Search results for ""Chance""

Save time and money with in-depth reviews, ratings, and details from the trusted source for a successful Universal Orlando vacation. How do some guests get on the big, new attraction in less than 20 minutes while others wait for longer than 2 hours—on the same day? Why do some guests pay full price for their visit when others can save hundreds of dollars? In a theme park, every minute and every dollar count. Your vacation is too important to be left to chance, so put the best-selling independent guide to Universal Orlando in your hands and take control of your trip. The Unofficial Guide to Universal Orlando 2024 explains how the resort works and how to use that knowledge to stay ahead of the crowd. Author Seth Kubersky knows that you want your vacation to be anything but average, so he employed an expert team of researchers to find the secrets, the shortcuts, and the bargains that are sure to make your vacation exceptional! Find out what’s available in every category, ranked from best to worst, and get detailed plans to make the most of your time at Universal. Stay at a top-rated hotel, eat at the best restaurants, and experience all the most popular attractions at Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay. Keep in the know on the latest updates and changes at Universal Orlando. Here’s what’s NEW in the 2024 book: Learn when to visit Universal to get lower crowds and bigger hotel discounts Find updated advice on taking advantage of Early Park Admission, Universal Express, and other time-saving tricks Get an up-close look at each Universal resort hotel, plus expanded coverage of nearby off-site hotels Read ratings and reviews of new dining options in the parks and resorts, including more plant-based menu items Take in tips for experiencing Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure and the Jurassic World VelociCoaster at Islands of Adventure Uncover details on Universal Studios Florida’s new Minion Land on Illumination Avenue, including the Villain-Con Minion Blast attraction and Minion Cafe See a sneak peek at the new DreamWorks Animation experiences coming to Universal’s reimagined KidZone in 2024 Discover an in-depth preview of Universal’s upcoming Epic Universe theme park and new hotels Make the right choices to give your family a vacation they’ll never forget. The Unofficial Guide to Universal Orlando 2024 is your key to planning a perfect stay. Whether you’re putting together your annual trip or preparing for your first visit, this book gives you the insider scoop on hotels, restaurants, attractions, and more.

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"Small Store Survival should challenge retailers' views of smallstore retailing by questioning key areas of business. What is thevision for the store in 10 years? How have the customers changedover the past few years? How current are the managers about whatcustomers genuinely like and dislike? What is being done toattract, educate, and motivate the best retail talent in the area?How effective is the merchandising strategy? What plans exist forsuccession? "The real lesson of this study is that the best retailers neverstop learning. They never stop growing. They never lose theirenthusiasm for the customers and the business. And they never ceaseto revel in change and the chance to deal with it." --from theExecutive Summary of Small Store Survival Small Store Survival Over the past decade, thousands of small retail stores have fallenvictim to overwhelming competition from huge discount chainsdetermined to take in every retail dollar in sight. But noteveryone succumbs to the megastore invasion; many small retailersgrow and prosper in spite of this cutthroat competition. How dothey do it? Even more important, how can you do it? Small Store Survival is the how-to book that belongs behind thecounter of every independent retail store. It analyzes small-storeoperation in detail and lays out optimal survival strategies andtactics for seven key areas of business practice that are criticalto success: customer service, marketing, merchandising, storeoperations, management, human resources, and finance. Its clear andlogical organization enables you to evaluate your businesspractices function by function, identify strengths and weaknesses,and develop action plans to improve operations in each of thesecrucial functions. Written by a team of experts from Arthur Andersen LLP, this guidepresents detailed solutions and best practices culled from retailersurveys, site visits, and industry research. Its recommendationsare applicable to a broad variety of retail formats, includingstores that specialize in apparel; appliances; books; drugs,health, and beauty care products; electronics; hardware; home andgarden supplies; pets and pet supplies; as well as other specialtystores. Numerous case studies illustrate the problems that plaguemany retailers and demonstrate ways you can overcome theseobstacles and improve your business. You'll learn how to: * Identify customer expectations and meet or exceed them at everyturn * Identify, pursue, and capture a distinct customer market * Establish a vision and culture for your store, plan where thecompany needs to go, and take steps to get there * Compete for quality employees and, once you hire them, keep them * Establish budgetary controls and contain costs * Negotiate effectively for favorable terms from vendors andsuppliers The most successful retailers never stop learning, growing, andadapting to changing circumstances. The hundreds of sound ideaspresented in this study were developed and implemented by the mostsuccessful small store operators in the industry. Here is yourchance to learn and grow with them by adapting these solutions toyour own business needs.

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The Palladian Way is the brainchild of Cotswold walker Guy Vowles. It was born out of a previous idea for a long distance walk between Oxford and Bath but was extended northwards to Buckingham where the author was educated nearby. The realization that there was a Palladian bridge at Prior Park outside Bath to match the one at Stowe suggested a suitable title and the discovery of many classical houses and large estates along the route has helped to make the trail more than just another long walk. The majority of this 200km (125m) trail passes through beautiful countryside and many interesting villages with a wealth of historical background so that walkers can discover parts of England they would not normally visit. THE MAKING OF A LONG DISTANCE TRAIL The inspiration for a new long distance walk can come from many sources. In my case it was a loan of a book. "The Wayfarers Journal" is an elaborate production describing a number of routes which a small, rather quirky group of men who called themselves the "Viators" (Latin for "the travellers") started walking in the 1950s. They researched their routes and kept records. Some 30 years later a chance meeting with a journalist one lunch time at a pub close to Hadrian's Wall, led eventually to publication. Many of their walks or "iters" had Roman connections and ITER XXXVI particularly interested me. The cover pages contain a map of a route "South Cotswolds-Bath to Oxford 108 miles" but unfortunately there is no descriptive text. The book is out of print but I managed to acquire a copy and transposed the route on to modern OS maps. One January I set off to walk the first three days from Oxford. Their route was quite convoluted and I soon decided that I could plan something more interesting. I started the first walk over with a good friend with whom I had walked the length of Scotland and England a few years previously. We left Oxford via the tow path of the Oxford canal which we found to be rather unattractive with some of the houseboats described by my friend as "sinking assetsA". He also enquired about the length of the intended new route which now fell short of the magic 100 mile mark. By coincidence, about the same time, I was talking to another friend about my old school, Stowe, and he commented that his own old school, Prior Park, also had a Palladian bridge in the grounds. This was an eye opener to me and set me thinking. Stowe is north of Oxford and a route via Woodstock and Blenheim would not only avoid the difficulties around Oxford but would also take the distance down to Prior Park and Bath to over the 100 mile distance.

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“This masterpiece of dogged and loving reporting will astonish you and touch your heart. The struggles and quest for redemption of football star Jackie Wallace make for a fall-from-grace tale that’s both unsettling and uplifting.”—Walter Isaacson, author of Steve Jobs and Leonardo da VinciThe heartbreaking, timeless, and redemptive story of the transformative friendship binding a fallen-from-grace NFL player and a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist who meet on the streets of New Orleans, offering a rare glimpse into the precarious world of homelessness and the lingering impact of systemic racism and poverty on the lives of NOLA’s citizens. In 1990, while covering a story about homelessness for the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Ted Jackson encountered a drug addict sleeping under a bridge. After snapping a photo, Jackson woke the man. Pointing to the daily newspaper by his feet, the homeless stranger looked the photojournalist in the eye and said, “You ought to do a story about me.” When Ted asked why, he was stunned by the answer. “Because, I’ve played in three Super Bowls.”That chance meeting was the start of Ted’s thirty-year relationship with Jackie Wallace, a former NFL star who rose to the pinnacle of fame and fortune, only to crash and lose it all. Getting to know Jackie, Ted learned the details of his life, and how he spiraled into the “vortex of darkness” that left him addicted and living on the streets of New Orleans. Ted chronicles Jackie's life from his teenage years in New Orleans through college and the NFL to the end of his pro career and the untimely death of his mother—devastating events that led him into addiction and homelessness. Throughout, Ted pays tribute to the enduring friendship he shares with this man he has come to know and also look at as an inspiration. But Ted is not naïve; he speaks frankly about the vulnerability of such a relationship: Can a man like Jackie recover, or is he destined to roam the streets until his end? Tragic and triumphant, inspiring and unexpected, You Ought to Do a Story About Me offers a rare glimpse into the precarious world of homelessness and the lingering impact of systemic racism and poverty on the lives of NOLA’s citizens. Lyrical and evocative, Ted's account is pure, singular, and ambitious—a timeless tale about loss, redemption, and hope in their multifarious forms.“This book will melt your heart. The story of Jackie Wallace is an unforgettable tale of hope, grace, and the miracle of the human spirit. Ted Jackson writes with searing honesty and deep love for a troubled man who started as his subject and became his lifelong friend.”—Jonathan Eig, bestselling author of Ali: A Life and Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig

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"Our slogan from the very beginning was 'a computer on every desk and in every home.'" "For me to become gun-shy might require surgery." An icon more powerful than anything on a Windows screen, Bill Gates today stands atop his fabled Microsoft fortress staring down competitors' threats and injunctions from an annoyed U.S. Justice Department. The kind of success Gates has created rarely escapes criticism. And Bill is getting more than his share. The story of how this Harvard dropout created the operating system that would become the worldwide standard for millions of computers is legendary. And equally legendary has been the take-no-prisoners tactics of his corporate colossus, Microsoft. We've witnessed Gates's transformation from a geeky wunderkind into a business titan. Whether admired or detested, glorified or vilified, Gates is a household name and a worldwide curiosity. Bill Gates Speaks discloses what Bill Gates has to say on everything from financing a start-up to running a conglomerate, developing technology to raising a family, and growing his business to expanding his personal wealth. Drawing on quotes culled from speeches, articles, essays, newscasts, and interviews, this unique book weaves all of this information into a compelling and easy-to-read biography. Here is just a sample of what you'll find inside: * "My parents weren't all that excited about their son announcing he was dropping out of a fine university to start a business in something almost nobody had heard of called 'microcomputers.'" * "I think business is very simple. Profit. Loss. Take the sales, subtract the costs, you get this big positive number. The math is quite straightforward." * "I envy people who thrive on three or four hours of sleep a night. They have so much more time to work, learn, and play." * "We never waste a lot of time talking about what we're doing well. It just isn't our culture. Every meeting is about 'Sure, we won in seven of the categories, but what about that eighth category?'" * "The PC industry is the model industry in the entire economy. The rate of innovation, the openness-all of these things are just fantastic. And Microsoft's role in creating this has been absolutely fundamental." The world listens when Bill gates speaks "I'm not competent to judge his technical ability, but I regard his business savvy as extraordinary. If Bill had started a hot dog stand, he would have become the hot dog king of the world." -Warren Buffett "It is still possible to be a Vanderbilt, an Astor, a Rockefeller. You can still do that, you can be Bill Gates." -David Geffen "Everybody is waiting for this guy to slip. He hasn't slipped, and there's very little chance that he will. Everything that he keeps his hands in will work, and he will win." -Alan Kerr, Ogilvy & Mather "Love him or hate him, but you can't ignore him." -Fortune

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"Our slogan from the very beginning was 'a computer on every desk and in every home.'" "For me to become gun-shy might require surgery." An icon more powerful than anything on a Windows screen, Bill Gates today stands atop his fabled Microsoft fortress staring down competitors' threats and injunctions from an annoyed U.S. Justice Department. The kind of success Gates has created rarely escapes criticism. And Bill is getting more than his share. The story of how this Harvard dropout created the operating system that would become the worldwide standard for millions of computers is legendary. And equally legendary has been the take-no-prisoners tactics of his corporate colossus, Microsoft. We've witnessed Gates's transformation from a geeky wunderkind into a business titan. Whether admired or detested, glorified or vilified, Gates is a household name and a worldwide curiosity. Bill Gates Speaks discloses what Bill Gates has to say on everything from financing a start-up to running a conglomerate, developing technology to raising a family, and growing his business to expanding his personal wealth. Drawing on quotes culled from speeches, articles, essays, newscasts, and interviews, this unique book weaves all of this information into a compelling and easy-to-read biography. Here is just a sample of what you'll find inside: * "My parents weren't all that excited about their son announcing he was dropping out of a fine university to start a business in something almost nobody had heard of called 'microcomputers.'" * "I think business is very simple. Profit. Loss. Take the sales, subtract the costs, you get this big positive number. The math is quite straightforward." * "I envy people who thrive on three or four hours of sleep a night. They have so much more time to work, learn, and play." * "We never waste a lot of time talking about what we're doing well. It just isn't our culture. Every meeting is about 'Sure, we won in seven of the categories, but what about that eighth category?'" * "The PC industry is the model industry in the entire economy. The rate of innovation, the openness-all of these things are just fantastic. And Microsoft's role in creating this has been absolutely fundamental." The world listens when Bill gates speaks "I'm not competent to judge his technical ability, but I regard his business savvy as extraordinary. If Bill had started a hot dog stand, he would have become the hot dog king of the world." -Warren Buffett "It is still possible to be a Vanderbilt, an Astor, a Rockefeller. You can still do that, you can be Bill Gates." -David Geffen "Everybody is waiting for this guy to slip. He hasn't slipped, and there's very little chance that he will. Everything that he keeps his hands in will work, and he will win." -Alan Kerr, Ogilvy & Mather "Love him or hate him, but you can't ignore him." -Fortune

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Most people think of dietary detoxes as bland starvation strategies that leave them feeling hungry and deprived— after which they will binge on all the foods they have been trying to avoid. Audrey Johns created this detox plan for the readers on her popular blog, Lose Weight By Eating, because she wanted to encourage people to eat for their cravings, not deprive themselves. This crave-worthy detox arms readers with their favorite naughty recipes made over so nice that they’re actually healthier for you than any fancy juice cleanse. Audrey’s detox quickly became the most popular page on the website, with people writing in to say they’d lost large amounts of weight, some up to 18 pounds in a single week! In Lose Weight by Eating: Detox Week, Audrey has taken her popular online post one step further and turned it into an expanded, customizable plan that will accelerate weight loss and help raise metabolism naturally. In this program, you’ll abstain from any food or drink that is not natural, you’ll replace fried foods with baked, sugars will be minimized, and carbohydrates will be replaced with healthier versions. We’ll set aside the alcoholic beverages and introduce some festive mocktails, but most important, you’ll fill your diet with food that actually helps ride the body of toxins. This is not a fast. This is a chance to reset your view on food and shed pounds without feeling deprived. Audrey lays out 4 plans to choose from and provides a Detox Quiz to help you find the best plan for you. All the plans work together so you can try one and perhaps work up to a harder plan in time. The plans include: • Detox Diet Week: the original 7-day plan by which readers lose an average of 10 pounds. • Detox Diet Month: this 30-day plan is great for losing the last 10 to 25 pounds you’ve been trying to lose for years. • The 3 Month Detox Diet Power Weight Lose Plan: this plan is a great way to drop weight fast, and you can expect to lose up to 50 pounds in 90 days! • The Detox Lifestyle: this 365-day plan is ideal for all ages and stages of life, and it’s a great way to maintain your current weight after weight loss. Each plan will include exercise goals, recommended hours of sleep, and mediation, as well as how much to drink daily. Filled with 125 recipes, many fast and easy enough to make any day of the week, Lose Weight by Eating: Detox Week will contain delicious crave-worthy recipes such as: • Pineapple Mango Green Sorbet • English Muffin Sandwiches with Homemade Sausage Patties • Ceviche Tostadas with Homemade Salsa and Guacamole • Chili Casserole with Cornbread Topping • Avocado Club Cheeseburgers • Chocolate Dipped Key Lime Popsicles • Mango Cucumber Basil Detox Water All the recipes will be under 500 calories per meal! Audrey will also provide tips and tricks for motivation and ease, success stories from real people who have shed the pounds, and helpful shopping lists and meal planners to stay on track.

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The ability to collaborate, particularly in new manufacturing technology development, is becoming a corporate competence that will determine which companies survive in the next decade. With the advent of the telecommunications and information infrastructure realized in the 1990s, companies that can effectively collaborate to get new technologies applied will stand a greater chance of remaining competitive in today's market. Collaborative R&D offers the methods and metrics for developing collaborative technology programs and partnerships, both within the industry and between major competitors. R&D experts Allen and Jarman provide a complete map for collaboration, taken from their collective years of experience in creating, promoting, and managing many collaborative R&D initiatives over the past decade. They include the guidelines for determining what technology development areas are appropriate for collaboration, and what ingredients need to be in place for it to be successful. The authors' experiences are detailed in a format that walks the reader through the process of identifying, starting, and managing collaborative R&D programs. Having developed these programs with companies like Ford, Texas Instruments, Boeing, AT&T, and Kodak, Allen and Jarman include numerous real-world examples, which show how to choose collaborative partners, how to use the government in establishing R&D programs, successful management techniques, means of addressing intellectual property, and how to address accounting concerns. The book also illustrates the significant benefits of collaborative R&D, helping managers and technology professionals realize its value by enabling them to make the most knowledgeable decisions and take the best actions possible, in any given situation. Among some of the benefits that have resulted from the authors' collaborative programs: * Pratt & Whitney developed software tools that enabled them to keep one of their plants from closing. * Ford reduced a two-week design process to four hours. * An acceleration by at least a year in 32 key Printed Wiring Board research tasks resulted in research savings of about $35.5 million. Collaborative R&D is valuable reading for any business that plans to thrive in a new global economy where all available financial and human assets will need to be leveraged for the greatest return-and with minimal risk. "R&D means innovation, productivity, and growth-the three things our economy needs the most. This important new book explains how and why the R&D revolution is transforming American industry, a theme everyone who cares about the future of our economy should understand." -Jerry Jasinowski, President, National Association of Manufacturers. "Allen and Jarman provide the definitive pathway to competitive advantage through collaborative R&D, the new tool for cost-effective innovation in the twenty-first century." -Leo Reddy, President, National Coalition for Advanced Manufacturing. "Collaboration among companies is very new in American industry. Most companies are still striving to have their own employees collaborate with each other. This book portrays the strength and power of intercompany collaboration." -Jack E. Swindle, Senior Vice President, Texas Instruments. "This is a must read for any entrepreneur thinking of becoming involved in cross-organizational collaboration, for any corporate executive concerned about how cross-organizational R&D collaboration will help his company to remain competitive in the future, and for any manager who is responsible for managing people involved in cross-organizational collaborative efforts." -Dr. Ann Majchrzak, Professor of Information Systems, Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California "Collaborative R&D is mandatory reading for any enterprise leader looking to expand and leverage market influence." -Mike McEvoy, Vice President, Advanced Engineering and Design Center, Baxter Healthcare Corporation.

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She needed a getaway. What she found was a home.When Louise surprises her boyfriend by returning early from a work trip, safe to say she wasn’t expecting to see him in flagrante with another woman. Heart-torn and vowing to stay away from men, when Louise’s next project involves restoring an ageing hotel in Italy, she leaps at the chance to get away.Managed by a crew of sextagenarians, the Grand Hotel del Monferrato needs all the love and care Louise can give it. But it’s hard to stay focused on the job when her thoughts keep straying to Vito, the reclusive and mysterious neighbour.With his tragic past and her no-romance policy, Louise knows they can’t have a future. Yet something keeps pulling the two together…A beautiful romance set in the hills of Turin, perfect for readers of Lucy Coleman and Alex Brown.Praise for An Escape to Remember ‘The story was compelling and entertaining, I rooted for the characters and liked the storytelling. Highly recommended.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘Another superb read by the wonderfully talented T.A Williams. Set against the gorgeous backdrop of Italy, this story is rich in both landscape and romance. Louise is a wonderful leading lady who…was a pleasure to get to know during this story. ’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘These books always spark joy! It has been wonderful escaping to Italy this week. The descriptions are always mesmerising and so detailed...a really gorgeous read that I would highly recommend.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘T.A. Williams has done it again! What a talent for creating stories that are heart-warming and uplifting. I love these stories set in Italy, with believable characters and lush settings. Can't wait to read the next one!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘What a beautiful book. I'm a sucker for romance and this one pulls on the heart strings in every direction. I couldn't recommend this book more!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘A really lovely, safe and gentle read. If you're looking for an escapist, uplifting read, this one's for you. The writing is as beautiful as the Italian setting. I will be recommending it to friends. Five stars.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘T. A. Williams once again proves why he is the king of Italian set romance! Another simply triumphant story from one of my favourite authors to escape with.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘A beautiful easy read that would be good to take on holiday…I really enjoyed the story, the setting, and the descriptions of food.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘I simply love this author's books, and this one is no different. I am once again blown away by the ability of a book to draw me in so deep that I read it in one sitting.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘A brilliant story…the food descriptions were amazing. A jolly enjoyable read.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘What a great book! I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the wonderful characters along the way. Written really well and kept me up reading!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

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"Creativity in marketing communications is one of the most potent ways for companies to increase their productivity. This book contains case after case, which demonstrates the leveraging power of innovative thinking in advertising today." -Joseph E. DeDeo Chairman of Latin America,Young & Rubicam, Inc. The days of expensive network television rollouts of new advertising campaigns are over. Targeted, niche-driven selective marketing is less expensive, more profitable, and far more sensible in today's thriving culture of special-interest media. Here's your chance to learn all about this revolutionary new marketing strategy. Written by the advertising genius behind some of the most unforgettable campaigns of the past 30 years, Divide and Conquer teaches you what you need to know to conduct your own successful selective-marketing campaigns. Fifteen fascinating and instructive case studies demonstrate how to identify your markets precisely, get to know them inside and out, fashion a message that they'll hear and respond to, and find the perfect media mix to deliver your message. No matter what size company you work for, in Divide and Conquer you'll learn valuable lessons about how to find your customers, reach out to them, and forge profitable, long-term relationships with them. With the advent of cable TV, the Web, and other new platforms, media have become as diverse as the increasingly fragmented markets they serve -dangerous terrain for one-size-fits-all advertising. In the 1980s, a handful of visionaries began developing an alternative designed to take advantage of today's thriving culture of special-interest media. It's called selective marketing, and unlike mass-market advertising, it doesn't tell people what they want, it asks them. Selective marketing uses sophisticated intelligence-gathering techniques to pinpoint niche markets and learn all about them. It plies everything from print, TV, and radio, to Web technology, fax response, and even performance art to capture specific markets and forge lasting relationships with them. And it helps clients find the best ways to satisfy or surpass customer expectations. In Divide and Conquer, Harry Webber reveals the secrets behind this revolutionary new marketing strategy. The advertising genius behind such memorable campaigns as "I am stuck on Band-Aid," Webber clearly and concisely lays out basic selective-marketing principles and practices. With the help of 15 selective-marketing case studies, he demonstrates that any advertiser can use his proven techniques to identify markets, create the right message for a particular market, and develop the most effective media mix to deliver that message. Fascinating and instructive success stories, the case studies provide a unique insider's look at selective marketing in action. You'll learn how selective marketing was used to restore the investment community's faith in Ford; win the alternative adult market for Dr Pepper; entice baby boomers to Kentucky Fried Chicken; and even forge an alliance between the Crips and Bloods street gangs for the Los Angeles city attorney's office. Each case study presents concise descriptions of the target market, marketing challenge, selective-marketing solution, and outcome, and concludes with a quick summary of important selective-marketing lessons learned. Throughout the book, sidebars spell out key selective-marketing principles embodied by the case at hand. The first practical guide to the revolutionary marketing strategy that threatens to make mass marketing a thing of the past, Divide and Conquer is essential reading for marketing managers, entrepreneurs, and professionals working in small businesses, midsize companies, and large corporations.

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'Witty, Warm, and Wonderful. I loved it!' Milly JohnsonSometimes all it takes to make the world a better place is a small act of kindness...'A truly wonderful and heartwarming read' Heidi Swain'I loved it' Clare MackintoshThe perfect feel-good read for fans of Milly Johnson, Lucy Diamond and Jenny ColganWhen Ceri Price arrives in the small seaside village in West Wales, she only means to stay for a couple of nights - long enough to scatter her mother's ashes, and then go back to her life as a successful make-up entrepreneur.But when a case of mistaken identities means she lands a job as the barmaid in the local pub, she unexpectedly finds friendship, and perhaps a chance at love.But when the plans for a new housing estate put the local woodland under threat, she fears the way of life here could disappear.Then mysterious acts of kindness start springing up around the village - a string of bunting adorns the streets, a new village signpost appears out of nowhere and someone provides paint to spruce up the houses on the seafront. Who is behind these acts of kindness and can they help in the race to save the village from the faceless developers...?Welcome to the Village of Love. Where friendship flourishes and love blossoms...*********Readers are loving this gorgeously feel-good uplifting novel:'An absolute joy. Five stars' Isabelle Broom, Heat 'Heartwarming, wise, funny and romantic...this is a delight' Rachael Lucas, bestselling author of Wildflower Bay'A truly wonderful and heartwarming read' Heidi Swain, Sunday Times bestselling author of Sleigh Rides and Silver Bells at the Christmas Fair 'I absolutely loved it!' Cathy Bramley, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Lemon Tree Cafe'A perfect feel-good read that will lift your spirits no end' The Sun'An adorable life-affirming book' Rowan Coleman'This wonderfully warm, funny and inspirational story from Laura Kemp will have you cheering from first page to last. It's the kind of book that rekindles your hope in good things. I loved it!' Miranda Dickinson'I have completely and utterly fallen in love with this book; with the characters, the setting and the wonderfully written story. Beautifully brilliant. I love this book. Five stars'. Anne, Random Things Through My Letterbox'This really is a wonderful book. With fabulous characters and a beautiful setting. This book will make you want to spread your own acts of kindness and make the lives of people that you meet just that little bit better. Absolutely loved it. Five stars.' Karen, Goodreads reviewer'A beautiful book...I loved it...you can't help but feel better about life once you have read it. It puts a smile on your face. It is uplifting, shares the best of human kindness and makes you appreciate that life is so much more than material possessions. It really is a feel-good book, that is perfect for those cold winter evenings. Five stars.' Jo, Goodreads reviewer'A very entertaining, page-turning book, that was just that little bit different character-wise, and with a lovely ending. Very enjoyable.' Claire, Goodreads reviewer'I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it as a cosy sit by the fire with a cuppa read, and I defy you to try reading it without the sound of the lovely welsh voices in your head.' Lorraine, Goodreads reviewer

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This run of stories featuring Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor features four stories, loosely connected as the Doctor finds himself the target of an enemy. This set contains: The Sinestran Kill by Andrew Smith. When the Doctor decides to trace an anomalous energy signature on twentieth century Earth, he stumbles into an assassination attempt. Gangland thugs are trying to murder a seemingly innocent shopkeeper, and it’s only the intervention of the Doctor and Ann Kelso – a WPC who happens to be on the scene – that prevents a tragedy. But why do the gangsters want the shopkeeper dead? And what does this have to do with alien technology? The first stages of a grand conspiracy are about to be revealed. And finding the answers will take Ann Kelso on a journey like no other. Planet of the Drashigs by Phil Mulryne. When the TARDIS lands on an alien planet, the Doctor’s intentions to show Ann Kelso an advanced future society are thrown into disarray. Because they have arrived on DrashigWorld - a park where every known species of the terrifying predators has been gathered together to entertain and thrill the public. The familiar wetland Drashigs, the albino burrowing Drashigs of the desert, and deadliest of all, the tiny Emerald Drashigs of the rain forests. And it’s not the best day to have arrived. The park has been shut down due to a visitor fatality. A Galactic Attractions inspector is on site meaning everyone is extremely tense and under pressure. It’s exactly the right circumstances in which someone might make a mistake. And on Drashigworld, mistakes are deadly. The Enchantress of Numbers by Simon Barnard and Paul Morris. The TARDIS lands in the grounds of Newstead Abbey, Nottinghamshire, in 1850. Mistaken for a medic and his maid, the Doctor and Ann are brought to meet Ada Lovelace - the mother of computing and daughter of Lord Byron - who has recently fallen ill. But the travellers are not here by chance. Something odd is happening on Earth, and they’ve determined that this place is the centre of it. Strange figures are walking the land. Strange figures wearing bird-like masks. What do they want with Ada? And how will it change the future of humanity? The False Guardian by Guy Adams. Ann Kelso doesn’t like mysteries. Keen to investigate the trail of the Sinestrans, she sets the TARDIS on a new course... but flies into danger. Arriving on a desolate world that the Doctor finds somehow familiar, the TARDIS crew discover that something is wrong with time. The inhabitants of an unusual complex are experimenting at the command of their enigmatic director... somebody who has quite a strong grudge against the Doctor.Facing an old foe who was presumed dead, the travellers are soon trapped in a diabolical scheme. But is it just the tip of the iceberg? Planet of the Drashigs features the eponymous flesh-eating monsters for the first time on audio, after their fan favourite debut in the Jon Pertwee story The Carnival of Monsters! CAST: Tom Baker (The Doctor), Jane Slavin (WPC Ann Kelso), John Leeson (K9), Frank Skinner (DCI Scott Neilson), Glynis Barber (Kathy Blake), Finty Williams (Ada Lovelace), Fenella Woolgar (Vanessa Seaborne), Ewan Bailey (Hugo Blake), Nicholas Khan (Jimmy Lynch), Leon Williams (Tony Reynolds), Jeremy Clyde (Lord Braye), Lizzie Roper (Trencher), Andrew Ryan (Titus Wayland), Andrew Havill (Colonel Wildman), Eve Webster (Hettie / Lady Cleverley), Barnaby Edwards (Mr. Hobhouse), Glen McCready (Edvard Scheutz /Lord Byron / Harry), John Shrapnel (Nigel Colloon), Anna Acton (Brox), Blake Ritson (Elmore), Roger May (Mac Foley), Tracy Wiles (Drones). Other parts played by members of the cast.

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