Latest news with #KatieAllen
Scottish Sun
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Win a copy of Happy Is The One by Katie Allen in this week's Fabulous book competition
POIGNANT READ Win a copy of Happy Is The One by Katie Allen in this week's Fabulous book competition Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ROBIN knows the date he's going to die – born on the day Halley's Comet last appeared, he's destined to check out when it returns. He's methodically planned his life around this, but that all changes when he has to go home to care for his ailing dad. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 10 lucky Fabulous readers will win a copy of this new novel in this week's book competition Warm and tender, this will really make you think. 10 lucky Fabulous readers will win a copy of this new novel in this week's book competition. To win a copy, enter using the form below by 11:59pm on June 7, 2025. For full terms and conditions, click here.
Khaleej Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: Property brokerages trends revealed; offline has higher conversion
The majority of leads for property brokerages come from online sources, but offline sources are still important as they have higher conversation rates, industry executives said on Wednesday. While speaking during a panel discussion at a conference organised by the Khaleej Times, they highlighted the importance of both online and offline marketing and mixing the two in a balanced manner. 'Even though the majority of the leads are coming from online sources, we still have to mention the quality and importance of different offline touch points – referrals, events and networking. These are the leads that really have higher conversion rates,' said Diana Dzaka Bico, Marketing Director, Engel & Völkers. Speaking during a panel discussion at the TRIBE – The CMO Connect 2025 conference hosted by Khaleej Times on Wednesday, she said everything shifted towards digital platforms, not just in marketing during the pandemic. 'That's definitely reflected in real estate, especially on the brokerage side. The lead generation become very focused on online marketing. The majority of leads are coming from offline sources. For brokerage agencies, property portals, social media ads, Google ads, email and WhatsApp are online sources used to generate these leads,' she said during the panel discussion. On the other side, she noted that developers are quite heavily focused on the offline side of marketing such as billboards, events and project launch launches that are happening daily. 'However, in recent years, I've noticed a big shift in terms of their focus on digital marketing and that aspect of lead generation.' She added that offline is important and brokerages should not leave that out of the mix and balance online and offline marketing. Katie Allen, head of advertising and revenue at Khaleej Times, moderated the panel – Let's Talk Billboards, Algorithms & Buyers: Cracking the Code of Real Estate Marketing in 2025. Quoting Ipsos, she said that in 2024, UAE ad spending was Dh9.4 billion. 'Of that enormous amount, Dh1.4 5 billion was spent by the real estate and 79 per cent of Dh1.4 5 billion went towards outdoor advertising,' she added. Sevgi Gur, chief marketing officer of Property Finder, said research showed that there is a huge role of offline when it comes to real estate decisions from the consumer perspective. She pointed out that trust is key in real estate. 'When there is no trust, there is no trade. When consumers see someone spending a huge amount of money on high-impact media, they think that they have the pocket. If you are buying a developer who has that kind of marketing budget, your mind is going to believe that most probably it will deliver what it promised to you. Is outdoor advertising helping them to make the decision? Yes. I don't think that the shift from digital to outdoor is a function of Covid, per se. It is a function of real estate, started growing post-Covid and the ability of developers to launch new products,' she said during the panel discussion. Curtis Schmidt, CEO of RAPP for Mena, said authenticity is not just a campaign, but a commitment. 'Brands that consistently embody their values —especially in times of crisis — are the ones that earn lasting trust. Curtis highlighted how RAPP leverages CRM to help brands turn complex financial messages, such as rate changes or data sharing, into trust-building opportunities. From proactive communication to humanized automation, preparing in a way that is personal, swift, and customer-focused is key to maintaining trust when it matters most,' Schmidt said. Cluttered ads Ahmed El Sherbini, CEO of Think Human, said everything starts with strategy in the beginning, and if there is no clear strategy and a good understanding of the brand, then there will be challenges moving forward. 'It's a very transactional business. It's a very cluttered category. However, it's one of the highest spending categories in the UAE,' he said. 'We still believe in the integrated marketing communication approach. We can still rely on offline and online. Offline has its own kind of KPIs and parameters – the outdoor activation, print ad etc. Digital is more targeted communication for certain consumers with certain messages at a certain time through different platforms. You have to have the data and the insights to be able to reach that,' he said. Think Human's chief executive noted that unfortunately, a lot of ads are very cluttered, whether they're from brokers, developers or individuals. 'You feel that they do not even understand the brand, and the ad is only about price, price, price, price. It's very important to look at the brand whether you're a developer or a broker. By the end of the day, you work for a brand,' he said.
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- BBC News
Wiltshire farming couple want to buck trend by opening tannery
Two farmers say they are on a mission to grow sustainable fashion by opening the UK's first micro-scale vegetable tannery for cattle Allen, 44, and James Allen, 53, from Great Cotmarsh Farm near Broad Town, Wiltshire, will also use the tannery and farm to teach children and teenagers about farming and Allen said the pair are not from a farming background, but got into conservation grazing before they bought the farm in 2022 dreaming of "producing food and ethical fashion, with nature in mind".Their project is backed by Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) and the pair will be sharing their knowledge with children and students at their on-site education centre. Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) is a competitive DEFRA-backed scheme offering funding to farmers and land managers in National Landscapes (previously known as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty). Mr Allen said when the pair got together 12 years ago, Mrs Allen had a smallholding in Devon."She wanted to keep the sheep and I asked if she fancied cows… that developed to moving livestock a few times a year to graze other people's land as we couldn't afford a farm - and that was while [bringing up] small children."When they saw the farm for sale Mrs Allen said she "definitely cajoled James… but I knew in my heart this is what I had to do". Mrs Allen said the farm is a "100% Pasteur based organic system" with animals that thrive outdoors, so they had the outbuilding free for the tannery. They are keen advocates of diet in their animals, bringing wood pasture into the grazing "because if they're missing a key ingredient like cobalt, you really see the difference"."As humans if we aren't getting enough of the right nutrients that impacts the condition of our hair and nails and it's exactly the same with livestock," she added. Tannery equipment was bought from a closing business with Mr Allen saying he has visited "more tanneries that have shut or are in the process of shutting than are open. So it's quite sad".Because so many tanneries are shutting, including the Institute for Creative Leather Technologies (ICLT) at the University of Northampton - the only tannery at a university in Europe - the couple say they also want to support the will be working with the Sustainable Food Trust to teach classes with primary school children about healthy food and the natural education centre will also host teaching sustainable fashion classes with GCSE, A level and textile degree Allen said their work is "part of a bigger picture, not a money making scheme [and we're] really excited, humbled and overwhelmed" to be able to share it.
ABC News
08-05-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Katie Allen announces stage 4 cancer diagnosis, days after contesting federal election
Former Liberal MP Katie Allen has announced her diagnosis with a rare form of cancer, just days after contesting her former seat in the federal election. In a post to social media, Dr Allen said the diagnosis was of a type of cancer known as cholangiocarcinoma. "It's a stage 4 diagnosis and has already spread," Dr Allen said. "I know there are difficult days ahead, but I'm facing this with clarity and determination." Dr Allen served as the member for the now-abolished seat of Higgins from 2019 to 2022. She made headlines in 2022 after crossing the floor to side with Labor on amendments to a religious discrimination bill. In the most recent election, she challenged incumbent Labor MP Carina Garland in the seat of Chisholm, but was unsuccessful in regaining the seat. Dr Allen said she would use her own decades of medical experience to ground her. "As a doctor, I've stood besides many patients and their families during moments like this," she said. "I've seen incredible courage, dignity and strength in those facing adversity — and I'll be drawing on those examples now, as I walk this path myself." Following the announcement, Liberal politicians and candidates from both state and federal levels showed their support through social media messages. Victorian Shadow Attorney-General Michael O'Brien sent his best wishes in a post. "Katie, I'm so sorry to hear this. You were such an amazing candidate in Chisholm and showed such energy, grace and determination," Mr O'Brien said. Liberal MP Keith Wolahan, who also contested the 2025 election, expressed his admiration for Dr Allen. "I am so sorry Katie. You are deeply loved and admired. We are here for you and your family," Mr Wolahan said.
