lizseyi's blog

There has been no shortage of evidence lately of the nearly three-year “time of plenty” for luxury brands having firmly come to an end. While 2023 proved a record year for the personal high-end goods market, when it exceeded €1.5 trillion, the leading management consulting firm Bain & Company recently revealed there had been a 1% to 3% decline on a year-over-year basis.
This situation can be blamed on various disruptions – not least the impacts of ongoing wars around the globe, as well as a generally volatile economic picture, but also changing expectations among consumers.

Regular readers of the Shredded-Paper.co.uk blog will know that we have often referenced the multitude of ways in which shredded paper can be used, including as protective packaging for mailed ecommerce orders, cushioning in Easter and Christmas hampers, and so much more.

Amid increasing talk of cutting interest rates, how can you protect your investments?
Amid a cooling US jobs market and declining inflation, it now seems almost certain that the Federal Reserve (‘the Fed’) will cut interest rates in September. The Fed has continued to raise the federal funds rate – the interest rate it charges to its member banks, and a key lever for controlling money supply and inflation – for an unprecedented 11 times over a 16-month period.

Are you looking for a unique and transformative experience for your teen next summer? One that combines personal growth, and the opportunity to make a real difference in the world?
You are in the right place! At The Road Less Traveled, we combine intentional and meaningful service work with unforgettable travel experiences that foster personal growth for 6th to 12th graders.
Why Service Work and Volunteering Matter

Many of us fantasise about owning a hot tub. Indeed, you might have spent a while yourself contemplating the respective merits of hot tubs and small swimming pools, before settling on the former of those options.
Certainly, hot tub ownership can bring a wide range of benefits. Hot tubs tend to be more affordable to purchase in the first place than even a small pool, and the hot water in a hot tub can greatly help relieve sore muscles, reduce joint pain, and improve circulation. And of course, a hot tub is simply a very inviting place to relax after a long and stressful day.

SOG in cooperation with Kinstellar is proud to announce its role as legal counsel to Strickland Metals Limited, an ASX-listed mineral exploration company from Australia, on its acquisition of Zlatna Reka Resources d.o.o. Beograd-Vracar. This acquisition marks a significant development in Serbia’s burgeoning mining industry, as the project holds an impressive 5.4 million ounce gold resource.

The Legal Services Board has approved a significant increase in the Compensation Fund contributions solicitors must pay
Today, the Legal Services Board (LSB) announced a rise in the contributions solicitors make to the Compensation Fund, driven by the need for financial stability following recent high-profile collapses, including Axiom Ince. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) initiated this increase to ensure the fund remains adequately managed.

It is hard to think about giving away your assets while you are still alive, but doing so can help save Inheritance Tax when you die. In this article, head of private client Elena Stylianou explains how the ‘seven-year rule’ enables you to gift assets during your lifetime tax-free or at a reduced tax rate.
How is Inheritance Tax charged?
First, let’s look at how Inheritance Tax is charged. The current Inheritance Tax position is that a deceased’s estate is taxed at 40% on the value of the estate above the tax-free allowance of £325,000, subject to certain exemptions.

Are you confident that your business is compliant with asbestos regulations? If you are a duty holder you have a legal obligation to ensure that you are compliant. The HSE have the power to charge you fees if you fail to comply with the legislation.

With the still-young Labour Government having been in power for more than a month at the time of typing, transport consultants and their clients are continuing to see signs of how Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s administration will approach this critically important sector.
However, not all the news impacting on transport planning and infrastructure so far has been positive. Indeed, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves made a dispiriting announcement to the House of Commons on 29th July, stating that the new Government had discovered a large gap in the UK’s finances.