More from the Fabulous Photo Gifts postbag...

Our last customer newsletter went down very well with the lead story drawing attention to our published 'Last dates to order for Christmas Delivery' and judging by the response, the follow up article on our new larger personalised photo glass chopping boards was also a welcome relief to those of you struggling to find something different to give a loved one this Christmas.

Click here to see a copy of our photo gift newsletter online.

In fact todays postbag bought a flurry of photo gift activity including these kind comments below....

"Thanks Mandy. I'm really thrilled with the chopping board! Many thanks" - W.

"Good afternoon - Just wanted to say a big thank you for the above which I am giving as Christmas presents to my son and his partner. I am delighted with them and will certainly recommend you to friends of mine who are searching for an unusual present. Thanks once more and I am sure I will be using your services again. Kind regards" - M.H.

"The photo is of a painting we commissioned an artist (Linda Vario) to paint for us and hangs in our living room. So now we have matching placemats on the dinning table to enjoy! Thanks." - D.

"What wonderful service! Thanks so much for quick response." - J.

"Thanks Mandy - the holder has now arrived too. I love the placemats - they're gorgeous and great quality. I know where I will come for my next order !! Thanks." - D.

With orders from as far afield as Australia for delivery to family or friends in the UK, we're sure you'll be absolutely delighted with the range of quality, hand printed personalised photo gifts available to order and personalise online.

Click here to visit Fabulous Photo Gifts now and place your order for a personalised photo gift today.

Ordering a Photo Gift for Christmas? Last order dates announced

Here are your last order dates for Christmas delivery in the UK from Fabulous Photo Gifts.

Boxed Jigsaws - Friday 5th December
Wooden Jigsaws - Sunday 14th December
All other Photo Gifts - Sunday 14th December

Please be aware that last Christmas, due to unprecedented demand, we were forced to bring our published deadlines forward by several days so please shop as early as possible to avoid possible disappointment.

Also, we've just published the latest edition of our popular newsletter. If you'd like to see a copy, click here. If you'd like to be added to our regular monthly mailing list - please contact us and ask to be added to our mailing list. You can unsubscribe at any time - we never share your details with anyone else.

This newsletter featured some of the more recent customer comments we've received in our mail bag plus features on our two new photo gift ideas - the colour changing WOW mugs and our personalised jewellery boxes.

Our colour changing mugs have a black appearance that conceals your chosen photograph. Adding hot liquid reveals the photograph so it's a great way to really surprise someone.

Our Jewellery Boxes feature a double sided lid insert that can be printed both sides. It also comes with a great value jigsaw option - the pieces broken up and placed inside the jewellery box with the completed picture printed on the inside of the lid (or the outside if you prefer - just let us know after placing your order!).

Well we'd better get back to those photo gift orders - Christmas is coming after all.

Cookies and Customer Love....

Sitting here this evening with a very nice glass of cold milk and a chocolate chip cookie, the email inbox pinged and it suddenly occurred that we've had quite a few emails back from some very happy customers of Fabulous Photo Gifts these last few days.

So putting the cookie down for a sec', here they are....

"Hello Mandy, Thank you for your email regarding my order of a photo tray. I will be quite happy to accept your suggestion of having the image in landscape with a border. I'm sure it will be fine that way....I have never been disappointed with any of the orders I've placed with your firm and I'm sure this will be no exception.
Thank you again for your excellent service. Best wishes" - D.

"Hi Mandy - Just to let you know that I received the puzzle I ordered from you the other day and my mums gonna love it at Christmas. So just to say a very big thankyou really. All the best" M.

"When you order things over the Internet, you're not always sure what you'll get back. I was delighted with the photo gift i received back from you. The picture had come out far better than i'd hoped and the quality is fantastic - absolutely delighted!" - B.

We're very much aware that a lot of our customers are ordering online for the first time so we're especially pleased that they feel it's been such a positive experience. In many cases, it's the start of some very long friendships as many of our customers (like D above) come back to us again and again.

And we love seeing them back and relish the opportunity to impress them again.

We'll be posting last orders for Christmas dates very soon so if you haven't already, then why not add our RSS feed to your reader? That way you'll receive notification automatically of any new posts including those all important last orders for Christmas deadlines. We wouldn't want to disappoint anybody.

Right that's it for now. I'm off to finish my cookie...mmmmmm

New website for Ilkeston, Long Eaton, Stapleford and Sandiacre community magazine

We're very pleased to announce our latest web design project went live for our friends at Local Magazines Ltd who publish a community magazine for the Long Eaton, Ilkeston, Stapleford and Sandiacre, Derbyshire, regions.

The Eaton Extra covers Long Eaton, whilst the The Ilkeston Directory covers Ilkeston and the Stapleford and Sandiacre Connections covers Stapleford and Sandiacre.

We'd like to wish the Editor - Justine - well and hope her new website will help reach even more local businesses and residents.

Charity listings are free.

The website was designed by the Fabulous Photo Gifts web designer.

New Jewellery / Keepsake Box with surprise Jigsaw option

It's been a busy weekend - first our new colour changing 'wow' mugs and now our new Photo Jewellery Box / Keepsake Box that comes with a surprise photo jigsaw option.

Measuring 215mm x 165mm x 70mm high, Our Jewellery Box features a personalised lid insert that can also be seen when the box is opened.

And we've given you even more choice! When you order a Fabulous Photo Gift Jewellery Box, you can email us a second photograph to have printed on the inside - completely free.

Want more? Well we don't disappoint. We're offering the Jewellery Box with an exciting surprise inside - either a 221 or 150 piece wooden jigsaw.



If you choose the box and jigsaw combination, then you an email us a separate photograph for the inside of the box lid and we'll also add that photo to the jigsaw - or perhaps you'd like the outer lid photograph on the jigsaw instead? It's entirely up to you.

You just have to let us know. Click here to view our newest photo gift - the personalised jewellery box - now.

Wow - Colour changing personalised photo mugs

Can it be? You'll go Wow! too when you see a plain black mug slowly transform to reveal your personalised photo as the mug is filled with hot beverage.

Our 'wow' colour changing mugs feature a special thermochrome coating that reveals your photograph on the mugs surface when it's filled with hot liquid. Available in black, blue or red, a fabulous everyday gift for someone special, our colour changing photo mugs make a great surprise photo gift idea.

Click here to see our WOW mug - our newest photo gift. You can choose from the 3 'base' colours, add your photograph and order online.

Normal delivery is just 5 to 7 days from receipt of your order.

Please note - these mugs are NOT dishwasher safe.

More lovely comments....

Well if you don't blow your own trumpet, then no-one else will my Dad used to say to me, but after reviewing the more recent Fabulous Photo Gifts mail bag, I think you can always rely on satisfied customers......

"Mandy - Many thanks for your prompt delivery of the tea tray. It was exactly
what we wanted & our customer very much appreciated it." - Debs.

"I received the serving mats and costers today. Very pleased with them; my friends will be so envious!" - D.

"I received the holders for the coasters this morning,thank you for your efficient service." - M.F.

"Hi Mandy - We are really pleased at the quality of the jigsaw. Thank you." - R.C.

"Hi Mandy - Thank you for the speedy delivery. Client is over the moon. Regards" - Mark.

"Hi Mandy, have just placed the order - like your site and the way it works by the way" - A.T.

"I just wanted to let you know that the jigsaws arrived safely as promised, and they worked well for us at our event. Thank you for your help & attention to the order." - Nick.

"Hi there Mandy, Just thought I would thank you for the prize I seem to have won for having the "Photo of the Month", after ordering a jigsaw. That particular jigsaw gift was very well received, and I am currently looking for suitable pictures for a Christmas order for another (quite jealous) relative!

Whilst I'm now sure the choice of "Photo of the Month" must be fairly random, it is very much appreciated :o)

The easel looks fabulous, and if the aim of the prize was purely a marketing one, I think it worked. Expect an order for some more of those in future too..... Very best regards" - Dave.

We'd like to thank all those customers that take the time and trouble to send us a note, saying how pleased they are with their orders and how pleased the recipient was too.

Keep them coming - it's a lovely surprise in the mailbox.

New online chat - ask a question now

Hi!

Just to let you all know that we're trialing an 'instant chat' type widget via meebo as a way of offering an instant conversation / question and answer service to visitors and customers of Fabulous Photo Gifts.

If the trial is successful and the demand is there, then we'll consider adding it to the Fabulous Photo Gifts website itself.

As we progress with the trial, we'll be posting 'surgery hours' when we'll be online and available to answer your questions personally.

In the meantime, if you need to contact Fabulous Photo Gifts - please click here to see our contact details.

Many thanks and looking forward to talking with you.

Tax disc dash

Well in between half term with the kids off and the extra orders coming in thick and fast as our October 'early shopper' promotion drew to a close, it probably wasn't the best timing 6 months previously to renew the car tax (OK road fund licence) for just the 6 months.

Even sillier when the insurance also expired a few days before the end of the month!

So as I hadn't received my new insurance documents, I decided to apply online but first I wanted to check if i was still 'covered' awaiting it to arrive in the post.

So i trawled the Governments website but all I could find was nothing! Not a mention of being covered or not as the case may be.

I scoured blogs but couldn't find the answer so I thought I'd better post what I found out here.

I found the answer to the question - "am i covered to drive wthout a valid tax disc if i've renewed it online and i'm awaiting it in the post?"

I think the answer is no (but i'm sure someone will leave a comment and correct me?

You see although I couldn't find anything online, I did find this line in the helpful booklet that came with the tax disc renewal form. It reads " Remember - Make your application in plenty of time as by law you must display an up-to-date tax disc on your vehicle to use or keep it on a public road".

So the answer it would seem is no - you're not covered even if you have renewed it online but are waiting for it to arrive.

I'd love some feedback from people on this one. I'm sure it happens to many vehicle owners - especially when insurance is due at the end of a month when the tax disc runs out. As it happens I phoned my insurers to query why I hadn't received my renewal certificate.

Oh we'll put another in the post they replied - why don't you renew your tax disc online and then you'll be covered?

I think they ought to review their advice to customers after my findings. You don't want to get caught out.

I did receive my new certificate on the last day and was able to renew at our local Post Office in good time but it was a close run thing -Phew!