass without letting their hair down a little...

10/07/2001 Absolutely Trading Launches Publishing Company

With the experience Absolutely Trading has gained by assisting retailers to increase sales through Books Plus, and by being closely involved with a number of retailers own design ranges for children, it has been a natural development for Absolutely Trading to be instrumental in the launch of a new children's books publisher.

Like Absolutely Trading, Mummy Books have set standards of quality in both writing and illustration that promises to provide retailers and children alike with a refreshing range of books, full of stimulating and educational content.

The first books to be published are a range of pre-school books called Messy Meg, based around the author's own 2 year old daughter.

Mummy Books is currently building a range of authors that come from all walks of life, but have one thing in common: they have the best understanding of children, as they are parents themselves. Every manuscript which is presented to Mummy Books has to pass a range of tests with other parents, teachers and children, before they are considered for publishing. These tests, together with Mummy Books' own processes, promise to give buyers the confidence they need in the quality and ultimately the marketability of any Mummy Books titles placed on their shelves.

Absolutely Trading is working closely with Mummy Books to provide additional merchandising opportunities which can be offered to retailers with its books, giving the customers of Absolutely Trading and Mummy Books an opportunity to access the highest quality, most stimulating, imaginative and competitive range of products which is available on the market.

For further information on Mummy Books click here [link deactivated] or you can email them at [redacted].

09/07/2001 New Recruit

Stasha Burchett has joined the company as Assistant to the Purchasing Director.

She will be covering Shanell's maternity leave as of the 9th July. Stasha is smashingly gorgeous, so naturally she is expected to fit in well with the rest of the team! You can email Stasha via [redacted] or you can reach her by telephone on the main office number: [redacted].

09/07/2001 Maternity Leave

Shanell's last day in the office before her maternity leave will be the 13th July.

Whilst writing this news item, Shanell was heard to say 'I'll be back before you know it, so don't worry - anyway, we need someone to head up our testing division for pre school products!'

All those working at Absolutely Trading would like to wish Shanell the very best of luck, and look forward to publishing the first pictures of the newest addition to the Absolutely Trading team!