Meeting the man that launched a thousand jewels…@Holler_soul @Nikki_LissoniUK #watches #jewellery #valentinesday #gifts

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If you’ve heard of the brand Holler Watches you’ll know that Mike Tysons face dominates some of the its clever marketing campaigns, with his distinct facial tattoos you know expect that this brand of stylish, hip hop inspired watches will pack a punch too.

When invited to meet the founder and owner Darren McCormick we half expected to be meeting Tyson times two, and were slightly intimidated by the thought. However, we couldn’t be more wrong. Who we ended up sitting opposite at the table was a very unassuming, softly spoken, clever man with a slightly northern twang, how refreshing!

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Darren is a man who is passionate about music, loves fashion and heads up a very impressive business that helped launch the hugely popular Pandora jewellery brand in the UK.  He has since been watching the rise and rise of its popularity whilst quietly working on new concepts and ideas and 2014 is now the time for him to be getting back on the promotion wagon with the two next ventures which he believes will be the next big things. First we have the aforementioned Holler Watches. A cool, young brand, impactful and stylish, to be worn as a statement piece with stars galore backing it up for endorsements. Its even opened up an opportunity for bright, young, beautiful things to become a ‘Holler Girl’ (in Belgium! – but maybe here soon too!)

Quite different is Nikki Lissoni, a softer, more elegant brand, something that has a much more subtle and worn by the likes of Nicole Scherzinger and the Made in Chelsea lot. Both aiming to be hugely successful in their own right, its clear that Darren McCormick knows how to find a diamond in the rough idea and make it a money spinner.

I love the idea of Holler tell me more! 

Well it’s a unique lifestyle brand which brings together a compilation of northern soul inspired designs and something very unique for the UK marketplace. Holler isn’t just about watches, its about caps, t-shirts, and sunglasses – we like to think of it as being one of those slices of American pie, bringing the bling from across the pond and one day becoming just as popular as those developed by leading music artists in the US.Screen Shot 2014-02-12 at 09.04.43

The idea behind Hollar is that you buy into it as a whole, which is a great concept and it is quite easy to see by its unique designs and funky colouring why it could very easily become the next big trend in watches and fashion, so watch this space.

Nikki Lissoni sounds more up my street…

Well if Holler was born out of his passion for music and fashion, then Nikki Lissoni could be set to follow in the footsteps of Pandora and become the next female fad. The European fashion capitals saw this gorgeous collection of medallion based jewellery, which combines a mystical backstory with contemporary design and took to it like a duck to water, hailing it as ‘revamped retro’ and perhaps the next big trend to follow on from Pandora. 
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Bottom line is that both these brands are set to make big business in 2014 both in the UK and abroad, so if you’re looking to give something very special to a loved one this Valentines day, then get ahead of the trends and say it with a piece of jewellery.

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You can find out more information on both the Holler and Nikki Lissoni brands here.

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Its already time to think about Xmas as @nicolephillipse launches some fab festive products!

Screen Shot 2013-09-23 at 07.49.40With the crunch of the autumn leaves underfoot and the conkers ripening nicely, Nicole Phillips England has been busy putting together her Christmas collection of festive delights. Imagine chestnuts roasting on the fire, the lights twinkling on the tree and the smell of mince pies wafting from the kitchen.

The ideal accessories to this scene are Nicole’s delicate hand-painted range of Christmas products, featuring tea towels, napkins, fabric by the metre and stockings, all designed to give your home some quirky merry-themed touches that are a little bit different.Screen Shot 2013-09-23 at 07.49.27

Nicole’s distinctive watercolour artwork is featured on each 100% pure cotton tea towel, complete with a fabric loop for convenient hanging storage. The Christmas designs include Deck the Halls, Mistletoe & Wine and Sage & Onion Stuffing. The fun and unusual imagery suit every style of home and make the perfect gift for your host, loved one or even as a stocking filler this Christmas.

The perfect missing ingredient for your festive feast, the stunning hand­painted designs of mistletoe and holly, each offset against a stylish stripe background and printed on high quality 100% cotton are available by the metre.

Fancy some inspiration to draw Father Christmas to your chimney? Nicole’s Christmas stockings will make wonderful gifts for both adults and children alike, with their patchwork styling that encompass some of the classic Nicole Phillips E designs such as fish on a line and trailing roses, as well as some with more typically festive elements such as mistletoe and holly.Screen Shot 2013-09-23 at 07.51.32

Inspired by country and coastal themes with a foodie influence, the full Nicole Phillips England range also includes cushions, aprons and hob covers, all of which are made here in Great Britain.

Prices start from £12 and all products are available to buy online at www.nicolephillips.com

Upgrade to a sleek super sound system with @otoneaudio #tech #gadget #music #audio

 

Screen Shot 2013-09-05 at 08.32.46Need to upgrade your sound system? Then if you’re into the latest gadgets look no further than this bad boy! OTONE Audio is set to invade the speaker dock market with the launch of its very first docking system, SoundShip Micro.

It all sounds seriously space age, this cheeky device is named the SoundShip Micro because of its compact, orbital, space-like design, which also features a unique ‘push and pop’ core that houses all of the devices connectivity ports and also acts as a stand – so its streamlined to perfection with no unsightly wires etc need to be seen.

If you’re also on the move, the SoundShip Micro can be used anywhere thanks to its handy rechargeable lithium ion battery, which provides up to 10 hours of portable playback. The speaker also comes with a handy carry case, giving it license to travel.

I bet you my phone doesn’t work with this…

…well, you’re betting on the wrong card if you think that! One of the things that we love is that connecting to the Soundship (we like that phrase!  – it sounds pretty space age!) couldn’t be easier. The system boasts an array of functionalities, including Micro USB connectivity for Android, Bluetooth and an AUX line in, making it compatible with any device.

Considering it measures just 115x250x45mm in size, the compact portable speaker also provides impressively clean and crisp audio via its two 40mm full-range drivers, packing a punch with a combined audio output of 6 watts.

How much does it cost? 

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At £99.99 its a pretty good investment for the long term. With optimum sound clarity, and original design its pretty much in demand by anyone who likes a high end spec to not only their lifestyles but also their gadgets too.

The SoundShip Micro is the latest in a line of product launches for the brand, following the successful launch of the Sonora AV-Lance soundbar in May.

For a full list of system specifications and features check out its website www.otoneaudio.co.uk.