The Silver Marque Blog - a hub of information for people aged over 50

The Silver Marque group consists of a small group of companies with products and services designed to make the later years in life easier, more mobile, financially secure and enjoyable.

Over the last 3 years these companies, which include Cosyfeet, have shared best practice in marketing, customer services and treating customers fairly. This best practice includes not using hard sell tactics, being considerate about customer privacy and agreeing to solve any customer grievances fairly and swiftly.

Last May, the Silver Marque partners set up a Blog which aims to provide articles of interest to the over 50s. The advice it contains comes from trustworthy companies whose reputations and businesses rely on dealing with customers in a respectful and honest way.

The Silver Marque blog can be found at www.silvermarque.co.uk.

This takes place between 12-19 May 2013 and is a great opportunity to celebrate one of our best loved fast foods – the British sandwich.

It’s thought that the sandwich was 'invented' by the 4th Earl of Sandwich. He was a keen gambler and didn't like to leave the gaming table so rather than breaking for dinner while the game was in full swing, he asked to be brought some meat between two slices of bread. This was the birth of a great fast food which became known as a sandwich.

Today we eat some 11.5 billion sandwiches each year – about a quarter of which are bought from sandwich shops and the industry provides employment to more than 300,000 people.

For more about British Sandwich Week and for some great recipes, visit www.lovesarnies.com. And if you’ve got any tasty sandwich recipes you’d like to share with us, we’d love to hear from you.

This week, we're offering '3 for 2' on all our Creams and Lotions. Get your feet ready for summer with our professional foot care creams, relieve aching joints and muscles with our soothing gels or relax and rejuvenate with our premium-quality lavender products.

To take advantage of this fantastic offer, simply add at least 3 creams or lotions to your shopping basket and enter the offer code WDC3F2 when prompted. Offer ends at 11.59pm on 21st May 2013.

Terms and Conditions
To redeem this '3 for 2' offer, simply add at least 3 Creams or Lotions to your basket and enter the code WDC3F2 when prompted. Cheapest item free. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. If you are returning items for a refund, all items must be returned to qualify. This offer expires at 11:59pm on 21st May 2013. We reserve the right to withdraw this offer at any time. This offer does not apply to multiple purchases (6 for 4, 9 for 6 etc.).

Click here to see our Creams and Lotions.

And the winner is.....

Last month was National Pet Month. To tie in with the event we ran a competition and asked Cosyfeet customers to send in a photo of their pet. We had some great entries and loved looking through all the wonderful pictures. In the end we decided that the winner of a £50 Cosyfeet voucher was Jan Harper Shea with her photo of her two gorgeous dogs.

“This is a photograph of our two fox terriers, Alice and Archie. Archie lost the use of his back legs so went for ‘walks’ in his dog buggy. As you can see, Alice jumps in and joins him – particularly during the cold weather.”

Here are some of the other lovely entrants:

From Sylvia Snook

Carlos – from John Silverthorn

Jack – From Jackie Silverthorn

Get walking and get healthy!

‘Get Walking Week’ is organised by the The Ramblers and is about encouraging more people to get active in the great outdoors.

The Ramblers believe that walking is one of the best ways to feel healthier and happier.

During ‘Get Walking Week’, there’ll be hundreds of free short walks of five miles or less led by experienced walk leaders throughout Britain.

The walks will take place in the countryside, cities and the coast and are the perfect opportunity to discover the freedom, fresh air and fitness that comes with exploring the great outdoors.

Visit their website at http://www.ramblers.org.uk/getwalkingweek to find your nearest ‘Get Walking Week’ walk.

If you have a story to tell about how walking has helped you we’d love to hear from you!

To tie in with National Walking Week, we're offering £5 off your order when you buy any product/s from our Walking collection.

Choose from a great range of products designed to make walking easier and more enjoyable including stylish walking sticks and smart rollators. Or if you're looking to increase your fitness, why not take your walking to the next level with our Folding Hiking Pole and Omron Pedometer.

To take advantage of this great offer, simply add any item* from our Walking collection to your basket and enter the offer code WDW5P and £5 will automatically be deducted from your total.

Terms and Conditions
To redeem our '£5 off offer', simply add any item/s from our Walking collection to your basket and enter the code WDW5P when prompted and £5 will be deducted from your order. This offer expires at 11.59pm on 14th May 2013. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. We reserve the right to withdraw this offer at any time. *Please note: There is a minimum spend of £25 per order.

Click here to see our Walking collection.

Canine Partners is Cosyfeet’s chosen charity for 2013. Their mission is to assist people with physical disabilities enjoy greater independence through the provision of specially trained dogs.

Kerly is one of the amazing dogs that we support through our donations. This is what he and his owner Sheila have been up to over the last couple of months!

“Sheila and I have had a busy few months, out and about doing talks and demonstrations to raise awareness and funds for Canine Partners. Once I have finished helping with the domestic chores at home that Sheila struggles with, I love to see my purple jacket and lead, and know that we are going out to play/work!

We had an enjoyable morning at a primary school near Salisbury. When we arrived the whole playground was a sea of purple, we thought it must be the school uniform, but no, they had all paid to come dressed in purple or with animal costumes or painted faces! Firstly I demonstrated to the whole school, the hall was very crowded with 4 - 11 year olds and they clapped enthusiastically. We spent the rest of the morning with The Swallows Class of 6 - 7 year olds. John and Sheila showed pictures on a screen about how assistance dogs are trained. The children came out to stand by me to answer Sheila's questions on our presentation, then I demonstrated again and afterwards the children came to do a high five with me or give me a cuddle. After school this class held a cake and Charity gifts sale with an excellent result of £240, adopting a Canine Partners puppy with some of this money.

My audiences are very varied in age! Our next special visit was to accept a £300 cheque for the Charity from a knitting, crocheting and craft club, a group of enthusiastic ladies who meet weekly to share their interests and enjoy the company. They selected us after reading an article about another canine partner, so they were delighted to meet me and see me demonstrate my tasks for Sheila. I got lots of cuddles afterwards, people had even brought dog treats!

Team Kerly was asked to have a stand and do a demonstration at a Fun Dog Show in April. I had my registered dog jacket on, so I was on my best behaviour and focused on Sheila rather than saying hello to all the dogs and people who wanted to speak to me. I helped Sheila judge the three best entries in the Puppy Class, it was very difficult as they ranged in age from 14 weeks to 11 months, but Sheila watched to see how each puppy reacted to me which helped her decision.

Have a nice summer and keep your dog cool in the heat, we don’t like sitting in cars but love swimming in ponds instead!!”

Research your local community

The aim of ‘Local and Community History Month’ is to increase the awareness of local history and promote history in general to the local community.

Activities happen across the UK and include trips, library exhibitions and local lectures. It’s a great way for groups to highlight local history and for local people to get involved.

For more information, visit www.history.org.uk.

Here are some of the interesting facts we’ve found out about the town of Street where Cosyfeet is based:

• • Street was once a huddle of huts on the edge of the Poldens and was called Lega.
• • For centuries it remained a hamlet, dependent on agriculture and quarrying.
• • In the 12th century, a causeway from nearby Glastonbury was built to transport stone from Street for rebuilding Glastonbury Abbey after a fire.
• • In 1825, a local farmer and devout Quaker called Cyrus Clark set up a sheepskin and shoe-making business. Street became internationally-known as the home of Clarks.
• • Fossils discovered in Street include an icthyosaur which was discovered in 1835 and is now displayed in the Natural History Museum in London.
• • Laurence Housman an English playwright, writer and illustrator, lived in Street for 35 years before his death in 1959

Clarks headquarters in Street

If you find out anything interesting about your own local history we’d love to hear about it!

The Painsolv® offers a proven, drug-free way to relieve painful joints and muscles. This class 2a medical device emits pulsed electromagnetic waves that painlessly penetrate body tissue, helping to manage the pain and discomfort caused by conditions such as arthritis.

Originally £130, we're now offering the Painsolv® for only £99 - saving you £31! We have limited stock so you need to be quick if you want to take advantage of this great offer.

"My PainSolv is very effective and helps the pain! I can't manage without it! Many thanks." - Review by Mrs A Donald.

Terms and Conditions
To redeem this £99 offer, simply add the Painsolv® to your basket. Available while stocks last. Offer only applies to the Painsolv (PNSV) and not the Painsolv MKV (PSMV). We reserve the right to withdraw this offer at any time.

See us at the Naidex Exhibition

Cosyfeet will be exhibiting at the Naidex Exhibition at Birmingham NEC from Tuesday 30th April – Thursday 2nd May.

Naidex is the UK's largest disability, rehabilitation and homecare event with over 300 exhibitors featuring the latest products and services to aid independent living.

The show brings together healthcare professionals, members of the public, retailers, buyers and dealers.

Cosyfeet will have a stand (C150) displaying all our NEW spring and summer footwear so if you’re visiting the exhibition, please pop along and say hello as we'd love to see you.

NAIDEX OPENING TIMES

For further information, visit www.naidex.co.uk.