ON your marks, get set ... and go to Morrisons to purchase a Smileathon entry pack!
Not only can you pick up your shopping when you next pop to the supermarket in Laceby, you can also sign up to the biggest charity fundraiser in North East Lincolnshire – and make a difference to eight local charities.
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Taking part: John Saywell, manager of Morrisons, promotes the Smileathon. Buy this photo at www.thisisphotosales.co.uk/grimsby
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Get yours now: The Smileathon fundraising pack.
It is hoped the £5 entry fee and sponsorship for the Smileathon run – which will take place on Sunday, September 9 – will raise between £10,000 and £50,000 altogether.
As reported, the Grimsby Telegraph-backed event is the first ever sponsored run in our area where all the money raised will go to local causes:
Cleethorpes RNLI
Diana, Princess Of Wales Hospital Macmillan ward and A1 Trust Fund
The Ark Animal Rescue And Retirement Home
North East Lincolnshire Women's Aid
The Laura McPhee Memorial Fund
North East Lincolnshire Disability Sports Forum
Harbour Place Day Centre
Friendship At Home Scheme.
John Saywell, 42, manager of Morrisons, will be putting his best foot forward at the run on Cleethorpes seafront.
"I think it is important to recognise local charities need our support and I will be trying to get all our staff on board for the event," he said.
"As a company, our staff always play a big part in raising money for local causes, such as catering for Help For Heroes events and St Andrew's Hospice.
"Everyone has a part to play in the community and I think people should follow suit and take part – it is only one mile, so anyone can participate!
"I will be trying to get as many sponsors as possible, to help the eight worthy causes."
Sarah Brattan, a member of the Smileathon committee, said: "It has become more difficult in recent times to raise money for charities, but as this is going to benefit local organisations, I feel that people are more willing to get involved.
"It's a good way to raise much-needed funds while having fun, and everyone can get involved in some way, whether it be by taking part, sponsoring someone who's taking part, making a donation, or just turning up on the day."
The idea has come from leading local fundraiser Barry Howells, who wanted to ensure that good causes in the Grimsby area were not losing out to national charities in such tough economic times.
No matter what the weather is on the big day – remember, it's Sunday, September 9 – you can hop, skip, jump, walk or run a mile on Cleethorpes seafront.
It will start at 11am and medals will be provided for everyone who takes part. T-shirts will also be available for £5 each.
For more information, e-mail info@thesmileathon.co.uk
Google To Charge Merchants To Appear in Google Shopping - Sci-Tech Today
Google Product Search is becoming a pay-to-play service called Google Shopping. In addition to potentially reshaping the way online marketing of products works, the move is part of a major policy transition by the technology giant.
Previously, Google's official position had been against requiring manufacturers of products to pay in order to get placement in search results. Now, the company is saying the new policy will help consumers, because it will relay more accurate pricing.
'Purely Commercial Model'
Currently, users can search for products through Google Product Search by entering the product name into the search field at Google.com and clicking "shopping" on the left. The results are derived from data feeds about products at participating stores, via a free tool that Google provides. Searchers can then choose to filter the results, such as by price.
The transition to Google Shopping, which was announced Thursday on the official Google Commerce blog, is expected by the fall. On the blog, Product Management Vice President Sameer Samat wrote that the move to "a purely commercial model" will encourage merchants to keep "their product information fresh and up to date," which will translate into better shopping results for users and higher quality traffic for merchants.
Merchants will also receive incentives to participate, such as a monthly credit of 10 percent of total Product Listing Ad spending through the end of this year, or a $100 AdWords credit toward Product Listing Ads for existing Google Product Search merchants.
Ranking in Google Shopping will be based on a combination of relevance and bid price, which Google said was comparable to Product Listing Ads currently. Eventually, there will also be opportunities to market special offers.
Trusted Stores Program
There will also be an option for merchants to participate in the new Google Trusted Stores program. E-commerce sites in that program will offer background on the merchants, such as ratings for on-time shipping and customer 
The change in Google's policy centers on its long-time insistence that it doesn't offer better "organic" search results as a result of a financial relationship with a given company, which is called "paid inclusion." In fact, Google cited this purity of their editorial search results in its initial public offering information and other communications.
Some observers have noted that Google Hotel Finder and Google Flight Search, both launched in 2011, already offer better search results to companies with a financial relationship with Google -- especially in comparison ads that accompany these results, which are marked by subtle indicators to show sponsorship is involved.
In those instances as well, Google has said that the paid listings allow it to present more accurate information.
TK Holder:
sd:
I also suspect that many online stores who only use Google Shopping for marketing will dry up and go away. Best guess is that it will turn in to a ghost town where only more expensive full retail price stores will compete.
Hey Google, ask how well this commercial shopping model worked for Yahoo and Bing.
Shopping boss inspired by his wife to help make £10,000 bike ride target - This is Dorset
Shopping boss inspired by his wife to help make £10,000 bike ride target
12:30pm Saturday 2nd June 2012 in Latest
A SHOPPING centre boss is preparing to cycle 38 miles in support of his wife, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer.
Bill Riddle, who is the operations manager at Castlepoint, is part of the Bournemouth AFC business team taking part in this year’s Macmillan Dorset Bike Ride, along with AFC Bournemouth commercial director Rob Mitchell.
He says that he feels emotionally compelled to help the charity that is giving so much support to victims of cancer like his wife Sue, who also works at Castlepoint, in Marks and Spencer.
“I’m going for the 38 mile route this year which will be very challenging but nothing like the current challenge faced by Sue and so many other people who bravely face the day-to-day threat posed by cancer but are helped and supported so magnificently by the Macmillan teams in the region,” he said.
Chrissie Wathen- Neal, Macmillan fundraising manager said: “I’m pleased that Bill has joined the AFC business team and will be helping them towards their £10,000 target.”
Anyone wanting to support Bill can visit just giving.com/AFCBusiness -Bike
Shopping tops Jedburgh chairman’s list - thesouthernreporter.co.uk
JEDBURGH people want a bigger better supermarket according to the town’s community council chairman Richard Gordon, writes Sally Gillespie.
Giving his report to fellow councillors at last week’s annual general meeting he said: “From soundings I have taken, I’m firmly of the opinion that the majority of townsfolk want better, more competitive shopping provision in Jedburgh than currently exists.”
He said it was one of the subjects the council had discussed over the last year that remained unresolved.
“The town isn’t as one on this issue and there have been differing views expressed courteously and sincerely around this table. I have no doubt that the refusal, earlier this year, of the latest planning application, isn’t the last we’ll hear on the topic”, he said.
The councillor welcomed the near ending of what he described as the saga of 31 High Street, more commonly referred to locally as ‘Bert’s shop’, set to be demolished this summer.
He added: “Hopefully, redevelopment of the site, probably for affordable housing, will be undertaken sooner rather than later.”
But he cautioned: “Steps must be taken to ensure that as much as possible of the public money spent on the site is returned to the coffers.”
He was critical of efforts to renovate the town’s Jubilee fountain, originally commissioned to mark Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee in 1887.
Two years ago, the town’s common good fund approved a grant of £8,537 towards the costs of refurbishment work, with the balance of more than £10,000 to be provided by Scottish Borders Council and the Scottish Government. Work on the structure is complete but questions remain over it being permanently connected to a water supply.
“I find it little short of amazing that a scheme to totally renovate and restore water to the famous Moffat Ram was carried out within four months while work on our more modest fountain has dragged on for years, “ said Councillor Gordon.
The community council’s action to celebrate the present Queen’s Diamond Jubilee include planting pear trees in the gardens at Mary, Queen of Scots’ House for which he thanked Councillors John Bathgate, Ray King and Hugh Wight who were involved.
He added: “I’m sure it will be a success and leave a lasting mark of the Diamond Jubilee in the Royal Burgh. Another scheme under consideration is the installation of fitness equipment along what was the Trim Track. Councillor Kevin Hill has been particularly involved and should be recognised.”
He reported Jedburgh Christmas Lights situation was more secure with more money being donated.
“A big thanks is due to everyone who has helped in the fundraising effort. Keeping Jedburgh lit up at Christmas will always be a challenge but, I’m sure, ways will always be found to ensure the festive season in the town is celebrated in lights”, he said.
Mr Gordon continues as chairman Councillor King as vice chairman, Councillor Joe Coulson as treasurer and Susan Elliot as secretary.
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