Smiling at work is now vogue!
It’s fun that something as simple as someone smiling at work could lead to a flurry of news articles, but that’s exactly what happened when Stella McCartney’s catwalk show in Paris Fashion week included models that smiled. I know….smiled?
But, then, who can deny the value of a smile? In fact, maybe smilers should be eligible for a pay rise? Get it on your CV, you never know…
Topics: Happiness, No Work All Play!, Us Happy People 
1 comment »
Cracking out the home grown organic punch!
We’re shooing away the winter with news of a spring barn party! Our Eco-Oracle, Niels Peter Flint, is throwing a Grand Opening Party at his ‘Micro Macro Monde’ sustainable mill in France this April and some of the Socks for Happy People team will be there for the fun and sustainable frollicks!
It’s this very mill that will be the plant pot from which our future environmental plans are hatched with help from very clever people from all kinds of fields (no, not that kind of field). From this plant pot…many a idea sapling will take root before being transferred into the larger soils of business and commerce.
Think i’ll pack my own pitcher for that there punch…
If you’re interested in joining us at the party, full of interesting people, animals and projects then get in touch! Click below to leave your thoughts : )
Topics: Environmental Steps, Happiness, No Work All Play!, Us Happy People No comments »
It pays to Innovate!
Just a note to let you know we’ve been awarded some Innovation (gift!) Vouchers from the good people at the North West Development Agency. They think our carefully crafted plans to research new innovative materials, technologies and opportunities is definitely worth backing. And we heartily agree!
This will help us take more of our first steps towards our bigger environmental vision (which in simple terms is about making sure buying a pair of our socks actually replenishes the planet!).
First steps feel goooood : )
Topics: Environmental Steps, Happiness, Our Socks, Socks 1 comment »
A Healthy Water + A Healthy Wariness
Believe it or not, Coca-Cola have made a nutritional drink. It’s called VitiminWater and you’ve probably seen it around since it’s had a really big promotional push. The bottles and colours are undeniably snazzy looking and come with an explanation that it’s “definitely au naturel” and comes with “triple antioxidants”. In addition to that the VitiminWater website says the drink can even boost immunity and help out our joints stay flexible! Now that is what I like to hear! In fact, that’s what a lot of us seem to want to hear in these nutritionally aware times. And that’s really great…
…kind of.
It’s great that we’re thristy for things that are better for our bodies, but nearly all of us have got a way to go before we’re not vulnerable because of this. It seems our honest and growing desire for ‘goodness’ can mean we get a bit seduced by anything that seems healthy. I guess we feel that thrill when we we find something that says the right things, looks the part and feels as it should.
VitiminWater is a perfect example. So perfect in fact that Coca-Cola (the inconspicuous producers) are actually being sued at the moment by The Centre for Science in the Public Interest after consumers bought into the buzzwords, the branding and the marketing only to later feel cheated. It turns out each bottle contains two heaped table spoons full of sugar and the antioxidants come from only one per cent of actual fruit juice. Also, the calorie count is apparently measured at less than 50% of the bottle’s volume, so to get the full accurate picture consumers must read the info, double check it against the volume of the bottles contents and then do the maths themselves.
In this instance it’s served me that I come from a bit of a cynical background when it comes to certain brands and products, though I admit I probably had too strong negative assumptions quite a few years back. But now, as I do try and look for the positives in everything (this drink is a healthier option than normal Coca-Cola so it’s a step in the right direction) I carry with me a healthy wariness.
So how do we not get duped or unfairly seduced? Well, one idea I had is to take note of a companies other products and it’s past as this can give a good snapshot of it’s underlying values. But there must be more things we can do…
Any ideas on how we can be less vunerable as consumers? Any other good examples of unresponsible marketing and misinformation? Ever been duped? How can SFHP do better and be more upfront and honest? Let us know know by clicking comment below….
Topics: Economic Steps, Environmental Steps, Happiness, Social Steps, Us Happy People 2 comments »
Forget ‘Year of the Ox’…
Hey! We hope you’ve all enjoyed a memorable and rewarding festive period and are now comfortably settled into 2009.
And if not, then we hope it’s not long till you are. In fact, we may even be able to help out in some small way on this front. We’ll be posting a host of our thoughts, feelings, experiences, hunches and findings that we’ve had about happiness and well-being here and on a dedicated section of our full website (that will be made live soon). We’re in the happiness business as well as the sock business remember!
So, what a year it is shaping up to be! Obama has arrived (whoop! whoop!), so has a recession (hmmm) , and before you know it so will Socks for Happy People (Waaaaaaaaaa!)! Admittedly, we’ll be a bit later than planned but arrive we will. And in this time of hope, of new directions and of challenge we think Socks for Happy People is just what is needed.
Cometh the year, cometh the company. Forget ‘Year of the Ox’. 2009 is surely the ‘Year of the Socks’!
Go on, let us know how you’re doing and what you’re thinking about 2009! Simply click comment below…
Topics: Happiness, Socks, Us Happy People No comments »
Socks to get the kids talking
The times are a’changing, just listen to the kids!
I was huddled round a fire at a party recently and heard a mother discussing how close her daughter is getting to catching her out as the ‘toothfairy’. But toothfaireis aside, the part of the story I like best was the bit that highlighted just how our awareness of healthy foods and the importance of healthy eating is well on it’s way to being an accepted part of general consciousness.
Having had her tooth fall out, the daughter had left a note with it under her pillow asking if the tooth fairy could grant her one special wish. She really wanted to be able to enjoy eating fruit and vegitables , because she thought they were discusting, but knew it was important that she ate them to be healthy!
Brilliant eh? I thought so. So thanks to people like Jamie Oliver and other pioneers of healthy eating my old favourite of “3 chip butties with cheese, please” for lunch is quickly becoming a sign of times gone by.
And I guess we want to help do the same with raising awareness of happiness, of the fabircs we wear and the companies we buy from the way awareness has been raised about heathy eating and food. So in 10 years we’ll all be able to look back and underdstand why regular shopping trips to the likes of Primark didn’t ever really do much for our wellbeing. Where to start though…
Go on, leave us a comment. Click the ‘comment’ button below to leave your thoughts…
Topics: Economic Steps, Environmental Steps, Happiness, Our Socks, Social Steps 4 comments »
Jarvis Cocker on socks
Mick, who is a good portion of the brains behind our website and this here blog, text’d me about Jarvis Cocker and socks while I was out doing the weekly shop. It certainly made the decision between medium or large eggs seem insignificant, and when I got home I tried to find out what he was on about.
And, as sure as medium eggs are medium eggs, Jarvis had recently taken the opportunity whilst on stage at Shepherds Bush Empire to give a powerpoint lecture that covered the history of the venue, capitalism, and the perils wearing socks too short in the leg that they expose fleshy calves.
Our socks were going to be a little shorter than normal in the leg, but we decided against it at the last minute. Is this a sign that we made the right decision? Is this a sign that socks in general are on the rise and will sometime soon have their day?
I like to think so : )
Do you agree with Jarvis on the perils of socks (or capitalism)? What would you say about socks in a Powerpoint? Go on, drop us a comment…let us and the world know
Topics: Uncategorized 4 comments »
Kaos Pilots to help transport Socks for Happy People!
Last night I had the pleasure of meeting with two Kaos Pilots!
Rowan (from Denmark) and Zulma (from Columbia) have recently moved close by (with their adorable newborn Naira) having finished studying at the Arhus Kaos Pilot school in Denmark. They have clearly landed with a cargo packed full of really interesting and innovative ideas and ways of thinking or working that will definately rub off very well on Socks for Happy People!
In fact, I woke up inspired this morning after our talks late into the night about Gross National Happiness (GNH, instead of GDP), well-being, the conscience of a company and being in business in these exciting times. More to come on those fronts in the future.
But for now if you’d like to find out a bit more about these Kaos Pilots, have a look at this video showing what the school and it’s students are all about and check out the link above…
Topics: Economic Steps, Environmental Steps, Happiness, No Work All Play!, Social Steps, Us Happy People 1 comment »
Charles, happy at 60
I didn’t know quite what to expect when I settled down to watch ‘Charles at 60′, though I had a vague idea that he is passionate about the environment and fairly active for a monarch.
But when the program ended I can say I was nothing less than inspired! Prince Charles seems to have committed the majority of his life to preserving nature, championing better living and working environments for all and supported young people in the arts and in business - often in the face of widespread (though shortsighted) criticism.
The relatively intimate insight into his life showed a man that appears to be very content, happy even, with a passionate will to act and stand up for what he believes in. Despite there being no obligation on his part he has been more than willing to use his time and his convening power to leave the world a better place. Hopefully the Queen can hang on in there, and let Charles do his thing for a long time to come!
I’d recommend watching ‘Charles at 60′ on BBC i>player while you can
Did you watch it? What did you think? Should we send Prince Charles some of our socks? Click below to leave a comment…
Topics: Happiness, Us Happy People 9 comments »
Socks for happy runners
For being a bit of a sock expert I made a painful mistake yesterday. When getting my gladrags on for a run I hastily chose a different pair of socks to run in than my designated pairs, and have paid the price. Sure, they’re nice socks (by DePio) but they aren’t made for running. An hour later I hobbled back into the house with blisters all over my feet.
The moral of this story? Choose your running socks wisely, or go swimming instead.
And the kitten picture? Well you hardly wanted to see my blisters now did you?
Topics: Happiness, Socks No comments »